Chapter 44: The Baby of Great Strength

Dusk.

The last rays of the sunset filtered through stained-glass windows, casting long, slender shadows across the library’s wooden floor.

“Lady Danielle, are you certain you wish to give this treasure to me?”

Xia Mingyu stared at the translucent blue crystal inside the wooden box, its cold aura radiating outward, a flicker of surprise crossing his expression.

Based on the knowledge he’d gained from reading these past days, he could easily identify it as a magic crystal—and likely a high-quality one, the drifting chill air alone serving as undeniable proof.

“To Your Highness, this is hardly a treasure; it’s merely a blessing my mother gave me.” Danielle smiled faintly.

“I know Your Highness is studying magic; this crystal will surely help you progress further on your magical path. Please, accept it!”

At these words, Xia Mingyu fell into thought.

He sensed the abundant magic within the blue crystal, then glanced at Danielle’s hopeful face, and ultimately decided to accept it.

After all, his most urgent priority was to strengthen his power, and this crystal would undoubtedly accelerate his path to becoming a magician.

“Lady Danielle, is there anything I can do for you?” Xia Mingyu said calmly after a moment’s hesitation.

He understood the customs of human reciprocity.

“Oh, Your Highness, you’re too kind. Simply accepting my gift is already my honor—how could I dare expect anything in return?”

Danielle initially refused.

Only after prolonged persuasion did she finally reveal her true intent.

“Your Highness, my little Hayden has been born for over two months. I’ve heard that if a baby is looked upon by someone noble, he will grow up healthy and happy. So I thought…” Danielle watched Xia Mingyu’s expression with careful caution.

“If it’s convenient for Your Highness, might you spare a moment to see my little Hayden?”

“Let’s go now,” Xia Mingyu said calmly.

He had thought it was something difficult—turns out it was just seeing a child.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Danielle’s face lit up with joy as she bowed deeply.

Nursery.

Xia Mingyu tiptoed to the crib, afraid of disturbing the sleeping infant inside.

He peered in: beneath the soft glow of candles, a tiny baby curled within a white swaddling blanket, his pale blue lanugo shimmering warmly in the dim light.

His round face was plump, his pink lips slightly pouted.

“Much cuter than I imagined,” Xia Mingyu murmured in surprise. He knew most newborns were ugly at first, but this baby already looked adorable.

“Your Highness—”

Beside him, Danielle was about to speak, but Xia Mingyu raised a finger to his lips, silencing her. She obeyed, closing her mouth.

At that moment, as if sensing their presence, the baby stirred. His closed eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of clear purple irises, like flawless amethysts.

This sight sent Danielle’s heart racing to her throat; her hands instinctively clenched together.

Babies usually cried and screamed, requiring long hours of soothing to calm down.

But the person standing before the crib was the Prince.

Hayden, don’t cry—seize this chance your mother gave you! Make a good impression on His Highness!

Though silent, Danielle screamed the words silently in her mind.

Awake, Hayden blinked, his gaze landing on Xia Mingyu—then he grinned, toothless and bright.

“Ee-yah!” The baby cooed softly, waving his chubby little hands in the air.

This adorable human infant instantly melted Xia Mingyu’s heart. He couldn’t help but extend a finger and gently tap Hayden’s cheek.

“Ee-yah!”

Thinking Xia Mingyu was playing with him, Hayden grabbed his finger and giggled.

Perfect, Hayden!

Danielle praised her child wildly in her mind—she felt if a normal baby’s behavior scored ten, her little Hayden scored a hundred!

This wasn’t just grabbing the Prince’s finger—this was grasping the future!

After a moment, Xia Mingyu gently withdrew his finger and left the nursery with Danielle.

“What a lovely child,” Xia Mingyu smiled warmly.

This time, it wasn’t a lie—he truly felt that way.

He had never liked children, but this one, so quiet, sweet, and always smiling, was one any normal person would adore.

“He rarely shows such warmth to strangers. He must truly like Your Highness,” Danielle chuckled.

“By the way, little Hayden’s strength—”

Xia Mingyu suddenly remembered: when his finger had been grabbed, though faint, he had felt a slight sting.

That strength might be normal for an adult, but for a baby two months old? It was terrifying.

“He’s even crushed wooden slats in his crib. The nurses dare not feed him—he only calms down when I do.”

As she spoke, a tender smile flickered in Danielle’s eyes.

“After examination, it was determined that little Hayden was born with the Gift of Great Strength.”

Gift—Xia Mingyu recalled reading about it: in this world, an extremely rare few possessed, beyond their birth blessings and occupational blessings, some extraordinary ability.

Such abilities were called Divine Gifts, granting their bearers wondrous, almost unbelievable powers.

And the Gift of Great Strength was undoubtedly one such Divine Gift.

“It seems little Hayden’s future will be extraordinary indeed!” Xia Mingyu exclaimed.

If his infant strength already rivaled an adult’s, what would his strength be as a grown man? He couldn’t even imagine.

“Heh, little Hayden’s future will indeed be extraordinary—but not because of his Gift,” Danielle’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

“But because of Your Highness’s own words.”

“I believe that with Your Highness’s blessing, my child will grow strong and one day kneel before your throne, achieving greatness.”

Danielle bowed low, deeply.

Nightfall. The moon hung high.

Top of the Clock Tower.

“That woman really gave it up!”

Elise gazed at the blue magic crystal radiating cold waves from the wooden box, sighing.

“That crystal is worth at least three gold sols!”

“That much?” Xia Mingyu was startled by the price.

After all, the entire year’s tax revenue from Fruit Basket Village was only twenty-one silver sols—roughly half a gold sol.

Hundreds of people in Fruit Basket Village, laboring for six years, could barely afford one such crystal.

Xia Mingyu deeply felt the terrifying consumption gap between the noble class and the common folk in this world.

(End of Chapter)