The morning broke over the Stonehead Palace, heralded by the cheerful, persistent chirping of birds in the sprawling garden. The sweet sounds mingled with the distant, boisterous echoes of children's laughter, a joyful noise that carried across the serene town. The climate was exquisitely mild, a perfect blend of crispness and warmth, inviting one to breathe deeply of the new day.
In the sunlit garden, Morisa was already playing, her tiny giggles accompanying the amused deep chuckle of the man she was currently engaging. Meanwhile, within the lavish guest chamber, Jai lay in a deep, peaceful slumber.
A shaft of golden sunlight pierced the window and fell directly onto Jai's face. The warmth was instantly soothing, tricking his subconscious into believing he was still safe and sound in his own familiar home. But as the warmth persisted, a flicker of memory returned, and he snapped back to the reality that he was not at home.
He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the bright morning. He sat up, taking in the grand room. A sense of déjà vu washed over him; this place felt eerily similar to his home, though grander.
A soft, rhythmic knock sounded on the heavy black wooden door.
He paused, a sweet thought striking him: perhaps it was Morisa, coming to check on her new guests. He asked, his voice still thick with sleep but laced with gentle inquiry: "Who are you?"
A quiet, elderly voice answered. "My name is Venessa. I am a maid for this palace. I have come to bring coffee for you."
Jai pushed himself out of the plush bed and walked across the room to open the door. Standing there was a dwarf maid dressed in a crisp blue maid dress. Her face was lined with age, giving her a kindly, maternal look.
He took the coffee cup, his brow furrowing slightly as he noticed she had brought only one cup.
"Did my brother Clement already wake up?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yes, young master," Venessa replied with a respectful bow. "He woke early and went to practice his magic."
Rushing down the grand staircase, he was intercepted by a small figure.
"Big brother, where are you going in such a rush?" Morisa asked, her eyes wide with curiosity, with James standing quietly beside her.
"I'm just going to the garden," Jai replied, a genuine smile replacing his earlier thoughtful frown. "I love flowers; planting them is one of my favorite habits."
Morisa and James immediately joined him, following as he quickened his pace toward the back of the palace.
When they reached the garden, Jai stopped, mesmerized by the magnificent display. Amidst the bloom, he saw a man kneeling, watering the plants. The man had striking white hair and a majestic, muscular build. His hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like spun silver. He was dressed simply in a white t-shirt and shorts, the attire of a man at ease.
Jai walked toward him and asked politely, "Excuse me, did you do all of this gardening?"
The man rose from his kneeling posture, turning to look at Jai. As their eyes met, Jai realized who he was: Zayn Stonehead, the eldest son of the King, Borin Stonehead.
"Zayn," Jai continued, "do you also have a passion for gardening?"
Zayn offered a gentle smile. "Honestly, I don't truly like doing it," he admitted. "But whenever I garden, it brings back all my moments with my mom. When I was a child, we would work in the soil together. Even after my mother passed away, I continue to garden every day."
He looked down at Morisa with immense fondness. "And after my sister was born, I started gardening with her, too, because she reminds me so much of Mom."
Zayn then scooped up Morisa, lifting her into his arms, and began to gently rotate her. Morisa shrieked with delight. Jai and James watched, their faces breaking into warm smiles. The sound of their shared laughter filled the peaceful kingdom air.
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of a butler, who bowed deeply.
"Masters, your breakfast is ready. Please come and dine."
"Big brother Arthur and brother Clement," Morisa piped up, using their assumed names, "why don't you join us for breakfast?"
Jai hesitated. He didn't want to impose or be a nuisance to Zayn. He glanced at the prince, intending to politely decline.
Zayn, sensing his thoughts, laughed heartily. "Don't worry," he said, his golden eyes twinkling. "You can have breakfast with us. I promise I won't mix any poison, so come without any fear."
Jai gave a slight, appreciative smile and accepted. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will be in the dining hall after we've freshened up."
"Don't call me Majesty," Zayn insisted kindly. "Just call me Zayn. You and I are the same age. But," he paused, giving a playful smirk, "your younger brother Clement has to call me 'Big Brother'!"
Jai couldn't help but give a hilarious, mischievous look toward James. James caught the look and felt a wave of annoyance. They were all the same age, so why did he have to be the one to call him 'Big Brother'?
Everyone departed to their respective rooms to prepare.
Soon, they were ready. Jai emerged looking sharp: he wore a grey suit with matching grey pants and black shoes. A necklace and a bracelet on his right wrist were accessories with a purpose—they were part of the disguise he used to hide the Emperor Dominatrix's mark.
James chose a more rustic look: a brown shirt with brown pants and matching brown shoes. His outfit was a monochrome of earthy tones.
Morisa was dressed in a lovely gown mixed with green and white, complemented by subtle green ornaments that matched her dress.
Finally, Zayn entered, radiating a simple elegance in a beautiful white dress shirt with white pants his hand naturally moving to the chain around his neck. It was a necklace, simple yet invaluable, a final gift from his mother. The pendant held a miniature locket, and within it, a precious memory was enshrined: a tiny, carefully preserved picture of him and his mother together. His golden eyes were particularly striking, making everyone in his presence feel a slight, immediate blush.
They all gathered in the dining hall and took their seats. Maids soon arrived, serving a delicious array of breakfast items.
The curiosity burning in James's heart finally got the better of him. "If you don't mind me asking," he ventured, "where are your other family members?"
Morisa and Zayn's faces fell, a visible shadow of shame and sadness passing over them.
Zayn sighed before answering. "Everyone... they left us," he confessed solemnly. "After my father became King, our relatives grew intensely jealous. He cared only for his people, bestowing his favors upon them, and this made my blood relatives want to kill him."
"My father is a kind man," Zayn continued, his voice heavy. "He didn't want any of his family to be hurt by his own hand or in a conflict. So, he gently urged them to leave the kingdom. They all departed, so... we have no relatives left."
Jai was genuinely shocked. "I'm curious about that. I always thought the bonds in the Dwarf Kingdom were incredibly majestic—every race seems to look up to your family bonds."
Zayn nodded, the pain still in his eyes. "Yes, that's true. But we also learned the hard way that even among us, jealousy can turn the most precious blood-related ties into those of cold-blooded enemies."