Adlet gently closed the door of Ye Muo’s room behind him after the medical team conducted their latest examination.
Norton has been standing in the doorway the entire time.
The lead researcher approached Norton right away. “Your Majesty.”
The researcher lowered his head and said, “His Little Highness’ psychic power activity value has exceeded the danger threshold.”
Once this value crossed the danger threshold, there was no way to lower it. The end would arrive much quicker as the threat of going berserk became constant.
Ye Muo would need to put on the same shackles as Adrian and Ano. Locked away on the fourth floor like some savage beast.
Norton subconsciously took a step towards the doctor. He stared intently at the man, “This is only his second incident.”
The researcher was a little uneasy as he adjusted his glasses, but discussing the data eventually calmed him down. “Yes. Prior cases suggested the progression wouldn’t be this rapid, but we have verified the data dozens of times.”
“This may be only His Little Highness’ second incident, and he may have shown improvement in the examinations after his return, but the value has been steadily rising recently. Today, said value spiked and broke through the danger threshold.”
The researcher’s head was so low he could only see Norton’s boots.
He suddenly bowed along with all the other staff members behind him. “Our sincerest apologies, Your Majesty, but there is nothing we can do.”
Norton’s hands clenched before relaxing. “I’ve always known that.”
This was the fate all Grantz approached step by step for millennia.
Yet Norton thought he had accepted reality long ago. He would send Ye Muo into eternal slumber when he was on the verge of losing control before piloting a warship into uninhabited regions of the galaxy in a form of self-exile.
But when the day actually came, Norton realized he hadn’t accepted it. He could not accept this.
Yet he had no choice.
Norton stood there in silence, clenching and relaxing his hand repeatedly. In the end, he ordered, “Escort them out, Adlet.”
Adlet bowed. “Many thanks, ladies and gentlemen. Please follow me.”
He led the others away.
Leaving Norton standing alone in front of Ye Muo’s door.
Norton was still there when Adlet returned, staring at Ye Muo’s closed door.
Adlet quietly called out to Norton, “Your Majesty.”
Norton seemed to come back to himself. He inclined his head.
“Should Prince Adrian and Prince Ano be told the truth?”
Norton only made a sound of acknowledgement after some time. “The rooms on the fourth floor may be ineffective already. Ye Muo must be kept from them from now on–”
Norton paused when a dull thump came from Ye Muo’s room, like something had fallen.
Norton opened the door.
Ye Muo was already awake. His arm dangled limply from the bed as if he was reaching for something.
A glass had fallen on the carpet.
Norton strode over to Ye Muo’s side. He leaned down and helped right the child.
Ye Muo discovered how weak he felt when he tried to sit up. He could barely reach the tray on the nightstand.
He leaned on Norton. “I’m thirsty, Father.”
Ye Muo realized how weak his voice was when he opened his mouth.
Adlet passed Norton a glass of warm water.
Norton supported Ye Muo’s head and brought the glass to his lips.
Ye Muo quickly recovered after several hasty gulps. He managed to prop himself up to a seated position.
The sheer exhaustion that washed over him sent him swaying. Norton caught him before he fell.
The man’s hand remained on Ye Muo’s back after that.
Ye Muo closed his eyes as he leaned on Norton, entrusting all his weight to the man as he tried to calm his breathing. It was a while before he opened his eyes again. “Father.”
Norton made a sound of acknowledgement. He carefully supported Ye Muo so the child could rest in his arms.
“I’m fine, Father. I’m just a bit hungry.”
Adlet bowed. “Let me get you something to eat.”
Ye Muo closed his eyes again. His ashen complexion made him look almost sickly. He felt like it’s been an eternity since he’s eaten anything.
Norton caressed his cheek briefly as was his habit. He stroked back from the child’s cheek, to his slightly damp bangs, to the back of his head reassuringly.
Ye Muo relaxed. “I can move to the fourth floor too, Father.”
Norton’s hand paused on the nape of Ye Muo’s neck.
But Ye Muo continued, “It’s fine. I’m not scared at all.”
Norton’s reply never came. After what seemed like forever, Ye Muo felt Norton lean over to envelop him in a tight embrace.
Ye Muo hesitated only a beat before wrapping his arms around Norton’s neck. “It’s fine, Father. Ano’s on the fourth floor. Adrian is too. It’s not like I have anything to do most of the time.”
The hand Norton once used to wield his sword was now gently supporting Ye Muo’s back. He quietly stated, “It hasn’t come to that yet.”
Norton held Ye Muo in the dimly lit room. Ye Muo couldn’t see the look in the man’s eyes. If a third party could see Norton now, shivers would run down their spine from the razor sharp glint in his eyes.
It was reminiscent of a beast trapped in its cage. Already littered with scars, every attempt to escape only reminded it how sturdy the chains were and how impenetrable the cage was.
So one day, it stopped struggling or even howling and laid down. But during the rare moments where it lifted its head, you could see the sheer rage and wrath simmering in its eyes. It had never accepted the cage it was trapped in.
No chains could tame its savage nature.
Like every other Grantz, Norton has tried to resist their shared fate.
Every Grantz seemed to lead the same life. They grew up happily, filled with optimism and courage even though they knew their fate. They didn’t fear death and dared to resist.
Only in the end when their swords were finally dyed crimson with the blood of their loved ones would they fall silent and accept everything.
Yes, this group of scarred beasts had accepted their fate.
Then a cub appeared.
It would face the same fate as them. It would also be chained, shackled, and locked away.
……
There hasn’t been any news since Norton took Adrian back to Grantz. Mass speculation and discussion erupted online, but Grantz never offered a response.
[I want to know if Prince Adrian is still with us! And what about Prince Ano? He’s literally disappeared since recovering His Little Highness! His last appearance was with Emperor Norton when they went to hunt Prince Adrian. AHHHHH. Grantz family, please just sit down and get along???]
[Prince Noah’s lack of appearances is probably related to His Majesty’s absence. I really want the Grantz to learn how to be more social! At least then His Little Highness won’t take after them and be active on social media like other people his age! I crave interaction!!]
[Don’t even bring that up. Ever since I watched that livestream a while back, I’ve been plagued with questions. Why are they trying to kill Prince Adrian? Why is Prince Ano still alive? Why is Prince Ano helping to kill Prince Adrian? Why did they stop later?? I feel like I can get full marks in palace intrigue after all the conspiracy theories I read…]
[Am I the only one still concerned about His Little Highness’s safety? There isn’t even fake news floating around!]
Faceless paused when he swiped to the last post. He turned off the terminal and pressed his temples. His mind was a complete mess.
When 03 casually passed by him, Faceless suddenly asked, “What do you think they’re up to?”
“They located and sent Prince Adrian back on a silver platter for what? To show the Grantz infighting to the world?”
It definitely wasn’t to shift public ire onto His Majesty. That was a fruitless endeavour. Not even the public backlash and riots that broke out after Norton slaughtered his entire family back in the day was enough to threaten his position on the throne.
03 paused and shot Faceless a glance. “There’s only one part of their goals I’m certain of: they’re trying to create God. They don’t care about where our loyalties lie or if others discover this goal of theirs.”
Faceless became even more troubled. “But the entire experiment was shut down and Prince Adrian is back with the Grantz. There’s no way to replicate that experiment anymore.”
Faceless paused, “Ye Muo was just an accident. A miracle.”
03 flung himself onto the sofa. “Have you been out since you came here?”
Faceless quickly responded, “No. There’s nothing outside but an artificial rift.”
03 snorted, “That’s what I thought. Do you know why there’s such a large discrepancy in the official data Grantz released compared to prior years?”
“Because not enough king insects were born in the rift. A portion appeared behind the frontlines.”
“But the numbers don’t add up even if you include those. Every nation is looking into where the unaccounted ones are. They even returned to the frontlines to recount the number of king insects there. Grantz is probably the only one not concerned.”
03 carelessly emptied an entire bottle of soda into his wine glass. “Those king insects are in that rift outside. The organization is feeding them massive amounts of food everyday using the junk planet’s shipping channels as a cover. But their appetites will become too big sooner or later and they’ll rapidly spread throughout the Exile Sectors.”
Faceless fell silent for a while, “That has nothing to do with me.”
“How cold of you. It’s the Exile Sectors we’re talking about! Once that rift goes out of control and the king insects within emerge, the entire place will become a living hell, just like Grantz was thousands of years ago.”
Faceless whirled around to look at 03, who was sprawled across the sofa.
03 shrugged. “That’s right. They’ve been preparing for this before the insect tide even began. They want to replicate the environment of Grantz millennia ago in hopes that a more perfect ‘Grantz’ will emerge from the chaos.”
“The organization currently believes that God cannot be created. All they can do is wait for Their birth.”
“But it also seems like they’ve set their sights back on Grantz. Who knows? Maybe they’re putting eggs in both baskets. The things in the rift are still being fed either way. Who knows when they’ll be unleashed on the world?”
Faceless turned away again. His hands hidden in his robes curled into fists. “There’s nothing I can do anyway. I don’t care as long as they don’t touch Ye Muo.”
“Ye Muo must live on. He must live his life to the fullest and pass away in his sleep in a warm bed.”
03 laughed. “Then you of all people should know that no Grantz has a good end.”
Faceless finally fell silent.
When 03 thought that the conversation was over, Faceless stood up. “As long as I still draw breath, I will dedicate myself so he can live on happily in this world.”
