Chapter 115

Chapter 115

At first, Yue Qiu hadn’t expected these nobles to lower themselves so much in his presence — almost to the point of complete loss of dignity.

But through these few minutes of interaction, he thoroughly understood that for these nobles, their dignity only manifests in oppressing and exploiting the commoners of the empire, and in front of someone like him who could bring them tangible benefits, their so-called dignity could be discarded at any time.

He indeed had probed something, but after that, he lost all interest in dealing with the nobles.

“Do you have any other requests?” Wittesen asked cautiously, “We will do our utmost to fulfill them.”

Yue Qiu had been disinterested from the beginning, and now even more so, barely stopping short of directly telling the nobles to get lost.

“My request is for you to disappear from my sight immediately,” he said unapologetically.

The nobles were taken aback upon hearing this, some looking towards Jaquely, unsure of what to do next.

Being with Queqiu, their spirits were too relaxed, akin to soaking in a hot spring, lulled into drowsiness by the steam, making it hard for them to leave.

The noble Alpha serving as Queqiu's seat felt this even more. Compared to others, his feelings for Queqiu harbored a deeper, more romantic sentiment.

Having such a splendid Omega sitting on his back, light as a soft cotton candy and carrying a special, sweet scent of roses, naturally aroused a longing desire.

Jacky, unbothered by Queqiu's lack of cooperation, turned to the nobles and said, "The competition has exhausted His Divinity. He needs rest now. You can leave, and visit another time."

Marshal Duan Chensen was less courteous, coldly stating, "I don't need to ask you to leave, do I, gentlemen?"

Seeing this, the noble Alphas had no choice but to leave the palace. As they walked away, each one frequently looked back, reluctant to part with the immensely comforting rose pheromones, feeling an impulsive desire to possess him entirely.

Who wouldn't want to monopolize such a miraculous, one-of-a-kind Rose Omega in the entire universe?

The noble Alphas felt this way, so did Jacky, and Marshal Duan Chensen even more so.

However, these nobles were well aware that this miraculous Omega had a deep connection with Marshal Duan Chensen, probably beyond their reach, forcing them to abandon their wishful thinking and leave disheartened.

The corridor became quiet in an instant. The warm sunlight filtered through the intricately carved windows, scattering colorful rays and stretching the shadows of the three people long and thin. Two shadows stood opposed to a solitary one, faintly tinged with an air of tension.

"They're all gone," Marshal Duan Chensen said with a cold smirk, looking at Jacky, "Does His Grace, the Duke, wish to linger any longer?"

Jacky smiled, "If His Divinity prefers not to have me here, I'll take my leave immediately."

Before he finished speaking, a chilly voice interjected: "You guessed right, I don’t wish it."

Queqiu stood beside Marshal Duan Chensen, the proximity of the two indicating their alliance.

Marshal Duan Chensen appeared quite proud, his eyes gleaming with triumph and bragging rights.

"Did you hear that, Your Grace?"

Jacky barely managed to maintain his dignified smile, clenching his fists in secret, and forced out a smile, "Then, I shall take my leave. When His Divinity is free, I will visit again."

Queqiu responded with a mere "Hmm", his expression cold and slightly impatient: He was annoyed at the sight of these nobles and wished they would never appear before him again.

Especially Jacky, this representative of the nobles, he disliked him even more.

Once everyone had left, Marshal Duan Chensen couldn't wait to pin Queqiu against the wall, showering him with kisses here and there, feeling that no amount of kissing was enough.

"You're so beautiful, my wife."

When he first saw Queqiu in that precious, pure white dress, his eyes nearly popped out. If not for the presence of those damned nobles, he would have taken that very moment to be intimate with Queqiu.

Queqiu tried to break free, but Marshal Duan Chensen was overpoweringly strong, like a small mountain looming over him, his shadow completely engulfing Queqiu.

Eventually, after a futile struggle, the delicate rose was tenderly kissed into submission over the course of those minutes.

Like a cat with catnip, Marshal Duan Chensen seemed addicted, not wanting to leave Queqiu for even a moment. Nibbling on the little Omega's pale earlobe, he mumbled unclearly, "Shall we go back to rest?"

Go back to rest?

Queqiu, pressed tightly against the wall, couldn't help but scoff at the suggestion: Would they even be able to rest at that point?

Thinking about all the absurd things this man had done, he lifted his leg to kick the Alpha: "Scoundrel."

"Woof woof?"

The scoundrel shamelessly responded.

Even coming closer to vie for affection: "I'm your obedient little dog, aren't I?"

He was referencing what Queqiu had just said to the nobles.

Queqiu pushed him away with a slap, "Could you be a little more serious outside?"

Pushed away, Marshal Duan Chensen shamelessly clung back, but after the warning, he didn’t dare to act as freely as before.

"What are your plans now? It's still early, and you've just ended your mating season. If there's anywhere you'd like to visit, I'll accompany you."

Queqiu thought for a moment and said, "I want to see my teammates from the Dark Star Military Academy."

Marshal Duan Chensen had whisked him away from the simulated battlefield without a word, and after being out of touch for a week, his teammates, especially Feigo, Instructor An... and You Buwei, must be worried sick.

Marshal Duan Chensen replied, "Don't worry, I've arranged for them to be well accommodated. They're all staying in the palace now, you can see them anytime."

Queqiu nodded, "My initial intent in joining the military academy competition was to find you in the capital star. During these days here, my teammates have taken great care of me. Although most of them don’t have high genetic grades or strong abilities, in terms of character, they are far superior to your useless juniors."

"Can't we just drop this issue?" Marshal Duan Chensen was visibly upset.

It seemed that even when he got old, Queqiu would still bring up this matter.

If Felix were in front of Marshal Duan Chensen, he would have kicked him hard: blaming these disgraceful fools for making him disliked by his precious wife.

They didn't encounter anyone until they left the main hall. The only person Queqiu faintly remembered was the Beta servant who had come to inform them of Jacky's arrival.

Marshal Duan Chensen explained, "Although the royal family has a supreme status in the empire and seems powerful, the stronger the Alpha, the harder it is to have offspring. So, while it's called a royal family, this generation only consists of me and Duan Chenlin."

"The main palace is for the first heir, and since I spend most of my time in the army and hardly live in the palace, there's no need for the extensive retinue of servants like those nobles."

"Beyond the main palace, Duan Chenlin takes care of everything, so there are more servants and attendants."

Queqiu half understood, "Are you and Duan Chenlin really blood brothers?"

From both Duan Chenlin's and Marshal Duan Chensen's behaviors, these blood-related brothers seemed like they had just met and exchanged names for the first time.

"To those who don't know us well, it's easy to mistake one for the other at first glance."

Of course, they were blood brothers, almost identical in appearance.

Queqiu remembered his first encounter with Duan Chenlin. The moonlight was hazy then, and he had almost mistaken him for someone else.

"So, you two..."

"Our father, the previous monarch, passed away early, and Duan Chenlin was born posthumously, ten years younger than me. When he was eight or nine, I was already studying at the Imperial First Military Academy. We didn't have much interaction growing up. After our mother also passed away, no one taught us how to bond as brothers. Our familial affection was indeed weak," Marshal Duan Chensen said calmly, discussing his past as if analyzing a battlefield situation, devoid of personal emotion.

"The royal family may seem prestigious, but in reality, the true power and public opinion are mostly controlled and monopolized by the nobility. Only the military stands independent of the royal family and nobility, wielding a different kind of power. Neither of us wants to deal with the empire's mess. I focused on developing my influence in the military, and Duan Chenlin preferred to be a carefree artist. Since neither of us is interested in power struggles, the benefit is that although we're not close, we don’t fight each other fiercely or become estranged as brothers."

After Marshal Duan Chensen finished speaking, a silence fell between them.

It took a while before Queqiu pursed his lips and said, "I didn’t know about this, sorry."

He hadn't expected that Marshal Duan Chensen, who initially appeared stern and formidable, now somewhat disheveled, had such a history.

"What's there to apologize for?" When talking about serious matters, Marshal Duan Chensen was earnest, but as soon as he left that mode, he turned into a clingy puppy with eyes only for Queqiu.

He raised his hand to rest it on Queqiu’s shoulder, smiling, "A top Alpha like the monarch doesn’t need familial affection. My past is like cold, tasteless water; but my present, warmed and sweetened by your presence, is like honey that melts at the first taste."

Marshal Duan Chensen gazed at Queqiu, only able to see the Omega's clean, fair side profile from his angle.

He spoke earnestly, "I still prefer my present and future with you. The sweetness you give me is enough to fill the bitterness of my past."

Queqiu's heart fluttered at Marshal Duan Chensen's sudden confession, feeling a mix of nervousness and spontaneous joy.

His adrenaline was pumping almost as fast as during battle, making him feel light and airy, as if he might float away the next moment.

Marshal Duan Chensen glanced around, seeing no one nearby, quickly stole a kiss from Queqiu's lips, then immediately retreated.

He was like a child stealing candy, running away quickly after the act.

After being kissed, Queqiu's cheeks turned slightly red, like sweet and sour hawthorns hanging on a tree branch.

Carrying their sweet moment, they walked on without speaking, heads down and awkwardly silent.

Walking past the main hall and onto the spacious palace pathway, they encountered more bustling attendants. Some were dusting, others trimming landscape trees, and many carried various items in and out. However, regardless of who they were or what they were doing, upon seeing Queqiu, they all froze, forgetting their tasks, staring blankly at the deity-like Omega.

Everyone knew who he was and understood Queqiu's identity. The interstellar broadcast of the day's event had allowed the entire empire to witness that grand, stunning miracle.

He was not just a precious combat-class S-rank Omega but also a unique plant in this universe—

According to the Marshal, it was a rose.

Rose…

The attendants savored this word in their hearts, as beautiful and delightful as Queqiu himself.

So beautiful, so divine, such a pure golden flower—

Cluster after cluster adorned the towering plants, resembling miniaturized suns hung high on the branches, warm and bright, filled with endless vitality and hope.

Now, even just glimpsing him from afar, through the flowers and buildings, the attendants felt that even if they were to die the next second, their lives would be fulfilled.

Because before death, they had the fortune to witness a true deity.

Queqiu noticed these changes in the people around him, but before he could ponder, a clumsy Beta attendant, carrying a flower pot, hurried towards him.

The attendant, head lowered and not watching his path, only realized something was amiss when he was already too close to Queqiu.

“！”

Panicking, the attendant lost grip of the flower pot, and his body uncontrollably lurched forward.

Marshal Duan Chensen, quick to react, caught the Beta attendant, stabilizing him and preventing a public embarrassment.

But the flower pot wasn't so lucky; it fell to the ground and shattered with a crisp sound, breaking into several pieces. The daffodils inside were scattered, and water splashed everywhere.

Being close by, Queqiu's pristine white trousers were also splashed with water, leaving damp marks.

The Beta attendant and the other attendants looked terrified, hurriedly bowing and apologizing to Queqiu.

Marshal Duan Chensen turned around, "Are you alright?"

Queqiu shook his head, "I'm not a porcelain doll."

The attendants dared not lift their heads, but upon hearing this, they all thought the same: this precious Rose Omega before them was even more delicate than porcelain, requiring utmost care.

The trembling Beta attendant stammered, "I-I'm sorry, Lord Deity. Please forgive me."

Queqiu's expression remained cool and distant, and his tone was not easily approachable. Yet, the content of his words surprised everyone present, stirring a mix of emotion and poignancy in their hearts.

"You didn't harm me, why apologize?" Queqiu said, then turned to the others, "You don’t need to apologize either."

As the crowd watched him in astonishment, Queqiu knelt slightly, his hands hovering over the broken daffodil. Golden specks of light trickled through his fingers like stars.

In a moment, the daffodil miraculously restored itself.

The Beta attendant's eyes widened in disbelief, rubbing them, unable to trust the sight before him—

Was this not a miracle?!

The awe in the attendants' eyes transformed into deep reverence, with every reason to believe that Queqiu was a true deity.

Amidst their fervent gazes, Queqiu secretly tapped into an abundant surge of spiritual energy, relaxing his expression considerably—

With the end of his blooming period, his spiritual power was finally at his disposal again.

Queqiu rotated his wrist and gave Marshal Duan Chensen a look: Let's go.

"Be more careful in the future, don't be so rash," Marshal Duan Chensen advised coldly before leaving, addressing the clumsy Beta.

Gazing at Queqiu's retreating figure, he commented meaningfully, "Not everyone is as easygoing as he is."

The attendants, often harassed and mistreated by the nobility, understood this better than anyone. Even without Marshal Duan Chensen's words, they knew just how kind Queqiu was.

Though he didn’t offer gentle smiles or warm words, Queqiu's demeanor made the attendants feel genuinely respected and treated as equals.

After Queqiu left, they stared blankly at his departing figure, unable to regain their senses for a long time.

It took a while before they snapped out of it, rushing over to help the clumsy Beta pick up the shattered pieces of the flower pot, eagerly vying to collect fragments that had once been touched by Queqiu.

They couldn't follow in the footsteps of such an Omega, but they still wanted to do everything they could to narrow the distance between them, even just a little bit, even if he would never know their names.

It didn't matter. Silently following and believing in him from afar was enough.

Leaving that palace path and heading towards the accommodation area of the Dark Star Military Academy, everyone Queqiu met looked at him with eyes filled with utmost adoration, brimming with hope and aspiration.

Marshal Duan Chensen said, "Your fame now surpasses any individual in the empire. There is no one in the empire who doesn’t respect or admire you. If you were to leave the palace and take a look around the city, you'd see firsthand just how much everyone adores you."

"Because of my original form?" In this world, where no roses existed and the empire revered plant-based beings, his status as a goldfinch naturally garnered immense admiration.

"That's certainly one of the reasons. But I think the biggest reason is your own charm, attracting so many people to you," Marshal Duan Chensen earnestly said.

Queqiu decided to go to the city with Duan Chensen at night, taking advantage of the cover of darkness.

"Why not go right now?"

"As you said, so many people treat me as a deity, as an idol. My appearance would inevitably attract a crowd."

Queqiu didn't like the feeling of being surrounded and held like a porcelain doll. Back in the Dark Star Military Academy, he was overwhelmed by the adoration of the entire school, let alone now, facing such a vast empire.

Duan Chensen shrugged: "You'll get used to it eventually, because you'll soon realize that wherever you go, you'll be the center of attention."

During their conversation, Queqiu had reached his destination.

"Are you coming in with me?"

"Why do you ask?" Duan Chensen moved closer to Queqiu, "Are you implying there's another person inside, and you're worried I'll find out?"

"You should revert to the personality you had when I first saw you on TV," Queqiu, frustrated, said, "Morfa may be good at acting spoiled, but indeed, he's not mature enough."

"How could that be," Duan Chensen gave him a pitiful look, "Isn't Morfa Mom's favorite?"

Queqiu: "..."

I knew you were jealous of yourself.

"I've seen people being envious of others, but never of themselves," Queqiu said, then, without giving any more attention to the attention-seeking Duan Chensen, pushed open the room door.

The man followed him, a slightly wicked smile playing on his lips.

Queqiu first went to the comfort room, planning to check in with the instructor, but to his surprise, he found all his teammates gathered there.

Hearing the door open, the members of the Dark Star Military Academy instinctively turned around. Recognizing Queqiu, they were first stunned, then erupted into immense joy.

Youbuwei was the first to rush up, intending to embrace Queqiu as usual. But the moment he held Queqiu, his expression darkened, sensing a strong, dominating pheromone that didn't belong to Queqiu.

The pheromone, like a dragon guarding its jewels and princess, allowed no one to covet its treasure.

He was already a top S-level Alpha, but in the presence of this pheromone, he instinctively felt an extreme threat.

Youbuwei looked up, meeting the eyes of Duan Chensen who had just walked in.

In that glance, the two Alphas instantly understood each other's thoughts and identities.

Rivals in love, they were particularly resentful of each other.

Especially annoying was this damned Youjun Alpha, who was currently holding his wife in his arms.

Duan Chensen's brows furrowed, a cold sneer escaping him. Even without exerting his Alpha dominance, the room's Alphas already felt a deep sense of oppression.

After their initial joy, they noticed the man behind Queqiu, all showing surprise: General Duan? Why was he here with Queqiu?

But soon, recalling how he had taken Queqiu away from the simulation battlefield that day, and their subsequent week-long disappearance, the nature of their relationship seemed not so hard to guess.

The author's note:

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! On such a cold night and wonderful holiday, here I am, still clattering away at the keyboard. Sob, TT