Cedric, the First Prince of the Zerg Empire, and the noble male born to the Zerg Emperor’s very first Ci jun.
“Please, everyone, carry on with the festivities. Do not pay any mind to me,” Cedric announced smoothly, addressing the crowd.
Once the formalities were out of the way, Cedric deftly bypassed the mingling aristocracy, steering his steps directly toward the secluded corner where Lu Li was resting.
He was genuinely eager to assess what kind of individual his imperial cousin’s Male Lord turned out to be.
The planetary networks were buzzing with the revelation that the pair shared a flawless 100% genetic compatibility rating. Such a statistical anomaly was bound to arouse any Zerg’s intellectual curiosity.
However, before Cedric could even bridge the distance to the alcove, a sizable silhouette rushed over, unceremoniously wrapping two strong arms around his waist.
“Euan, we have discussed this. You are practically fully grown now; stop throwing yourself around so recklessly.” Cedric turned around, his fingers gently combing through the newcomer’s hair, his eyes brimming with a soft, bottomless indulgence.
Euan was a young military Zerg who had been legally adopted into the noble Robert family.
Tragically, the patriarch male who had sponsored his adoption passed away prematurely. Left behind without a primary protector, Euan became an overlooked afterthought within the household, spending his childhood surviving under the cold charity of distant relatives.
It was by sheer coincidence that Cedric had crossed paths with Euan years ago, actively intervening when the young bug was being subjected to malicious bullying. The Robert family had historically maintained strong ties with the imperial court, but following the demise of their ranking male, the clan’s fortunes had steadily withered, causing their socio-political standing to plumet drastically.
Euan possessed striking, pale gold eyes. Coincidentally, both he and Cedric shared a crown of brilliant golden hair.
However, compared to Cedric’s rich, regal gold, Euan’s tresses were noticeably lighter in shade, possessing a soft texture that instinctively made one want to reach out and run a hand through it.
Though Euan had not yet reached full physical maturity, he already exuded an innate, baseline aura of casual arrogance.
His golden hair was never meticulously styled or lacquered into place; instead, it was left artfully tousled, with a few stray strands flicking defiantly across his brow, adding a touch of unbridled wildness to his appearance.
His brows were dark and sharply defined, framing a pair of striking peach-blossom eyes that tilted subtly upward at the corners. They were eyes that seemed naturally steeped in deep affection, glittering with a sharp, quick-witted animus.
Those pale gold irises looked like sacred artifacts blessed by ancient gods, yet beneath the surface, they occasionally flashed with a chilling, predatory glint that could make a lesser Zerg’s blood run cold.
“I won’t,” Euan murmured, tightening his grip around Cedric’s waist as he leaned into him, his voice thick with petulant affection. “I am still small right now. I intend to cling to you forever.”
Although Cedric was chronologically older, Euan’s biological status as a military female meant that his physiology naturally dictated a taller, broader stature than his male prince. As a result, the visual dynamic presenting itself to the room was rather striking: Euan was bent slightly forward, effectively cradling Cedric entirely within his embrace.
To a casual observer, it almost looked as though the First Prince had become Euan’s exclusive possession.
But this was the Crown Prince of the Zerg Empire; who would dare voice such a scandalous thought aloud?
Euan had delighted in holding Cedric this way since childhood. He wanted every single Zerg in existence to know one absolute truth:
Cedric belonged to him.
The mere thought of Cedric eventually taking a primary Ci jun or admitting a flock of Ci shi into his household sent waves of white-hot, maddening jealousy ripping through Euan’s chest.
Sinking into the dark spiral of his thoughts, Euan buried his face directly into the crook of Cedric’s neck. “Am I truly forbidden from clinging to you once I reach adulthood?”
Euan’s eyes seemed clouded by a thick, oppressive shadow, a deep-seated trace of bitter reluctance carefully masked beneath his lashes.
He was, after all, merely an adopted orphan of the declining Robert house. On the surface, high society treated him with a veneer of respect solely to placate Prince Cedric; behind closed doors, plenty of aristocrats sneered at him, labeling him a fortunate stray who had simply lucked into royal favor.
Had it not been for the charity of his late adoptive father, Euan would likely be wandering some desolate, peripheral planet.
To dream of being a fitting match for someone as transcendent as Cedric was the absolute height of delusion.
Hearing the underlying vulnerability in Euan’s words, Cedric’s expression remained deeply indulgent. He murmured softly, “How could that ever be the case? You may cling to me for as long as you wish.”
As Euan shifted, his fine golden strands brushed lightly against Cedric’s skin. The sensation proved entirely too ticklish, prompting Cedric to issue a firm command: “Euan, stand up straight.”
“No… I don’t want to,” Euan whined into his shoulder.
“Do not make me repeat myself.” Hearing the shift in Cedric’s voice still smooth as polished jade, yet underscored by a clear note of royal warning, Euan reluctantly uncoiled himself and stood upright.
Turning his attention back to the nearby male, Cedric offered a warm smile. “Forgive the display, Noble Lord. Allow me to introduce ourselves: I am Cedric, First Prince of the Empire. And this is Euan, a military Zerg of the Robert family.”
“I am Aseya’s biological cousin, so you are more than welcome to address me as ‘Cousin’ as well.”
Before Cedric could finish his pleasantries, a beautifully familiar voice cut through the ambient noise, ringing clearly in Lu Li’s ears.
“Master!”
It was Aseya. Striding closely behind him was his elder brother, Frost.
Aseya had been engaged in a polite conversation with a few military acquaintances, but the moment the conversation lulled, his sharp hearing caught the surrounding guests whispering excitedly among themselves.
“General Aseya’s Male Lord is an absolute dream. Did you hear? He openly declared that he will only ever have one Ci jun, and flatly refused to take any Ci shi.”
“I heard Lord Lu Li is a certified A-rank male, and he is astonishingly handsome to boot.”
“General Aseya is truly blessed. To command a prestigious lineage, unparalleled beauty, legendary military achievements, and secure a Male Lord who treasures him exclusively? Heavens, it’s a terrifyingly perfect existence.”
Noticing the shift in Aseya’s posture, a close friend standing beside him gently nudged his elbow, teasing playfully, “How on earth did you manage to domesticate a male that spectacular? Come on, share the secret so we can take notes. I would give anything for a Male Lord like that.”
Aseya had absolutely no desire to entertain his friend’s lighthearted teasing. His mind was entirely consumed by a singular, overwhelming urge: he needed to see Lu Li immediately.
Offering a swift, distracted farewell, Aseya murmured, “I must excuse myself to find my Male Lord.”
Without waiting for a response, he broke away from the circle, charting a direct course back to his partner.
“Master!” Catching sight of Lu Li, Aseya’s habitually frozen, detached voice carried a distinct, breathless trace of excitement.
Frost and Cedric were seasoned observers of psychology; one look at Aseya’s radiant expression was all it took for them to realize their fierce little brother had fallen completely, irrevocably into the depths of love.
Cedric couldn’t resist the urge to tease his younger cousin. “What is the immense hurry, Aseya? We aren’t about to devour your precious Male Lord.”
Only upon hearing Cedric’s smooth voice did Aseya realize just how many high-ranking family members had clustered into the corner. A wave of acute embarrassment washed over him, tinting his cheeks pink. “I… I did not mean it that way, Cousin…”
Cedric chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. “Very well, we are well aware of how deeply attached you are to your male. Go on, take your partner and enjoy the banquet.”
Watching Aseya drop his rigid military exterior and display a trace of innocent, youthful shyness in front of his elder brothers, Lu Li found the transformation incredibly endearing.
Stepping forward seamlessly, Lu Li offered his arm. “Let’s go, Aseya. I spotted a rather exceptional pastry selection over by the buffet.”
Turning to the others, Lu Li nodded politely. “We will see you shortly, Brother, Cousin, Euan.”
“Have regular fun,” Frost replied.
Aseya eagerly laced his fingers through Lu Li’s, and the two quickly departed toward the dessert stations.
As soon as Aseya and Lu Li’s figures disappeared into the crowd, Frost’s expression shifted into a more serious demeanor as he leaned toward Cedric to relay a pressing family update.
Frost lowered his voice. “According to our birth-father, Aseya’s Male Lord has still not… completed their union. Aseya’s underlying psychic instabilities and spiritual chaos have yet to receive proper male pacification.”
Hearing this entirely unexpected piece of intelligence, Cedric raised an intrigued eyebrow.
Such a prolonged delay was practically unheard of in Zerg culture. Very few males possessed the sheer ascetic restraint required to refuse a striking, high-tier beauty like Aseya when legally bound to them.
Furthermore, judging by Lu Li’s highly protective body language just moments ago, it was blatantly obvious the male wasn’t indifferent to Aseya.
Cedric offered a slow, knowing smile. “If that is the root of the problem, it is easily resolved. In fact, a perfect opportunity has just presented itself to us.”
With practiced grace, the prince lifted his crystal flute, his long, elegant fingers lightly cradling the stem as he took a measured, delicate sip of the amber liquid.
Alcohol the undisputed, timeless catalyst for repressed romantic inclinations.
Having grown up alongside Cedric since childhood, Frost instantly deciphered the unspoken implication.
The two elder brothers locked eyes, a shared spark of mischief passing between them. It was, without a doubt, an exceptionally practical solution to push the newlyweds over the finish line.
Simultaneously, the two raised their glasses, letting the crystal chime softly as they toasted to the conspiracy.
Seeing the two elder Zerg organizing a plot without him, Euan immediately chimed in, tossing his head. “I want to join your operation too!”
Euan commanded an immense tolerance for alcohol; having him assist in the scheme would provide an excellent safety net to ensure everything went off without a hitch.
Cedric chuckled softly, patting the younger bug’s shoulder. “Very well. You’re in.”