Chapter 49 Primary Consort and Concubine

Chapter 49: Primary Wife and Concubines

Less than three hours after leaving the hospital, Samuel was back in the ward.

Inside the room, the shadows of insects moved busily.

Doctors, nurses, Bulan, and MPA members formed a tight circle around the bed. Samuel was trapped within this wall of insects, completely unable to see Idris, who had been squeezed into a corner.

Samuel tried to crane his neck to look for him. As soon as he leaned out, a nurse pressed him back. After this happened three times, he finally gave a small outburst of temper.

"I'm fine, I'm not uncomfortable, no more check-ups! All of you, get out!"

"Your Excellency, you mustn't avoid treatment out of fear of the disease. Just hold on a little longer, it'll be over soon!" Seeing the male insect's anger, Bulan quickly smiled placatingly to soothe him.

This was the insect race's newly promoted S-rank treasure! They had to take extra good care of him!

"I'm not sick!" Seeing he couldn't get through to Bulan, Samuel simply darkened his expression and said to the doctor in a low voice, "Don't you understand me?"

"Understood, understood! I'll pack up and leave right away." Coincidentally, the doctor had just finished the last item of the examination, so he took the opportunity to put away his instruments.

Before leaving the ward, the doctor gave Bulan a subtle shake of his head. Knowing Samuel was fine, Bulan breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly waved for the other medical staff to leave quickly.

With some space cleared, Samuel finally pinpointed Idris.

"Brother."

Samuel stretched out his hand towards Idris, feeling wronged. He had originally planned to be alone with Idris, but instead, alone time turned into a crowd of insects surrounding him, and he was even pinned to the bed for a round of check-ups. It was utterly frustrating.

Knowing the male insect was in a bad mood, Idris didn't care that other insects were present. He quickly stepped forward, drew Samuel into his embrace, and comforted him in a gentle voice.

The comfort only made it worse. Knowing Idris was concerned for him, Samuel couldn't hold back anymore. Burying his face in Idris's waist, he complained in a spoiled, quiet voice.

Idris didn't argue, just kept apologizing repeatedly, gently stroking Samuel's back while whispering soothing words. Bulan and the other MPA insects standing nearby inexplicably felt like intruders.

After holding onto Idris and regaining his composure, Samuel sat up properly. He pulled the standing insect to sit on the edge of the bed, leaned back into his arms, and asked Bulan, "Mr. Bulan, I'm awake now. When can Ray be released?"

As Idris's Deputy General and assistant, Ray was practically inseparable from Idris. Yet, today, Samuel hadn't seen him at all until he was unconscious and carried away. So, Samuel guessed that after he fainted, the truth came out, and Ray was taken away.

Ray was imprisoned for helping him. Samuel couldn't possibly abandon him. He just didn't know how Ray was doing during the time he was unconscious.

"The MPA isn't clear on that." Bulan didn't beat around the bush and even generously offered an extra piece of information. "Ray was transferred to the military court this morning."

"The military court?" Samuel was speechless. He turned his head, and Idris met his gaze before lowering his eyes and casually helping Samuel straighten his clothes.

Samuel immediately understood that the situation might not be as easy to resolve as he thought. He then asked, "Oh, what does the military court say then? What does Ray need to do to be released?"

Bulan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured for the other MPA insects to wait for him outside the door.

Only when the room was left with just the three of them did Bulan speak. "Ray was taken away only after your differentiation level report came out. So, whether he can be released or not depends entirely on you, Your Excellency."

After saying this, Bulan gave Idris a meaningful look. "I think Major General Idris should understand what I mean. If Your Excellency doesn't understand, you can ask the Major General."

Suddenly named, Idris's hand, which was adjusting Samuel's clothes, paused. He raised his eyes and gave Bulan a cold glance.

Receiving the warning, Bulan didn't seem to care. He turned and left the room unhurriedly, even thoughtfully closing the door for the two insects.

Meanwhile, Samuel was left utterly confused by Bulan's words.

Depends on me?

Naturally, he wanted to save Ray, but the military court wouldn't just listen to him and release an insect on his say-so, would it?

Samuel felt Bulan's words held a deeper meaning, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what Bulan was really trying to convey.

"Brother, why did Bulan say whether Ray can be released or not depends entirely on me?" Samuel thought seriously for a moment and analyzed, "Going to the hospital to save the militarized female insect was my idea. Ray just assisted me."

"Is it enough if I submit an application to the military court, explaining that I was the mastermind behind the whole thing, to get Ray released?"

"Or do I just need to vouch for him directly using my status as a male insect?"

"Brother? Brother?"

Samuel called out several times, but no one responded. He turned and nudged the female insect's arm. Only then did Idris snap out of his contemplation.

Idris didn't answer Samuel's question immediately. Instead, he got up from the bedside, picked up a chair not far away, and sat down facing Samuel.

"Actually, it's not that troublesome." Idris looked directly at the male insect before him, who had clearly matured and become more handsome than before, and said insincerely, "Bulan's meaning is for Your Excellency to take Ray as a concubine."

"What does that have to do with saving him?"

Seeing Samuel still didn't understand, Idris explained further. "As long as Ray becomes Your Excellency's concubine, he becomes your property. The MPA and the military court cannot interfere with a male insect's disposal of items under his name, which of course includes concubines."

Samuel finally understood. He immediately retorted, "No!"

"Why not?" Idris looked directly at Samuel, deliberately asking in return. "As a military female insect with illustrious military achievements, Ray is more than qualified to be a concubine for an S-rank Your Excellency."

"Brother! That's not the point!" Samuel was somewhat frantic. He couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams that Bulan would suggest such a terrible idea, and the key was that his brother seemed to think it was feasible. "Brother, what's important is Ray's willingness!"

"Becoming a concubine for an S-rank male insect is something many military female insects dream of. Ray would absolutely not refuse," Idris replied.

"Ray might not refuse, but what about me? Why doesn't Brother ask if I'm willing?" Repeatedly rebutted, an inexplicable sense of grievance welled up in Samuel's heart. "Or in Brother's heart, is Ray more important than me? So as long as Ray can be saved, whether I like it or not, whether I'm upset or not, it doesn't matter!"

"I didn't mean that."

"Then what did Brother mean by saying all those things just now!"

Idris was left speechless by the question. What could he mean? He was just uncertain about Samuel's attitude towards concubines and wanted to test the waters.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Idris reached out to take Samuel's hand, but the male insect, red-eyed, brushed it away, clearly very angry.

"Your Excellency, I misspoke. Please forgive me this once, alright?"

Samuel lowered his head and didn't answer.

Idris gathered his courage and reached out again. This time, the hand that went over wasn't slapped away.

Taking the silent permission, Idris stood up, moved closer to Samuel, gently picked him up, placed him on his lap, and sat back down on the sofa.

"I'm sorry." Idris lifted Samuel's hand, kissed the back of it, and coaxed softly, "Forgive me this time, okay?"

Samuel glanced at the back of his hand, where the warmth still lingered. That warmth soothed the anger that had just flared up. So, he buried his face in Idris's shoulder and asked sullenly, "Does Brother think I'm too troublesome, always either causing trouble or getting sick, so you want to find a concubine to pawn me off on?"

"No." Idris took advantage of their position to kiss Samuel's black hair again. "I will never think Your Excellency is troublesome."

"Then from now on, you're not allowed to mention matching with concubines again!" Samuel thought for a moment, feeling it wasn't secure enough, and added, "And you're not allowed to mention matching with a primary wife either!"

"But Your Excellency has already differentiated into an S-rank male insect. Your offspring's rank will certainly not be low either." Idris stroked the male insect's black hair and said quietly, "Therefore, the MPA will definitely not let go of this opportunity for a possible new S-rank male insect offspring."

"If you don't believe me, you can wait and see. Very soon, the MPA will come to your door, bringing you profiles of female insects."

"But what if I refuse? Will I be forced into a match?" They even deliver profiles to your door? Samuel felt a shiver run down his spine. The MPA really overreaches!

"While there's no precedent, it's possible." Idris sighed, pulling the young male closer, his tone tinged with worry. "After all, S-class males are extremely rare, and you've demonstrated the ability to heal militarized insectoid males. Even if the MPA wanted to protect you, it would be difficult."

"What should I do then!" Samuel looked up in a panic, sitting up straight and clutching the male's clothes. "Brother, I don't want to be matched with a primary spouse or concubine. I just want to stay by your side."

As soon as these words were spoken, the pang of jealousy that had risen in Idris's heart because of Bulan's words finally dissipated. He raised an eyebrow, satisfied, and pinched Samuel's cheek. "Then leave this matter to me, alright?"

"Brother has a plan?" Samuel's face lit up with joy.

"Mhm."

"Then I'm relieved." Samuel immediately relaxed, leaning back into Idris's embrace, and steered the conversation back to Ray. "Brother, if we don't use Bulan's method, can we still save Ray?"

"Of course we can." Idris smiled. "However, Your Excellency must tell me why you went to the hospital to save Luoken and Aosen."

"Of course it was because..." Samuel stopped mid-sentence.

He hadn't fully remembered this part yet.

But a small voice inside him whispered that it was for Idris.

"Of course it was for you, brother." Samuel followed the voice in his heart. "You would have been devastated if they died. I wanted to make you happy."

"And also..."

"And what else?" Idris asked.

"I can't remember clearly." Samuel smiled sheepishly. He felt the most important reason wasn't the two he just mentioned.

But saying that would surely make brother happy. So maybe remembering the real reason didn't matter so much.

"You can tell me when you remember." Idris said with a smile.

Samuel murmured in agreement. After a moment, he inexplicably started laughing too.

Idris asked him what was so funny. Samuel pointed at the male's chest, looked up, and said, "I don't know. I heard laughter here, from you, brother, and I wanted to laugh too."

Finally, Samuel asked, "Will brother always be this happy?"

"If Your Excellency is here, then yes."

"Then I'll stick by brother forever, so brother will always be happy."

"Of course you can. But before that, Your Excellency needs to eat something." Idris rubbed Samuel's growling stomach, teasing, "Otherwise, your stomach is going to revolt."

Placing Samuel back on the edge of the bed, Idris said, "Your Excellency, I'll go get the meal. Wait here for me."

"Mhm, mhm." Samuel waved at Idris. "Hurry back, brother!"

Once outside the hospital room, the smile on Idris's face quickly faded. He tapped his Stellar Ring; Luoken and Aosen had each sent the information they had found not long ago.

Idris found a secluded balcony and opened the files.

The documents detailed the Castello family, to which Eric and Avis belonged, as well as information about the two individuals.

With limited time, Idris skipped the family introduction and started reading from the sections about the two individuals.

According to the information, Eric was an adopted son of the Castello family. He was adopted just as Avis was born. Eric doted on his younger male sibling immensely, to the point of personally handling almost everything for him.

However, for some unknown reason, starting from when Avis was 15, Eric suddenly began to distance himself from Avis. Avis couldn't accept this and did many shocking things as a result.

When Avis was 20, he suddenly disappeared for a period. Eric also vanished around the same time. When Avis was found, he was not only covered in injuries but also on the verge of a mental breakdown.

The Castello family sought many doctors to treat him, but to no avail. Not long after, Avis committed suicide due to an infection of the mental plague. Around the time Avis was found, the Castello family publicly announced that Eric had died from a Mind Sea rampage.

In the information about Avis, Aosen's file provided a special medical record. It stated that Avis's wounds healed extremely slowly, and at a certain time every night, he would have an episode. During these episodes, he would not only constantly look for Eric but also exhibit arousal reactions similar to those of a male in heat.

After reading the files, Idris couldn't help but frown. He quickly sorted through the clues in his mind, vaguely sensing that Avis's disappearance was inextricably linked to Eric. Something must have happened between them, leading to one's death and the other's madness.

And this unrecorded period of disappearance was likely connected to the content of Samuel's hallucination.

Thinking of this, Idris's gaze fell again on the last few lines of the medical record.

It was common knowledge that male insects did not have heat cycles. For a male to exhibit arousal reactions similar to a male in heat, it must have been induced by drugs.

And resorting to drugs to force a male into a state of arousal—the intentions of the one administering the drugs were self-evident.

What about Samuel? In the hallucination, was he subjected to this experience?

Remembering the look in Samuel's eyes when he woke up and the words "Don't touch me," Idris's hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

He thought, that slap he received wasn't undeserved at all. In fact, he got off lightly.

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Author's Note: Idris is tricking Xixi. The MPA will not force males into matches. [Eye roll]

Stellar Calendar 4056, September X Day Thunderstorm Week X

I want to kill someone.