Chapter 90

Chapter 90

The echoes still lingered in the space.

Ye Mo's pupils narrowed slightly as he looked at all the people bowing their heads before him. When the hatch had opened, they were men and women dressed in black military uniforms, each imposing and full of a formidable air.

From the very beginning, Ye Mo had felt on instinct the solemnity and oppressive atmosphere hidden in the air, like thousands of sharp blades laid out before him, making him feel an involuntary dread.

But now they were willingly bowing down. Ye Mo knew this certainly wasn't because of him.

Staying close to Norton, Ye Mo cautiously glanced up at him, only to have the back of his neck gently stroked. Norton kept his gaze forward, not even sparing Ye Mo a look.

Norton was the first to move, walking straight ahead without glancing sideways.

He stopped beside Old Glendon.

Old Glendon and the others were positioned on either side of the path, leaving the central passage clear.

Norton shifted his gaze to Old Glendon. "May I understand that you have finally changed your mind and are offering your loyalty to me?"

Old Glendon slowly raised his head. He had aged, with white hair at his temples, but a lion, even when old, even when its mane has fallen out, even when the teeth that tear out the throats of its prey are broken, is still a lion.

Moreover, Old Glendon's mane was still thick, his body still powerful. Even kneeling on one knee, he resembled a war chariot. His eyes were as piercing as in his youth, even more intimidating than before.

Even though he had lost in his confrontation with Norton back then, forced to watch as Norton killed his father.

Old Glendon met Norton's gaze for a few seconds before he was the first to look away, his eyes lowering to catch sight of Ye Mo beside Norton.

Norton pulled Ye Mo, who was curiously peeking from his other side, back to his side.

Only then did Old Glendon laugh heartily. "Your Majesty, the Glendons have always been loyal to Grath. That has never changed. I can shed my last drop of blood for Grath, and my descendants, all who inherit the Glendon name, will do the same."

Old Glendon's words were evasive, still dodging Norton's question. Everyone knew the Glendons were loyal to Grath; they all understood what Norton was asking.

Norton did not respond. He started walking again, with Ye Mo by his side and Arnold following closely behind Ye Mo. As they passed Old Glendon, Arnold shot him a glance.

Ye Mo keenly sensed the undercurrents between them. Just as they were about to enter the palace, he turned his head on instinct and met Old Glendon's gaze as the old man straightened up and raised his head.

Old Glendon smiled at Ye Mo. Beside him stood a couple who also watched Ye Mo with worried eyes.

Seeing this, Ye Mo paused without thinking. That momentary hesitation caused him to fall a step behind. Before he could look away and catch up with the group, Arnold clasped his shoulder and pushed him forward, following Norton into the corridor.

After entering the palace, the number of people following Norton gradually dwindled until only Adelaide and a few others remained.

The device around Arnold's neck lit up. He tsked without restraint. "A troublesome old fox. Such old fellows should retire and live out their days in peace."

As the publicly known Imperial Guard Commander loyal only to Norton, Arnold had been tripped up by Old Glendon more than once.

Old Glendon's attitude toward Norton hadn't always been like this. Norton was the future leader of the next generation of Grath, and Old Glendon had greatly admired him. Whenever their father was too harsh on Norton, it was Old Glendon who mediated.

Until later, when Norton killed their father.

Adelaide, however, smiled. "Don't set a bad example for the young prince, Your Highness."

Before Arnold could retort, he looked down and saw Ye Mo watching him. Arnold obediently fell silent.

Ye Mo was confused. Truthfully, he hadn't yet figured out their relationships. The titles kept changing, there were many people, he didn't remember anyone, couldn't get a word in, so he just looked at whoever was talking.

Adelaide turned to Ye Mo. "Are you hungry, young prince? Would you like to bathe first or have a meal? Or perhaps I could fetch you some snacks from the kitchen."

Before Ye Mo could answer, Norton spoke first. "He bathed and ate on the warship. He'll go straight to his room to rest."

Ye Mo nodded.

Adelaide acknowledged. "Everything is prepared. I change the bedding daily, all according to the young prince's preferences."

"Additionally, Old Glendon, Commander Ye, and Mrs. Ye have been taken to the reception hall for now."

Adelaide mainly wanted to mention Mrs. Ye and Commander Ye. In the past, whenever Ye Mo heard Mrs. Ye was coming, he would wait for her even if he had nothing else to do.

But today, Adelaide glanced at Ye Mo, who turned his head upon hearing him speak, feeling somewhat concerned. The young prince didn't seem quite himself.

Norton hardly hesitated. Ye Mo needed rest, his memory issues hadn't recovered, and there were many visitors today—not the right time to handle this. "Entertain them well for now. I will deal with it later."

...

By the time everything was arranged and all matters handled, with everyone dispersed, it was already late at night.

Ye Mo was still asleep in his room.

Norton sat in the living room, several stacks of folders in front of him. This location was much closer to Ye Mo's room than the study.

Even though Norton's mental power enveloped the area, allowing him to clearly know everything happening here, he had still moved his workplace here.

Just then, Arnold entered the living room. He had been in and out several times already. Norton knew where he had been—Arnold had just returned from Ye Mo's doorway. This was who-knows-how-many-times he had paced outside Ye Mo's room.

Norton glanced sideways at Arnold. "You should be glad he's not yet skilled at using his mental power."

Otherwise, Ye Mo would have been startled awake by Arnold's pacing several times already.

Arnold retorted, unwilling to be outdone, "You're no different. If he were an adult, he would never allow your mental power to cover his territory either."

Norton's gaze suddenly stilled, lingering on Arnold's neck, where the collar was still fastened.

In the past, Arnold wouldn't have worn this at such a time, within the Grath palace.

Noticing Norton's gaze, Arnold touched his neck. "I should be wearing this."

"Shouldn't I?"

The atmosphere in the living room instantly turned cold. The two stared at each other, neither looking away.

Arnold took a few steps forward, coming to Norton's side. "You saw it too, didn't you, brother?"

Arnold's tone was somewhat aggressive. "Tell me, at the bottom of the chasm, when I was on the brink of madness, what did you see?"

Arnold stared at Norton. "You saw that snow too, didn't you? It wasn't an illusion you told me about."

Norton looked up. "Are you questioning me, Arnold?"

Arnold denied it. "No, it's a request."

Arnold moved closer to Norton, knelt down, knees touching the floor. He leaned gently against Norton's knees, burying his face in his elder brother's embrace. Norton looked down at his youngest brother. He could feel Arnold's body trembling slightly.

But Arnold continued speaking. "When we were at the bottom of the chasm, I saw snow. But it was also then that Ye Mo's mental power suddenly went out of control. He became fragile. I don't believe there's no connection between these two things. No Grath has ever regained sanity from that state of madness, yet I am the sole exception."

"I've grown up, brother. I know there aren't that many miracles in this world. If I can know this much, you must know even more. Tell me, brother."

Arnold persisted in asking. "Tell me, did I survive by relying on Ye Mo's life?"

Norton looked at Arnold, "Yes."

Norton spoke in the same tone and pitch as before, even seeming somewhat cold in this context.

"Do you remember when Ye Mo was injured? That was his first psychic surge."

Arnold certainly remembered; it was due to his negligence. Just days ago, while searching for Ye Mo and checking Grath's enemies, he had thoroughly re-examined the incident, and the Clay Empire had been purged again.

Norton placed his hand on Arnold's head, with a force so light it bordered on tenderness. "Last time, everyone was focused on Ye Mo, and no one noticed that initially, the psychic surge was actually yours. Later, when Ye Mo began his surge, you regained consciousness. He took it all for you. That's the truth."