Chapter 459: Beyond the Main Storyline – New Year Special 14

Baide clapped his hands, which usually signaled the start of serious business. "Time to work. Norton, you're sitting this one out. Sade, stay. Everyone else, same drill as usual."

The youngest Corps Commander at the back couldn't help but take a quiet breath. This was his first time going through it, though he'd heard about it and played it out in his head many times. Whenever there was a large-scale operation like a campaign, the princes would each lead their own corps—the assignments were usually random. Which prince would he get?

Herli had already leapt down the steps, landing lightly below. She knew where everyone stood, and from her end, she picked out a few young recruits and one more seasoned Corps Commander. Then she stepped aside, her chosen subordinates behind her.

Deenlie went next. By the time Arnol had picked the more senior Corps Commanders, only Sade and Feilin, the Imperial Guard Commander, were left.

Baide's gaze shifted to Ye Mo. "And who got left behind?"

Ye Mo looked left and right with a serious expression, murmuring, "Who?"

Baide paused for a beat, then raised his voice slightly. "Oh, it's our Mo Mo! Shame on us—how could we leave our Mo Mo behind?"

Ye Mo turned his head back to Baide with a look of sudden realization. If he could nod, he'd be nodding like crazy right now, but he couldn't move his head. He quickly insisted, "Can't leave Mo Mo. Mo Mo goes too."

Baide stood up, walked to Norton's side, and said while Norton watched, "Then Mo Mo can go too."

He lifted Ye Mo out of Norton's arms and carried him down below. He was going to set him on the floor, but seeing Ye Mo barefoot, he crouched down and let him stand on the hem of his coat instead. "Who's Mo Mo gonna work with?"

Ye Mo stood there awkwardly. He looked at Herli and the others, then at Sade and Feilin, and hesitantly took a step.

Baide reached out to help him, but before he could, Ye Mo stepped forward. He watched Ye Mo walk faster and faster, then quickly latch onto Sade's leg, tripping over his own feet.

There was no carpet in the hall, and Ye Mo, used to soft rugs, wasn't used to the cold, hard floor.

"Mo Mo's feet are being bitten! Mo Mo's feet!"

Sade automatically lifted him a bit, letting him stand on his boot.

Both feet fit on one boot. Ye Mo clung to his leg, settling down, then looked at Baide and at Norton, who had gotten up on the platform and was watching him.

Baide coughed into his fist to hold back a laugh. Ye Mo was very proud lately—if you laughed at him, he'd keep turning his back on you, shuffling around like a sunflower. It was amusing, but Sylvia would take away his right to hold Ye Mo for a day. "Okay, Mo Mo's with Sade's group."

"Everyone rest for a few days. We'll set out after that. Don't be too tense—treat it like a fun trip."

There won't be much tension, Sade thought. At least not for him. He said quietly, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The young Corps Commander behind Herli peeked out nervously, surprised to find that Sade, usually so stern and rigid, could be so lenient. Why had his task of gathering information on Feilin gotten him a beating for breaking the rules and having a bad attitude? Good thing he'd already finished the task.

"Alright, let's go eat. Adelaide has prepared a feast tonight."

As he spoke, he moved to get Ye Mo, only to see Norton had already come down from the platform and was leaning down to pick him up.

Ye Mo easily wrapped his arms around Norton's neck. His bad habit of not wearing shoes was partly because Norton was always carrying him around.

If Ye Mo ever said he'd forgotten how to walk, Baide wouldn't be surprised.

He needed to make him move around more.

...

After dinner, Ye Mo eagerly rushed to Baide's office—he arrived before everyone else, even beating Baide and his father.

Ye Mo had recently become obsessed with cartoons, but because he'd been too into it at first, watching from right after lunch until dinner, his eyes had gotten sore.

So now his screen time was strictly restricted, but today Baide said if he arrived first, he could watch ten extra minutes—but being carried by Norton didn't count.

Ye Mo fumbled to kick off his shoes by the door before running in. Arnol peeked in, took his shoes away, and quickly got dragged back out.

Ye Mo scurried over and dragged out the little round rug Adelaide had prepared for him, laying it beside the new daybed Adelaide had gotten—Ye Mo loved it. When Norton sat on it holding him, it felt like being in bed.

Sometimes Ye Mo could even fall asleep in Norton's arms, because it was roomy but not as big as a bed. He could be tucked between Norton and the backrest, and as long as Norton draped his hand over him, it became a little safe haven. Ye Mo sometimes liked these snug spaces—they made him feel secure.

The only problem was that Norton didn't always choose the daybed, but clever Mo Mo had figured out that if he set up his nest first, Norton would show up.

Ye Mo hurriedly laid out the round rug, dragged over his pillow and the lion plushie Sylvia had recently given him. He placed the plushie beside him, hugged the pillow, and finally settled onto the rug.

By the time everything was ready, Adelaide pushed the door open, and the Graths came in making a racket.

Herli and Adrian said in unison, "Who's first? Mo Mo is!"

"Amazing—we can't keep up with Mo Mo at all."

Ye Mo soaked up the slightly exaggerated praise, hugging his pillow with half his face buried in it, his feet swinging back and forth, but he still murmured, "Mo Mo is amazing."

Herli sat down next to him and purposely bumped him with her shoulder, sliding him and his little rug all the way to the side before sitting up straight. Ye Mo didn't get angry—he loved playing the squeeze game too—but he still stood up, dragged his stuff back, and complained, "Stop squeezing Mo Mo."

Norton had already arrived. Herli coughed and straightened up. "How could anyone squeeze Mo Mo? Mo Mo, sit back down. I'm on guard here—no one's allowed to squeeze you."

Ye Mo settled back down happily. "Thanks, Herli."

Herli wasn't idle either. She reached out and blocked Arnol behind her, who poked her in the side.

Norton had sat down now. Ye Mo placed the little lion beside him and leaned comfortably against Norton's leg, waiting for Adelaide to start the cartoon.

The Graths had all found their favorite spots, and Adelaide had already turned on the light screen. Ye Mo let out a little excited "wow."

The room gradually went from noisy to quiet, and Ye Mo watched even the opening theme completely focused.

After that, the only sound in the room was Ye Mo's soft, absorbed breathing.

Adelaide couldn't help but think that it was a good thing the Little Lion series had a ton of shows for different age groups—the young prince could watch for a very, very long time, until he's all grown up.

The little lions had already defeated the villain, and now it was showing the victory screen. Ye Mo couldn't help but howl along with them, his little head bobbing up and down, his hands on his cheeks.

Herli couldn't resist leaning over and, suddenly, took a bite of his hand—she'd meant to bite his cheek, but his hand was right there, so she went for the hand first.

Ye Mo stopped, looking shocked as he looked at his hand, then up at Herli.

Arnol jabbed his waist again.

The other Graths all looked over.

Ye Mo stood up, pulled out his little snack jar from a corner, opened it, and placed it in front of Herli.

Adelaide was in charge of the snacks the Graths gave Ye Mo.

He'd been eating fewer snacks lately, which was how he'd saved them up, because at every meal Sylvia would sweet-talk him: "Mo Mo eats so well—he must be growing taller today, right? Soon he'll be tall enough to go see the little lions with Daddy."

And the flattered little Ye Mo, all dazed, would eat even the vegetables he didn't like.

But even though he ate less, Ye Mo always treasured his stash.

He carefully pushed the snack jar over. "For Herli. She's hungry."

And he kindly added, so she wouldn't feel embarrassed, "Mo Mo bites his hand when he's hungry too."

Herli's conscience was pricking at her.

She reached over the snack jar and picked Ye Mo up, "Mo Mo! I'll never bully you again."

Arnold stood up, "Herli! You're squeezing him too hard, you're gonna squish Mo Mo flat."

He lowered his voice, "Big bro's watching you."

Ye Mo struggled to poke his head out of her arms, his hair slightly tousled, "Mo Mo doesn't wanna be squished flat."

Herli reluctantly let go under Norton's gaze, watching as Ye Mo was lifted back into Norton's arms, and set him down inside.

Herli felt a bit regretful.

Ye Mo was now sitting in the innermost spot, with a soft backrest behind him and Norton lying on his side in front of him. He held onto Norton's leg and went back to watching the rest of the end-credit song, immediately getting sucked back in, even humming along.

The little kid, who still stumbled over his words sometimes, sang in bits and pieces, "Brave, not scared of the dark! Independent little lion..."

He turned to Norton, "Mo Mo's not scared either."

Norton smoothed his hair down a little, "Mm, good boy."

Ye Mo got bolder, "Mo Mo wants to sleep alone too."

Norton's hand froze. He turned to look at the cartoon behind him, trying to find the age rating and recommendation—0 to 5 years old. Ridiculous.

Arnold perked up. Ye Mo's room was closer to his than Norton's, so he could sneak over and see Ye Mo, "Really?"

Ye Mo was still looking up waiting for praise, and when questioned, immediately said, "Really, Mo Mo is brave."

Ridiculous. Norton looked away, then met Ye Mo's expectant eyes, and the refusal got stuck in his throat.

Adelaide clapped at just the right moment, "The young prince is truly amazing. Shall I go prepare your room now?"

He got a subtle glare from Prince Norton.

And Ye Mo's solemn agreement, followed by a string of additions, "Bring, bring the little lion, and Mo Mo's pillow, and Mo Mo's, Mo Mo's blanket."

Ye Mo held up the little lion, "And Mo Mo's lamp."

He had a round little yellow lamp in Norton's room.

"Very well, young prince. Should I bring the milk bottle too?"

"Yes, bring it, bring it."

Adelaide hadn't actually taken it seriously—Ye Mo was still way too young—but joking around once in a while was fun too, Prince Norton.