At the end of the conference, unlike the other delegations who would stay for a few days to socialize, the Grantz representatives immediately left, taking even less time on the trip back to the imperial capital.
Unlike before, Norton agreed to attend a welcome event for the first time ever. This kind of event would have the returning delegation meet with the media and other relevant personnel in order to convey information to the public in a timely manner.
However, the Grantz have almost always conducted themselves in a low-key way, only the moment of their arrival being captured in photos. The only exception was once when the empress attended with the young Grantz. Only then was the entire event recorded.
A group of aloof Grantz walked forward with swords at their waists and matching black and red Grantz uniforms. They appeared distant, but were actually a tight little group keeping a set distance from each other as they followed their mother closely. Bringing up the rear was their father, watching over them from the very back.
This was one of the rare moments captured of all the young Grantz together after becoming adults.
The young Grantz rarely accompanied their mother like they did as children since adulthood. They all tacitly entered the military and headed to the borderlands, where they demonstrated their power on battlefields and insect-infested lands.
Even if they were occasionally around their mother, they were rarely all present. Photos of them together also rarely appeared on the empress’ social media accounts.
Later, some speculated that perhaps the relationship among them was already very tense at that point.
Now the scene from back then has made a reappearance. Ye Muo stood by Norton’s side, with Ano beside him.
The warship’s hatch opened. The people waiting outside all turned in this direction, several lenses pointing at them.
Only those from families with clean records were allowed to attend, as well as military officers, ministers and the usual Grantz media.
Norton pushed Ye Muo lightly before the child started walking. Norton calmly followed a few steps behind, watching Ye Muo just as his father had once done for them.
Ye Muo wore the sword that Norton had given him at his waist. He was a little calmer than before after experiencing such an occasion once.
Ye Muo did his best to ignore the people to either side as he walked down the red carpet. He paused before getting on the parked hovercar and looked past the crowd to the right. The people around him followed his gaze, but Ye Muo quickly reacted and retracted his gaze, entering the vehicle.
Ye Muo was still a bit absent-minded after taking a seat. He just saw Mom and Dad standing behind the crowd. Ye He and Ye Yun didn’t seem to be around.
Lady Ye was stepping on one of Ye Zhiyuan’s boots outside, staring in Ye Muo’s direction. Ye Zhiyuan held her waist without missing a beat. When Ye Muo looked over, Lady Ye even waved in surprised delight. She continued to watch after Ye Muo entered the hovercar, as if she could still see him within.
She grumbled to Ye Zhiyuan, “He seems to have gotten thinner and paler. That child must not have exercised much recently.”
Inside the hovercar.
Norton followed close behind Ye Muo and sat across from him.
Ano quickly got in as well and took a seat beside Ye Muo. “
What’s the matter? Did you see a familiar face?”
Ye Muo quietly mumbled, “It’s nothing.”
Norton closed the car door, completely cutting off the outside world. The interior of the car suddenly quieted down. He lowered his head to look at Ye Muo and reminded, “It’s time for psychic soothing tonight.”
Ye Muo clutched the fabric over his knees a little uneasily.
The hovercar started up.
……
Adlet was there to welcome them. Norton and Ano both removed their gloves and cloaks and handed them to the people around them.
Ye Muo copied them and took his gloves off too.
Adlet stood beside Ye Muo, helping him remove his cloak.
Adlet said as they walked inside, “Hot water and a change of clothes have been prepared upstairs. The kitchens will have dinner ready in half an hour, so I only put a small piece of cake in your room. Tonight’s dinner will be very sumptuous.”
There was still a distance to the stairs. Adlet continued, “New imperial guards have been assembled. They are ready to serve you at any time, Your Little Highness. Your playmates, tutors and training room are ready as well.”
He turned to Ye Muo and jokingly said, “If you would like, Your Little Highness, I can draw up a schedule for you today.”
Ye Muo smiled at Adlet.
Ano volunteered right away, “I can handle your combat class.”
Ye Muo looked back at Ano a little nervously. Combat class has always been the class he dreaded the most, for it left him battered and drew the focus of his teachers.
Adlet’s smile remained unchanged. “That would be for the best.”
No matter how introverted Ye Muo seemed to be, he was still a Grantz. Although underage Grantz weren’t as overwhelmingly strong as an adult Grantz, they were prone to not knowing their strength due to a combination of inadequate control and lack of experience.
Ano and his siblings always had some medical personnel on standby during their combat classes. For various reasons, their combat instructors would have to change once in a while. In the end, they could only spar against each other or challenge their father.
But Ye Muo was all alone this generation. Adlet was a bit worried his instructors wouldn’t be able to keep up with him, or Ye Muo would be too reluctant to make a move and not learn anything.
As soon as Ano finished his dinner, Ye Muo quickly set down his utensils.
Ano led Ye Muo away as he spoke with great enthusiasm, “Classes will start in a few days, so let’s have fun while we can. Let me show you the game room on the third floor.”
Adlet put away Ye Muo’s tableware and mentioned to the still seated Norton, “His Little Highness still seems to be somewhat afraid of you.”
Norton put down his glass. It clinked crisply with its holder. “Is that so?”
He somehow made a simple question seem so intimidating.
Adlet wasn’t put off by Norton’s aloofness. He reminded, “Haven’t you noticed? His Little Highness is always overly tense in front of you. He hasn’t even smiled once.”
The scene of a young Ye Muo sitting in Ye Zhiyuan’s lap, smiling up at him and calling him ‘Daddy’ came to Norton’s mind. But that was when he was a child. He had already missed that stage of Ye Muo’s life.
“He’s no longer a child. It’s normal for him to desire independence.”
Adlet stood to one side. “Do you really think this is how father and son normally interact?”
Norton began to consider the matter seriously.
He recalled how he and his siblings had interacted with their father. Father spent a lot of time with them. Even at his busiest during the insect tide, he would always set aside time to be with them and their mother.
They were all eager to challenge their father, for they didn’t need to hold back with the man. They could employ all their techniques and muster all their might with relish. Norton still reminisced over the joy and excitement of those fights.
Ano was the same in front of their father.
Norton said after some thought, “I will make time to handle his combat class with Ano then.”
Adlet stiffened. He shook his head and took away Norton’s unfinished glass of wine. “It’s time to attend to official business, Your Majesty.”
At night, before going to bed, Adlet went to deliver a new pair of pajamas to Ye Muo. He reminded, “Your Little Highness, there will be a ceremony to announce a new member of the Grantz family in a few days. I hope that you will not be too caught off guard.”
Ye Muo nodded, indicating that he understood.
Before closing the door, Ye Muo smiled at Adlet. “Thank you for the gift from before. It made me very happy.”
It was a very soft and charming smile.
Adlet also smiled. “You’re very welcome.”
After Ye Muo closed the door, Adlet recalled Norton’s words and couldn’t help but shake his head again.
……
There were two knocks at the door. Ye Muo was used to Ano’s frequent visits by now, but the man wasn’t the only one outside his door this time. Norton was there as well. They were both dressed formally with swords at their waists.
“We’ll get you your sword today.”
Ye Muo glanced back in the room. The sword Norton had given him before was still hanging on the wall.
Ano bent down. “Not that one. You’ll have a new sword that your name will be engraved on later.”
Afraid that Ye Muo might misunderstand, he added, “Your new name.”
Ye Muo’s eyes widened a little. “My new name…”
Norton extended a hand to him. “Let’s go.”
Ye Muo did not understand Norton’s intentions. He was a little uneasy towards the unknown path forward shrouded in fog. But he only hesitated a beat before reaching out. Like always, it was not up to him whether he would walk down this path. Whether he liked it or not, whether he was afraid or happy, regardless of how he felt, all he could do was accept it.
Norton and Ano took Ye Muo to the fourth floor, the topmost floor of the palace. Ye Muo had never been here before. This palace was so big it even had a sizable library and a museum.
Norton and Ano walked in front and behind Ye Muo respectively, their footsteps echoing through the wide hall.
Here was the Grantz Hall of Glory. The Grantz’s throne was here. The Grantz’s victories were recorded here. The Grantz’s portraits were hung here. The Grantz’s treasures were stored here.
Spaced out across the walls were portraits of men and women with dark hair and eyes.
Ye Muo couldn’t help but look. Sometimes he trailed behind until Ano reminded him, “Let’s get you a sword first. I’ll introduce them to you later.”
At last, they came to a very large room that held numerous swords.
There were more on the shelf to the right and only a scant few on the left.
Norton gently pushed him inside. “Go choose one.”
Ye Muo first looked to the left. There were some traces of use on the swords there. He noticed a name engraved on the hilt of one sword– Adrian Grantz.
Ano reminded, “Look at the ones on the right. They haven’t been chosen before yet.”
Ye Muo was about to turn to the other side when he suddenly caught sight of the small letters carved below on the sword’s display–
This sword belonged to the deceased Adrian Grantz. He was only 26. Â
Ye Muo has heard of this name before. Adrian belonged previous Grantz generation, making him Norton and Ano’s brother.
There were five swords on the left, each belonging to a deceased Grantz.
A heavy realization suddenly dawned on Ye Muo. Ano and Norton were truly the last Grantz left.Â
