Chapter 33 Caressing

Chapter 33: Caress

After leaving Idris's villa, Yisang asked with his usual lazy tone, "What do you think of that male?"

Suoen, walking beside him, carefully chose his words, "He's quite unique."

"Do you think he's pretending?" Yisang opened the door and sat down in the hovercar.

"Not necessarily," Suoen replied, "It's just that this sir seems overly concerned about Idris. Males rarely act this way."

"But you don't need to worry too much. Idris detests males to the core, so he definitely won't be deceived or taken advantage of."

Where did that come from!

His own kid was so worried about him that he actively sought him out, and you call that detesting?

Listen to what you're saying!

Yisang was exasperated by Suoen's cluelessness, "Stop talking and just drive the hovercar properly."

Suoen: ?

Wait, what did I say wrong?

"By the way, I owe you a favor this time. If needed, I can help you with a Mind Sea cleansing session later."

Having been busy all afternoon without a nap, Yisang couldn't help but yawn. Leaning back in the seat, he forced himself to stay awake and opened the Stellar Ring.

"YSWR: Sir, found it. The signal point is in Zone B."

Yisang scrolled through the messages sent by Ivar, and instantly sat up straight.

He glanced back in the direction of Idris's villa, then lazily leaned back again, opening Idris's chat window.

"Yisang: Check completed, no issues."

Just after replying, Yisang heard Suoen's exclamation.

"I don't need you to cleanse my Mind Sea!" From the driver's seat, Suoen, startled by Yisang's offer, hurriedly refused, "What happened today stays between us! If Ivar misunderstands, I'm done for!"

Yisang: ...

"Suoen."

"What?"

"You're overthinking it."

Ding.

The Stellar Ring vibrated. Yisang opened the message.

"Good kid: Thank you, Father."

"Yisang: Mhm."

Closing the Stellar Ring, Idris let out a sigh of relief. He leaned back in the chair outside the ward, looking exhausted.

"Major General, the MPA says they don't have a suitable male available for cleansing assistance anytime soon. What should we do next?" Ray handed a nutrient drink to Idris, "It's been a whole day. You should eat something too."

Idris took the nutrient drink and stood in front of the ward. Through the glass on the door, he could clearly see that Aosen's arm had begun to insectify. Once fully insectified, it would be very difficult for him to regain rationality. By then, only death would await Aosen.

"What did the doctor say?" Idris asked.

"The doctor said today's cleansing, though unsuccessful, could somewhat slow the insectification process, but it won't buy much time." Ray's voice grew low, "If we can't find a suitable male in the next few days, Aosen will..."

Idris knew all too well what would happen. He had witnessed similar scenes countless times on the battlefield.

Still, he could never get used to it.

Idris tightened his grip on the nutrient drink, "I'll continue searching for a suitable male these next few days. You stay here and contact me immediately if anything changes."

"It's getting late. I'm heading home for a bit and will come back later."

Tossing the empty bag into the trash, Idris turned and walked toward the elevator. Ray followed behind, hesitating as if wanting to say something.

"Major General..."

Idris turned back. After much hesitation, Ray seemed to make a decision, "Major General, I heard that Sir Samuel has a very high rank, and he's on good terms with you. Could you..."

"Ray." Idris had already guessed what he wanted to say and cut him off.

Admittedly, he didn't want his comrade to die like this. But asking a male who is currently recuperating to take the risk of performing a Mind Sea cleansing for an insectifying soldier was neither reasonable nor appropriate.

Ray wanted to say more, but the elevator dinged, signaling its arrival. Watching Idris's figure disappear behind the metal doors, Ray sighed and turned back to the ward.

Before returning to the villa, Idris made a detour to the military headquarters to freshen up. By the time he pushed the door open and arrived home, dusk had fallen. The lights in the villa's living room were on, standing out starkly in the twilight.

For no particular reason, Idris's heart gave a gentle thump. He hurried inside, pushed the door open, and saw Samuel sitting on the sofa, intently reading a book. Hearing the noise, the male looked up. Seeing him return, his dark eyes lit up, and he stood to greet him.

"Brother!"

"Hmm?" Idris caught the approaching male and ruffled the dark hair now close at hand, "Have you had dinner?"

Samuel shook his head, "No appetite without Brother here."

"Then what would you like to eat? I'll make it." Idris took off his military jacket and was about to place it on the sofa when Samuel intercepted it. He naturally reached out, took it, turned, and hung it on the coat rack by the entrance.

"Let 99 make something simple." Samuel walked back, pulling Idris to sit down beside him, "Brother, rest a bit."

"Didn't you dislike 99's cooking?" Idris found it strange.

"But Brother is more important." After looking Idris over several times, Samuel's gaze settled on his chest area. He asked cautiously, "Does the wound still hurt?"

Idris was greatly pleased by the male's concern. He took Samuel's hand, smiled, and shook his head, "It's already scabbed over. Don't worry."

Even after getting the reply, Samuel didn't look away. The dream turning into reality made him deeply uneasy.

"Can I see it?" Samuel asked.

"See what?" Idris didn't catch on immediately.

"The wound."

The male's request, as always, put Idris in a difficult position. He didn't think the male had forgotten what he said at the hospital, yet he still asked.

Why?

Idris lowered his gaze, trying to figure out the male's thoughts. After thinking for a moment, he seemed to have found an answer. When he looked up again, deep within his purple eyes lay a hint of desperate, all-or-nothing madness and absolute determination.

"Must you see it?" Idris suppressed the restless thoughts in his heart and asked again.

He decided to give the male one more chance to reconsider.

"Yes!" Samuel's attitude was resolute.

The male's immediate answer pleased Idris. He chuckled softly with delight, took Samuel's hand, and placed it on his collar button: "Then undo it yourself, Your Excellency."

The buttons were cool, yet Samuel inexplicably found them scalding. He wanted to withdraw his hand but heard Idris's voice above him: "Has Your Excellency changed his mind?"

Samuel looked up and saw that Idris, usually steady and serious, now wore a teasing half-smile as he watched him.

Brother's being mean! He's teasing me on purpose!

Samuel glared at Idris indignantly, trying hard to ignore the strange feeling that flashed through him. Gritting his teeth, he undid the first button with trembling fingers.

The military shirt had many buttons, each polished smooth and round. Samuel's fingers kept slipping, as if they were burning.

Midway, he looked up, wanting to ask Idris for help, but the one who usually assisted him with everything now was being completely hands-off. It took a great deal of effort before he conquered all the buttons.

Idris leaned on the sofa with one hand, guiding Samuel to unwrap him like a gift. He observed Samuel's earlobes turning from white to pink and then red, finding the male utterly pure and adorable.

It made you want to tease him mercilessly.

The buttons were undone, but Samuel remained dazed and motionless for a long time, that strange feeling resurfacing. This wasn't right.

He'd meant to check the wound, hadn't he?

How had it somehow turned into undressing him?

Couldn't Brother undress himself?

Seeing the male space out, Idris raised his hand and deftly pulled open the shirt.

Large expanses of pale, cool skin were exposed to the air. Samuel was startled, but his gaze was drawn irresistibly to the sight.

At this, Idris chuckled softly, took Samuel's hand, and gently pressed it near his own heart: "Would Your Excellency like to check for yourself?"

Samuel's fingertips glided over intact skin; the warm and supple texture reminded him of the mutton-fat jade he wore around his waist as a child. Yet, the beautiful jade was flawed, covered in scars everywhere, with the area near the heart being the most severe, almost crusted with brown scabs.

Samuel pressed his fingertip against the scab, not daring to press down. He recalled the dreams that had been haunting him lately and pleaded: "Brother, please don't keep things from me in the future, okay?"

"But if Your Excellency knew some things, it would only cause you needless distress. Isn't it better to remain carefree and happy in ignorance?" Idris said.

"If my happiness and ease come at the cost of Brother's sacrifices, I'd rather bear everything alongside you, Brother," Samuel emphasized. "With Brother here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Seeing Idris remain silent, Samuel tidied the clothes before him, then quietly, tentatively leaned against the female insect, cooing: "Brother, is that okay? Don't hide anything from me in the future."

Idris didn't reject Samuel's closeness; he even adjusted his posture to make it easier for the male to press close. Only after the male had slowly and completely settled against his chest did Idris wrap an arm around that slender waist, holding the insect protectively in his arms like a toy.

"Mhm." Idris rested his head against Samuel's black hair, inhaling the scent of pine and mint from the embrace, and let out a satisfied hum. "And what about Your Excellency? Will you hide things from me in the future?"

"No." Samuel leaned against Idris's supple, warm embrace, feeling drowsy.

"Oh? Then why did Your Excellency refuse Prince Augus yesterday?" Idris asked.

"I don't like him," Samuel replied.

"Prince Augus is the crown prince and a major general of the First Army. Such an outstanding insect, and Your Excellency doesn't like him? Who does Your Excellency like then?" Idris pressed further.

"Brother."

"Who is Brother?" Idris continued questioning.

Samuel was so sleepy his eyelids were fighting to stay open. He mumbled, "Brother is just Brother. Brother is so silly."

"Mhm, I am silly." Idris patted Samuel's back as if soothing a young one, taking advantage of his drowsiness to ask further, "Your Excellency forbids me from hiding things from you, but are you hiding anything from me now?"

"Your Excellency?" Idris gently shook the insect in his arms.

"Hmm?" Samuel was almost asleep, his words slurred. "No... there isn't."

There isn't?

Idris scoffed. He recalled Samuel's astonished, affectionate expression during their first meeting and the paintings in the side room. Dissatisfied, he pinched Samuel's cheek, cursing inwardly.

Little liar.

Did he really think Idris couldn't tell that some of the insects in those paintings weren't him?

Thinking of a certain black-haired, black-eyed sub-female insect, Idris's eyes darkened. So what if he couldn't find that insect on the Imperial Star? He would expand the search, scouring every inch of the surrounding planets. He refused to believe he wouldn't find it. And once he did...

Idris stroked Samuel's waist, his lips curling upward as he thought with pleasure: Better to just kill it. That would save the male from pining every day and forgetting about him.

"Master~ Dinner is ready~" 99 wheeled happily out of the kitchen. He scratched his head, looking at the two insects hugging each other, hesitating whether to approach.

The mechanical voice, full of twists and turns, dispelled Samuel's drowsiness. He wriggled out of Idris's embrace, groggily beckoned 99 over, and showered the little robot with praise.

There was no helping it; 99 was too adorable, and Samuel had zero resistance to it.

Hearing the male insect's praise, 99 happily spun circles by the sofa and scattered flowers on its screen. But as it scattered, 99 felt something was off.

Why does my metal shell feel so chilly?

99 blinked its beady eyes, looking left and right, finally locking its gaze on Idris.

Huh? Why is Master glaring at 99 with such a dark expression? Is he hungry?

But if he's hungry, why is he still holding onto Your Excellency and not letting go?

Master is so strange.

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Author's Note: Sorry, my dears! Something tricky happened in real life today, and I was busy dealing with it! I forgot I had a draft saved!! I posted late, wuwuwu!! Feeling a bit guilty, so I'm sending red packets to you all!! [kisses]

Stellar Calendar 4056, August X, Very Sunny, Weekday X

So easily teased, so well-behaved, so cute, so cute, so cute.