Derek glanced at the time. “Where to next? There are quite a few exhibits around here. The reptile and carnivore ones are just ahead. If you want to see marine animals exhibit, we’ll have to head to the seaside area. There’s no telling what animals are around this season. The carnivore exhibit is always a popular choice.”
Lakely immediately refused, “No, I’d like to see something that doesn’t activate my survival instincts, thanks.”
Derek paused for a few seconds. “So you’re looking for somewhere relaxing?”
He turned, clearly having a place in mind.
Lakely was even more taken aback than him. “There’s actually a place like that?”
A few minutes later, Derek and Lakely were standing in a hall where even the chairs were fashioned after cartoon animals.
“Is this a children’s play area? Don’t tell me it’s exclusively for elementary schoolers…”
Lakely said, warily scanning the children in the area. Some looked like they were too young to go to school yet.
[Relax, Lakely. I saw a kid with a pacifer pass by just now.]
“No, it’s the small mammal exhibit. Because many children come here, they added a lot of cute elements over time.”
Lakely breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly started exploring his surroundings. There animals here were all very common and very cute. You could even pet small animals at some of the stalls.
Actually, there were quite a few animals just wandering the floor. Lakely spotted four or five friendly dogs in a lounge earlier. There were also wooden posts on the walls for cats to seek respite. They weren’t too high up, just tall enough to be out of human reach.
There was even a particularly small lamb with a sweater draped over it laying on a sofa.
Lakely scanned the blurb about the lamb that a nearby robot was displaying. It was unsuited for life in the wild, having gotten lost from the herd 17 times within the venue. It liked to be petted on the head and didn’t headbutt people. It would go back to the office when it was tired and anyone could pet it when it was outside.
With that, Lakely made a deliberate detour to pet the lamb, which nuzzled him enthusiastically in return.
[I want one.]
[This really is a relaxing place.]
Despite coming here a while ago, they’ve barely made any progress through the room. It was truly an arduous journey.
Lakely reluctantly pet the lamb one last time before bidding the dog who came over to lick his hand, tail wagging, goodbye.
Further ahead was a fenced-in area with a dozen or so rabbits. Staff members were around to place them in vistors’ arms for photos.
There were more adults and children crowded around the pen.
So Lakely prepared to move on. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen rabbits before.
However, Derek spoke up for once, “The rabbits are very popular. They’re only let out for a short while at a time.”
The ones in the pen were the bolder, more affectionate individuals. However, sensitive animals like rabbits could only take so much interaction, even if they were on the bolder side.
So Lakely decided to see what was up with the fluffy rabbits.
A child happened to be holding a rabbit under the supervision of a staff member when he approached. Lakely felt a sense of superiority. Only children would line up to hug rabbits.
The child carefully adjusted their grip before asking the adults, “Did His Little Highness really visit here before?”
Another child answered before the adults could, “Of course he did! Prince Xavier even took a photo with the rabbits. I’ve seen the picture around here before.”
The staff member pulled up a holographic screen with practised motions. “That’s right. You can see it in the display case over there, along with all the other photos of our little visitors.”
“The hall had just been renovated, so there was an event running where all the children who came could get their photos taken to be displayed here long term. We happened to capture His Little Highness, though no one knew his identity yet at the time.”
The staff zoomed in on the photo and set the screen to one side. It was for public use and set a bit lower for the children.
Lakely had made his way over at some point. He crouched down next to the children to see the photos.
First came a group photo. A group of children that looked to be of a similar age sat together. Ye Muo was on the rightmost side, with a bunny carefully cradled on his knees. The child next to him was the only one without a rabbit. His arms were crossed as he scowled at the camera.
The next photo was far more chaotic. The rabbit had reared up and turned its paws on Ye Muo, who shrank back a little in fear. The child beside him was reaching over to perhaps grab the rabbit.
After that was a photo of three children. Ye Muo stood in the middle with the child from before to his side. Behind them was an older child that seemed to have an aura of maturity around him already despite his young age.
He had taken over rabbit-holding duty from Ye Muo as well.
The child currently holding a rabbit turned to their parents with glittering eyes. “Hurry up and take my picture, Dad.”
“I want a photo just like this.”
“Alright then. Hold it firmly but not too tight. Bunnies can be quite fragile.”
Lakely was still pouring over the messy photo collection. “Did something happen while these photos were being taken?”
The staff member also looked a little nostalgic. “Yes, you’re right in a way. His Little Highness seemed somewhat scared but interested back then, so we picked out a more even-tempered bunny. Looks like it was still a bit too lively.”
The other, older-looking staff member had joined them at some point. “At first, I thouth His Little Highness was having a disagreement with his big brother. They came together and seemed like family, I mean, you can’t blame me for assuming. His Little Highness even called the child ‘Big Brother’. Thinking back, he may have been a relative or that was his identity when they were out.”
The older employee took a sip of his hot drink. “The child didn’t look too happy, but he was a good big brother. He took the rabbit away at once when his little brother was upset, no?”
The younger staff member sighed, “It was a long time ago, but yet. I’ve never seen another child throw a tantrum and refuse to hold a rabbit, much less get bitten by one.”
“Same here.”
The employees exchanged a look and smiled.
Derek was also listening attentively. This was his first time hearing about this. He resisted the urge to open his holomind and note it down. That was when he noticed Lakely already snapping pictures of the photos before joining the line to hold a rabbit himself.
“Help me take some photos, Derek.”
He had already changed his mind before Derek even opened his holomind.
“No, nevermind. I’ll have the robot over ther do it. Or you can set up an automatic shutter.”
Derek paused before setting his device down.
[+1 from someone who saw the photos Derek took before with Lakely. Let the robot handle it.]
[Lakely: Even an elementary schooler can do better, bro. That was hilarious.]
[Lakely’s so blunt, ah. There’s no harm in letting people down easy. Just say you prefer a standardized experience.]
……
Adlet was already preparing for the journey back home. Military affairs and the fleet itself weren’t his areas of concern.
His only task was to prepare the mothership the Grantz would be taking. There was plenty of time now, especially in comprison to the rush everyone had been in to come to the Alliance.
The butler was well versed in the preferences of the Grantz. He could arrange a suitable and convenient place for them to relax with his eyes closed. However, there were still some details that required his attention to hammer out.
Adlet paused and glanced at a room to the side. “Your Little Highness.”
Ye Muo turned around from where he was carrying a wooden board. Further in the room, Theodore also straightened.
The two of them had been planning to make Pangzhua a house in the gardens over the past few days. Theodore was in charge of designs. They’ve been holed up in this room even since breakfast after the parts and materials arrived today.
“Is it time to eat, Adlet?”
“There’s still some time. If you’re hungry, however, I can bring you some fruits.”
“Thank you, Adlet. Look, we’re making this for Pangzhua.”
Ye Muo stepped aside, revealing the partially constructed ‘little’ house. It was actually quite large.
Adlet smiled. “I’m sure Pangzhua will like it. We can place it in the gardens.”
It seemed like one more thing needed to be broguht back. Adlet was already considering where to place it in the Grantz gardens.
“Your Little Highness, I believe you can return to Grantz with Commander Ye’s mothership.”
Ye Muo looked up. “Really?”
“Of course, if you and Commander Ye are both in agreement.”
The trip back this time was a far more relaxed affair than the trip here. They were going home, after all. Legion Commander Ye was reponsible for his legion, but the same couldn’t be said for Ye He. His schedule was far more open outside of battle.
Adlet smiled faintly. “However, I believe you will need to ask Commander Ye’s permission first. I have no objections if you’re both on board.”
Ye Muo was up on his feet already. Theodore too set down his tools. They quickly slipped past Adlet. “I’ll go ask him right now!”
With that, the duo vaulted out the windowsill one after the other to the lawn below without so much as sound.
Adlet didn’t need to go over and look. He could see them come into view a few seconds later, running into the distance and out of sight once more.
Adlet, who had been considering calling out to Theodore, shook his head somewhat helplessly. Nothing was built in one day. Even a baby needed a long time to grow into a dependable adult, and Theodore had become a human just a short while ago.
Although this ‘baby’ could roam the digital world as freely as if it were his own backyard.
In this era where society was so heavily dependent on the galactic network, even a layperson like Adlet understood that Theodore could do far more than simply tamper with a few variables.
Even so, Adlet was in no hurry.
If Theodore was akin to a deadly beast, then somewhere along the way, he had collared himself and placed the leash right into His Little Highness’ hands.
