Immediately afterward, a figure flew in through the doorway.
It was a small Pokémon, resembling a mouse, with a pair of large V-shaped ears.
That was, Victini?!
Lucien's pupils contracted slightly, astonishment flashing across his face.
Before he could even process what was happening, Victini had already flown right up to him.
"Nini~!"
Victini's face lit up with joy after their long separation. It opened its tiny arms and wrapped them around Lucien, affectionately rubbing its soft cheek against his face.
Lucien froze for a moment, startled by the sudden embrace. Then, a wave of old memories surfaced within him.
From birth, Victini had always been by his side, watching him grow and often taking him to play around the castle.
Those memories belonged to the original Lucien, the prince who no longer existed.
Seeing Victini now, Lucien felt a flicker of quiet emotion.
The original owner of this body was gone; if not for his arrival, that soul's existence would have vanished entirely from history.
He sighed inwardly but quickly composed himself, a look of warmth and surprise spreading across his face.
"Victini, what brings you here?" he asked softly.
Victini smiled brightly, closing her eyes and waving her little finger like a tiny noble.
"Nini, Nini!" (Of course I was worried about you, so I came to check on you!)
But her attempt to appear mature only lasted a moment before she reverted to her usual cheerful and lively self.
"Nini!" (It's so good to see you again, Lucien!)
Lucien chuckled quietly and reached out to pat her head. Although he couldn't understand Victini's words directly, her tone and expression said everything. She was genuinely happy to see him again.
"I'm happy to see you too," Lucien said gently. "But Victini, how is Father?"
"Nini…"
At the mention of the old king, Victini's cheerful expression dimmed. Her ears drooped slightly.
From her gestures and tone, Lucien could tell the news was not good. The eldest and second princes had begun fighting for the throne, and the old king had been confined to the castle, stripped of his authority.
Lucien sighed softly. He could already picture how things might have gone if he had never arrived.
In the original timeline, the princes' war would cause the dragon veins to spiral out of control, and the old king would die trying to restore balance. Victini would then be trapped within Eindoark for centuries.
But now, things had changed.
He was here, and the future was no longer fixed.
"Don't worry, Father will be fine," Lucien said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Victini's head. "When the time is right, I'll find a way to reach the royal city and bring him here."
'Once Dragonair evolves into Dragonite, traveling between Eindoak and Lucien City will be much easier.'
"Nini!" Victini exclaimed happily, her eyes sparkling with renewed hope. She trusted Lucien completely.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Victini rummaged behind her and pulled out a folded envelope, holding it out with both hands. "Nini."
"A letter… from Father?" Lucien asked as he accepted it.
"Nini!" Victini nodded eagerly.
Lucien carefully unfolded the letter and began to read.
[To Lucien:]
My child, how have you been? Knowing all you have endured fills me with both sorrow and pride. Lucien, my son, you have grown up. You now possess the strength and wisdom of a true king.
However, your elder brothers are on the brink of war. When that time comes, you must not show yourself before them. You must hide, and survive.
I have used the last of my power to send you a thousand commoners and slaves in secret. From this day forth, they are your people, and you are their king.
Along with them, I have sent you tools, food, seeds, workers, and magical beasts, everything you will need to begin anew. If you require more details, you may ask the court lady Lorraine.
I think you should have seen Victini by now, right? Don't worry, my child. Victini will stay by your side in my place. It will protect you.
After reading the final line of the letter, Lucien's heart was filled with complex emotions.
So the old king had sent Victini not merely as a messenger, but as his personal guardian.
"Nini?" Victini tilted her head curiously, leaning closer to peek at the letter, her large ears twitching.
Lucien smiled faintly. "Father said he sent you to protect me."
Hearing that, Victini's eyes lit up. She puffed out her tiny chest proudly and patted it with her paw.
"Nini!" (That's right! I'll protect you!)
Lucien couldn't help but laugh softly. "Alright, Victini. You must be tired after your long journey. Eat something and rest well."
He gestured for the maid to prepare food, remembering clearly that Victini's favorite treat had always been cookies.
A few minutes later, the maid returned with a glass of tree sap and a plate of warm cookies.
"Nini!"
Seeing her favorite food, Victini immediately dove in with boundless enthusiasm, munching happily while her twin tails swayed back and forth.
While Victini ate, Lucien had Elif summon the court maid mentioned in the old king's letter, Lorraine.
Before long, a woman in a long robe entered the hall, her steps calm and graceful. She had neatly tied black hair, wore thin-rimmed glasses, and carried herself with the quiet poise of a scholar.
Elif led her in. "Your Highness, this is Court Maid Lorraine."
Lorraine bowed respectfully. "Your Highness Lucien."
Lucien studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Rise. I've received Father's letter. Tell me about the people and supplies you brought."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lorraine took a brief moment to gather her thoughts before she began.
"Currently, 856 people have successfully arrived within the territory. They include knights, commoners, farmers, scholars, blacksmiths, carpenters, and slaves. In addition, approximately 150 working magical beasts have accompanied them, bringing the total to around 1,000."
Lucien's eyes widened slightly. A thousand people.
For a territory that had once been little more than a settlement, this was a massive increase.
Lorraine continued, "By order of His Majesty, we also brought a wide variety of tools, farm implements, pickaxes, shovels, and other essentials."
"There's also a large amount of preserved food: wine, cheese, ham, bacon, dried fruit, bread, and tea. Enough to last for several months, even if trade routes are disrupted."
Lucien listened intently, his expression calm but his heart quietly swelling with gratitude.
Lorraine went on. "Additionally, His Majesty sent us seeds for many kinds of crops suited to different seasons: wheat, rice, turnips, carrots, and a variety of vegetables and fruits."
...
Stones PLzz
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