"Actually, I know that Loki has all sorts of issues," Odin said, frowning and once again immersing in his own tale. "Because he's physically fragile, the Asgardians didn't accept him. Frigga has spent more time tutoring him, so he's more like a girl, sensitive and mindful."
"But in fact, this is not a flaw at all. He doesn't have to become the Divine King of Asgard. He doesn't have to carry responsibilities or pursue perfection."
"In other words, the Asgardians don't really discriminate against him. He considered himself being discriminated against mainly because the Asgardians didn't hold him in the same esteem as Thor."
"But the reason why Asgardians respect Thor, is not because a young reckless Thor was much stronger than Loki. It's entirely base on my own reputation. After all, he was my designated heir. How dare they disrespect him?"
"But just because Loki felt saddened by this, I couldn't tell everyone to respect Loki the same way. Wouldn't that undermine the authority of the heir I had previously established?"
Odin gestured emphatically, "I know the Asgardian brutes too well. They cannot perceive minor nuances. Even after spending a year observing me, they would only notice a few extra whiskers. They only take orders at face value."
"When I say, 'Thor will inherit the throne,' they treat Thor as the Divine King. If I were to say, 'Treat Loki the same way as Thor,' then they may assume Loki could possibly be the Divine King in the future…"
Lamely, Odin pressed his fingers against his temple, "Frigga often tells me that I don't care about Loki enough. But I can't show Loki the same concern as I do to Thor. I'm not afraid of the Asgardians misconceiving that he might still have a chance. I'm afraid of Loki mistakenly assuming he does."
"I know you might think of blaming me for not compensating him in other ways since I didn't give him the throne. But believe it or not, if I did compensate him in other ways, some Asgardians and Loki himself would surely feel entitled."
Shiller touched his lips, realizing that this truly creates a vicious circle.
In the matter of succession disputes, Odin's decision to give Loki no hope is indeed correct. If one doesn't foster hope from the beginning, there'll be no disappointment later on."
"But if he doesn't give hope, he must continue not to. If he suddenly gives hope halfway, it might cause even more pain and render all previous efforts wasted."
"But a kind of low-recognition and low-care paternal love could never be comprehended by the teenage Loki. All he could think of was that Odin didn't love him and was favoring others."
"The source of this deadlock is that in the context of royal family relationships, on a certain level, favoritism is correct. Trying to balance can potentially lead to greater chaos."
Some may think, why didn't he just leave Loki where he found him originally?
"But at that time, Loki was almost dead. Comparing death to his current plight, of course, his current situation is better. Even if he never got recognition from his father, at least he still has his mother and brother."
The biggest problem in the father-son relationship between Odin and Loki is that Odin made the right decision, but Loki is the victim."
"Actually, I didn't expect Thor to ascend to the throne this fast," Odin said with some hesitation. "I thought he'd stay on Earth for a few hundred years."
"Without Thor's contrast, Loki might have felt better. But I didn't expect everything to happen so quickly. Thor suddenly took the throne, and Loki showed no opposition at all. I had already prepared to deal with Frigga's tantrums."
"Then, Loki suddenly turned into a goddess. I was overjoyed. Loki is indeed my smartest child. He came up with a better solution than me. If she is to be married to Thor, wouldn't she enjoy the same respect as the Divine King?"
"That's what I thought Loki was thinking, so I decided to talk to Frigga about it. Unexpectedly, it seemed he wasn't very willing..."
Odin shook his head, "I still have no idea what happened."
While Odin pondered in confusion, Shiller had already begun to chuckle quietly. Seeing Odin fall silent, he said with a smile, "Has anyone ever told you? Your family is too absurd."
"You don't change course when you should, and make sudden turns when you shouldn't." Shiller rubbed his temple and said, "Incomprehensible, chaotic, a few of you create more drama than dozens of others... Is this what royalty is like?"
"As a doctor, aren't you a little too pleased about this?" Odin looked into Shiller's eyes. "Isn't it a professional courtesy not to revel in others' calamities?"
"Theoretically, it is," Shiller attempted to suppress his laughter. "But you should be grateful, my laughter merely reflects that your family's situation is a farce. If I were serious, you would understand how serious the situation is."
"Alright, enough with the laughter. I am here to inform you that I am planning to make some changes." Odin refilled his cup with a copious amount of wine. After gulping down half of it, he wiped his mouth and said,
"Thor's reign is now stable, so I no longer have to worry about what other thoughts the Asgardians might have. However, I've recently noticed that previously, I might have gone a bit too far."
"Though Loki isn't an heir, he is still a respected prince of Asgard. But it seems that some people…"
Odin's facial expression remained amiable but his tone gradually turned deadly.
"Regardless of whether Loki is my biological son, regardless of his frail health that prevents him from inheriting the throne, regardless of whether he meets Asgardian expectations for a prince, regardless of the chaos Loki has caused…"
Odin sat upright emanating a sharp and indescribable aura. Shiller knew Thor still had a long way to go before developing an imposing demeanor like that of this aged Divine King.
"I said, he is my child, I said, he is the prince of Asgard, and so all must respect him sufficiently, because, in doing so, they are respecting me."
"I do not wish for people to revere him more than they revere Thor, but they better not take the opportunity to provoke me by disregarding him for fun..."
"They should obey Loki and revere Thor more. Weighing the situation and grasping the scale is not what I should do, but what these servants should do. If they do not get it right, it proves that they are unqualified, and it has nothing to do with us, father and son."
At this point in the conversation, Shiller smiled and said to Odin, ".... are you planning on cleaning house?"
Odin shook his head and said, "In political terms, I have nothing to settle, it's just that those people who won't use their brains, or rather are too lazy to use them, should really retire."
"Have you ever considered that their unwillingness to use their brains is a habit you fostered?" Shiller leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on the back of the sofa as he spoke.
Odin's response took him by surprise, as Odin confidently replied, "Yes, indeed, it is a habit I instilled."
"In the past, I required them to follow my instructions precisely, they attacked where I pointed, they were not to think too much, they were not to question, they must completely obey me and regard me as their only father."
"But now, I require them to think independently, to learn how to assess situations, or else they'll be eliminated... Do you think I am too harsh?"
Odin looked at Shiller, who didn't nod in agreement, because at this moment, Odin had the upper hand in momentum. Giving an answer Odin wouldn't like would be like a servant defying him, which would only put him in a more passive position.
"But this is what an emperor is."
In Odin's voice, there was an unabashed coldness and cruelty: "This is a quality necessary for a good emperor."
"When I need them to attack, they must be extremely fierce, mad, and cruel, but when I need them to behave, they should be tame and quiet, even refrain from making a noise, otherwise, there will be no future place for them."
"And, I firmly believe that there are no meritorious officials in this world. I remain who I am without any of my servants, but if they lack me, they are nothing. It is they who need me, so they better understand all that I want them to understand."
Shiller set his wine glass on the table. At this moment, he saw across the long river of time, reflected in Odin's persona.
In it, there were countless tall figures who might have explained what "ruthlessness is the emperor's way" with their words and actions.
A tyrant isn't an incompetent ruler. They might be cruel, cold, and even heartless, but if judged by their achievements, they might still be good emperors. Or rather, in a feudal society, the more autocratic and powerful, the more their works can be appreciated over time.
Shiller sighed softly. If there was one thing he wasn't good at, it was probably the so-called "strategies of a ruler".
This seemingly mysterious discipline boils down to one phrase—"learn to be arrogant, learn to be ruthless."
But, this inevitably involves turning oneself into a criminal and a patient who discards morality and emotion. It's about artificially creating a madman, directly confronting what Shiller has been doing.
The conversation came to an end, although not much wine was drunk. Both men were somewhat inebriated. It was the first time Odin had said so much to another person—being a king was not only about glory but also loneliness.
This was also the first time Shiller truly faced a great king and virtually met thousands of other great emperors throughout history during their conversation.
And likewise, he also understood why Odin was referred to as the "Father of All Gods"—he is as strong as a father, and similarly, just as authoritative as a father.
In the end, Shiller could only ask one question:
"You said, Thor is like you, and if he becomes you, will you truly be happy?"
"Who am I?" Odin asked, "In fact, I am not Odin, I am the father of Asgard, Asgard is my child..."
"A boy must undergo the process of abandoning self in order to become a father. He needs to constantly strengthen all the qualities that can support a family—hard work, effort, and courage to take responsibility..."
"But is he really that kind of person?" Odin gently shook his head and said, "Perhaps not."
"But as long as he can gain more happiness from being a father than being alone, it doesn't matter who he really is."
"One day, Thor will become a father, and so will Loki." As Odin's voice trailed off, for the first time, Shiller saw a trace of pain on his face.
As the voice of the white-haired Divine King fell within the room, Asgard was bathed in the setting sun.
"I only hope that, on that day, they can understand that the pain I received from these seemingly unloving decisions is not any less than what they felt."