Ye Muo slowly went upstairs. Although outsiders were forbidden to go up there, that was because it was where the Grantz residences and places Norton frequented were.
There were occasions where Adlet had specific servants clean certain less important rooms and hallways upstairs.
Ye Muo ran across them at times, but today the second and even third floor seemed deserted. He didn’t hear a single thing aside from his own footsteps as he made his way up.
He climbed the stairs at a brisk but quiet pace.
Then Ye Muo paused at the head of the hallway. On the other end was Ano’s room. The door of the room immediately to the left of Ano’s room was open.
No one else was allowed on the fourth floor aside from Adlet and the members of the Grantz family.
Yet that door was open.
Ye Mo instinctively noticed that there seemed to be someone in that room. He could vaguely hear their breathing and heartbeat.
Yet even those faint sounds disappeared after a few seconds. Ye Muo couldn’t hear anything else no matter how hard he tried.
He had been discovered.
Ye Muo knew for certain that whoever was in the room was aware of his arrival and deliberately concealed their breathing and heartbeat.
He was also unable to use psychic power to probe due to the rooms over there being filled with nullifying crystals. However, this also meant the other party couldn’t use their psychic power either.
Ye Muo glanced at the door of Ano’s room, which remained tightly shut. The rooms here had superb soundproofing once the door was closed as they were meant to contain berserk Grantz. Ye Muo couldn’t be sure right now if Ano was okay.
He drew close to one wall. Tightly plastering his back to the wall, he reached his right hand into a nearby vase and slowly drew out the dagger stored there.
Ano once played a treasure hunt game with Ye Muo where he would get a point whenever he found a dagger or other weapons around the palace. It served to familiarize him with where they were stored.
Ye Muo carefully and slowly crept across the carpet. He barely made a sound.
The hallway wasn’t that long. Ye Muo soon paused beside the door. After a few seconds of preparation, he pounced.
Almost the instant he appeared in the doorway, a chair came flying his way.
Ye Muo blocked it with his right arm. He could barely look inside the room before a table closely followed suit. Ye Muo’s military academy training told him he couldn’t retreat during times like this. Retreating would only expose him to the enemy’s sight and give them an opportunity to attack.
Thus, Ye Muo instinctively ducked and rolled into the room, bracing the dagger in front of him.
Ye Muo vaguely saw a figure.
His dagger was blocked by something with a crisp clang. Then something wrapped around his dagger-wielding hand and wrist.
The other party twisted nimbly to avoid Ye Muo’s swift dagger strike. Then they grabbed the chain around Ye Muo’s wrist and wrapped it around the child’s waist. Ye Muo’s other hand was twisted behind his back as a knee to the back of his calf forced him to kneel on the floor.
All in one fell swoop.
By the time Ye Muo stopped, he found that the other party had wrapped a chain around his neck. His right hand was forced towards his left shoulder along with the dagger.
The weapon Ye Muo refused to let go of this whole time was now resting beside his own neck.
Ye Muo couldn’t see who was behind him.
But he caught the man’s whisper, “Caught you.”
The other party’s voice was very clear. He examined Ye Muo. “Huh? Why are you so young?”
Adrian loosened the chain around Ye Muo’s neck a fraction. He secured the chain behind Ye Muo.
Adrian noticed Ye Muo as soon as he arrived on the fourth floor. He knew he couldn’t leave his room. His chains were very short and there was almost nothing in his room aside from a chair and table.
Yet that was all Adrian needed to lure this little mouse over and trap it.
Ye Muo hesitated when he saw the chain in front of him. Then he let go of the dagger. He was very familiar with this kind of chain. It was the same kind around Ano’s neck.
No outsiders were allowed on the fourth floor. A child like Ye Muo most likely wandered up here by accident. Children were frustratingly mischievous at this age. They need to be taught a lesson in order to behave.
After all, if the child had stumbled upon him in his berserk state, he might not be walking out of this room alive.
Adrian looked at Ye Muo. He lessened the amount of force he was using to hold down Ye Muo’s leg.
“What’s your name?
Ye Muo hesitated but eventually said, “Ye Muo.”
Adrian remembered that name. Norton mentioned it earlier.
“Why did you come here?”
“Ano.”
Adrian pressed down a bit harder. “Speak clearly.”
Ye Muo lowered his body a little, complying with Adrian’s strength. His voice remained as docile as before, like a small animal, “I came to find Ano.”
Adrian was beginning to smell something fishy here. He leaned over a bit to intently observe Ye Muo’s side profile.
He also took the chance to ruffle Ye Muo’s soft hair. “Ano? He might not have time to entertain you right now.”
He couldn’t shake this feeling of familiarity. Was this the child of a childhood friend?”
Ano shouted from the other room, “What’s wrong, Adrian?”
Ano heard the commotion earlier, but he waited until it was over to speak up. Adrian raised his head and said louder, “A child broke in.”
“Prince Adrian.”
Adlet interrupted their conversation. He had been standing by the splintered remains of the table at some point with a tray in hand.
Adlet barely managed to maintain his signature faint smile. Adrian subconsciously began to reflect on what he had done recently.
Adlet always showed this expression when they caused trouble. Whichever Grantz was responsible this time would be stuck eating things they didn’t like for a while.
Adlet said with a faint smile, “Please let go of His Little Highness.”
Adrian’s eyes went wide. He glanced down at Ye Muo and up again at Adlet, not daring to believe it. “‘His Little Highness’? Is this a little Grantz?”
Adlet stepped a bit closer and reminded again, “Prince Adrian.”
Adrian jolted and released the chain.
Ye Muo got up and ran over to Adlet, hiding himself behind the man before quietly peeking into Adrian’s room.
Ye Muo was still unfamiliar with Adrian, who he was a bit curious about. His eyes met the man’s as soon as he peeked out.
Adrian has been staring unblinkingly at Ye Muo the whole time. Ye Muo shrank behind Adlet again as soon as their eyes met.
Ano didn’t know what was happening. The bits and pieces he caught made him hurry to the door and ask, “Did Adlet come? What’s going on??”
“Did something happen to Ye Muo?”
Adlet was still smiling faintly. “It’s nothing, Prince Ano. Prince Adrian mistook His Little Highness for an intruder and they had a slight misunderstanding.”
“I must say, Prince Adrian, you’re just as skilled as you were before.”
Adrian heard Ano kick the door of his room hard again. “Adrian!!”
“You rude, brainless idiot!”
For once, Adrian didn’t retort. He just sat there staring blankly at Ye Muo and ignoring Ano.
Adlet looked down to check on Ye Muo. He was relieved to find the child unharmed.
Ano anxiously tried to ascertain the same thing, “Ye Muo, you’re not hurt, are you?””
Adlet relaxed a little. “Please rest assured, Prince Ano. Prince Adrian knows his strength.”
Then Adlet turned back to Ye Muo. “My apologies for my negligence, Your Little Highness. I should have told you to temporarily steer clear of the fourth floor. His Majesty clearly ordered me to before.”
Ano had his ear pressed to the door. Hearing that, he stopped condemning Adrian. “I’ll teach Adrian a lesson for you.”
Ye Muo shook his head. “I was the one being too reckless.”
He quietly glanced in the direction of Adrian’s door, but didn’t poke his head out this time.
He admitted quietly, “I went over with a dagger.”
And Adrian was unarmed.
Although Ye Muo was quiet, Adrian heard him. He picked up the dagger from the floor and handed it over hilt-first. He softened his voice, “Here, your dagger.”
Adlet looked down at Ye Muo who was behind him. He hoped that the little prince would get along well with the other princes and princesses, but he wouldn’t force Ye Muo to accept anything. The most he would do was discreetly give Ye Muo a nudge at times.
Ye Muo took a step towards Adrian.
Adlet was relieved.
He moved aside and made way. “Go ahead, Your Little Highness.”
Ye Muo finally got a clear look at Adrian. The man entangled in chains sat there offering the dagger. He was constrained to a corner of the room.
Ye Muo slowly walked over and accepted the dagger. He flicked it around and stored it blade first against his wrist.
Adrian continued to stare unblinkingly at him throughout.
Ye Muo could feel Adrian’s gaze even with his head down. It made him a little shy, but he eventually raised his head to meet the man’s gaze. “I’m sorry for coming over with a dagger.”
Ye Muo paused before smiling at Adrian. “Welcome home.”
Adrian was stunned. It finally clicked in his mind that he was looking at another member of his family, his nephew.
He suddenly opened his arms and hugged Ye Muo.
