Emperor Apu stood at a high vantage point, noticing that the male zerg seemed to sense something. Finally, he casually withdrew his gaze. He intermittently toyed with the gemstone ring on his finger. His hands, well-maintained, were slender yet powerful, still bearing traces of the battles he once waged on the sandy fields.
“Yusto, I believe this marriage arrangement can probably be settled. Go and inform Gaien of this news.”
Several princes were present today, except for the eighth prince, Gaien, who was typically reclusive and rarely appeared in public. He was probably still in his room at this moment.
The relationship between Yusto and Gaien was extremely delicate. Hearing this, Yusto furrowed his brow and asked, “Why should I be the one to inform him?”
The slightly older fifth prince remained composed and tugged at Yusto’s sleeve, not wanting him to escalate the situation. “Little Seven, if His Majesty wants you to go, then go. Once the guests are all here, go and fetch Gaien.”
Yusto thought it was futile to go, especially with unwelcome news. However, given his elder brother’s command, he reluctantly turned away and left.
It is often said that familial bonds in imperial households are faint, and while there is truth in that, it’s not entirely accurate. Yusto and Gaien, close in age, used to share the strongest bond among their siblings. However, their relationship began to drift apart day by day when Gaien got injured on the battlefield. Each meeting thereafter became more tense and strained.
Before Yusto reached the room, he coincidentally encountered Gaien in the corridor. He watched the figure approaching him with a limp, unconsciously halting his steps. Slipping his hand into his pocket, Yusto remained silent for a moment before speaking, “His Majesty asked me to inform you that your marriage has been arranged. If nothing unexpected occurs, it will be with the noble from the third-tier star.”
While Yusto could be considered the most dazzling gem among all the princes, Gaien could, at best, be described as an inconspicuous pebble, dull and lacking any noticeable presence.
Despite their similar facial features, their circumstances were worlds apart.
Upon hearing Yusto’s words, Gaien’s steps paused briefly, but he didn’t lift his head. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on the lush carpet beneath him, offering a faint smile under the bright lights. His complexion consistently bore a sickly pallor, yet his lips were oddly tinted with a blood-like red, creating an ethereal and ghostly appearance in the delicate lamplight.
“Is that so?”
Gaien appeared indifferent, as if the matter had no relevance to him. Instead, he uttered a seemingly unrelated sentence, “Well then, congratulations, Yusto.”
Yusto frowned in confusion, “Congratulations for what?”
Without a word, Gaien walked slowly towards him. He casually adjusted the ruby tie clip on Yusto’s tie, letting out a sigh with an ambiguous meaning. Although it was meant to be a congratulatory remark, it sounded like a continuous drizzle, damp and discomforting, “Of course, congratulations on your impending marriage. I heard your partner is a male zerg with a pure blood purity of 100%, quite a suitable match for you.”
Yusto stared at him expressionlessly, “Don’t you want to know what your future male lord looks like?”
Gaien continued to smile, a faint curve appearing on his lips. His voice was light and indifferent, “Heard about it. Stupid, ugly, a fool. Seems like a perfect match for a cripple like me…”
Yusto despised Gaien’s self-deprecating demeanor. In response, he seized Gaien by the collar, pinning him against the wall. Yusto’s eyes, now a dark shade of red due to anger, seemed dangerously intense. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, “Do you have to live with this miserable attitude?!”
Gaien allowed Yusto to grip him without making any attempt to retaliate. He resembled withering, shattered petals, as if anyone could come by and trample upon him, leading to an inevitable conclusion of being blown off a cliff by the cold wind. Gaien patted his own lame leg lazily, drawling with a dissolute tone, “Yusto, did you only find out on the first day? This is the only way I can live.”
Gaien remained concealed in the shadowy corner of the corridor, successfully avoiding all sources of light. His physique wasn’t robust, and he seemed uninterested in seeking any remedy for his condition.
Yusto silently tightened his grip on Gaien’s collar, staring at him with a somber tone, “I truly hate that you didn’t die on the front lines back then!”
Hearing his words, Gaien’s smile gradually faded, and he finally met Yusto’s gaze, saying, “I wish the same as you, Yusto.”
“I truly wish I died on the battlefield back then. That way, like our father, I would be forever remembered in Salaranfa’s history. No need for marriage, no need to bear cubs, and the blood of Gohedra would die with me…”
After Gaien finished speaking, he slowly straightened his posture, gently pushing away Yusto’s hand. In a low voice, he uttered, “But I stubbornly continue to live.”
Yet, he stubbornly continued to live.
The outside world only remembered his disability and humiliation.
…
Gaien departed, his silhouette limping away slowly. When Yusto turned to look at him, he realized that Gaien’s back had, in fact, remained straight over the years. However, everyone seemed to prefer focusing on his crippled leg.
Yusto stood silently in place for a long time, lost in his thoughts. A sense of melancholy enveloped him for reasons he couldn’t quite grasp. He closed his eyes, took a moment to collect himself, and then turned to descend the stairs.
At that moment, leaders from various factions within the four armies had all arrived at the banquet. The diverse military uniforms created a complex and vast web of relationships. However, the elders conversed with one another, while the younger comrades gathered separately, creating a clear distinction.
As Yusto descended with a wine glass in hand, he happened to see several comrades who had returned from afar huddled together, engaged in a hushed conversation. He walked over and joined them, patting their shoulders as he asked, “What secret are you all whispering about? Let me in on it.”
“Yusto?!”
Upon spotting Yusto, Lieutenant General Fernando couldn’t help but show a delighted expression. He directly walked up and gave him a hearty embrace, patting his shoulder heavily, “Long time no see, you rascal! It’s been a whole year since we last met!”
Among the princes, Yusto had the most outstanding military achievements. In their early years, they had all fought together on the battlefield, creating a bond that was anything but ordinary. The other generals, witnessing this, also approached to embrace him, expressing their joy.
Yusto, who usually wore a stern expression, couldn’t help but reveal a genuine smile upon seeing these friends who had fought side by side with him. He clinked glasses with them and raised an eyebrow, asking, “You still haven’t told me what you were chatting so happily about just now.”
Blairand hailed from the southern city of Yinchatait, a relatively mild-mannered faction among the various tribes of the Zerg Race. Although they weren’t inclined towards violence, their keen hearing and vision made them excel in the Empire’s intelligence work. Smiling, he lightly clinked glasses with Yusto, and his soft blue eyes, reminiscent of moonlight, spoke gently, “Your Highness, haven’t you heard?”
Yusto inquired, “Heard what?”
Blairand gestured nonchalantly to the second floor, where Emperor Apu and several imperial generals stood, “It’s said that Salaranfa has a male zerg with a blood purity of 100%. That distinguished guest is supposed to be here today. Haven’t you heard, residing in the capital for so long?”
Upon hearing this, Yusto subtly paused, ready to respond, but Fernando seized the opportunity, jestingly teasing, “Blairand, don’t you know that our Prince Yusto has a severe allergy to creatures like male zergs? Regardless of whether the purity is 100% or even if you add one more zero at the end, he wouldn’t be interested.”
Yusto: “…”
Whether it was due to Yusto’s deeply ingrained aversion to male zergs or not, at this moment, not only Fernando but even the usually stern and reserved General Aks lightly shook his wine glass, succinctly stating, “Blairand, don’t mention the words ‘male zergs’ again; it will upset His Highness.”
Blairand’s lips curled with a hint of amusement, “But that male zerg has a blood purity of a hundred percent. His Highness doesn’t have a partner yet, and what if the Zerg Emperor wants to play matchmaker?”
Though he was in charge of intelligence work, Blairand had been on the alien planet for a long time, causing him to be a bit out of the loop regarding the personal relationships of the opportunity.
Fernando thought it was impossible, “Come on, even if His Majesty agrees, the opportunity, jestingly teasing, “Blairand, don’t you know that our Prince Yusto wouldn’t. This guy swore an oath before that he’d rather die on the battlefield than let a male zerg touch even one of his fingers.”
Smack!
With every sentence they spoke, Yusto felt like he had just been slapped across the face—hot and stinging. All he could do was attempt to cover up the awkwardness with the action of drinking, not daring to make a sound from start to finish.
Damn it, if only he hadn’t spoken nonsense earlier. Now, if these guys find out about his feelings for Lu Yuan, wouldn’t they mock him mercilessly?
Yusto closed his eyes in silence, feeling a throbbing pain in his temples. He regretted why he had impulsively come to join them for a reunion. However, just as Yusto was prepared to remain silent throughout, the conversation inexplicably turned towards him.
Blairand, due to professional habits, couldn’t help but ask a couple more questions, “Your Highness, have you seen that male zerg? Is it true that he has a blood purity of 100%?”
Yusto replied vaguely, “Probably… I suppose.”
Fernando exclaimed and directly slung his arm over Yusto’s shoulder, eagerly leaning in to ask, “He must be handsome, right? Yusto, is that distinguished guest good-looking?”
Yusto glanced at him upon hearing the question, thinking these guys couldn’t be trying to compete with him for a partner. He inwardly gritted his teeth and replied, “Fernando, don’t bring up such pointless topics. Even if he is good-looking, it’s none of your business.”
Fernando rubbed his arms with his hands, made a disapproving sound, clearly still uneasy, “I must be out of my mind to join in the fun. Didn’t you see? The Minister of Intelligence, the Minister of Police Affairs, all the Four Generals and Six Barons are here. I swear they weren’t this united even during His Majesty’s military strategy meetings. What’s a mere lieutenant general like me doing, trying to join in on the excitement?”
While they were conversing, a sound of a flying vehicle landing suddenly echoed from outside, indicating the arrival of another guest. The palace attendants outside the corridor bowed slightly, and a voice, muffled by the intricately carved rose windows, came through, somewhat indistinct, “General Saphir, please come in…”
Blairand, with his acute hearing, closed his eyes and listened for a moment before smiling, “It’s General Saphir.”
Upon hearing this, Yusto’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t help but think, ‘Doesn’t that mean Lu Yuan has also come?’ He took a slight step forward, instinctively wanting to go over, but found himself firmly stared at by the comrades beside him, making it difficult to move.
On the other side, Lu Yuan had already disembarked from the flying vehicle with General Saphir. After passing through the palace gates, undergoing a security check and surrendering their sidearms to the guards, they entered the banquet hall together.
The nobles attending today were drawn by the rumors of a male zerg with a 100% purity, so every time a guest arrived, they would temporarily pause their activities, subconsciously turning their attention to the entrance. Fortunately, this time, they were not disappointed.
General Saphir walked along the red carpet from the main entrance, and behind him was a newcomer, a male zerg. The zerg was dressed in a well-tailored royal blue suit, low-key yet luxurious. His tall and muscular figure, along with his profound and handsome features, briefly made the attendees doubt his gender. However, his mysterious black hair and eyes silently confirmed his identity.
Clearly, the male zerg following General Saphir was Lu Yuan. The appearance of Lu Yuan caused a momentary hush in the banquet hall. Some zergs marveled at Lu Yuan’s stunning looks, while others were secretly astonished at his impressive 100% blood purity. Various gazes intertwined, forming an impenetrable web that enveloped him.
Even Fernando and the others were momentarily stunned. Fernando uttered in a daze, “Zerg God, no wonder this distinguished zerg has such a high blood purity. He’s truly too handsome…”
While female zergs were powerful, they also longed for a partner whom they willingly submitted to. Most of Salaranfa’s male zergs were slender and delicate, making individuals with a sharp presence like Lu Yuan rare. With a casual glance and a burst of hormones, few female zergs could resist.
Although Yusto had seen Lu Yuan try on the suit beforehand, witnessing him appear in the magnificent palace, dressed in elegant attire, still left him momentarily distracted. Images of Lu Yuan peeling off his military uniform and passionately kissing him in the silence of the hospital room unexpectedly flashed through Yusto’s mind, causing his body to momentarily weaken.
Damn it…
Yusto remembered Lu Yuan saying they could only marry in two years, and his gaze inexplicably darkened. He hoped that Lu Yuan could hold on.
Fernando, clearly intrigued by Lu Yuan, lightly nudged the lieutenant general next to him and asked in a hushed tone, “Shouldn’t we go up and have a chat with that male zerg? He seems very popular.”
However, Lieutenant General Aks didn’t seem too enthusiastic and replied nonchalantly, “That male zerg may not necessarily acknowledge you.”
What he said wasn’t entirely false. As soon as Lu Yuan entered the venue, he was surrounded by layers of nobles. Countless zergs were eager to strike up conversations and build connections with him, and many of them were high-ranking military officials. Male zergs were generally arrogant, and this distinguished guest, with a purity of 100%, was likely even more so. Fernando’s attempt to approach him would probably face resistance.
Blairand, with keen insight, suggested with a smile, “You can ask His Highness to help you strike up a conversation. Perhaps that male zerg might give him some face, though it won’t be easy.”
Fernando was about to respond when the male zerg, who had captured the attention of all the guests since entering, seemed to be searching for someone. The distinguished guest scanned the surroundings and eventually fixed his gaze on their group. After exchanging a few words with General Saphir, he broke out of the guest circle and walked straight toward them.
Uh-oh!
Yusto saw Lu Yuan approaching, and in his mind, only two glaring words echoed. Subconsciously, he turned his back to Lu Yuan, feeling embarrassed and clueless, his mind racing on how to explain the situation to Fernando and the others later.
Lu Yuan wasn’t accustomed to staying at gatherings filled with unfamiliar faces. Upon entering the hall, he began searching for Yusto’s figure. However, when he finally spotted Yusto near the dance floor, he noticed the peculiar behavior – Yusto was avoiding eye contact, and although his expression seemed normal, the blush on his ears and the contrast with his silver hair made it quite apparent.
Hmm?
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow faintly, feeling a bit puzzled. He observed that Yusto had a few military females by his side. To avoid making his approach too abrupt, he took a glass of wine from a passing waiter’s tray before heading towards their group.
Upon seeing Lu Yuan approaching, Fernando and the others were dumbfounded by this unexpected turn of events. After a moment of bewilderment, they quickly stood up straight, offering a noble salute.
“Your Excellency, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Even Blairand and Aks also removed their military caps to show respect, trying to avoid any sense of disrespect. Only Yusto remained still, keeping his head lowered as he secretly observed Lu Yuan, resembling a rabbit caught stealing carrots and fearing discovery.
Although Lu Yuan was not sure what had happened, he guessed that these females were probably Yusto’s friends. Out of respect, he nodded slightly and replied, “Nice to meet you all.”
When Lu Yuan wasn’t cursing and swearing, his voice was quite pleasant—deep and magnetic. To the ears of the females, it was like a natural aphrodisiac.
Fernando, hearing Lu Yuan’s response, experienced a brief moment of dizziness again. He clearly hadn’t expected Lu Yuan not only to hold a prestigious status but also to be so courteous. Seeing Yusto standing there like a wooden zerg, Fernando discreetly pulled on his sleeve, whispering in a hushed tone, “Yusto, you’re being rude. What if His Excellency takes offense?”
Yusto could only stand awkwardly, facing Lu Yuan’s amused gaze. With a forced smile, he performed a formal greeting, “Your Excellency, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Blairand seemed to sense something and casually looked at the ruby collar clip on Lu Yuan. He noticed it was the same as Yusto’s. A hint of understanding and surprise flashed in his eyes, but he remained silent, choosing not to comment.
He was quite amazed, not expecting that Yusto, who usually showed disdain towards male zergs, would have such a moment of being caught off guard, and it appeared to be quite deep.
Lu Yuan didn’t expose Yusto’s awkwardness. Instead, he cleared his throat, restraining a smile, and clinked glasses with him. “I’m also pleased to meet you, Your Highness Yusto.”
Yusto became even quieter at this, choosing to drink in silence. However, an invisible tail behind him was wagging happily, showing that he was pleased with Lu Yuan’s words.
Fernando, confused by the strange atmosphere, absentmindedly scratched his head. To avoid an awkward silence, he started looking for a topic, “Your Excellency, you seem quite unfamiliar. I’ve never seen you before.”
Lu Yuan nodded, responding to Fernando’s question, “I used to live on another planet and just arrived in the Imperial Capital not long ago.”
Fernando, known for his straightforward nature, asked directly, “So, what type of female zerg do you like?”
Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, rare uncertainty flickering in his eyes. His gaze shifted towards Yusto, who had discreetly perked up his ears, showing no intention to help out but clearly eager to hear Lu Yuan’s answer.
“Well…”
Just as Lu Yuan contemplated how to answer, a sudden commotion outside caught their attention, signaling the arrival of another significant figure. Lu Yuan promptly halted the conversation, instinctively looking towards the entrance to see who else might be coming at this moment.
Yusto and his companions, with their keen sense of hearing, seemed to have caught wind of something. Yusto furrowed his brow and spoke in a low tone, “It’s those guys from the Northern Zerg Clan. Can’t believe they’ve also come!”
Author’s note:
Lu Yuan: Yusto, why is your face so red?
Yusto: (〃’▽’〃) Got hit.
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
