Chapter 4681: The Perils of Royal Romance

Runark’s expression grew serious at those words. It appeared he was aware of this as well. Back when Ria was still part of the royal family’s life as the royal princess, there were many boys and even men from across human civilization who sought her hand in marriage. Not because she was exquisitely beautiful, but simply because she was the daughter of the Emperor of Water. Who she was personally hadn’t mattered.

Ria’s expression frosted at that memory. It was one of the reasons that she had run away from this life when she was sixteen, the very moment she broke through to the Master Realm.

"There’s also the fact that my own power within human civilization is diminishing and diluting," Rui added, having regained his own composure. "In the past, my power was nigh absolute. But now there are already three more Transcendents, though one has always been there, but remained hidden. And soon, there will be several more Transcendents. I will no longer be able to throw around my weight without resistance, so your situation is more precarious than if I were the sole Transcendent."

Runark nodded. "I understand that there are risks. But I’m willing to risk everything to realize my love for Ria."

Everybody ignored the blushing Ria, maintaining the serious atmosphere.

"You will need to grow stronger," Rui remarked. "Many powerful parties are going to be displeased by this relationship. The scion of the Namgung Dynasty, the great-grandson of the Astral Sovereign, the former prince of the former Solarian Kingdom. There are even suitors outside Panama, from each of the six great civilizations, each of which who want to establish a relationship with me and the Kandrian Empire through my daughter. All of them have an incentive to kill you."

Ria’s expression grew angry. "Assholes. I hate all of them. But... maybe we should keep our relationship a secret for now."

It was a reasonable idea though it may have already leaked by now. Keeping a secret was very difficult these days. Runark, however, refused.

"I don’t want to keep my love for Ria hidden," he spoke with a clear voice. "I want the world to know that she is mine and I am hers."

Ria blushed once more, though a little less. She was slowly getting used to Runark’s straightforward expression of love and affection. Amare smiled at Runark proudly. "That’s the spirit. Rest assured that we will do everything in our power to protect you. Your parents will not stand back and watch either. Kane will intercept every threat long before they can reach you, that much I can promise."

Rui nodded with a calm expression. "That being said, I don’t intend to smother you with protection. I will keep excessive attempts at your life at bay, but it is best that you handle everything else yourself. If you don’t, then you will never be free from suffocating protection. Amare and I are high-value targets for assassination, but nobody even dared to touch us even before we became Transcendents because we were the strongest Martial Artists and I was the strongest pathwalker."

Runark nodded at Rui with admiration and respect. "I will, too, yearn to reach that kind of power. Not just to protect my relationship with Ria, but because I know Ria will undoubtedly reach that level of power. And I must ensure that I never fall behind."

Amare raised an eyebrow, turning towards her daughter with a pointed gaze. She disapproved of the pressure that Runark felt to keep up with her. Ria’s talent was otherworldly, in a whole other dimension by itself. It was unfair of Ria to expect boys to keep up with her when she was this powerful.

However, Ria responded to her mother’s disapproval with firmness. She was clear, only partners who could stand by her side in power had earned the right to stand by her side in a relationship. It was harsh, but that was the lesson that she had drawn from the traumatizing fiasco that had cost her the lives of two friends.

The rest of the dinner was more pleasant. Ria regained her bearing while her heartbroken father accepted the inevitable. He still insisted on talking to Runark alone briefly after dinner. And later when they returned, Rui had been smiling with satisfaction while Runark’s face was pale. Both Amare and Ria glared at the satisfied father, comforting the fearful Runark.

"Stop harassing my boyfriend," she emphasized the last word, causing a pang of pain to flash in Rui’s heart. Indeed, his daughter could be very cruel when she wanted to. That being said, his childish displeasure at losing his daughter aside, he would be lying if he said he was only displeased with the relationship itself. In truth, Runark was the best kid for the job, if there truly needed to be a boyfriend.

He appreciated Runark’s dedication. He knew that one of the reasons he had persevered to keep his nyctophobia and to turn it into a talent was that he wanted the power to stand beside Ria. To earn her respect and her trust in his ability to keep up with her so that she could finally look at him as partner material.

After letting the kid off with some ’gentle warnings’ about what would happen if he broke his daughter’s heart, he was satisfied.

Soon, it was time for him to leave home. A soft, brief kiss left Ria standing with bashful embarrassment as the door to their quarters closed in front of her. Amare smirked at her daughter’s embarrassment. "It looks like Ria has short-circuited from two kisses in one day, huhuhu."

Ria turned to glare at her mother for poking fun at her while Rui’s expression grew grave. "That brat, I wonder where he got so much experience to be so calm kissing Ria. He better not be a two-timing scumbag."

"You know he’s not like that," Ria immediately regained her bearings as she defended her boyfriend. "He’s just..."

She blushed. "...confident. And to be honest... I like that."

Amare beamed at those words while Rui smiled with resigned acceptance.

BZZZT BZZZT

Rui gazed at his beeping communicator.

[Incoming call request: S’rrigin of Aquadite Ocean Civilization.]

"I’ll catch up with you two later," Rui said, heaving a bored sigh. "I have to negotiate a trade deal with some alien fishmen."