The Capital Star
At the heart of the empire’s power lay the resplendent royal palace, golden and majestic. Ever since the sole heir had gone missing over two decades ago, the queen’s health had deteriorated, leaving her despondent. The palace, once filled with laughter and life, had inevitably fallen into an atmosphere of oppressive gloom.
Yet today, the dining table was calm and peaceful.
Two blond, blue-eyed men, their features strikingly similar, sat at the table. One was impeccably dressed, exuding a composed and stately demeanor. The other, clad in casual loungewear, bore a frigid expression that even his soft attire could not warm. He was like an eternal block of ice, unyielding and cold.
Aina glanced between the two, resting her cheek on her palm, and sighed exasperatedly. “You two, father and son, are just like blocks of ice—so unlovable.”
Though her words seemed critical, her tone carried a hint of fondness.
Ludwig raised his gaze. “My apologies, Mother.”
“I didn’t mean for you to apologize…” Aina looked at her long-lost son, unable to resist standing up. She reached out, intending to touch his face, but as her hand drew near, the man instinctively leaned back ever so slightly.
The motion was subtle, almost imperceptible. Without close observation, one might not have noticed it at all.
A faint sense of disappointment flickered in her heart, but she didn’t let it show. Adjusting her movement slightly, her hand landed on his soft golden hair instead. She gave it a gentle pat before withdrawing.
“Thank goodness… we were able to find you.”
As memories of the past resurfaced, Aina couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude.
After the child had gone missing, Aina had fallen into a pit of despair, consumed by guilt for failing to protect that fragile little life. Each night, as soon as she closed her eyes, she could hear the faint cries of her baby echoing in her mind.
Even with her husband’s companionship and comfort, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive herself.
Her child…
He was already gone from her when he first opened his eyes to the world.
At the time, the artificial incubation pod was in its final experimental phase. She could have undergone a minimally invasive procedure to remove him and transfer him to one of the safest places in the galaxy.
But she couldn’t risk even a one-in-a-million chance of failure.
Moreover, with her S-grade physique, pregnancy was relatively manageable for her. These factors compounded, ultimately leading to tragedy.
Over the years, even as everyone assumed the child was dead, Aina had a strange, inexplicable feeling deep in her heart—he was still alive. One day, she would find him.
–
Ludwig came to the research institute after experiencing a violent mental energy outburst, sent there by the principal of the Imperial Central Academy.
As the Zerg threat grew stronger, humanity’s prolonged battles with them led to quiet, gradual evolution among certain individuals. Even within the same S-grade, abilities could differ dramatically.
A rare few even underwent secondary evolution.
The empire, lacking complete data, conducted research on this phenomenon in secret, keeping the findings undisclosed.
While people speculated whether S-grade could lead to SS or even the mythical SSS-grade, Ludwig emerged as an anomaly—a secondary evolution with full SSS-grade potential. His abilities were stacked to the limit.
The researchers were immediately thrilled.
While some rushed to notify the emperor, others eagerly drew blood for testing.
The empire placed high value on missing children, maintaining a central database with parents’ DNA samples. Whenever blood from a missing child was uploaded, the system would automatically match it to reunite families.
The result shocked everyone: the DNA matched!
The researchers were stunned.
“???”
After a long silence, a senior researcher hesitantly raised a hand. “But wait… he doesn’t have the birthmark.”
Years ago, when the empire mobilized to search for the child, his distinctive features had been publicly disclosed. The most identifiable trait was a small, heart-shaped red birthmark on the right shoulder.
Everyone cautiously leaned in to inspect.
“It really isn’t there.”
“But the test can’t be wrong, can it?”
“I’ve heard some birthmarks fade as children grow,” murmured a researcher with their own kids.
“Wait… look closer.”
“?”
Someone brought in a high-intensity light and shone it on the man’s unconscious body. Under the near-blinding illumination, they finally noticed a faint discrepancy.
The birthmark’s color had faded over time, blending almost seamlessly with his skin. It was barely visible without close scrutiny.
The mark’s location, hidden in a blind spot, made it nearly impossible for Ludwig to notice. Being young, solitary, and distrustful of others, he had never allowed anyone to examine his body closely—especially his back, where he would assume ill intent from anyone staring too long.
On the neglected, lawless garbage planet he grew up on, no one cared about imperial or federation affairs. News of the missing prince reached the area one or two years too late, rendering it irrelevant.
–
The following events were a whirlwind.
The emperor and empress rushed from the palace, conducting another blood test on the spot. The result, confirmed within an hour, verified Ludwig as the long-lost prince.
Clarence issued an emergency decree, marking all of Ludwig’s information as top secret and sealing external communications.
Meanwhile, the royal couple received records of the child’s life over the years.
He had grown up on the garbage planet, an environment of filth and chaos. Located near the empire’s border, the planet was eventually annexed, and its orphanage received funding.
Although this didn’t revolutionize the children’s lives, it at least allowed them access to education.
At twelve, Ludwig was identified as having S-grade mental energy, and he became a top priority student exempt from all school fees. At twenty-two, he was admitted to the Imperial Military Academy.
Aina, reading through the records, lingered on a photo of the boy, ten years old and just starting school. Her eyes welled with tears. “Thank goodness that planet was annexed. Otherwise, he might have had to wait until he was twelve.”
The garbage planet’s limited resources meant the orphanage prioritized education for the most talented children.
Still, even twelve wasn’t considered late in an era where lifespans extended to three hundred years. Yet it felt like a stark difference compared to children in the capital, who started school at eight.
Clarence gently patted his wife’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Aina said, wiping the corners of her eyes.
The couple continued reviewing the data.
At the Imperial Military Academy, Ludwig had excelled academically, ranking second in his year, just behind Xia Yan Gardner. Coincidentally, Xia Yan was also his roommate.
The two did not get along.
Xia Yan had frequently provoked and bullied Ludwig.
Yet during a practical exam, Ludwig had stepped forward to protect Xia Yan, showing no trace of their apparent discord.
Clarence frowned, marking the detail for further investigation. He messaged his subordinates: [Is this information accurate?]
[Your Majesty,] came the swift reply, [this information comes from interviews with nearby dormitories. Witnesses report often hearing Xia Yan Gardner provoking Ludwig. Ludwig, to protect himself, usually chose to endure.]
[Understood.]
Clarence closed the terminal, deep in thought.
Could his son have been psychologically manipulated?
–
When Ludwig woke up, he found his mental power had surged two levels, elevating him to SSS grade. Not only that, but he had discovered his biological parents and gone from a commoner to the crown prince—second only to the emperor himself.
After three seconds of silence, his first thought was: What will Xia Yan think?
Xia Yan, arrogant by nature, had long considered the throne his for the taking. Now, Ludwig’s newfound identity gave him a natural advantage, surpassing both Xia Yan and Grover as a more suitable heir.
The current emperor, though over four hundred years old and nearing the end of his life, still had decades left to rule. This was more than enough time for Ludwig to pave his own way.
But Ludwig didn’t want to oppose Xia Yan. He couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the guarded and hateful look in Xia Yan’s eyes. So, as soon as he understood the situation, he immediately requested that his parents not make the revelation public.
Aina was puzzled. “Why?”
Ludwig remained calm. “I need time to adjust.”
“I see,” Clarence nodded. “That works out—I have some matters to handle as well.”
After all, Xia Yan’s history of using his noble status to bully Ludwig was an undeniable fact. As Ludwig’s father, Clarence could not ignore this injustice any longer.
As the empire’s supreme ruler, Clarence discreetly began suppressing the Xia and Carter families.
Outwardly, people believed the emperor had simply chosen Grover as his heir.
Unnoticed by most, the winds within the empire began to shift.
The Gillingham family rose to prominence, with Grover becoming the center of attention at banquets. Conversely, the Gardner family’s influence waned, their enterprises quietly squeezed out of the market.
Even past scandals, once buried, began to resurface.
Prepared for such developments, Xia Yan’s parents had already started transferring assets and securing escape routes for their closest confidants. Those who stayed behind faced eventual quiet elimination.
Meanwhile, elders warned the younger generation to keep their distance from Xia Yan.
Despite this, some still secretly informed him of the changes.
“Hurry up and leave! Go to the Federation!”
The delicate-faced young woman’s expression was anxious, sweat beading on her nose as her eyes darted around nervously, fearing Grover’s people might spot them. “You’re right on the border now—it’s the easiest time for you to escape!”
Xia Yan’s parents had shielded him so well that they hadn’t told him much of anything.
The young man frowned, puzzled. “Why should I leave?”
“Because… because…” The girl stomped her foot in frustration. “Ugh! The capital is preparing to choose Grover. If you don’t leave now, what will you do when you can’t escape later?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Xia Yan’s face darkened. “That useless Grover dares compete with me?”
“It’s true…”
“Enough,” Xia Yan interrupted her. “This is my business, and I don’t need anyone interfering.” Feigning irritation, he walked away impatiently.
In reality… ahem, his death is predetermined.
No need to save him—let him clock out.
Thanks.
