Chapter 173 The Truth: Feeling Good [VIP]

From the noon bell, the capital of the Kingdom of Light and the entire Holy Sun Empire held celebrations until late at night.

Unlike the Bright Capital where there were special programs to be arranged, people living in small towns had almost no time to prepare for the celebration, but this did not affect their joy at all - they placed flowers around the portraits of the new emperor and his brother bought from the store, put on gorgeous costumes prepared for the festival, and came to the square in the center of the town to sing and dance to the beat of the bard's music. Lovers also took advantage of this happy day to propose to their lovers.

In this way, people all over the country happily danced, sang, drank, and stayed up all night.

The fever of the festival gripped everyone so much that people felt no fatigue at all.

However, even when the whole country is in the midst of carnival, there are still some people who remain absolutely calm. Or, the happier they are, the more they need to remain calm.

…

"--Thank you for your hard work during this period. While I left the capital, which had just ended its civil war, to travel to the Eastern Continent for personal reasons, you managed all the affairs of the country in an orderly manner."

In a conference room just across the wall from the brightly lit and bustling palace ballroom, Xiao Yun sincerely expressed his gratitude to all the senior officials.

Ulysses and John Deere stood up and replied, "We completely understand your decision. If we were in your shoes, we would have done the same thing."

"Really? I don't think so. After all, you two are known for your calm and rationality."

Xiao Yun said self-deprecatingly, "In fact, my behavior that day was extremely bad. It can't be summed up as emotional. I almost plunged the entire world into chaos."

"But that didn't actually happen, did it?"

John Dill smiled and said, "Your Majesty not only returned safely, bringing back His Highness Yaris, who was abducted by Him, but also left a spark of resistance for the people of the East Continent who are suffering from His brutal rule. I believe that the flame of resistance Your Majesty left behind in the East Continent will ignite the entire country, leading the people of the East Continent to overthrow His brutal rule and move the world in a better direction."

"I hope so."

Xiao Yun's voice was slightly heavy.

Afterwards, he inquired in detail about the reconstruction and recovery of all towns affected by the civil war, including the King of Light's capital, as well as the follow-up treatment plans for the unfortunate people possessed by the "demon spores".

Upon learning that everything in the country was gradually getting back on track, Xiao Yun breathed a sigh of relief and suggested, "I want to use this urban reconstruction to add educational facilities to most cities across the country, promote primary education, reduce the national illiteracy rate, and increase the rate of knowledge popularization."

"Big stick!"

John Deere said in surprise, "Your Majesty's previous inventions of papermaking and printing have greatly reduced the cost of acquiring knowledge and books. Now you are promoting education, giving more people the opportunity to read and learn!"

"Not only that, I also plan to implement a series of new talent selection mechanisms targeting the lower classes, such as the civil service exam, to give ordinary people more opportunities and room for advancement, rather than having to passively wait for fate to favor them like in the past."

Xiao Yun said very seriously: "I have many ideas about the future of the country, but I also know that these ideas must be implemented and built step by step."

"Yes! Our country is heading in a completely new direction!"

Everyone answered in unison.

"Also, regarding the international situation in the Western Continent, the newly born Holy Sun Empire is temporarily adopting a non-interference stance in the internal affairs of other countries. Although the Coastal Six Nations Alliance is our ally, of the six coastal nations that make up the alliance, only Barakhania and Kukuchia can be fully trusted."

"Over in Brania—don't let your guard down either."

Xiao Yun added.

"yes."

"Then this concludes tonight's meeting."

Xiao Yun smiled and raised his glass: "Those who don't have official business tomorrow, or those who are in good physical condition, please enjoy the dance next door!"

Hearing this, everyone laughed happily.

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Yun walked out of the meeting room with laughter.

Ulysses thought for a moment, then quickly caught up with Xiao Yun: "Your Majesty——"

"What's up?"

"Yes."

Ulysses' face was solemn: "About Edmund."

"You think he—"

"He has committed an unforgivable crime and should be put to death after a public trial, but..."

"but……"

Xiao Yun narrowed his eyes and walked into the lounge with him: "But what?"

"But he told me a very terrible and even absurd secret the other day."

"What secret?"

"I……"

Ulysses smiled bitterly and said, "I have been struggling with whether or not to tell His Majesty his nonsense."

"Since you've determined it's nonsense, then don't say anything."

Xiao Yun said gently, "The Holy Family has always been shrouded in mystery, and the High Priest's inheritance is even more useless. As long as it does not harm the country and the people, the truth is revealed, isn't it?"

“

"Edmund has said things to sow discord between my brother and me more than once in front of me."

Xiao Yun said nonchalantly: "But I believe in Yaris, I don't think Ya will hurt me."

"It is indeed as l——"

, and sent Xiao Yun away.

…

…

At the same time that Xiao Yun and Ulysses were talking in the lounge, they finally welcomed their master back to the Silver Moon Palace, where pleasant music and the fragrance of flowers filled the air.

After completing the necessary celebration ceremonies with Xiao Yun on the balcony of the palace, the exhausted Yaris returned to the Silver Moon Palace in a wheelchair and enjoyed a bath and massage as comfortable as heaven in the spacious and elegant bathroom.

First, he would soak his body in hot water with a lot of spices in the bathroom, and then wash his body from top to bottom with the help of servants. Then he would lie on the marble lounge chair tailored for him and enjoy the full-body massage from the servants. During this period, not only would servants constantly bring him drinks and snacks, but a band would also play soothing music. The most skilled masseurs would also soothe the master's body according to the doctor's advice and inject rare vitality into the increasingly weak limb muscles.

"Your Highness, your health is getting worse."

While caring for Yaris's nails, Kelly said worriedly: "I am worried that one day I will no longer be able to feel your flesh and blood."

"Kyle, I understand your pain, but you don't have to grieve for me. This moment of pain is the pain I must endure."

"How can you say such things!"

Kelly shed tears. "There's a ball happening right now in the palace. Almost every noble who's been invited has brought along a young man from their family, all dressed up in all the finery... Thinking of them fawning over Your Majesty, hoping to speak to Him alone in the lounge, while Your Highness... I can't help but feel sad! Aside from their health, how can they compare to Your Highness?"

"Yes, besides health... but health is the most beautiful and precious thing in the world... second only to freedom..."

Yaris sighed softly, "If I were healthy, if I didn't have such a prominent status, I could float freely from one city to another like a white cloud, singing and dancing to my heart's content..."

"Your Highness—"

"As a teenager, I dreamed more than once of sneaking into the tents of wandering artists and becoming their friends... But it was impossible. No wandering artist could treat me like an ordinary friend, not even a child who knew nothing... The gods carved a terrible mark on me, forever separating me from the rest of the world..."

"Your Highness, you..."

Kelly tried hard to hold back his tears: "You, you..."

"I love freedom and adventure, but I'm bound and can't leave... I can only entertain foreign travelers in Silver Moon Palace and listen to their wonderful stories of distant lands that I cannot set foot on... Perhaps, coming into this world in human form was my greatest mistake..."

Yaris muttered, raised his head, and said to Kelly: "I have unknowingly said a lot of things that have made everyone unhappy... As expected, even I find it difficult to accept myself and death calmly..."

"I am delighted to be in your Highness' audience."

Kelly carefully dried Yaris's body and hair, and together with other servants, wrapped his body in soft silk, placed him on a lounge chair, and began to massage him.

"Today's massage doesn't need to be as detailed as usual, because I have another one later-"

Yaris suddenly smiled and said, "You can leave first."

"for--"

Kelly looked up and saw Xiao Yun's figure. He suddenly realized what was going on. He covered his mouth and stepped aside, taking everyone else in the bathroom away.

"...Now it's just you and me here."

Xiao Yun spoke gently, walked to Yaris, sat down, and rubbed his toes.

"Um."

Yaris narrowed his eyes and said sourly: "I thought you were too busy to come tonight... I heard that there were many beautiful young people around you at the dance..."

"I finished my opening dance for the evening and then went to a meeting next door."

Xiao Yun carefully massaged Yaris's body and explained, "I have a mountain of urgent matters to attend to, and I don't want to waste my precious time on such meaningless things as socializing with them. Besides, it's not me they like, but the benefits that my identity can bring to them and their families."

"Really? I don't believe it."

Yaris stood up and grabbed Xiao Yun's hand: "Just because you are not interested in them now doesn't mean you will not be interested in them in the future."

"you--"

Xiao Yun was helpless. He glanced at the untouched snacks and cakes on the small table and said, "You didn't eat properly."

"I ate a lot of food today, and Kyle was shocked by my appetite."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe it, you can ask Kelly and the others."

"Well, hearing you say that makes me happier than anything else."

Xiao Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

Yaris picked up a piece of cake with a fork and stuffed it into Xiao Yun's mouth: "You have been attending activities and hosting meetings non-stop since this afternoon. Do you have no time to eat?"

"How do you know?"

“Because I used to be like that.”

Yaris said helplessly: "Wherever I go, I am surrounded by a group of irrelevant people. I have no freedom or privacy at all."

"And I've had you since the beginning—when I'm with you, I can be myself."

"I am the same."

Yaris blinked his eyes excitedly. "Unfortunately, my health is getting worse and worse, and my interest in food is fading. Although I try hard to eat every day, but... well, I will try to eat as much as possible..."

"I will also monitor your eating habits every day and will not allow you to continue losing weight."

Xiao Yun lowered his head, picked up Yaris, who was refreshed after taking a shower, took him out of the bathroom, and put him on the bed in the bedroom.

At this time, Kelly led the servants to bring the midnight snack prepared by the kitchen to the two of them.

What was prepared for Xiao Yun was a variety of grilled meats, bread and fruits, wine, and a dessert platter. Yaris's portion was a delicious stewed egg topped with a nutritious thick soup made from more than ten kinds of meat, and a small bowl of cheese rice porridge that was as thick and soft as milk.

"His Highness is very fond of the rice crop that Your Majesty has promoted in the Gola region, and believes that rice porridge made from it is more suitable for his stomach than wheat bread."

"real?"

Xiao Yun was very surprised.

His original intention in promoting rice cultivation was to solve the land and food shortages inevitably caused by the rapid population growth in the Western Continent by allowing crops to be harvested twice or even three times a year, thereby reducing the possibility of famine. However, he did not expect that—

"For me, even freshly baked bread still has a dry and hard texture, unlike rice which can be made soft and mushy by simply adding more water when steaming it."

Yaris smiled and said, "Dr. Moss supports me changing the staple food to rice and rice porridge. He believes that rice porridge is more suitable for people with weak bodies than bread."

"Seeing that you can eat normally, I feel relieved."

Xiao Yun said with emotion: "During the time in Rosa Marie Palace, I didn't dare to sleep every day... sometimes even all night, for fear that when I woke up you would already be..."

“But I finally got through it.”

Yaris said happily: "I feel very good recently, and you can sleep well at night."

"Really?"

Xiao Yun was a little overjoyed.

"Of course it's true."

Yaris's cheeks flushed slightly: "What did you discuss during the meeting?"

"We discussed the reconstruction of the nation. "He" and the Demon Prince's abuse of 'Demon Spores' has caused numerous high-ranking ministers, nobles, and ladies to suffer irreversible mental trauma. Many have even gone insane, and those with milder symptoms must spend the rest of their lives recuperating. As a result, a large number of positions in the nation have become vacant. I want to hand these positions over to capable young people and civilians."

“This is an absolutely correct decision.”

Yaris smiled and said, "Three thousand years ago, the Holy Royal Family abdicated and became the Holy Family, marking the country's significant transformation from divine power to royal power. Now, this ancient country with five thousand years of history is about to take the crucial step from a monarchy to a democratic system."

"You're quite right."

Xiao Yun looked troubled. "But before we can achieve the transition from a monarchy to a democratic system, we must first popularize education and promote the civil service exam so that more people can acquire knowledge."

"certainly."

"There's also tax reform, encouraging technological innovation, and eliminating discrimination... I have so many ideas about this country that I'd love to share them all at once. But I know reforms must proceed step by step and we can't rush for quick results."

"I will be by your side, working with you to resist the pressure of reform and to discuss solutions to the problems that may arise from the reform."

Yaris looked at Xiao Yun tenderly: "I may not live to see the day when our dreams become reality, but I will do my best to help you... Watch our dreams gradually come true, and then go to another world with a beautiful vision of the future..."

"Yaris."

Xiao Yun couldn't help but hug him. "I've been wondering how lucky I was to meet you. My heart is beating wildly, my soul... I even suspect I'm dreaming, because everything is so beautiful, so beautiful that it seems unreal..."

“I feel like I’m dreaming too…”

Yaris looked up, hummed softly, leaned against Xiao Yun, and gently rubbed Xiao Yun's chest with his cheek.

"What a healthy body, what a strong heartbeat..."

Her slender fingers delicately stroked Xiao Yun's shoulders, and she unconsciously let out an intoxicated sigh.

"I feel like my body and mind are turning into a child—only when I'm held in your arms can I feel truly safe. This kind of thing was simply unimaginable to me in the past, but now..."

"If you like, just keep leaning on me."

Xiao Yun gently picked up Yaris and they both sat on the bed.

The attendant came forward and took away the plates and other miscellaneous items.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows where the sky is dim, flowers are blooming towards the moon and musicians are playing to their heart's content.

Yaris leaned in Xiao Yun's arms, put his arms around his neck, and closed his eyes with satisfaction.

"...Xiao, I was born in a palace. Although not this palace, my life has indeed been spent moving between various palaces, always surrounded by servants and nobles... The servants who cared for me were full of pity for me, carefully protecting and pampering me like a precious and fragile object... And the nobles, almost every one of them, gave me a respectful, warm, yet malicious smile..."

"I don't blame them for treating me like an object, because sometimes I also treat myself like an object... In this twisted environment, it's hard to live normally without treating yourself like an object... Then, unknowingly, I became more and more lonely, more and more... I could only place almost all my emotions on Lucien..."

"Lucien's matter—"

"You'll know the truth soon enough."

Yaris said softly: "My time is running out, don't leave me, don't leave me alone."

"I will never leave you alone."

Xiao Yun promised earnestly, "I can make you a knight's promise."

"I don't need the oath of the sword, I just need you."

Yaris hugged Xiao Yun's neck tightly and looked at him intently.

"certainly."

Xiao Yun lowered his head and kissed his forehead.

The candles in the bedroom gradually went out, and melodious singing drifted from the garden full of Rosamarines.

…

…

The reconstruction work progressed steadily. As the monarch, Xiao Yunyin was busy almost every day with countless documents and things to deal with, even though he had two prime ministers, and both of them were recognized as the most capable, reliable and experienced prime ministers in the history of the Western Continent.

On the other hand, Yaris's life is unusually leisurely.

He wanders in the sea of ​​flowers in the Silver Moon Palace every day, and occasionally takes time to discuss various topics with visiting artists and scholars. His excessive seclusion makes him, who is already surrounded by a halo, appear even more mysterious and incredible, like a hidden elf in a fairy tale.

“—But I’ve never really been a hermit.”

In the greenhouse filled with flowers, Yaris, in a wheelchair, admired the bright red Rosamarie flowers close at hand with great interest: "They are so beautiful, like burning flames, so bright that I dare not look directly at them."

"Your Highness, are your eyes uncomfortable?"

"It's just a metaphor."

Yaris said lightly: "I haven't seen something so passionate and unrestrained in a long time. I feel like I'm drunk."

“…”

Kelly looked at his master with a complicated expression.

"……what's on your mind?"

Yaris asked.

"I, I was wondering... when will Lord Kuro wake up? He's been sleeping for a whole month."

"It fell into a deep sleep. Even if I used a small wooden stick to poke its newly grown flesh claws and wings, it would not react at all."

Yaris spoke excitedly, seemingly delighted. "Its body is undergoing a crucial transformation. When it wakes up, it will no longer be a strange-looking black snake, but a true ancient dark dragon (loong)."

"Dark Dragon?"

"Yes, Dark Dragon."

Yaris narrowed his eyes as if intoxicated. "Covered in iron scales, possessing sharp claws and majestic wings, feeding on the dark and twisted things of the world, yet with eyes that are pupils of light... It's hard to imagine, isn't it?"

"Kellyer just wants to stay with His Highness forever."

Kelly said with a choked voice.

As the leader of Yaris's attendants, he is even more familiar with Yaris's physical condition than the attending physician, and can perceive Yaris's emotions and sensory changes by observing changes in Yaris's facial muscles.

During the time when he was captured by the Dragon Emperor and taken to the East Continent, he realized that his master might not be able to wake up from the "demon sleep" and often stayed by Yaris's bedside all night long. Every once in a while, he would use a soft feather to test Yaris's breathing - if making a deal with the devil could save his beloved master from pain, he would not hesitate to dedicate his soul.

"Kelly, you've been by my side for so many years, I think you must have discovered my secret by now... You should be happy for me. I've found the happiness I wanted, in the final moments of my life..."

"Your Highness—"

"It's getting dark, please take me back to my room. Also - wipe your tears and don't let my brother notice anything unusual."

"yes."