Osbourne turned his head to glance at the tightly closed door, noticing that there was still no movement. At this moment, Xiao Zhi also halted its cleaning operation, looking up at him with a small electronic display, the sensor light on it flickering intermittently.
The living room seemed exceptionally quiet.
As Osbourne turned around, Xiao Zhi rolled its wheels, approaching him. Osbourne watched the sequence of actions by Xiao Zhi and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
He originally thought Xiao Zhi was just slightly more intelligent than the floor-cleaning robots commonly available on the market. It could perform basic daily greetings through facial recognition and voice sensing. However, he hadn’t expected this small robot to simulate human-like movements.
But considering it was designed by Iger himself, who had exceptional talent in mech design, he had received recognition from the Empire’s Research Institute while still in the academy. The institute’s director even extended an invitation to Iger, who was only eighteen at the time and lacked any authoritative awards or achievements. This invitation wasn’t because of Iger’s royal status; the Empire’s Research Institute was evaluated solely based on capability, treating nobility and commoners equally in the field of research.
However, Iger, always used to being casual and capricious, had casually rejected the invitation at that time. This news sparked quite a discussion on the Star Network at the time. After all, the Empire’s Research Institute was the mech sanctuary for 99% of the youth in the entire empire. Each year, they recruited no more than three individuals from various major institutions across the empire, and the criteria were extremely strict.
Iger’s nonchalant refusal undoubtedly angered many people…
Osbourne walked to the doorway, turning around and letting his gaze fall on the small robot. Seeing it still following him, its two small sensor lights occasionally blinking softly.
He wondered if the robot would follow him outside if he left. Fortunately, it seemed that Iger had implanted a program in the robot to prohibit it from leaving the house. When it reached the doorway, it spun in place for quite some time before reluctantly lowering its head and returning inside.
…
Iger luxuriously slept for another two hours before finally getting up at a leisurely pace. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his small robot staring at him by the bedside.
Meeting his gaze, the robot’s precise voice sounded, “Prince Iger, it’s time to get up for breakfast.”
Iger got dressed while casually saying to the squat little robot, “He’s leaving you too. Are you sad?”
The small robot’s steel body stiffened for a moment, then, as if shutting itself off, it lowered its head, and the sensor lights on its display dimmed.
Iger patted the square and proper head of the little robot. After a brief silence, the robot left the room and returned to the living room to continue its cleaning.
[Dear host, what strange programs did you implant in it? It’s just a floor-cleaning robot, why does it have so much drama?]
[This is a very complex matter. You lack the comprehension in this area, so you won’t understand.]
[…]
*
After a few days like this, Osbourne never took the initiative to contact him again, and he didn’t even return home. Iger resumed his nightly activities as the Nightclub Prince.
The dim lights in the closed bar created a subdued atmosphere. Clyde was bored, browsing the star network, occasionally glancing at Iger, who was drinking expressionlessly.
Finally, unable to hold back, he asked, “Didn’t the doctor forbid you from drinking? Yet, you invited me to accompany you. Are you thinking I’m making your life too long? If your family sees this, they’ll think I’m encouraging you.”
Iger turned his head, squinted his eyes, and smiled. “Not at all…”
Clyde thought to himself, “You better not laugh.” After spending so much time with the Second Prince, getting a daily dose of top-tier looks, everyone else now seemed ugly. He still hadn’t found a partner.
“By the way, Lowell cries and shouts every day to see you. Now he has been restricted by his brother, even his communicator has been confiscated. The two are at odds. If you see Leicester in the parliament these days, be sure not to provoke him. Just steer clear.”
Iger asked in response, “When did you see me go to the parliament?”
Clyde also found it amusing; this prince was really capricious. He never attended the weekly parliament meetings, so he nodded, “That’s true.”
Then he glanced at the time, saying, “I should go now. You’ve had enough to drink; otherwise, be careful to wake up in the headlines tomorrow. You know how those journalists like to focus on you.”
However, Iger stopped him, saying, “Wait, help me make a call.”
Clyde sat back down, and after hearing his request, his expression changed. He hurriedly pushed Iger’s communicator back, saying, “Don’t involve me in any quirky stuff between you and your spouse. Make the call yourself; I don’t want to be part of it.”
Iger sneered and said, “Afraid of what?”
“You certainly aren’t afraid. Your significant other is completely devoted to you, making you feel like you’re in charge everywhere…”
At this point, he glanced at Iger again, noticing that he was lowering his head, looking at the glass in his hand. There was no expression of joy or anger on his face, which seemed unusual. So he asked, “What’s going on? You’re usually quite arrogant. How come you don’t even dare to make a call now?”
“Who said I don’t dare?”
Meeting the disbelieving gaze, Iger paused and then said, “He said he wants a divorce.”
“What? Who are you talking about?” Clyde was stunned upon hearing this, finding it hard to believe.
Looking at Clyde’s reaction, it took a few seconds for him to confirm and ask again, “Are you sure it’s Osbourne who wants to divorce you, not you proposing it first?”
Iger, seeing Clyde’s strong response, twitched the corner of his mouth and then nodded silently.
“So, you’re upset about this? What’s the big deal? If you don’t want to divorce, just say a few comforting words. In the past, wasn’t it always resolved with a few casual words? Your significant other loves you to death; it’s impossible for him to truly want a divorce. It’s definitely just a lover’s quarrel, playing hard to get. What’s the big deal?!”
Iger’s expression became a bit subtle after hearing this.
“Just wait.” Clyde picked up his communicator and initiated a call to Osbourne.
The call was quickly answered, and Clyde immediately said, “General Osbourne, it’s me. Prince Iger is a bit drunk now, and I can’t take him home. Can you come over?”
After some words from the other side, Clyde ended the call, returned the communicator to Iger, and said with a smile, “Alright, my Prince, as soon as General Osbourne heard that you were drunk, he said he’s coming over right away. Are you satisfied now? Can I leave?”
Iger raised the corner of his lips slightly, then turned his head and waved, indicating that Clyde could leave.
…
Half an hour later, Osbourne appeared in the bar. It was already very late.
Osbourne immediately spotted Iger sitting at the bar. There were a few Betas around trying to strike up a conversation, but he ignored them. Sitting alone and drinking, Iger looked sober, showing no signs of being drunk.
After not seeing this person for many days, he felt a bit surreal at first glance. In fact, when he received the call earlier, he had a vague sense that this might be a prank.
After some time, seeing that Iger completely ignored everyone, those Betas who knew they were unwelcome left.
Osbourne then walked over, took the glass from Iger’s hand, and whispered, “Your Highness.”
Iger raised his eyes, momentarily stunned, and then smiled, “You actually came to a place like this?”
Osbourne shifted his gaze away from Iger’s face, his voice calm, “Your Highness, you’re drunk… Let me take you home.”
Iger stared at him for a while, noticing that his face remained expressionless, devoid of the usual businesslike demeanor. Slowly shifting his gaze away, the smile on his face faded. He picked up an empty glass from the side, poured himself another drink, and said, “General Osbourne, don’t you know I can hold my liquor? I never get drunk… Since General Osbourne is here, why not have a drink with me?”
Osbourne, upon hearing this, felt a strange pang in his heart. He turned away and calmly said, “Since Your Highness is not drunk, I’ll take my leave.”
Iger chuckled softly, tilted his head back, and finished the drink in his glass. He swayed a bit, and the clear sound of the ice cubes colliding with the glass echoed, “In such a hurry?”
He looked up at Osbourne, the brown pupils icy, narrowed slightly, and he smirked, “General Osbourne, didn’t you say you wanted a divorce? You should know that royal divorces are not so simple; the procedures are complicated and take at least ten days to half a month.”
Osbourne just stared at him in bewilderment.
“But General Osbourne doesn’t need to worry. None of these are issues…”
Iger paused at this point, looked at him, and said, “General Osbourne, that expression of yours… are you afraid I won’t agree? Are you using this matter to threaten me?
“Don’t worry, I’m not that petty.”
“I agree…”
Osbourne’s pupils tightened suddenly. The noisy sounds in the bar seemed to have quieted down at this moment. For a moment, his mind was filled with confusion.
Why couldn’t he understand the other’s intention? The divorce procedures in the empire were already complicated, especially since Iger was a member of the royal family. Their marriage, from the beginning, was a private matter between two people. Yet, now it involves the royal family and the entire empire.
In addition, the imperial family retained a certain residual influence on the marriage laws. As long as the royal family was not at fault, they had an unlimited right to reject the spouse’s divorce application. That’s why Iger speculated whether the other party might try to use this as a threat.
However, this was more of a formality. If a marriage was truly devoid of meaning, there was no need to continue. It was a great torment for both parties.
After a long pause, the world seemed to return to its noisy state, and Osbourne finally heard his own voice saying, “Okay.”
Iger looked at him for a long while before sitting back in his seat, sneering, “I’ll send you the divorce agreement tomorrow…”
Osbourne nodded. In truth, he never thought the other party would disagree from the beginning. It seemed like everything was within expectations. However, hearing it directly from the other’s mouth, he felt no sense of relief. Instead, it felt like his heart had been ripped out.
He stood still for a moment. Seeing the other still drinking with a tightly furrowed brow and a pale face under the lights, showing signs of pain, Osbourne’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at him with a frown, he said, “It’s late, Your Highness. Let me take you home.”
Iger, upon hearing this, casually checked the time, then smiled and said, “Yes, it’s late. But there’s no need to trouble General Osbourne. I can go home on my own.”
He stood up and took a few steps, but his legs gave way suddenly, and he toppled forward. Osbourne’s heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward, catching him and pulling him into his arms. In this touch, he finally felt the scorching temperature of the person in his arms, the warmth passing through the thin fabric and reaching his palms.
*
[I’m in a tough spot… but it’s okay. 2333, do you know? I’m about to reach the pinnacle of life…]
[Host, what are you talking about? I only know that gastric bleeding requires a month of hospitalization.]
[Do you think my current state is miserable?]
2333 objectively evaluated: [Miserable, very miserable.]
[I’m truly a pitiful soul…]
“General Osbourne,” the guard at the door respectfully spoke.
The crisp sound of leather shoes on the hard floor approached, and when Osbourne entered, he found that Iger had already changed into a black shirt. The all-black attire made his complexion even paler. At the moment, he was leisurely buttoning up the shirt.
Iger heard the sound and looked at Osbourne, who always maintained impeccable composure. He raised his lips slightly, his tone calm and unruffled, “It seems I’ve troubled General Osbourne.”
Osbourne, sensing that he might leave, quickly stepped forward to intercept him, saying, “Your Highness, please follow the medical advice and rest here.”
Iger halted his movements, took a step back, and subtly curled his lips. “General Osbourne, I believe this is my freedom, so please step aside.”
“Your Highness.”
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