SGT CH202

202 Zerg: Major General X Falls into the Hands of a Malicious Mental Groomer 8

◎”What you should do right now is kiss me.”◎

He was… pregnant.

In panic, X took half a step backward, knocking over the accessories on the table.

Precious jewels scattered across the table, some even tumbling onto the floor.

“What happened?”

Hearing the noise, Mu Si stepped into the dressing room.

Almost the instant he heard the Prince’s voice, X subconsciously closed the terminal page displaying his pregnancy.

Entering the dressing room, Mu Si only saw X standing there dazed, along with the scattered jewelry on the table.

“Don’t like these? Mm… we’re only missing a brooch anyway. The formal suit is already lavish enough, so going without a brooch is fine.”

Mu Si walked up to X, resting a hand on his chest, teasing playfully:

“Since you’re already wearing accessories underneath, it won’t be considered improper anyway.”

Who said wearing accessories inside one’s clothes didn’t count as wearing them?

Mu Si had thought X would be amused by him, or shyly dodge away.

Instead, X merely stood blankly before him, his eyes completely hollow.

“Did something happen?” Mu Si tilted his head.

X’s gaze fell on the Prince’s stunning, flawless face, his heart adrift in utter bewilderment.

He was carrying the Prince’s egg.

On the very night the Prince was about to be betrothed to his Female Monarch.

Because of the little male, X had always loved cubs dearly.

Most Female Zergs loved cubs.

During the return voyage from expeditions, military females in the unit frequently discussed finding a male to bear cubs with.

If they hadn’t found a male to marry by retirement, they would adopt a cub from an orphanage.

Listening from the side, X had never joined the discussion, but occasionally he would think about adopting a cub with silvery-gold hair, just like the little male…

The Prince had silvery-gold hair as well…

Looking at the Prince showing concern before him, countless suppressed emotions welled inside X’s chest, yearning to draw some support and comfort from the Prince.

Yet the exquisite, luxurious suit on the Prince clearly reminded X what day it was today.

It was the Prince’s adulthood ceremony, the day of betrothal between the Prince and his Female Monarch.

X forcefully suppressed the unease and chaotic emotions in his heart, pretending nothing was amiss.

“Nothing… I am just a bit…”

“Nervous?” Mu Si guessed.

After all, it was their engagement ceremony; he was actually quite nervous himself.

Mu Si would never let it show, however, intending instead to feign casual ease, acting as if everything were firmly within his grasp.

“…Yes,” X followed along with the Prince’s words.

On such a momentous day, he could not reveal his pregnancy.

Not only would it spoil the Prince’s mood, but it would also humiliate the Prince’s Female Monarch.

The Prince had looked forward to tonight so eagerly, preparing so much for the engagement ceremony…

The Prince only needed to enjoy everything tonight with joy; he shouldn’t be affected by him.

Tonight belonged entirely to the Prince and his Female Monarch.

He shouldn’t leave his own mark on such an occasion.

“In an event like this, it’s only natural for you to feel nervous.”

Embracing X to soothe him, Mu Si gave patient instructions:

“In a moment, just stay by my side. Whatever I tell you to do, do it. Just follow my lead in everything.”

Mu Si had specifically discussed with the Zerg Emperor and the Marshal that since this was merely an engagement, there was no need for an overly complicated ceremony.

Settling the matter as quickly as possible was what mattered.

After the engagement, he could register their marriage with X on the star network right away.

As for a truly grand wedding ceremony, that lay further ahead.

The wedding of an imperial heir was not something that could be arranged within a month or two.

X complied submissively.

His original plan had been to stay in an inconspicuous corner, quietly watching the Prince enjoy the most important milestone of his life.

Since the Prince wanted him to follow along, he would follow.

Watching the Prince at close range, watching him take the Female Monarch’s hand, sharing a dance with the Female Monarch, exchanging rings, kissing…

“Let’s go, the banquet is about to start.”

Mu Si smoothed X’s collar, leading him out.

Falling half a step behind, X accompanied the Prince’s side.

Walking together through the long corridor.

The Prince gazed ahead brimming with anticipation, while he watched the Prince’s profile, his hand slowly resting over his abdomen.

This was his cub, and also the Prince’s cub.

He wanted to give this cub everything he possessed, yet he couldn’t even give him a legitimate identity.

He could only let him enter this world as an illegitimate child born out of wedlock.

He couldn’t even guarantee that much.

The Prince would not take responsibility for him, nor would he necessarily provide sufficient pheromones for his egg…

“Your Highness…”

X parted his lips, wanting to plead for something.

They had arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Countless voices drifted from ahead, the resplendent, dazzling light piercing through the dimness to spill across his face, leaving him dazed.

“Hm?” Mu Si turned back to look at him, taking his hand.

“It is nothing…” X swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Seeing the Prince intending to lead him straight into the banquet hall hand-in-hand, he hurriedly pulled his hand back, saying in alarm:

“This is improper.”

What could possibly be improper about this?

How had he never realized X was this rigid before?

“Fine, then.”

Not wanting to argue with X over this, Mu Si released his grip as requested.

In any case, during the opening dance later, X would still have to hand his hand over obediently.

Mu Si strode forward.

X paused, lagging a step behind before following.

The moment the Prince and Major General X entered the banquet hall, they drew a flood of stunned, envious gazes.

The Male Zerg was gorgeous, the Female Zerg handsome, appearing like a match made in heaven.

Walking together, their combined visual impact was staggering.

A momentary silence fell across the banquet hall, with only sharp gasps and murmurs of admiration breaking the quiet.

After a while, hushed whispers began to rise.

“Is that… His Imperial Highness the Prince?”

“Far too beautiful.”

“During his cub stage he was lovely and cute; even keeping a straight face, he made a bug’s paternal instincts overflow. Now that he’s an adult…”

“Why did you stop talking?”

“What’s there to hide? It’s simply being so captivated you lose your bearings, paternal love curdling into romantic yearning, wanting to marry him. More than half the females present want to marry him.”

The other half were already married and couldn’t.

“The one beside the Prince, that’s Major General X, right?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen Major General X dressed so handsomely and eye-catchingly, completely different from his usual style.”

“That formal suit, and the collar brooch… they’re worth a fortune.”

“Why is Major General X accompanying the Prince? Was it arranged by the Marshal, or could it be… an engagement?”

Damn, so envious.

“No wonder he dressed so strikingly. After all, it’s with the Prince… one truly must dress up properly to catch the Prince’s attention and gain more favor…”

A Female Zerg’s acute hearing allowed X to catch every whisper circulating throughout the banquet hall.

Even if most bugs spoke vaguely, X knew that the matter between him and the Prince had been noticed.

This left X restless with anxiety.

He did not wish to affect the Prince and the Female Monarch on such a day.

He also feared the Prince might distance himself from him and cease contact once their affair was exposed.

X wanted to pull back.

Then he heard the Prince say softly to him, “Follow me.”

Remembering the Prince’s earlier instructions, X followed subconsciously.

Led by the Prince, he arrived beside the Zerg Emperor and the Marshal.

Thoroughly stepping into the center of attention for everyone present.

“Welcome, everyone. We gather together today to celebrate the adulthood ceremony of my eldest son—Prince Mu Si.”

Taking the Prince’s hand, the Zerg Emperor introduced him to the crowd.

X stood rigidly to the side.

He knew with absolute clarity that today was not only an adulthood ceremony, but also the betrothal ceremony between the Prince and his Female Monarch.

The Prince’s Female Monarch was among the guests present.

X scanned the faces of the guests one by one, along with the attire they wore.

Trying to spot the Female Zerg about to be betrothed to the Prince.

The Admiral of the First Legion, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Foreign Minister, the Commander of the Silver Shield Unit…

Not a single bug wore any of the finalized sets of suits the Prince had selected.

Had the Female Monarch not arrived yet?

Or had he changed into a different outfit later on?

The surroundings fell silent, with only the sound of the Zerg Emperor addressing the assembly.

“Aside from celebrating the Prince’s adulthood, tonight, there is another momentous announcement.”

Here it comes.

X’s breath hitched slightly.

“Surely, everyone has already guessed what this matter entails.”

A faint smile surfaced in the Zerg Emperor’s habitually detached eyes as he announced before all the guests:

“The Prince shall be betrothed to… Major General X!”

…Who?!

X looked in shock toward the Prince and the Zerg Emperor, assuming the Emperor had misspoke.

Yet he was met with the Prince turning his head, his face beaming with smiles.

The Zerg Emperor looked at them with an identical smile as well.

Saying softly to the Prince:

“Go on. The first dance ought to be danced by the newly betrothed.”

Amid a gentle, romantic melody, Mu Si walked toward X.

Bowing with grace, he extended his hand toward him:

“May I invite you for the first dance? My beloved Female Monarch.”

The Zerg held no strict rules on whether a male invited a female or a female invited a male to dance.

In most cases, females took the initiative to invite males.

Given the demographics, at all times, females vastly outnumbered males.

If a female didn’t take the initiative, the male might be whisked away by another bug.

If a male took the initiative to invite a female, it was seen as a symbol of deep love and doting favor.

X’s brain had completely crashed.

His body remembered the dance steps and routine practiced with the Prince.

Subconsciously, he placed his hand into the Prince’s palm.

Their bodies drew close under the lights, swaying to the music amidst the envious, jealous, and congratulatory gazes of every bug present.

X had no time to feel fortunate that his body remembered every step, executing the entire dance with the Prince seamlessly despite his blank mind.

His entire focus was caught in the daze of the Prince calling him “Female Monarch.”

The bug betrothed to the Prince was him?

The Prince’s Female Monarch was him?

The formal suit the Prince meticulously selected was meant for him to wear all along.

The dance steps the Prince practiced with him were meant for sharing the first dance with him at the adulthood ceremony.

And the accessories the Prince had him try on, including the engagement ring…

On the Prince’s hand rested a golden ring of authority.

Engraved with a crown and stars, inlaid with a dazzling ruby.

This was the ring bestowed by the Zerg Emperor when Mu Si was titled Prince, symbolizing his status and authority as imperial heir.

The ring the Prince prepared for his Female Monarch was likewise engraved with a crown and stars, but featured an additional sword symbolizing “protection.”

This ring represented the Prince sharing glory and authority with his Female Monarch, and symbolized the Female Monarch’s lifelong vow to protect the Prince.

Now, the Prince had solemnly placed that ring upon his hand.

“Your Highness…”

Everything was so wonderful it felt like an illusion.

Whether the Prince’s touch, or the prominent ring upon his finger.

“Hush,” Mu Si leaned closer, looking up into X’s eyes: “What you should do right now is kiss me.”

The Prince’s vivid lips drew X in, looking like fruit jelly infused with the scent of fresh blossoms.

Wrapping his arms around his neck, the Prince tugged down slightly.

Bowing his head, X tasted a mouthful of sweet floral and fruity nectar.

Mu Si disliked banquets and balls where pheromones mingled chaotically.

Only the clean, crisp scent around X could make him feel better.

X seemed perpetually dazed and out of sorts.

Did all Female Zergs act like this when getting engaged?

Those unaware would think he had slipped X a mind-befuddling potion.

Although X’s blank, bewildered look was quite endearing, making him want to tease him.

Having completed the core proceedings of the engagement ceremony, Mu Si quietly slipped away with X.

The pheromones of those females were practically sticking to him.

If he didn’t slip away, he feared the next things lunging onto him would be the females themselves.

He had no desire to dance with other bugs.

In his current state, X didn’t look capable of fending off dance invitations on his behalf either.

Better to flee first.

Leading X into the garden, Mu Si found a secluded corner, shoved X straight into the flower bushes, and happily threw himself forward into his embrace.

“X, X-gege… you are finally bound to me forever.”