Chapter 47: Rejected
Taking things easy and trying to go back to normal can be one of the challenging things in life. Trying to give it your all to make things workout though the objections are too high put forward by the people around. It is not easy overcoming them, especially when you have been intentionally or unintentionally on the wrong side.
It was no different for Huo'er. He has been oblivious and misguided by the enemies he didn't know about, doing all the things that is against his own will, killing, reign over people, ditching the only people who wanted good for him, having no memory of any part of his life.
Imagine the feeling you would go through when the person your family loved, respected, and died for goes with the person who murdered you. If Aenon and family are holding grudge, they have a reason don't they? A reason even though they had no idea of what was happening around Demon King's life?
Huo a month later decided to visit the water realm. He wished to build his relationship to the next level with the Kings and take his Aqua back. He went with a lot of gifts and treasures, getting excited to meet her. He wished to put forward a proposal he had in his mind, asking for Aqua's hands. He had no idea why suddenly decided to give a try but definitely was not expecting anything less than happiness since they have gotten back together.
Aenon was not happy. But he welcomed the Demon King anyway. He tired to keep things lower, without alerting nor attracting trouble. Huo asked for the Crown Princess straight and enquired to Water King about holding a ceremony to announce her return before he talked about the proposal.
"I don't intend to let everyone know about it," Aenon shared his plan, coldly. Huo didn't feel welcome in Water Palace, everything felt odd this time.
"But everyone has already seen the aquarius coming back to life, to the original form," Huo said.
"I will let nobody see her from now on, why? To get her killed again? Aenon said strictly.
"Your highness, please listen,"
"Do not address me that way," Huo said. He was trying his best with Aenon to convince him acting nicer.
"Listen carefully," Aenon began. "As a father, I have a duty to protect my daughter, last time giving importance to my daughter's decisions, I had to watch her die, when she had a life inside her, I stood there, helpless, as a father, as a King, I let family down, I let my country down, Water Realm still has not risen from the ashes, from the losses. We are no longer supported by the heavens, for joining hands with you, but I do not care about that since the Emperor wasn't a righteous man, and we became self-reliant. But that's not the case anymore. Think about it," Aenon said. "Why did Emperor in the first place wanted to eradicate you two? Do you want the history to repeat again? but this time you and Aqua could barely fight without cultivation, your shifu is no longer around, is there anyone you can trust with your potential power?"
To this Huo'er had nothing to say. He didn't have a word to express, to answer back. To him, Aenon sounded like a king not a man he once used to know and admire. Huo got upset and angry at the same time. He got up and left the palace without saying anything further since Aqua did not show up in front of him. He was disappointed. This wasn't what he wanted when he got his conscious back. He thought things could go back to normal, but everything had changed and how he was in the last years he knew how it would have effected his image from before. He had no idea how to take his things back nor did he have any intention to. He let it go just like that.
"Don't worry your highness, I won't hurt the Crown Princess again, She should live well," He searched for words. "I just wanted to pay a visit,"
"Am afraid she can't," The King said and got, indicating Huo to leave the Palace. Huo'er smiled embarrassedly and got up. He was very disappointed and made up his made to never return again.
Huo took off without looking back unaware that Aqua was grounded. He just left and went straight back to the castle. He no longer wished to have any ties with the Water Realm. He felt insulted being the Demon King to have been treated coldly and rejected by the woman he loves. He couldn't believe Aqua chose the same and kept overthinking everything inside his head.
As he entered the castle, he asked the maid to prepare some strong wine and walked to his chamber. Volca walked out from her chamber to meet with him. Her eyes sunken with dark circles. Wearing the usual maroon clothes, she stood in front of the king.
He decided to act in front of Volca and everyone just like he used to in the past 23 years. He didn't want Volca to find the truth.
Volca didn't wish to stay inside her room any longer, finally taking off her mourning robes. She still had no clue why Huo'er killed her mother. Huo'er visited her in the hallway.
"How are you?" he asked her.
"Why?" she asked him back.
"I was having a nightmare, when I woke up I thought she was trying to kill me and I stabbed her before she did,"
"But she was my mother why couldn't you just," Volca tired to speak but was stopped. Huo was getting angry with everything and tried his best to not burst out with anger, clenching his fist. He decided to tolerate Volca only because he has to make many plans with her regarding something and needed her cooperation at all cost. Taking a deep breath, and relaxing his mind, Huo looked at her.
"Enough, what's over is over," he said and left her alone. Volca couldn't understand. She wondered what was happening to him. She wondered if the crystals are acting up in his body taking control of him. "Could she have really returned?"