A Journey That Changed The World.

''Yes, she is. Her name is Aeris Redcliff, and she went to take care of some business when seeing your expression,'' Archer answered.

The old man sighed before admitting. ''I'm sorry for doubting you, grandson, but why would you let Sia continue being sick? It's bad enough with one sick daughter I don't need another.''

''Maybe you should have been a better parent, eh? Then your other daughter wouldn't have a reason to be sick after what she did to me,'' he replied in a bitter voice that shut the old man up.

Following that, they reached Sia's room, and Archer sensed two other people as he entered. When he did, three women turned to him, but he ignored them and gazed at Sia, who smiled at him.

''Hello, handsome,'' the black-haired woman said. ''How's the war on Avidia going? Have we taken the west yet?''

Archer smiled when he saw Sia sitting on the bed with a beautiful smile. He approached her and gave her a hug, which she melted into. ''I've missed you, Arch,'' she said sweetly.

''Why didn't you tell them?'' he asked while leaning back. ''Albert was on the verge of hitting me.''

When the older woman heard this, her blue eyes widened before they snapped to her father. ''Didn't I tell you I'm fine? Why risk falling out with Arch over nothing?''

Albert grumbled under his breath, but Mia stepped forward, her expression unreadable. However, she suddenly froze mid-step as Sia deactivated the shield concealing her abdomen.

Archer's gaze remained steady as he watched his grandmother's eyes widen in pure shock, realization crashing over her like a tidal wave. The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the moment settling heavily around them. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

''Why did you hide it, daughter?'' Mia asked.

''I wanted Arch to be here when I told you all,'' the dragonkin woman asked.

After Sia said that, Archer noticed Larka sitting there while avoiding looking at him, but this time she had white hair. 'Why is she copying me?' he thought.

''Now I understand,'' Mia said with a smile while cupping Sia's cheek. ''Tell your father and sister.''

''Tell us what?'' Albert demanded from behind them.

Sia looked up while cradling her stomach as she announced. ''I'm pregnant, father. That's why I've been ill.''

Archer watched as the older man went rigid, his eyes widening in shock. Slowly, Albert turned to him, a deep regret shadowing his expression. ''I'm sorry, grandson. Would you consider forgiving this foolish old man?''

A soft smile crossed his face as he waved him off dismissively. ''I was annoyed, but I understand your worry, Grandfather. There's nothing to forgive.''

From the corner of his eye, he saw Larka jump up in excitement, a bright smile lighting her face, only to falter moments later. Before she could sit back down, Archer spoke, his voice neutral. ''You can still be happy, Mother. It's your first grandchild, after all.''

For a moment, silence hung between them before emotion flickered in Larka's eyes, her expression torn between disbelief and overwhelming joy as she mumbled. ''I don't deserve the title after the way I treated you in the past, Archer.''

When the others heard this, Sia grabbed his hand and spoke in a low voice. ''Can you speak to her, please? I know what she did was bad, but she's wasting away here and is truly sorry for what she did.''

Archer's eyebrow rose when hearing this as he replied. ''Didn't you slap her for it? I never expected you to ask that.''

The older woman nodded and explained while cradling her stomach. ''Becoming pregnant changes you, Arch, and I think you should let go of the hate you have to move on.''

''I don't hate anyone, Sia,'' he revealed with a charming smile. ''Well, maybe the Pope, Novgorod Emperor, and Leonard, but I'll do it because I love you.''

Archer stood up just as Mia suddenly embraced him, her arms wrapping around him tightly. She leaned in and whispered into his ear, ''Thank you for this incredible gift. I never thought Sia could conceive, but now she is—and I couldn't be happier. The old man feels the same.''

''You're welcome, grandmother,'' he replied while hugging the older woman. ''Now let me deal with my mother.''

She nodded before ushering him toward the white-haired woman who kept avoiding his gaze, but he chuckled. ''White hair suits your mother,'' he tried to break the ice as his emotions were in a whirlwind.

Larka smiled before revealing, ''It was stress that changed its color. The healers figured out that it will never return to its original shade.''

''Do you want it too?'' he asked while stepping close.

She looked up with a confused expression. ''Yes, because I loved my black hair as it was like Sia's, but I accept that it's part of my punishment.''

Archer shook his head and grabbed Larka by the shoulder before pouring his mana into her body, which made the older woman yelp. Albert turned in their direction to complain, but when her hair returned to its previous color, he was shocked.

''Don't fight the mana mother,'' he said. ''It's healing everything inside you.''

Larka's blue eyes widened in shock, her lips trembling as she murmured, ''Why are you doing this?''

Archer exhaled a long sigh before answering, his voice laced with quiet resolve. ''I'm not sure,'' he admitted. ''A wise king knows he must let go of the past. My hatred for the Ashguards isn't worth my time anymore. I've spent the last ten years consumed by it, but now that I'm a father, I see no purpose in carrying that burden any longer.''

When everyone heard that, a heavy silence settled over them as Archer continued, ''I'm twenty-one, soon to be twenty-two, a king of a growing kingdom, and now a father to four children. I no longer have the luxury of dwelling on the past.''

Larka looked as if lightning had struck her, her face lighting up with shock. ''There are four babies?'' she exclaimed.

Archer nodded. ''Sia is pregnant with one, Leira with another, and Hecate is carrying two little girls,'' he revealed.

The room fell into stunned silence before Sia suddenly jumped up, her eyes wide with excitement. She threw her arms around him, her radiant smile making his heart skip a beat. ''She's having twins? Her dream finally came true!'' she cried.

Before anyone could speak Aeris appeared beside him with a big smile which shocked the others, but the wraith spoke in a sweet voice. ''Congratulation. I know you'll be a brilliant father.''

Archer hugged Sia before wrapping Aeris in one as he whispered into her ear. ''You will need to give me some little wraiths in the future.''

The young woman shivered but nodded, her smile growing even wider. Archer turned to the group and gestured toward her. ''This is Aeris Redcliff, one of my women,'' he announced. ''We made it official just a little while ago.''

Mia and Albert greeted her with smiles before fussing over Sia, which made him laugh, but Aeris joined them as Larka approached the balcony door while speaking. ''Can we talk, please?''

When the mother and son stepped outside, they stood there in silence, but he didn't make the first move to talk. He noticed the older woman's hands clenched at her sides, her blue eyes filled with something he'd never seen in them before: guilt.

She swallowed hard and then, to his shock, sank to her knees before him. ''I'm sorry,'' she choked out, her voice breaking. ''For everything.''

Archer tensed, his jaw tightening. ''For what, exactly?'' he asked.

''For all the ways I failed you,'' she admitted, her eyes glistening. ''For the abuse you endured, for the way we all treated you, and for how I stood by and did nothing. I should have defended you, should have fought for you, but I was a coward.''

His chest tightened, memories clawing their way to the surface, nights spent cold and alone, bruises that never quite healed, and the crushing weight of abandonment. Larka lowered her head. ''I don't expect forgiveness. I don't deserve it. But I need you to know. I regret every moment I let you suffer alone.''

A long silence stretched between them. The boy he once was would have given anything to hear those words. The man he had become wasn't sure if they were enough, as he declared. ''Why did you let Leonard, and the others beat me? You even struck me several times.''

Archer waved his hand, and a long scar appeared along the side of his neck that had been hidden for years, as he hated it. He traced it lightly with his fingers before speaking, his voice soft but steady.

''This,'' he said, his eyes distant, ''Was from one of the worst beatings I endured at the hands of my so-called father and siblings. Ella stitched me up after, but I never allowed it to fully heal. I keep it as a reminder of what I went through, the pain, the suffering... and how far I've come since.''

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