CHAPTER 577: THEIR SENTIMENTS

Oddly enough, the sentiment was not only shared by the elders who had just realized the true scale of what the children were doing.

Because who would have guessed that these young people, who respectfully greeted them day after day with bright smiles, were quietly working to revive an entire realm?

Then again, it was not as though Luca had started with such an ambition. In the beginning, he had only been motivated by one thing: the need to survive.

But today, grand ideals had been pushed aside by something far more immediate.

A birthing boom.

Piglets and goat kids were appearing as if the mothers had all agreed to hold a joint celebration. The barn was buzzing, everyone who could help was busy, and all hands were on deck. Including Luca, who had originally imagined his hands would be busy with something entirely different.

For one, the Imperial Crown Prince found the situation adorable. Mostly because Luca kept glancing at him with a look that suggested he was silently assessing him for something deeply important.

Finally, Xavier had to ask. "What’s wrong, Luca? Can I help you with anything?"

Luca nearly said no. His cheeks warmed, his voice wavered, but then he straightened and said, with surprising seriousness, that he thought Xavier was getting the shorter end of the stick. That it made him uncomfortable because he only kept taking without giving back.

Xavier studied him. Clear eyes, soft lips pressed into a pout... innocence practically radiating from him. And all Xavier could think was that he had not lost anything at all.

But his wife clearly enjoyed giving, and Xavier could not dismiss his feelings just because he himself felt fine.

"I don’t see it as losing out," Xavier said at last, raising the very hands that had been helping with the animal births. "I think of it as getting a bonus really early on."

Luca blinked. "Huh?"

"Because maybe, in the entire history of the Empire, I’m the first one to spend this much time with my wife," Xavier said lightly.

Luca’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.

"And I’m probably one of the lucky few to have someone share so much of the burden that there’s even time to think about things like love and happiness."

He smiled faintly. "So I don’t think our stick has a short end at all."

"Oh," Luca murmured, caught off guard.

"But..." Xavier leaned in until his lips were near Luca’s ear. "If you still need my measurements, I can give them to you later."

"!!!" Luca almost jumped. He had not expected Xavier to know about his quiet attempts at taking them.

"I’m sorry!" he blurted, caught red-handed.

"There’s nothing to apologize for," Xavier replied, his smile warm. "Take whatever you need from me. And if it bothers you, I’ll tell you outright—I want to know what you’re trying to make. I look forward to whatever it is that you want to show me, just as I look forward to seeing you every day."

Luca coughed, his face burning. When he looked up, Xavier looked not only amused but infuriatingly handsome.

"I’ll... try to do well," Luca managed before turning on his heel and hurrying away—only to stop halfway, rush back, and press a quick kiss to Xavier’s cheek.

"Goodbye," he said, disappearing before Xavier could react.

The Crown Prince just shook his head, amusement in his eyes, thinking that he might very well be the most fortunate Imperial Crown Prince in history.

Well, sure, Xavier might have been the most fortunate Imperial Crown Prince in history...

But for one particular family, he was also the same one who could claim the title of most scandalous.

Because while House Kyros was occupied with newborn animals, biomechas, and ahem, suits, one overworked Chief-of-Staff was trying to figure out how to evade his own parents, the humans under his command, and basically the entire empire.

Killian Nox paced in his office like a man preparing to flee the planet. Every few seconds, he stopped, muttered something about "damage control," and then started pacing again.

First, he had been tipped off about the Marshal’s trip to the aquaponics complex—a trip that would, without question, result in the decision to construct one as soon as possible. That was practically a given. In fact, it was their intended outcome from the start.

But who was going to explain this to the Imperial Family? And who would have to sit there to defend it against all the jackals?

Well, the Marshal could, he thought, briefly allowing himself hope.

Except then there was the matter of the recently approved permit for the capital auction. He’d authorized it, obviously. But who was going to explain why the security requirements were high enough to make the Imperial Guard twitch?

And worst of all... there was that blasted photo.

That one of his younger brother with Ollie. The one making its rounds on Star Net after someone leaked it from the Academy forums.

Which, honestly, he wouldn’t have cared about. Even if it appeared in billboards all over Solara, he wouldn’t bat an eye, but that would’ve been the case if their parents were privy to this news.

Killian wanted to screech. Loudly. Possibly in multiple octaves. But screeching would only make things unravel faster, and his entire existence at the moment was built on keeping the threads from snapping.

Clearly, the only logical step was to hunt down the culprits responsible for these headaches and make them explain themselves.

Instead, when he arrived...

...he was put on birthing duty.

"???"

Surrounded by hay bales, bleating goats, and an oddly serene barn atmosphere, he somehow found himself attending what was essentially a high-level meeting concerning the fate of the Empire.

"So, you’ve decided on the items you want to auction?" Killian asked, forcing his voice into something neutral.

"Yes," Kyle replied. He was standing at what Killian instantly recognized as the safe distance one maintained from an older brother whose patience was already threadbare. "But I’m not sure you’re going to like it."

"How bad?" Killian asked, suspicion sharpening his tone.

"It depends on who you ask." Kyle’s expression was unreadable, which was never a good sign. "Honestly, I think you should take a break before you see the goods. Maybe drink some calming tea while you’re at it."

"...Why?"

"Because they really tried."

"Huh? Tried what?" Killian’s voice was flat.

"They already tried to find the worst ones," Kyle added.

There was a long pause.

"...The worst what?" Killian asked slowly, like a man bracing for bad news from his doctor.

Kyle just patted his arm and said, "Trust me, you’ll understand when you see it."