SGT CH207

207 The Little Cakes’ Tea Party (End)

◎”Let’s have another cub.” First prepare for pregnancy for a hundred years◎

Not that he didn’t want to, but that he couldn’t.

The Prince listened blankly.

As a noble, doted-upon high-ranking male, he naturally could not comprehend such a mentality.

Standing beside the bug one loved to declare ownership before everyone, wasn’t that only natural?

What was more, X was his Female Monarch.

In all the world, there was no status more legitimate than this.

The Imperial Consort had not anticipated that one day, he would need to explain Zerg social rules to an actual Male Zerg.

Yet he patiently clarified it for this version of himself:

“A male is legally permitted to have multiple females. If a Male Master insists on taking a new female consort, as a female, one possesses no authority to stop it.”

The Prince nodded along; this was indeed the case.

Although certain Female Monarchs who held high authority at home could restrain their household’s male, if a male insisted on taking a female consort, even a Female Monarch from a great noble house would end up in an ugly conflict.

“Still, what does that have to do with me? I never intended to take a female consort!”

Saying this, the Prince paused abruptly.

Lifting his eyes, he met the Imperial Consort’s gaze, noticing the helpless, amused look in the other’s eyes.

Looking across the long table at the versions of himself from other worlds, he read the exact same realization from everyone’s faces.

Even the most serious Ability User Mu Si could not resist sighing helplessly:

“X… his train of thought differs a bit drastically from ours.”

The Imperial Consort added: “Separated by two whole universes.”

Although the Prince held zero intention of taking a female consort, having never even contemplated such matters, in X’s mind…

Who knew what X would concoct?

Anything was possible.

“He actually suspected me like that, slandering me, how infuriating!”

The Prince felt somewhat aggrieved, carrying both hurt at X’s lack of trust and sorrow that X would actually let him “take a female consort.”

“You cannot blame X,” the Imperial Consort, empathizing more with X’s position, spoke up on his behalf. “Living in an environment like the Zerg, and military females being the most strictly observant of rules… regarding this matter, he must be very sorrowful as well.”

Ability User Mu Si did not quite understand Zerg society. Touching his pristine wrist, memory flashing through his eyes, he murmured:

“The more he cares for you, the less he is willing to restrict you.”

After discovering the full truth, the Zombie King clearly could have stayed by his side, yet risked turning into a mindless zombie to gouge out his crystal core and return it to him. Only so that he would possess his own power, avoid becoming a dependent dodder flower, free from restraint, capable of choosing his own future.

Because of profound love, he was all the more unwilling to become a shackling collar.

X loved the Prince deeply, and thus would never restrict him or stop him from choosing a female he fancied, even if doing so caused him unbearable agony.

That was how X loved someone.

Emperor Mu Si recalled something, remarking:

“Shadow One once advised Us to select imperial concubines as well.”

All the Mu Sis turned their gaze toward him.

“We naturally refused!” the Emperor said hastily. Pondering for a moment, he shared his perspective:

“In truth… the reason he acted that way was because he felt insecure. Perhaps from external pressure, or perhaps feeling he shouldn’t monopolize Us, that We deserved more. At a time like this, one ought to…”

“Pierce through him! Fill his belly with a whole clutch of eggs!”

Little Tentacle Monster raised an appendage to answer first, bursting with absolute confidence in its domain of expertise.

All the Mu Sis: “…”

Massaging his temples with a headache, the Prince thought perhaps they really should throw this blob of jelly out. He was very reluctant to admit this creature was an alternate self.

Clearing his throat, the Imperial Consort smoothed things over:

“This is not entirely without merit.”

The Prince looked in shock at the habitually dependable Imperial Consort. Even you?

The Imperial Consort stated his reasoning:

“Females all care deeply about cubs. In this regard, Female Zergs are probably even more extreme than female Tianjia.”

After all, female Tianjia had more choices: they could pursue careers or lounge at home with a male. Only when both career and romance flourished would they think about having a cub for fun.

Female Zergs had careers and marriages, yet suffered far more restrictions. The Male Master’s favor was outside their control; without a male’s favor, where would a cub come from?

Meanwhile, female Tianjia never had to fear falling out of favor. High-ranking females monopolized males through power and wealth. Even lower-class females scheduled shifts to take turns holding their male to sleep.

“If you could have another cub, your Female Monarch’s insecurity might lessen,” the Imperial Consort noted.

In the Zerg race, having a cub was virtually synonymous with possessing a male’s doting favor.

“A cub isn’t something I can produce just because I want to,” the Prince muttered softly. “The Zerg and Tianjia share the same origin, don’t you know how abysmal the fertility rate is?”

“Who said you have to actually produce a cub?” the Imperial Consort asked.

As the Prince stared in blank shock, the Imperial Consort winked:

“What matters is the process. You can start by preparing for pregnancy.”

Preparing for pregnancy provided an unassailable excuse for constant intimacy, leaving zero surplus energy to ponder nonsense.

“Let us prepare for pregnancy for… a hundred years first.”

The Imperial Consort finalized the verdict.

Prince: “?!!”

One could do that?! The Prince was profoundly enlightened.

Emperor Mu Si was equally shaken by this concept of time. Preparing for pregnancy for a hundred years? Said so casually? He gained a deeper understanding of the lifespans of these non-human races.

“Then We shall offer some experience as well,” Emperor Mu Si said. “You need to spend more time accompanying him, play games to cultivate affection, and praise him.”

“Games, praise…” Mu Si pondered. “Such as?”

“Good dog,” the Emperor blurted out subconsciously.

All the Mu Sis: “…”

The Prince held his head in bewilderment. Why was each alternate self more unhinged than the last?

“Alright, fine, I’ll consider it.” But that praise was far too weird. “Probably a racial difference; our Zerg race doesn’t use that kind of compliment.”

Having accidentally exposed something, the Emperor asked: “Do you not share exclusive intimate nicknames?”

The Prince thought for a moment: “Cifu?”

Communicating telepathically and understanding the exact connotations, the other Mu Sis: “Ah???”

“Ahem, not usually,” the Prince scrambled to explain. “Normally I use his name, or ‘X-gege.’ That title is only used under specific circumstances.”

All the Mu Sis: “…” Still wildly unhinged.

Everyone had their own absurdities; no one could mock anyone else.

The Mu Sis tacitly bypassed this matter.

Ability User Mu Si offered his advice:

“You can express your love to him more often. He is most defenseless against that. As long as you tell him you love him, even if he cuts off his physical senses, he will tremble with excitement and achieve a mental climax from your words alone.”

Zergs favored pheromones, so the Prince had never heard of this approach; he took notes diligently.

The other Mu Sis were secretly taking mental notes as well. These were valuable insights from parallel versions of themselves.

Whose turn was next?

All eyes landed on Little Tentacle Monster, and before it could speak, everyone immediately looked away.

Little Tentacle Monster waved its appendages in protest:

“Pierce—”

“Alright, we know what you want to say, go play with your glass jar.”

Their gazes then shifted to Little Zombie.

Little Zombie looked up with jerky in his mouth, “Awoo?“

Looking at Little Zombie, who showcased a brainless beauty at all times, the Mu Sis tacitly averted their eyes again.

Ignored, Little Zombie insisted on contributing: “Awoooo!“

Bite him! Hang from him all night! Bite him till he swells up!

Truly the only one who could converse on the same wavelength as Little Tentacle Monster; their styles were remarkably aligned.

Ability User Mu Si grew slightly curious. His world was closest to Little Zombie’s, both being post-apocalyptic realms. The Xs of their worlds shared high similarities.

Thus, Ability User Mu Si asked: “Where does X like being bitten most?”

The other Mu Sis put on an expression of “why would you ask that,” while quietly perking up their ears.

Little Zombie: “Awoo!“

“It’s actually that spot?” Ability User Mu Si was surprised.

The Imperial Consort covered his mouth with a cough, “Indeed, very much in line with His Majesty’s style.”

The Prince nodded, “I will pay more attention to that area.”

Emperor Mu Si looked between them, adding: “We shall continue exploring.”

Little Tentacle Monster: “?” What were they talking about?

Never mind. Little Tentacle Monster raised an appendage, the tip condensing a thinner tentacle, boasting: “I’ve drilled into it!”

All the Mu Sis glared at him in unison.

The Prince picked up the fruit knife from the table.

Little Tentacle Monster hastily retracted its limb, blurting out:

“X is off work, I’m not playing with you anymore, I’m going home!”

With that, the translucent figure of the tentacle creature vanished from the spot.

With Little Tentacle Monster’s departure, all the Mu Sis felt the spatial fabric shifting. Their connection to the outside world strengthened, a sign that they were about to return to reality.

Emperor Mu Si stood first, saying: “We must attend the morning court. It was a pleasure conversing with you all. Until fate allows us to meet again.”

Little Zombie rubbed his stomach, which felt entirely empty despite eating for so long, letting out a soft howl of farewell.

“It is time to say goodbye as well…”

The Imperial Consort stood up gracefully, and right as he was about to speak, his hand was clasped by the Prince.

The Imperial Consort looked back in surprise.

The Prince moved his lips, wanting to say something, yet unsure where to begin.

The social structures of the Zerg and Tianjia were mirrored opposites. The Imperial Consort had understood the Zerg X’s mentality so readily because he had once stood in a similar position of helplessness.

Hesitating for a moment, Mu Si could only say:

“X, the Tianjia Emperor… he must love you very deeply as well.”

The Imperial Consort paused briefly, a gentle smile spreading across his face:

“Thank you, I know.”

“If he handles something poorly or makes you feel awful, you… just throw a tantrum at him!”

Giving this kind of advice for the first time, the Prince flushed with embarrassment, yet pressed on:

“Return to your bedchamber, have the royal guards seal the doors, beat him, bite him, or cry in his arms, whatever you wish. As long as you make a scene and let him know your feelings, he will definitely satisfy you.”

Because X loved Mu Si deeply.

Just as Mu Si loved him.

“Alright, I understand, I will,” the Imperial Consort smiled more deeply, joking in return:

“I can bite him all night without letting go, just like Little Zombie.”

The Prince and the Imperial Consort exchanged fond smiles, bidding farewell with lingering reluctance.

·

Leaving the mental landscape and returning to reality.

The Prince sat in his office at the Inspectorate; checking the time, it was already late into the night.

Heavens.

As a bug who despised overtime to the bone, this was the first time he had lingered at his workplace so late.

Mu Si packed his things hastily and left.

Ignoring the female colleagues who wanted to invite him for a drink, he boarded his shuttle, heading back to the Prince’s estate.

Returning home, Mu Si habitually walked toward the master bedroom on the second floor.

Waiting nearby, the housekeeper cleared his throat, reminding:

“The Female Monarch is in your previous bedroom, and has not eaten dinner.”

The previous one… that small underground room.

Ever since the cub hatched, they had moved upstairs to live.

Only on rare whims when reminiscing about the past, or when the Prince didn’t want to be disturbed by the cub, would he drag X underground.

Hiding in their secret room, keeping each other company, spending an entire day in quiet tranquility or wild passion.

Why had X suddenly gone to sleep in the underground room?

Puzzled, the Prince instructed the attendants to prepare two portions of dinner.

Storing the food in his spatial button, he walked underground, stepping along the path he knew best.

Because it was late, X might already be asleep. Fearing he would wake him, the Prince deliberately reined in his presence, lightening his footsteps.

Pushing open the bedroom door, pitch darkness greeted him.

Yet the Prince’s acute psychic perception told him that the bug inside was not asleep.

Aided by the light filtering in from the hallway, the Prince saw X sitting by the headboard, his figure half-submerged in shadows, holding that spider plushie in his hands, motionless, seemingly lost in thought.

Hearing the noise, X looked up with a delayed reaction, his expression blank and stunned.

The Prince switched on the room’s night light.

Under the soft, gentle illumination, he removed his coat, hung it on the stand, and strode toward the bed.

“Why did you suddenly come here to sleep tonight?”

Leaning down, the Prince poked X’s dazed cheek.

“I…”

X had not fully processed the situation.

Confirming that it truly was the Prince before him, he tentatively took the hand resting on his face:

“Why has Your Highness returned?”

His voice was exceedingly soft, as though afraid of scaring something away.

“Where else would I go after work if not home?”

The Prince could not fathom why X would ask such a question.

“You haven’t answered me. Why sleep underground tonight, without even eating dinner…”

The Prince stopped abruptly.

He seemed to understand now.

X had assumed he wouldn’t come home tonight.

If not home, where would he go?

Given X’s train of thought that differed from his by an entire galaxy…

Looking into X’s eyes, the Prince asked:

“Did you think I went on a date with another female?”

X’s pupils contracted sharply, hastily trying to avert his gaze.

The Prince tilted his head, leaning close to press:

“Are you jealous?”

“No!” X did not want to be saddled with such a label; even though it was the truth, he struggled to defend himself.

The Prince’s tone was breezy and light, “I like it when you’re jealous. It means you care about me deeply.”

X was stunned, his tone stiff and muffled:

“No, jealousy implies pettiness, which males despise.”

“I adore it,” the Prince wrapped his arms around X’s neck, planting a kiss on his lips.

“I like you, X.”

The Prince spoke with utmost solemnity: “I love you very much, and I only want to be with you alone. I will not take another female, and you are forbidden from liking other males. You can only love me, and you can only look at me.”

Love was inherently exclusive.

The Prince could never accept any other bug between himself and X.

The only exception within his tolerance was the cub born of him and X.

“Let’s have another cub,” Mu Si proposed.

Still immersed in the Prince’s confession, X’s body shuddered with uncontrollable emotion.

Hearing this, he paused before answering:

“If Your Highness desires a cub, I will naturally do my utmost. Given the fertility rate of high-ranking Zergs, however, I fear… it will not be easy.”

“It doesn’t matter. We will prepare for pregnancy for a hundred years first. If a hundred years aren’t enough, then two hundred, three hundred years. We have an entire lifetime ahead of us.”

Mu Si affectionately left his mark at the corner of X’s lips.

“Alright,” X caressed the Prince’s long hair, agreeing softly.

Every word the Prince uttered stirred his heart profoundly.

He loved the Prince deeply and trusted him completely; naturally, he chose to believe every word the Prince said.

Whether it was cherishing his jealousy and possessiveness, wanting only him forever, spending a lifetime together, or having cubs with him.

Perhaps the Prince was simply too young.

Perhaps the Prince’s thoughts would shift in the future.

At this very moment, however, the Prince’s eyes held only him.

This love was clean, pure, fierce, and burning hot.

Blazing enough to consume a bug to ashes, yet drawing one near like a moth to a flame.

Having lingered in the dark of the Dark Star Region for far too long, having walked in desolate despair for so many years, he was entirely defenseless against such a dazzling male, such radiant warmth.

Such light and heat.

X pulled his light and heat tightly into his embrace.

“Your Highness…”

Sensing X’s softening, Mu Si deepened the kiss.

Shifting from tentative brushes to a fervent entanglement.

X’s breathing turned ragged, the air infused with the cool, frosty scent of his pheromones.

Mu Si soothed his trembling body.

Diverting his focus to recall the advice he had received: games, praise, and intimate pet names.

Good dog?

Bah, definitely not.

“X-gege.”

Propping himself over X, tending to his heaving chest, Mu Si complained:

“You kept calling me ‘Your Highness’ all night, so cold and distant.”

Using what little rationality remained, X tried to think. Previously, calling the Prince “Your Highness” had never been deemed cold. Now that the Prince said it was, it was naturally his fault.

X complied obediently, amending his words:

“Si Si, xiongzhu¹.”

Saying either word alone was nothing.

Combining them together, however, made X feel instantly self-conscious, his toes curling beneath the light blanket to grip the sheet.

“Just like that, keep calling me that, I love it,” Mu Si encouraged, pressing his lips together with reserved satisfaction.

Whether “Your Highness” or “Si Si,” both were frequent terms X used.

“Xiongzhu,” however, was something X rarely ever voiced. In all their years of marriage, Mu Si had barely heard it once or twice.

Holding him close, Mu Si echoed tenderly:

“X-gege, cijun².”

Then, leaning directly against X’s ear, he whispered another intimate title.

With ears burning scarlet, X turned his face aside, overwhelmed with embarrassment, yet adoring the Prince’s closeness beyond measure.

1. 雄主: Male Monarch ↩︎
2. 雌君: Female Monarch ↩︎