Ano hesitated for a beat after Adlet’s euphemistic reminder before immediately doubling down. “No worries, he’s a good kid. He won’t do anything to them even if he doesn’t like them. Besides, Big Brother’s pets sleep all day. Even Big Brother himself might not run into them if he went.”
In truth, the Grantz garden really wasn’t a garden. It was a sprawling piece of woodland connected to a mountain. Norton’s pets were allowed to roam free here and in the mountain. Because he and his siblings like to play with them as energetic youths, his pets hid whenever they ran into people now.
It’s been some time since Ano last saw them. His biggest impression of them was how much fur they had and how much they liked to sleep. The biggest one of all was the dumbest, but it had a keen sense of smell and loved to eat apples. It had sneaked into the kitchen several times from the windows in the corridor nearest the garden to steal apples, breaking several vases in the process.
Beside them, Secretary-General Lin expressionlessly pushed his glasses up as he watched Ano call Norton ‘Big Brother’ without a care in the world in front of him. He felt like he had stayed up all night thinking about Ano’s identity for nothing.
In addition, if he remembered correctly, His Majesty’s pets were one of the top ten fiercest beasts in the galaxy, the Vana Lions of the western galactic region. A variant of these lions could even form packs and hunt insects like prey. Even if they faced off against insects alone, they could hold their own for a while provided the king insect wasn’t nearby.
As for Ye Muo….
Honestly speaking, Secretary-General Lin had seen that child from the Ye family once when he went to Ye Zhiyuan’s home to deliver some documents. Ye Muo was very young then. He sat at Lady Ye’s feet as she knit, obediently tidying the yarn for her.
Secretary-General Lin spent a lot of time thinking about why someone who looked so much like a Grantz like Ye Muo was able to live for so long with the Ye family without arousing the slightest bit of suspicion.
It all became clear once he recalled that memory. Because Ye Muo was simultaneously very similar to and nothing like a Grantz.
Norton looked thoughtful. He closed the book on his lap and looked up. “Let’s go have a look.”
The parenting books all said that a qualified father must pay attention to his child’s interests. If Ye Muo didn’t like the Vana Lions, Norton could give him another pet.
Adlet was very relieved. He was prepared to send the staff near the garden inside to look for Ye Muo.
……
Ye Muo walked down the stairs, barely encountering anyone along the way. He instinctively went to the place he frequented the most after his room, the dining room. He intended to sit there for a while before heading back upstairs.
There were faint sounds coming from inside the dining room. Ye Muo hesitated at the door for a while before poking his head in. Several butlers and maids were setting up something inside.
One of them walked towards Ye Muo with a basket filled with a variety of fruits inside. He enthusiastically asked, “Are you hungry, Your Little Highness? One moment while I get something for you. Would you like milk? Fruits? Here are the freshest fruits that just arrived.”
Ye Muo had just ate and his stomach was still protesting. He tried to refuse, “No thank you. I’ve eaten. Milk isn’t necessary either.”
The other party was still very enthusiastic. He offered the basket to Ye Muo and stuffed one of the apples inside into his hand.
“Then please take an apple, Your Little Highness. It’s sure to be very sweet.”
Ye Muo paused for a few seconds before finally deciding to take it. “Thank you.”
“No need for thank, Your Little Highness. It is my pleasure to serve you.”
Ye Muo hurriedly left with the apple. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief after putting some distance between him and the dining room. He wasn’t good at dealing with overly enthusiastic people like that man, and he could never learn how to reject the kindness of others.
Ye Muo sniffed the hefty apple. It really was very fresh, judging by the leaf on its stem. The fresh scent of grass and the sweetness of fruit wafted into his nose. It was Ye Muo’s first time smelling something so refreshing after being holed up in his room all this time.
Ye Muo had also planted an apple tree in his little greenhouse. He started with a tiny seedling and progress was slow. It only came into fruit last year and produced a single apple. Ye Muo would check on it whenever he went and often sniffed the fruit. Perhaps due to the variety he planted, the apple was very small and not that fragrant. Still, Ye Muo couldn’t bear to pick it. After it matured, it naturally fell off and rotted
Suddenly, a bird landed on the windowsill beside him. It chirped twice and tilted its head at Ye Muo. The little gray-black bird had a very charming voice. Ye Muo snapped out of it and slowly approached the windowsill and placed the apple there. “Do you want some?”
The bird stared at Ye Muo with its head tilted for a few more seconds before suddenly flying off. Ye Muo only realized he had walked to the first floor corridor at some point when he saw where it landed. Outside the window was a sea of greenery. Verdant vines climbed each wall. Whenever the wind blew past, they would wave in unison. The were several statues in sight meant to complement the greenery. Further ahead was a forest stretching beyond the horizon.
“Wow.” Ye Muo took a step closer and muttered. He vaulted over the windowsill with both hands, not forgetting to turn and grab his apple.
Ye Muo tentatively headed deeper into the garden before suddenly stopping. Not far away was a lioness drinking water by the stream. Water was still dripping from its chin as its head turned to stare at Ye Muo.
Every part of Ye Muo tensed as he stared stiffly back. He subconsciously reached for his dagger only to find it wasn’t there. Right, he was still in his pajamas. Thankfully, the lioness started slowly backing away even though it didn’t break eye contact.
They were pack animals so it was possible for them to avoid humans when alone.
Ye Muo was also backing away, intending to retrace his steps. But soon, a nearby shrub as tall as a person was quickly flattened. A group of startled birds took flight.
Before Ye Muo could react, a very furry male lion sprang out into sight. Its fur was a very light gold under the sunlight, its size huge. The mane around its head was blown into disarray as it headed straight for Ye Muo.
It only started to stop right before Ye Muo. Its huge claws gouged deep traces into the ground, but unfortunately that was not enough to halt its momentum. It ended up taking Ye Muo down as well. The two of them tumbled for some distance before coming to a stop. The lion enthusiastically used its barbed tongue to lick Ye Muo’s cheek.
Ye Muo was buried in its thick mane, still holding the apple in his hand.
Just as Ye Muo tried to raise a hand to resist, the weight on him vanished. Norton stood next to Ye Muo, grabbing the lion’s scruff through its mane with one hand and lifting it up. All four of the lion’s paws were curled up by its chest as it froze.
Norton gave it a look before pulling Ye Muo to his feet with his other hand.
“It’s trying to act cute so you’ll give it the apple.”
