Chapter 512

Thickets of rose vines covered the walls and railings, overflowing with blossoms that descended in heavy clusters.

Branches swayed gently in the breeze, sending petals flying everywhere.

Ye Muo gradually settled down. He peered this way and that before eventually staring intently at the wall of flowers in front of him.

Norton intended to head inside the castle at first, but he slowed down and headed towards the wall according to Ye Muo’s wishes. 

Theodore made a u-turn from up ahead. After confirming Ye Muo was alright, his mind drifted towards the past.

When he first explained the concept of the world to Xavier, the tiny child stared at the holographic screen with rapt attention.

What he saw was nigh incomprehensible, but he wanted to understand. He wanted those things.

Theodore had played countless videos for the child, yet Xavier continued to ask him again and again.

“What’s the world like?”

Norton paused beside the rose wall, maintaining a certain distance. Theodore stopped at the man’s feet and looked up at Xavier.

Ye Muo had been bundled up into a caterpillar. His head tilted back in Norton’s arms as he stared dumbly.

Theodore wasn’t worried. He was very familiar with this side of Xavier. He had seen this exact expression when he explained the escape plan he prepared to Xavier not that long ago.

Explaining it in AI terms, Xavier’s processor was overloaded. If Xavier were a little robot too, his temperature would be quite elevated right now.

Thinking this, he took a picture of Xavier and added it to the Xavier Observation Journal with the caption: Xavier is thinking, but he can’t figure it out.

Ye Muo remained completely still for a long while.

Until the breeze picked up again, sending a petal fluttering gently onto his cheek.

Ye Muo shuddered a little as the petal touched his skin. He shrank back, seemingly to seek refuge in Norton’s arms, only to poke his head right back out.

He struggled to free one of his hands before carefully touching the flowers before him.

Norton lowered the hand he had raised to intervene. He had thought that Ye Muo was reaching for the thorn-covered stems.

After a long while, he heard a quiet gasp of wonder from the child, followed by a louder sound as he seemed to come to some sort of realization. With glittering eyes, Ye Muo declared, “It’s a flower!”

Norton hummed in agreement. He looked down at Ye Muo and paused, “It is a flower, Xavier.”

The little robot inexplicably circled round again before looking toward Xavier. Theodore didn’t know what was with him right now. He didn’t know what to do as flowers seemed to bloom in his chest as well.

He recalled those nights where he told Xavier stories. Xavier would act like a little robot with a broken component, repeatedly asking one question again and again.

“What’s the world like?”

Do you have an answer to that question now, Xavier?

……

Inside the Rose Castle.

Music flowed through the hall as young men and women swayed gently across the dance floor.

Even more guests were seated, holding relaxed conversations as they dined.

Ye Zhiyuan was seated on the sofa in military uniform. His attire appeared a bit stiff for the setting. Perhaps that was why only Kevin Clinton was seated beside him. 

Holding a glass of red wine, Kevin remarked, “Your father raised you to be far too rigid. He’s even more set in his ways himself. No wonder that old geezer didn’t receive an invitation.”

In truth, he was simply away on business in one of the border star systems.

Ye Zhiyuan stared uneasily out the window. “Is that so? I’ll pass the message on.”

“Surely there’s no need for that. He’ll beat me up for real.”

“I’ll take that into consideration.”

Kevin briefly fell silent before saying, “Your father promised me that you’ll look after Augustus for an entire year.”

“Is that so? I’ll–”

Ye Zhiyuan snapped back to reality, whirling around. “Wait, when was that–”

“Just one month then. That’s as low as I can go. You have the gratitude of the Clinton family.”

Kevin blurted out before raising his glass to him.

Ye Zhiyuan sighed, “Fine then. Apologies, Mr. Clinton. I was a bit distracted. If I remember correctly, Augustus is around Ye Yun and Ye He’s age, yes? I heard he’s a very lively child.”

“Uh…” Kevin’s gaze shifted towards the children’s play area. Ye Zhiyuan followed suit.

A group of children were playing with toy blocks. They had assembled a miniature city.

Augustus hopped onto the table, laughing uproariously as he declared himself a monster. He proceeded to hop off the table and start laying waste to the city of blocks, sending a group of wailing kids scrambling away in every direction.

Kevin handed Ye Zhiyuan a glass of wine before forcing a toast. “One month. It’s a deal, Zhiyuan. I know you’re a conscientious man. Just send the bill to the Clinton Manor. And for the record, you have my full permission to discipline him physically.”

Ye Zhiyuan could only sigh once more. “I’ll have to ask my wife.”

……

The guardians of the children quickly stepped forwards as Augustus continued stomping around as a monster, but after a moment of observation, they deemed that the situation hadn’t reached the point where they needed to intervene yet and returned to their places.

Ye He held back Ye Yun, who was eager to head over. Once his younger brother unwillingly calmed down, his gaze swept over the crowd before retracting.

The play area for the children took up more than half of the grand hall. They were clearly the main focus of this banquet.

Yet these children spanned a wide range of backgrounds and ages.

Ye He couldn’t decipher the reason they were all brought here.

Could it be as simple as the Empress organizing this banquet because she adored children?

Ye He mused as he quietly surveyed his surroundings. Low-set handles had been added to the doors. This castle was filled with child-friendly features that seemed to have been recently installed. It felt far too elaborate to attribute these modifications solely to welcome child guests. Many features would only be used by someone who lived here long-term.

He recalled another possibility. The rumours of that little Grantz. 

The Grantz have always maintained the tradition of selecting playmates.

Perhaps that little Grantz was around their age, or at the very least, he was old enough to talk and walk.

Ye He quickly became disinterested after figuring this out. The Grantz were great and all, but his main concern at the moment was his little brother. He watched Ye Yun, who was already eagerly leaning more than half his body towards the other side. 

Not this one, but the other one he had yet to meet.

Father was moving far too slow. He had already presumed the existence of a second little brother and made a long list of arrangements for him. Yet his little brother continued to fail to come home, much to his dissatisfaction.

Was his new little brother stuck inside an insect nest? Or was there some legal dispute over custody?

An abrupt silence fell over the hall. Ye He instantly picked up on it. He turned to the adults, who had all risen to their feet.

Even the children they had brought along settled down uneasily. Augustus paused his antics and turned to look at the other side of the hall.

The adults saluted in unison. “May imperial glory endure, and Grantz forever be immortalized!”

Anticipating Ye Muo’s reaction, Norton shifted the child who shrank back a bit deeper into his arms, using a hand to cover his face.

“At ease, everyone.”

A rotund, old-fashioned little robot placidly trailed after him as he made his way into the hall, past everyone’s quiet gazes.

Adlet shut the door behind them. He offered a subtle bow to the guests before catching up with them.

Norton settled down in a corner beside a window. Adlet brought over hot tea, desserts and even a bottle of warm milk. “The wind outside has picked up quite a bit, Your Highness. Should I notify logistical staff to make adjustments?”

The palaces all came with climate systems, but Bert had declared that eternal fair weather would be far too dull. He preferred a change of pace, even if it’s not always for the better. Thus, the system was rarely in use.

“No need for that.”

During their conversation, Ye Muo slowly peeked out from Norton’s embrace. He was completely absorbed by the waves of petals being stirred up outside, letting out soft gasps of wonder.

“Leave it as is. Have the orchestra continue. He wants to listen to music.”

Ye Muo paused briefly to nod in agreement. “Xavier w-wants that.”

That was how Norton had coaxed him into coming inside. Otherwise, the child would still be clinging with all his might to the outdoor swing, insisting he was going to stay out until bedtime even as the wind blew him around.

Norton tested his cheek. Feeling that it was still a bit cold, he pressed a warm hand to the child’s face.

The grand hall gradually returned to its previous state as everyone sat down. 

However, everyone in attendance sensed a keen shift in the atmosphere. They might all be seated, but it was as clear as day where everyone was focusing their attention.

Kevin put a hand on Ye Zhiyuan’s shoulder and forced him to take his seat. 

“You’re really off your game today.” he quietly remarked.

Ye Zhiyuan stared in a certain direction in an unabashed daze. While everyone else was sneaking surreptitious glances, at least they were being discreet. With how sharp the Grantz’s sense are, they might start swinging if they grow annoyed. Kevin didn’t even have time to worry about the nearby Augustus right now.

Ye Zhiyuan had never been this rash before. Did the Grantz steal a kid from your family or something?

Sylvia rose and approached Norton. She leaned forward and gently asked, “How did you two end up here? I wasn’t quite prepared yet. I hadn’t even made the announcement to the guests.”

“Xavier was curious about the music.” 

Sylvia deliberately gasped in surprise. “Is that so? I can see how attentively you’re listening, Xavier!”

Ye Muo turned away from the window, his expression instantly beaming with earnestness. “Xavier…attentive!”

Sylvia couldn’t resist giving him a peck on the forehead. “Aiya, you’re so attentive, Xavier.”

Ye Muo rubbed his forehead, murmuring quietly, “Kissed Xavier.”

He looked up and started staring intently at Sylvia. Even as she walked away while conversing with Adlet, he set his head down on Norton’s shoulder to keep her in sight. 

Where was his kiss on the cheek?

Before Ye Muo could tattle to Norton, he was startled into silence by the unexpectedly large crowd gathered in the quiet hall.

He quietly ducked his head down again.

And so, Ye Zhiyuan could only watch as that tiny head eeked out briefly before disappearing again. He subconsciously craned his neck in that direction, trying to catch another glimpse. 

Only to be yanked back by the shoulder by the nearby Kevin. Kevin was almost in a cold sweat at this point. That old geezer surnamed Ye owed him big time for today.

As Sylvia retook her seat, Adlet and the rest of the staff started frequenting the hall with trays in hand, breathing life back into the atmosphere. Regardless of where everyone’s attention was actually focused, the banquet resumed, at least on the surface.