Chapter 54: A ‘Traitor’ Among Us

Chapter 54: There's a 'Traitor' Among Us

The newly awakened Morlo: ...?

"Wh-what?"

His memories of the other Crown Clan members were still stuck a few years in the past. Seeing Finn, he blanked momentarily, struggling to recognize him—only to be met with such a bombshell statement.

According to Hale, only a few years had passed—had the outside world really gone completely wild?

Hale took a step forward, shielding Morlo, gritting his teeth word by word: "Don't listen. It's psychological contamination."

Finn, restrained by An Ya, could hear the ominous cracking of Hale's knuckles being clenched.

Finn: ...

The situation was this: though Finn was currently the second-in-command in combat in the Crown Clan, facing Hale was a different matter. Putting aside their mentor-protégé dynamic, just considering Hale's current physical condition—Finn absolutely couldn't fight back.

Fighting back might injure his teacher, and then he'd end up facing collective retaliation.

The Crown Clan members present were all stunned.

Joshua, who had dodged a bullet, widened his eyes, his usually weary and life-weary face now filled with relief: "I really can't imagine what Finn would say to us—"

Shut up! That would get us censored!

The others hadn’t anticipated this outcome either.

It just so happened that Finn was affected by the youngling's Cupid's bow love arrow effect at the exact moment he saw Hale and Morlo.

This time, the youngling had clearly controlled his power a bit, so Finn quickly regained his senses.

But it was already too late.

An Ya swiftly let go and took several steps back, leaving the 'battlefield' to Hale and a bug-eyed, flustered Finn.

The youngling, still holding his bow, also froze. Instinctively, he put away his small bow and let out a tiny, guilty little 'oof', giving a small bow to Hale: "Sorry, Teacher... Zao Zao didn’t see you."

The Crown Clan had excellent upbringing, especially the Imperial Tutor family, which held itself to the most rigorous standards. It was clear that under Hale's guidance, the youngling had not only remained down-to-earth but also gradually learned proper etiquette.

Hale almost instinctively bent slightly in return.

"This isn’t Zao Zao’s fault."

Clearly, a certain someone was very arrogant and foolish, refusing to listen and insisting on experiencing it firsthand. Though Finn hadn’t meant to say those things, Hale couldn’t help but take it out on him.

Finn, still standing in place, blinked in confusion, glancing back at the youngling, then at Hale.

Hale had already marched forward.

Finn acted first, bending at the waist: "I'm sorry, Teacher!"

Hale stopped on reflex, returning the gesture: "Words won't fix this—"

Finn retreated a few steps toward the door and bowed again: "My apologies, Teacher—"

Hale stopped again, reflexively: "I said it’s useless, no need to keep apologizing..."

Apologies couldn’t quell the fire in his chest... Hale's eye twitched. "Wait—"

Was it really useless?

Xiao Chuzao stared blankly at Hale, then looked up at Amos.

Damn—yet again, the little one had discovered Hale's "weakness."

Finn had already edged toward the door: "Sorry, teach—"

He was about to bolt.

Morlo muttered under his breath, "You say it's useless, but I’ve never seen you skip a response. Shoulda just said this works on you—"

So a single "Sorry, teacher" can keep you "perma-locked"?

Hale: ……

Hale: …………

Hale’s polite expression twisted for a moment.

His mind was torn—between beating Finn up and upholding etiquette, as he was a teacher and Xiao Chuzao’s role model.

In the end, he went charging after him in fury.

"Sorry, te—YOWCH!!! You weren’t like this earlier!!"

Finn, getting pummeled: So it stops working once we’re out of Zao Zao’s sight, huh? Hah, you old coot!

*

When the dust settled, it was rare for the Crown Clan to gather so completely. They caught their breath for a bit.

They discussed arrangements for the upcoming national celebration in nearly two months, as well as scouting the surrounding areas to locate the Realm of Angels that had enraged the entire Crown Clan.

Since Xiao Chuzao’s arrival, the atmosphere within the clan had gotten way more lively.

Many tasks now had renewed motivation.

After a thorough checkup, though the little one had consumed many of Amos’s Psychic Weapons—along with snacking on some others’—the missing branch still hadn’t regrown. Only a tiny bud was just barely there where his "brain" used to be.

Perhaps because he had tapped into his previously "stored" brain reserves, aside from looking kinda scary during his initial deep sleep, his overall recovery had been pretty good.

However, the comprehensive examination showed that the little one needed replenishment—his immunity was low during this period, making him more sensitive.

One wrong move could lead to a cold or illness.

Speaker Cheng Xuan had repeatedly requested to meet Xiao Chuzao, but Amos’s concerns led to refusals. The little one was carried around by Amos all day, wrapped up like a burrito to ensure he wouldn’t catch a chill during his most vulnerable phase.

Yet now, Saint Cas was thawing out.

The wind had grown much warmer.

Though still winter, the recovering little one was gradually getting his energy back.

Amos had just finished wrapping up some paperwork upstairs, leaving most tasks to his brothers and sisters.

Morlo was still at the rehab recovering his wings, while Hale, having just finished his lessons, was checking the clock but hadn't taken off yet.

The little guy, all small and soft, clung to the edge of the coffee table, lifting his soft, round face to gaze at the smiling butler Mori, who peeled fruit for him while chatting away.

Today, the little one wore a snow-white bunny-print fleece PJs.

Most of the jet-black curls were hidden under a soft hat, with two long, fluffy ears drooping, still slightly pink. Behind him lay his unorganized study books, while his ghost bear lounged quietly against the plush sofa.

The cub’s eyelashes were dark, thick, and curled, blinking up at Mori, his soft features… In the faint morning light, one could barely make out the delicate white fuzz on his cheeks.

"Grandpa Mori, read one more, read one more for Zao Zao!"

Xiao Chuzao's soft, childlike voice carried a pleading tone as he gazed eagerly at Mori.

"Alright, alright."

Mori handed the peeled fruit to Little Highness with a gentle smile, glancing at his Starnet screen.

"Little Highness is just too adorable! I publicly adore Little Highness—not just cute, but also so handsome. A true Crown Clan heir—so dependable!"

It seemed he was reading some of the comments left after that livestream.

Though the little one was studying, he hadn't yet mastered all the words. Unable to read them himself, he pleaded with Mori to read them out. Hearing the praise, his eyes lit up with joy—especially when Mori mentioned how much everyone loved Little Highness.

Once he’d eaten the fruit, the little one licked his lips.

The little guy even shrunk back shyly, hugging his ghost bear and hiding his small head behind it.

Zao Zao was clearly unused to so much praise.

Squirming with his plush bear, his halo wobbled gently from side to side, while his little wings fluttered happily behind him.

Zao Zao had never heard so much praise in his life!

The whole scene was heartwarming.

Amos lowered his gaze, hiding a faint smile that tugged at his lips.

He came downstairs.

"Teacher, why haven't you gone to the rehabilitation center?"

After so many years apart, you’d think they’d stick together.

Hale glanced up at Amos and let out a soft "Ah." The tall, refined Crown Clan member, wearing frameless glasses, seemed to offer a rare joke: "Isn't it because staying together too long means he finds me annoying?"

Amos stayed silent, clearly unconvinced.

Only then did Hale add, "Alright, the truth is, when I'm there watching, he acts like everything’s fine. But he's suffering, and it pains me too. I'll just wait until it's over before going."

"Baba!"

Hearing Amos' approach, Xiao Chuzao's floppy bunny ears bounced as he dashed over, his big eyes shining. He held out his arms for a hug.

Once lifted into Amos' arms, Xiao Chuzao clung to Amos’ neck.

"Baba, so many people said Zao Zao is amazing."

"What if they weren’t really praising you?"

Amos adjusted the little one's hair, nodding at Mori before casually remarking.

The little one didn't understand, blinking up at Amos, puzzled.

The little one tilted his head slightly.

*What?*

"That's the truth."

Amos added.

"Zao Zao's so awesome!"

The little guy finally processed this, his eyes shining even brighter as he hugged the ghost bear with one hand and waved his other tiny hand.

"When I grow up, I’ll protect Papa!"

Who said King Amos couldn't coax a child?

Nobody’s better at it than King Amos, okay?

Hale observed quietly from the side.

Then he heard Amos say, "Zao Zao, we’re going out later. Some ministers from the Saint Cas Empire want to meet you, and there’s also the team we picked for you—they’ve been training at the palace this whole time. After lunch, we’ll go see them."

Hale raised an eyebrow.

This was unusual.

From the past until now, Amos had always kept Xiao Chuzao tightly shielded, as if the tiniest mistake would harm the little guy.

The right team had been chosen ages ago, but from the start, the king had been hesitant to let the little one meet them. Hale could tell Amos didn’t want to let go, to allow the growing child to gradually become more independent.

But now, he clearly realized that just coddling him wasn’t working.

Little Chuzao’s world couldn’t just be limited to the narrow social circle of the Crown Clan.

The little one thought for a moment, then nodded his small head—he’d obey Papa.

Amos turned to Hale. "Coming with us, Teacher? It shouldn’t take long. I’ll take Zao Zao to change first."

Hale nodded. "Alright, I’ll wait here for you."

Upstairs.

The fluffy bunny pajamas were taken off—Amos stared at them, certain this was Fei Man’s idea. She seemed reliable on the surface, but who knew what she was thinking?

Still, they were adorable.

A tiny Saint Cas military uniform was put on the chubby little one.

This time, the uniform was more formal, with fewer special designs. The collar was buttoned up neatly, the gold buttons glinting slightly, the decorative ornaments shimmering as they swayed, mirroring his shiny golden halo above the little one’s head. His small wings naturally folded behind him.

His messy dark curls framed his amber eyes, which were bright with happiness.

"Zao Zao learned so many new words today, Papa—"

The earnest little guy babbled excitedly beside Amos.

"Yeah, you’ve always been awesome, Zao Zao."

Amos straightened the little guy’s outfit.

The little cub tilted his head to look at him for a while, then reached out with his soft little hands to hug him.

"Papa," the little one said, slightly confused, "why is it different after coming back?"

This feeling was hard for Xiao Chuzao to articulate, but he sensed that after bringing Elder Morlo back, the parents seemed to treat him with even more caution, something the little cub noticed.

Amos paused for a moment before reaching out to pat the cub's little head.

"We've learned some other things. Right now, we're searching for the Realm of Angels."

The parents' fury blazed, yet they had nowhere to direct it.

The Crown Clan had never experienced such 'helpless anger' before.

Amos gently embraced the little cub.

"But Zao Zao just needs to grow up healthy and strong. Don’t listen to or believe the nonsense from those outsiders—it’s all wrong. They’re trying to break the spirit of a brave, strong, and resilient Little Crown Clan."

But thankfully, they hadn’t succeeded.

The cub blinked his big eyes, hesitated for a moment, then hugged Amos back.

"Zao Zao, Zao Zao said it a long time ago—Zao Zao is tough!"

"I know, kiddo. But you don’t have to be that strong all the time. You can always come to Papa for anything."

Amos thought to himself—he’d make sure others learned what it meant to mess with the young and face the wrath of their elders...

Well... that wasn’t quite accurate. He wasn’t that old by Crown Clan standards, was he?

The cub nodded firmly, small enough to be completely enveloped in Amos’ arms as he crouched down. "Mm!"

*

---

In the royal council chamber.

Speaker Cheng Xuan, having received the audience summons, waited in the reception chamber.

Aside from his subordinates, a young man around fifteen or sixteen stood beside him.

The youth wore the uniform of St. Cass First Military Academy, his body still carrying the reek of blood. His black hair fell smoothly, his expression ice-cold.

"How many days has it been since His Majesty and the Young Highness returned?" Cheng Xuan asked, turning his head slightly.

"It’s already the seventh day."

"The seventh day, huh..."

Cheng Xuan nodded, then gave a helpless smile.

"Has King Amos and the other Highnesses been being overly protective? I’m genuinely worried that this generation of the Crown Clan, who’ve never raised a cub before, might end up raising a Young Highness who’s too coddled."

Though from the recordings, the Young Highness possessed immense strength and displayed courage and strength, given the current level of protection from the Crown Clan and the bits of information he knew, Cheng Xuan was concerned about Xiao Chuzao’s character.

Cheng Xuan pondered.

Over a century ago, when the Crown Clan’s doomed extinction was already sealed, Amos’ father—His Majesty Clancy, the late emperor of Saint Cas—had begun planning for the empire’s future. He established institutions to replace the Crown Clan and groomed rivals to challenge them. Even if they were no match for a thousandth of the Crown Clan’s power, at least there would be an unbroken spirit, preventing the Saint Cas Empire from collapsing entirely after the Crown Clan’s demise.

Thus, though Cheng Xuan’s faction remained unyieldingly loyal to the Crown Clan, they broke ranks with the other ministers, choosing to undertake these thankless duties.

King Amos knew about these things. He let them slide, of course, and rarely engaged with them. However, not long ago, His Majesty began expressing dissatisfaction through various actions, like a protective parent pushed to the edge, contemplating how to dismantle them entirely for the safety of his child—even if their existence posed no threat to the Little Highness.

It was a natural reaction from a parent in a heightened state of vigilance.

At the time, Cheng Xuan had been in the dark, but now he had found his answer.

The door to the room swung open.

Without hesitation, Cheng Xuan knelt in salute.

The others mirrored his gesture—

"Your Majesty, Little Highness!"

Amos gave Cheng Xuan a passing glance and a half-hearted grunt.

Only then did Cheng Xuan rise, lifting his gaze to meet the curious eyes of Xiao Chuzao.

Having never seen a young Crown Clan member before, Cheng Xuan was momentarily dazed by the child’s wide, blinking eyes. He froze for a second before softening into a kindly smile, his usual sharpness entirely concealed, like a doting grandpa. "Your Majesty, you’ve been hiding the Little Highness a little too well. I’m thrilled to finally see him. Regarding his education and other matters, I have some suggestions—please think them over—and maybe ask the Little Highness what he thinks too."

These matters could have been raised earlier, but Cheng Xuan had deliberately waited until Xiao Chuzao was present, partly to observe the child’s reaction.

Though he had never encountered a Little Crown Clan member of this age, he knew that as they grew, the Crown Clan naturally sought strength and independence. It was said that King Amos had already displayed extraordinary talent by the age of five or six, securing his position as heir.

Yet the current outcome left Cheng Xuan somewhat uncertain how to proceed.

After being set down, Xiao Chuzao remained closely by Amos’s side—adorable, like a tiny wind-up doll glued to his side, but perhaps too obedient.

That’s exactly what had Cheng Xuan uneasy.

Eventually, Cheng Xuan led his group out of the palace.

As the Speaker, his loyalty was to Saint Cas—but more accurately, to the Crown Clan. However, compared to the current King Amos, his loyalty really lay with the late King Clancy.

With King Amos pressing step by step, Cheng Xuan had no choice but to reconsider certain plans—were they even worth keeping?

Things were still up in the air.

As they departed—

Three boys around ten years old, catching their breath after drills, noticed the young man following Cheng Xuan.

"Isn’t that Ling Ye from the First Military Academy’s advanced division? Didn’t he just finish the inter-academy competition? He’s back already?" Peng Liang slung an arm over Chao Huangmu’s shoulders, who was perched on a nearby horizontal bar, peering over in that direction.

Chao Huangmu, jolted by the tug, steadied himself with a laugh before peeling Peng Liang’s hand away. "Brother Peng, don’t pull me. Gross."

Peng Liang: "..."

"Ugh, whatever—fine, fine, I’ll back off. But if our academy had sent us to compete, I bet we’d wipe the floor with him."

"In your dreams."

The third boy, Yun Songquan, who had been quietly reading, droned, not even looking up.

"...You two—"

Peng Liang rolled his eyes in frustration, realizing neither cared about Ling Ye. Chao Huangmu was usually cheerful and got along with everyone, but once he lost interest in a topic, there was no steering him back—a total pain. As for Yun Songquan, he was all icy silence, and couldn’t be bothered.

"Speaking of which, we’re officially meeting Little Highness this afternoon. I’m a bit excited—I’m going back at noon to take a full shower. Are you two seriously not gonna clean up?"

Why does it feel like he’s the only one excited?

"I showered already."

Yun Songquan spoke coldly, then looked up, his boyish face set in slight seriousness.

"I picked out some suitable books as gifts for Little Highness. I’m currently checking if this one’s good enough for him."

Peng Liang blinked.

If he remembered correctly, Yun Songquan had stayed up all last night—he thought it was because the guy loved studying?

"Of course I’ve prepared, Peng-ge."

Chao Huangmu wore a bright smile, like an overexcited golden retriever. He lifted his shirt—the usually carefree young boy now seemed genuinely serious for once, resting his chin on his hand with a cocky grin as if he’d found a secret weapon.

"I spent all last night reading online guides! I even consulted a fortune teller! People online said to compliment Little Highness’s crown, and also, a ruby waist chain’s my lucky charm. I don’t get why it’s a waist chain, but I’ve got it on! It’ll bring me luck!"

That adorable Little Crown Clan—

Chao Huangmu thought to himself.

Under the lifted military uniform, his toned abs were faintly visible, with a long ruby waist chain fastened to them, several dangling chains clinking noisily—looked totally ridiculous.

You sure this isn’t gonna backfire???

Peng Liang sighed.

Oh great, blind superstition - each crazier than the last. We're saved 😉

*

Xiao Chuzao had lunch in the royal council chambers.

The little Highness had been overly sensitive lately.

In the study of the royal council chambers, two vases were placed, adorned with hardy winter blooms for decoration. But after the little Highness sneezed several times, Amos realized he might be allergic to them.

The flowers were promptly removed, but the little guy still sniffled, feeling like he had one more big sneeze stuck inside.

After lunch, Xiao Chuzao sat on the small sofa, recovering, still working up that sneeze. The little halo above his head wobbled as his big eyes blinked.

He held a white handkerchief in his hand.

Several members of the Dwight family from the Crown Clan arrived one after another.

Lately, the little Highness had been keeping quite busy.

In the mornings, he had lessons with Mr. Hale. In the afternoons, Hale would accompany Morlo, so Amos held his nose and let Finn, who used the same weapons as Xiao Chuzao, to guide the little Highness in weapons training.

At that moment, Yuan was snitching.

So when Finn entered, he heard—

"Your Majesty! His Highness Finn tried to take the Little Highness on a death-defying dive at the training grounds, saying it was thrilling! And also—"

Such antics were business as usual for Finn, reminiscent of games he played as a child. But the little Highness was still in recovery, and his overeager third uncle couldn't resist showing off these 'exciting' activities to curry favor with the little one, only succeeding in making himself seem even more unreliable in Amos's eyes.

Amos looked up at the sound and spotted Finn, one foot raised mid-step, caught red-handed in the doorway.

Finn: ...

Finn stared at the flickering AI, completely thrown off—Wait, wait, wait, since when does AI snitch? And snitch on the Crown Clan??? That can’t be right??!!

Crap, we’ve got a traitor in our ranks! Zao Zao, save me!

"Zao Zao."

Although Amos had been taking care of the little one most of the time, whenever other members of the Crown Clan took over—during the little one’s lessons—he would take care of some necessary business.

Amos asked, tapping his fingers lightly on the table twice.

The little one, wiping his tiny nose, looked up at Amos, completely unaware of the trouble. He nodded cheerfully, his tiny halo bobbing, and reported his ‘learning’ progress to Daddy in a soft, sugary voice.

"Mhm, Daddy, Uncle Three said—this is how Little Crown Clan should play—"

Amos: "Good."

Finn: ...

Yuan’s light flickered: Fool me once... well, now I’m way smarter!

Hey, it learns from its mistakes!