Ancestral Lineage

Regnare and Delphina trailed just behind their father, exchanging glances that swung between amusement and mild embarrassment.

"Father," Delphina said softly, tugging at his sleeve as he licked honey glaze from his thumb. "You're being watched."

Ethan tilted his head toward her, mismatched eyes hidden beneath his glasses, but the wolfish grin on his face was impossible to miss. "Let them watch. They'll learn the emperor eats like everyone else… maybe a little better." He popped the last dumpling into his mouth with no shame whatsoever.

The trio crossed through the market's final archway into the amusement park itself. Here, neon gates flared to life, painting their figures in shades of pink, teal, and gold as though the park itself were eager to announce their arrival. Rides twisted overhead, holographic mascots waved from signboards, and the music of jingles and laughter formed a backdrop that was at once chaotic and comforting.

But wherever Ethan, Regnare, and Delphina stepped, the chaos stilled. Families froze mid-conversation, wristbands half-raised toward scanners. Teenagers shrieked with disbelief at fans spotting idols up close. Children pointed with sticky fingers, their eyes wide. And more phones rose, recording, capturing, livestreaming.

The emperor didn't slow. He scanned the rides ahead like a predator eyeing prey, then jabbed a finger toward the towering Gravity Coaster that had dominated the skyline earlier.

"That one," Ethan declared.

"Of course," Delphina sighed, hiding a smile.

Regnare's eyes lit up. "Finally! Something fun." His voice carried a draconic thrill, already pushing into a jog before his father's hand caught his hood and reeled him back like a mischievous pup.

"Patience, prince," Ethan said, his voice tinged with amusement. "We'll conquer it together."

They made their way to the queue, though calling it a queue anymore was misleading. The line had dissolved the moment people recognized them. Park staff, pale and trembling, hurried over.

"Your Majesty—your Highnesses—please, you don't have to wait. We—we can clear the ride for you, it would be an honor—"

Ethan raised one brow over his glasses, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Clear it? Why? Are these people not here to enjoy themselves, same like us?"

The crowd, eavesdropping shamelessly, erupted in gasps and applause. A mother clutched her child to her chest, whispering, "Did you hear that? The emperor… he's waiting in line with us."

And so they did. Ethan, arms crossed, casual and towering. Regnare bouncing on his sneakers, restless as ever. Delphina, calm and radiant, fielded shy greetings from children who dared approach.

By the time they boarded the coaster, the entire park was abuzz. Every twist of the track, every scream and laugh that followed was captured, replayed, broadcast across the net in real time. And when they returned, Ethan's hair whipped loose, Regnare shouting with wild joy, and Delphina brushing her curls back with effortless composure—the crowd roared as though they'd just witnessed history.

But the emperor wasn't done. He spotted the arcade next. His grin sharpened. "Children," he said, voice dripping with challenge, "I hope you're ready to be humiliated in front of the entire empire. No one beats me at claw machines."

The words sent another wave of laughter through the onlookers, their phones raised high, desperate not to miss a single moment of what was quickly becoming the most legendary family outing the empire had ever seen.

...

The arcade glowed like a miniature city of its own—rows upon rows of machines humming with life. Neon signs shimmered in layered colors, their pixelated mascots bouncing above aisles of claw machines, rhythm games, and VR pods. The air was heavy with the scent of fried snacks drifting from a concession stand tucked in the corner, mingling with the metallic tang of tokens and the electric buzz of holographic projectors.

The moment Ethan and his children stepped inside, the entire arcade shifted. Kids holding tickets froze, mouths open. A group of teenagers mid-dance on a rhythm platform faltered, tripping over their own steps when they caught sight of him. Even the machines seemed to flicker, as though they too recognized the emperor's presence.

But Ethan wasn't fazed. He slid his hands into his pockets, chewing the last bite of candied fruit with the same casual air one might expect from a college student, not a sovereign who could end armies with a flicker of thought. His sunglasses reflected the rows of claw machines ahead.

"There," he said, nodding toward the shining towers of glass boxes filled with prizes. Some contained plushies—oversized dragons, glittery wolves, and fat-cheeked bunnies. Others held sleek VR headsets, rare cards, and even jewelry.

Regnare's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh, you're on." He cracked his knuckles with unnecessary theatrics. "I've trained for this. Grandma taught me all the tricks."

Delphina rolled her eyes, though her lips curved in a faint smirk. "You two really intend to duel over claw machines? How dignified."

Ethan tilted his head, the smirk beneath his glasses sharp enough to cut. "Dignity is for politics. This… is war."

The crowd gathered immediately. Phones raised. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Is he really—no way, the emperor's about to play a claw machine.""Record this. Record everything.""Imagine if he loses. Who's gonna say they beat him?""He's not gonna lose. He's Ethan!"

Tokens clinked as a trembling arcade attendant scrambled to hand over free credits. Ethan took them with a grin, sliding one into the first machine. The claws whirred to life, descending toward a fat dragon plush wedged between two boxes.

The emperor leaned forward, every movement precise, his aura of absolute focus radiating so strongly that some in the crowd swore the machine itself tensed. The claw dropped, gripped—held—then let go, the plush bouncing back into place.

The crowd gasped.

Ethan froze, blinking once. Then he leaned back, lips pursed as though someone had just insulted his cooking. "Hmph. Warm-up."

Regnare stepped up, confidence radiating. He moved the claw without hesitation, dropped it, and—miraculously—snagged a plush wolf by the ear. The claw jerked upward, swung precariously, and, to the young man's sheer delight, deposited it cleanly into the chute.

The arcade exploded in cheers.

"Prince Regnare got it in one shot!""He beat his father!""Oh, this is priceless."

Ethan's head tilted slowly toward his son, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "Beginner's luck."

The duel escalated. Token after token slid into machines. Plushies tumbled down, and others slipped free at the last moment. Regnare whooped with every victory, his draconic eyes gleaming, hair falling into his face as he darted between machines like a boy possessed. Ethan, meanwhile, played with the intensity of a general planning war campaigns—studying angles, timing, the slight sway of the claw. He muttered to himself, cursed once under his breath, and on his fifth try finally pulled a massive iridescent serpent plush free, raising it above his head like a war trophy.

The crowd went wild.

Delphina watched from a chair, chin resting in her palm, expression somewhere between exasperation and affection. Every so often, a child would tug at her sleeve shyly, and she'd pass them one of the plushies her father and brother had won, their squeals of joy only adding to the carnival atmosphere.

By the tenth round, the duel had become legendary. Phones streamed live across the empire, hashtags already trending.

#EmperorVsPrince, #ClawWars, #RegnareTheProdigy.

The final challenge came when both locked eyes on the same machine—a limited-edition prize: a shimmering crystalline wolf statue that glowed faintly, its fur etched in light. Only one. Only one chance.

Ethan let his son go first. Regnare adjusted the claw, tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. The claw dropped, touched the prize… slipped. The guy groaned, throwing his head back. "No! I was right there!"

Ethan stepped up, sliding his token in with almost insulting calm. His hand hovered on the controls, his head tilting. Then, with surgical precision, he maneuvered the claw. Down it went.

The claws closed.

The crowd held its breath.

The statue lifted, swayed dangerously. For a moment, it seemed it would tumble back—but Ethan tilted his head slightly, a whisper of unseen power steadying the claw. Just enough. It dropped perfectly into the chute.

The arcade exploded like a stadium. Cheers, screams, applause. People jumped, phones nearly flung into the air.

Regnare gawked. "You cheated!"

Ethan bent, plucking the glowing statue from the machine and holding it up so the neon lights bathed it in brilliance. "No, son," he said, smirk sharp as ever. "I simply refuse to lose."

Delphina stood, taking the statue from his hands with a raised brow. "And yet," she said, tucking it into her sling bag, "I'm the one keeping it. You boys can fight over stuffed animals."

The crowd howled with laughter, the emperor's children now cementing themselves as the empire's most beloved duo.

Ethan simply threw an arm around each of them, pulling them close as he led them toward the exit. The cameras followed, but what the empire saw wasn't a ruler, a warrior, or even a legend.

They saw a father. A man laughing with his children after a ridiculous arcade battle, radiant and human in a way that made him somehow even greater.