Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Even though the authorities had swiftly suppressed the news, those in the capital who were in the know naturally couldn't be fooled.

The subsequent investigation only cast a pall over everyone's hearts.

The residual fluctuations of that wormhole were extremely chaotic, making it impossible to pinpoint where the Crown Prince might have been sent.

What was even more alarming was that the wormhole was not naturally formed—it showed faint signs of deliberate tampering.

Yet such equipment was clearly a strictly controlled item by the authorities, not something that lowlifes like space pirates could ever get their hands on.

Moreover, the Crown Prince's itinerary and starship routes were never made public.

Ordinary forces would have no way of knowing them.

The conclusion was pretty much a no-brainer—this incident was clearly premeditated by certain factions within the capital.

And the recent political turmoil brewing in the capital only confirmed this.

The old, deeply rooted aristocratic families were growing bolder in their moves against the royal family.

Even plenty of neutral factions seemed to be hedging their bets.

Kaisisen's father and older brother, the head and backbone of the royalist faction, had been run off their feet lately.

Kaisisen's expression grew increasingly grave. He couldn't shake the feeling that Dimuk's worries weren't just paranoia.

Though the capital's current situation had its occasional ripples, as long as the Insect Queen on the frontier—Grand Commander Elijah Lange—was still around, the royal family in the capital would forever stand unshaken. No matter how much those snakes in the grass schemed, it would all be for nothing.

But if he knew all this, wouldn't the bastards in the shadows know it too?

Kaisisen's hand clenched on its own, then quickly relaxed. He couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh—was he catching Dimuk's paranoia? Who the hell was Grand Commander Elijah Lange?

Born into the Lange family, one of the four great families of the capital, he was born an S-rank high-rank female, and by adulthood, he'd climbed to become the empire's highest-ranked S+ female.

He graduated from the Capital Advanced Military Academy, and he'd shown incredible military chops and leadership skills once he enlisted. Working his way up the ladder on his own merit, he had led his legions countless times against the relentless, ravenous waves of Star Beasts and alien hordes at the border, racking up legendary military achievements and earning massive respect in the armed forces. He currently commanded the empire's three main legions outright, with ten lieutenant generals under him commanding the ten sub-legions.

He was the empire's rock, the one everyone looked up to without question.

How could a veteran like him, who'd fought for years and stood at the top of the food chain, be so easily played by those schemers?

He refused to believe those bastards had it in them.

Kaisisen sighed. Compared to the Grand Commander, he was way more worried about his Male Master.

Nevi was totally at peace with having grown up in an orphanage. He never mentioned his parents, and he'd never once shown even a hint of curiosity about them.

It was like he'd fully accepted that they'd ditched him and had completely wiped them from his memory.

But back when they were on Numbered Star, Nevi had thrown his whole heart into their little family like it was his lifeline.

He cherished their surprise, hard-won egg like it was the most precious thing on earth—scared he'd break it if he held it too tight, scared he'd crush it if he squeezed too hard. That kind of doting, so careful it was almost worshipful, Aesop had missed it back on Numbered Star, but how could Kaisisen not see it now?

Maybe his Male Master didn't even realize he'd poured all his buried feelings onto that egg too.

He'd been the one thrown away, but his egg wouldn't be.

His child would be the happiest little one.

His Male Master had never really moved on.

Being ditched by his parents was the deepest, most hidden wound in his heart.

That was why, that night, Kaisisen had hesitated the second he'd even suspected it. He'd stood in the cold wind for ages, then finally gave up on using family connections to dig into that sickly Excellency, and wiped every trace of his search.

He was bitter and furious at his Male Master's parents. Even though he knew there was probably more to it—no one just abandons their own kid—

He still couldn't shake the image of that desperate, broken look on his Male Master's face the first time they met.

Twenty years was nothing in the three-hundred-year lifespan of the insect race.

Yet his Male Master was only twenty-four this year. In the long first half of his life, he'd been stuck on Numbered Star, scraping by and growing up carefully in that tiny, hate-filled orphanage.

Just thinking about it made Kaisisen's chest tighten with rage.

But if his Male Master's parents ever did show up, or came looking for him—

Whatever he decided, it would be his Male Master's call, and no one had the right to question it—not even him.

This matter was his Male Master's private affair. Since his Male Master had decided to keep it from him for now, he'd play dumb.

When his Male Master decided to tell him, he would naturally learn of it.

That was what Kaisisen had thought. But now—

With all the chaos brewing under the surface in the capital, Kaisisen couldn't help but wonder.

Why would that Excellency, who barely ever showed his face in public, pick this exact moment to spill Nevi's origins?

How had he learned of it, and what was his purpose?

Or to put it even more plainly—what was he playing at?

Kaisisen's eyes went cold. He could stay out of it for now, but if anyone dared to mess with his Male Master, pulling him into those murky waters, he'd drag them out of the dark and chop off their meddling paws!

*

"Dad, Papa, Bai Bai, hehehe, hurry up, faster! Over here, so pretty!"

Bai Bai flapped around excitedly, diving into the flower beds for a roll, then zipping out to chase the pretty little butterflies ahead. After a bit, he remembered his parents and Bai Bai were behind him, and hollered in his squeaky little voice, all impatient, telling them to hurry up.

Kaisisen held Nevi's hand with one hand while cradling Bai Bai securely in the other arm, speaking to his Male Master and Bai Bai with doting affection, yet his gaze kept drifting forward, ensuring Mei Mei's small figure remained within his sight at all times.

Nevi saw that Mei Mei had finally remembered them, and gave a helpless smile. He responded and quickened his pace with Kaisisen, catching up to the little chubby one who was spinning in circles ahead.

The indoor playground Kaisisen had reserved today was designed for young children to play in. The attractions were gentle yet full of childlike charm, perfectly suited for little ones to enjoy with their family members.

Mei Mei was having the time of his life in the playground, nearly going wild with excitement. Bai Bai, initially shy in the new environment, clung tightly to his parents, refusing to play on his own.

But soon, with Kaisisen and Nevi's company, Bai Bai gradually came out of his shell, and eventually stopped clinging to his parents altogether, letting Mei Mei lead him to the carousel.

The air echoed with Bai Bai and Mei Mei's joyful, excited laughter.

Nevi stood not far away, quietly watching the children, his brows curved in a smile, his expression full of indulgence and affection.

Beside him, Kaisisen turned to look at his Male Master and the children, unconsciously breaking into a smile. He gently held Nevi's warm palm, feeling his Male Master's body gradually lean closer to his. In that moment, all worries and anxieties seemed to vanish into thin air. Kaisisen felt utterly content and at ease, as if even his breath carried sweetness, intoxicating and mesmerizing him.

How he wished time could stay frozen here forever.

But the next instant, a sudden urgent call notification shattered this warm, peaceful atmosphere.

Kaisisen frowned slightly, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

Nevi smiled, amused, and gently squeezed Kaisisen's palm, signaling him to answer the call quickly. Only then did Kaisisen slowly pull out his comm device, looking thoroughly reluctant.

But when he saw who was calling, his eyes sharpened, and in an instant, all his romantic thoughts vanished.

Ever since his last big fight with his father, the two had been in a cold war, not speaking a word to each other.

Even if his father felt remorse deep down, years of stubbornness kept him from reaching out first.

Thus, this sudden call from his father immediately stirred a sense of foreboding in Kaisisen's heart.

Sure enough, the moment the call connected, his father Koit gave him no time to react, dropping a bombshell.

"Kaisisen, right now, bring your mate and the children and return to the old estate!"

Koit's tone was rapid and urgent; he seemed to be running, his voice breathless, with chaotic noise in the background.

That heavy sense of dread left Kaisisen barely any room to notice the unspoken approval in his father's tone about him and Nevi.

"Father, what happened?" Kaisisen's voice was hoarse, his fingers tightening involuntarily around the comm device.

Koit paused for a moment, his voice low and strained. "The Grand Commander and the Second Prince—both are in trouble."

Kaisisen's pupils contracted, his mind going completely blank.

*

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Author's note: New chapter is up.