Chapter 47 Good Morning Kiss

Chapter 47 Good Morning Kiss

The cool, soft lips pressed against his cheek, instantly rousing Idris from his drowsiness. Hearing the male's request for a kiss, his mind was short-circuiting.

A good morning kiss? Had he ever given Samuel a good morning kiss?

How could he change so much after just one night's sleep? Not only was he completely different from when he woke up yesterday, but he also bore no resemblance to the description in the message from his dam.

His dam probably wouldn't deliberately deceive him about something arranged by his sire.

So, the issue must lie with him.

"Brother, brother?" Samuel rested his head on his arm, waving his hand back and forth in front of Idris's eyes.

"Hmm." Idris snapped back to reality, reaching out to grasp the wrist waving before him. He then helped Samuel sit up in bed, propping a pillow behind him.

He sidestepped the question about the good morning kiss and instead asked Samuel if he wanted breakfast.

"No!"

Sensing that Idris was avoiding the topic, Samuel turned his head away angrily, practically wearing the words "I'm angry" on his face for all to see.

Idris called Samuel's name softly, but the male neither responded nor allowed him to touch him. He knew he couldn't escape this, so he coaxed him, asking what it would take for him to eat.

"Hmph, figure it out yourself." Samuel continued to feign anger.

"But what if brother really can't remember?" Samuel rarely acted up with anyone, and seeing him like this today felt both novel and endearing to Idris. He couldn't resist teasing him a little.

"Then I'll never talk to brother again!" Unable to bring himself to scratch him, Samuel could only vent his frustration by clutching at the blanket, "Brother, you're going to lose me! You're about to lose me right now!"

"So angry, huh?" Idris couldn't help but chuckle softly. He reached out and pinched Samuel's puffed-up cheek, dragging out his words as he asked, "Then—will this make you forgive me?"

With that, Idris cupped Samuel's face in his hands, leaned down, and gently kissed his forehead.

The tender kiss was brief, like another unawakened dream. Samuel froze for a moment, his dark eyes blinking slowly once, then twice.

He was kissed?

Brother's lips are so warm, so soft.

Samuel hadn't expected to actually succeed in getting a kiss. When the realization hit him, the tips of his ears turned red silently. He mumbled shyly and haltingly, "O-one kiss and you think that's enough? Brother is so stingy!"

The male's shy yet defiant appearance was truly alluring. Idris couldn't help but lean in closer, lowering his voice with a soft laugh. "Then how many would it take for you to forgive me?"

"Ten..."

No, no, ten is too few.

"One every day."

"..."

"Unreasonable offer, transaction rejected." As he spoke, Idris put some distance between himself and Samuel. He turned to take fresh clothes from the cabinet and helped him put them on.

After putting on the last garment, he straightened up to tidy the discarded clothes when the male suddenly grabbed him.

Samuel wrapped his arms around Idris's neck.

"Brother~" Sensing the fondness evident in his every move, Samuel mustered his courage. He nestled intimately against the crook of Idris's neck, rubbing his cheek there, and pleaded, "Really not allowed? Avis wants it."

Avis? The identity he played in the differentiation illusion?

"Does brother not like me anymore?" Samuel pretended to be wronged.

"That's not it." It was just a good morning kiss. Idris felt there was no need to make Samuel sad. So, he stroked the black hair within reach, pulled him into his embrace, and said helplessly, "It's allowed."

"Then seal the promise, no take-backs!" Having gotten his wish, Samuel was very pleased.

"Alright." Idris agreed and reached out to pinky swear. But Samuel didn't hook his finger. Instead, he hooked his fingers into Idris's collar, pulling him down, and tilted his head up to give a light peck on his lips.

"Contract established! Good morning kisses from now on have to meet this standard!" Samuel blinked mischievously, looking quite pleased with his successful scheme.

Kissed again, Idris was stunned. During his heat, he had dreamed of the male kissing him. But a thousand dreams couldn't compare to this one real kiss.

It really was very soft.

And if he went along with it, he could have a kiss like this every day.

Idris pursed his lips almost imperceptibly, his mind in turmoil. On one hand, he felt that being so intimate before their official match was disrespectful to Samuel. But if he refused, Samuel would definitely be disappointed.

So, the words of refusal stuck in his throat. After much hesitation, Idris ultimately didn't voice them. Successfully convincing himself, he reached up and pinched the back of Samuel's neck, warning him sternly not to kiss others casually.

Samuel immediately nodded obediently upon hearing this, thinking to himself, *What casual kiss? I was being very serious! Does brother think it was too perfunctory? Then next time I'll have to secretly kiss him longer!*

With the matter of the good morning kiss settled for now, Idris released Samuel, got his toiletries ready, and went out to get breakfast.

Samuel didn't want to be left behind and made a fuss about going together. But the medical staff happened to enter the room for the daily check-up. Idris spent a long time soothing him, conceding many benefits and making promises before he could finally slip away.

Once free, Idris immediately sent the name "Avis" to both Luoken and Ray, pressing for updates on their investigation. Taking advantage of the time while fetching the meal, he also browsed the military department's daily schedule.

Fortunately, the military department didn't have much going on today. Less urgent matters could be pushed to noon when Samuel took his nap. However, the more troublesome issue was an important meeting in the afternoon that he absolutely had to attend. Being away for several hours would undoubtedly upset Samuel.

Idris rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Busy all the way to fetch the meal and busy again just as he reached the door of the hospital room, Idris heard a commotion coming from inside.

He quickly pushed the door open to find Bulan and MPA staff standing by the bedside. Samuel sat on the edge of the bed, looking displeased, his gaze wary and scrutinizing.

Bulan seemed to be trying to explain something, but Samuel clearly wasn't buying it, still staring at him coldly and arrogantly.

Seeing this, Idris strode forward, casually placing the breakfast on the table. He moved to stand in front of Samuel, shielding him, and asked Bulan with a frown, "What's going on?"

Bulan looked utterly helpless, holding his forehead. "Your Excellency thinks we're insect traffickers."

Idris: ...

"Your Excellency, they are staff from the MPA, not insect traffickers." Understanding the reason, Idris turned to Samuel and explained in a low voice.

With Idris by his side, Samuel finally relaxed his tense expression. However, he still eyed Bulan warily and asked, "Never heard of the MPA. What do they do?"

Idris shot a glance at Bulan and then explained in a low voice to Samuel.

"Protect males?" Upon hearing this, Samuel seemed to find it the biggest joke he'd ever heard. He looked up, scrutinizing the insects before him, his eyes filled with heavy mockery. "Are you sure you're protecting males, and not using that name to 'protect' males onto other males' beds for them to torment and play with?"

"Your Excellency, how can you slander our MPA like this!" One of the MPA staff couldn't hold back any longer.

"Slander?" Samuel let out a cold laugh, standing up and taking two steps toward that insect. His sharp gaze swept over the other staff. "Then, do the high-ranking military officers of the Imperial Capital dare to swear that their homes don't have basements, that there aren't males imprisoned down there?"

"Or, do they dare to swear that they haven't used drugs on males, forcing and abusing them to obtain pheromones?"

"Your Excellency, please be careful what you say!" Bulan was startled into a cold sweat by Samuel's series of retorts, frantically signaling Idris to placate him first.

Oh, Insect God above! Is this something that can be said? If he keeps going, the entire Insect Star will be thrown into chaos!

Noticing Bulan's pleading gaze, Idris suppressed the doubts and speculations in his heart, stepped forward, gently placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder, and quietly steered the conversation away: "I've brought breakfast back. Would you like to eat something now?"

Samuel turned his head, the anger in his eyes still lingering, but the interruption brought him a moment of clarity. His brother was still here. If he continued arguing, it wouldn't be good if his brother thought he was making veiled accusations.

So, Samuel adjusted his expression and smiled sweetly, his eyes curving like crescent moons: "Yes!"

Seeing the male insect distracted, Bulan quickly signaled his colleague to leave first, while he stayed behind, observing Samuel closely.

When he first entered the room, he had felt that the male insect's behavior was very off. Now, after hearing his words, Bulan was even more convinced of his suspicion.

Samuel didn't seem to be fully lucid.

Not only was he not thinking clearly, but the medication in yesterday's sedative—meant to stabilize mental state and stimulate memory—also seemed to have failed.

Of course, that wasn't the most troublesome part.

The most troublesome part was what Samuel had just said.

Bulan was rarely this troubled. When he looked up and saw the two insects across from him practically glued together, affectionately sharing a meal, his headache grew even worse.

Under Bulan's resentful gaze of "having to watch insects show off their love at work," Idris coaxed Samuel into finishing his breakfast.

Taking the opportunity while taking out the trash, Bulan finally got a chance to speak with Idris.

"His Excellency Samuel's condition is somewhat abnormal," Bulan got straight to the point, keeping it brief. "Normally, after waking from a sedative injection, His Excellency should gradually be able to distinguish between illusion and reality. However, right now, his real memories are completely suppressed by his illusory memories."

"Have other Excellencies ever experienced this situation?" Idris had originally thought Samuel's condition was normal. After hearing Bulan's explanation, his heart skipped a beat, and he grew somewhat worried.

"No," Bulan also felt troubled. "You could try taking His Excellency to revisit familiar places to see if it helps awaken some memories."

Idris thoughtfully agreed and placed the tableware in the trash bin.

Returning to the ward, Idris casually asked Bulan whether what Samuel had said was true. Bulan didn't answer directly but instead hinted, both overtly and covertly, that he should not speak of it elsewhere.

Idris's suspicions were instantly confirmed. Without showing any change in expression, he went along with Bulan's words, promising to keep it confidential. The two insects exchanged a few pleasantries in front of the ward before parting ways.

Back in the ward, after completing various examinations and testing Samuel's mental power, it was already afternoon. Idris checked the time—less than an hour until the meeting started. He had to leave now.

Just as he had anticipated, Samuel was unwilling to stay alone in the ward. After "obtaining" permission from the doctor and the MPA, Idris took Samuel to the military headquarters.

Along the way, Samuel was unusually quiet. He leaned against the window, occasionally gazing blankly at the scenery outside. By the time they got out of the car and reached the entrance of the military headquarters, he still seemed somewhat absent-minded.

At the entrance of the military headquarters, the sentry, standing at attention, looked solemn and gave Idris and Samuel a standard military salute.

Samuel was drawn by the sound, glanced at him casually, then looked away. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and stared at him for several seconds.

"What's wrong?" Noticing Samuel's unusual behavior, Idris asked softly.

Samuel shook his head while holding Idris's hand. He didn't speak, but a flicker of confusion flashed in his eyes.

Idris followed Samuel's gaze to the sentry and suddenly remembered that this was the same insect Samuel had spoken to when picking him up that day.

Could Samuel have remembered something?

Idris remained expressionless and continued leading Samuel toward the military headquarters building.

By the time they reached the upper floors, it was almost time for the meeting to start. Idris got Samuel settled in his lounge and instructed him to wait there until he returned.

Samuel sat upright and obediently agreed. The moment Idris left and closed the door, his gaze fell on the Stellar Ring he had just received.

Sa...mu...el?

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Author's note: If you spot any typos, please help point them out. My eyes really can't find them anymore. [Please]

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Stellar Calendar 4056, September X, Sunny, Weekday X

I hope that when His Excellency regains consciousness, he won't cancel today's agreement.