Hendrickson eyed Logan for a second while the latter gave a nod, indicating that it was fine to continue.

"I said there were three reasons, didn't I?" Hendrickson turned to look at the crowd again.

"The third reason is for the Emperor to make a declaration."

"Your Majesty..." Hendrickson slightly bowed and moved his hands as if saying 'please' except there was a slight amount of worry in his face as he didn't know what kind of declaration would the Emperor make in the last moment.

Logan nodded and stood up, "Everyone who is gathered here, I am thankful to you all for witnessing the proceedings today."

"It's just as my Royal Advisor said. Today, I want to make a declaration or rather, an oath."

Logan panned his gaze towards the guests and took a deep breath before opening his mouth, "I, Logan Loret, as the Loret Emperor, hereby declare that if I were to have a relationship with a woman other than my current seven women, may the heavens smite me for my infidelity, rendering me incapable of cultivation anymore!"

Claire widened her eyes as the others also shouted in panic.

"Your Majesty!" Hendrickson and Randal shouted in panic and fright.

Logan took a deep breath again and looked back at the crowd with determination.

Although he couldn't feel it, a vague sense of uneasiness filled his soul.

Though he knew that the heavens weren't going to smite or punish him for anything, after performing this kind of oath, if he really were to have a relationship with another woman, then he would inevitably form a heart demon which will practically make him incapable of cultivation.

Unless, if he could destroy that heart demon which he planted on himself which of course, is virtually impossible.

Everyone was flabbergasted.

To an Emperor who was promiscuous, this was truly a ruthless move on his part.

"Enough!" A gloomy voice echoed around the banquet hall.

Almost all the guests became captivated for a second. It was as if their hearts could feel the grief in the tone of the bellow.

They turned to look at the source which turned out to be the Empress.

Claire bit her lips in resignation and weariness, "This is ridiculous, I'm going back..."

She seemed to murmur to herself as she stood up and started to walk out of the banquet.

Evelynn was stunned too, but she quickly followed Claire out of the banquet.

The events that she had witnessed here were truly an eye-opener for her but she was extremely worried and could see that Claire was notably depressed. Hence, she opted to follow her behind to console her if the opportunity arises.

"Your Majesty..." Hendrickson prompted in a low voice.

Logan looked at the guests, "As you people can see, this is my oath and if I fail to uphold it, let my heart demon devour me until there is nothing left."

He then turned to look at his newfound family members, "I'm sorry, it was supposed to be a happy occasion, yet for my own self-interests, I ruined it like a child throwing a tantrum."

"I won't ask for your forgiveness nor am I deserving of it!" Logan turned to leave once he declared.

The thirteen of them looked at Logan with intense complicated emotions.

Violet actually started to let out tears. She was the one in this group who could be said to be greatly familiar with Logan's affairs, hence she knew how he greatly loved Claire.

Her shy and compassionate self couldn't take this down the throat. Somehow, she started to feel guilty for inducing such emotions between these two people.

The other five, though not as intense as Violet, could also sense the feelings the Emperor and the Empress had for each other.

Their emotions also turned complicated for the first time, yet in a different manner.

Almost everyone was caught off guard by the turn of events. They came to participate in a feast yet they were actually made to watch as a series of complicated events unfolded.

This was truly an eye-opener for them.

Yet, there were also some people, who started to ask after the main characters left, "So... can we still partake in this feast?"

The ones who were currently swept by the raging yet complicated emotions, "..."

...

Claire speedily walked into her room and sealed the door with a wave of her hand.

She suddenly ran and threw herself on the bed as her face met with the pillow.

Evelynn was just a few meters behind Claire. She arrived a little late so was locked outside the room.

"Mo..." Just when she thought of calling her out, she restrained herself and thought it would be best if Claire had some time to herself.

She put her head down and stayed around the corner, just in case if the door should open so that she could go inside and console or provide comfort by just being near Claire.

Inside the Empress's Quarters, the pillow which Claire rested herself on was wet with tears. Her mind was blank and she felt like a mess.

Her heart was beating rapidly except it was quite painful as if something was weighing down on it. She thought back to the time when she met him, and his confident yet shameless face flashed past her mind.

She herself knew that Logan was crazy about two things. One was cultivation, while the other although sounded narcissistic, was her.

Likewise, she was also crazy about him, otherwise, she wouldn't feel the heart-rending pain right now.

A few minutes later of contemplating what she should do with her life now that things had happened, she twisted and turned to face the ceiling up above.

On the tear-stained face, a worn-out expression showed up.

"I shouldn't have run..." She murmured.

She knew all too well why he would make that kind of a ruthless oath.

It was because he wanted to prove himself to her.

It was because he wanted to show his determination.

It was because she didn't place her faith or trust in him.

A mocking grin spread across her lips, "Truthfully, he didn't betray me as he only took responsibility for them. It was I who was late to the race while being jealous."

The whole time, the years after Davis left, she felt that Logan had betrayed her; subconsciously. So no matter how she convinced herself that he was just taking responsibility for his past mistakes, her mind just couldn't give in to that thought.

Even now, she didn't want to give him up to other women.

She now knew why it was because she was obsessed with him and couldn't move around the notion that he didn't belong solely to herself.

And what did her silence finally cost? His cultivation?

She didn't want this outcome, nor did she think that things would develop to this point.