Ye Muo was able to finish his meal in peace under Norton’s supervision. After the meal, however, Ano came right over and started following Norton around just so he could stare at the child draped over his shoulder.
Adlet watched as the other princes and princesses also rose from their seats. Though they didn’t follow as closely as Ano, they didn’t disperse like they usually would have. He breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Norton was already carrying Ye Muo towards the lounge.
Ye Muo shrank down some more so only half of his face was visible. He warily watched Ano and quietly tattled to Norton, “T-there’s someone looking at Xavier.”
“I’m Noah, but you can call me Ano.”
“T-then Ano’s looking at Xavier.”
Bert interjected before Ano could speak, “Is no one allowed to look at Xavier? That makes me so sad. Xavier’s so cute… If I can’t look at Xavier, I don’t think I could eat properly ever again.”
Ye Muo’s feet peeking out of his pants started swinging happily. “X-Xavier’s cute! It’s okay to look at Xavier!”
Bert pressed Ano’s head down as he asked with some serious concern, “Is it just me or does Xavier have a stammer?”
Ye Muo’s eyes were still wide with joy. “What’s a stammer?”
Sylvia circled around and hit Bert on the back before he could respond.
Meanwhile, Theodore immediately spoke up, “Xavier is very smart and healthy. He just hasn’t received an education yet. He’s still little.”
Ye Muo nodded along, quietly repeating, “Xavier’s smart and healthy.”
Helene, who was left bringing up the rear, wordlessly bumped shoulders with Dylan and inclined her chin. Dylan’s eyes stopped staring at Ye Muo’s face and shifted downward to his feet that were swinging about even more cheerfully, like the tail of a puppy.
The naive puppy waggled its tail with all its might at any passersby who would pat its head.
Bert was behaving himself a lot more with Sylvia around. Ano finally managed to squeeze him way in. After staring at the child for a long while, he just dryly stated, “Xavier.”
Ye Muo blinked in his direction. He stated as well several seconds later, “Ano.”
“I want to carry you. Is that okay?”
Ye Muo was already raising his head. He liked being held. “Okay. Xavier says okay.”
Norton continued walking at his usual pace.
Ano was already extending his arms. “Xavier said I can hold him now, Big Brother.”
Dylan subconsciously picked up his pace as well, shortening the distance. He and Helene had been bringing up the rear until now, so his movements weren’t obvious at first. Still, the distance was slowly but surely shrinking.
Ano had done as he stated, exchanging names with the child and then going to hold him.
But that didn’t mean he was right about everything, Dylan thought. He wouldn’t just leave like this. He would come back to meet the child, even if it had to be at a distance. That child would also remember his name, his appearance.
……
When Adlet entered the lounge with tray in hand, he saw a gaggle of Grantz coexisting together for the first time in forever. Even if they were spread out across the large room, they had arranged themselves around Norton, who sat in the center.
Ano’s arms were still extended. “We’re not walking anymore. I’ll be careful.”
Ye Muo was also reaching out from Norton’s lap. “En, en. Xavier will be careful too.”
So the two of them started either teaching or learning how to hold children.
The others, whether seated or standing, looked on in earnest.
Sylvia watched them from her seat on the sofa. Adlet came to stand by her side and served her some tea. Sylvia raised her head. The two of them shared a glance before they faintly smiled. “It truly has been a long time…”
Ano had already awkwardly but seriously received Ye Muo. He cradled the child like Norton had done. Ye Muo was actually the more relaxed party and rested his head on Ano’s shoulder.
Sylvia watched on with a smile. She didn’t want to miss an instant of them getting along.
Ano slowly relaxed. He even shifted Ye Muo up a bit, only to immediately freeze. The child was too soft and too small. He was afraid he couldn’t control his strength. Though his heart was racing, he verbally insisted, “It’s not that hard, Big Brother. I can help you carry him sometimes from now on.”
Ye Muo’s feet swayed as he nodded along. “En, help Daddy.”
His head shot up when he noticed Adlet and the cake slices on the butler’s tray. He started subconsciously wriggling around, as he always did when he wanted to be set down. Norton would always oblige.
Then, when he was tired and wanted to be held again, all he had to do was to return to Norton’s leg.
Ano started freezing up again until Norton plucked the child from his arms and set him down.
The Grantz watched as the short little thing traversed through many pairs of legs to stand with anticipation by Adlet’s side. He remembered what Adlet said about not standing in front of him lest he be knocked over and circled around to the butler’s side to stand on tiptoe. Then, the tray descended to a height where he could see its contents.
“You can only have one, Your Little Highness.”
Ye Muo’s expression sobered. He circled around the tray before going to find Theodore. “T-Theodore, choose for Xavier.”
The little robot rolled its way over and gave an objective result after performing a scan with its robotic eyes. “This piece is 0.5cm taller.”
Though it would actually be a bit shorter than the rest without including the frosting, it was fine. Xavier wouldn’t be able to tell.
Not only was he none the wiser, he was already happily trotting back to Norton’s side with the cake slice. As he turned his back to Norton’s calf, Norton picked him and his cake up with practiced motions to the level of the table.
Ye Muo didn’t gobble down the cake at once after he was picked up. There were so many people watching him… His feet curled up uneasily beneath the table. “Why’s e-everyone looking at Xavier?”
Those gazes soon withdrew.
The child craned his head around, seemingly in deep thought. Moments later, the little slice of cake was pushed forward. “Let’s eat together. It’s tasty.”
No matter what, Ye Muo insisted everyone should have some tasty cake.
In the end, Adlet could only go to fetch more desserts to fill the table. That was how they had afternoon tea that night.
Right in the lounge Ye Muo was most familiar with.
The Grantz started moving tables around under Sylvia’s command and helping Adlet fetch drinks and desserts.
Ye Muo started gasping in awe a while ago. At first, he tailed everyone briefly as they came and went from the room. Then, Norton picked him up so he could see all sorts of desserts he was unfamiliar with being assembled into towers.
Finally, he started circling the dessert table before taking the largest piece of cake solemnly indicated by Theodore with satisfaction.
Though he could only have one slice of cake, Ye Muo was able to sample a bunch of other desserts all thanks to his own efforts. After finishing his own share, he clung to everyone else’s legs and peered around on tiptoe until a spoonful of the beautiful desserts was delivered to his mouth. Even then, he nervously turned his head away. “X-Xavier doesn’t want. Xavier’s just looking.”
However, after twisting and turning and making sure Adlet and Norton weren’t looking his way, the little head would slowly gravitate towards the spoon again before discreetly chomping down.
By the end, Ye Muo didn’t even bother pretending to decline anymore.
The Grantz didn’t expose him either. They just glanced over from time to time to see when Ye Muo would turn around.
Ye Muo forgot all about being shy. With glittering eyes, he hugged the leg of Jacob, who he wasn’t yet familiar with. Jacob ruffled his hair. “I’m Jacob.”
Ye Muo nodded earnestly. “Jacob. Xavier’s Jacob.”
He pointed at himself in return. “Xavier. Jacob’s Xavier.”
Jacob huffed in amusement. He had noticed early on how the child with a limited vocabulary would claim every one of the family members as his.
Before giving him some dessert, he draped a portable space device around Ye Muo’s neck. “I came back in a hurry and the rest of my gifts haven’t arrived yet. I’ll give you this first.”
In truth, he didn’t have any time to buy stuff. The place where he was at wasn’t even rich in ore deposits like Ano’s. He kept an eye out on the way back, but there was nothing but more insects.
Ye Muo glanced down at the thing around his neck, but his attention was soon drawn to the approaching dessert.
He quickly and quietly stated, “Thanks, Jacob.”
Before chomping down.
He mumbled something about Jacob with his mouth full as he shuffled towards his next target. After circling around like this, he eventually arrived at Dylan’s side.
Dylan glanced at the child who was eagerly looking up at him. Without saying a word, he halved his dessert. Then, under Adlet’s watchful gaze, he cut one piece further in two before picking it up with his fork and offering it to Ye Muo with his head bowed. “I’m Dylan.”
Ye Muo had approached his leg at some point. He hugged Dylan’s leg like he did Norton’s, his mouth already wide open in anticipation.
The quarter piece was still a bit too large. Ye Muo walked off with bulging cheeks and a ring of cream around his mouth after mumbling something. Dylan barely made out something like: Thanks, Dylan.
He mumbled Dylan’s name as he turned around.
Dylan was the last stop, so Ye Muo returned to Norton’s side and was scooped up. He closed his eyes peacefully as Norton wiped his face clean.
Adlet hurried over and worriedly felt Ye Muo’s stomach. Though the Grantz had a larger appetite than most, Ye Muo had eaten plenty at lunch already.
His stomach was bulging out a little. He couldn’t have anymore food tonight.
“As we agreed, Your Little Highness, you can’t have dessert tomorrow either.”
Ye Muo nodded along good-naturedly after having his fill. “Xavier won’t have anymore.”
Idle conversation rang out across the lounge for a while longer, falling silent when Ye Muo nodded off on Norton’s shoulder.
Dylan was the first to stand.
“Your rooms are ready, Your Highnesses.” Adlet quietly informed him.
Dylan stood there for a long while. Helene bowed her head and didn’t move. The others exchanged looks but remained still as well.
Sylvia just quietly, sadly watched them all.
From his seat, Bert’s eyes remained trained on the carpet.
It was Norton who finally broke the silence. “To bed, all of you.”
Most of the tension seemed to leave the room as Dylan sat back down. Adlet breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve just changed the bed linens. It’s very comfortable, as His Little Highness can attest to. Should he be awake at bedtime, he always rolls around on the bed and buries his face in the pillows before going to sleep.”
Ano was already circling around behind Norton to observe Ye Muo. He quietly said, “Big Brother, I also want to learn how to hold a sleeping child.”
He settled down after a look from Norton.
