Chapter 52: Pet

Not only did the Emperor and Empress take turns trying to persuade him, but even his younger brothers dropped subtle hints urging Kankolin to attend the ball.

"I've seen photos of Niannian; she is an exceptionally adorable little female, even cuter than the ones I used to date," the Second Prince leaned closer to Kankolin, his tone teasing. "Elder Brother, aren't you curious at all?"

"No," Kankolin replied coldly.

He tossed a thick stack of documents to the Second Prince. "Finish reading these by the end of the day, and write a five-thousand-word report for me."

"Elder Brother! Don't do this!" A miserable scream immediately echoed through the palace.

Ever since the Crown Prince returned from his disappearance, the imperial palace had frequently resounded with the wails of the other princes.

Kankolin was practically teaching state affairs to his younger brothers hands-on, giving off the distinct impression that he intended to divvy up his hard-earned power among them.

The power that they should have been fighting tooth and nail for was now within easy reach, yet the other princes showed not the slightest bit of interest.

"I really don't want to learn this anymore, Elder Brother," the Third Prince said, his exhausted face bearing two massive dark circles. "With you around, these state affairs never even reach our hands."

Imperial relations in this generation were unprecedentedly harmonious. Kankolin was the universally acknowledged heir, and the other princes harbored no ambition to seize power from him.

The Second Prince only wanted to go out philandering and romancing pretty females, while the Third Prince preferred to stay cooped up in his chambers, refusing to step outside and see people unless strictly necessary. As for the Fourth Prince, he was the most obedient of all, doing whatever his elder brother asked him to do, but he clearly lacked any talent for governing a nation.

Kankolin massaged his temples with a headache.

If things continued this way, when would he ever be able to shake off the responsibilities weighing on his shoulders?

Only when his younger brothers were capable of standing on their own, and the empire had a new, qualified successor, could he, the Crown Prince, retreat behind the scenes.

Rather than living in the cage-like imperial palace and being forced to bond with an unloved female, he would much rather lose control and turn into a beast.

The instincts of a beast would guide him to find his beloved female.

He only wanted to stay by her side, even if it meant being nothing more than a pet.

"These state affairs do not belong to me by birth. You are also the children of the Emperor and Empress; you should learn to share their burdens," Kankolin calmly rejected the Third Prince's request for a break. He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, urging, "Get back to work. You haven't finished yesterday's tasks yet, and you'd better catch up today."

The Third Prince collapsed onto his chair with a sallow complexion.

You never truly know how painful a whip is until it strikes your own back.

To this day, the other princes had finally experienced firsthand just how busy Kankolin was every single day.

The Emperor had pushed the vast majority of affairs onto Kankolin to handle.

With pressure this immense, it would be a miracle if he didn't lose control!

"Father is going too far," the Second Prince muttered gloomily.

As the eldest son upon whom the Emperor and Empress pinned their greatest hopes, Kankolin had been subjected to extremely rigorous education since childhood, with layer upon layer of responsibility piling onto his shoulders. Though he always appeared calm and steadfast, he was not truly immune to breaking under the pressure.

And now, even though his parents knew he already had someone he loved, they were still forcing him to meet and marry a female he despised...

The Second Prince finally understood his elder brother's feelings. He patted his brother's shoulder in a show of camaraderie: "When the day of the ball comes, I'll make sure to stall Niannian for you so she won't bother you. You can rest easy!"

Kankolin nodded in gratification.

"So, as a reward, can we cut my workload in half?" the Second Prince probed tentatively.

Seeing Kankolin's expression gradually grow stern, the Second Prince scurried back to his seat. "Ahem, I was just joking..."

...

As the date of the royal ball drew closer, the entire Central Star grew livelier than usual.

The business of custom-made formal wear was also booming, with order volumes surging.

Many people flocked to commission Coleman for custom garments, but Coleman turned them all down, dedicating himself entirely to crafting a gown for Niannian.

It wasn't until the very day of the ball that the dress was finally completed.

Normally it wouldn't have taken this long, but facing Niannian, Coleman wanted perfection. Driven by his pursuit of excellence, he made countless minute adjustments to the details before he felt even slightly satisfied.

"Do you think it's a bit too flashy...?" Niannian asked softly, looking at herself in the mirror after dressing and styling, seeking the opinions of the males around her.

Lu Zhan and Felix were both present, and even Sion had taken leave to rush back, intending to accompany her to the ball.

The three males were instantly struck dumb, their gazes fixed on Niannian, unable to look away.

The moon-white long dress shimmered like water, as if endowed with life. The gentle sway of the skirt accentuated the petite female's already slender and graceful figure, her waist slender enough to be spanned by a single hand.

It wasn't flashy, but it possessed a breathtaking beauty.

The makeup artist who had styled Niannian sighed softly, "You don't need any complex makeup to enhance your looks at all."

A mere touch of light foundation was already stunning enough to rivet anyone's attention.

Coleman looked at Niannian as if gazing upon his most cherished masterpiece, a touch of paternal fondness mingling in his eyes as he praised her sincerely, "You will be the most dazzling presence at the ball."

Niannian blushed from the compliments and lowered her head.

The royal ball was not held within the palace itself, but rather at a sprawling royal estate that encompassed vast grounds, complete with lakes and forests.

At the venue of the ball, glasses clinked amidst a sea of mingling guests.

Just as Coleman had predicted, the moment Niannian made her entrance, she became the focal point of the entire room.

"Who is that?" someone whispered.

Most of them did not recognize Niannian, but they recognized Felix by her side.

The Marshal, who usually kept himself aloof from beauties, was trailing closely behind the little female like a shadow, exuding an aura of devotion and guardianship.

The little female possessed an otherworldly elegance, untouched by mortal dust.

"Which noble family's young lady is she?"

"I've never seen her before..."

Amidst the murmurs, the Second Prince caught sight of Niannian and gave a start, a tingling sensation washing over him from head to toe.

So, so cute!

"Isn't that Niannian...?" he muttered with glittering eyes, turning to ask the Fourth Prince, "Where is the Elder Brother?"

"Elder Brother said he would show up a bit later, probably resting in the top-floor lounge," the Fourth Prince said uncertainly.

Kankolin was not in the lounge.

He had shifted into his beast form and was seeking solitude in a secluded grove of trees.

The massive white tiger closed its eyes for a light nap under the cover of the trees, having no desire whatsoever to participate in the bustling ball.

Suddenly, his furry ears twitched, and the white tiger snapped his eyes open in vigilance.

There was movement.

Had the Emperor and Empress sent someone to look for him?

The white tiger rose silently, preparing to shift back into human form, when he suddenly heard the bright, exuberant voice of the Second Prince.

Relaxing his guard slightly, the white tiger flickered, shrinking in size to take the form of a small white cat as he slipped into the low bushes.

"The air is nice here, there are fewer people, and you can even spot some wild small animals," the Second Prince was displaying his charm like a peacock showing its feathers, introducing the royal estate to Niannian.

He had gone to great lengths to successfully strike up a conversation with Niannian and lure her away from those three predatory guardians.

Though driven by selfish motives, he hadn't forgotten his agreement with his elder brother.

To keep Niannian away from his elder brother, he had simply led her outside for a stroll.

Away from the crowd, the two of them alone—it was the perfect opportunity to cultivate their relationship.

The Second Prince's heart raced with excitement.

Niannian, however, turned her gaze toward the nearby bushes.

Was she missing Marshmallow so much that she was hallucinating?

...Why did it look like she had just caught a glimpse of a little white cat over there?