A deathly silence fell over the grand hall. Norton resheathed his bloodstained blade.
Bert shifted as well, causing everyone near him to take a wary step back. He shot them a careless glance before turning back to Norton. “Looks like you’re even more exceptional than I thought.”
Norton silently regarded him.
Bert closed the distance and put a hand on Norton’s shoulder. “As a father, I’m very proud.”
Norton remained still. He didn’t even glare at the man.
Sure enough, Bert continued, “Then I can rest assured. You won’t disappoint me, right?”
Norton finally slapped Bert’s hand away. A crisp sound rang out.
Then he seized Bertās collar and slammed him against the wall. The violent movement caused Bert’s wounds to open again.
He stared at Bert until all traces of amusement had faded from the man’s expression before coldly stating, “Stop acting like a suicidal maniac. I won’t kill you.”
Bert chuckled again. “Don’t be so cruel, Norton. Didn’t you do just fine last time?”
Norton stared at Bert as the memories came flooding back. The most turbulent period of Grantz, when the most blood stained his hands. Everyone in and outside of Grantz denounced Norton as a mad emperor after his coronation, but no one knew that the truly mad one was Bert. He became an entirely different person after Mother’s death.
Constantly begging his children to kill him.
Norton wasn’t the least bit surprised he could do something like attacking Ano in order to embrace death, but that didn’t mean Norton wouldn’t be angered by his actions afterwards. Moreover, he dragged Ye Muo into it.
Bert continued casually, “Or do you want me to go after that child instead?”
Norton’s head snapped up. The temperature seemed to drop sharply in the hall. Bert laughed as Norton subconsciously tightened his grip on his collar. Another successful provocation.
Norton must truly care for that child.
Which was more than reasonable. If he had encountered such an exceptional child in his younger years, he would do everything in his power to obtain him and keep him under control. He would cherish the child as much as his own eyes.
As long as the child didn’t provoke his beloved, he could shower them in all sorts of treasures and jewels, raising them with more care than he did his own children, Bert coldly analysed before dismissing the thought.
Yet he still felt so very fortunate. He was already beyond salvation, but his children would be able to escape that tragic fate. They could love and be loved freely.
Bert turned towards Adrian and the others for a beat before his gaze travelled past them to Ye Muo. Ano had draped his jacket over the child’s shoulders and made him sit down. He remained by Ye Muo’s side.
Bert could barely see the child due to how well Adrian and the others shielded him from sight. Then Ano ventured forward slightly from where he was half-crouched by Ye Muo’s side, completely covering him.
Even so, Bert could feel the amount of force Norton used increasing.
Bert withdrew his gaze and turned back to Norton. He paused. Norton was as aloof as ever, but anyone could see he was enraged. Like a lion whose mane stood on end, he emanated a dangerous aura as his hand travelled up to seize Bert’s neck, maintaining eye contact the whole time.
“If you dare to touch my child, I will put you in a cage and rip out your bones one by one.”
Norton’s voice was not much louder than usual, nor did it differ in tone. Yet the chilling quality within was more evident now.
Bert’s pupils contracted sharply as the relaxed expression dropped off his face. The key detail did not escape him. The child. Was. Norton’s.
He couldn’t help but glance in Ye Muo’s direction again.
Whether they were aware of it or not, the others turned to Norton, already prepared to separate the two of them. Norton was really acting out of character right now. Father had truly angered him.
Behind them, Ye Muo couldn’t see or really hear what happened due to the distance. Yet he did notice Ano tensing.
He approached Ano uneasily, “What’s wrong?”
Ano forced himself to relax as much as he could. “Nothing.”
He stiffly changed the subject after a pause, “Do your wounds hurt?”
Ye Muo shook his head and quietly stated, “Not anymore. They’re nothing major.”
Meanwhile, Norton forced Bert to avert his gaze by seizing his collar. He lowered his voice again as he spoke almost into Bert’s ear, “Listen carefully. Either you come back obediently and do your duty as a well-honed sword for Grantz, or I will kill you and take Mother away.”
Their mother’s entire psychic domain had been destroyed by Bert when he went berserk without warning once.
Bert placed her in a treatment pod for a very long time, watching over her at all times and listening to her heartbeat nonstop. He raved to anyone who would listen that she was still alive, just asleep. Yet they all knew that only a corpse with intact vitals lived on.
The destruction of one’s psychic domain was a death even more thorough than destroying the brain. Not to mention their mother faced the wrath of a berserk Grantz’s psychic power head-on. There were no possible miracles and no hope for recovery.
It took Bert a very long time to come to terms with reality. He sealed their mother away in his room, for he did not wish to be apart from her even in death. Eventually, he placed her body in his necklace, which was previously used to store his mech and sword.
Bert started seeking death without hesitation immediately after coming to terms with Mother’s passing.
Norton didn’t know if his reaction counted as acceptance, but at least the man understood Mother was gone.
Bert broke the silence after a while, “Seems like I don’t have a choice.”
He smiled. “Use me well then, Your Majesty. This sword hasn’t rusted just yet.”
Norton scrutinized him. His hand hovered over Bert’s throat for a beat.
It went better than he expected. Even by using Mother as a trump card, they weren’t so naive as to expect Bert to take threats lying down.
In fact, Norton had already considered the possibility that Bert might haveĀ committed even more depraved deeds, such as ‘eating’ Mother so they could be together forever.
Lunatics were capable of anything, after all.
What made him give in so easily? Norton couldn’t help but suspect Bert of having ulterior motives. Was it due to Ye Muo? Or another matter related to the child?Ā
Yet in the end, Norton let him go.
The others were visibly relieved when he did. Helene resheathed her sword in an overexaggerated motion. “Behave yourself, old man. You’re going to get beat if you keep pissing off Big Brother.”
Bert was all smiles as he hummed in acknowledgement.
Helene slapped his shoulder discontentedly. “Hey! Why are you being so perfunctory, old man? Do you think I’m not capable of teaching you a lesson too?”
Dylan snorted coldly. “Like he cares.”
Aria tried to mediate the situation, “Father has gone too far this time, but I’m sure he realized that. Right, Father?”
Bert worked out the kinks in his neck before smiling at Aria. “Heh. If Norton wasn’t so smart, I would’ve strung the rest of you along already, you idiot.”
Adrian swiftly hugged Ariaās waist and prevented her from drawing her sword, “Get your ass back in the grave before I throw you in, you damned old geezer!”
The atmosphere eased up a bit until Norton approached Ye Muo.
Silence fell over the hall once more. Bert also stiffened for once and remained in place.
He looked to the others for help. Helene and everyone else looked anywhere but him like they usually did. Aria was the only exception. She lived up to his expectations and responded, “You deserve this.”
Bert sighed and caught up to Norton himself.
Norton paused. “What is it?”
Bert flashed another smile. “I seemed to have missed quite a bit. You’ve taken a lover? Did that child’s mother tag along?”
“No.”
Adrian urgently blurted out over the channel: [Don’t ask! Don’t ask that in front of Ye Muo! It’s complicated, but his mother passed away before he ever met her. He treasures the only photo he has of her.]
Bert stiffened. He continued quietly, “Then have you noticed? How he’s a little lunatic.”
The second part was barely above a whisper.
Norton gave him a cold look. “It has nothing to do with you. Stay away from him.”
Norton proceeded to ignore him and head straight towards Ye Muo. He put a hand on the child’s shoulder and corralled him under his cloak as he did many times before, pressing his cheek close.
Norton was gripped by a rare anxiety. He subconsciously stroked Ye Muo’s hair back.
In truth, Norton had noticed the problem Bert brought up for a while now.
Norton had been vaguely aware of Ye Muo’s mindset for some time. He was willing to present his heart on a silver platter to those he acknowledged, to give everything for their sake without a hint of self-preservation.
These twisted characteristics were already beginning to show all the way during Ye Muo’s tenure at the military academy. Take the time he encountered a king insect encounter with Ye Yun for example.
After reviewing the report on the incident afterwards, Norton could identify two times when Ye Muo was prepared to die. Once when facing off directly against the galactic pirates on the ship, the other when he jumped down into the nest with the king insect in tow. Or rather, Ye Muo had lost himself in the feelings associated with the act. Only when he gave everything did he feel truly loved.
To Ye Muo, perhaps only giving his life would suffice.
It was dangerous indeed, but Norton found himself unable to come up with an appropriate solution despite observing for so long and making so many plans.
Like a thorn piercing into Norton’s heart, it made its presence known from time to time. There were moments when Norton wanted to keep Ye Muo by his side at all times, within his line of sight, under his protection.Ā
