Siana

"What an honour to meet the young dragon in person!"

"The honour is mine to have the first emperor"s time." Cain said with a slight smile.

"Oh, you flatter my old bones, boy. So, shall we get straight to business?"

"I want you to stand by me."

"Why you?"

The aura around the white-haired man abruptly turned intimidating. He was eyeing Cain"s every expression and every move. He nodded at his reaction in approval.

"Good. Seems like the kid actually knows how to stand up to pressure."

"Who else if not me?" Cain asked back with a sly smile.

The old man looked at the young one and broke into a laughter.

"Quite confident, are we?"

"I have one of the biggest families behind me, so it"s not power I want. The only reason I want the position is to stop the unnecessary bloodshed which happens to be the rationale behind the whole emperor business. You choose Luke, the current situation will only worsen, and you know that better than me."

"You are being reasonable. But that"s not what I am looking for. Tell me, young dragon, what is your real reason?"

Cain stiffened a bit and though he quickly relaxed as if nothing happened, his actions didn"t escape the old man"s keen eyes. The old emperor gave smirked in an obvious way, making it clear that he saw through his actions.

Thus, taking a deep breath Cain answered truthfully, knowing full well that lying would be futile,

"Something happened to someone precious to me because of the current system. I want to change it."

While talking, Cain"s aura became so cold and so bloodthirsty that it actually rivalled that of the old emperor. Subconsciously, he brought his hand to his neck, touching the mark she left on him.

Seeing this the old man said with a slight smile,

"Boy, the last time I saw you, you were a young man who wanted to do nothing with the underworld. And that was, what, 6-7 years ago? I actually would love to see the woman who changed you so much."

At his words Cain"s eyes widened. He didn"t want to admit to Sia"s involvement but the man was just too smart and too observant. His years of experience surely spoke for him.

"I won"t bring her into this world until it"s safe enough. I can risk anything, but her."

The expression on the emperor face turned pained and regretful. Whatever memories he was recalling, they weren"t happy.

"Boy.. No, Cain, what you have is something precious. Not everyone is able to find true love in this world filled with lies. Embrace it... treasure it... protect it. But don"t be too restrained or too careful about it. This world will never be too safe. So the right time you are waiting for, may never even come.

If she is someone that was able to melt your heart, she will be able to do it to many others. Being away from her all the time is not protecting her, it"s making her worried, it"s making her suffer. It may look like protection to you, but it doesn"t mean it would be the same for her. One day, if she chooses someone else, someone who prioritises her and puts her first, you will only have yourself to blame."

Taking a deep breath the man continued in a sad tone, more so to himself than to Cain.

"Women are sensitive creatures, who are much more fragile than we are. Even if they put a strong front, they need pampering the same way we need their understanding and warmth.

I don"t know your story, but I have mine as a testimony. Don"t repeat the mistakes I made."

Cain fell into a daze by the man"s words. He wanted to ask more, but he knew that the old man needed time for his own. Nodding at him, he left the room in silence, leaving the old man with his own memories. He kept on recalling the old man"s words;

"The right time... may never even come... if she chooses someone else ... Don"t repeat the mistakes I made."

No, he needed to change his att.i.tude, the old man was right. He couldn"t make her wait for him for forever. He needed to be there for and with her, and this meant physically too, especially now that they were officially in a relationship.

Thus, with a new-established determination he left the manor. As soon as he sat in the car he told Ash,

"Hasten the schedule so that we are done by the end of the week. I am going to Ribekia on Sat.u.r.day."

Ash looked at his friend questionably, but deciding to wait for his explanation, he nodded and started the car.

--

- Tuesday morning, Country X -

"Oh, how do I deserve the young Lion"s visit?"

The blonde man with a chiseled jawline gave a devilish smile and said with a smirk,

"Well, am I not the one on the receiving side of honour, First Emperor?"

"Your business young man?" the old emperor asked solemnly.

"Choose me instead of the Dragon." Luke said with a confident smile.

"Why you?" The old emperor repeated the same as the day before. The Vallauris heir didn"t flinch from his aura similar to the Greydale heir.

"Seems like the selection is going to be quite tough this year." The old man sighed soundlessly.

"The Vallauris family has been the ruling family for the past two generations. I understand the underworld and its intricate connections with the normal world better than anyone else. I was born and raised for this role. Being involved in underworld business since birth, I have much more experience than my opponent does. So, I am confident I will do much better job than him," Luke answered tenaciously.

The old emperor observed Luke from head to toe. He tested him further,

"Is there anything precious you want to protect? Something or someone you would rather die for than lose."

At his words Luke looked at him cynically, finding his question nothing but funny.

"Precious? Why would I value something or someone so much to put it before me? I want to be the best emperor ever, and what brought numerous emperors to their fall were their unnecessary feelings: something they called love. Emotions are but redundant feeling I don"t see the need for."

"What he says is practically right. The underworld leader should not have any weaknesses. But..."

He knew that the others would prefer Luke"s att.i.tude to that of Cain"s. Even though Cain was really good at hiding his true emotions, it seemed that whenever the topic touched the girl he would lack control.

"Young boy, what you say is but facts. Come back to me when you find someone you can"t breath without. Someone, who will make you find breath of little consequence.

Love might have brought empires to their downfalls, but true love has also built empires from ruins and from naught. Never underestimate what you don"t understand."

Doubting the old man"s sanity, Luke thought to himself,

"As if that day will ever come."

He left with a snort. Upon sitting in the car he commanded Paul,

"Lead to the next person. This one is a lost cause."

Little did he know the old man"s words would one day become a chant in his head.