Starry Sky

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

The sounds of voices, music, and clinking glasses intertwined, creating an ocean of joy. Under countless candles, the hall was as bright as day. Inside, people mingled, danced lightly, and enjoyed the splendid banquet to their heart's content.

After finishing his social interactions with a group of enthusiastic nobles, Siegfried Ephesus quietly slipped out of the main door and into the garden outside. Fresh air rushed into his nostrils, and he took a deep breath, instantly clearing his head.

The red-haired young man pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then loosened his collar.

Tonight's sky was exceptionally clear, with brilliant stars scattered across the night sky. Siegfried looked up at the sky and muttered to himself, "Couldn't find you anywhere—of course, you've snuck off here alone to relax. Seriously..."

He wasn't talking to himself, as another young voice responded, "Weren't you sneaking out too?"

Siegfried turned towards the direction of the voice, which came from an inconspicuous corner where a figure leaned against the railing, holding a glass of wine and gazing up at the stars.

Under the soft moonlight, one could see that this was a handsome young man. His golden hair framed a fair, oval face, with a straight, elegant nose and sculpted lips, resembling the perfect creation of a sculptor striving for their ideal form. But his icy blue eyes weren't the lifeless beauty of a sculpture—they were sharp and full of vitality, like those of an eagle.

The red-haired young man complained, "Hmph, Antonio, you're the star of the banquet tonight! How can it go on without you?"

The person Siegfried was addressing was none other than Antonio Griffin, the second son of the Emperor of the Gabella Empire, and also known as the Son of the Witch—the very one Siegfried had sworn to serve.

Despite being royalty, Antonio faced considerable ostracism and scorn in the upper circles of the empire due to his title as the Son of the Witch. His dazzling talents from a young age further fueled the jealousy and alienation of his peers.

Yet, there were still people who were willing to acknowledge and accept him—like Siegfried Ephesus, who came from a noble family within the empire. Antonio Griffin and Siegfried had been friends since childhood. Although, on the surface, their relationship was that of a prince and his subject, in reality, they were more like brothers. They had studied together as children under the famous imperial scholar Aldridge and later joined the empire's military, working on military affairs side by side. Compared to Antonio's older half-brother, Siegfried was the one Antonio truly considered his kin. Privately, they always addressed each other by their first names.

Hearing Siegfried's words, Antonio chuckled. "Star of the banquet? Haha, isn't Lord McDonald holding up the front line? Besides, if it weren't for a little bit of luck in this war, they'd still be avoiding me like the plague—the Son of the Witch."

Siegfried shook his head. "You achieved far more than just 'a little bit of luck.' We've been at a stalemate with the Nesta for so long, neither side able to gain an advantage. No one expected you to break the deadlock. In this empire, military achievements are everything. After this, when we return to the capital, your status and reputation will be entirely different."

A trace of anger flashed across Antonio's face. "That's secondary. Hmph, if it weren't for the rotten old men hogging their positions and doing nothing, the empire's army would've broken through long ago."

Siegfried shrugged. "What can we do? We have plenty of rotten wood on our side, and the Nesta have plenty on theirs—that's how we got stuck. As you said before, it's an era where the least rotten side wins."

"Hahaha!" "Hahaha!"

The two exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

A clear female voice broke the night: "That's why we follow His Highness—to change this decaying era and bring new life to the world."

As the voice trailed off, a beautifully dressed lady gracefully approached. Her posture was elegant, clad in a white gown, with black hair that seemed to blend into the night.

Siegfried grumbled, "How many times have I told you not to keep saying things like 'bringing new life to the world'? People will mistake us for cultists."

Antonio raised his glass toward the lady and smiled. "Carol, you snuck out too."

Carol nodded slightly to Antonio and Siegfried. "Your Highness, Lord Ephesus, you know I'm not comfortable in these banquet settings."

Neither her other identity nor the personality forged by that identity made Carol fond of crowded places with too many prying eyes.

Antonio frowned slightly and said, "Carol, you need to learn to adapt. I've sworn that one day you'll all be able to walk openly and freely anywhere in this world."

Siegfried knew exactly what group his friend was referring to. He glanced at Antonio, whose eyes were clouded with melancholy, as if lost in some memory.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Carol softly said, "Yes, Your Highness, I will try to adapt." Realizing that her words had touched a sensitive nerve for Antonio, she quickly changed the subject. "Your Highness, Lord Ephesus, are you going to stay here? Many people at the banquet are looking for you."

Siegfried joined in the teasing. "Haha, looking for Antonio, you mean? By the way, Carol, are you that eager to send His Highness back? With the heroic achievements our prince has earned, those people are probably scrambling to introduce him to the girls in their families. You don't mind, do you?"

Carol blushed. "I... I..."

She glanced nervously at Antonio.

Antonio said nothing, only continued to gaze at the starry sky. Siegfried and Carol looked up as well, seeing the sky full of countless bright stars, forming a vast river flowing across the heavens.

The three of them became absorbed in this magnificent sight.

Siegfried asked, "By the way, Antonio, you've liked stargazing since you were little. Do the stars really fascinate you that much?"

Antonio lowered his head. "Sometimes I wonder—compared to the vastness of the galaxy, everything happening on the ground seems so tiny. If the stars were alive and looked at us, we might seem like ants to them."

"Come on, thinking about this too much will make you fall into some sort of cognitive dissonance."

"Have you ever wondered, what exactly are those celestial bodies up there?"

"What are stars? Aren't they just stars?"

"But why do they shine? Are they constantly burning? You know how things appear smaller from a distance—just how far away are those stars? How big are they?"

Hearing these questions from the prince, Siegfried sighed. "All I know is that they lie in a realm beyond the reach of mortals. Perhaps your questions will remain eternal mysteries."

Antonio's eyes reflected the starry sky. "If the stars are far enough away and we can still see them, that means they must be enormous. What form do they take? Could there really be people living up there?"

Siegfried was exasperated. "Antonio, you're not seriously believing in fairy tales, are you?"

Even Carol, standing nearby, looked at Antonio with surprise, not expecting the prince she admired to have such a "childlike" side. Of course, she found it rather endearing.

"Maybe," Antonio said. "If there really are people up there, I'd love to meet those aliens."

(End of the Chapter)

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