Parenting Conflicts
His words evoked an introspective mood in his relationship with his friends. He hadn't had the time to speak to them recently outside Kane. He was swamped with so many important matters that he didn't have time to maintain relationships.
It was hard enough to make sure he spent several hours a week in the Quarrier Orphanage; it was even harder to muster the time to do so with his friends. This was especially true since the world learned of his identity as a Royal Prince. It was even truer ever since he actively began contributing his mass-triggered breakthroughs ability to the Kandrian Empire.
On top of that, in addition to not having time, there were other liabilities that came with maintaining a friendship with Rui.
Any friend of his was in danger of being targeted by his enemies.
And he had plenty of his enemies.