As Lucien watched Elif turn and leave, a complicated mix of emotions welled up inside him.
Had he… been discovered?
If he thought about it carefully, it was inevitable. Introducing unfamiliar technologies, new ideas, and unheard-of methods would always raise suspicion eventually.
There was no way around that.
But even so, giving up his cheat-like system was impossible.
Lucien sighed softly and glanced at Erif's retreating figure.
This loyal old steward still showed a perfect 100 loyalty in his system panel.
So the earlier slip hadn't really shaken him, Erif still believed he was "Prince Lucien."
That was enough.
As long as no one tried to expose him, Lucien would keep playing his role, building this territory into a place where humans and Pokémon could flourish.
He gathered his thoughts. Most of the day's affairs were handled.
He returned to his mansion.
Inside the hall, Kyurem sat in a shadowed corner, seemingly asleep with its massive body curled awkwardly due to the limited space.
The five Minccino were still hiding behind furniture, peeking nervously at it.
Only when Lucien entered did Kyurem open its eyes briefly, acknowledging him.
Dragonite and Larvesta immediately rushed over to greet him, wings and antennae fluttering happily.
Serperior, lounging on a sofa, lifted its eyelids lazily before glancing over as well.
"Woo~"
Lucien laughed and patted both Dragonite and Larvesta on their heads.
They chirped with joy.
Dragonite, now evolved, was soft, round, warm, and unbelievably pleasant to touch. Its clear, expressive black eyes could melt anyone's heart.
Dragonite was simply adorable, well, except for Iris's Dragonite.
After giving Dragonite and Larvesta their well-deserved affection, Lucien sat beside Serperior.
His gaze wandered, and then met Kyurem's.
Kyurem exhaled two cold streams of frosty air from its nostrils.
"Hm…"
"Does it want me to pet it too?"
Lucien couldn't help imagining it for a moment, then immediately dismissed the idea. Knowing Kyurem's personality, that had a 0% chance of happening.
"How do you find living here?" Lucien asked. "Are you getting used to it?"
"Of course," Kyurem's deep voice replied. "You need not concern yourself with me."
Kyurem was a dragon capable of adapting anywhere. And truthfully, it was very satisfied with this peaceful town Lucien had created, especially the harmony between humans and Pokémon.
The only problem was, that the house was too small for its full size.
Lucien nodded, then looked around the room.
But one Pokémon was missing.
"Where's Victini?" he asked, puzzled.
Dragonite scratched its head and glanced toward the second floor.
"I'll go take a look."
Lucien ascended the stairs and gently opened the door of the small upstairs room.
There, beneath the half-open blinds, sat Victini.
Alone.
Quiet.
Staring at the distant sky with a sorrow Lucien had rarely seen in it.
"Victini?" Lucien called softly.
Victini turned around, but even seeing Lucien didn't brighten its expression.
"Nini…"
"What's wrong? Did something upset you?" Lucien asked, kneeling down.
Victini lowered its head.
"Nini…"
Lucien, unable to understand Pokémon speech, had no choice but to bring Kyurem upstairs.
Kyurem listened briefly, then translated in its usual blunt tone:
"It misses its friends."
Lucien froze, and the realization hit him instantly.
Of course.
Victini must be missing the old king still trapped in Eindoak.
The old king's power had been stolen by the First and Second Princes. He was practically under house arrest within the castle.
The old king was powerless to stop his sons' infighting. All he could do was watch helplessly as the kingdom he had once built with his own hands slowly fractured.
Victini had been with the old king for many years, fighting beside him, protecting the people, and helping him establish the kingdom itself.
For Victini, the old king was not just a monarch; he was family.
Now that the old king was imprisoned in his own castle and stripped of power, how could Victini not worry?
"Nini…"
Victini lowered its head, its little eyes clouded with sorrow and anxiety.
Lucien felt his heart tighten at the sight.
He looked toward Dragonite, his trusted partner, now fully evolved and boasting incredible speed. Everyone knew that once Dragonair became Dragonite, its speed increased exponentially. At full power, a Dragonite could circle the entire Earth in sixteen hours.
Traveling from Lucien City to Eindoark? At most, a few tens of minutes.
"In that case…" Lucien stood up decisively, "we're going back to Eindoak."
Victini froze.
"Nini?!"
Lucien nodded with a reassuring smile. "Of course. I wouldn't lie to you."
He had his own reasons as well.
There were questions only the old king could answer, where his two brothers were hiding, the current condition of their armies, and which factions held the advantage.
He recalled Serperior, Larvesta, and Kyurem into their Poké Balls, then mounted Dragonite. Victini settled onto his shoulder, still stunned but visibly hopeful.
Following the map and Victini's psychic sense of direction, Dragonite blasted into the sky with Extreme Speed.
Lucien estimated their route.
With both Extreme Speed and Agility enhancing Dragonite's flight, the whole journey took barely twenty minutes.
Before long, the colossal silhouette of Eindoark appeared.
It was magnificent, an imposing city that, even thousands of years later, would still be considered a massive metropolis. Broad streets were filled with countless pedestrians. The sheer number of people, likely over two hundred thousand, made Lucien momentarily envious.
But he knew too well:
Even if his own territory grew that large, he wasn't yet capable of supporting such a population.
As they neared the royal walls, Lucien signaled Victini.
"Use Teleport. Don't let anyone see us arrive."
Victini nodded, and a bright white light enveloped them.
When Lucien opened his eyes again, they were standing in a lavish room decorated in royal gold and crimson. A patterned carpet marked with the royal crest covered the floor. Beyond the open terrace doors stood an elderly man with white hair and a long royal robe, gazing sorrowfully over the city.
The moment Victini saw him, her eyes lit up.
"Nini!"
She shot forward like an orange comet.
The old king turned sharply at the sound. His eyes widened, his breath caught, and his trembling lips parted.
"L… Lucien…?"
Lucien stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Father. I've returned."
Victini flung herself into the old king's arms, nuzzling his chest, chirping nonstop to express everything she'd been holding in.
The old king instinctively stroked Victini's head, dazed, then looked up at Lucien again, still hardly believing his own eyes.
"Why… why have you suddenly returned? No...no! Your elder brothers have spies everywhere. You cannot stay here! If they discover you..."
Lucien quickly stepped forward and steadied him.
"Calm down, Father. No one knows I'm here."
He glanced gently at Victini.
"Victini missed you too much. It was worried about you, so… I brought it home."