novel
| ← Ch.38 | Ch.40 → |
How're y'all doing? Here's a cat to bless your day 💕
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That night, Craig drove Randy and Aiden back home. When it was time to part, Craig turned to Aiden and said, "Son, you should go in and start packing. In three days, I'll lead the Royal Guard to come pick you up. You can accompany Xi Wei to go register at Ellen Academy."
Aiden said, "Okay, thank you."
With a gentle gaze, Craig reached out and rubbed the boy's head."You don't need to be so polite with me."
Aiden felt a little embarrassed. Although he still wasn't able to call out the word "father, " when this tall man clumsily caressed his hair, Aiden felt a warm feeling bubble up in his heart.
Craig turned his head and asked Randy, "Do you want to come to the Andromeda Galaxy to send off our son? If you want to go, I'll take you with me."
Randy hurriedly said, "No need, with the Royal Guard there, I can feel at ease."
In fact, he simply didn't dare to go to the Andromeda Galaxy. That year, he had gotten his boss to forge an Ellen Academy student death certificate, and then he had fled to the capital planet with a new identity. If he returned to his alma mater and came across one of his old teachers, it would be bad if he were recognized. Though so many years had passed, and his appearance had changed, it was better to be safe than sorry. Randy didn't dare to take the risk.
Craig saw he didn't want to go, so he didn't force him. Craig set a time to come pick up Aiden and then returned to the palace.
When Aiden went into his bedroom, he opened the package that Carlo had mailed him. Inside was a white box wrapped up in a gaudy red bow. Aiden frowned and undid the bow, then threw the ugly ribbon away. When he opened the box and took a look, lying inside was a silver and white smartwatch. It was a shame, but compared to the watch his father gave him that was an all-in-one timepiece, communicator and mecha, this one wasn't of much use. It's not as if he could wear two watches.
Aiden thought it over thoroughly, and put the watch away in his drawer.
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On the night of the twenty-seventh, the atmosphere in the palace was a little melancholy. Queen Anna held Xi Wei's hand and didn't make a sound. The fourth prince Caesar and the two princesses crowded around him, reluctant for him to leave.
"Big brother, do you have to go? Can't you stay?" Caesar's little face frowned so hard it looked like a dumpling."Why does there have to be a rule saying you can't come home for four years? After four years, I'll have gotten big. What if big brother doesn't know me anymore?"
Xi Wei smiled and pinched his little brother's dumpling face."Don't worry, even after four years, big brother will be able to recognize you at the first glance. When the time comes, I'm sure our Caesar will be a handsome little guy."
Caesar pulled at Xi Wei's sleeve and refused to let go."Big brother, we don't want you to go."
The third princess Celine clung to Xi Wei's leg and started wailing. The second princess Sia was more restrained. She looked at the brother in front of her who had comforted and cared for her since she was small, and said softly, "Big brother, when you get to school, you have to take good care of yourself. After two years, I'll go there too and keep you company."
Xi Wei nodded and stroked his little sister's soft hair."You too. Since you were little you haven't been in good health. While I'm not there, if anyone dares to bully you at St. Paul Academy, just go find Kevin's older brother Klaire."
Sia nodded."I know." Then she reached out and wiped away Celine's tears, saying, "Don't cry anymore, if you cry like this, big brother will feel sad."
At this, Celine gradually stopped crying. She asked, choked-up: "Big brother, isn't it that when four years have passed and you're all grown up, you're going to get married?"
Xi Wei: "..."
Seeing the three little faces around him, all looking like they didn't want him to leave, Xi Wei couldn't help but feel a little heartsore. The empire's strict restriction of omegas was, on the surface, to protect them. But these excessively harsh laws had caused many omegas to have no choice but to part from their families when they were still young. He was also unwilling to leave his loved ones.
However, Ellen Academy has already sent him an admission letter. As a prince, it's not like he can refuse to attend school.
When King Trand saw this scene, he suppressed the pain in his heart. He said in a low voice, "Alright, you guys go back to your rooms. Xi Wei still has to pack. Your brother is just going to Ellen Academy to attend school, in a few years he'll be back again. Don't make a face like you're never going to see him again!"
His Majesty's words were very imposing. At the loud sound of his voice, the children obediently left with hanging heads.
Anna secretly wiped her eyes, then clasped Xi Wei's hand and said, "I've already prepared your luggage. When you get to school, remember to keep in touch."
Trand softly sighed and walked forward to pat Xi Wei's shoulder."Xi Wei, you've already grown up. I trust that you can handle these four years at school. If you come across any difficulties, just send us a message... Take good care of yourself."
Xi Wei smiled and nodded."I know. You don't have to worry, I won't get in any trouble."
Trand relaxed at this. He and Anna turned and left Xi Wei's room.
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The next morning, the second team of the Royal Guard escorted Prince Xi Wei from the palace under General Craig's personal leadership. King Trand and Queen Anna stood side by side at the door and watched the hovercar motorcade fly farther and farther into the distance. Their precious eldest son was leaving for Ellen Academy, where he would undergo four years of education before becoming an adult. When he returned, according to the rules of the empire, they would have to choose an alpha for Xi Wei.
When they thought of this point, they felt extremely reluctant to let go.
Trand wrapped his arms around Anna's back and said, "Don't be sad anymore. There was always going to come a day when Xi Wei would grow up."
Anna said, her voice cracking, "I only hope that in the future, he can meet an alpha who really loves him..."
In the hovercar, Xi Wei looked out the window at the two silhouettes at the palace door, growing smaller and smaller with distance. He couldn't help but feel a little bitter at heart. A lot could change in four years. After four years, when he returned here again, his fate might be like that of his uncle's—getting married off to an alpha by his father.
So in these four years, he has to think of a way to get out of it. At his side, Xi Wei tightened his fist, and inwardly made a resolution.
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The Royal Guard soon arrived at Aiden's house. Aiden had already packed, and Randy went to the door to send him off. Craig helped Aiden lift his luggage into the trunk. Randy gently hugged his son, and said in a soft voice: "If you have any problems once you get there, just give me a call. The card I gave you has a lot of money on it, so if you want to eat something or buy something, don't hesitate. Just don't deprive yourself."
The amount of money his nouveau riche father had deposited in the card was truly frightening. Aiden looked at him helplessly and said, "I can't use up this much money at school."
Randy said, "If you can't spend it all, that's fine. Just save it for now. In the future, when you want to marry, I'll throw the empire's most luxurious wedding for you."
Aiden smiled, and couldn't help but hug this willful big spender tight."Got it, Dad. Don't work too hard."
Randy reached out and rubbed his son's head."That's right, would you like to have a brother or sister?"
Aiden asked in confusion, "What brought this up?"
Randy said with a smile, "I'll give birth to a brother or sister for you, how about it?"
In his heart, Aiden knew that his dad actually wanted to give birth to other children in order to save him. Listening to him, he felt a little upset at heart. He really wanted to tell his dad not to force himself to get pregnant. He was already very content with living until eighteen... However, faced with Randy's tender gaze, there was no way for him to get out this sentence.
His dad had earned so much money, and had all along been trying every possible method to save him. Then, how could he give up so easily?
After a long moment of silence, Aiden nodded and said, "Alright. I also really want to be a big brother."
Randy smiled and helped tidy his son's hair."Go on. If something happens at school, you can call me anytime."
"Okay. Take care, Dad." Aiden hugged him tight, then turned to follow Xi Wei.
The two of them were just about to step onto the hovercar when they suddenly heard someone calling them in the distance.
Xi Wei turned his head and saw Klaire and Carlo coming towards them.
Xi Wei said in surprise, "How come you guys are here?"
Klaire walked quickly over to him, smiled and said: "We came to send you off."
After he said this, he handed over the black cat he was carrying to Xi Wei."Are you bringing your white cat to school? I'll give you my cat as well. Ellen Academy allows pets, so can you help take care of mine?"
That black cat had grown quite a bit over the years. Lying in Klaire's arms, he glared imperiously at Xi Wei with golden eyes, tail cocked.
Xi Wei couldn't help but laugh, and patted the cat's head."Since you're so fierce to your new owner, later I won't give you any food to eat."
The black cat immediately hung his head, and looked as if he had been wronged.
Klaire lightly rubbed his pet's head, and said, "Go on then, be nice to your new owner."
Xi Wei took the cat and said, "This idea is pretty good. The two cats can keep each other company at school."
Klaire smiled and gently took Xi Wei into his arms. He said softly, "It's only four years, it'll pass by very fast... but I'll miss you."
The boy's clear blue eyes were full of tenderness and reluctance for him to leave. The expression in his eyes was really just like that of his white cat's. Early that morning, his cat had meowed and bit onto his trouser leg, full of love and unwilling to let him go. So at the last moment, he had decided to bring his cat along.
Now, looking at Klaire who was playing the part of a pet, Xi Wei couldn't help but smile and reach out to stroke his golden hair."Alright, don't act so pitiful. Today's technology is so advanced, if we want to see each other, we can just make a video call at any time. It's only four years, it's not like we'll never see each other again. There's no need to be too depressed."
—But you don't know, to those who deeply love you, one day without seeing you feels like three autumns have passed. Four years' time—what kind of torment would that be?
Forcefully holding back the desire to kiss him, Klaire took a deep breath, smiled and said: "I'll wait for you to come back."
Xi Wei nodded."I'll see you then!"
At the side, Carlo stood in front of Aiden and awkwardly scratched the back of his head."That, the present I sent you, did you get it?"
Aiden said, "I've received it, thank you, class leader."
Carlo said, "When you get there, cough, if you're not too busy just send me a video call or something."
Aiden thought to himself, Who'd have nothing better to do than to send you a video call? What if you scolded me as being a bother again? Wouldn't I just be looking for trouble for myself?
I really can't understand Carlo's thinking. Since he hates me that much, why come to send us off?... He probably came for Xi Wei. After all, in his eyes, Xi Wei doesn't count as an omega, but as a good brother of his who's almost like an alpha.
Having thought to this point, Aiden nodded towards Carlo and said, "Goodbye, class leader."
Then he turned and followed Xi Wei, the two of them stepping onto the hovercar.
Klaire and Carlo stood on the ground, watching the hovercar flying rapidly out of sight, soon disappearing without a trace. Their hearts were tinged with melancholy.
The next time they meet, how will these two omegas have changed?
The two boys stood without moving in the same place, as if they would turn to stone waiting for them to return.
After a long while, Carlo scratched his head, and asked seriously: "Do you think that the next time I see him, I can directly marry him and bring him home?"
"... Stop dreaming."
Carlo lowered his head in dejection."That's what I think too..." He sighed.
Klaire sighed as well.
The two of them sighed at the same time. Afterwards, they exchanged a commiserative look, suddenly feeling that they were brothers in the same boat.
Klaire felt that after Xi Wei grew up, it would still be just as hard to pursue him. After he turned eighteen, any future marriage partners would first have to be filtered by the association, and then after that be chosen by the king. The empire didn't care too much about age differences between alphas and omegas. There were even alphas who were twenty years older or more than their omegas. That is to say, Xi Wei had many options to choose from, and Klaire was only one of them.
Carlo felt he had even less hope. Aiden still disliked him, and that dislike, after their years of interaction, was likely deeply rooted in his heart. It would be truly difficult to change that bad first impression.
Side by side, the two boys turned for home. When Klaire saw Carlo hanging his head, looking like he'd been dumped, he couldn't help but pat his shoulder and say encouragingly, "Cheer up. Didn't you want to apply to St. Romia Military Academy? Let's take the entrance exam together."
Carlo was roused at this."That's the empire's best military school, you know. It only accepts a limited number of students from the capital planet each year, so it's really hard to test into."
Klaire's gaze was resolute."That's why you need to get your spirits up and properly practice. You don't want to fail the exam and have to repeat a year, do you? You'd be wasting a year's worth of valuable time. Your uncle is the captain of the Cobra Corps, so you should be clear about the rules of competition in the military."
Carlo was silent for a moment, then said: "When omegas with a strong family background reach the age to marry, the association will give priority to officers of major general rank and above when making their choice. Xi Wei is a prince, so the conditions to marry him definitely won't be loose. If when the time comes you're only a student at a military academy, you won't even have the chance to compete."
Klaire said, "Looks like you're not blind to this. Aiden's father is General Craig, so the pressure on you isn't as heavy. But in my mind, with Craig's character, there's no way he would let his son marry a student with no prospects. When Aiden turns eighteen, the association will pick out a suitable alpha for him. With his mild character, if that alpha treats him well, he might just agree. Have you thought about this?"
"..." Carlo tore at his hair in frustration."I, I can also treat him well!"
"But you left him with a bad impression, and adding onto that the identity of a student, you won't have a single selling point."
Carlo was silent for a long moment, then asked, "Then what are we supposed to do?"
Klaire narrowed his eyes slightly, smiled and said, "It seems like we can only apply to skip a grade at St. Romia Military Academy. We have to get in early, and graduate as soon as possible."
Carlo said, shocked, "Take the test to skip a grade? Isn't the difficulty of that way too high? The school's curriculum is dense enough to begin with..."
Klaire said, "So we'll divide the labor and work together to take notes. Starting from now, we'll study the key points of St. Romia Military Academy's entrance exam. When we're sixteen, we'll apply."
Most alphas and betas applied to college at eighteen, but there were a few prodigies who skipped grades and applied at a younger age. Klaire's meaning was that they should directly skip two grades and apply to college at sixteen. This meant that they would have to put in twice the effort others did, finishing a four-year curriculum in two years, while maintaining excellent grades.
—At this level of difficulty, actually going through with it seemed like the height of absurdity.
But when he thought of Aiden in some other alpha's arms, kissing him, embracing him, Carlo felt so itchy he couldn't breathe. He didn't dare to even imagine it. If in four years Aiden really did marry someone else, he didn't know what kind of frightening things he might do. He might just take a knife and stab that alpha to death...
And so...
"Since the rules of the empire aren't in our favor, then we'll just have to use our own strength to fight." Klaire smiled and said, "We can't just surrender, can we?"
Carlo took a deep breath, nodded hard, set his teeth and said, "You're right! I'll take the test with you. Isn't it just taking a test? What's there to be afraid of?!"
The two boys shook hands. It was a promise.
One person covering that much schoolwork definitely wouldn't be as efficient as two people doing it.
For the sake of their future happiness, they had to stake it all.
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| ← Ch. 38 | Ch. 40 → |