A single glance from Norton was enough to dissuade Bert and Helene from coming to blows.
The Grantz tucked in to their meal in earnest. Plate after plate of food were devoured at an alarming pace. The Grantz slowed down near the end, idly eating a few more bites or sipping on some beverage.
Ye He scanned the table. Here he thought they were spoiling Ye Muo too much by deliberately setting aside food for him earlier. He understood why that was necessary now. There was no way Ye Muo would be able to compete with the ravenous Grantz, not at the slow pace he tended to eat.
When even Ye Muo, who was the last to finish, set down his utensils, the rest of the Grantz stopped picking at the crumbs that remained.
Normally, they had a habit of remaining by the table and chatting a bit after meals.
Adlet and other staff members quickly cleared the table before returning to refill the glasses of the Grantz.
The butler removed alcohol from the menu since it was still before noon. It was still milk for Ye Muo’s group.
Ye He and Theodore had no objections.
Ye Muo wasn’t thrilled by flavourless drinks like milk, but he still sipped on it occasionally.
Adlet coaxed him, “You’re doing great today as well, Your Little Highness. You’ll grow up to be as tall as your brother.”
Ye Muo glanced at Ye He. “Just as tall?”
Adlet smiled. “That I’m not sure.”
Ye Muo took a big gulp of milk before quietly remarking, “Big Brother drank less milk than me, so I’m definitely going to be as tall as him one day.”
He gestured to the top of Ye He’s head and secretly aimed his sights a little bit higher than that.
Ye He pressed Ye Muo’s hair down. “Allow me to remind you that I’m still growing in height. You’ll have to wait and see.”
Bert stopped talking to Helene just long enough to cheer Ye Muo on, “Work hard then, Xavier. I heard that many children have a growth spurt in their first years after enlistment.”
Ye Muo immediately switched to Theodore. “Theodore’s just a bit taller than me. If I grow faster than him, I’ll be taller in no time!”
Theodore cocked his head. “Do you wish to be taller than me, Xavier?”
He would make that happen if that’s what Ye Muo wanted.
Ye Muo ruffled Theodore’s hair and tucked a strand behind his ear. Under normal interior lighting, his hair looked pure white. “A little bit, yeah. That way, I can say you’re my little brother when we go out. I’ll be a good big brother and take good care of you.”
Ye Muo gave it some thought. He glanced at Ye He. “I’ll even hold your water bottle for you.”
When they went on outings as children, he and Ye Yun would both be carrying their water bottles from kindergarten. Ye Muo would grow tired easily and start gulping down his water in an attempt to finish it. At some point, Ye He started holding Ye Muo’s water bottle instead.
Theodore didn’t look enthused. “I would rather prefer to take care of you, Xavier.”
Ye Muo no longer felt the sensation of Theodore’s hair as he tilted his head. When he glanced over, the hair had reverted back to data before becoming hair again. The change propagated through Theodore’s entire body.
Theodore was slightly different when he looked up again. He seemed to have become a more mature version of himself with longer hair. He guided Ye Muo’s hand back to his ear. “I can make further changes, Xavier.”
The Grantz around the table and Ye Muo weren’t that surprised. They knew of Theodore’s nature long ago.
Ye Muo was the only one whose eyes widened slightly in surprise. “I thought you couldn’t change as you pleased. You mentioned that was your true form before.”
Theodore shifted towards Ye Muo and nuzzled his palm with his cheek, bidding him to keep stroking his hair like before. “I’m still who I was earlier, just with an added layer of code.”
Ye Muo looked at Theodore. “Still, I want Theodore to remain by my side as his true self, as who he really is.”
The fact that said form didn’t tower over him like now was just a bonus.
Theodore paused before sitting back and straightening, reverting in the process. “But my true form is still taller than Xavier. As Xavier’s big brother, I will take care of you.”
He said, leaning closer to Ye Muo again.
Ye He caught the back of his collar. “Enough is enough, AI.”
“There’s still much for you to learn.”
Ano jumped in, “That’s right, Theodore. You still have a lot to learn.”
Theodore sat back properly. “Then I’ll study hard.”
Bert stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Helene seemed to come to some sort of realization as she glanced between Norton and Theodore. “Xavier, do you want to stroke my hair?”
There was a marked difference between touching the cub and the cub touching you.
Ye Muo immediately accepted. “Yeah!”
He said, heading to Helene’s side. “I’ll braid your hair, Helene.”
Ano protested, “That’s no fun, Xavier. Why don’t we go out and play? We can take a mothership out for a stroll if you wear your combat suit. You don’t have much space battle experience yet, right? Weaving in between fleets can be quite exhilarating as well. We might even run into some insects. You can use a mech if you’d like. They’re fun enough, albeit bulky.”
“Maybe later, Ano. I’ll be with you in a bit.”
“Of course braiding hair is more fun.” Helene smugly chimed in, “I’ll show Sylvia my beautiful braids as soon as you’re done, Xavier.”
Bert added without even looking up, “That is, if Sylvia’s de-blacklisted your number.”
“Bert!!”
……
Lakely’s been staying put in the Grantz imperial capital for a couple of days, living life like an average Grantz citizen.
Aside from checking if the Grantz were back yet, he went around and visited all the top dining and tourist destinations in order to show a complete picture of Grantz.
“I won’t speak much about security since it’s so safe inside Grantz. I haven’t been outside their territory much, but it’s probably for the best considering the insects.”
He flipped to the next page of the notebook he was holding. Lakely was a fan of more traditional methods of organizing his thoughts.
“If you’re interested in shopping or entertainment, I’m sure the bustling capitol center will satisfy you. The architecture there is also worth nothing. I’m sure you all saw for yourselves. However, pay attention to any insect-related elements because they might be the real deal.”
“There’s plenty of sights to see. The population density over here is low so there’s a lot of space to build. The zoo is a must see. Buying a basket wouldn’t hurt.”
[Note to self: buy a basket.]
[Grantz sure is something. Their population density is so low despite the frequency of insect invasions. Meanwhile, the Alliance’s territory shrinks year on year and property in the safe sectors are exorbitant and tiny.]
[10 year fan chiming in. Let me use your zoo card. Extending hand.jpg.]
“…There are many manors outside the city limits, some of which are open to the public. You can ride horses there. Then there’s the Grantz palace. Stay well away unless you have business there. It’s not open to the public. We all saw a glimpse of it from a distance yesterday. The place was crawling with guards. Although I know I didn’t do anything, seeing so many guards still puts me on edge…”
[I couldn’t bear to even bring it up. If I was a guard and I saw someone as nervous as you hanging around, I’m arresting you for sure.]
“I, however, will be able to visit one day since I have an invitation. The visit won’t be streamed, I’m just mentioning it.”
……
That night, Ye Muo lay on his bed after finishing his usual chat with Lady Ye and the others. There was a new ceiling projection tonight, not stars or clouds or butterflies that flitted about the room, just a couple of cartoon cats. They ducked into cardboard boxes upon noticing Ye Muo’s gaze, only to shyly peek out at him moments later.
Ye Muo smiled before quietly calling out, “Theodore?”
[I’m here.]
Ye Muo’s voice returned to normal volume. “You’re always around, Theodore. Even though it’s your bedtime too.”
[Just as Xavier needs to chat with Mom and others people dear to him before bed, I need to as well.]
This has always been the case. He always watched Xavier fall asleep. In the laboratory, he kept checking on the child for fear he would disappear at any time. In the Exile Sectors, Xavier spent most of his time scanning his surroundings for danger. It was Theodore who guarded him through the nights.
Even now, when Theodore was learning to live like a human, he still came to check on Ye Muo before going to bed, even if Xavier wished he didn’t.
“Can I see you?”
Theodore materialized by Ye Muo’s bedside a second layer. He leaned over Ye Muo, watching.
When Ye Muo extended a hand his way, Theodore pressed his cheek into it.
“You really startled me today, Theodore.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ye Muo shook his head. “In a good way. Still, we have to gradually grow up together. No cheating.”
Theodore nodded seriously. “Alright.”
Ye Muo looked at Theodore. He was suddenly curious. “Can Theodore change into any other form?”
“Yes. Theoretically, I can assume any form with detailed enough data.”
He said, beginning to morph once more. His body shrank rapidly this time as data overflowed from his fingertips. A few seconds later, a white, long-haired cat with heterochromia sat in the space Theodore once occupied.
Cat Theodore made his way across the soft bedding to sit elegantly by Ye Muo’s side. “Even animals.”
Ye Muo reached over as soon as he bowed his head. “Your fur is so soft.”
Cat Theodore laid down in front of Ye Muo and exposed his soft belly. “The data indicates this is the softest spot.”
Ye Muo touched to verify. “It’s so soft and warm, even softer than Pangzhua…you’ve outdone yourself, Theodore.”
Cat Theodore couldn’t help but meow. “It feels nice, Xavier.”
Ye Muo scooped up Cat Theodore and held him close under the covers. “Good night, Theodore.”
Theodore froze for a moment before softly responding, “Good night, Xavier.”
As those words fell, the kittens on the ceiling ran back to their den and curled up together. Soon, the room fell dark aside from the nightlight in the corner.
Theodore quietly wrapped his tail around Ye Muo’s wrist. He was close enough to feel Ye Muo’s heartbeat.
The sensation was inexplicably familiar. Theodore felt as if he had simulated this scenario countless times.
Back in the Exile Sectors, as Theodore watched Xavier curl up in dingy, windswept rooms, he wished countless times to be able to touch Xavier.
At least then he and Theodore could huddle together and share their body heat.
Back then, it was just an impractical, vague daydream.
Now, he had made that daydream a reality.
