"Would you like to come with me to watch a play with my other wives? We can wait a little while for Yuki to wake from her sleep, then we'll go."
After some time, Yuki awoke. Nara drove us to where the play was being held, and it didn't take long before we arrived.
As we entered the building, I looked around. It was elegant and finely crafted, yet open to all. Regardless of status, anyone could come to watch—despite how grand and refined the place was.
We were escorted to a private room at the top. As we walked through the hall, people showed us their respect. Those who did not know my true nature simply addressed me as Eternal Prince Ren. All ten of the Eternal Royal Families were in attendance as well.
I took my seat, remaining in my human form—pitch-black short hair and light brown eyes.
I turned my attention to the stage. The play had begun, and a man was portraying me… the Black Dragon Emperor.
As I watched him play my role, memories surfaced—flashbacks of the battles from when I conquered Earth. I saw myself as I had been then, my entire body covered in blood. My armour was no longer black but crimson, my cape soaked through, and even my Black Dragon helm was stained, every mark a reminder of the war I had waged.
Behind me stood the other nine Eternal Generals, with the full might of the Eternal Empire gathered at my back. There was no sun—only complete darkness, and pitch-black flames surrounding us as we faced our enemies.
I came back to reality as I continued watching the play. The actors and actresses portrayed all of us who had been there, recreating the events exactly as they had happened. Nothing was changed—every moment, every action, was shown as it truly was.
As it finished, we all began to clap for the performance. Soon after, a new play began—one depicting World War Three. It showed their attempt to reclaim the lands we had taken from them… an effort that ultimately failed.
Gunjack—the persona people called me during that time. A foolish name my father had once joked about when I was born, never meant to be taken seriously, yet one I carried while I fought in that war.
Many other plays depicted events that I and the Eternal Empire were involved in, either openly or in secret, as we had taken on different identities through the centuries.
Every time a play ended, the audience cheered, screamed, and clapped. I sensed something and just scoffed. It seemed they had finally decided to attempt to kill one of the Eternal Royal Families again. A few assassins tried, but they failed utterly—either the guards protected the targeted royal family member, or one of the Eternal Royal Family members dealt with them themselves.
Three of them attempted to kill me. I remained seated, not even turning to look at them. They fell apart where they stood, their bodies breaking without me moving a single muscle—killed by intent alone.
No one noticed what had happened. Still, one of us would report it, ensuring it was shown on the news for all to see—a warning to anyone foolish enough to try again.
We all watched until there were no more plays to see. The audience clapped, cheered, and shouted the actors' names.
Bai spoke, "Ren, how did you find the play?"
"It was accurate, of course—at least what we allowed the humans to know. They did a pretty good job, and I'm happy with how it went. We should go to our company building now, don't you think, Bai?" I glanced at Aihan Min and Yuki. "You don't have to attend unless you wish to—it's your choice."
"Either way, let's go," I added.
We entered the vehicle, and Nara drove us to our company building. Six of my wives went ahead to handle their business there, while Yuki and Aihan Min stayed beside me.
I sat in my office, watching the news. Two people—a man and a woman—were speaking about the recent events.
"The ten Eternal Royal Families attended a play today, and assassins attempted to kill them. Fortunately, none of them were harmed. The accomplices are individuals who still refuse to accept the Eternal Empire's rule over their lands—a group we all know as the Unity."
I contemplated whether I should just kill them all today and be done with it. At the same time, I wondered if it would still be beneficial. They kept coming to kill us, and every time, we ended them effortlessly, a clear warning to humans not to rebel. After all, the Eternal Empire has ruled Earth for over a hundred thousand years—since 2020.
My secretary entered the room. He was a man, and he spoke respectfully.
"Sir, the two women who came with you earlier have finished the tour. What would you like to do now?"
"Bring them here," I said calmly.
Aihan Min and Yuki entered and took their seats in my office as I continued working on my device. I glanced up at them.
"How was it?" I asked. "Aihan Min, your schedule is free now, isn't it? You can start working here if you wish. It's up to you whether you want to climb slowly or if you'd rather I place you in an important position right away. I can make you the CEO of one of our companies if you want."
I then looked to Yuki.
"You're already the heir to your family's company, so we can simply form a partnership with them."
Aihan Min spoke calmly. "I'll climb slowly. It won't take long for me to build a new company for the Eternal Empire—that's what I want to do."
I nodded. "Alright, then. That settles it."
I turned my head, gazing out of the office window at the countless towering buildings stretching across the city.
"Tell me," I said quietly, turning my eyes back to them, "should we kill a few of the Unity members who still wish to reclaim their lands from us?"
I studied their expressions. "To me, either choice works. We can remove them—end the matter here and now—or keep them alive, if they still have some use left to us."
Aihan Min spoke calmly, without hesitation.
Yuki Chibana spoke next, her voice steady and unhesitating.
"We should simply kill them, Black Dragon Emperor. To me, they are nothing more than nuisances to the Eternal Empire. We already warned the world not to rebel against us. Their attempts are meaningless—futile gestures that will never change the outcome."
"We could kill half of their forces and leave the rest alive," I said calmly. "Let them suffer. Let them understand that what they're doing is meaningless. Or perhaps… I should kill one of their leaders now."
The two of them simply looked at me, waiting for my decision.
Then I sensed something and allowed a faint smirk to form.
It seemed one of their leaders had come personally.
A woman, no less.
Moments later, my secretary entered. "Sir, a lady has arrived to speak with you regarding business."
Before he could say more, the woman pushed past him and entered on her own. She walked in without hesitation and took the seat opposite my desk, her posture confident, almost arrogant. A man—her secretary, by the look of him—stood quietly behind her.
Aihan Min and Yuki glanced at her, then at me, before rising and leaving the room alongside my secretary.
I turned my attention fully to the woman before me.
She was… haughty.
I looked at her carefully.
Her hair was the colour of dark wine, deep crimson with a subtle sheen, the same shade as her eyes. Her complexion was pale and flawless, giving her an almost porcelain appearance. She wore a black tailored suit, sharp and elegant, paired with a crisp white shirt beneath it. A vivid red tie rested neatly at her collar, matching the deep wine tone of her lipstick.
Even her nails were painted the same dark crimson, perfectly manicured, deliberate in choice. Every detail of her appearance felt calculated — controlled, confident, and meant to command attention.
She did not look nervous.
She looked like someone who expected to be obeyed.
As I studied her, a sudden craving crossed my mind. I tapped the device in front of me, my gaze never leaving her.
"Bring me a glass of dark red wine," I said calmly. "I find myself in the mood for it."
"Yes, sir. Of course," the secretary replied at once, bowing slightly before stepping away.
"One more thing before you go," Ren added calmly. "Bring two more glasses as well—for our visitors."
The secretary bowed once more on the screen before the connection ended.
The secretary returned a moment later with the drinks, carefully pouring mine first. As he moved to pour for the woman, she placed a hand over the glass before a single drop could fall. She didn't look at him—her gaze never left me.
"I don't want any," she said coldly. "He merely assumed."
The secretary hesitated, then glanced toward her own aide. The man gave a small nod, and the drink was poured for him instead.
I spoke calmly, my voice even.
"You should have some. You're my guest, and you came here to speak business. It would be rude of me not to offer at least that much hospitality."
She studied me in silence for a moment before finally lifting her hand from the glass.
"That's enough," she said as the liquid filled it only partway.
I raised my own glass, filled to the brim, and drank it down in one motion. Setting it aside, I looked at her again.
"So," I said evenly, "what is it you wished to speak to me about? I didn't expect to meet you here today. You came of your own accord—which is fine by me."
She studied me for a moment before speaking.
"Do you know who I am?"
I met her gaze without hesitation. I didn't need her to say it. A single glance had already told me enough — fragments of her life, her ambition, the blood on her hands, the weight she carried.
"Venasa Roseheart," I said calmly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So you do know me."
"I know of you," I replied. "Enough to understand why you're here. Enough to know you didn't come without purpose."
She leaned back in her chair, folding her hands neatly in her lap, her expression carefully composed.
"Then you also know I don't make pointless visits."
"No," I said. "You don't."
There was a brief silence between us — not uncomfortable, but heavy. Measured. The kind that came before negotiations… or war.
"So," I continued evenly, "speak. You didn't come all this way simply to confirm whether I knew your name."