While the others remained numb and Hel remained bewildered, Little Chu Zao’s golden crown above his head lit up—within the spacious room, it felt as if a gentle breeze softly wafted through.
A nearly-shattered corner of Hel’s halo was slowly patched together.
It was hard to describe what Hel felt just then.
For years, he’d known little sensation aside from headaches and pain.
The cub finished patching quickly.
The cub tilted his head to admire his “work.”
Task completed, he turned happily for a hug from Amos.
“Baba—”
Zao Zao finished this one quickly!
He wasn’t as hungry as before and not as sleepy.
Previously, Little Chu Zao had been shy and not good at expressing his feelings. But now, Amos could see a hint of “seeking praise” in the little one’s eyes.
Just like when he’d wanted to hear Feiman call him cute again.
Amos instinctively hugged the cub up.
“Zao Zao is amazing.”
The words tumbled out naturally—a quick, affirming response.
Then, as he watched the little one lick his lips, Amos—just as naturally—produced a spirit weapon from his hand after all that fighting with Hel.
Still stunned, Hel’s guard shot up.
“Your Majesty Amos, what are you—?!”
His words warped in shock, because he watched Amos nonchalantly spin the spirit weapon, hand the blunt hilt to the cub, and the little one just as naturally took a big bite.
—Crunch!
Hel: …
Help!
So—why???
Why can he patch crowns?!
Why can he gnaw on Crown Clan spirit weapons?!
This makes no sense—!
“No matter how many times I see it—”
Anya shivered.
“It still makes my scalp crawl.”
And however Amos did it so smoothly, was anyone’s guess.
“Second Brother, still got that bite mark on your halo?”
Amos glanced at Anya.
The little cub, clutching Amos’s spirit weapon, lowered his head in embarrassment and snuggled deeper into Amos’s arms.
Anya: …Did I say something wrong?
“Basically,” Frey looked at the slack-jawed Hel, “that’s the deal.”
He briefly summarized Little Chu Zao’s situation for Hel.
Now, with the cub’s help, the Crown Clan’s fate of shattering crowns and death seemed to be on pause.
“…So that’s how it is—”
Hel stared at the cub.
The little one was only allowed to bite the spirit sword hilt three times; he hid in Amos’s arms, had bitten twice, and was pondering how to take the final bite. He experimented with angles, his tiny pointy teeth gleaming white and his little wings twitching, apparently busy, though no one knew how.
Hel, for once, felt his scalp go numb—his own “brain” was apparently now a cub’s snack, and he had no clue when that bite was coming.
Every Crown Clan stared at the little one, watching as he crunched down the last bite and Amos took back the sword.
They all breathed a little easier—done, he’s finished.
Hel slowly leaned back on the sofa, covered his eyes with his arm.
“The fate of shattering crowns has been paused—”
His voice rasped, barely audible.
“…If Morlo could know, he’d be so happy.”
At this name,
Amos glanced up but said nothing.
Morlo was Hel’s lover, his assistant—a gentle, easygoing Crown Clan member. Years ago, he’d “died” in an accident—more accurately, disappeared. Hel had lost his wings searching for him, and ultimately felt Morlo’s crown shatter, his signal lost.
It happened in a polluted danger zone; such events split entire regions into forbidden zones, creating monstrous beasts. Raging beasts and corruption struck the Crown Clan hard; in the end, Morlo vanished, and Hel lost his wings.
Little Chu Zao looked up at Amos.
Then at Hel.
Hel seemed so sad, wreathed in despair.
“Baba—”
The atmosphere made the cub uneasy.
But adults didn’t want the child to bear such sorrow.
“Your Majesty Amos…”
This time Hel spoke first.
He sat up straighter.
“Though this request may seem improper—every Dwight heir should have what a Dwight deserves, including the young lord. If I can, please let me assist in the young lord’s studies.”
Hel seemed to recover his old calm, an emotion in his eyes like old, damp kindling straining to catch fire again.
He got up and knelt, bowing his head.
“Our family’s oath has never changed, willing to burn everything for the Dwight heirs’ growth—”
Even now.
“In this case, I’m at ease about Zao Zao’s teacher.”
Amos reached out, letting Hel rise.
“But I may not have much time left,” Hel added. “Our family’s goal was always to train a powerful royal; I won’t go easy on the young lord for any reason…”
His tone softened.
He looked at the cub in Amos’s arms.
“It’s late,” Amos agreed, looking at the child, whose breath had already slowed—fatigue must have abruptly set in; soon, with the ghost bear held in his arms, he’d fallen asleep.
“Zao Zao’s tired.”
“In that case,” Hel continued gravely, “Your Majesty and the others have seen the young lord’s past?”
“If you mean those terrible, inexpressible scenes,” Anya said in a low voice, brow clouded, “then yes.”
“Are we sure it’s really the young lord’s past?”
“We can’t be certain. We searched but didn’t find those places, nor have we seen that race before—like the ‘angels’ in old legends.”
Frey replied flatly.
Angels?
The Crown Clan present all snorted quietly.
Amos lifted the child.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as it exists, we’ll find it, and piece together Zao Zao’s past from these glimpses.”
Eyes downcast, voice soft, as if listening for the child’s even breaths.
“Zao Zao is still young, we have plenty of time.”
As Amos headed upstairs,
The little AI cautiously flickered—
“Honored Majesty and Lords, have you all finished your discussion?”
Now that he thought of it—
Hel belatedly remembered.
“The AI let me in as soon as it saw me. Should we tweak its settings? Kind of lacking in brains.”
AI: Lacking… brains?? QAQ Teacher, don’t just ignore your own faults and blame everything on me!
*
Through the night,
Hel slept restlessly, as always.
Nightmares, shattered crowns, and constant wing pain tormented him.
His dreams spun on.
Long tasked with training royal Crown Clan, yesterday’s revelations had shaken Hel more than he expected.
He relived Morlo’s abrupt departure, pushed away as Morlo’s crown crumbled, only to dream now of Little Chu Zao weeping for a teacher and getting no answer.
It broke his heart to see all the strange races coming and going, to try to shout, shout, and never be heard.
The child never understood what he’d done wrong, sobbing quietly.
Hel jolted awake.
It was already morning.
He gritted his teeth and sat up—he’d slept here, at Dwight’s, too late at night to return.
Still, all kinds of emotion festered, leaving him irritable.
For the first time, the pain frustrated him, made him hate his body.
He still hadn’t managed to do anything for that little Dwight—how much time did he have left?
Damn… damn…
Morlo…
What should he do?
He balled his fist, ready to hammer his shoulder.
The next second, a soft baby-voice piped up in his head, once again snapping him out of the gloom: “Grandpa Hel… Teacher Hel, are you awake yet?”
Hel: …
His clenched hand dropped.
That child voice stayed in his mind:
“Teacher Hel, s-sorry—Zao Zao accidentally fell asleep yesterday, Baba says breakfast is ready, Teacher Hel, will you come eat breakfast?”
Hel didn’t understand—how could Little Chu Zao always break him out of a funk at exactly the right moment??
Isn’t it a bit too skilled to be talking in someone else’s head like this??
Moments earlier, the little one had awoken from a dream, having drifted off mid-conversation, and now couldn’t recall what happened. Unable to sleep again, the cub fidgeted in Amos’s arms, hugging his bear, before Amos’s hold quieted him.
The cub glanced up as Amos woke.
“What’s wrong?”
“Zao Zao accidentally fell asleep yesterday.”
Still half asleep.
“Baba, what did you all say after…?”
“Nothing much; you slept, so we quickly turned in too. Going back to sleep, or up for breakfast now?”
Amos pushed up to wash up, while Chu Zao lay in bed, arms and legs hugging the bear, rolling around in play.
When Amos emerged, the cub put the bear down and reached for a hug.
Amos’s eyes softened, and he dressed and washed the cub, then carried him downstairs.
Frey and Anya were already browsing the morning news on the sofa.
Only Hel had not yet come down.
After the cub woke, milk always arrived before breakfast.
His health was better than expected now—he still needed baby formula and nutrients every day, but could now eat food where flavor, not just contents, mattered.
Anya looked thoughtful, then left.
The cub glanced after him, then snuggled back into Amos’s arms to finish his milk.
He’d finished his bottle, but Hel still hadn’t appeared.
So he took off his crown, wrapped a thread to Hel’s mind, and called him yet again.
—Breakfast is getting cold.
At last Hel came down, trying to neaten his bedraggled appearance; the imperial tutor still looked imposing, the cub hiding behind the sofa, eyes peeking out and observing him.
“Teacher, you’ll need a full check at the medical center and some help with Job and Joshua, okay? Your family was always close to theirs,” Frey said.
“Mmm. Joshua was overprotected by the Keben family, and being twins, Job had to bear part of Joshua’s feelings. Once his crown began to fracture, Joshua always felt he was a burden to his family and brother. There was never any fix before.”
But things were different now.
Hel glanced at the cub, flopped on the sofa.
“And the Boel Alliance is in trouble again—so much chaos.”
Frey sighed.
“Where’s Anya? I’ll go find him.”
Amos nodded, stroking the cub’s head. “There’s also the matter of bodyguards for Zao Zao, but it’s not urgent.”
Right now, the cub was gnawing on a hard, not-so-sweet fruit; when patted by Amos, he instinctively held up his slobbery fruit in offering—Baba, eat!
Amos, recalling the mouth-puckering pitch of yesterday’s fruit: …
Good kid, but Baba will pass.
*
Beyond the palace, at the Peng family villa.
Peng Yue was reading the latest news on the star-net.
“Dad!”
The door banged open and a wiry ten-year-old boy bounded in, with a small dueling sword on his waist.
This was Peng Yue’s youngest son, Peng Liang.
“What is it? So reckless.”
Peng Yue looked up and snapped.
Peng Liang was unphased.
“Dad, what was that message about? Being a bodyguard for the little Crown Clan? Or is it the whole special team? Does Chao Huangmu get a shot, too? And who IS the little Crown Clan? Haven’t His Majesty and the princes gone centuries without a cub?”
“How do you have so many questions?”
Peng Yue frowned.
“You’ll get your assignments in due time. Don’t talk about things you shouldn’t.”
“I know, but can I ask the others, or share it with the special team? If not, I won’t.”
Peng Liang seemed a bit wild and nosy. He scratched his nose.
“I’m just curious—what does a little Crown Clan look like? Bet he’s super cold, super fierce, one look and you feel like you’re in a freezer—”
That imposing, tall image!
Peng Liang looked hopefully at his father.
Peng Yue, one of the few with news of the little prince, stared at his silly son quietly.
“…I need to meet your cultural studies teacher.”
Peng Liang: …
“Oh, no, Dad, I really think my cultural studies are top-notch.”
“Then I’ll ask them if the whole ‘being sent to the freezer’ image is something your teacher taught you.”
Peng Liang: …
Peng Yue waved him off.
“Go on, get out. You’ve been taught what you should and shouldn’t say already, so just do as the army instructs, don’t come here fishing for leaks. I’ve got work, and in your spare time, follow the star-net news, see what’s happening in these alliances. There’s much to learn.”
Peng Liang was driven from the study.
Even Peng Yue, who hadn’t yet seen the little prince, turned to the news.
#Boel Alliance Splits Again, Nation Near Collapse, Will Holy Cas Repeat the Immortal Rule’s Errors?#
‘Don’t say such ominous stuff! The Emperor and princes are still very active!’
‘Boel Alliance brought this on themselves; they’ve never endured suffering or had any history. They blamed their leaders, unlike us in Holy Cas, who are totally different!’
‘Heard the next interstellar summit, Boel’s lead revolutionary Lin Yuan will show? Looks like the Spirit Eye Race that founded Boel is finished.’
‘But Boel’s welfare looks pretty good to me; why the unrest?’
‘Just proves letting people get complacent is dangerous. Shows the importance of education.’
Peng Yue sighed, reading on.
Frankly, His Majesty had already hinted at how Holy Cas Empire might run without the Crown Clan in the future and how to prepare—but Peng Yue didn’t really believe in such a future, and if the Crown Clan disappeared, Holy Cas would lose its soul.
Thank goodness—the little prince appeared.
*
When the sun was high,
Little Chu Zao was bundled up and taken out, hand in hand, to the medical center.
Hel needed a thorough check while calm.
At the clinic, Hel was checked.
Little Chu Zao, having patched Hel’s crown and chewed Amos’s spirit weapon, was also checked; all values normal.
Amos received news about the Boel Alliance emergency. They were too far away, with different systems, but he still had arrangements to make; he watched the cub from a distance while meeting with ministers.
Frey went to see Job and Joshua.
The cub stood watching Anya.
He thought a moment, then took a careful step back, puzzled.
Why was Anya here?
Since the beginning, their relationship hadn’t been friendly; now, even with lessened tension, they didn’t interact much.
Anya wanted to change that, but couldn’t find the way.
Especially after Hel’s “attack” yesterday—he’d thought he’d become least-favored, but given Hel’s missing wings and the cub’s softness, Anya suspected he now ranked even lower.
Finally, Anya took out a bag of colorful candies.
The cub relaxed a bit at the sight.
“What’s that?”
He seemed to recognize them; wide-eyed.
“Candy?”
“Yes, candy.” Anya offered them.
“You’re allowed more tasty things now, right?”
The cub liked sweet things, sending all the sour ones to Amos.
Therefore, candy should be well received.
Chu Zao had seen candy but never tasted it, only watching other angel cubs eat.
The sweetest thing the child had found previously was a fruit that grew once or twice a year.
Chu Zao took the open bag, picked one, and popped it in his mouth.
These were specially made, with a sugar coating.
His eyes slowly widened—so sweet!
He chewed, looked at Anya: “Thank you, Uncle.”
Anya: …Ah—
That felt so good.
Amos finished his meeting, and came to speak to Anya.
Behind them, the cub happily fluttered his wings, still munching candies.
Soon after, both Crown Clan realized something.
Amos looked at the bag.
“What’s that?”
He guessed.
“Candy?”
“Uh-huh.”
The cub’s mouth was covered in sugar, his eyes shining, holding out a candy for Amos.
Amos leaned down and took it, then glanced at the nearly-gone bag.
He eyed Anya: “You give him this?”
Anya had also noticed the cub’s candy-devouring speed: …
“I—”
Why is he eating so fast? Is this too much…?
Amos flexed his wrist.
He remembered to reassure the cub: “This isn’t about you, Zao Zao; you can eat it, just not more right now, you’ve had enough.” But he didn’t let slide the true culprit who failed to give portion advice—
Anya: …
“I mean, this was supposed to be for the whole day—ow!!”
With Amos’s words, the cub glanced at the candy bag, then tucked it away carefully.
Then the little one heard something nearby.
Frey stood in front of Job and Joshua’s room.
The cub glanced at his father chasing Anya around, mulled it over, then toddled away.
“Uncle Frey.”
Frey frowned at the room, beside him Feiman.
He looked down at the baby voice.
“Zao Zao?”
Feiman looked over too.
Her eyes brightened, though her posture remained reserved.
“Zao Zao.”
“Aunt.”
The little cub had no bear today, but looked perfectly polite and proper.
“What is it?”
Inside: bang!
“I told you, brother—stop interfering!!”
Joshua’s voice.
“…What do you mean, ‘stop interfering’?”
A voice, suppressed and cold, finally emerged.
“I know it was wrong to ignore you and leave you to face losing our parents and aunt alone, but I’ve always been with you—what more do you want? Even when you wanted to die, I tried to help you find a peaceful way.”
Words icy, on the brink.
“Tell me, what wasn’t good enough about your brother? Or do you really just want to die now? Fine, I can help you with that—”
“Break it up—”
Frey frowned, moving to intervene, then had another idea, looking at the cub.
“Zao Zao, help out, shift their moods a bit, Hel is coming soon.”
Chu Zao blinked.
He gripped his suddenly-appeared golden toy bow.
Leave it to Zao Zao—love and peace!
Meanwhile, Feiman rolled up her sleeves, questioning Frey as to why they needed the cub’s help. She was determined to show her prowess as an aunt.
“These two really are crazy. When’s Teacher Hel coming? I’ll—calm them down myself.”
She took off, arrowlike.
And indeed, an arrow shot out beside her, too.
The cub’s arrow flew much faster than before.
But Feiman paid it no mind—oh, this is another cute, amazing baby talent? No problem, just harmless family fun, hehe.
Frey realized what was happening, but did nothing, or perhaps didn’t want to.
“Feiman, dodge.”
Feiman stepped up to Job, blocking the arrow, hearing Frey and glimpsing the approaching Hel—and looked confused.
“Hm?”