1607 Goodbye, Maclaine.

The Deathwatch was finally over, but many knew this was just the beginning of the end. Many had mournful faces but thought otherwise deep down.

'Huh. The bastard is finally dead. After all these years, this is what he deserves!... Maclaine, Maclaine... Since you refused to give my son the throne, then you are of no use to me anymore.'

The 'mournful' women inwardly scoffed.

This woman was Ivy. She had a crazed look in her eyes, trying her best to hold her wicked laughter.

Hahahhahahaha~

It was ironic that she and Sedora would be the ones to end his life, seeing how much they killed and fought off other women at the start of their relationship.

Heh.

She alone had killed over 200 women who attempted to seduce Maclaine from young till now.

She not only killed them but sometimes targeted their families, burning them whole.

The truth was that Ivy jumped to conclusions severally, killing many innocent women.

Provided they assisted or looked at Maclaine for too long, they would be her next target.

This was love, and her actions were justifiable!

She gutted the throats of many like fish, skinned their outer bodies, and fed their fleshy chunks to the dogs.

But did she regret it? No.

If given a chance, she would've also found a way to kill the other 5 official wives and 2 love concubines Maclaine married in this life.

Now, only 4 of them survived till now... The banished mother Winnie from Baymard, Sirius' mother, the current Queen-Mother of Yodan, she, Ivy, and that slutty Vixen, Sedora.

The other 3 were dead.

But what drove her off the edge was the edge of her son. Sedora's son, the 2ne prince, was also reported dead.

You have to know that Maclaine had 24 Children, a mix of princes and princesses. So with those many, only the first 5 sons were taken as important.

Sirius was the 3rd prince born from 3rd Queen Emma, the current Queen Mother.

He was born around the same year the 4th, and 5th Princesses were born.

It was noteworthy that the 4th prince and himself were only a month apart too.

With 6 official wives, it's easy to see how 24 children game about.

The term 'love concubine' means their only purpose is to please Maclaine in bed.

Their wombs have been destroyed, as their humble birth and wombs were seen as unworthy of carrying royal blood.

So Maclaine's live concubines never bore him any children.

They had but one thing to learn and master well... The art of Adult 'Gymnastics.'

Maclaine had so many children that he didn't even know the names of half the bunch.

He addressed them with their titles, such as the 8th prince, 16th Princess, and so on.

There were people in the palace to supervise the overall welfare of the children, from their first classes to training for boys at 7 and even planning for their coming of age.

Someone would inform him 1~6 months prior, and all that is entitled to them would be given as royal rules dictated.

Maclaine primarily focused on his first 5 sons, occasionally looking at his 2 eldest daughters. But that was it.

Life was never fair.

No fingers could always be equal. Don't expect people to be nice to them just because they birthed them.

It was harsh to say, but that was the truth. He fed them, gave them wealth, and a life far better than the peasants who died of starvation and illnesses at every turn.

If they get sick as royals, they will receive treatment from the best healers and royal pharmacists.

But the poor would stick It out and die within a few days at most.

They were already fortunate. So rather than always looking on the bad side, why not look at the good side and see how fortunate they already were?

Instead, they crumbled and cursed at their fate, with some hating their mothers for not birthing them earlier like the first 5 Princes.

Maclaine had even uncovered his 6th son trying to kill his own blood brother, the 2nd prince, so he could push himself from 6th position to 5th.

Those not in this category inwardly hated their mothers, claiming them for everything. But they didn't realize how already fortunate they were.

Look! Even the nobles would order to be in their position and become royals, just like the poor dream of being novels themselves, even if they started out at the low res noble rank, a baron.

Maclaine felt he didn't owe them anything. They ate well, attended classes taught by the best, trained with more superior techniques, had estates in their names, hold and wealth.

If they were smart, they should've started something resourceful with their lives. Yet, they tried joining in the battle for the throne.

He gave his princesses enough wealth and security so that even if they married out, they could have something to lean on. They even had estates for personal use and a way to give them power in the backroom harems in their husbands' homes.

They were already blessed with all this. So no one should blame him for not loving them like he loved his first 5 sons.

Like he said, one can't have everything in life.

They already had wealth and opportunities far beyond what others dream of. Their mothers also cared for them, and many had grandparents from well-known clans.

Are you saying they will die without his love? Sometimes one has to know when to back off and accept reality. They were already very blessed.

Maclaine felt he was very nice compared to monarchs before him. He wasn't a Saint, but he did his best, though he also made mistakes like driving Mother Winnie away when she was framed.

Sometimes, even if one knows the truth, as a Monarch, he has to take the overall decision that pleases the masses.

After all, She said she didn't cheat on him, but what evidence did she have to prove this? If he took her back, the people would think him weak.

Other enemy forces would start moving early, with some opposition parties giving him trouble. And more importantly, he would be losing face by taking her in when her name wasn't cleared!

So yes. She had to be sacrificed and banished away from the empire. Her children opted to leave with her, and he shrugged, having no love from the 9th prince Bari and the 17th princess, Linda.

He had spoken to Bari no more than 10 times in his life. As for litter Linda, probably only twice.

So how can he have love for them? He didn't even know them!

...

The drums pounded gloomily as the burning floating raft soon began to sink.

They stood until it was fully submerged, and many understood its significance.

The deathwatch was officially over.