Lady Ye and Ye Zhiyuan waited until Norton’s hovercar was out of sight before turning back. It was quiet in the living room. Ye He and Ye Yun were still standing there.
Ye He was expressionless, but Ye Yun uneasily stood beside him. He automatically put his hands behind his back and stared at the floor.
Ye Zhiyuan glanced at Lady Ye first. Before Lady Ye spoke, he whispered, “His Majesty hasn’t said anything.”
He paused, “Everything should be fine.”
The Grantz were not ones to hold their temper. If nothing happened immediately, they wouldn’t retaliate in secret later on.
Lady Ye remained silent, but Ye Zhiyuan knew she was slightly relieved.
Ye Zhiyuan tentatively tried again, “Then shall we let them go back to their rooms first? It’s almost bedtime.”
Acutally, it was still early. They would still stay downstairs at this time normally.
But Lady Ye nodded. Ye Yun zipped to the stairs as soon as he got permission. Only then did he realize Ye He didn’t follow. He glanced back at him.
Ye He walked up to Lady Madam Ye and hugged her as Ye Yun gawked. He quietly stated, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve accepted Ye Muo as my little brother a long time ago. I will be fine too.”
After a while, Lady Ye reached over and put her hand on Ye He’s back. Her fingertips were still trembling minutely. “As long as you understand, Ye He. Be a good child, a good brother. Take good care of your two younger siblings.”
Ye He nodded each time.
She added, “And don’t do anything dangerous.”
Ye He understood what she meant. He patiently replied, “I understand. I will be one of Grantz’s most loyal swords.”
He bid farewell to Lady Ye as usual, “Good night, Mom.”
Then he turned to Ye Zhiyuan, “Good night, Father.”
Then he went upstairs. Ye Yun followed closely behind, lightly nudging him on the way up. “Big Bro.”
He gave a thumbs up. “Mom doesn’t even look angry anymore.”
Ye Yun picked up that the air wasn’t as tense as before and relaxed. Even his steps became lighter. He eagerly continued, “I will also be one of Grantz’s sharpest, most loyal swords!”
Ye He gave him a look before casually indulging his big-headed, foolish little brother, “I’m sure you’ll be the bravest one too, bar none.”
Foolishly brave.
Ye Yun didn’t get it. He accepted the praise at face value. “That goes without saying.”
Then he looked at Ye He a little suspiciously. “You usually snark at me, so what happened…”
Ye He paused as he opened the door before smoothly recovering. To some extent, Ye Yun knew him very well.
Downstairs, Ye Zhiyuan placed a comforting hand on Lady Ye’s shoulder. “He was still a child then.”
Lady Ye still looked a little angry. “Yes. As a child, he was already able to do this to his little brother.”
Lady Ye couldn’t help but think of all the times when she and Ye Zhiyuan were both busy, when she trusted Ye He to look after Ye Muo temporarily.
Ye Zhiyuan poured her a cup of hot water.
Lady Ye was silent for a while, “I’m also at fault for not noticing in time. If I had paid more attention to the relationship between them back then…”
Ye Zhiyuan lowered his head and kissed her on the ear. He whispered almost into her ear, “You did the best you could. You’re a good mother while I failed as a father.”
Ye Zhiyuan was rarely so frank. He would also rarely be so intimate outside their bedroom, even in their own living room.
Lady Ye turned and realized his ears were pink. Ye Zhiyuan drew back a little and tried to change the topic, “Ye Muo seemed to be doing well.”
Lady Ye finally smiled. “His Majesty is taking good care of him.”
“Looks like we don’t have to worry.”
……
Norton brought Ye Muo back to the palace without alerting anyone.
He was still dressed as if he was going out. In his arms, Ye Muo was already asleep.
He quickly returned to his bedroom with Ye Muo. Gently closing the door, Norton placed the flowerpot on the nightstand before methodically unwrapping Ye Muo from the cloak.
He was skilled at such things by now.
With Ye Muo over his arm, he prepared a cold compress. Lady Ye did the same for Ye Muo before, but the child kept squirming out of her grasp with various excuses.
Ye Muo shrank back as soon as it was applied and drowsily woke up. He grabbed Norton’s hand and tried to remove the towel on his face. “Muomuo can’t see.”
He opened one eye, saw Norton and called out, “Daddy.
Then he wriggled into Norton’s arms and fell asleep against his chest.
Norton patiently waited for him to fall asleep before trying the cold compress again. Ye Muo nuzzled closer with his eyes clsed. “Don’t wanna. Too cold. Wanna sleep.”
In the end, after a period of stalemate, Norton sighed, “Alright, let’s sleep.”
He did get a cold compress for a while. It should be long enough, right?
As a result of his willfulness, Ye Muo’s eyes were still red-rimmed the next morning.
Ye Muo pushed Norton awake before he woke for the first time.
Norton woke up to see Ye Muo sitting up in bed, holding his eyes. “Muomuo’s eyes hurt, Daddy. Puffy.”
Norton gently removed his hands to check. “They’re red.”
Ye Muo couldn’t help but blink, sending tears rolling down his cheeks. He closed his eyes. “Hurts.”
Norton pursed his lips. He regretted giving in a little. Yesterday, he should have ignored Ye Muo and applied the compress. “Does it hurt? I’ll take you to the doctor.”
Ye Muo immediately shook his head. “Muomuo doesn’t hurt. Let’s not go.”
“A cold compress then.”
Ye Muo nodded. “En!”
When Norton carried Ye Muo downstairs, the child obediently held the towel against his eyes. He was willing to do anything to avoid going to the doctor.
He finally let go of the towel after being placed in his high chair.
He sincerely stated to everyone he ran into, “Look at Muomuo. Muomuo didn’t cry even if his eyes are sick.”
The others gathered around him. Dylan frowned imperceptibly.
Adrian praised him, “Our Muomuo is so great! You can use a cold compress on yourself.”
Ye Muo’s feet started to sway.
Ano nervously avoided the topic until finally, “…Should we take him to the doctor?”
Ye Muo immediately shook his head and lifted the towel in front of him. “Daddy said no, cold compress.”
When Ano turned to Norton to confirm, Ye Muo nervously tugged on his sleeve.
After a while, he whispered, “Muomuo is sick. Muomuo wants cake.”
Ano tried not to laugh as he pretended to be conflicted, “We’ll have to ask Adlet. Adlet is in charge of all the cakes.”
So Ye Muo turned to Adlet.
Adlet crouched down congenially. “It really is a bit severe.”
Ye Muo nodded along.
Adlet smiled and ruffled his hair. “Do you understand why I insist on cold compresses now, Your Little Highness? Please be more cooperative next time.“
Ye Muo went quiet.
It was always Adlet who insisted on giving Ye Muo a cold compress after he cried.
“Considering you did a good job of using a cold compress yourself today, I think you can have a slice of cake as a reward.”
Ye Muo nodded, swaying his feet again as he puffed out his chest. “Muomuo did good.”
“Alright, Your Highnesses. Don’t crowd His Little Highness. It’s time for breakfast.”
Adlet poured Norton a glass of water. “His Majesty Bert and the others are about to return. Apparently the harvest was bountiful.”
Adrian added, “They’re all the galactic network is talking about as of late.”
That was their original intention, to show off Grantz’s current strength to all.
Ano continued, “But it won’t last.”
“The insect plague is almost here.”
Dylan didn’t even blink. “We just need to kill them all.”
Adrian leaned back and tapped the edge of his plate with a fork. “But king insects that have already established their swarm are quite troublesome.”
Ye Muo looked at Adrian and also tapped on his plate.
Adrian began to tease him. Whenever he tapped, Ye Muo would swing his feet and copy him.
Ano immediately tattled to Adlet. “Adlet…”
Adlet strode over. Before he started, he politely said, “Please don’t take offense, Your Highness Adrian.”
With that, he chopped Adrian on the back with one hand. Adrian sqwaked, caught off guard.
Ye Muo slowly stopped swaying his feet. He carefully set down his fork, making sure to not make any noise, before picking up his bottle and suckling away.
Adlet pleasantly remarked before leaving, “A fine demonstration, Your Highness Adrian.”
Ano gleefully snickered.
……
Meanwhile, Bert was scrolling online.
Netizens had recovered from their shock and were now discussing.
[Does the appearance of His Majesty Bert mean a temporary halt to His Majesty Norton’s reign?]
[That can’t be. His Majesty Bert was sent on a mission with the other princes and princesses, just like Prince Ano and Prince Adrian were sent out by His Majesty Norton before.]
[What’s the point of discussing this when the insect plague is imminent? If you ask me, the more Grantz the better.]
[That’s on the premise that they don’t start infighting again. Don’t you remember when Princess Helene and Prince Dylan started fighting on the frontlines during one insect tide? I don’t want to see them fighting and killing each other again until only Emperor Norton is left. Although we know now that they didn’t die, the bloodshed and chaos back then were real.]
Bert skipped past all that to the comments he wanted to see.
[Here’s the keychain I knicked from my niece, the same model as His Majesty Bert’s]
He was satisfied. “Good, they noticed my new accessory.”
He scrolled for a while longer before losing interest and tossing the holomind aside.
“How long until we’re home?”
The adjutant nearby seemed to have calmed down quite a bit. He glanced at the route. “In two hours or so, Your Majesty Bert.”
“Also, Mr. Clinton Sr has sent several comms requests.”
Bert closed his eyes. “I’m not going to handle anything right now. Reject them all.”
