22 Truth?

"The Zuldroan clan, a clan made up of the descendants of dragons. I belong to such a clan as I have told you before. Our bloodline thinned as time passed, a problem many other clans have. So the Dragon whose bloodline we possess left an inheritance with his blood essences. Whoever obtained it would also obtain the blood essences that would allow the clan to once again flourish."

Rhys spoke, mixing lies with truths. He knew he could not tell them the truth, for some reason he wanted to hide that for as long as possible, although the girls knew he had elven parts because of his ears and unnatural beauty. His other two bloodlines were well hidden since they had yet to make any physical changes. That is minus his colored hair and eyes.

"Naturally I also am elven as you can see from my ears," Rhys's ears twitched adorably, making the girls smile. "The inheritance also had blood essences from the elf founder. Anyway, that is beside the point."

"What I am trying to say is that because of that blood essence within the inheritance as I get stronger the blood essences will be refined into my body. Increasing my bloodline purity. Which makes the changes you see plausible."

Rhys channeled his energy throughout his body and the transparent scales shone with a golden luster and became visible. Making the girls' mouths open wide in surprise. Although the tattoos were from the Eternal Paragon Void Body the girls did not need to know.

"The inheritance came from a very strong dragon, because of that many other inheritances are held within the Dragon's inheritance." Rhys smiled as he finished speaking, although he did not say the full truth he did say some real things.

Aurora was the first one to speak, her curvaceous body attracted his attention, although she wore clothes like a nun that covered all of her body, not revealing an inch of skin from her neck down. That naturally was to hide the love marks left from Rhys, the hickeys and bite marks all over her body were well hidden.

The same went for Rhys, whose back and neck were full of scratches and hickeys respectively. His robed did well to hide the scratch marks on his back and some of the hickeys.

Since Aurora was stronger than himself, his body was not able to withstand her scratches, thus they remained, thankfully they slowly healed with his new cultivation base.

But Aurora slowed down her own healing of these marks since she wanted to feel 'marked' by Rhys.

"So you are saying the inheritance is the cause of all of your changes and fast cultivation?" Her smile was sweet, with no greed or any other evil emotions in her eyes. She clearly did not care.

"That is right, that is why I have so many dragon properties within myself."

'That is why I felt the pride of a Dragon from his aura when we met... although I ignored it then since it was too weak!' Aurora connected the dots.

"Rhys you should know we do not care about any of that, only about you and your love." Stella's voice was sweet as always and sounded heavenly.

Crystal smiled lovingly, "Like sister said, it matters not, for only you matter to us."

"Ah..." Rhys felt like making love with them for their kind words but held himself back.

"Mhm, my cultivation is also fast because of the number of ingredients and treasures within the inheritance I obtained." Rhys made up another lie since it was his talent that was increasing. Since he had not used any ingredient within the ring as he was still too weak to consume them.

Rhys moved to hug his three women, cuddling with them as he felt glad they weren't mad that he hid so many things from them even after they grew this close.

Ina stayed quiet, she was like a ghost. She would not speak unless Rhys asked something of her. She would not tell her opinion unless it was relevant to Rhys's life as a whole either. She was like a watched unless called upon.

But her thoughts were always changing depending on the situation.

'Oh Rhys... you love might one day kill you. These girls love you but if one day you tell this to a woman who is not as good there is no telling how far she would go for the inheritance of Lord Swarshlen!'

Naturally, these thoughts would be kept to herself and Rhys would never know.

As they cuddled Rhys thought of a few things before he spoke again, "I feel like going out to train."

Stella spoke a few seconds after Rhys, "Go ahead, the beasts in the Empire's Arena are very ferocious, you can fight there."

"No... I mean I want to leave and go out. Explore while tempering myself a bit more..."

The girls look at him as if he were crazy, but they also felt mad he wanted to abandon such a good life with them. Yet before they could speak again Rhys interrupted them again.

"Don't get me wrong, I love this lifestyle! Spending time with you three is a blessing. But I feel stagnant, I have many skills to practice and they are very destructive. I want to expand my horizons and test myself without any help. In here I am under protection and always in safe places.

Rhys hugged them tighter, "Which is why I am telling you this, I decided to leave, but I wanted to tell you it will be for a very long time."

Crystal and Stella felt a bit sad when they heard those words, but they knew they could not go with him as they each had their own duties. They were princesses, so for the time being they had to stay within the Empire and with their mother until the Empress retired. Yet they knew the chances of becoming empress had become zero as they all wanted to leave with Rhys.

Aurora's fair eyebrows furrowed as she pressed her head closer to his chest and spoke, her voice slightly muffled by her mouth being against his chest, "I understand, we will not stop your growth. Just... make sure to return to us, Rhys. We love you too much, we do not know what we would do if you were to leave us."

"You know I wouldn't, I too love you and do not want to abandon you. I'd rather die!" Rhys spoke with conviction, making the three girls smile and snuggle closer to him.

"Mhm... but for now please stay with us, we want to spend some time with you before you decide to leave us... as long as you come back we will never have any problems." Crystal spoke cheerfully, Stella and Aurora already falling asleep under his warm embrace.

"Don't worry." Rhys kissed Crystal's forehead before proceeding to kiss everyone else's, making the girls who were already falling asleep smile, and Crystal make a cute sound.

Within a few minutes, the sound of snores were heard within the room, as they fell asleep within his embrace, smiles plastered on their faces as they felt both happy and fulfilled.

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Morning came, the 4 woke up with a smile, the girls made sure to get their morning kiss from Rhys while Rhys felt each of their tastes, their lips soft and warm. Stella's taste made Rhys hug her and kiss her again, while Crystal made Rhys sweetly smile, lastly, Aurora's taste made Rhys's little brother wake up, something that did not escape her eyes. Her charming face turned bright as she giggled like a little girl. Her hands quickly touched her beloved rod before she moved her hands. Naturally, her daughters did not notice as Aurora moved too fast for their eyes or senses to track.

As they all were together on the bed they heard a knock on the door. These made Aurora furious as someone had dared disturb their peace!

"Who dares!"

Aurora quickly opened the door with an enraged face, but before she berated whoever it was, she saw her Imperial Maid looking unbothered as her cold voice resounded within the room.

"Empress Moonsky wishes to see you in the throne room!"

These words made Aurora, who knew of her ancestor freeze and worry as she did not know if this was about Rhys. While Rhys and her daughters did not know as much of the previous Empresses.

"I understand." Aurora spoke, her voice now calm, albeit inwardly her soul was screaming.

'Why now?! Is this about Rhys? It must be about him! I hope she does not kill him or I will never forgive her!'

The Imperial maid soon left the hall and towards the Throne Room.

Aurora looked at her beloved and daughters before she spoke, "Let's go, the first Empress. Our founder wants to meet you... us."

Those words made mini-explosions go through their heads as they immediately stood up and used their energy to straighten their clothes and hair. They would not make the first empress wait.

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"Did you tell them?"

"Yes, milady." The same female voice sounded, this time from the Imperial Maid! That's right, she was the woman who reported to the first Empress, although she did not garner much attention as she was lowkey. She was also the woman who first woke Rhys up when he moved on to the castle, although at some point she stopped.

The first Empress seductively nodded and laid back on the throne, Aurora's throne, "Go back. This talk will be private!" Her voice full of majesty and authority made the maid bow and leave, passing through the door and by the group of four walking towards the Throne room.

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As Rhys and the others entered the room he found himself a bit overwhelmed, not just by her aura but beauty. She was without a doubt the most beautiful woman he had seen in his two lives. Edea and Aurora were far inferior, but that did not mean he would stop caring about them. Her long black hair that seems to fade into the space around her, her beautiful blue eyes shone like the brightest stars. Her slender hands contained immeasurable strength within them, that curvaceous body that was adorned in deep blue imperial robes, making her beauty shine, and her curves give off a charm that seemed irresistible.

Those breasts and buttocks were big and round, seeming like they would pop out of her robes at any moment from how tight they were placed on her body. Those thick and soft tighs and long fair legs. Her body seemed to be made of the finest jade as her pale skin shone with a bluish glow.

She was just that beautiful.

As they walked forward the 3 girls kneeled, Aurora's pride was all gone as she did not dare disrespect her ancestor, since she had not disrespected herself.

"""We greet the First Empress!""" Aurora, Stella, and Crystal all spoke at the same time, their voice filled with reverence.

"You called, oh revered ancestor?" Aurora spoke with respect, while her daughters looked down with nervousness. On the other hand, Rhys did not kneel but looked at her, his Dragon blood did not want to kneel!

This was the pride of the Dragon race as the strongest species. They felt every other existence was inferior to them.

"Yes, I wanted to speak about him." The first empress pointed her slender finger towards Rhys, whose pupils slightly contracted as he felt a mighty power restrict his body.

"I—" Before Aurora could speak, Rhys spoke, his voice calm.

"I understand, but talk to me and not them. If you have any problem take it with me and not the woman I love!" Rhys spoke, his voice was still considered respectful, but his look was filled with some annoyance.

The first empress did not reply but merely stare at Rhys.

"First of all, for the current Imperial family to fall in love with the same man is very bad, for me and the future of the Empire! When choose to live I am sure they too will leave! Then who will rule the Empire I spent over 400 years creating and then many more ruling?!

"You are weak! Taking the time of the current Empress away, the only reason the Empire is still standing is because of my orders, taking the helm of the Empire while the Empress, who swore to uphold her duty sleeps and takes on pleasure with a man whose background is unknown!"

Although Rhys had spoken about his background the first empress's information team had yet to find anything relating to Rhys, that was how secretive the Zuldroan and Highsky Empire were. Their affairs were kept to themselves!

Rhys frowned, "So what? Will you kill me? Or?..."

Rhys made sure not to continue to see the first empress's reaction.

"Worth." Those words made Rhys confused.

"Prove your worth. That you are worthy of my descendants and that your personality is truly righteous!"

Rhys's confusion turned into annoyance, "I've proved myself already! For six months I never took advantage of them! Not only that, their own souls judged and approved of me! What more do you want from me?!"

Rhys felt enraged, he never did anything bad, now he had to prove himself for a woman he did not care about. So what if she was stronger than him?! He had protective treasures that could block her attacks and even get them away from the Empire.

"Rhys Zuldroan, you do not understand. For the whole Imperial family to fall in love with the same man is not right, especially the Empress who swore to live her life ruling, the moment they chose to become the Empress they let go of any chance of love or normal lives. Yet the current Empress, Aurora Moonsky did not uphold her promise." The words of the first empress were harsh yet filled with emotions.

"Revered Ancestor, I accept my mistakes... but how can I not fall in love with him?! When he is like this! Kind, Loving, Charming, and now strong! Even I did not know this would happen...!" Aurora spoke, tears veiling her serene blue eyes, making Rhys's heart clench as he felt it was his fault.

Not only did he take her time away, but he also felt unworthy of her. Yet that did not stop him from falling for her.

"Aurora, I saw you grow from a child to now, understand my plight. The Eternal Moon Empire is my greatest achievement, second only to you, my descendants. Who I adore with my soul, but I cannot allow you to leave the very place that raised you. Hell, even one of your daughters might have to stay to take the role of Empress in the future."

Stella and Crystal shuddered thinking of their futures. Aurora's eyes widened as she felt her world crumble, looking at Rhys with her teary eyes that made her seem vulnerable.

"No! I refuse to let that happen! Tell me, what should I do to let them be free!? I'd do anything... do not! Even If I cannot kill you I will not hesitate to get rid of your Empire!" Rhys spoke with pure killing intent, although it wasn't anything special as those that died under his hands were few.

"Fufufu. Anything?" A small smile formed on her face.

"Yes!"

"Very well, you promised! Get ready, we will be leaving soon. I will give you a challenge. If you complete it they will be free!" Rhys froze, feeling like he was played by the first Empress.

'Did she plan all of this to make me do something for her?! No way right?...'

Rhys felt a shudder go up his spine as he looked at the first Empress sitting arrogantly on her throne.

'Fuck!'

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Author's Note:

Slightly bigger chapter due to uploading late!

Also please send motivation!!

Over 2.6k words!