Chapter 458: Beyond the Main Story, New Year’s Chapter 13

Chapter 458: Beyond the Main Story, New Year's Chapter 13

The meeting was scheduled for the evening.

Although Baide's notifications were always casual, once he spoke, it meant an official meeting was being convened.

The various Corps Commanders had sprung into action the moment they received the news yesterday. Those stationed elsewhere rushed overnight to the capital, those who truly couldn't make it back scrambled to find sufficiently qualified proxies, and those already in the capital were somewhat more composed but still spent the night preparing.

Ever since a previous meeting where Deenlie and Adrian had clashed over the assignment of a battlefield, meetings convened at Baide's whim had become rare.

This was one of those rare meetings where the atmosphere wasn't so heavy.

Adelaide was extremely busy, and also very pleased.

The room was filled with numerous sets of formal attire and accessories. Just the crowns alone numbered in the hundreds. Fortunately, Baide's office had been designed spacious enough.

Even Baide felt a bit of pressure. "I think..."

"You also find it regrettable, Your Majesty. So many regularly delivered gowns and accessories, each one a work of art in beauty, and so many genius designs—but they all just sit there, most never worn by their owner even once. At least I find it deeply regrettable every time I organize them."

Adelaide felt it was still far from enough. There was a large collection yet to be brought over—just a few hundred crowns, after all. With so many Graths here, if each person brought a few, this would already be the result. "If you would be willing to move—"

"No, this is sufficient."

Norton, standing nearby, also turned serious and solemnly declined Adelaide. He wore formal attire with the hem trailing on the floor, an ornate crown upon his head, and a scepter resting beside his chair.

Elia raised her camera and deliberately activated the flash—a feature that was now quite retro, which she absolutely loved. She would often trigger it unexpectedly, and recently she especially enjoyed turning on the flash and taking photos whenever others got into arguments. The person being photographed would usually freeze for a moment—it was very amusing.

She too was dressed in formal attire, already styled by Adelaide.

Adelaide, meanwhile, held a light tablet and sighed regretfully at the inventory displayed on it. In his youth, he had once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and had even pursued further studies for a time.

Ye Mo, nestled in Norton's arms, craned his neck curiously to touch the scepter beside him. He had also been changed into formal wear that was clearly from the same series as Norton's, wearing a small crown, with tiny red gemstones delicately woven into his hair. He held his little head high, but after a while, he'd lean back against Norton to rest.

Norton tapped his head, and when Ye Mo leaned against him again, he picked up Ye Mo's little crown.

The moment it was lifted, Ye Mo urgently reached up to grab it and pressed it back onto his head. Norton could only yield to his insistence and let go. "Isn't it heavy?"

"Mo Mo is heavy, Mo Mo is pretty."

Adelaide was touched. "Little Highness, you have excellent taste."

Ye Mo puffed out his chest with effort. "Mo Mo has taste!"

Elia turned off the flash and circled around to the front, keeping taking photos while praising Ye Mo. "Mo Mo is so pretty. Raise your hand—yes, who is the prettiest little treasure?"

Ye Mo answered seriously, "Mo Mo is!"

Arnold came over to Adelaide's side, ready to offer a suggestion. "I think it doesn't match."

Adelaide became serious—he rarely received feedback from the Graths, and could only usually discuss things with the team in charge of this area. "Which parts do you think don't match?"

"Doesn't match Ye Mo's clothes."

Even Adelaide took a moment to process this statement, but still said, "You do have an outfit from the same series as Prince Norton's—over there—"

Herli also came over and took the chance to voice her opinion. "I don't want to wear a crown."

Adelaide sighed. "If you insist, Your Highness."

Ye Mo heard this too and raised his hand high.

"Little Highness, please speak."

So Ye Mo tried to lift one foot. "No shoes."

"Mo Mo's feet feel hot."

Adelaide helped him take off the shoe from his raised foot. "Thank you for your feedback. I'll note that down and make them more comfortable for you next time."

...

The Corps Commanders trickled in, gathering in the waiting area. A group of men and women in dress uniforms talked quietly.

Feilin was among them. As the Imperial Guard Commander, he held equal rank to the Corps Commanders—sometimes even greater authority—and had direct access to the Graths.

"His Majesty finally called a meeting again."

One of the younger Corps Commanders couldn't help but say. Since becoming a Corps Commander, he had never seen a Grath in person. He had been hanging around the capital daily without encountering a single one.

So afterward, having learned his lesson, he went to take on another mission, hoping to gamble on the chance of being granted an audience when he reported back after completing it. But before he could even submit his request upon returning, he got a notice saying no report was needed.

In the past few days, he had been pestering Feilin, trying to find out exactly what mission he had completed to earn an audience. He had just accepted a similar mission when he heard about the meeting, so he passed the task to his Deputy and rushed back overnight.

"How do I look? This is my first time wearing the dress uniform. Will I get to see the other Highnesses this time?"

The more senior Corps Commanders were relatively more composed, and one of them responded tolerantly, "Not bad. Fix the second button—you've fastened it wrong again. Don't get too excited. I think the chances of seeing the other Highnesses are low."

Feilin didn't join the conversation, thinking to himself that Prince Norton certainly wouldn't appear—he was probably still taking care of the little Highness. He wondered how the little Highness was doing now.

Someone came to a stop beside him. "Feilin."

Feilin was caught off guard for a moment. "Corps Commander Sade."

This was his old Corps Commander, now the Commander of the First Corps. The man who had once been strict and overly serious about everything said in a low voice, "How have you been lately?"

Feilin understood. As the Imperial Guard Commander, he knew the Corps Commander, who would never overstep a single boundary, was now subtly probing about the Graths' condition. This was probably the limit of what the overly serious Sade could do. "Very well. Extremely well."

At that, Sade's slightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

The door to the waiting room opened. The Corps Commanders stopped and turned to look in unison.

"Good evening, everyone. His Majesty would like to see you."

They moved quietly and quickly, automatically arranging themselves by seniority as they walked, their steps in unison.

At the front walked Sade, the highest-ranking Corps Commander of the First Corps. The others followed his lead, forming a staggered formation by seniority, with the youngest at the back row, deliberately choosing a spot at the edge so his view would be unobstructed later.

They stopped before the doors. A few seconds later, the large doors swung open.

Brighter light shone on Sade at the front.

He raised his slightly lowered head, not stepping inside immediately, but freezing in place—a rare loss of composure.

The Highnesses, as in the old days, were dressed formally, standing in two columns down the staircase.

At the very top platform, beside the once-lonely throne, a new throne had been placed—Prince Norton was seated on it.

This was not the reason for Sade's loss of composure. Prince Norton, as the next heir, had often sat alongside Baide on various occasions since his youth.

What made Sade freeze was the child in his arms, dressed similarly to Norton, clearly the same line, wearing a small crown.

His mind went blank for a moment before he moved on instinct, taking a step forward.

Sade stopped before the steps, knelt on one knee first, and the others followed in unison, saying together, "Eternal glory to the Empire, immortal Grath."

Baide shifted, lowering the hand that had been propping up his cheek, "Good day, everyone. How have you all been? Rise, Sade, let me look at you."

The group rose to their feet in unison.

"Very well, Your Majesty."

As Sade answered, he couldn't help but let his gaze drift toward Ye Mo.

So this was why the Graths had gathered in the capital recently?

Behind him, Feilin's face went blank. Was the young prince being revealed so abruptly? Shouldn't it be more solemn, announced when he was older, before everyone? Like the other princes—Feilin's train of thought paused. Though the outside world always made a big fuss, the other princes had been announced just like that, so naturally. So he quickly revised his thought: it should be as solemn as a coronation.

Ye Mo curled his toes slightly, feeling a bit shy. So many people. Mo Mo wasn't wearing shoes, and a faint sense of shame welled up inside him.

But Mo Mo never wore shoes, so he quickly reassured himself, only wriggling a little closer into Norton's arms.

Baide's gaze also shifted to Ye Mo, and he said proudly, "A beautiful child, isn't he? His mental strength is extraordinary, he's very clever, and he eats very well too."

Sade nodded seriously, "The young prince is exceptionally outstanding."

He paused, then added, "Not many children are so serious about eating."

Ye Mo then forgot his shyness and eagerly leaned forward. Norton's arm quietly moved in front of him, and Ye Mo rested his hands on it, "It's Mo Mo, it's Mo Mo. Mo Mo eats well."

Sade froze, and Feilin behind him murmured, "Young Prince Mo Mo."

So the flustered Sade echoed, "Yes, Young Prince Mo Mo, you eat very well."

Baide laughed heartily. "Sade, you're still amusing."

He looked at another person, "I recall you have a child, right? Is it easy to soothe them?"

The other person still looked a bit dazed, "I have a daughter, already interning in the legion. Not easy to soothe."

Baide grew even smugger. "Our Mo Mo is easy to soothe."

Ye Mo chimed in, "Easy to soothe."

He didn't nod much now—his head was heavy, his neck sore, so he couldn't.

After Baide had shown off enough, he said, "Alright, time for business. Go find traces of the insect race and bring me back more Bug Crystals. My children are hungry for them right now."

Sade looked at them, including the princes slightly lower down. They wore expressionless faces, adorned in fine robes, still gripping their swords, and just one glance sent a chilling pressure filling the entire hall.

But the old volatile frenzy was gone; a long-lost calm had returned to them. Though he didn't know what had happened,

Sade broke into a smile, "As you command, Your Majesty. Grath immortal."

The others also lowered their heads, saying in unison, "Grath immortal."

Baide looked at Ye Mo, "Mo Mo, do you want to go play too?"

Ye Mo caught the keyword, quickly and effortfully raising his hand, "Play, Mo Mo play."

Though this was a child who could eat plain rice, his education truly needed attention. Baide thought seriously for once.

He was experienced in raising children—every one of them had turned out well.