"Your majesty," the Crown Prince Fanyu spoke up in great delight when he saw Alex. "It is so good to see you again after so long."
"Prince Fangyu," Alex smiled at the man. "How have you been doing?"
"Great," the Crown Prince answered.
They were inside a luxurious room in Brightfalls City, with its window facing directly to the Brightfalls that gave this city its name.
The Brightfalls was a massive waterfall that was nearly 2 kilometers wide, the water in which flowed from the beast region to the north.
The water fell from such a height that it turned fizzy and white on the way down, and as a result, caused it to light up the surrounding area with white light due to its massive area.
The city, at least the part that was facing the falls, was completely white, with even the roads getting as bright as the sun on a cloudy day.
It was an incredible sight.
The light from the Brightfalls entered Alex's room and painted the walls in white light as well. It was a natural source of light and thus they did not need to use any lanterns during the day.
"How has your trip around the Emerald Kingdom been, your Majesty?" the Crown prince asked. "Are you enjoying our empire?"
"It has been incredible," Alex said. "So many unique cities, so many unique cultures. I think I will be tired of the next city I visit, but each one entertains me so much that I never do. Truly, it's an amazing land with amazing people."
The Crown Prince laughed out loud in pride. "It truly is," he said. "I should visit it all some times in the future."
"Oh, have you not?" Alex asked the man. "I would imagine the Crown Prince would have gone through his entire Empire at least one."
"That's not such an easy task, is it?" the Crown prince asked. "Surely your Majesty haven't been through all the cities in the Southern Continent too."
"No," Alex told the truth. "But I've only been alive for less than 70 years. Compared to me, you have had a lot more time."
The Crown Prince sighed. "Fair enough," he chuckled a bit. "Truth is, I don't really like visiting other places. I don't like new places, so I try to stay in the Capital whenever I can. I only leave when I'm forced to."
"Huh?" Alex chuckled. "You're the complete opposite of your brother, aren't you?"
The crown prince gave a sheepish look. "Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well, he likes touring, doesn't he? You mentioned that he has been on a tour of the empire for a long time, didn't you?" Alex asked.
"Ah, right," the prince said. "But that isn't really because he likes touring, really. It's just that he doesn't have anything else to do."
"Nothing else to do? As a prince?" Alex asked.
"I'm the Crown prince, so most responsibilities fall upon me. The only thing that could be his is the Azure throne for the Azure kingdom or a high-ranking spot in the Head Legion. But he has never been the type who wants to lead, so he was never forced to."
"As a result, he has nothing to do in the capital," he said. "He goes around the world, doing what he wants."
"Does he not come home?" Alex asked.
"He hasn't in a while," the Crown prince said. "But as the Prince of the Empire, he has nothing to worry about."
"I suppose," Alex said. "You also mentioned he has an important figure protecting him?"
"Senior Linfan, our head chef, yes," the Crown Prince nodded.
"I see," Alex said. "I wonder if I'll meet him on my journey. Do you know where he is right now?"
"Hmm," the Crown prince thought for a bit. "I believe he was somewhere in the Silver Kingdom the last time he sent us any sort of notice. It was a year ago, so I am not sure if he's still there."
"I see," Alex said. "Let me know if he wants to meet me. I'm curious about him."
"Surely," the Crown Prince said. "Anyway, let us move away from this discussion. I'm actually curious why you wanted to enter the Beast Paradise, your majesty."
"Why not?" Alex asked with a smile. "It's an interesting place with nothing but intelligent beasts. There are not many places in this world like that, are there?"
"I suppose not," the Crown prince said. "It's a shame you were half a century late. Had you somehow come earlier, you wouldn't have to be in such an awkward situation to enter that land."
"I was merely a teenage half a century ago, prince," Alex said. "I'm not sure a young me that was a mortal would have been lucky to have come to a forest full of beasts."
"Ah, right," the Crown prince shook his head. "It is so difficult to imagine that someone like you is so young. Truly, I'm very jealous of your talents, your majesty."
Alex smiled. "So, what is truly going on with the Beasts Paradise? Why have they closed their borders?" he asked.
"Honestly," the crown prince sighed. "I'm not sure. Most people will tell you the reason is because of the players that came and attacked the land."
"While that could be true, it's a mystery why they did it for so long. I mean, the players have integrated into the society, so why haven't they opened it already, I'm not sure," the Crown Prince said. "Unfortunately, I do not have the authority to command them to answer me, so I am as oblivious as anyone else."
"Huh?" Alex was a little surprised. "What do you mean you cannot ask them? Do they not respect you, the Crown Prince?"
Fangyu shook his head. "While I may be a Crown prince of the Empire, the Beasts Paradise isn't truly part of the Empire, so they get to refuse me," he said. "It's a weird situation. We call it part of the Empire and tell everyone the same, but the top brass knows that's not it."
"I'm confused. Would you mind being more clear about it?" Alex asked.
The Crown Prince nodded. "The truth is, since the Beasts Paradise is something that is formed by the former subordinates of the first Azure Dragon and their family, they have a claim to sovereignty in that land."
"At the same time, they are also a part of the empire. So the situation has come to be where while they are under the empire, they are still their own free region."
"The only one they answer to is the person on the Dragon throne, my father," The Crown Prince said. "So, if you really want to learn more about the Beast paradise, you will have to ask my father."
"Or… I could ask the beasts themselves," Alex said. "Right?"
"I wouldn't get my hopes up, your majesty," he said. "These beasts don't really like humans all that well."
Alex nodded. "I am fine with disappointment. At least I won't regret not asking," he said. "So, when do we leave?"
"Later in the evening I will go notify the beasts that I am here, and tomorrow at dawn, we should be able to leave for it."
