The meeting was set for that night.
Although Bert issued notices casually, basically whenever he wanted to, since he mentioned it, there would be an official, formal meeting.
The legion commanders got to work as soon as they were notified yesterday. Those who could rushed to the imperial capital overnight, those who were too busy hurried to appoint a sufficiently capable delegate. Those who were already in the imperial capital had some leeway, but they too were making preparations into the night.
Ever since Dylan and Adrian clashed with each other over a particular battlefield during the last meeting, these meetings that were held at Bert’s whims became far less frequent.
It was rare for a heavy air to not loom over the event.
Adlet was as glad as he was busy.
Many outfits and matching accessories had been brought into the room. There were hundreds of crowns alone. Thank goodness Bert’s study had been designed to be spacious enough to accommodate.
Even Bert was beginning to feel a bit pressured. “If you ask me…”
“You must feel it is a shame as well, Your Majesty? For so many outfits and accessories to be sent to the palace on schedule, each a beautiful masterpiece crafted by top designers, only for them to gather dust. Most of them haven’t even been worn once by their owners. At least, I feel it’s a shame every time I have to reorganize them.”
Adlet knew there were far more outfits still in storage. What was a few hundred crowns with all the Grantz present? Such a sum was easily reached after bringing over a dozen for each of them. “If you’re willing to relocate to–”
“No, there are enough clothes here.”
Norton solemnly rejected Adlet. He was in a dress uniform, the lapels of his coat falling around his feet. There was a gorgeous crown on his head and a scepter next to his seat.
Aria raised her camera and made a point to turn on the flash. She liked this old-fashioned function and often turned it on with little warning. Lately, she made it a habit to turn it on in secret whenever the others were fighting and take a picture of them, which would often cause them to do a double-take. It was quite amusing.
She too was in formalwear that had gotten Adlet’s seal of approval already.
Meanwhile, Adlet let out a regretful sigh as he scrolled through the massive remaining inventory on his holomind. He had dreams of becoming a designer in his youth and even undertook further studies for a time.
Ye Muo was peering this way and that at the nearby scepter from Norton’s arms. He had been changed into a dress uniform of the same series as Norton’s. There was a little crown on his head, and tiny red gems had been thoughtfully woven into his hair. After looking up with his head back for a while, he would take a rest in Norton’s arms.
Norton touched his head. When Ye Muo once again rested his head against Norton, he removed Ye Muo’s little crown.
As soon as he picked the crown up, Ye Muo frantically reached up and pressed it back onto his head.
Norton could only relent. “Isn’t it heavy?”
“Yeah, but Muomuo wants to be pretty.”
Adlet was quite moved. “You have good taste, Your Little Highness.”
Ye Muo tried to lift his chin puff out his little chest. “Muomuo has good taste!”
Aria turned off the flash and circled around to the front, taking photos incessantly as she praised Ye Muo. “Muomuo is so pretty. Can you raise your hand? Yes, just like that. Who’s the prettiest little baby?”
“It’s Muomuo!” Ye Muo sincerely replied.
Meanwhile, Ano circled around and approached Adlet with a suggestion, “I don’t think this outfit fits me.”
Adlet sobered up. He rarely received direct feedback from the Grantz. Most of the time, he and the team in charge of this area would have to meet and draw their own conclusions. “Could you elaborate on that, Your Highness?”
“It doesn’t match Ye Muo’s outfit.”
Even Adlet had to take a moment to digest those words. “You have an outfit of the same series as Prince Norton. It’s right over there–”
Helene sidled up as well. “I don’t want to wear a crown.”
Adlet sighed, “If you insist, Your Highness.”
Ye Muo also overheard. His hand shot straight up.
“Yes, Your Little Highness?”
Ye Muo tried his best to raise his foot as well. “I don’t want shoes.”
“Muomuo’s feet are too warm.”
Adlet helped him take the shoe off his raised foot. “Thank you for the feedback, Your Little Highness. I will make sure your shoes are made more comfortable in the future.”
……
The legion commanders began trailing into the waiting room. These men and women in dress military uniform spoke in hushed voices amongst themselves.
Flynn was present as well. As the commander of the imperial guard, he was considered equal in rank to these legion commanders. There were even times where he could be considered above them, as he could directly interact with the Grantz.
“His Majesty finally called for another meeting.”
One of the younger legion commanders couldn’t help but say. He hadn’t been able to see the Grantz up close since he assumed this position. No matter how much he circled around the vicinity of the imperial capital, he hadn’t been able to run into a single Grantz.
Thus, after getting ahold of himself, he picked up a mission to try and gamble on the possibility of an audience to report once it was complete. After returning, before he could even send in the petition, the notice came in.
He’s spent the last few days bugging Flynn in an attempt to weasel out from him just what kind of mission he went on to receive an audience. As soon as he heard from his colleagues that a meeting was happening, he tossed the mission to his adjutant and hurried back posthaste.
“How do I look? It’s my first time wearing the military dress uniform. Will we be able to see the princes and princesses this time?”
The older legion commanders were far more experienced and calmer. Someone even humoured him and replied, “You don’t look half bad. Just redo that second button…again. Relax, I doubt we’ll be able to see the princes and princesses this time.”
Flynn didn’t insert himself into the conversation. He was sure that at least Prince Norton would be absent in order to take care of His Little Highness. He wondered how His Little Highness was doing now…
Someone came to stand beside him. “Flynn.”
Flynn startled slightly. “Legion Commander Saude.”
The legion commander he had once been subordinate to was now the legion commander of the first legion. The legion commander, known for being a stickler for the rules and taking everything too seriously, quietly asked him, “How have you been lately?”
Flynn understood his meaning. Sauder was approaching him, the imperial guard commander, to discreetly ask about the state of the Grantz. It was probably the limit of what a straight-laced person like him could do. “Very good. Great, in fact.”
Saude’s furrowed eyebrows smoothed out a bit.
The door of the lounge opened, drawing the attention of all those inside.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. His Majesty awaits.”
They quietly and swiftly filed out of the room according to experience, their footsteps as one.
Legion Commander Saude was at the very front of the procession as the most experienced person present. Everyone fell into line behind him. The youngest legion commander was in the last row. He deliberately positioned himself on the edge so he would have an unobstructed view later.
They came to a stop by the doors, which opened seconds later.
Even brighter light hit Saude, who was at the very front of the group.
He raised his slightly bowed head but didn’t immediately head inside. Instead, he froze in place in a rare loss of composure.
Like times long past, the princes and princesses dressed in formalwear were standing in pairs to either end of the staircase.
Up high, next to the once lonely throne, a new one had been installed– His Highness Norton sat there now.
This wasn’t the reason Saude lost his composure. As the successor, His Highness Norton often appeared at various events with Bert and sat together with him as well.
What shocked Saude to his core was the child in his arms, dressed in the same style as him, wearing a tiny crown.
His mind went blank for a moment. Then instinct kicked in and caused him to take the first step.
Saude was the first to drop down to one knee before the steps, followed closely by the others. They announced in unison, “May imperial glory endure, and Grantz forever be immortalized.”
Bert shifted, raising his head from the hand it had been propped on. “Good day, everyone. How have you all been lately? You may rise. Let me see that face of yours, Saude.”
They stood up again.
“I’ve been quite well, Your Majesty.”
Saude’s eyes couldn’t help but drift towards Ye Muo again as he answered.
Was this the reason the Grantz had been congregating in the imperial capital lately?
Behind him, Flynn showed no expression. Was it really alright to just reveal His Little Highness’ existence out of the blue like this? Shouldn’t it be a more solemn affair? Shouldn’t they wait until His Little Highness was older before showing him off to the world, like they did with the other princes and princesses?
Flynn’s thoughts stagnated. Although it always caused great ripples in the outside world, the other princes and princesses seemed to have debuted just as casually. He quickly shifted gears to how it should be a more solemn affair, like coronations.
Ye Muo’s feet shrank back. There were so many strangers, ah. And Muomuo wasn’t wearing shoes…
A faint sense of shame came over him.
But Muomuo never wore shoes, ah.
He quickly comforted himself before burrowing deeper into Norton’s arms.
Bert’s attention also shifted to Ye Muo as he boasted, “He’s a beautiful child, isn’t he? He has impressive psychic power, he’s smart, and he isn’t even a picky eater.”
Saude nodded earnestly. “His Little Highness is quite impressive.”
He paused before adding, “Not many children take food seriously.”
So Ye Muo forgot all about being nervous around strangers as he poked his head out with some urgency. When Norton discreetly stopped him with one arm, he pushed himself off of it with both hands. “It’s Muomuo! Muomuo isn’t picky.”
Saude froze in place.
“His Little Highness Muomuo,” Flynn whispered from behind him.
Saud could only helplessly go along with it, “That’s right, Your Little Highness Muomuo. You eat quite well.”
Bert burst into laughter. “You’re an interesting character as ever, Saude.”
He turned to another person. “You have kids if I remember correctly, right? Are they easy to coax?”
The other party still looked a little dazed. “I have a daughter who’s starting her internship with the legions. She’s not easy to coax by any measure.”
Bert was even more pleased. “Well, our Muomuo is more than agreeable.”
“Yep, agreeable.” Ye Muo chimed in.
He couldn’t really nod along anymore as his head was too heavy and his neck was really sore.
Bert finally had enough of showing off, “Alright, let’s get down to business. Go track down some insects and bring me back more insect crystals. Our child here is starving as we speak.”
Saude looked at them as well as the princes and princesses standing just below. They were expressionless, dressed lavishly with a hand on their swords. Just looking at them filled the hall with a terrible sense of oppression.
However, the hair-trigger mania that once threatened to consume them was gone. Somehow, a long-lost calm had returned to them.
Saude smiled. “Understood, Your Majesty. May Grantz forever be immortalized.”
The others also bowed his heads and repeated in unison, “May Grantz be forever immortalized.”
Bert turned to Ye Muo, “Muomuo, do you want to go play too?”
Ye Muo latched onto the keyword ‘play’. His hand shot into the air. “Yeah, Muomuo wants to play!”
Although this child could always eat for free with him, they had to do something about his education, and fast, Bert thought seriously for once.
He was quite experienced when it came to raising children. Just look at how well-adjusted they all were.
Author’s Corner
Bert: I’ve raised so many children who all bite me so hard, so of course they’ve been raised well
