Thud.
King Henry VIII gently closed the hefty to in his hands.
Annan glanced over and noticed that the cover was inscribed with florid script reading "High-Order Aelin Language – A Detailed Discussion on the Special Significance of Syllables to Rituals."
What was this about?
...One is never too old to learn?
King Henry VIII lifted his head, his eyes smiling as he looked at Annan and gestured for him to sit beside him, yet he remained silent.
Thus, Annan took the hint and spoke.
He did not bow to the king, nor did he pay his respects or offer any pleasantries.
Just a glance at the books on the table and he murmured, "Are you studying Aelin language?"
"Yes, but there are so dragon language annotations that I can’t make sense of. It’s wonderful that you could co see ."
"—I don’t think you asked here just to make small talk," Annan interrupted, realizing he had been placed on the defensive.
King Henry VIII was not angered by the disruption.
He rely glanced at Kafney with a smile, then turned back to Annan with interest and asked, "Wasn’t it you who ca looking for ? Led here by dear Kafney to see ... wasn’t that the case?"
As King Henry VIII ntioned Kafney, Annan distinctly felt her hand tremble and lower her head before timidly releasing his hand.
Annan did not look back at Kafney.
—Instead, he swiftly grasped her wrist and held it gently.
Kafney jolted, looking at Annan with so surprise.
But Annan said nothing, his gaze calm as he faced King Henry VIII, "You knew well in advance that I would co with Kafney today.
"Since my actions still fall within your plans... then it’s certainly you who summoned ."
"It’s hardly a plan..."
King Henry VIII replied with a slight smile, his voice smooth yet compelling, "By publicly revealing your identity, I show that I bear no ill will towards you. No matter what Philip might want to do to you, no matter what Elizabeth is planning. As long as your identity is announced by personally, you’re safe... aren’t you?"
—Indeed, that was true.
After all, Annan was not an ordinary royal kin from another country.
As a direct descendant of the old grandmother, Annan was under her personal protection. Without prior knowledge, causing harm to Annan, persecuting him, or showing him disrespect might be excusable... as long as Annan did not die, the old grandmother would not cross national borders to enforce the law.
But once Annan’s identity had been revealed, anyone hostile towards him would face the old grandmother’s revenge when the snows of winter fell.
The old grandmother was well-known for holding grudges—the concept of ti for a dragon was not the sa as for mortals.
To the old grandmother, who could sleep for years, staying awake and vigilant for three or four decades was quite normal.
After all, the old grandmother’s protective month was December... Every winter snowfall was fatal for those she wished to kill.
—If you’re capable, just try to avoid leaving your house during December. The mont you step out, a blizzard ensues, with each snowflake turning you instantly into an ice sculpture.
The old grandmother’s revenge was not asured in days or months. She could wait for decades... If the people died of old age before a chance presented itself, she would take it out on their descendants.
To pay the father’s debt by the son is "tradition"; to be overprotective is "tradition", and blood-kin revenge is also "tradition".
Until the old grandmother deed it over, she would never cease her vengeance.
—No one sought to provoke such a deity, except for madn.
The old grandmother was notoriously unreasonable.
Therefore, with the announcent of Annan’s identity, his personal safety in Noah was fully assured.
And because it was the king himself who made the announcent, it was impossible for those people to claim ignorance of the matter.
"... Thank you very much," Annan murmured his thanks after a long silence.
He then imdiately inquired, "But, Your Majesty, what is this about...?"
... Are you fully aware of what Philip and Elizabeth are up to?
"Though I am always here, I know much. Far more than they show. Crows are ever loyal to the crown, even if the crown has grown rusty and dim."
King Henry VIII sighed softly, speaking smoothly, "Be it Philip’s relations with the Church of the Rotten Husband and the little crows, Elizabeth’s little tricks in the military, the schools, and my personal guards... as well as the matter of Margaret and Denton, I am aware of it all.
"——Of course, that includes Kafney and your affair."
"...What about you?"
This did startle Annan sowhat.
He had previously thought that Henry VIII must know a little... but he hadn’t expected him to be so well-inford, to know so much.
Yet, he clearly knew everything, so why... did he do nothing at all?
"Because I’m about to die, Annan... Your Majesty."
Henry VIII narrated calmly.
"But you clearly seem to be in good health..."
"That’s irrelevant. I, as a ’Child in the Cup,’ am rely a temporary substitute."
The old king chuckled: "Whether it’s the territorial war with Winter, the contracts with those underground, or the diplomacy with The Holy Nation... no matter how well I manage, I cannot change one fact.
"——I am not a naturally born human being but a ’Child in the Cup’ created by the power of the Goddess of Cup, made simply to continue the royal bloodline. I am but a tool for transition, for the perpetuation of lineage.
"My father made the decision back then——I could only live until sixty-five, and then I must pass the throne to my child. Even if I had a lifespan of ninety-eight years... it would be the sa. This was to prevent political turmoil between my two generations of offspring in the event I lived long enough to transfer the throne through skip-generation inheritance."
The corners of Henry VIII’s mouth curved slightly, revealing a smile that was either pitying or mocking: "Yes... my father feared , dreaded . He shackled his only child with a life-shortening Curse Binding from birth——just for the continuity of the kingdom."
"..."
Annan fell silent.
Faced with Henry VIII’s words, he suddenly did not know how to respond.
To agree? To oppose? To comfort? To encourage?
——But none of these made any sense.
"So... you don’t love your own children?"
After a long ti, Annan asked slowly.
Hearing Annan’s words, Henry VIII showed a relieved, understood smile and nodded slightly: "If what you an is the love between parents and their children... then, yes."
He admitted it.
"So have said that ’Children in the Cup’ are devoid of emotions. They might be right... The truth is, Children in the Cup awaken too early.
"Humans have an instinctive love for infants. And when infants feel kindness and love from all around, they think of themselves as kings of the world, daring to extend their consciousness outward. They store this kindness and love to kindle when making acquaintances, gaining knowledge, falling in love."
The old king spoke slowly: "But Children in the Cup, while still in the cup, before even opening their eyes, already possess cognition, able to hear all spoken words. People do not censor themselves around the unborn.
"Yes, perhaps it’s the Goddess of Cup’s prank, or maybe a blessing... they can understand all spoken words while in the cup, before being born——but lose this ability after birth.
"That is to say, before they’ve felt ’love,’ they are already drenched in the blood of human desire. They can only feel hypocrisy, desire, disgust, and regret from their ’fathers’ or ’mothers’... before the outward expression of ’love’ cos.
"Children in the Cup are not a continuation of life——they are rely a replication. Anyone who sees their own ’Child in the Cup’ is instinctively filled with repulsion, because this infant that looks just like them is the proof of their own life’s failures...
"Artificial beings, understand human love? What a joke... Having never felt love from the start, How could they love others?"
Henry VIII looked at Annan: "For my father, I was his extension; and for my many children, they are my extension. Whether they’re assassinated is of no matter, being poisoned is fine, even if they kill each other. Being mind-controlled, it doesn’t concern .
"This is not revenge, just a statent.
"Since my father rely saw as a tool for the continuity of the kingdom and royal bloodline, then I need not express my opinion on anything beyond that——this surely aligns with his view as well.
"If it were Philip or Elizabeth coming to see , I certainly would have lain in bed, pretending to be delirious with a high fever. But you are different from them, you are not my descendant, so when I et you, there is no need for guard or pretense.
"After all, this is the sixty-fifth year of my life, next Wednesday is the day I pass away, and nothing concerns anymore... let them do as they will. Because I have no ’love’ for them to speak of.
"To , they are less interesting than a book."
His words ran counter to common sense, yet there was no hesitation in his voice.
Annan understood completely.
Henry VIII had no "love" at all for the Kingdom of Noah or his children.
In his heart, there was only hatred, duty, and indifference——hatred towards that "father" who replicated his life and bound his lifespan, the duty that tied him to the "royal family" and "kingdom," and indifference towards the destiny of himself and his children.
He wasn’t incapable of love.
——He simply had no need to understand it.
Nor did he want to.
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