“Today’s values are optimistic as well, Your Highness. As long as there are enough crystals, His Little Highness’ psychic power would be able to recover in an instant no matter how far they regress. It should be possible to further increase the amount of time His Little Highness spends with the other princes and princesses. There’s no need to monitor as closely either.”
Flynn’s report was delivered in a light tone as he recorded the values he just detected. He had been staying in the palace for quite a few days, running about recording each prince and princess’ condition with an emphasis on His Little Highness.
Norton nodded as he turned to the child beside him.
Ye Muo was sitting in front of a pile of crystals. Theodore was by his side with a shovel, digging into the pile under Ye Muo’s orders. The child was trying to bury his feet. Ye Muo urged Theodore as he sat back in the pile, “More, more!”
Flynn couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. He glanced at the small mountain of crystals in the background.
There were similar piles in many of the palace’s rooms by now under emergency order from Adlet. However, there hadn’t been enough time to tidy up most of the rooms so the crystals were simply piled up like this.
Even though their crystal stores reached a staggering number, all legion commanders had received orders to further increase collection.
It was to be expected as the matter concerned a little Grantz from the next generation.
By the time Flynn looked back at Ye Muo, the child had managed to bury most of his body in the crystal pile and was still calling out for more. The little robot was perfunctorily moving over single crystals by now.
Ye Muo wasn’t upset by that. When Theodore turned his back to perfunctorily pick at the crystals, he wriggled himself forcefully further into the pile, which was already showing signs of falling over.
Flynn’s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to head over, Norton, who had approached at some point, plucked Ye Muo from the pile.
Crystals that commanded a hefty price dribbled out of His Little Highness’ clothes. Several rolled to Flynn’s feet.
Flynn breathed a sigh of relief and used the back of his hand to wipe off the cold sweat from his face.
Ye Muo started behaving himself. He curled up obediently in Norton’s lap, both a little scared and vaguely aware that he seemed to have done something wrong.
Norton didn’t say anything as he patiently tidied up the child’s clothes, removing any crystals still stuck inside. He even rummaged through Ye Muo’s pockets before setting him back down.
Ye Muo looked up at Norton, then at the crystals littering the floor. The next time he raised his head, Norton ruffled his hair. “Are you done playing?”
Ye Muo vigorously shook his head. He wasn’t scared anymore when he was scooped up again. Norton’s attitude had taught him it wasn’t a big deal.
……
Meanwhile, a gaggle of Grantz were all squeezed in one corner of the neighbouring lounge.
Adlet didn’t even blink an eye as he came in. He served Sylvia tea before standing to one side with a faint smile, watching the screen before him which displayed footage of His Little Highness moving about the palace. Since contact between His Little Highness and the Grantz had been limited these past few days, they could only spend most of their time watching the real-time footage here.
Bert turned his head and told Sylvia in all seriousness, “I think we’re better parents than Norton.”
Sylvia also didn’t approve of Norton’s behaviour. You should explain to children why certain actions or things were dangerous. What if the crystal pile collapsed onto Xavier when no one was looking next time?
She nodded. “Norton is still too young.”
“I’m sure Xavier doesn’t like it either.” Bert immediately followed up, “He’s so upset he’s not playing anymore. I didn’t keep such a close eye on them back then. I even let them tag along when they clamoured about going to an insect hive.”
Sylvia’s head snapped around to give him a look.
Bert immediately reviewed what he had just said. Finding no problem there, he said with full confidence, “Look, didn’t they all turn out brave and smart? How about I raise Xavier from now on?”
The other Grantz also turned to stare him down. Ano’s eyes widened incredulously.
Bert shoved Ano’s head further away. “I’m getting goosebumps from that look you’re shooting me, Sylvia. All I meant was that we could raise Xavier together.”
No one responded. Moments later…
Bert casually gave himself a way out, “Fine. Pretend I didn’t say anything then.”
……
Meanwhile, Ye Muo started to perk up again after being held for awhile. He rested his head on Norton’s arm and started playing with the man’s shirt buttons. His feet started swaying again too.
Theodore circled around him to make sure he was alright before going to wait at the side of the room.
Norton quietly looked down at Ye Muo. His brows slowly furrowed.
Ye Muo was very obedient. If he was told not to cross the threshold of the door, he would remain in the room forever. Aside from his habit of being glued to his terminal to make sure everyone he knew was accounted for in the morning, he would amuse himself just fine for the rest of the day.
He would become very excited whenever a Grantz was permitted to enter the room and spend some time with him. When they left, he would only sit quietly near the door for a bit instead of throwing a tantrum.
The child who had always been confined to rooms since his birth was easily satisfied. Even playing with crystals or buttons was enough for him.
This shouldn’t be so. His Xavier was entitled to everything wonderful in this world.
Ye Muo had stopped at some point. He looked up at Norton with his hands curled up in front of his chest. When Norton looked at him, he quietly said, “Xavier will be good. Don’t be angry.”
Norton stood up while hugging him. He let Ye Muo rest his head on his shoulder so his expression was no longer visible. “I’m not angry at Xavier. Xavier doesn’t need to be good. Even if I’m angry, Xavier doesn’t need to be good.”
He shifted Ye Muo up a bit. “There’s no such thing as ‘being good’, Xavier. There’s only what you want and what you don’t want; what you like and what you don’t like.”
Ye Muo didn’t really understand. “W-what I want?”
“Do you want to leave this room?”
Ye Muo glanced at the wide open door. So many people had emphasized to him before how he mustn’t set foot outside, so he listened and stayed here. He hesitated, “Maybe Xavier wants?”
Moments later, a gaggle of Grantz crowded into what was Ye Muo’s room and stared at Norton and Xavier, who were in the hallway.
Sylvia had a look of dawning realization. “I should’ve thought of this sooner.”
Norton adjusted his hold of the excited toddler in his arms and simply said, “Xavier has been in that room for too long.”
Ye Muo was still excitedly waving at them. “Xavier’s!”
Ano played along. “Yes, yes. We’re all Xavier’s. I’ll write Xavier’s name on everyone here later. See you at dinner, Xavier.”
“S-see you!”
Bert also waved nonchalantly at Ye Muo. “My legs are about to fall off after I hurried all the way back to see Xavier. If only I had a bit of Xavier’s cake, I could be all better…”
Xavier was in a very generous mood. He said as Norton carried him away, “X-Xavier doesn’t want Bert to fall off! Bert can have some!”
“Then remember to give me some at dinner. I’ll let Xavier have some of mine too. Now say ‘Thank you, Bert’.”
A little head popped out of Norton’s arms in the distance, loudly saying, “Thank you, Bert!”
Bert was about to say something else when Sylvia slapped him upside the head.
Flynn quickened his pace to catch up to Norton. Theodore had been tagging along from the start.
Ye Muo was still quite excited as they rounded the corner, out of sight from the others. His feet were still swaying. Adlet just promised him that everyone would be there for dinner.
Flynn quietly spoke, “Just a few more days of monitoring, Your Highness. If there are no abnormalities, then His Little Highness’ movements no longer need to be restricted.”
Norton made a sound of acknowledgement as he gently patted Ye Muo’s back. Ye Muo gradually calmed down after the others disappeared from sight. He was pretty familiar with his surroundings by now and no longer gasped even when spotting a printed carpet like he had when he first arrived.
“Does Xavier like it when many people are around?”
Ye Muo raised his head. “Yep!”
Norton’s footsteps slowed.
Discounting the palace staff, they were the only ones around. The staff rarely made an appearance due to the unique nature of the Grantz family. They could often be found in the periphery of the palace, causing the magnificent structure to be rather quiet.
After some thought, Norton turned to look at Flynn. “Memorial Day is coming up, yes? As is customary, part of the palace will be open to the public during the festivities.”
Flynn was momentarily taken aback. Memorial Day, which was held in remembrance of the day they left Old Grantz, was indeed fast approaching. Grand celebrations would be held throughout the nation.
While there was a precedent for opening up the peripheral grounds of the palace on such occasions, the last time it had happened was shortly after His Majesty Bert assumed the throne.
Though the Grantz palace was the political center of the nation, who would’ve thought it would be under lockdown for so long? Even Flynn could only patrol the periphery as a guard long ago.
Norton continued, “There’s no need for the palace to go on this way. Visitors and guests will be welcomed normally from now on.”
He paused, “Bert’s been idle as of late. It’s been quite some time since Sylvia has held any banquets or balls as well.”
Norton had grown used to the stillness himself, but when he thought about it with Ye Muo in mind, he found it particularly unacceptable.
Flynn was somewhat moved. He understood what Norton meant. His Majesty Bert would begin receiving officials again as well as resuming diplomatic relation efforts. The Grantz would be able to return to their homeland instead of wandering the cosmos with their legions.
He even stopped to deliver a military salute. “As you command, Your Highness.”
The Grantz have been silent for far too long. Grantz had lost them for far too long.
Ye Muo’s eyes wandered everywhere as Norton continued walking. He nervously glanced at Flynn, who was just standing there. “D-don’t get lost, Flynn.”
The naive child assumed everyone shared his perspective. He was very worried. Since the palace was too big for him to remember where to go, he assumed everyone else struggled as well.
Flynn quickened his pace and caught up. With a faint smile, he said, “As you command, Your Little Highness.”
