How to put it… the group’s luck wasn’t exactly the best. No sooner had they entered Zone One than they were hit by an intense blizzard. No matter how advanced their vehicles were, they were unusable in these conditions.
Almer reacted the fastest, instantly transforming into his beast form. With a few swift scrapes of his claws, he dug a snow cave into the ground.
The others quickly caught on and, carrying Ruan Shu, hurried into the snow cave.
They found shelter just before the blizzard fully struck, safe within the snowy haven.
Listening to the howling winds outside, Ruan Shu felt a bit anxious in the pitch-black surroundings.
But she was being held securely by her big brother, and soon enough, someone brought out a light source.
Everyone’s eyes fell on the large, glowing pearl in Almer’s hand. It emitted almost as much light as a lamp, though far more luxuriously…
Ruan Fengsi, who had initially intended to use a flashlight, felt a bit… defeated. Pulling it out now seemed almost embarrassing.
Snuggled inside her big brother’s coat, Ruan Shu poked out a furry little head, her bright, clear eyes fixated on the glowing pearl in Almer’s hand.
Was this the legendary Night Pearl?
And then, the pearl was placed directly in her hands.
“Do you like it? It’s yours.”
Flustered, Ruan Shu tried to hand it back with her tiny arms, her chubby, fair cheeks turning slightly rosy as she softly protested, a bit anxious.
“I don’t want it.”
She pursed her lips, her long lashes fluttering.
“I was just curious to look.”
She had only been curious because her brothers had been looking at it too. How did that lead to them giving her such a huge pearl?
The large pearl in her hands felt heavy.
“Keep it; I have more.”
True to his words, Almer pulled out two more massive Night Pearls from his spatial storage.
When it came to jewels, as a dragon, he truly feared no one.
The group: “…”
“Let’s eat something first.”
Almer casually placed one of the Night Pearls on the snowy ground and took out a steaming luxury meal and a bowl of fragrant small dried fish from his storage.
The small fish had been specially prepared by the hotel kitchen. They were a type of small silverfish native to Snowfall Star, a favorite snack among children.
Ruan Shu loved them too, enjoying the crispy crunch with each bite.
While the blizzard raged outside, inside the snow cave, Almer had everything meticulously prepared. There was a table, plush blankets, and cushions, all in the finest quality.
And, of course, it was all the luxurious kind.
The table was crafted from pure gold, inlaid with gemstones, glittering so brightly that it looked more like an extravagant work of art than something for dining.
The blanket was made from the hide of a rare beast, exuding a warmth just by sight.
The cushion fabric was woven from siren silk, an exquisite material produced by sea creatures, and stuffed with the down feathers of the Feather Clan.
Only one cushion was there, made specifically for Ruan Shu.
“I had it custom-made for you.”
Though the Ruan family could obtain such treasures as well, and their home was filled with rare items, Ruan Shu was oblivious to these things.
Seeing the luxury items Almer took out, Ruan Shu’s brothers couldn’t help but frown.
They couldn’t understand—although Shushu was indeed unique and an adorable child that charmed nearly everyone, the Emperor’s attention to her was beyond exceptional.
With the Holy Light Bracelet and his meticulous care, what was His Majesty’s true intention?
Noticing the three brothers’ gaze, Almer raised an eyebrow but offered no explanation.
Placed on the plush cushion, the little one nestled in it like a cherished baby bird surrounded by family.
Then the feeding began.
The cushion was warm and equipped with a built-in thermostat, keeping her perfectly comfortable even in this freezing, snow-covered world.
“When will the blizzard stop?” Ruan Shu asked in her soft, sticky-sweet voice, nibbling on a little fish snack.
“No idea,” Ruan Xinglan replied, taking off his glasses to wipe them with a calm, measured tone.
“The timing of blizzards is unpredictable; we’ll just have to wait it out.”
Ruan Fengsi grumbled with frustration, “This is awful. Day one, and we already hit a blizzard. What if we run into a beast next when we finally get out?”
Almer slowly rolled a wrap and handed it to Ruan Shu. He glanced over calmly at Ruan Fengsi’s remark.
“There’s actually… a decent chance of that,” he replied.
Ruan Qingran, thinking of something, suddenly looked over at their esteemed emperor.
“Your Majesty, I remember reading somewhere online that you’re a bit of a magnet for strange phenomena.”
Several pairs of eyes turned toward him at once.
Ruan Fengsi asked, “What do you mean?”
Ruan Xinglan added with a half-smile, “I think what Qingran’s saying is that His Majesty seems to have a bit of a… bad luck aura.”
Almer made a thoughtful sound, as if contemplating. “That does seem about right, doesn’t it?”
Ruan Shu: “…”
Not “seems”—you told me yourself that you’re really unlucky!
The Ruan brothers, however, didn’t seem too convinced by Almer’s easy admission of his “bad luck,” finding it rather unimpressive and shrugging it off.
The blizzard continued through the entire night, longer than expected.
Ruan Shu, nestled comfortably on her warm cushion, slept quietly and soundly all night.
Thanks to the water-resistant siren silk, the cushion remained dry despite being placed on the snow, and with the familiar presence of her family around, Ruan Shu slept peacefully even in the wilderness.
At one point, Ruan Qingran covered her with a soft blanket, and the men watched her sleep for a while.
“Your Majesty, why are you so attentive to Shushu?” Ruan Xinglan finally asked, straightforward in his approach.
“Don’t say it’s because you like kids. While the birth rate among younglings in the Star Beast Empire is low, there are still some around. Frankly, you don’t exactly strike us as someone who has a soft spot for children.”
The other two turned their eyes to Almer as well.
They spoke in low tones, careful not to wake Shushu.
Almer observed the three brothers with interest, not the least bit offended by their directness.
“What I’m more curious about,” he replied, “is what exactly you’re guarding against when it comes to me.”
Ruan Xinglan remained calm. “You’re overthinking, Your Majesty. We’re simply curious.”
Leaning back against the snowy wall, Almer lowered his gaze slightly. He had indeed sensed a certain wariness from the Ruan brothers, but it wasn’t the kind of caution directed at a stranger’s intentions toward their “little lucky charm.” It felt like they were probing for something.
So… did the Ruan family know some secret about the little one that made them wary of him?
He wasn’t mistaken. Ruan Xinglan was naturally suspicious, probing to see if Almer had learned about Ruan Shu’s secret ability to heal Jingshen, fearing that might be the reason for Almer’s care.
“The dragon clan hasn’t seen a single new child since I was born. Who says I don’t like children?”
Ruan Xinglan replied, “Then why is it that you’ve singled out my little sister, Your Majesty?”
Almer looked at him, a faintly wicked smile playing at his lips.
“You know,” he said, “I’m curious as to why you all care so deeply for a half-sister. Blood relation or not, you’re more invested in her than in your own brothers. Yet you’re unusually protective of a sister you’re not even that close with. Between you and me, you’re the ones acting odd, aren’t you?”