"You can at least stay in the Royal Capital," Edward whispered. "If that really doesn't work, I can arrange a residence for you."
"I think the Nebel Plateau is great. This is my decision, and let's not discuss this issue anymore," Ange said to Edward, who was about to launch into a long speech.
Edward was speechless.
***
At this moment, Princess Lila said, "How about this, Father? I'll go with His Highness to the Nebel Plateau later to take a look. If His Highness's accommodation is truly awful, we can send people to build a villa for him on the Nebel Plateau."
After all, all unclaimed land within the Azoth Kingdom belonged to the Royal Family. They could build a house wherever they wanted.
Edward's eyes lit up when he heard this. "This is a good idea! This is a very good idea!"
Princess Lila added, "Actually, there's nothing wrong with His Highness living on the Nebel Plateau. The Nebel Plateau enjoys spring all year round, and the climate is mild. His Highness has been frail since childhood, so living there would be perfect for his recovery."
Ange gave Princess Lila an appreciative look upon hearing this. Princess Lila also smiled back at Ange.
Reminded by his daughter, Edward finally remembered that Prince Ange had been sickly since childhood. Otherwise, he would not have died so young. "Right, right, right. Lila is more thoughtful. Looking at it this way, the Nebel Plateau is indeed good."
Ange finally breathed a sigh of relief.
***
"Oh, right, since His Highness has returned, let's hold a grand banquet for him! We can take this opportunity to announce His Highness's return to the citizens. I'm sure the citizens will also be delighted for His Highness," Edward suddenly said with a new idea.
"No!" Ange quickly stopped him. "Please handle my matters quietly. I just woke up and have limited energy. I can't handle all that."
"Is that so..." Edward looked regretful.
Lila spoke up at the right time, "Father, His Highness has just returned. Let's take things slowly."
Edward agreed upon reflection. "Then we'll talk about these things later." He sighed deeply again. "It's just too unfair to His Highness."
Ange: I don't feel wronged at all.
Ange felt that talking to Edward was too strenuous and exhausting.
Next, Ange stayed with Edward and the Kingdom's ministers, talking for a long time. They did not stop until the sun was about to set.
***
The addition of a Royal Family member involved various issues, especially one with such a unique identity.
The ministers argued heatedly about Ange's affairs. Some even thought Ange should not live outside at all; he should live in the Royal Palace. Others suggested providing Ange with a security detail.
Some also felt that since Ange was unwilling to hold a banquet and celebration to announce his return, they should announce his royal identity to the citizens via the internet.
In short, all the matters were messy and very complicated.
In the end, all of Ange's affairs were handed over to Princess Lila for full arrangement.
***
Walking out of the great hall, Ange let out a long breath. That was really hard.
Princess Lila followed closely. She smiled at Ange and said, "Your Highness, that must have been tiring."
Ange gave a wry smile.
Just then, a head suddenly peeked out from behind a nearby pillar.
"Romeo, what are you doing hiding there?" Princess Lila asked when she saw him.
"Hehe~~ Sister." Romeo walked out sheepishly. "Nothing, I just wanted to see Prince Ange."
Princess Lila said, "If you want to look, just look openly. Why are you sneaking around?"
Romeo scratched his head and gave a silly grin.
"You must be Prince Romeo? It's nice to meet you," Ange greeted Romeo with a gentle smile.
A feeling of parental affection welled up in his heart, thinking that these were his sister's descendants. He was not that old himself! Why did his mindset suddenly become that of an elder?
"H... Hello! Prince Ange."
Compared to Princess Lila, Romeo's personality was much more introverted.
"Your Highness, are you really five hundred years old?" Romeo asked quietly.
"To be precise, I was asleep for five hundred years. My body state is still the same as before I fell asleep," Ange replied.
"That's incredible! As expected of Eliphas, he could even do this!" Excitement flashed across Romeo's face.
Romeo was a fervent admirer of Eliphas. That was why he had been obsessed with various inventions and research since he was sensible.
Ange smiled. Sure enough, it was right to pin everything on Eliphas. No one would doubt it, and there was no way to disprove it.
The key to 'Mysterious Science' was the word 'Mysterious.'
Romeo then looked at Diancie. "Are you Diancie?"
Diancie nodded, "That's right, Prince Romeo."
"You're so pretty," Romeo could not help but praise her.
"Thank you." Diancie accepted Romeo's compliment graciously. "Your Highness is also very handsome and cute."
The little boy was not yet ten years old. The handsome component was small; he was mostly just cute.
"Is... Is that so?" Romeo was shyly embarrassed by Diancie's compliment, his little face turning red.
Diancie covered her mouth and laughed at the sight.
"Can I shake your hand?" Romeo asked shyly.
"Of course, it's an honor, Your Highness." Diancie readily agreed and extended her right hand to Romeo.
Romeo was extremely excited. He vigorously wiped his hands on his clothes before holding Diancie's hand.
In his perception, Diancie was born because of Eliphas. Shaking hands with Diancie was equivalent to shaking hands with his idol.
After shaking hands, Romeo kept staring at his hand and grinning foolishly. This amused Ange, Diancie, and Princess Lila.
Ange smiled and said, "Romeo is so innocent and adorable."
Princess Lila restrained her smile upon hearing this and sighed deeply, "He is just too innocent."
"Oh, my! Prince Ange hasn't left yet!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
"I just so happen to have something I wanted to consult His Highness about."
Ange turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with purple hair slowly walking out of the great hall.
"Who is this?" Ange asked Princess Lila.
Princess Lila's expression slightly cooled when she saw the newcomer. "This is the Minister of Defense, Jarvis. He is also a leading expert on Mysterious Science in the Kingdom."
"Greetings, Your Highness," Jarvis bowed to Ange.
"Hello, Mr. Jarvis," Ange nodded slightly to Jarvis.
Romeo was happy to see Jarvis. "Jarvis, you're here!"
"Your Highness," Jarvis bowed slightly to Romeo again and finally nodded to Princess Lila, "Princess."
Ange asked suspiciously, "Mr. Jarvis, what do you need me for?"
Jarvis first looked at Diancie with intense eyes, then said to Ange, "I wanted to consult you about His Grace Eliphas. After all, you saw His Grace Eliphas with your own eyes, and you must have communicated with him. I was hoping..."
Before he could finish, Ange interrupted him directly. "I'm sorry, it's getting late. It's time for me to go back, or I'll be too late."
Ange really disliked the look Jarvis gave Diancie. His first impression of him was very poor.
"Then... Then, alright." Jarvis's expression was a little stiff. "I'll consult with Your Highness another time."
With that, Ange bid farewell to Princess Lila and Romeo.
"Your Highness, I'll see you off," Princess Lila said.
"Okay," Ange nodded. Then he said to Romeo, "Romeo, until next time."
Romeo waved his hand and said, "See you next time, Prince Ange."
Afterward, Ange was escorted by Princess Lila to where the food cart was parked. He firmly refused Princess Lila's suggestion to have her or the guards take him back. He drove the cart himself, slowly leaving the Royal Palace with Diancie and Swablu's Dad.
***
Once outside the Royal Palace, Ange found a hidden corner. He recalled the food cart into his System Backpack and then teleported Diancie home. He then flew away from the Royal Capital on Swablu's Dad.
When Ange arrived home, the sun had just set. He saw Munchlax sitting alone on the doorstep, looking very depressed.
"Munchlax, what's wrong?"
Hearing Ange's voice, Munchlax suddenly looked up. A bright smile spread across its face. It then ran to Ange in a flash and hugged him tightly.
Munch Munch~ Master, you're back. I missed you so much!
Ange had not returned all afternoon and had suddenly recalled Diancie. Munchlax was incredibly worried about being home alone.
Although Diancie had returned earlier and told it what happened, it could not help but worry until it saw its Master return.
"There, there," Ange kept patting Munchlax's back to comfort it. "I'm back now, aren't I?"
Munch Munch~
Munchlax affectionately rubbed its head against Ange.
Just then, Diancie walked out of the house.
"Alright, Munchlax, you're acting spoiled with your Master again!"
Munchlax let go of Ange sheepishly.
Diancie shook her head helplessly, "Such a child, when will you grow up?"
Munch~ Munchlax scratched the back of its head and smiled innocently.
"Come on, let's go inside."
Saying this, Ange extended a hand to Munchlax. Munchlax naturally took it.
Ange walked and asked, "Is Komala not home again?"
When Komala was mentioned, Munchlax was instantly annoyed. When it was sent back by Ange, Munchlax wanted to ask it about Ange's situation. But Komala only cared about sleeping, did not say a word, and then rolled out the door with a gulu gulu. Munchlax could not catch up even if it ran.
It was so irritating!!!
Seeing Munchlax gesturing angrily, Ange did not quite understand, but he still smiled and comforted it.
"Alright, let's not be angry. I'll make you something delicious tonight."
Upon hearing about delicious food, Munchlax immediately threw Komala to the back of its mind.
Ange and Munchlax walked hand-in-hand into the house, but were surprised to find Kirlia was also there.
"Kirlia, why are you here?"
Kir Kir~
Kirlia greeted Ange happily.
Through Diancie's explanation, Ange learned that Kirlia had come to the shop to help soon after Ange left this morning.
Kirlia had no way to repay Ange for helping Gardevoir and his baby, so he could only come to the shop to offer his small help.
Ange asked, "You're here. Doesn't Gardevoir need to be looked after?"
Kir Kir~~
Kirlia gestured and explained that his home was very close to Delphox's. Delphox was helping to look after Gardevoir and the baby.
Because of the Pokéblocks Ange gave her, Gardevoir was recovering quickly and could now move freely, so there was no need to worry.
Moreover, Kirlia had asked Swablu's Dad to help hatch the Egg. Swablu's Dad often helped everyone hatch Eggs, and everyone was used to it. It could make the baby hatch faster.
"I see..." Ange smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Oh, right, stay for dinner tonight. Bring some back for Gardevoir, too. She should try something other than Pokéblocks sometimes, right?"
Kirlia hesitated upon hearing this.
Munchlax immediately hugged him.
Munch Munch~ Stay! My Master's cooking is delicious. Much better than mine.
Munchlax was a master of acting spoiled. Kirlia could not resist and finally agreed.
Ange secretly gave Munchlax a thumbs-up.
Munchlax also blinked cutely at Ange.
When Ange and Munchlax planned to go into the kitchen to make dinner, Ange was shocked by the pile of things inside the moment he stepped in.
"Wha... What's going on here?" Ange asked Munchlax and Diancie.
The kitchen was piled high with Asire Seaweed, wild rice stems, various wild Berries, mushrooms... and many things Ange did not recognize.
Diancie explained, "These were all sent by the Pokémon this morning."
These were all thank-you gifts sent by the Pokémon on the plateau after they learned that Ange had saved Gardevoir and her baby.
The Poliwag knew Ange liked Asire Seaweed, so they specifically gathered Asire Seaweed and sent it.
The Marill and Azurill knew Ange liked wild rice stems, so they specifically went to peel them. This stuff was actually plentiful in the Nebel Lake. It grew in large patches.
No one knew it was edible before.
The Berries and mushrooms were also specially picked by everyone.
"You guys... really are..."
Looking at the kitchen that was packed full, Ange felt truly touched. He had only saved one Gardevoir, but he received the gratitude of everyone on the plateau.
Sure enough, you have to exchange sincerity for sincerity.
"Alright, let's quickly clean all this up, or we'll be too late to make dinner," Ange called out.
It was truly a sweet burden.