Feeney: Fine, fine, you want to tattle—
“Ow! Second brother, you’re not even following the training ground protocols now?!”
You’re just beating me up?!
Can’t win this fight—
“Big brother, save me!”
Frey stretched out a hand, but the normally expressionless young Crown Clan member was powerless between the first and second strongest’s brawl.
He watched as Feeney, in a panic, leapt straight from the palace’s third floor.
Amos, holding only Feeney’s coat: …
As expected of Feeney—always unique, even when fleeing.
“Oho, he didn’t even use his wings.”
Feiman leaned by the window, glanced down to see Feeney dive into the bushes, crawl out covered in leaves, glance up at the windows, and slip away.
“Still young.”
Meilun came in, sitting on the sofa beside the little cub, pouring himself tea, sighing.
He was old, washed-up, and needed to stay by the cub’s side to feel some of that vibrant life!
“But are you sure you want Feeney teaching full time?”
That’s a bit much.
Amos was staring out the window, eyes narrowing. The lazy, yet fierce look on his handsome face, along with his strict bearing, made his back and shoulders straight, the outline of muscle visible beneath a military-style long coat, open down the front with gold chains connecting. Having just rolled up his sleeves to thump Feeney, Amos, elegant as ever, now tossed Feeney’s jacket carelessly to a nearby chair, veins bulging.
“I thought he’d improved a little, after cleaning up that Boel Alliance mess so efficiently.”
“Shame. Looks like it was just more of his conveniently lucky blundering.”
Meilun grinned, fanning the flames.
“As his brother, it’s your duty, Your Majesty Amos, to educate Feeney properly.”
Amos couldn’t agree more.
The cub, having just answered Amos’s questions from the sofa, was in the middle of preparing for a sneeze. But on hearing that Third Uncle had jumped out a window, his eyes widened, the sneeze stalling.
Clutching his handkerchief, little Chu Zao: …
Ah… so uncomfortable, QAQ
But now he wanted to see what happened to Third Uncle.
He hopped off the sofa, padded over to the window, tiptoed up, tiny hands reaching for the ledge, trying to look out.
But the ledge was too high for his little self.
His lazy wings twitched and, just as he was about to launch himself, Feiman gently picked him up.
The cub’s eyes widened.
He looked at Feiman, then down at the scene below.
He could just see Third Uncle fleeing.
Then he turned to meet Feiman’s intense gaze.
Feiman’s appearance, like Feeney’s, was misleading—one looked composed but was lively inside, the other cheerful but secretly dark.
The cub’s face, recently grown even paler and cuter, was subject to Feiman’s gaze for a long time. This time, at least, Feiman was polite.
“Zao Zao, auntie’s dying from your cuteness, really, just one kiss—just one—”
She hadn’t had a kiss in ages!!!
Auntie’s love for Zao Zao was bending to the point of twisting!
If denied even once more, she’d lose it and kiss him silly!
Both the human and puffball forms—she hadn’t kissed the puffball yet!
Feiman spoke these “hehe” words utterly calmly.
Even if he couldn’t hear her thoughts, her now-twisting mental power made the cub shiver.
Oh no! Fell into auntie’s arms!
The cub squeezed his wings tight, desperate to refuse.
But he had a feeling—refusing now would bring regret.
So, wings trembling, he whispered, “Just one little kiss.”
A moment later, after being kissed several times on both cheeks, the cub sat fuming on the sofa, wings still out.
Kissing maniac!!
Feiman had been thrown out by Amos; Frey had just gone after Feeney.
Now, only Chu Zao, Anya, and Meilun remained in the room.
Meilun was planning his schedule—“This afternoon I’m checking on Hel and Morlo. Their mental weapons haven’t been chomped by Zao Zao—”
Zao Zao now only nibbled Amos’s.
Few Crown Clan could boast about it. While everyone used to be terrified about their weapons being chewed, now when the cub didn’t come, they watched with envy but never dared offer.
So——
He had to show off!
The cub quieted, once more prepping for the sneeze, clutching his handkerchief for the big one.
Anya gently cleared his throat; seeing Feeney had gotten to teach, Feiman was straightforward in snatching kisses, but only he—
Only he—
Had known the cub first, but had the least presence!
Anya mulled it over, inching over to the cub.
“Cough, actually, little uncle’s been practicing archery lately too. Feeney probably won’t be back soon. Want me to help you train…?”
Little Chu Zao stared blankly ahead, mouth open: “Ah…”
Anya: …?
Anya: “It’s not like I studied just for this! I just had spare time sometimes.”
Anya: “Trust me, I have no other motives, and I did put in effort.”
Anya: “You’re the Crown Clan cub; it’s what I should do.”
Anya: “Family elders should help you grow, it’s natural.”
Anya: “You’ll be the next Holy Cas Emperor after all.”
Anya: “Fine, fine, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called you a cockroach, I’m the cockroach, okay?”
Anya: “You even whacked me with your coronet! What else do you want? If you stay quiet, I’ll leave, okay—”
Anya: “Really leaving, now? …Alright, I’m sorry, I was wrong—so why are you just ‘ah’-ing, give me a—”
Cub: “AH—CHOO!!”
Haah, much better!
Little Chu Zao blinked up at Anya.
“Uncle, what were you saying? Too much, Zao Zao didn’t quite hear—”
Anya: …
Now listen to Anya’s emotional damage noises.
Meilun, watching the whole time, was shaking with silent laughter.
Anya, rigid, slowly turned his head to Meilun:
Anya: “…Don’t tell anyone, please, Uncle Meilun.”
Meilun finally burst out laughing.
Amos entered late, slightly confused, finding Anya broken, Meilun cracking up, and the cub in the center rubbing his nose.
What happened?
Was there a special, Crown Clan-only infectious disease spreading?
Amos paused, then swiftly scooped up the cub and left.
Don’t let them affect his cub.
As for his brothers and uncle?
No worries.
Very healthy, won’t die.
*
An hour later.
The cub was being carried to the training ground by Amos.
Halo swaying, he looked up, full of curiosity.
“Friends?”
“Mhm, yes. Friends a few years older than you—think of them that way—”
Amos thought a moment, explaining to the cub.
“They’re all top students of this generation’s military academy. Once you’re familiar, you can develop your own team and assign them wherever you want control.”
“Oh…”
The cub was only five, only in this world for half a year—he was growing quickly, but not quite ready for this level; much of this was just confusing, so he just hugged Amos’s neck, softly asking,
“They’re friends?”
His little wings fluttered shyly.
“Zao Zao never had friends before.”
Big eyes sparkled. “Nobody ever wanted to play with Zao Zao.”
These past five years, optimism met with letdown—that was the theme of Chu Zao’s life.
In the angelic realm, no angel accepted him; all the peers looked at him with strange eyes.
Friends? Like family, always gazed at from afar, never something he could grasp.
And now, the cub felt content.
He had so much family. [Cub draws a big circle]
He really had so much already.
He was very satisfied.
Amos exhaled slowly.
“Mhm, Zao Zao, you’re still little. You’ll have them in time.”
The cub’s wings fluttered as the training ground came into view.
Even from afar, he spotted a ten-year-old boy training energetically on the apparatus—it wasn’t his face or stance, it was the intense mental power Zao Zao could feel that caught his attention.
Not that the boy did it on purpose—his mental power just spilled over, strong enough for any sensitive person to sense from afar.
“They’re here—they’re coming—Isn’t that His Majesty Amos? The one in his arms must be—young highness!”
Peng Liang gestured furiously, calling the still-training Yun Songquan and Chao Huangmu over.
Yun Songquan instinctively paused, and Chao Huangmu, up on the equipment, happened to glance over.
Chao Huangmu still remembered the cute little cub’s face from before, and from all the replays—the sometimes quivering, but always dashing figure.
Not easy to describe how seeing young highness the first time felt.
Like drifting through life setting first place as a goal, only to realize it was too easy, life’s thrill gone—until something exciting appeared.
Even Chao Huangmu was stunned—turns out, he’s weak for cute things.
Watching Chu Zao grow, his rarely moved heart actually started to beat faster.
He could finally understand how Holy Cas people felt about the Crown Clan.
But just as he turned, the cub’s pollen allergy hadn’t fully subsided from earlier, and although the medics said he was fine, he still held a handkerchief just in case. A gust of wind caught him mid-thought, making him pause, hand loosening as the handkerchief floated up and landed atop his halo.
Chu Zao, startled, tried reclaiming it, couldn’t manage, and simply took the whole coronet off, retrieved the handkerchief.
Chao Huangmu: …?
The two peers and the instructor, wanting to salute: …
Wait a second, isn’t it impossible to remove a Crown Clan coronet?
Why can you do it?!
Is that safe?!
Chao Huangmu was an orphan with mixed blood, adopted by Holy Cas at age five—his mental power was special, and strong, so he deeply understood the significance of a Crown Clan coronet.
He was so stunned he lost his grip—crashed to the ground.
“A… Mu-ge…”
Peng Liang reached out helplessly.
Mu-ge was airborne.
He realized just in time, adjusted his landing, but too late—he tumbled, rolled in the dust, and finally stopped at Amos’s feet, dropping to one knee.
Amos: …
Chu Zao: …?
The cub poked his head forward to see.
“Your Majesty, young highness—”
“Sorry, Your Majesty, I was slow to react just now.”
The boy’s voice, still with a juvenile clarity, was calm despite what just happened—actually reliable.
Chao Huangmu, head bowed, was only thinking—so much for my dashing entrance…!
What was that just now?
The instructor, unable to hold it, shook with laughter.
Amos cracked a smile too.
“Get up.”
The cub was put down at last.
He eyed the big brother who’d ‘rolled’ right up to him.
Looked at his unused handkerchief, looked at Chao Huangmu’s dusty face, and handed it over.
When the cub spoke, the wings behind him chirped, like a chick begging for food: “Here, wipe up. Zao Zao didn’t use it.”
Chao Huangmu took the handkerchief.
He glanced quickly at the cub’s little face: “Thank you.”
He smiled by instinct, bright and open, betraying nothing of his thoughts.
This meeting was just an intro; the cub could come after their training to play. In due time, he’d also join their academy class, not daily, since the Crown Clan personally taught much already, but there were special courses to help him meet more peers.
Crown Clan had thought this through.
With no young Crown Clan peers, Chu Zao needed more outside contact.
There was a problem—though they were only four or five years older, they were much taller, so the cub had to crane his neck just to see.
Soft and tiny, halo above, wings folded, the cub dazzled all three.
After introductions, a silence.
Peng Liang wanted to speak, but—mouth, move! Next line, please? Say something??
“Th-this is my gift for young highness.”
Yun Songquan stepped forward first; always steady, but now stammering, handing over a few books.
The cub took them by reflex, glanced at the titles: “Thank you… Yun Songquan?”
Recently, teacher Hel had taught him many words.
Reading the names on the instructor’s list, he looked up at Amos in anticipation.
Amos praised him: “That’s right, Zao Zao, good work.”
His wings flapped in pride.
He turned to a nervous Peng Liang.
He hadn’t learned the character Peng yet, but Peng Liang had just introduced himself, so it stuck: “Peng Liang.”
“Correct.”
Amos nodded again.
Then, under Chao Huangmu’s expectant gaze, he saw his name.
Chu Zao: …
But such a complicated name—couldn’t remember it, didn’t recognize the characters.
Silence, long silence.
Sorry, Zao Zao is still half-illiterate QAQ
Chao Huangmu: …Sorry my name’s so complicated QAQ
Their instructor left them break time. Amos watched from a distance, saw the three with the cub, Chao Huangmu flashing a canine grin as he taught him his name.
When the cub attended the academy in the future, the three would accompany him.
Amos watched a long time, oddly anxious as his child faced new friends.
The afternoon passed quickly.
Chu Zao had more lessons. The other three finished training and returned to class—an in-school assessment needed their attention.
Once outside the royal court, all three exhaled with relief.
“Didn’t seem that small from afar—but up close…so tiny! God, I prepared so many compliments after you said, and didn’t use any! By the way, muscle-man, I’ve never heard your voice so soft, it’s kinda gross.”
Peng Liang shuddered at Chao Huangmu.
Chao Huangmu, handkerchief in his pocket, was now all sunshine, pushing Peng Liang away.
“Get lost—don’t keep me from my fortune-teller.”
Peng Liang: ?
Yun Songquan: ?
“Why another fortune-teller?”
“They work!” Chao Huangmu said. “Young highness gave me his hankie, and when I flipped over just now, there was a flash—he asked what it was! Made a big impression!”
Chao Huangmu grinned: “You wouldn’t get it.”
Peng Liang: …
Yun Songquan: …
“Show-off!”
“Smiling while mocking, impressive.”
“So asking for it—”
“You actually buy into that fortune-telling? Pass it on to me, let’s see if it works—”
Peng Liang and Yun Songquan chased after him.
Peng Liang’s comm lit up.
He checked it, froze.
“What is it?”
Yun Songquan noticed the expression.
“My grandpa’s health has been bad… Dad just messaged, said grandpa fainted three times this week, and a starship carrying one of his aides vanished—the shock sent him into a coma, still hasn’t woken up.”
Peng Liang frowned.
His grandpa was a famous Holy Cas agronomist, his mental power already problematic years ago.
Living on the imperial star, but in a remote area, tending endless fields.
Yun Songquan went quiet.
“Find time to visit him, maybe? As for the missing starship, that’s for the military.”
*
Back in class, Chu Zao had archery.
Amos had booted Feeney for now, deciding to see what the cub had learned.
“Third Uncle taught you?”
The cub looked up.
“Mhm.”
Amos and Anya nodded.
Feeney’s latest instruction was for the cub to sense how to use the powers seen in the last livestream.
The cub closed his eyes, paused, stretched out his hand in a gentle grip.
Golden light formed, his Cupid’s Bow slowly appearing.
Warm gold glowed over the cub’s cheeks, making him look utterly holy.
Amos felt déjà vu.
Then, coolly, the cub raised his bow with style, drew back, the golden halo gleamed, and the arrow soared—no targets aimed, the psychic arrow hit the bullseye, but all that exploded was a small piece of gleaming prettiness.
Handsome, but not threatening at all.
Amos: …
Anya: …
The cub blinked up at Amos, eyes expectant.
Amos: …Ah, a shiny version of Feeney.
Should have seen this coming.
“This is what your Third Uncle taught you?”
The cub beamed, no hesitation in ratting: “Third Uncle said, looking cool is the point—if you look cool, you’ll find the right feeling.”
Amos: …“Very good.”
Somewhere, Feeney felt a sudden chill up his back.
After dinner, Amos dragged Feeney off for a one-on-one training session.
Post-dinner, the cub’s digestion called for gentle activity. After a stroll, Hel kept him entertained—also a form of Crown Clan cub training. At this age, hide-and-seek was still fun, and learning to hide one’s psychic power was essential.
Hel would sit in the lounge, give the cub time to hide, then come looking, checking if he’d masked his psychic signature. From always getting found, the cub had improved a lot.
At the training grounds, Amos stepped down, rolled his sleeves, while Feeney, defeated, followed limping toward Dwight Palace, soul escaping his eyes.
On the way, they met Frey, with Anya and Feiman already ahead.
Frey brought news.
“Several starships have disappeared near Boel’s old territory. A report this morning—one Holy Cas civilian craft, hundreds of passengers, has vanished without a trace. At noon, the army was mobilized, but they haven’t found anything—could be pirates, or something else.”
Amos: …
“No leads?”
“None.”
“Boel’s collapse can’t be separated from the Hymn Organization. In that sector, it’s very possible they’re involved.”
A shadow crossed Amos’s gaze.
Feeney, who usually laughed all day, sobered instantly. Looking up, the “doll face” turned grim, sharp light in his eyes, aura suddenly focused: “Second brother, need me to take a look?”
“Search first.”
Amos ordered.
“Check thoroughly. If needed, Feeney, you and Feiman split up and lead teams.”
“Yes.”
*
Near the Boel Alliance.
Onboard a starship.
“Enough experimental materials this time?”
A cloaked figure sat at command, speaking softly.
“It’s chaos out here—just scavenge as needed, no one’s watching.”
“Yes sir, there’s plenty, but this morning we intercepted a Holy Cas starship—should we let it go…?”
“Let go?”
The figure stood abruptly.
“Holy Cas, Crown Clan—heh… And why let them go? Give the labs we fund the latest tech to use on them—let them see the fate of Boel under the long-lived races, turn them by subtle or forceful means. I refuse to believe—Crown Clan got lucky once, will they be lucky again? Can Holy Cas really hold together?”
*
Holy Cas Prime, royal court.
Amos and the others returned to the palace.
At the door, Anya and Feiman signaled for quiet.
“Zao Zao’s hiding his psychic powers well this time—Teacher Hel still hasn’t found him.”
But just then, the cub’s psychic power wavered.
Feiman smiled.
“Alright, let’s go—time to find Zao Zao.”
Feeney sensed the location, confused.
“How’d he fit there?”
Entering the palace, Amos blanketed the building in his own psychic power, arched a brow, and led the others forward.
From upstairs, Hel had also figured out the cub’s hiding place, and came down.
In a corner of the first-floor terrace—
A small shelf piled with paperwork. By its edge, at the juncture with the wall, a tiny hole half a meter off the floor.
Here…?
Are you some hide-and-seek genius?
“Did he go in as a little puffball?”
“Zao Zao, come out.”
Spotted, the hider’s eyes blinked, wings fluttering, but stuck close in in the tiny spot.
“Awoo~”
Got it.
Came the muffled baby voice from inside the crevice.
Then—a little dragon tail appeared from the hole.
The opening was so narrow, the cub had squeezed in and couldn’t turn around, so coming out was only possible this way.
So, Hel and the rest watched as the little puffball’s butt emerged, two short hind legs testing left and right, feet and tail straining—
——But his legs were too short, and couldn’t reach the floor.