Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Yale suppressed the tumult within his chest and patted Xi Ze's arm. "Alright, let go. I'll get the suppressant."

"…Not doing it?"

The omega panted softly, his expression earnest and perplexed.

He leaned forward hesitantly, his fingers gingerly gripping the alpha's pants leg. As he asked, his lips slightly parted, revealing his vulnerable and tender oral cavity.

Yale's breath hitched.

He watched, wide-eyed, as the omega bit into his waistband. Just before things escalated into an R18 scenario, he quickly regained his composure and pressed his hand against the omega's face. "Hold on, hold on…"

He knew that Xi Ze had already decided to accept him and had anticipated the shift in attitude and softening.

What he hadn't expected, however, was that it would be so blunt and piercing to his heart, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed.

It had to be said that the omega looked utterly irresistible at this moment.

The fragrance of the brisk tea wafted like a meandering dark river, mingling with the sweet scent of a ripe peach, as if it could burst with juice at the slightest pressure.

With his damp hair pushed back, his chiseled face was revealed, flushed with moisture, and his sharp golden eyes were now soft and hazy...

He even asked, in the earnest tone of a military omega, why they weren't doing it.

How... adorable!

Yale took deep breaths, barely able to resist the urge to take a bite, to taste the confectionary that exuded the rich aroma of bitter tea.

But — his gaze fell on the scars on the omega's body. This exhausted form couldn't withstand any more rough treatment.

"A patient with unhealed wounds has no right to experience rut."

Yale pressed down on his head firmly. "Wait here. I'll call in 015 to administer an inhibitor."

Scent was a super adhesive that bound alphas and omegas together. The intermingling of the bracing tea scent and the cloying caramel created an inexplicable sense of urgency that made detaching himself an arduous task.

Yale feared that if he lingered in the bathroom any longer, he might find himself irreversibly adhered to the omega, unable to be torn away.

Holding his breath, he hastily left the bathroom, trapping the lingering fragrance of bitter tea within.

While Yale was taking his time in the shower, 015 had already recharged and prepared itself for the challenging assignment.

Yale sat on the sofa to regain his composure.

His pheromones were under control; what happened just now could at most be considered an induced release. The heat would fade away quickly after some rest.

Contemplating for a moment, he activated his optical brain and initiated a call to Hayes.

"Have you regained control over your pheromone emissions?"

Hayes' expression on the screen was one of surprise. "That's good news. It indicates that his body is gradually recovering its functions. However, this usually doesn't happen so swiftly."

"The hormonal imbalance in a male omega is still severe. Spontaneous rutting episodes can still occur, and it must be taken seriously..."

The following was a string of technical terms that Yale only partially understood. Nevertheless, he grasped that with proper soothing methods and the administration of suppressants, there wouldn't be any significant issue.

After concluding the consultation, he got up to pour himself a glass of water in the kitchen. Before he could drink much, he heard the sound of the bathroom door opening behind him.

Next came the gentle sound of wheels rolling, followed by the faint noise of the female being placed on the sofa.

Yale gazed at the water swaying at the bottom of his cup. His reason, disrupted by the pheromones and rising steam, reasserted itself, and his ears belatedly flushed with heat.

"Everything's ready!"

015 suddenly appeared behind the kitchen door, looking at Yale quizzically as he shuddered. "What are you doing?"

"Cough…" Yale covered his mouth with his fist, coughing to mask his awkwardness.

"Nothing, I'll just go check outside. You can continue with breakfast."

He hesitated at the entrance for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping into the living room.

Xi Ze was sitting on the sofa, one elbow propped on his knee supporting his forehead, while the other forearm rested nonchalantly on his thigh. Hearing the sound, he lifted his head to "stare" at Yale.

He was only wearing loose sleep pants, his upper body still flushed from the lingering flush. With a frown, he was suppressing the dizziness and ache in his mind. Upon hearing the male's voice, he lifted his gaze.

"Male Lord."

He whispered, clearly more skilled this time, with damp, disheveled strands falling across his brows, making him look particularly obedient.

"…Mm."

Yale cleared his throat uneasily and sat on the sofa on the other side. "Are you feeling better? How's the effect of the suppressant?"

"It's alright..."

Xi Ze's voice was raspy from the heat, but he spoke sincerely, his words intermittent yet genuine as he described his bodily sensations.

"My gland is still burning, but the pheromones have stopped leaking... Increasing the suppressant's concentration by two percentage points should be just right."

It was an exact and meticulous response, causing Yale to subtly click his tongue in admiration.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the still flushed ears of the male omega and the tensed fingers on his knee, suddenly realizing that he wasn't the only one feeling uneasy.

This realization made Yale instantly at ease.

In a mischievous manner, he tilted his head closer to Xi Ze and chuckled softly. "Really? You still smell incredibly alluring."

Feeling the gentle breath brush against his neck, Xi Ze's jawline tensed instantly.

His Adam's apple bobbed for a moment before he whispered in a low voice, "Alpha... You even smell sweet."

"Just like melting caramel."

Thump.

Yale's eyelashes quivered.

His heart beat softly against his chest, pumping blood at an accelerated pace.

This was too adorable.

It was the second time he thought so today.

...

Chapter 015 was busy making breakfast in the kitchen.

During the wait, Yale flipped through the news on his light brain.

The official news of the Aital Star system dominated the homepage. He skipped over the political maneuverings and found a small square dedicated to a local conflict report.

"The Desa Campaign, after a two-week-long struggle, has finally concluded today. This war was smaller in scale and incurred less damage compared to the Lemir Campaign..."

"Under the leadership of the newly appointed General Anto Edka, the battle was won successfully, paving the way for a more peaceful and prosperous future for the Empire..."

In just a few hundred words, the article gave a brief summary of the situation. Most of the content revolved around the hottest name in the past couple of years...

"Do you know that the Empire has appointed a new General?"

Yale scanned the article at a glance, casually remarking, "His name is Anto Edka."

Anto Edka.

Xi Ze's pupils constricted. His hand on the table clenched tightly, causing the heavy wooden table to creak under the impact.

"What's wrong?"

Yale jolted, casting a puzzled glance in Xi Ze's direction.

Almost instantly, Xi Ze averted his gaze, hiding any peculiar expression, "…Nothing."

Looking at him quizzically, Yale suddenly recalled something and asked, "In which battle did you get injured?"

Xi Ze's voice was low as he replied, "…The Lemiir Battle."

It wasn't the recent one. Indeed, the timeline didn't match.

Yale deliberated for a moment before casually inquiring, "Do you have a military rank?"

"Major."

Chapter 15 brought out breakfast, interrupting their conversation. As Yale took several bites of his omelet, a question he had long forgotten resurfaced in his mind.

"Why... did you voluntarily address me as your Sovereign?"

Yale chose his words carefully.

It wasn't long ago that Xi Ze was extremely resistant, yet without any major incidents, the male had unexpectedly changed his attitude. That was peculiar.

"Happy as I am, there has to be a reason, right?"

Yale put down his chopsticks and looked at the male with a smile.

He didn't consider himself particularly charming. His status as a male insectoid was more of a hindrance than a bonus to Xi Ze. Yet, they had somehow managed to reach a harmonious understanding despite the challenges.

"We've only known each other for two days. I thought it wouldn't be so easy for you to trust me, besides... I am a male insectoid, correct?"

"..."

Xi Ze's expression was slightly dazed, his actions slowing down.

To be precise, he hadn't given this matter much thought.

He had once been an outstanding scout, adept at detecting minute clues and making accurate assessments.

But sometimes, things happened so swiftly, like a bolt of lightning before his eyes. In those fleeting moments, a spark could either push him away or compel him to grasp it without hesitation.

What he was doing now seemed no different from what he despised before.

But that wasn't the case.

He had pulled himself out of despair and no longer needed to beg for survival. He did this simply because he wanted to.

When the future seemed bleak, one should seize every opportunity and walk forward fearlessly, for it might not be a dead end after all.

After a moment of silence, Xi Ze lowered his gaze and said solemnly, "I'm just following my heart."

Yale frowned in confusion.

But after gazing at the tranquil side profile of the female insectoid for a while, he suddenly understood his thoughts.

"You..."

Yale's pupils constricted slightly, and his voice was unusually strained. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of his inner wrist.

The sleeve slid down his slender wrist, revealing a mess underneath. Scattered, thin scars crisscrossed on the pale skin on the inner side, coagulated into deep and shallow scabs.

His heart jolted, and he instinctively pulled up his sleeve to cover it.

A hidden shadow in the darkness suddenly extended its spines, piercing his forehead sharply. A corrosive venom seeped into his heart, causing waves of numbing pain.

"I wouldn't count on me, anyway," he blurted out, his tone urgent and cold.

After a moment of silence, Yale realized belatedly that his reaction might have been a bit excessive. He scowled, trying to salvage the situation with a harsher tone. "Anyway, I'm just an ordinary D-class male insectoid. I can't guarantee that I'll meet your expectations."

Xi Ze covered his lips lightly with the chopsticks, giving a low cough. "Don't feel pressured. I didn't have much expectation on you to begin with."

"…?!"

Yale's eyes widened as he swiftly turned his head to look at Xi Ze. It wasn't until he saw the slightly curved, amused eyes that he realized he'd been teased.

For a moment, he was too frustrated for words. In a huff, he shoved the remaining omelet into his mouth.

Deciding to ignore the male insect for the remainder of the morning, Yale downed the milk that 015 had cheerfully served him in one gulp.

After breakfast, to conserve 015's energy, Yale took it upon himself to clear some of the dishes.

But as he turned on the faucet, 015's startled cry accompanied the sound of flowing water:

"Your hand! How did you get hurt?"

015 wouldn't usually make a fuss about previous injuries. Yale lowered his head slowly, only then noticing the slender cuts spanning across the back of his left hand.

The wounds were fresh, already inflamed and swollen. With the exposure to water, their edges had turned slightly pale, appearing rather alarming.

This scene seemed eerily familiar. His vision jolted, and a piercing ringing suddenly assaulted his ears, causing his pupils to constrict.

A searing pain exploded at the back of his head, as if his hair was being yanked by long nails, pinning him in place. Helpless, he was forced into the sink before him—

"So hungry? Sneaking off to steal food from the cafeteria?! You're a damned rodent! Eat more! All this discarded slop is yours…!"

"Sploosh—Bang! Gulp… Uh! Gulp… Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

A suffocating sensation crept up Yale's nose and mouth, causing his vision to dim. He stood frozen, watching the faucet pour water relentlessly, while a severe numbness spread across half of his body.

"Hey, what's going on? The water is overflowing!"

015's voice pierced through the chaotic hum like a needle breaking the vacuum, suddenly filling the air with a sense of renewal.

Yale slowly shook his head and turned off the faucet, silently waiting for his body's reaction to subside.

The stinging pain on the back of his hand registered in his brain as soon as he became aware of it. He furrowed his brow and reached for a nearby towel to dry his hands.

015 emitted a sharp buzz, "Put down that towel, it's dirty! You can't touch your wound with it!"

In the end, Yale was forcefully pushed out of the kitchen. Lately, to assist Xi Ze with his medicine changes, he had become proficient in disinfecting and bandaging wounds. 015 wasn't concerned about that, but water exposure was definitely not allowed.

Yale hissed when the disinfectant touched his wound. Irritated, he shook his hand, unintentionally knocking the bottle over with a loud "smack".

"Be careful."

Seated beside him, Xi Ze offered a reminder. Yale still remembered his decision to ignore him in the morning; thus, he slid his chair back abruptly without a word.

"Screech!"

He bent down to retrieve the bottle, but a hand reached out from the side, gently touching the wound on the back of his hand before enfolding it entirely.

The male insect in front of him suddenly lowered his head.

When the soft touch grazed the back of his hand, Yale barely registered what was happening.

In the next second, something even softer brushed against the scars, causing a slight tingling sensation.

"You…" What are you doing?

Yale's eyes widened, too stunned to pull his hand away immediately.

Yet, where he had been kissed, the pain subsided, as if a sudden rain had extinguished an inexplicable flame. The mild itch on his wound intensified, seeping deeper into his flesh.

Xi Ze held Yale's injured hand, his pure white lashes fluttering slightly as his warm lips gently pressed against the wounds, as if in some ancient rite of knightly devotion.

After a moment, Xi Ze lifted his gaze to meet the male's, his voice low and husky. "Male Sovereign, please don't be angry."

In that instant, as Yale met those molten gold eyes, he suddenly felt the urge to reach out and soothe him.

Author's Note:

Poor Yeye, he's a bit sensitive and on edge. A gentle kiss would calm him down, 333 (nuzzling cheeks).