Aegon watched the family drama in silence, because it was his own family. On his birthday, he had heard his father's voice, but this was the first time he actually saw him.

The man was impressive to say the least, but all Aegon saw was a dejected, exhausted man who seemed to be on the verge of dying, yet was persevering for some reason.

It was the look of a man on the verge of breaking apart.

Growing up, Aegon rarely had the time or the mood to think about his parents. Xiu made sure he never felt the need for parents, but he would be lying if he said he didn't want them.

In his past life, he often dreamt of the things he wanted, an idle dream that fulfilled all his desires, and it included having a full, loving family.

Including parents.

That dream had always existed in his mind, but things became complicated when he was reborn in this world. He didn't know what his parents had done, but apparently they had abandoned him.

That, along with Xiu's love, made it easy for him to forget about them. He also didn't ask Xiu or Arnold about his parents because he knew how sensitive Xiu was about him.

If he asked something like that, it would mean he was missing his parents. Xiu would overthink and assume her love wasn't enough to cover both parents, which was a blatant lie.

Aegon never wanted Xiu to think like that. He loved her too much for that.

Slowly, he forgot about his parents since there was no need for them. But he had always wondered how he would react the day he met them.

Now that he looked at his father, all he felt was pity. The man had clouds of despair revolving around him, making Aegon wonder how someone like him could even be a Marshall.

But he didn't fall for that pity. All because Xiu told him he failed as a father. She never lied to him, so he trusted her words.

The man might have made his choices, but that didn't mean Aegon had to go along with them.

He didn't need a father. Certainly not someone who failed as one and abandoned him.

'There is more to this story.'

Still, he knew he would never be ready for a father in his life. He couldn't give that spot to anyone but Xiu.

The moment Arthur looked at him, Aegon could feel the overwhelming emotions radiating from him, his body shaking, tears running down his cheeks, but the man didn't move.

'I can give him respect at least.'

Aegon noticed how Arthur kept sneaking glances at Arnold, so he could guess why he was restraining himself. Even after everything, Arthur respected his father and his words. So in Aegon's eyes, he earned at least a little respect.

"I always knew your family is big, but fuck, this is crazy," Xavier muttered beside him. "Your father is actually the Marshall?"

"My biological father," Aegon corrected him. "I don't have a father."

After their short exchange, another woman entered the Sanctum. At first, Aegon didn't think much, assuming she was just another important figure. But the moment he saw her, his blood rushed rapidly.

He felt a sense of closeness, warmth he couldn't describe. He didn't understand it, but he knew this woman was special. Even though her crimson eyes were emotionless, he thought differently. He saw warmth in them.

'What's going on?'

Soon, he got his answer.

This was his mother.

Liliana Songsword.

His heart couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth, making Aegon feel guilty, because this emotion was something he believed belonged exclusively to Xiu. He wanted to reject it, but the moment he saw her, it came again.

'No! I don't need her.'

Unlike his father, Liliana was innocent, that's what Xiu told him. But he thought otherwise. If she really was innocent and loving, then why didn't she even try to visit him?

Arnold had forbidden Arthur, not Liliana.

So, even though he felt a sense of closeness to her, he suppressed it and threw it into the corner of his heart.

Whether it was his mother or father, they shared one common factor to him, they had no place in his life. He didn't need parental figures because he already had one.

Just as Liliana turned towards him, eyes meeting his, Aegon saw immense, overflowing love for him, the motherly love she couldn't give him for sixteen years, everything coming all at once.

Aegon felt overwhelmed, but the thought of Xiu gave him strength. He stared back at her as if she were a stranger. Which, technically, wasn't a lie, they had never met.

'She wants to talk?'

Aegon felt complicated emotions swelling, as he fiddled with his communication stone in his hands.

Fortunately for him, the most important person in his life, the one who always sheltered him and stood before him as a shield, arrived in time to save him once again.

Her entry was far less graceful. Lightning crackled around the Sanctum, and in the next moment, she stood before Liliana, blocking her from seeing Aegon.

As usual, even in important occasions like this, Xiu wore a loose shirt over tight pants, paired with a magnificent jacket and knee-high boots.

Her short hair fluttered in the static-filled air as her brown eyes stared straight into Liliana's crimson jewels.

Taking a short breath, she said, "Can we do this later, Sister?"

Liliana remained silent for a moment, contemplating something, before she sighed in disappointment and stepped back, saying, "He's your son."

Xiu raised her chin proudly and smiled, "Indeed, he is my child."

She was going to continue, but she stopped when she felt a glare. Confused, she turned around and found the all-too-familiar onyx eyes staring at her, chillingly cold.

'What did I do now?' she wondered, still confused why her father was angry.

"The Emperor," Liliana whispered close to her.

Xiu's eyes lit up in realisation as she whispered back without thinking, "I forgot this old man wouldn't die."

Of course, many people could hear her clearly even though she whispered. Her words made their brows twitch, as they all had the same thought.

'She won't change no matter what.'

Xiu coughed and bent her knees but anyone with keen eyes noticed her knees didn't actually touch the ground.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Doing stuff you don't mean doesn't suit you, so stand up," Samuel said, unfazed by her attitude. "Do you have any problems?"

Xiu stood up and shrugged, "As much as I love my sister here, I'm not allowing her to meet my child unless he wishes to."

"I see, so it's something we can ignore," Samuel nodded. "If there's nothing else, you can take your seat beside your teacher."

Xiu wrinkled her nose as she glared at Amon and said, "Thanks but no thanks. I have no habit of sitting beside a nasty old man who likes to kidnap children."

"Stop slandering me, lass," Amon said, losing his smile.

"You did kidnap me," Xiu shrugged again, then ignored him like a pest. Instead, her focus went to her sweet baby as she smiled widely and said, "I've prepared everything, so good luck, Little Sun."

All heads instantly snapped toward Samuel as silence once again covered the Sanctum. The audience didn't know just how many shocks they would get today, but it was certainly entertaining for people who lived monotonous lives.

The reason for this silence was simple. In the whole Empire, there was only one Sun, the Emperor himself. By calling Aegon Little Sun, Xiu was essentially proclaiming that he would be the next Sun, the one to lead the Empire.

Normally, this would be a treasonous statement, but the audience already knew how lenient the Emperor was toward the Augustus family. It was to such a degree that people often felt that Augustus would one day rebel and snatch his throne.

It never happened. But what about now?

Samuel saw their reaction and said, his voice turning cold again, "He is a Valerian, carrying the Lineage of the Sun. He is destined to lead the world, so if someone has any objection, they can come and say it."

Seeing none come forward, he snorted and said, "Valerians never took any thrones despite having the power to do so, and there's a reason for it. No need to overthink."

He didn't need to explain as the Emperor but he did it anyway because he knew some people might start forming rebellious ideas in Aegon's name.

The world was a nasty place, so he wanted to extinguish that fire before it formed.

Xiu glanced around, realising exactly what they were thinking, and said, "If any of you have any problems, I'm standing right here. Come if you have balls."

Of course, no one moved.

Arnold massaged his eyes, tired of everything, and asked, "You were given a task. Where are they?"

"Oh! How did I forget about them? They're outside waiting for me to announce their arrival."

Everyone was once again speechless at her antics.

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