The Invincible Young Master

The tension in the garden softened as Spark's mother stepped back slightly, her tear-filled gaze fixed on his face.

She studied him as though searching for any flicker of doubt. Finding none, she exhaled slowly, her trembling lips curving into the faintest smiles. Though her tears still glistened, they now seemed less heavy.

"No," she said firmly, her voice steadier now. "I can't send all three of you away. Just like you said, they're strong. I need to trust that they'll come back."

She hesitated, her smile growing faintly wistful. "I sometimes forget you're all grown up now."

Spark felt the tension in his chest ease, his lips tugging into a soft smile.

"Father seemed worried about you earlier," he said, his tone light. "Maybe you should go see him."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I should. I haven't had a proper talk with him since this whole incident started."

Her eyes drifted toward Alice, standing quietly by the gazebo, watching the conversation with wide, curious eyes.

"You stay here and play with Alice," she said gently, brushing her hand against Spark's arm before turning to leave the garden.

As her footsteps receded, the air in the garden lightened. The subtle weight of unspoken worries began to lift.

Alice, who had been silently observing from her spot, suddenly bounded toward Spark with all the energy of youth.

Her face lit up as she threw her small arms around him. "Father!"

Spark crouched to her level, catching her easily. He lifted her off the ground. Settling her into his arms, he smiled. "What's that you've got there?"

Alice proudly held up a crown of flowers, its petals slightly crooked but vibrant with their mix of colors.

"Alice made this for Grandma!" she exclaimed. "Grandma looked sad, so Alice wanted to make her happy!"

Spark inspected the handmade crown with an exaggeratedly serious expression. "Oh? And where did you learn to make something this special?"

"Grandma Poo taught me," she said, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Do you like it, Father? If you do, Alice will make one for you too!"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "It's beautiful, Alice, but I'm not sure it suits me. Maybe you should make one for Grandpa instead. He'd love it."

Alice's eyes lit up at the suggestion.

"Okay! Alice will make one for Grandpa too!" she said enthusiastically.

Spark carried Alice toward the gazebo, her giggles brightening the garden's atmosphere.

As they reached the shaded structure, Alice tugged at his sleeve, her curious gaze lifting to meet his. "Father, why was Grandma sad? Did something bad happen?"

Spark's expression softened. He gently patted her head, smoothing down her hair. "Grandma's just a little tired, Alice, that's all. She'll be fine."

Alice nodded slowly, though her concern lingered in her round eyes.

Turning to the side, Spark gestured toward Yuna, who had been quietly observing the scene from a few steps away.

"By the way," he said, "I don't think you've met her yet. This is Pooella, Alice's personal caretaker. Her mother sent her to help look after Alice."

Hearing her name, Pooella, with a reserved demeanor, stepped forward.

She gave a polite nod, though there was a hint of unease in her movements.

Yuna responded with her usual grace, stepping closer and lifting the hem of her robe slightly in a formal curtsy.

"I am Yuna," she said smoothly, her tone dignified and formal. "Young Master Spark's first servant."

Pooella blinked at the introduction, momentarily caught off guard by the polished manner.

She recovered quickly, offering her own slightly awkward curtsy.

"I'm Pooella," she replied, her voice polite. "Little Miss Alice's maidservant."

Spark couldn't suppress a smirk as he watched the exchange.

"You're not addressing a royal court. You could try being a little less formal." He said, his tone light with amusement,

"It's only proper to introduce oneself with respect, Young Master," she said, her voice maintaining formality despite her faint smile.

"It's… um, very nice to meet you," Pooella said, her tone less stiff as she glanced between Spark and Yuna.

"Likewise," Yuna replied, inclining her head with a touch more ease this time.

Alice, who had been watching the interaction with unrestrained curiosity, giggled suddenly, breaking the formality of the moment. "Father, are they fighting?"

Spark laughed, shaking his head. "They're just introducing themselves."

Just then Alice's eyes sparkled with excitement as an idea struck her and she eagerly turned to Pooella.

"Grandma Poo," she said, "did you bring more of those ribbons? The ones we used to tie the flowers?"

Pooella's expression softened instantly. Reaching into the small pouch hanging at her side, she nodded.

"Yes, Young Miss," she said, pulling out a handful of vibrant ribbons in a mix of colors. She handed them to Alice, who accepted them with a delighted grin.

"Father!" Alice spun toward Spark, mischief dancing in her eyes. "I'll teach you how to make a flower crown."

Spark arched an eyebrow, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're going to teach me, are you?"

Alice nodded with the seriousness of an instructor. "Yes! It's easy! Watch me!"

Spark watched as her small fingers neatly wove flowers together, her quiet humming blending with the gentle rustling of leaves.

The garden seemed to settle into a tranquil rhythm. Spark, Yuna, and Pooella remained nearby, their attention drawn to Alice's meticulous handiwork.

Time seemed to slow as minutes turned into nearly an hour. Explore more stories with empire

Just as he began to drift into a peaceful haze, a sudden glimmer caught his eye.

From above, a flash of light pierced the canopy of the garden. A single radiant feather, glowing with a faint golden hue, floated gently downward.

It danced in the air, twisting as though carried by an unseen breeze, before drifting toward Spark.

He lazily extended his arm forward catching the feather.

The moment it touched his palm, it shimmered, becoming translucent before dissolving entirely.

Alice, startled but captivated by the sight, looked up at him with wide eyes. "Father! What was that? It looked like magic! So pretty!"

Spark's lips curved into a faint smile as he crouched to meet her gaze. "Do you want to learn it?"

Alice's face lit up with unrestrained excitement, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes! Alice wants to learn that beautiful magic!"

"Well then," Spark said, "I'll teach you. But only after you finish teaching me how to make a flower crown."

With renewed determination, Alice returned to her task, her small hands moving faster now as though completing the crown was a critical mission.

Behind them, Yuna, who had been silently observing the scene, stepped closer. "What was the message, young master?"

"Same thing as always. Those old fogies are calling me back."