Chapter 90: One Day in Reality, One Year in the Past

Dawn.

The thin mist atop the castle's spire had not yet dispersed when Xia Xia Mingyu awoke from sleep and heard a fierce clamor of shouts and battle cries outside the window.

He rubbed his bleary eyes, leaned out the window, and saw the castle's training ground densely packed with soldiers, practicing spear thrusts in unison.

"Did they muster this many soldiers from the territory in just one day and night?"

Xia Xia Mingyu could guess most of these soldiers were conscripted directly from the town's guards, but regardless, assembling so many in such a short time clearly showed how desperately Kallen wanted Victor's head.

"Victor really is popular—Kallen wants his head, and Boge can't stop thinking about him!"

Swish.

Xia Xia Mingyu pulled back the curtains, stretched under the morning light, and sighed with sincere admiration.

Nursery.

"The King's Child. Hehe, The King's Child."

Danielle gazed dreamily at the sleeping infant in the cradle, her eyes fixed on the deep blue "The King's Child" above his head.

From yesterday's dusk to this morning, she had stared at him all night long.

Yet miraculously, she felt no fatigue—only boundless excitement and happiness, her heart pounding wildly as if it might burst from her chest, more thrilling than even her coupling with Kallen.

At that moment, Kallen arrived with Xia Xia Mingyu.

"Your Highness, since she woke up from the blow I gave her, she's been like this."

Kallen pointed at Danielle, still giggling vacantly and oblivious to their arrival, explaining with deep exasperation.

He had originally planned to bring Danielle along to attack Nightshade Domain—after all, she was a magician and could be useful in battle.

But her current state? Better not. Risking a stray spell hitting his own soldiers would devastate morale!

"No problem. Honestly, I'm a little envious of little Hayden." Xia Xia Mingyu shrugged.

After all this time crossing over, exhausting himself to raise his 1.4 billion rank to the Transcendent, this kid was born already at New Moon.

And he has a mother like Danielle, willing to sacrifice everything for him—his path ahead will surely be far easier than most.

"Lady Danielle."

Xia Xia Mingyu stepped before the giggling Danielle and spoke softly.

The woman who had ignored Kallen's countless calls instantly shuddered at the sound of the Prince's familiar voice.

"Prince Xia Mingyu, I humbly welcome your arrival. Forgive me for not paying homage to you at once."

Danielle slid to her knees before Xia Xia Mingyu as if facing a tiger.

Her bow was fluid, even graceful, as if meticulously trained.

Her forehead pressed flat against the floor, her rear raised high—so high that Xia Xia Mingyu immediately turned his head away.

"Lady Danielle, please rise."

"By the gods, Your Highness, I must refuse. You are my son's godfather and my greatest benefactor—I am so overwhelmed with gratitude I cannot bear to stand. I have sworn silently to kneel always and heed only your teachings."

Danielle kept her forehead pressed to the floor, answering rapidly and clearly.

Ugh. Xia Xia Mingyu's lip twitched.

Is this woman truly mad?

Is this really necessary?

Unconsciously, Xia Xia Mingyu glanced at Kallen beside him, worried the man might be angered by his wife's abject humility.

To his surprise, Kallen's expression was calm—he even bent his knees, ready to kneel himself, until Xia Xia Mingyu quickly grabbed his arm.

"Lady Danielle, I need you to tell me about Hayden's condition. I can't hear you kneeling. So—this is an order."

He emphasized the last words.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Danielle immediately stood, hands folded neatly before her like a servant.

Then Xia Xia Mingyu quietly approached the cradle. Inside, Hayden lay curled in a white swaddling blanket, his pale blue hair glinting faintly in the morning light by the window.

"Externally, there seems to be no change… or perhaps it's too early to tell." Xia Xia Mingyu mused.

He'd heard noble blessings could enhance beauty or talent—what power did his unofficial godson's blessing grant?

"Your Highness, only Hayden himself can perceive the blessing's power, so we do not yet know. But one ability is confirmed—Hayden's Gift of Strength has been amplified." Danielle spoke respectfully and slowly.

She took a broken fragment of wood from a nearby drawer and presented it to Xia Xia Mingyu.

It was the side rail of the cradle—he now understood why one section was missing.

A hundred days old, an infant crushed wood with bare hands. He fell silent, realizing the truth.

This world truly has no regard for common sense!

"Kallen, when does the army march?"

"Your Highness, once provisions and weapons are sufficient, we may depart at dawn tomorrow."

"Can I come too?" Xia Xia Mingyu asked.

He wanted to change this world—future wars were inevitable. This campaign against Nightshade Domain was his first, and he must gain experience and insight.

"Of course, Your Highness—but the battlefield is no place for blades to spare. Your noble body, so precious, if even a scratch were to befall you, I would die ten thousand deaths and still not atone."

Kallen hesitated, speaking haltingly.

"Kallen, have you forgotten my… the Prince's carriage?" Danielle reminded him.

"Your Highness, your carriage is a masterpiece, inscribed with magical runes—ordinary weapons cannot pierce its walls. Please remain inside during battle and observe our troops' valor."

Kallen's eyes lit up—he now had a way to protect the Prince: a rune-carved carriage, ten elite shield-bearers, his own driving, and his daughter Elise accompanying him.

"Fine." The Prince agreed.

The rest of the day passed with feeding, knee pillows, reading, meditation, and playing with the little girl.

Meanwhile.

In Nightshade Domain, neighboring Black Wolf Domain, a human tragedy unfolded.

In a certain village.

"Master, please, have mercy—this is our family's last grain. We've only just married and I'm pregnant…"

A gaunt peasant woman in coarse linen clutched a small sack of bran, pleading desperately to the soldier captain sent to seize food.

Her equally emaciated husband lay unconscious nearby, beaten bloody by soldiers for resisting.

"Get lost, disloyal peasant!"

Finally losing patience, the soldier captain kicked the woman hard in the abdomen.

"Ahh!"

She cried out, clutching her stomach as she collapsed onto the muddy ground.

"You ignorant, dishonorable peasant! Do you not know Nightshade Domain is under threat from villains? Our great Lord Nightshade has no choice but to requisition your grain—you should humbly offer it willingly!"

The soldier captain snarled.

"Besides, our Lord Nightshade has generously promised: surrender all your grain, and you'll be exempt from this year's Breath Tax. That's a blessing for you foolish peasants!"

The soldier captain lamented dramatically.

"But… we already paid the Breath Tax this year," the woman moaned from the ground.

In Nightshade Domain, peasants who didn't pay the Breath Tax were beaten every few days.

Her husband had worked day and night—plowing fields, replacing donkeys to grind grain—just to pay the tax so she could rest safely during pregnancy.

The soldier captain froze—he hadn't expected anyone to actually pay such an absurd tax.

"Cough, cough. Well then, even if you don't pay next year, we won't beat you."

He cleared his throat, then led his men away quickly after looting the village, leaving only the unconscious husband and the bleeding woman.

"It's over… my child is gone…"

The woman stared in despair at the dark soil stained red beneath her—she felt the life within her fading.

"Why? Not paying hurts… paying hurts even more…" she wailed bitterly.

Pain. So much pain. Truly unbearable pain!

This scene played out everywhere across Nightshade Domain—countless civilian cries echoed across the land.

"Phew… that felt good!"

In Nightshade Castle, Victor stood atop the towering wall, feeling the gentle evening breeze on his face, exhaling deeply.

He could feel countless threads of suffering flowing toward him from all directions, strengthening his power moment by moment.

So much so that he sensed the once-distant New Moon shackle beginning to loosen.

Victor had a premonition: if he could sever Kallen's head in this war, he would forge greatness and ascend to New Moon at once.

"Indeed, if you push them hard enough, even the peasants can still squeeze out more grain—make them suffer more."

Watching the carts returning to the castle, piled high with stolen grain, Victor nodded in satisfaction.

The only annoyance? His messengers sent to the Capital were all driven back by neighboring lords—some returned with only their heads.

Hmph. You bastards. When I ascend to New Moon, I'll wage honor wars against you too!

Blade City.

The sun blazed high.

Brown Nose walked along the edge of the cart road, instantly bending to pick up any trash or obstacle he spotted.

Months had passed since the night he entered that magnificent hall—he still thought of it constantly.

He wanted to eat those delicacies again, to have the Prince pat his head, to learn again with his Master…

"Huh? Who threw this stone?"

Brown Nose saw a stone on the road ahead and instinctively hurried over to pick it up.

Tap-tap-tap.

"Kid, get out of the way!"

A coachman's shout rang in his ears; Brown Nose lifted his head dazedly and saw a carriage drawn by four white horses hurtling toward him.

He tried to dodge, but despite months of practicing breathing techniques, he lacked the speed to escape before the carriage reached him—he had not even become a squire.

Boom!

The boy's body flew like a kite, rolling several times along the hard road before coming to a stop.

"It hurts so much."

Brown Nose silently felt the searing pain throughout his body; he cried, but he was not afraid.

Death was never something to fear for an orphaned beggar.

Besides, he had already achieved his life's dream—he had eaten a full meal.

Yet, just before dying, he truly wished he could see that prince one more time.

Before his vision blurred, he saw a girl leap from the carriage and walk toward him.

She looked about his age, with long silver hair, a delicate face, and eyes as watery and violet as the wild violets swaying by the roadside.

"Such beautiful eyes," Brown Nose gradually lost consciousness.

"Miss, are you certain you wish to give this beggar your precious magic potion? He couldn't afford it even if he sold himself a hundred times."

"Shut up."

Glug-glug-glug—something bitter flooded his mouth.

Several months passed.

Foxfire Keep.

"Brown Nose, here's today's supplies—take them to the kitchen."

The boy, dressed as a servant, helped other servants carry goods around the keep.

After practicing the breathing techniques his master taught him, his strength had greatly increased; though young, he could now lift heavy loads.

The girl who had stepped down from the carriage after he was knocked over turned out to be the lord's daughter.

Others whispered that he had survived only because he had been given a treasure called magic potion—something he could never repay even if sold a hundred times!

Thus, he had proudly joined Foxfire Keep as an apprentice servant.

Though he was a servant, he was content with his life—he could eat half-full and had a place to sleep; it was already more than enough happiness.

"If only I could see that prince and my master one more time," the boy drifted into sleep with a sweet fantasy.

Starfire Hall.

"Wonderful—I'm back here again!" Brown Nose gazed in delight at the ceiling, where projections of unceasing artillery fire showed warriors advancing toward death again and again.

The scenes that had once filled him with terror now felt strangely familiar.

For after a full year, he had finally returned here once more.

(End of Chapter)