Chapter 15: A fluffy cub can cure all diseases!

Chapter 15 A Fluffy Cub Cures Everything!

"Your Majesty, this is too ugly. No way," Mei Lun said confidently from behind Amos. "The cubs of our Crown Clan have always been drawn to beautiful things since childhood. Something like this..."

Mei Lun had already tidied himself up. His snow-white hair was a bit dry but tied back neatly with a ribbon. His bloodshot eyes had recovered slightly, making him look less intimidating. He wasn’t wearing his military uniform but instead a refined noble’s attire, holding a jeweled scepter in his hand. His deep-set eyes made him look like proper nobility.

But the next moment, the little cub lounging on the sofa suddenly sprang up, happily launching himself at Amos’ neck before naturally curling into his arms. He stretched out his tiny paw to play with the ugly little snowman.

Mei Lun: "..."

*Damn it!!*

An Ya also glanced over, staring at the fluffy white ball and gulping hard. He firmly looked away.

He absolutely would not be subdued by such a cub—absolutely not!

He would stay the most clear-headed in the Crown Clan!

Xiao Chuzao’s paws were cold from holding the snow, which was gradually melting under the warmth of the room.

The small snowball was slowly disappearing, and he blinked his big, confused eyes.

"Meow?"

Papa? This is called snow?

Xiao Chuzao had never seen snow before.

This was his first time touching it.

Amos grunted in response.

He glanced at the nearly melted snowman and said, "Time for your milk."

Amos went to throw the little snowman away.

He picked it up, ready to toss it into the trash.

Xiao Chuzao noticed Amos’ movement and swished his little tail. "Meow!"

No throw!

He stretched out his tiny paw, blinking his big eyes, and pulled lightly at Amos’ sleeve.

The cub had never relied on anyone before. Now, shyly, he reached out his paw.

—This was what Papa gave Zao Zao.

Amos froze.

Honestly, Amos also thought the snowman was kinda ugly.

But it was just to show the kid some snow and let him explore.

Now, to keep it...

Amos wasn't having it.

The butler Mori finally regained his composure at this moment, his heart still racing—this was a Crown Clan cub!

He knew full well what it meant.

This was their Little Highness!!

My god, His Majesty has his own Little Highness now!!

Though the father and son weren’t particularly close yet, for His Majesty Amos, this was already incredibly rare.

Mori took a step forward. "Your Majesty, let me handle it. I’ll place it by the window so Little Highness can see it whenever he wants."

Xiao Chuzao turned his head at the sound, blinking wide eyes.

Mori smiled gently. "Little Highness, I am Mori, the royal butler."

"Meow!"

The little one snuggled in his dad’s arms responded softly, looking up at him expectantly before glancing back at Amos.

Amos tutted softly but still handed the nearly melted snowman to Mori, letting him place it on the windowsill outside.

Then Amos picked up the baby bottle filled with warm cub formula, gently shaking the contents before bringing it somewhat clumsily to the little one’s mouth.

Even though he had spent some time with Xiao Chuzao, it had only been a day since he truly learned this was his own child.

Amos still felt a surreal sensation.

Such a small, delicate life—was his cub.

He had never imagined having a little one before.

And now, those tiny paws gingerly reached up, their soft pads pressing against his hand.

Chuzao’s little paw pads were slightly cold from playing in the snow earlier. He slowly took the nipple, cautiously placing his paws on Amos’s hand to warm them. When he saw Amos didn’t react, the little pads pressed down firmly as he happily gulped a mouthful of the cub formula.

Then the little one’s eyes slowly widened—this is good!

The surrounding parents couldn’t help gathering closer.

They watched the little white fluffball, Xiao Chuzao lying in Amos’s arms, Amos holding the baby bottle while the little one clung to one of his hands. His hind legs stuck up in the air, slightly curled, his tiny tail shyly covering his private area as he squinted his eyes and sucked eagerly.

Making eager mewling sounds all the while.

Even the little halo above his head seemed to glow brighter.

Amos just stared at his own hand holding the bottle.

Then at those two tiny paws.

In the end, he couldn’t help the soft, warm expression that spread across his face.

"This is just too adorable…"

Mei Lun exclaimed in awe beside him.

His eyes hadn’t left Xiao Chuzao for a second.

What fate-driven death, what unavoidable destruction—all that could wait.

Shoo, shoo—cubs are the pride of our race!!

Fluffy things cure anxiety, and fluffy cubs can cure all ailments!!!

Mei Lun kept staring at the little one.

Watching as the small bottle of cub formula was drained by Chu Zao in big gulps.

His little belly rounded out slightly by the time he finished. After drinking it all, he let out a small burp under Amos's gentle back pats, then snuggled happily in Amos's arms, swishing his little tail. His small wings occasionally spread out, brushing Amos's chin with their soft tips.

An Ya was dumbfounded too.

He'd never fall for a cub like this...

But goddammit, he was too cute... No no no, that's not right, not right at all!

An Ya felt he couldn't keep watching any longer.

If he kept watching, something might happen!

An Ya just looked away.

"Brother, I'm going to take care of some business. The space fluctuations near the imperial star have been strange lately. I'm worried something's up. You know, in recent years, other organizations targeting the Crown Clan have become increasingly active."

Although the information about this little cub hasn't been released yet—even others in the Saint Cas Empire don't know—it's foreseeable how frenzied those organizations, already longing for the Crown Clan's destruction, would be if they learned of the existence of a Crown Clan cub.

An Ya stiffened his neck, finished speaking, and marched off.

Meanwhile, little Chu Zao had overeaten a little and now didn't want to move.

He had always raised himself before, barely managing to survive, though not very well.

Now, the cub formula prepared by the medical center after scanning him was custom-made for his needs.

After drinking the warm milk, it wasn't long before the growth-boosting nutrients made him drowsy.

At his age, he was full of energy but would conk out the second he got sleepy.

At that moment, Mori was speaking softly to report some internal affairs of the royal court to Amos.

It sounded like a lullaby.

Little Chu Zao was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. He used his tiny paws to hold his eyelids open a little.

He still wanted to see what the outside world looked like.

But in the warm embrace of his guardian, Amos reached out and gently lowered the cub's little paws. The next moment, Chu Zao closed his eyes, his breathing evening out.

Curled up softly against him.

Mei Lun watched from the side for quite some time.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Your Majesty, Amos."

Amos was holding little Chu Zao with one arm while going through papers with the other. He didn't bother looking up.

"Yes?"

"Let me hold him for a second."

Amos snapped back, "No, he's sleeping."

"I promise to be gentle—just let me hold him. I won’t disturb him."

"Still no."

Amos shook his head.

"He’s way too fragile. You could hurt him."

His spiritual energy’s barely holding together! Who’s really the threat here?

Mei had been itching to hold Xiao Chuzao for ages, but in the end, he still couldn't get his way.

He’d already been out for quite some time. Now that he thought about it, something felt off—when spiritual energy collapses, the Crown Clan can sense it. Hell, you’d *have* to feel it if your mind was crumbling.

But this time, even though his spiritual energy had nearly disintegrated, there hadn’t been the slightest reaction.

Mei frowned. Something wasn’t right.

Playing it safe, he gave up—but not without one last, longing look.

As Amos turned to carry Xiao Chuzao upstairs, he added, "Uncle Mei, next time you visit, ask him yourself if he’ll let you hold him."

Amos looked back.

Xiao Chuzao snoozed in his arms, curling slightly and letting out a soft mewl.

Next time…

Standing at the door, their eyes locked across the doorway. Mei finally smiled.

"As you say, *Your Majesty*."

*

Outside Saint Cas’s capital planet, aboard a concealed airship,

a gleaming white flower insignia marked its hull.

"Chief, the Saint Casians are onto us. No way to get closer intel—they must’ve noticed the spatial anomalies near Saint Cas."

"Patience. Just one opening’s all we need. Heh. The Crown Clan won’t last—"

The hooded figure rested his chin on his hands, a low, hate-filled laugh escaping him.

"A mythical race? Myths belong in stories—not reality."

*

Xiao Chuzao didn’t wake till evening.

When he opened his eyes, he was in an unfamiliar room, the world outside already dark, a small lamp glowing above.

A thin blanket covered him.

The cub mewled sleepily.

Papa…?

No answer came. He inched toward the edge of the bed, gauged the location of the door, then dropped down and toddled toward it.

The surroundings were furnished with smart furniture.

Not long ago, they had just been meticulously set up by the outwardly composed but inwardly giddy butler Mori, who was determined to give Xiao Chuzao a warm welcome.

So Xiao Chuzao walked to the door.

The instant his little paw crossed the threshold—

The light above his head lit up.

Sensing the left paw—"Good fortune, Little Highness!"

Xiao Chuzao: ?

The little white bundle instantly snatched back his tiny paw.

What?

Must've stepped out wrong.

Xiao Chuzao repositioned himself and tried with the other paw.

Detecting it was the right paw, the light flared up again—"Good wishes, Little Highness!"

"Awoo?"

Huh?

Xiao Chuzao pulled his paw back again.

He stretched out one.

"Good fortune!"

Retracted it and stretched out the other.

"Good wishes!"

"Fortune… Wishes… You…"

The little cub crouched by the door, playfully batting his paws to mess with the palace's AI system.

Eventually, the adults downstairs got annoyed and came up, only to see the little one suddenly spring outside in one leap. The little furball then turned to look up at the ceiling.

The light lit up once more—"Good fortune and happy wishes, Little Highness!"

"Awoo!"

Whoa!

"Author's Words"

Mori "holding up a finger": Hey, I've got a great idea!