In Azula's heart, Ozai had indeed always been the father she loved and respected most. She had done her best to grow in the direction he expected, striving to become the kind of person he wanted her to be.
Even Ozai's likes and dislikes had become hers. Ozai wanted to conquer the world, so she wanted to conquer the world; Ozai hated Zuko, so she hated Zuko.
But the one difference between her and Ozai was their attitude toward Yin Shu.
As Yin Shu's biological daughter, no matter how Ozai molded her, he could never completely erase a little girl's longing for a mother's love, even though that longing was not particularly obvious, and even she herself had not noticed it-
Until the moment Yin Shu disappeared.
And it was at that same moment that Ozai brushed her off for the first time, successfully leaving an indelible crack in her inner obedience to him amid her unstable emotions.
Afterward, opening her heart to Kahn had allowed him to truly enter it. Not only had he filled that crack in her heart, but now he had even begun competing with Ozai for a place there.
Perhaps one day, Kahn would completely replace Ozai in her heart and become the person who mattered most to her.
Of course, all of this was happening imperceptibly. Neither Ozai, Azula, nor Kahn noticed any of it, and Ozai and Kahn were even less aware that their confrontation had already begun here.
Although everything was happening in silence, when Azula heard Ozai mention Kahn, she still frowned almost imperceptibly before immediately returning to normal.
Why bring up Kahn all of a sudden?
Azula pondered this while outwardly acting as "innocent and guileless" before Ozai as ever.
"So what?" she said indifferently. "He can't beat me anyway."
"Of course. Whether now or in the future, you will always be the best, the daughter I am proudest of!"
Then he paused before continuing:
"I merely heard that you and Zuko have both been spending a lot of time with him lately, so I thought I would ask. Speaking of which, what do you think of him?"
"What do I think? Hmm..."
Azula did not know exactly what Ozai was asking, so she tapped her chin and answered cautiously while pretending to be casual:
"I think he's much more interesting than Zuzu. At least he isn't as timid and weak as Zuzu."
"Oh?"
Ozai was somewhat surprised by this assessment.
Someone even Azula found interesting-that was intriguing. Finally, with the map unrolled and the dagger revealed, he asked:
"Then do you think he is the same sort as Iroh and the others, or would he get along better with us?"
What did "get along" mean? Naturally, whether he could be put to use.
Although he scorned Iroh's behavior, believing that personally looking after a commoner orphan disgraced his royal status, if that orphan was an exceptionally gifted Firebending prodigy, that was another matter.
In other words, he had his eye on Kahn's talent.
A prodigy Iroh valued, even if he fell short of Azula, would presumably still become a fine top-tier fighter in the future. Naturally, the more such talent he had, the better.
And if possible, wouldn't it be rather entertaining to make Iroh watch helplessly as someone he valued left his side and came to serve me?
Ozai smiled, the malice in his heart quietly blooming.
At this point, Azula also grasped Ozai's intention. So he wanted to bring Kahn under his command.
At the same time, she felt displeased. Kahn was hers. What right did Ozai have to make such a decision without asking her opinion, and what right did he have to make that decision at all?
At that moment, the scales in Azula's heart quietly shifted.
Outwardly, however, she tilted her head in thought and said with feigned innocence:
"So far, he seems to have more fun with me."
"I see."
Ozai's smile deepened at her words. "That is wonderful. I'm very glad he isn't the weak sort."
"However, he spends so much time with Iroh and the others now. I'm a little concerned they might be a bad influence on him..."
Azula took his meaning and revealed a smile identical to Ozai's.
"Leave it to me, Father. I'll make sure he isn't influenced and that he stands on our side."
To be precise, on my side.
"Very good."
Ozai nodded in satisfaction.
"Come to think of it, it is rather regrettable. He has visited our home so many times, yet I have barely exchanged a few words with him. How discourteous of me. But I don't really have the time right now... never mind."
After a little thought, Ozai ultimately decided there was no need to spend any time on this. He was only a commoner. Despite his talent, there was no need to act personally and lower himself.
Leaving the matter to Azula, on the other hand, would also be a good opportunity for her to gain experience.
Thus, Ozai decided:
"Then I will leave this matter to you, my dear daughter. Don't disappoint me."
Azula lowered her head. "Of course."
"Anyway, that's what happened."
Azula lay on the sofa eating grapes, spitting the grape skins unerringly into the distant trash can, as though she had casually mentioned some "trivial little matter."
But Kahn could not be as relaxed as she was. How had he suddenly caught the emperor's eye?
After eating the last grape, Azula wiped her hands and said:
"Isn't it a good thing? Even Father has acknowledged your talent."
Kahn said darkly, "I'd rather not have that kind of acknowledgment."
Being targeted by an emperor who was immensely ambitious and calculating, stopped at nothing to achieve his aims, usurped the throne, killed his father, drove away his wife, and abused his son-the mere thought sent a chill down his spine.
Will someone be following and watching me everywhere I go from now on? Or will I suddenly end up a corpse in the street one day?
Looks like I'll have to be even more of a coward from now on.
Kahn gave voice to his determination to stay alive.
Then he sighed again.
Although he had never met Ozai, he had dealings with Ozai's daughter Azula, son Zuko, older brother Iroh, and wife Yin Shu, and was particularly close to the first three. It was only natural that Ozai would notice him.
I suppose you win some, you lose some.
"But where do you think Father got his information about you?"
Azula suddenly asked.
"Hmm..."
Kahn thought it over and soon had an answer:
"Probably the teacher at the Firebending School. Other than in front of you all, that's the only place I've used Firebending."
"And so I wouldn't have to attend the Firebending School anymore, Iroh went to inform him that he would be teaching me personally. So he must have been the one who passed on the information."
Azula's question also served as a reminder: aside from Iroh and the others, he might not be able to trust anyone now. It seemed he would have to watch his words and actions when out and about from now on.
"Couldn't it have been one of us?"
Azula suddenly sneered:
"Don't forget, there are two outsiders who play with us too-Mai and Ty Lee..."
"Can't you have a little more trust in your friends?"
Kahn rolled his eyes at her, urging her to stop her conspiracy theorizing as he quipped:
"If you put it that way, shouldn't you be the prime suspect?"
"What did you say?!"
Azula flew into a rage and immediately unleashed a full barrage of Firebending on Kahn.
"Hey! What are you doing? It was just a joke-don't go too far!"
The two became embroiled in a fight.
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