Logan had wholeheartedly recognized that he had owed her an apology, and an explanation which he thought of presenting after the banquet.

After all the things he did in his past, he knew a mere apology wouldn't return things to square one, to the lovely relationship they had in the past.

Even so, the actions he took in the past and the consequences he is facing now made him feel enormous guilt of not being and to make Claire the only apple of his eye.

Claire lifted up her eyebrows and stared at him for an ample amount of time. She then gave off a muffled snort before moving to sit beside him.

Logan was ecstatic about seeing her gesture.

He waved his hand and a gourd appeared in his grasp which he then poured it into a bronze cup.

Stored inside the gourd was an exquisite spirit essence drink which was able to induce a breakthrough in Iron Stage Experts.

Claire glanced at the cup and took it up with her fingers as she sipped it little by little.

Logan looked at her with enthusiasm welled up in his heart. Since she also took his toast, then it can be said that she was willing to listen to his excuses as well.

He instantly grasped her actions and whispered, "Claire, I'm truly not worthy of your love."

Claire kept her eyes closed as if she heard nothing.

Logan continued, "Claire, my dear, it's not that I didn't want to inform you. It's just... I was scared... scared that you might do something to m... those women."

Claire's eyelids trembled gently. She stopped sipping and put down the cup before turning to look at him. Her face was so attractive that Logan was tongue-tied for a moment.

"Yes, I might've done something to them out of anger..." Claire spoke gently, and a moment later she added, "Even so, it was wrong of you to not come to consult with me..." 

Logan looked away in shame. He had nothing to say, nor had the face to make an excuse.

"Let's leave it at that... I'll speak to you afterward. Go on, continue with the banquet, I'll be silently spectating until I find something displeasing to my eyes..." Claire said with a casual smile.

Logan hesitantly nodded and even noticed the meaning in her words but was confident enough to not displease her with what he was going to do.

He turned to look at his subordinates and kept giving orders to entertain the guests.

In a platform situated at the west, there were some female dancers who were elegantly dressed, moving their bodies with impeccable coordination as they shook their waists and daintily moved their hands.

Many of the guests were entranced with their movements, and even Claire gave a side glance at them as she silently admired.

She understood she could never hope to move like them because she didn't learn to dance like them.

To this banquet, she had thought that she had come prepared mentally, but every passing moment seemed to make her uneasy. 

Maybe, that was why she hoped to be sane by staying distracted and being composed all the time.

While the music and women were enough to cause half of the men to lose their appetite, it wasn't clearly the case for some other men who were entranced with the object known as food.

While the festivities were going on, the emperor's subordinates lifted the curtain behind the emperor.

A statue of a man stood tall, dressed in royal emperor robes while its eyes glancing at the front with a condescending gaze.

...The statue's face somewhat resembled Logan. 

Everyone instantly recognized that it was the statue of the previous Emperor.

In front of the statue were thirteen figures sitting in two rows.

Logan stood up and took a deep breath before moving forward, "I, Logan Loret as the Emperor want to declare about my wrongdoings!"

The crowd instantly went mute. Each one of them had differing and interesting expressions on their faces.

Wrongdoings? Not a happy occasion?

"And in doing so would I like to earn the forgiveness of my empress!" Logan glanced at Claire before turning to look at the crowd, "Everyone is more or less aware of the rumor that is being spread rampantly in the royal capital." 

"I have never once made this information public nor did I try to..." He pointed backward and declared in a solemn voice, "But from here on out, I'm not going to keep it under wraps anymore."

Saying so, he glanced at Claire one last time before heading off to a position that is the nearest to the statue of the previous Emperor.

Claire didn't react but just sat and elegantly sipped the drink.

As Logan came to a stop, in front of him was the statue and behind him were the 13 figures divided into two rows.

Six adult women slightly stood up before changing their posture into a half-kneeling pose.

Logan also kneeled and kowtowed a single time, followed by the six of them imitating his movements.

The silence lasted for a few seconds before the seven of them stood back up once again.

Claire didn't turn back to see what was happening. She was well aware of this process because she also did this ceremony when she was married to Logan.

She knew that he was officially taking them all as his women and her heart felt incredibly uncomfortable at that fact.

Giving off a tender sigh, she thought as she consoled herself, 'Well, this is at least to be expected...'

She knew that this would happen in the banquet, otherwise, why would he even dare to setup this banquet? Just to show off?

'At least, the marriage is not grand but simple...' Claire shook away her thoughts.

The seven of them then turned to look back at the crowd. The six women sat again while Logan stood straight, glancing at the crowd.

This time, the seven young offsprings kneeled and kowtowed to their father and mothers, including the statue.

The scene turned silent for the same amount of time as before.

Everyone recognized that these young people were paying respects to their parents and elders, so none said a word to interrupt.

"Rise..." Logan said slightly as he viewed them with complicated emotions.

The seven of them were all his children, yet he didn't know about their existence until the appearance of Ernest and Violet.

Did they hate him? Did they resent him? 

This thought left a bitter feeling in his mind but he shook his head, "You are all my children, yet I don't dare to suddenly call myself as your father."