Chapter 81

Chapter 81

"Majesty, we have arrived."

The hovercar came to a halt in front of a heavily fortified building. After verifying the identity of the insectoid within, numerous reports were filed before they were finally granted unimpeded passage.

The warden was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing the arrival of the sovereign's vehicle, he eagerly approached, only to be blocked by the military females who were acting as the sovereign's personal guards.

"Everything is in order. Please, this way."

Yale stepped out of the vehicle, guided by the insect before him into the structure that stood before them.

From the bright sunshine outside, he entered the prison, where the temperature dropped noticeably, as if he had stepped into a chilly, gloomy cavern. A faint hint of blood could be detected at the tip of his nose.

"The captive has been relentlessly resisting since the day he was apprehended. Despite employing these measures, he still refuses to divulge any information. The deadline set by His Majesty is drawing near..."

The warden rattled on about the difficulties they faced in the prison. As Yale listened with one ear and let it out the other, he secretly sorted through the various reasons for his visit.

In theory, he should have declined any private contact with the source of danger. However, with Lance already behind bars and no longer a threat to him, Yale felt it safe to proceed.

Furthermore, he had a hunch that needed clarification. Relying solely on research could be limiting; it was best to witness things firsthand. Perhaps he might learn something through direct interaction.

"The interrogation room for the male insect is right ahead. Your Highness, shall we proceed now?"

A chill flashed in Yale's eyes, but he quickly composed himself in a breath.

"Let's go in."

...

Not long after he entered, another hovercar pulled up outside. The deputy warden, hastily informed, rushed over and was immediately dumbfounded.

"Su Su Su – Supreme Commander?! How did you...?"

He had only caught wind of the latest developments in the pursuit of Anton earlier that morning. Yet, just a few hours later, the insect who had wreaked havoc in a mecha on the news had teleported right before him.

The afternoon sun was blinding, causing Xi Ze to squint slightly as he gazed at the entrance not far away. He strode past the stunned warden without pause.

Bai Lang hushed the dazed insect and waved dismissively. "Keep it down. There's no need to inform His Highness or make any preparations. We'll just observe for a while and leave."

"Well, well..."

*

The interrogation room was divided by a transparent barrier, with the subject of the interrogation seated on one side and the interrogators on the other, also open for visits but under constant surveillance.

When Yale entered, the room was brightly lit, clearly prepared for his arrival.

He lifted his gaze with a composed expression, catching sight of the male insect sitting behind the barrier—

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency Yale."

Lance gazed at him intently, his smile gentle. "I didn't expect Your Excellency to actually come. I'm truly honored."

With no facilities in the prison, the male insect had his long white hair loose and wore an ill-fitting prisoner's uniform, yet he didn't appear disheveled or unkempt.

Shackles adorned his neck and limbs, but he sat elegantly as if not in an interrogation, but rather lounging on a luxurious sofa in the Duke's Mansion, calmly receiving guests.

"..."

On the table here were clean towels, steaming coffee, and even a rose. Yale casually glanced over them before refocusing his attention on the male insect before him.

"Did you plant the explosives beneath the palace?"

His question was straightforward, catching Lance off guard. He then responded with a surprised laugh, his expression of astonishment impeccable.

"How could it be me? I'm preoccupied with family affairs day and night, rarely stepping foot in the palace. There's no chance for me to bury explosives beneath such a heavily guarded place—"

"Did you force the Second Prince to detonate them?"

Yale interrupted him directly, his gaze never leaving the male insect's face. He leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed on the tabletop.

Lance, however, seemed to have an epiphany, his gentle expression tinged with reproach. The corners of his eyes reddened slightly. An uninformed insect might indeed be deceived by this facade and soften their stance.

"Why bother coming here to bluff me if Your Highness has already uncovered the truth?"

He smiled faintly, spitting out icy words without mercy.

"It was indeed that fool Felix who detonated the explosives. He buried them too. Despite being utterly incompetent, I didn't expect him to have the audacity to seek mutual destruction... Rather amusing."

A prince, coddled since birth, had been surrounded by flattery and affection for the sake of profit. This had nurtured an innocent demeanor, or, in harsher terms, a naive and easily manipulated fool.

This kind of personality tends to break down under pressure, leading to extreme actions.

From the information he had gathered, after marrying Kanuo, Felix had been hospitalized multiple times due to excessive play, but as he had already become Kanuo's submissive partner, even the royal family couldn't intervene.

Abused by his sadistic dominant partner and pressured by the cunning Duke, Felix soon developed mental issues while becoming abnormally dependent on Kanuo, bordering on a pathological level.

At the scene of the explosion back then, Xi Ze and Augustus were caught off guard, standing in the inner circle, while Kanuo and the other insects had discreetly distanced themselves. It was impossible that they were unaware of the situation.

...Unfortunately, there were only plausible speculations without definitive evidence to pin the gravest crime on Lance.

Yale gave him a solemn glance but didn't press further with those questions. His fingers tapped intermittently against the tabletop.

"Is there anything else, Your Highness, that you wish to inquire about?"

Click.

In the adjacent surveillance room, separated only by a wall.

"From here, we can hear their conversation. Should we...?"

The deputy warden rubbed his hands, uncertain if he had misinterpreted the marshal's intentions. He turned to Bai Lang for help.

"Bai Lang, there's no need. I'll go to the side room."

The side room was a tiny chamber adjacent to the interrogation room. Unlike the control room, it didn't offer a visual feed, but allowed one to immerse in the sounds from within. It could prove unexpectedly useful during interrogations.

Xi Ze nodded at Bai Lang and locked the door from the inside. Sitting on the single stool, the voices from next door immediately became crystal clear, even echoing slightly due to the confined space.

"You were the one who requested to see me. Don't you have something to say?"

Yale deftly tossed the question back to Lance.

Actually, it's nothing much. I just couldn't help but feel that it's a pity how Your Highness has been on the main planet for so long, and yet we haven't had the chance to meet even once. After all, I am the sire of Xierz, am I not?

Lance's body relaxed, leaning slightly forward onto the surface in front of him, as if the topic brought him pleasure, his smile becoming more radiant.

"He takes after me in appearance, and I must admit, I wasn't fond of it back then. Typically, when an offspring resembles its male parent, it tends to receive more affection from them. This usually extends to the female parent as well... Unfortunately."

"Nonsense."

Yale's eyelashes drooped slightly as he gazed at the smiling female insect, unknowingly adopting a colder tone.

"Have you always spoken to him like that? Blaming his lack of favor on his eye and hair color?"

"Yes, for a long time, he disliked his eyes and hair. At two years old, he even tried to dye them with ink. It was adorably foolish."

Those golden eyes were filled with mocking amusement, tinged with inexplicable malice.

Though their shapes were nearly identical, and the colors almost the same, they seemed exceptionally dull in comparison to Xi Ze's, even eliciting disgust from others.

"At the time, I had the patience to act the doting parent. I'd often comfort him, saying it wasn't his fault, then bribe a female servant to gossip behind his back. After a few instances, he loathed himself."

Yale began to understand.

Why did Xi Ze fall for his deception time and again, unable to sever ties despite the harm and constraints? It took his tragic death for all illusions to dissipate.

Because of that brutal male insect, Lance became, in Xi Ze's mind, a vulnerable creature in need of protection and love. The facade of kindness only reinforced this image.

He would feign the distress and affection of a parent, then suddenly unleash venomous words, followed by sincere apologies to gain forgiveness – a cycle that repeated endlessly.

It was enough to etch deep scars into a young cub's heart, nurturing a premature, sensitive, anguished personality prone to distress, ultimately becoming a puppet whose actions were not their own, manipulated by the tangled web of love and hate.

No wonder Xi Ze behaves unpredictably at times; the root of it lies here.

Yale's expression turned increasingly chilly as he fixated his gaze on the female insectoid opposite him, his jet-black eyes piercing deeply.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

Seemingly entertained by the expression on his face, Lance propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze intensifying as he studied the male insectoid's reaction, pushing his teasing even further.

"Later on, I thought, well, one can't change their appearance if it doesn't suit another's fancy. But as long as they're obedient and submissive, that's not too bad either..."

Yale cast a fleeting glance at the still steaming coffee, his expression enigmatic.

"Not trying to spill that coffee on me, are you? This is a barrier created by the latest technology; even the shock cannons on a starship couldn't penetrate it. Your Highness, it's best to abandon such an unrealistic notion."

Lance keenly picked up on Yale's gaze. A hint of smugness slipped through his gentle smile, not because of the barrier's protection, but because he believed he had breached Yale's defenses.

"And then what happened?"

Yale spoke up abruptly.

"Later? I originally intended to raise him to be more well-behaved, but it seems I failed. I'm annoyed by that troublesome personality as well. There's nothing to be done, I had to let him go."

In truth, Hizer was very obedient to him at that time, having learned much at a tender age. Those eyes of his were often ignited with rage and hatred, possessing the same sharpness and ruthlessness as a wild beast's.

But in front of him, the cub's face was filled with worry, self-reproach, and a strong protective instinct, treading cautiously as if afraid that his wounds might ache again or that he might be bullied by another mate.

Back then, he should have been rejoicing, for he had successfully forged a blade that obeyed only his commands - a tool that was both handy and versatile, enabling him to wield it at will for personal gain, with the ability to recover from any wear and tear on its own.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, when he met those molten gold eyes, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming disgust, even a strange sense of being scorched.

—Those eyes were open and sincere, filled with both love and hatred, hardly the appearance of someone involved in underhanded dealings. There was a chance they might turn against him someday, stabbing him in the back without warning.

At that time, he swiftly found a suitable excuse and logically decided to abandon this youngling.

"What do you mean?"

A subtle change finally appeared on Yale's face, his voice cold and unconcealed.

"What have you done to Xi Ze?"

Lance, who was about to speak, froze as if in disbelief. He even paused for a moment before laughing and repeating the question.

"Xi Ze? You call him... Xi Ze?"

He covered his face, almost laughing until he was out of breath. Between fits of laughter, he stammered.

"Your Highness, didn't you know? This name symbolizes abandonment and disgrace. How could you use it as an endearment? What were you thinking?"

"Wouldn't that guy really hold a grudge?"

In the adjacent room, Xi Ze's expression was calm. His eyes did not blink, but his hands on his knees trembled for a moment before clenching tightly. The long bones turned pale with strain.

The voice in his ears was both familiar and alien, making him momentarily dazed. It felt as if an icy chill from a snowy landscape had enveloped his entire body, causing his muscles to instinctively tense.

In the midst of those laughs, there was no longer the sound of the male insect. It was as if the last trace of warmth had dissipated, freezing his heart bit by bit.

The crime of mistreating a youngling in the Empire is severe, and it's also difficult to stage an accidental death. That's why I took him on a trip under the guise of tourism to a remote planet."

Lance finally managed to stifle his laughter, recounting that untold story at a leisurely pace.

That planet was extremely primitive, perpetually blanketed in heavy snowfall with harsh conditions. The only beauty there consisted of sparse snowfields and towering mountain peaks, shimmering under the sunlight.

After much effort to go on this rare outing, the youngling, who always tried to act mature, was so ecstatic that he couldn't sleep the whole night. Ignoring the cold, he frolicked and rolled around in the thick, fluffy snow, dashing back and forth.

At the foot of those snowy mountains, there resided a mysterious tribe that worshiped the deity of the snow-capped peaks. They held grand rituals at regular intervals, drawing many visitors to witness them.

But he wasn't there for leisure; instead, he went straight to the tribe's leader, engaging in a seamless transaction with practiced ease.

The hooded figures gave Hylzer a single stardollar - that was the price for purchasing him. Then, Lance carelessly scribbled a name on the transaction contract.

"You'll be known as Xi Ze from now on, with no more mention of the surname Monte. That's how things work here; it signifies..."

Offering.

He muddled the term, merely informing Hillez that it was just a role-playing game, where he had to portray the adorable little lamb, and upon concluding the game, he would get to return home with his sire.

The stark contrast of the dark forest against the snow created a distinct boundary. They stood on the pristine white snow, while mere steps away lay boundless darkness.

Lance lifted his gaze, meeting pairs of crimson eyes glowing with ravenous desire.

Step by step, he retreated, leaving the bewildered young one standing there. He boarded a nearby compact mech and promptly ignited its power to take off into the sky.

If he dared to turn his head, he would see in the receding snowfield a tiny figure running desperately towards him, only to stumble and fall, struggling to crawl and catch up, amidst heart-wrenching cries and screams.

Perhaps it was because he didn't wish to witness the gruesome spectacle of beasts feasting, or perhaps there were other reasons… He never once looked back.

"I actually don't know how he managed to survive, considering there has never been a precedent for such a case."

Lance fixated on the male insectoid's expression, genuinely perplexed for a moment.

This was an unspoken method among nobles for disposing of "rejects," and they had maintained a mutually beneficial arrangement with that party for many years. There was no reason for them to suddenly show mercy and spare Hizar now.

But that's beside the point; what matters most is —

"Are you angry?"

In the face of the male insect before him, Lance could see the flames of fury and resentment igniting, making those dark eyes shine brightly, like the chill of a drawn blade.

The smile on Lance's face faded too. "Isn't Your Highness a male insect? Can you also empathize with the pain of a female insect?"

"..."

Yale gazed into Lance's eyes for a long while, then he let his hands fall from the table, concealing their incessant trembling.

It suddenly dawned on him that he would find it extremely challenging to gain the upper hand or emerge victorious in the matter concerning Xi Ze.

Lance, indifferent at best and utterly disdainful at worst, could mercilessly engage in ridicule, slander, insult, and assault, wielding his once-kin as both weapon and shield.

His heart overflowed with love and concern, and the mere beginning of it was already piercing his soul. Fury scorched every sensitive nerve and fiber of his being, making it almost impossible for him to maintain his composure.

"Yet, even after returning to the home planet, he couldn't shake me off his mind."

Lance gazed intently at him, his expression taking on an ethereal quality as he spoke softly and swiftly, "His own tangled emotions and inability to let go have nothing to do with me, right?"

"This title and family were obtained through his daring act of eliminating that male insect for me, risking his life in the process. He nearly lost it all because of this, but he didn't share the truth with you, did he?"

With each passing moment, he seemed determined to provoke the male insect to its limits, his tone growing increasingly urgent and his words pushing ever further beyond the boundaries of propriety.

"It seems I truly crave affection. At the slightest display of a fatherly figure's tenderness and regret, I can't help but soften and draw near, only to feel the pain after being bitten, and then start to keep my distance."

"Shut up."

Yale's gaze was fiercely locked onto him, the two words seeming to be grated out between his teeth, carrying with them an escalating venomous resentment.

Veins bulged on the fair wrist, as if tolerance had reached its limit, causing the armrest of the chair to creak under pressure.

"Again and again, like an ungrateful dog that never learns."

Lance's face contorted slightly, shattering his perpetually gentle facade. A myriad of malevolence, intertwined with excitement, spilled out from the cracks in his mask.

He gazed into the dilating eyes of the male insect, witnessing the love within shatter like a broken glass bottle. Sharp fragments pierced the heart, leaving it mangled and bleeding, seeping through the pulsing veins.

"No, still not the same. He's even more despicable than a dog."

Lance let out a soft sigh, finally wearing a satisfied smile.

"You mentioned earlier that this barrier could withstand a blast from a pulse cannon?"

Yale's voice suddenly echoed, and before Lance could react, the scraping sound of chair legs against the floor rang loudly and harshly.

In the moment he sprang up, an overwhelming mental pressure, terrifying in its intensity, erupted abruptly—

Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack…!

Spiderweb-like cracks spread in an instant. Before anyone could react, even before a blink, the sturdy barrier exploded with a thunderous boom!!

Countless sharp fragments flew in all directions, instantly slicing through tender skin and leaving trails of crimson blood.

Lance's pupils constricted. His subconscious screamed a warning and urged him to flee, but before his muscles could tense, his hair was fiercely grabbed, and a searing pain and pressure crashed down upon him—

Splat!

The sound of flesh being torn echoed as the sharp fragment pierced through his eye, its bloody tip emerging from behind his ear, pinning Lance directly to the table.

"Aaaahhh!"

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

A hoarse scream ripped from his throat, no longer disguised in pretended gentleness. It was a piercing noise akin to a knife scraping against glass, stirring disgust upon hearing it.

"I told you, ssshhhh...!"

Yale's gaze was icy, as he picked up the scorching hot coffee with his other hand, pouring it directly onto Lance's head. The rich liquid cascaded through the air, splattering noisily onto the tabletop.

Black coffee intermingled with crimson blood, staining the disheveled white hair, immersing him in a mire from which he could never rise.

"Who says this coffee can't be splashed on your head?"

This sudden outburst left the swarm of monitor bugs stunned, and a chaotic uproar began to spread. Thuds of pounding on doors echoed from behind.

Yale seemed to ignore the plea, relentlessly exerting his mental pressure, squeezing Lance under his palm until he convulsed violently, unable to even let out a scream.

Bending down, his voice was soft yet each word was enunciated with utmost clarity.

"I'll tell you this, I will always favor him. We have centuries ahead to heal the wounds of the past together. Sooner or later, he'll forget about you, trash."

"And as for you, tomorrow you'll be a pile of rotting flesh, fertilizer for insects to process. Soon, Kanor will join you."

He gave a short, mocking laugh.

"Both of you will remain there, spat upon by passing insects and urinated on by animals, forever decaying and stinking."

The door behind them finally opened, and the warden, interrogator, and a horde of guards rushed in. Yet, they dared not approach His Majesty the male insect too closely, fearing collateral damage.

"Majesty?! Majesty! He, he, he's still useful! We need to extract more information...!"

"Please don't... Oh, watch out... Be careful, it's hot!"

Their mental energies remained sharp as knives, suspended in mid-air, hissing with a chilling sound that even their attempts at persuasion couldn't mask.

Yale stood up but didn't release his grip on Lance.

That terrifying mental energy instantly retracted and pierced into his mental landscape, mercilessly scavenging for something within.

The drone's body convulsed violently as if enduring excruciating pain, yet it was pinned down by that mental force, unable to move. It could only emit hoarse gasps from its throat.

"Before his imprisonment, half of the Duke's Mansion's wealth had already been laundered through illicit means and transferred in batches to..."

"He hid a cache of weapons on Colea-077, specifically for Anto and the Star Pirates. That desolate planet has become a fixed base, with a major pirate crew docking there just a week ago."

"There are also vast amounts of explosives buried beneath the secondary palace... Notify His Majesty to leave immediately!"

As Yale scoured the mental landscape for stored memories, extracting useful information, he quickly recited these details, gesturing for the recorder to jot them down swiftly.

Each revelation was earth-shattering. The interrogators who had burst in were now dumbfounded, shuddering at the last piece of information.

"Alert His Majesty at once!!"

The warden roared, rushing to the office and dashing to make a direct, encrypted call to the Emperor that was reserved for the most urgent situations.

The imminent crisis was instantly averted. Every remaining piece of information was meticulously recorded. If verified, they would be more than enough to uproot a multitude of criminal evidence.

With nothing left to translate, Yale lowered his gaze wearily. After releasing his grip, he accepted the warm towel offered by Interrogator Zhang and wiped the dirt from the back of his hand.

"He's not dead or insane. Don't believe a single word of his pitiful cries for sympathy. Contact me anytime for free post-trauma counseling."

He tossed the towel onto the countertop, not sparing Lance another glance as he delivered a solemn warning before turning to leave.

The warden hurried forward to open the door. "Your Excellency, take your time. Would you like to rest in the reception room for a while, perhaps have a cup of hot tea to relax?"

Before he could finish, an unusual commotion erupted behind him.

The male was forcefully pinned to the countertop, restraints clamped down on him without mercy, tearing open the wounds that had pierced through flesh.

"Hah... I was right... One day, you'll abandon him too... Dead or mad, that's the most beautiful ending..."

Lance stared at the departing figure with his remaining eye, laughing in broken intervals through the agony, like the last toxic drop seeping from a decaying exotic flower.

Yale didn't turn around. He left amidst the strangled, eerie laughter of the male.

Leaving the chaos behind, he allowed the door to shut out the entire scene.

He was about to step out the door directly when he lifted his head and saw a familiar figure standing not far away. His expression shifted instantly from indifference to astonishment, then gradually softened.

"Why are you back without telling me?"

Yale quickened his pace and approached the stunned male insect, waving his hand in front of him.

"…Male Lord."

Xi Ze blinked slowly, coming back to his senses, and gently held the waving hand.

He wanted to call Yale's name but found his voice hoarse. Swallowing hard, he managed to say with difficulty, "I'm sorry."

The male insect was smiling, but there was no mirth in his eyes. Perhaps he was upset by Xi Ze's deception.

Or maybe it was because of their sordid past that made things awkward. After all, pain could provoke empathy, and repeated weakness and indecision could only evoke resentment.

A long time ago, he knew that Yale was far more resolute than he was, capable of cutting through these entanglements decisively without easily succumbing to sentimentality.

Xi Ze's eyelashes drooped slightly as he gently massaged the male insect's wrist, brushing over the red mark on the pale back of the hand from the spilled coffee. A hint of distress showed on his face.

Yale gazed steadily at him.

He didn't inquire about the apology, simply withdrawing his hand and then seizing the male's forearm, leading him out the door.

When they first arrived, it was a bright afternoon; now, after an indeterminate duration in the interrogation room, evening had fallen. The sunlight was no longer harsh, replaced by a magnificent and gentle array of clouds and hues.

Yale took a deep breath. The chill from the outside air cooled his overheated mind entirely.

Then he turned his head, focusing intently on the male. In those eyes, he saw almost palpable anxiety boiling beneath the surface, and deeper still, a tiny reflection.

It was like a lost pup in that snowy expanse, helplessly clutching its paws, unsure of what to do or where to go, forever abandoned and therefore forever stunted.

Yet Yale, oddly enough, recognized a glimpse of his former self in that young creature.

No matter how much love he'd gained later on, or even true happiness, that small piece of his dead soul remained forever gone, quietly tucked away in a corner. Occasionally, upon stumbling upon it, he was reminded of his own incompleteness.

His eyelashes fluttered slightly. Just as the tension on the male's face reached its peak, Yale lifted his gaze abruptly, offering a faint smile.

"Fool."

Yale embraced Xi Ze tightly, burying his face in his lover's chest, closing his eyes to savor the familiar scent of the female insectoid.

After a long while, he mumbled again, "…I've never seen anyone as foolish as you."

The warmth in his arms soothed his fleeting anxiety.

Xi Ze promptly hugged Yale back, not protesting at being called foolish. He nuzzled the male's hair and ears eagerly, whispering repeatedly, "Male Lord… Yale… Yale."

"Yale."

His voice trembled, but he couldn't help murmuring the name.

Merely uttering that name filled his tongue with an endless sweetness that dissolved all the coldness and bitterness, bringing warmth and light back into his world.

In the glow of the radiant dawn, that corner was tranquil and secure.

That child, forgotten by time, quietly escaped from this body and nestled into the adjacent one, finding the familiar black corner and holding the other youngling's hand.

The departed are forever gone.

Those who remain live on, stepping toward a radiant future.