"You still won't tell me anything?" Aerthus IX sighed, looking down at his son, who was kneeling before him, looking straight ahead and not at him.

  They were in the Prince's bedroom, which was now stripped bare, leaving him with nothing but a pillow and a bnket, turning Leinor into a prisoner in his own home. The only difference was between an actual prison and his current predicament, that he still had a window letting in the sun's rays, which shone on the icicles hanging from the roof, shining beautifully.

  "I can't," Leinor answered while keeping looking straight, ignoring the questioning of his father.

  "Son..." The emperor sighed, shaking his head, letting his annoyance show, "I ignored your antics until now because you were advancing rapidly... It made me proud... But now you have come back injured. What were you thinking? You could've died! Do you want to throw away your future?! Without reaching it?! Who knows, maybe you will inherit my throne!"

  "I don't wish to be Emperor, father."

  "Haaaah..." Aerthus didn't know how to respond, so he just sighed and tried to massage his head, which felt like it was about to explode. He hated the part when his children went through puberty... Was he like this? Probably. Such a headache... "Seriously... What happened to you, Leinor? Besides reaching your rebellious age, that is. Why are you keeping secrets from your Father?" he murmured, feeling actually hurt because he did love his sons.

  "I'm sorry, Father."

  "I hope you mean it." Aerthus nodded, straightening up, "What you did was out of line, same for your little fiancé. I won't ignore it anymore. I am asking the st time... Tell me what's going on, son."

  "I can't."

  "Enough! You will!" This time, there was no more kind voice, and his words thundered in the room, looking more irate than ever before, but Leinor just silently knelt before him, not saying anything.

  "You can hit me as my mother did. I won't tell you."

  "She did what?" Hearing it, Aerthus suddenly flinched, all that anger and strictness vanishing in an instant, just looking at his son.

  "..."

  "What did she do...? Son–"

  "Leave him," came a voice projection to Aerthus IX's ears from his own father, the previous Emperor. "I have already investigated the matter; it's just kids being kids. Leave them be! Make him stay in his room for a month, register him for the upcoming competition, and announce that I will be spectating it too. Make sure he participates."

  "Father, you-" Aerthus IX gasped, sending his voice back, but outwardly, he was still looking at Leinor.

  "Just do it, Dermitos. Also, add to the announcement that anybody who can triumph over Leinor is automatically sent to the finals."

  "..." Aerthus IX just stood there silently, going mute by his father's order, but soon he could do nothing but nod and obey. "Understood," he sent back before speaking to his son. "What your mother did, I will overrule it. You will get back all your furniture, and I will lift your punishment. The only thing that will stay in effect is that you must return home by eight. No staying out until spring arrives!"

  "I'm fine like this, Father. You don't have to do that."

  "Don't interrupt me. I'm not finished yet!" He waved a hand, controlling his voice this time, "You will also participate in the upcoming competition."

  "Father, I-"

  "Silence! If you don't want to, forget ever seeing her again, you little shit! I will annul your marriage, too! You make me mad just like Reignar, for God's sake!" Aerthus IX fumed before turning around and smming his Door closed, leaving him alone, no longer able to control his anger.

  Watching him leave, Leinor just slowly turned his head as he looked around the empty room, giving a small sigh. Shaking his head, he changed his position, now sitting cross-legged, and instead of dwelling on the issue, he started to cultivate.

  "I hope she's fine," he murmured under his breath, but soon the only sound coming out of his room was his breathing as he meditated, focusing on his advancement, just like Ren, Zern, and even Isha did in their own homes, preparing for what was to come.

  …….…..

  "How're the preparations?" Aerthus IX asked his ministers in the assembly hall a few days ter, while the winter sunlight shone through the open windows, carrying in the sounds of the bustling Capital.

  "Everything is going smoothly, Your Majesty," the older, balding, and thin Minister of Rites answered, bowing his head towards him, "The stage has been built in front of the main gate; Your Majesty's podium has been erected on the walls, giving you the best view; also, the seating for the civilians is almost ready."

  "Will the weather cause any problems?" He asked, watching the cloudless but still cold winter sky from his throne.

  "None at all, Your Majesty." Another minister spoke up, "The weather is stable, the snow has stopped falling, and the workers keep the area clean and easily approachable."

  "Good." Aerthus nodded. "The Forefather went too far with his love for the snow to pce the national celebratory day right on this time of the year…." He sighed, and his ministers nodded with fake smiles, as they couldn't voice their agreement or disagreement on this. Who would dare to badmouth Aerthus? The one who established the Empire that carried his name and legacy?

  "Put up with it," came a voice, and soon Aerthus VIII appeared in the room with a smile, wearing a mundane, grey shirt and leather trousers, while all the ministers kneeled, bowing their heads, not daring to look at him.

  "Long live the Empire!" they echoed in a union, not daring to get up or even breathe loudly in the presence of an Emperor who ruled when their parents were still children.

  "Rise," the retired Emperor waved a hand, not caring for the theatrics, "I know some of your bloodline from my time, and you don't need to bother with these customs. I came back to personally witness this year's competition as it will be… interesting," he added with a mysterious smile. "How's my grandson doing?" He asked, looking at his son.

  "I assume you are asking about Leinor," Dermitos answered, rolling his eyes. "He barely spoke with me since then. He does nothing but cultivate in his empty room like a bloody monk. He refused everything except food and water!"

  "Hmmm, stubborn kid... I like him." Carthus chuckled, "Anyway, continue as you were and don't mind me. I just came to catch up with everything else I missed," he shrugged as he stood beside the throne, next to his son.

  "Okay, let's continue!" The Emperor nodded, happy to ignore him, "What is the news from Xendar?"

  "The General sent back a report." The bravest of the ministers said, raising his head to look up at the two Emperors, "He stays at the border for the winter, guarding and guiding the demonic hordes to fight on his terms. With his experience, the ambush at the opening of the Catharine Forest was a success, and we retook the abandoned fortress of Cath's Door. Something that... Others failed to do so in the past." He reported visible excitement on his face, as this was a feat that had been in the pns for every Emperor before him, without actually going for it... Yet here was Xendar, doing it because he felt like it. Heh! "It will help in keeping back the waves of beasts in the future. He is also requesting the aid of the troops of the Defense Force with the rebuilding efforts of the fortress!"

  "Oh?" The Emperor's father, Carthus, excimed, standing to his left, "You have a great General son. Cath's Door was lost in the time of Aerthus IV. It was such a shame he died trying to recim it…." he shrugged with a satisfied smile. "When he's back, I'd like to meet with him."

  "Yes, Father, I will arrange it." Dermitos smiled proudly, happy for his good brother as this was another massive accomplishment for not just him but for the Empire. "Order Ultar to start allocating men and resources, so we don't lose the fortress again! Also, order Frennar to establish a supply line, and don't let this opportunity slip away. Dismissed!"

  "Yes!" everyone answered, and soon orders began to fly out from the pace as the city prepared for the upcoming celebration, despite it being the middle of winter.

  …….…..

  "Are you ready?" Boursat asked, sitting in his rebuilt home, watching Isha as she walked into the room, bringing wine for him.

  "Yes, Boss," She smiled, her eyes fshing, "I also heard that the boytoy will be there. If we meet, I'll pay back what he did to me twofold!"

  "Don't let your new strength blind you." He warned her with a smile, "They are the ones who worked this out... They have more experience with it! Just beat him up until that little devil can't recognize him. That will be enough."

  "Ahaha, will do, Boss!"

  …….…..

  "I'm proud of you, son." Zern's aging father smiled at him, patting his shoulders, feeling that even if his son was thrown out of the Guard, he was having a bright future ahead of him. There were no doubts about that.

  "Thank you, father! It is thanks to Master's guidance." Zern bowed to his father, but he was feeling proud of his achievements.

  "I think she would say the same as believe it; It's all thanks to your hard work. Now you are the strongest who has ever been born into our family! I know you will make me proud."

  "Well… Master herself will participate, and so will the Prince, so…" Zern sighed as he massaged his head, "Maybe third pce for me?"

  "Ahaha, just reach the top 10, and I'll be happy!"

  …….…..

  "Soon, it's time," Leinor murmured, letting out a long breath in his cold room as he got up from the mediating position, flexing his muscles that looked slim, hiding below his skin. His build was never the type that would be showy, with a bulked-up physique like a strong man's; instead, it gave him a refined, gentlemanly look. "After this, we should go on a real date," he whispered with a smile, his aura gently radiating out, warming the room before slowly receding as he looked out the window longingly. The competition was about to start...

  …….…..

  "Moooom, please… five more minuteeeees~!" Ren moaned as she was woken up way ahead of time.

  "Get up, you zybones!" Anya ughed as she pulled off her bnket, making the still-sleepy Ren nd on her head as she fell onto the cold floor.

  "Ugh… why is it always my forehead? It will grow big, and I'll look like an idiot!" Ren moaned grumpily as she sat up with messy hair and snted eyes with big bck bags under them. "I hate mornings! Why can't the day start at noon?"

  "B-b-b, little princess! Get up; the preliminary tests start in 3 hours!" Anya scolded her, standing before her daughter.

  "Ugh… the what?" she asked, still sitting on the ground, rubbing her eyes.

  "Competition. THE competition. You know... The one you signed up for. Remember? It's today. First, every attendee must go through three tests. One: Background check. Only those who are from the Empire can participate. Two: Body Refinement check. Those below the third stage are eliminated instantly. Three: Age check. Only those below a hundred can participate."

  "Troublesome. Can't I skip it besides the second one?" She moaned, "My background should be pretty obvious..."

  "No cutting curners, sweetie. This is mandatory. So, get up, wash yourself, dress up, and eat your breakfast! Then I'll take you to the assembly. Bring your registration after it's done; the competition starts tomorrow."

  "Oookay… ugh, it's still just half past six... "she moaned when she saw the numbers on the clock in her room, but soon enough, she got herself together… or not, as she cwed her way towards the bathroom with closed eyes, like a little mole who stumbled up to the surface accidentally.

  …….…..

  At the main stage for the preliminaries, the queue was already building up at the giant tents in front of the Capital's main gate as hundreds of participants were waiting for the evaluation conducted by the Royal Guards, the personal force of Aerthus IX himself, responsible for the protection of the Grand Capital City of the Empire of Aerthus.

  "Master!" Zern shouted, drawing a lot of eyes to him as he came up to Ren, who was half dozing off while standing in line, blowing a bubble of saliva out of her nose.

  "Eh?" Ren woke up with a pop of her sweet dreams and with the end of her bubble-buddy, "Oh, Zern… 'morning..." She yawned, still swaying back and forth.

  Everyone around them was already shocked at what such a young kid was doing in the line... but now someone older called her Master? They tried to put one plus one together: who is the little child, and why does an adult call her Master? But... There were no probable answers to it. Especially because not many had seen the general's daughter since her birth, and only those native to the Capital could recognize her distinct hair and eye color.

  "You look tired, Master." Zern continued, looking down at her.

  "Your eyesight gets better and better, train a little more, and maybe you could even tell what kind of underwear I put on," Ren murmured with a tinge of annoyance.

  “Ugh… sorry…”

  "Nah, no worries!" She shrugged, "I just hate waking up before the sun does!" she kept moaning, spping her face with his two little hands, trying to wake herself up. "One-two, I'll kick you in the... the... Damn it. No body parts rhyme with two."

  "And what if I guess your underwear?" came another voice just then as Leinor walked up to the two, while many people, natives to the Capital, gave way as they recognized the Fourth Prince at a gnce.

  "Go for it," Ren said while picking her ear, forming an inviting grin on her face.

  "Violet!" he said confidently.

  "Bzzzt. Wrong!" She giggled, putting on a smirk. "I ain't got any on!"

  Her answer immediately made the people around them almost fall to the ground, while Leinor turned tomato red, stunned that she had said something so openly... and loudly. He was looking troubled, turning towards Zern, but the tter just turned around, pretending he wasn't with them.

  "Bwahahaha, look at your face!" Ren burst into a ugh, "I missed this expression for so long~!"

  "Damn, you tricked me!" Leinor pointed at her nose, realising she was just pranking him. Again.

  "Nyahahahaha! Did I? Who knows~?"

  "Hmph!"

  "Oh come on, my Prince, don't sulk~!" she said, grabbing onto his arms and giving him a big hug. This made his face turn even redder, and now many others started to ugh, unable to hold it back.

  "R-ren… um…" he tried to say something, but he felt like melting away, just like the snow when spring comes.

  "Pick me up!" came the request as Ren looked up at him with big, watery eyes, and when he did so, she snuggled comfortably into his arms and just in a second or so... she simply fell asleep.

  "Eh…" Leinor blinked his eyes, but just sighed with a happy but hopeless expression as he stood there holding her like a princess. It was then that a voice projection reached his ears.

  "You won the bet, by the way. This is your reward, so don't drop me while I nap a little~" Ren sent over with her eyes still closed.

  "You…" Leinor stifled a ugh while the rising sun slowly inched upwards as the line started moving, with him standing there, princess-carrying her.