Ange gently patted Romeo's shoulder.
After a long time, Romeo said, between sobs, "Your Highness, hiccup, do you also think I am useless? Everyone... hiccup says Jarvis is a bad person, but... hiccup I am hiding here crying secretly because of him, hiccup."
Ange shook his head. "No. I do not look down on you."
"Really?" Romeo suddenly looked up at Ange. His eyes were red from crying.
"Really." Ange rubbed his head. "Jarvis is indeed a bad person. But I also know that he accompanied you for a long, long time. He taught you many things. He was your teacher. It is very normal for you to feel sad for him."
Romeo and Lila's mother died young, and their father was the King of this country. Therefore, he rarely had time to accompany them.
When Romeo was very young, it was fine. His older sister was with him.
However, as Lila grew up, she also became busy. As the first in line to the Azoth Kingdom's throne, Lila had a lot to learn. After she became an adult (she's the same age as Ange), she often had to help her father handle government affairs. The time she had to spend with Romeo was almost none.
Gradually, Jarvis, the teacher, became the person who spent the most time with Romeo. It was precisely because Jarvis accompanied Romeo that Lila felt guilty towards Romeo. Even when she noticed Jarvis's abnormality, she still did not take excessive action against Jarvis.
Hearing Ange's words, Romeo's eyes gradually brightened.
Ange continued:
"Romeo, you must remember that people are complex creatures. The judgment of a person will be different depending on the perspective.
For example, a person desperate to treat his daughter's terminal illness committed robbery, and in the process, he accidentally killed someone during the struggle.
To the victim and his family, this murderer is certainly evil and deserving of death. But to the murderer's daughter, this person is her dear father. Even if he committed a crime, his daughter still loves and respects him. She will be sad and unhappy for him.
Similarly, even though Jarvis did bad things, he accompanied you and taught you. There is nothing wrong with feeling sad for him. Of course, sadness can only be sadness. You are fine as long as you can distinguish right from wrong."
After listening to Ange's words, Romeo wiped his tears and said, "Thank you, Prince Ange. I know everything. Jarvis did something wrong. It is right for Father and my sister to arrest him. I am just a little sad. Just a little bit."
Ange smiled and rubbed his head. "After you finish crying, hurry back. It is very cold outside. Be careful not to catch a cold. Your sister and father would worry."
"Mm~~"
Romeo nodded vigorously. After standing up, he suddenly hugged Ange, quickly let go, and then ran away in a flash.
Ange looked at his retreating back and shook his head helplessly.
Still just a child.
Just as Ange was about to leave, he saw a blonde youth looking at him not far away. A Sobble was standing on the youth's shoulder.
"Prince Ange." The youth greeted Ange first.
"You are..." Ange looked puzzled.
"My name is Siebold. I am a guest at the Royal Capital. I just happened to be passing by," the youth replied.
"Siebold?" Ange was startled. He suddenly remembered. Isn't this one of the Kalos Elite Four? "Are you... Elite Four Siebold?"
Siebold smiled and walked up to Ange. "It is an honor that Your Highness recognizes me. I have wanted to meet Your Highness for a long time, but I never had the chance."
"Sobb Sobb~"
The Sobble on Siebold's shoulder waved very warmly at Ange after getting closer.
Ange reached out and scratched its chin.
Such a cute little fellow.
"Elite Four Siebold, do you have something you want to see me for?" Ange asked, confused.
Siebold smiled and answered, "To be precise, it is not me who wants to see Your Highness, but it is this one." He pointed to the Sobble on his shoulder.
"Sobb Sobb~~"
Sobble grinned at Ange.
Ange looked at Sobble in surprise.
Siebold continued, "We have been eating breakfast at Your Highness's shop every day these past few days, and it has always wanted to meet Your Highness. But there are too many customers in the shop. I thought you must be very busy, so I did not disturb you rashly."
Ange really had not noticed this.
"Then I was truly impolite."
As he spoke, he looked at Sobble and asked, "Little fellow, what do you want to see me for?"
"Sobb Sobb~"
Sobble was very familiar. It climbed directly from Siebold's arm onto Ange's shoulder. It even rubbed its cheek against his.
Sobble's skin was slippery and moist. The sensation was great.
"It seems this little guy really likes Your Highness," Siebold said with a wry smile.
"What do you mean, Elite Four?" Ange paused the action of teasing Sobble.
"The thing is..."
So Siebold recounted the story of Sobble taking a liking to Ange.
"Something like that happened?" Ange was at a loss whether to cry or laugh.
"I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to take Sobble in?" Siebold asked.
Ange looked at the small-bodied Sobble in surprise and asked, "Are you really good at cooking?"
Sobble immediately became agitated when its skill was doubted. It strongly protested to Ange.
"How about letting Sobble show you a bit of its skill?" Siebold suggested.
"Sure!" Ange agreed.
He happened to be thinking about recruiting a helper. If Sobble was really good at cooking, would that not be like giving him a pillow when he was sleepy?
"Then shall we go to the Royal Capital kitchen?" Ange said.
Sobble clenched its fist with a look of dissatisfaction. It silently planned to let Ange witness its skill.
"Good," Siebold nodded.
Ange waved to a maid nearby and she quickly ran over. She bowed and greeted Ange, "Your Highness."
Ange waved his hand. "No need for formalities. Could I trouble you to take us to the kitchen?"
"Of course, Your Highness, please follow me."
The maid then led Ange and Siebold to the Royal Capital's kitchen.
The kitchen staff dared not show any slight to Ange. They quickly prepared the ingredients for Sobble as instructed.
Ange was very curious. How would a tiny Sobble cook? Munchlax needed to stand on a stool to reach the stove. But Sobble would not be able to reach even with a stool, right?
But then Ange saw a surprising sight.
Sobble's tail released a stream of water. The water rose like a pillar. It continuously lifted Sobble until it was level with the stove.
Furthermore, Sobble could maintain this state for a long time. The water flow would not dissipate, nor would Sobble fall from the water pillar. It could also control the water pillar to adjust its movements.
What incredible control ability!
Not only was Ange surprised, but the cooks and maids in the kitchen all stared at Sobble with wide eyes.
Being the center of attention, Sobble did not panic or feel nervous. On the contrary, it proudly gave Ange a thumbs-up. It winked at Ange, as if saying:
Look, am I not cool?
Seeing this, Ange smiled and gave Sobble a thumbs-up in return. He thought Sobble's personality was very interesting, and that it was very skilled.
Seeing Ange's response, Sobble's eyes lit up. It felt even more certain that it had chosen the right person.
When it used to make this gesture to Siebold, Siebold always patted its head and said, "Stop messing around." This made it feel like it was completely on a different channel from Siebold.
Next was Sobble's cooking demonstration.
The dish Sobble planned to make for Ange was Pan-Fried Beef.
In the Pokémon world, there were ordinary fruits in addition to Berries. There were also ordinary animals in addition to Pokémon. Otherwise, how could everyone have meat to eat?
Sobble took a bowl. It mixed barbecue sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cooking wine to make a sauce.
Then it took a large piece of beef, and to Ange's surprise, a small knife condensed from water appeared in its hand.
??? That amazing? It even brings its own kitchen utensils?
Ange's eyes were wide. Siebold was the only one present who was used to it.
After cutting the beef to an appropriate size, thickness, and shape, Sobble began to gently pat the beef. Each pat seemed meticulous. The force and angle had requirements. This could make the beef more tender and easier to season.
Next, it sprinkled salt, pepper, and other seasonings on it, letting the beef marinate for a while.
After marinating, it placed the beef into the sauce it had prepared earlier. It gently flipped it so both sides were fully soaked. It sprinkled some shredded basil leaves and continued to marinate until the beef was fully flavored.
Then, it melted butter in a hot pan. Although Sobble was small, it handled the pots and pans with great ease.
After the butter had completely melted, it placed the marinated beef into the pan. It pan-fried it over medium heat, alternating sides until the surface was golden brown and fragrant.
Finally, it placed the pan-fried beef on a plate to rest, allowing the meat juices to flow back. It used some broccoli, coriander, and other side dishes for decoration.
A serving of Pan-Fried Beef was thus completed.
Sobble gently cut a piece of beef with the water knife and placed it in a small dish. It took a fork and placed it in the dish. It quickly came to Ange's side, holding the dish and handing it to him eagerly.
Ange took the dish. He forked the piece of beef and put it in his mouth. The beef, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, combined with the specially made sauce, created a rich texture that flowed in his mouth.
This Pan-Fried Beef was delicious!
Most importantly, even though Sobble cut the beef with a water knife, not a trace of moisture touched it. Sobble's control over Water-type energy was evident.
A small body with great skill!
Ange could not help but give Sobble a thumbs-up again. "It is delicious, Sobble. You are indeed skilled at cooking!"
Sobble beamed at Ange's praise. It gave Ange a thumbs-up again, as if asking, Am I cool?
"Cool, absolutely cool!" Ange praised it profusely.
"Sobb Sobb~" Sobble immediately darted onto Ange's shoulder. It looked triumphant, like a victorious general.
Seeing this, Siebold knew Ange had accepted Sobble.
He said, "Prince Ange, I entrust Sobble to you."
Ange nodded solemnly. "Do not worry. I will take good care of Sobble."
Siebold looked at Sobble. "Sobble, I will come to see you when I have time."
Sobble nodded. Its eyes revealed reluctance when looking at Siebold. But the choice was its own. So it wiped the corner of its eye. Its gaze became firm again.
Sobble's tears had an extremely strong tearing effect. Although Sobble only shed a single tear, Ange, who was closest to it, was infected, and his eyes were watering.
"Wuwuwu~~ Sobble, let us learn from each other from now on!"
At the same time, Sobble's data appeared in his eyes.
Sobble
[Type] Water
[Ability] Sniper
[Gender] Male
[Level] 14
[Moves] Pound, Growl, Water Gun, Water Pulse, Bind, Soak, Waterfall, Water Pledge, Whirlpool, Aqua Ring.
[Individual Values]
HP: 20
Attack: 29
Defense: 19
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 24
Speed: 30
This Sobble's Individual Values were probably the best Ange had seen, apart from Diancie's. It truly deserved to be a Pokémon raised by the grandfather of the Water-type Elite Four.
Seeing Ange staring blankly, Sobble patted his shoulder.
"Sobb Sobb~" Do not cry. Let us learn from each other, let us learn from each other.
Its reaction made it seem as if Ange was moved to tears by its joining.
The cooks and maids in the kitchen who saw this scene secretly covered their mouths and laughed.
Ange: My life's reputation is ruined in one morning!
After saying goodbye to Siebold, Ange returned home, holding Komala and carrying Sobble on his shoulder.
On the way home, Ange said to Sobble, "Let us buy some ingredients. We will cook something good tonight. It will be a welcome party for you joining us."
Sobble quickly climbed from Ange's left shoulder to his right shoulder. It gave Ange a thumbs-up.
"Sobb Sobb~"
"Then it is settled."
Ange then took Komala and Sobble to the supermarket.
After a major shopping trip, he suddenly saw top-grade beef being sold in the fresh food section. So he said to Sobble, "How about I show you a bit of my skills tonight too? I will let you taste my way of cooking beef."
He remembered that the potatoes in his vegetable garden seemed ready to eat. He would make Beef Stew with Potatoes tonight.
"Sobb~"
Sobble's eyes lit up. It nodded vigorously.
Komala, in Ange's arms, also silently let out a drop of drool from the corner of its mouth. It unconsciously wiped it away. It then flipped over and continued to sleep.
After buying the items, Ange and the others returned to the Munchlax Home. They went up to the third floor, intending to use the spatial passage to return to the Nebel Plateau.
However, Ange and Sobble did not notice that in the corner's shadow, a pair of eyes was secretly watching their backs.
Komala, however, twitched its ear. But that was all.
***
It was already evening when Ange arrived home. The tree-planting Pokémon had all finished dinner and gone home. But he saw Munchlax, Diancie, Gardevoir, and Gallade gathered around a table. They were making surprised noises, and bright laughter occasionally rang out. He did not know what they were doing.
"What are you all doing?" Ange's sudden voice startled everyone.
"Ange, you are back!" Diancie said happily.
"Munch Munch, Munch~~~" Master, did you not say you would be right back? Why were you gone for so long?!
Munchlax rushed to Ange. It burrowed into Ange's arms, rubbing against him and acting spoiled.
Luckily, Ange's physique had greatly improved. Otherwise, he would not have been able to withstand this little chubby fellow.
"Sobb?"
Sobble then let out a cry.
"Munch?"
Munchlax heard the sound. It looked up blankly at this unfamiliar Pokémon.