Norton led Ye Muo down the corridor, Ano a few steps behind them. Then came Dylan, Helene and the others. Adrian, who was relatively even-tempered, brought up the rear and separated Bert from everyone else.
Bert was behaving himself for once. He strolled along at the very back and regarded his children almost indulgently. Each one was healthy and spirited instead of struggling to maintain their last shred of sanity in the face of their berserk psychic power. In the end, his gaze couldn’t help but fall on the small figure beside Norton again.
Norton didn’t let Ye Muo leave his side for even a step on the way out.
Bert picked up on the man tensing as soon as he looked at Ye Muo. He accurately grasped and looked away just before Norton would act. Norton was too controlling towards his child, he thought.
That wouldn’t do. Little children would hate that once their rebellious phase began.
Norton and the rest of his children became less cute once they reached a certain age. Although they were still cute, they rejected excessive love and control from their parents once they were able to take care of their basic needs and express their own opinions.
They were still relatively well-behaved in front of their mother, but the same courtesy wasn’t extended to Bert. Sometimes, when he was bored from working or attending meetings, he would use psychic power to spy on what his children were up to. If they realized what he was doing, angry little Grantz would start running over with swords drawn. Even worse, they would complain to their mother.
Although they were still very cute as they charged at him with their sword, Bert didn’t want to become a father disliked by his children, nor did he want his wife to be cross with him. Thus, he was careful to cover his traces every time he did this.
Bert emerged from his thoughts only to realize they had reached the graveyard entrance at some point. Norton still hadn’t let go of Ye Muo. In front of his siblings and father, he naturally scooped the child up into his arms.
Instead, it was Ye Muo who felt a little embarrassed. He wasn’t familiar with several of the people present yet, so he instinctively grasped Norton’s collar and shrank into his arms. In the end, he simply buried his face in the man’s chest.
Norton was the first to kick off the ground and scale the rock face from outcropping to outcropping.
The others began to move once he did.
Ano, Dylan and Adrian were used to this, especially Ano. He followed Norton closely because he was still worried about Ye Muo.
Helene, Aria and Jacob remained in place, stunned.
Helene was still staring at Norton. Dylan shot her a look. “What are you standing around for? Get a move on. Big Brother has already reached the surface.”
It was a beat before she murmured, “Xavier actually let Big Brother hold him.”
Dylan also glanced up casually. His words were tinged with a hint of flaunting, “Xavier is rather obedient.”
Helene turned to him. “I definitely have to try as well next time.”
Aria interjected from the side, “Why wait until next time? Can’t we try once we reach the surface?”
As soon as those words fell, Jacob was already in motion. He quickly scaled the cliffside.
Those who were left glanced at each other before setting off at once like a sort of competition.
Helene was the fastest and soon took the lead. There were a limited number of outcroppings along the cliffside. As she landed lightly on one of them and was about to jump, someone stepped on her shoulder. She quickly stabbed her dagger into the cliff to regain her balance. When she looked up again, she only saw Bert already a distance away.
“Damned old geezer.” She growled under her breath.
Bert’s voice travelled down from above, “I heard that.”
Helene immediately bristled and shouted loudly, “You damned old geezer!!’
Dylan shot her a disdainful look as he passed her. This wasn’t the first time she had been provoked enough by a few words to lose sight of the objective.
Once he reached the surface, Bert immediately spotted Norton and the others. Jacob was only a step behind him and approached Norton without a moment’s delay.
Bert thought about it before deliberately trailing a few steps behind Jacob. There was no harm in letting him go first. Second was just as good.
Norton had already set Ye Muo down. His cold gaze swept past Jacob to Bert before returning to his brother. “What is it?”
Jacob stopped and looked down at Ye Muo.
Ye Muo keenly sensed his gaze and shifted another step behind Norton, attempting to completely bury himself in Norton’s cloak.
Jacob turned back to Norton, even more expectant than before. “I can help take him to the warship.”
By hugging him, of course.
“No need.” Norton indifferently stated, “But there is something else you can help with.”
Jacob got the hint and shut up, but Norton ignored him and inclined his head towards Secretary-General Lin. The man nodded and stepped forward. “May I ask how you wish to help, Prince Jacob?”
Jacob had not yet opened his mouth when Norton answered for him, “Anything is fine. Use him as you wish.”
Norton’s gaze travelled past him to fall on Bert once more.
Bert got the hint and stopped walking. He shook his head to indicate he was fine.
Norton looked away. Before Bert could breathe a sigh of relief, Norton’s voice travelled over.
“Not to worry, Father. As you said, I will use you well. If you have become blunted, you will be honed once more to the state I need you in.”
Bert sighed. He knew Norton was still angry. This child didn’t get angry easily, but he was hard to calm down once he did. But that wasn’t the main issue here. Surely he wouldn’t be forbidden from interacting with his little grandson, right?
No, Norton could definitely do such a thing. This couldn’t be allowed to happen!
Despite thinking that, he said, “Look, Jacob. I got dragged into this because of you.”
Jacob was so dejected even his shot back to his father was listless, “You’re the one who provoked Big Brother first. Forget it. We’re done for anyways. Let me just say upfront that I’m not lifting a finger to help with your share, Father.”
Secretary-General Lin did not leave with Norton. He stayed and waited for the rest of the Grantz to surface. He numbly took in the sight of all of them as well as that former emperor with a sigh.
“Your Highnesses and–”
He paused. Secretary-General Lin was promoted only after Norton became the emperor of Grantz. He was not familiar with the former emperor aside from course materials and news concerning the man’s exploits.
Bert smiled and waited for a while before saying, “‘Your Highness’ is fine. The title makes me quite nostalgic.”
He turned to the warship before them, as well as the troops stationed there. Just as he had done when he once surveyed his army as emperor.
Secretary-General Lin went with the flow. He bowed slightly and quietly stated, “Prince Bert.”
By the time he looked up again, several Grantz were standing before him in small groups of two or three.
They were all in their prime and bursting with vigour. Every move they took was reminiscent of cheetah on the prowl, their lithe muscles highlighted from time to time by the military uniforms they wore.
Secretary-General Lin adjusted his glasses. He suddenly wanted to know how the outside world would react to such a sight. It was bound to be interesting.
He took in the Grantz before him. Grantz has never had so many Grantz active at the same time before. In addition, they were all adults except for His Little Highness.
The period of time after His Majesty Norton and the other princes and princesses matured was once the most prosperous time of Grantz. Everyone thought they would usher in a new era, but infighting among the Grantz rapidly decimated their numbers within a few short years.
Yet now, Secretary-General Lin knew they would be able to coexist for a long time. Even more frightening, the infighting was likely to cease. Finally, with His Little Highness’ appearance, the Achilles’ heel plaguing the Grantz had been eliminated.
A new record for the most Grantz active at one time would once more be set once His Little Highness came of age.
If it were them, perhaps they could traverse the unexplored, insect-infested regions of the galaxy to explore the great unknown beyond.
Secretary-General Lin could vaguely feel the beginning of a new dawn for Grantz.
No, perhaps not just Grantz, but humanity as a whole. They were on the cusp of something novel, something glorious.
A glory unprecedented throughout human history.
……
The mothership broke away from the rest of the fleet once they reached the imperial capital and headed straight for the dock inside the palace.
Adlet was there to welcome them as always. Norton and Ye Muo were at the forefront when the hatch opened.
Adlet stepped forward, “Your Majesty, Your Little Highness. Should I take His Little Highness to have a bite to eat first?”
Unlike before, Norton pressed his own temples before saying, “No need. He’ll stay with me. We will head to the greenhouse for a while.”
Adlet was somewhat surprised. Although the greenhouse was one of the places Ye Muo frequented, Norton did not go there often.
Norton tended to handle state affairs or head off somewhere to calm himself right after his return. He normally left Ye Muo to his own devices. Still, Adlet quickly stated, “Understood, Your Majesty. I will have food at tea brought over at once.”
Norton nodded before swiftly departing with Ye Muo.
Ye Muo didn’t seem surprised, like Norton had discussed this with him ahead of time. Adlet even heard him say, “Did you know, Father? There’s a palace over there entirely filled with books. They’re stacked up against the walls and even the stairs. It’s even bigger than the library at school…”
Adlet huffed with amusement. That was the Grantz library, whose breadth of knowledge was only matched by how few of the Grantz visited the place.
He straightened and went to look for Prince Ano and the others.
Only to be met with a group of Grantz walking towards him. Helene and Dylan were having a conversation while staunchly looking away from each other. Jacob was eagerly telling Ano something with an arm thrown across his shoulders. Aria and Adrian, on the other hand, were behaving themselves.
Then Adlet saw Bert.
Bert sensed his gaze almost instantly and smiled. “Hey, Adlet.”
He put a hand on Adlet’s shoulder. “You’ve worked hard.”
Adlet was almost at a loss for words. He shook his head. It took him a long time to barely bring his emotions under control. “No, Your Majesty Bert. I only carried out my duties. What I did was nothing compared to what I owe you for saving my life.”
“You’re the same as ever.”
Bert sighed, “Enough of that for now. Is the study still where it used to be?”
Adlet subconsciously nodded before the reason His Majesty Norton didn’t take care of state affairs at once dawned on him.
