Chapter 48 Part 2

Shen Yu stepped down the final stair. Fred had messaged him ten minutes ago that the female insect had arrived at Azure Sparrow Hill. The connecting hovercar was now parked outside the estate. After reaching Fasser Imperial Palace, they would take a separate carriage to the gathering.

Ludwig hesitated slightly before speaking. “What are you doing, dressed like that?”

Shen Yu tugged impatiently at the bow on his chest while heading out. Hearing this, his gaze swept toward the female insect on the sofa. “A date. Can’t you tell?”

He paused, then raised an eyebrow as if realizing something.

The silver-haired male insect’s cold gaze traveled from top to bottom, landing on Ludwig. His voice was clear and cold. “I don’t have a hobby of playing with patients.”

Ludwig: “…”

With that, Shen Yu turned and left, pushing the door open.

After the male insect departed, Ludwig rose from the sofa. The female insect strode to the window, lifted the curtain with his fingers, and peered through the deep green courtyard to the estate gate.

A black hovercar was parked at the estate gate. The gray-haired female insect in blue formal attire stood with arms crossed, his face icy and expressionless, like a solemn silent mountain waiting quietly outside.

Such a familiar face.

Ludwig raised an eyebrow slightly.

Wasn’t this his rigidly loyal empire fool, his former subordinate Fred? If not for that pale gray prosthetic eye, he might not have connected this formally attired female insect to the one in his memories.

His old subordinate had always been rigid and stern, never shedding his welded-on military uniform even at major events. This getup was rare.

In this context, who it was dressed for went without saying. At the thought, Ludwig’s expression darkened.

In his view, the usually iceberg-like, unsmiling female insect seemed to see something, and a faint smile suddenly curved his lips, like silent snow melting in an instant.

Ludwig’s eyes rolled as he slowly shifted his gaze to the figure walking out from the courtyard.

In his view, the silver-haired male insect emerged from the greenery and arrived at the estate gate unhurriedly.

From Ludwig’s perspective, he could only see the male insect’s back. The silver long hair was half-tied with a blue bow at the nape of his neck. The light blue ribbon dangled along with the long hair, lifted slightly by the wind.

The male insect seemed to notice the gaze from their side and turned his head slightly, but his eyes did not look over. He only left the outline of a side profile.

The two boarded the hovercar one after the other. The vehicle soon departed, vinewood trees extending along both sides as the black car body vanished into the horizon of his vision.

An inexplicable violent urge flashed through Ludwig’s heart.

The monthly court gathering was very boring, but as one of the Sadro Family’s male insect representatives, Vidonien had no choice but to attend the banquet.

As for why he brought Fred?

On one hand, Vidonien was signaling to Louis Ann his determination to no longer involve himself with the main family. He did not hate his so-called female father Louis Ann, but during the experimental body incident years ago, Slei had clashed massively with the Empire, creating huge rifts and divergences. Under the Empire’s pressure, the Sadro Family had indeed abandoned this helmsman who had guided them all along.

On the other hand, the Fasser Royal Family’s court gatherings explicitly required entrants to arrive in pairs.

But today, other amusing spectacles made the gathering far from boring.

Demian’s purchase of lifetime usage rights for a female slave had stirred up a storm in the Empire’s noble circles. Noble male insects from various families clustered together, frowning as they discussed the matter.

Rumor had it that Demian might even bring that female slave to the gathering.

Each court gathering featured a different theme. This one, timed near the Empire’s 400th anniversary, adopted a retro style. Soft classical music filled the air, performed by skilled court musicians, mingled with faint scents of flowers, fruits, and wine.

Fred sat across from the silver-haired male insect. Shen Yu had just finished socializing with familiar male insects and now lounged lazily on the sofa.

When Fred looked up, he met the male insect’s heart-palpitating beauty. When he looked down, he saw fleshy white thighs accentuated by lace.

The battle-hardened ice mountain major general was uncharacteristically at a loss. He finally fixed his gaze on the male insect’s white-gloved fingers holding a wine glass.

Shen Yu was clearly distracted, showing no intention to speak.

Though they had arrived together, they appeared no more intimate than any other insects.

Fred spoke somewhat stiffly. “I didn’t expect you to invite me to this gathering.”

Shen Yu recalled something. Instead of answering, he posed another question. “Major General Your Excellency, do you think Slei will bring that lowly female slave to this gathering?”

Slei—Demian’s surname.

Fred had not anticipated Shen Yu’s sudden inquiry. The topic was hardly proper, yet Demian was his friend, and now he was Shen Yu’s dance partner. In this public venue, any answer would offend two male insect Excellencies.

Fred sighed inwardly. His light gray prosthetic eye lowered as he chose his words with care. “Your Excellency Slei’s choices have always been unpredictable.”

Shen Yu let out a light scoff, noncommittal.

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

Shen Yu sensed something and turned his head.

Demian entered with Sainka. The male insect sported soft, linen-colored curly hair and delicate features. His pupils were very pale, and his eyes gazed at others with a misty gentleness, hailed by throngs of Empire female insect admirers as “the softest, most captivating lake in the world.”

Of course, such praise was confined to female insect circles.

In male insect circles, female insects’ adoration for Demian was matched only by male insects’ revulsion toward him.

This revulsion stemmed not from rivalry—

A golden-haired male insect in ornate attire sat beside Shen Yu. His hip-length golden locks cascaded like flowing water. Due to their close seating, a few strands fell onto Shen Yu’s thighs.

Shen Yu lifted his eyelids slightly, recognizing the male insect from the Andre Family.

The golden-haired male insect frowned and cursed. “What a disgusting pro-female faction. I’ve long suspected if he’s even a real male insect. Which male insect hasn’t endured female insects’ fantasies and harassment from youth to adulthood? He has no strong political leanings either. Damn it, why is he so outrageous?”

Shen Yu lowered his gaze and patted the other’s hand in reassurance.

Andre’s anger ebbed somewhat. He buried his head in the silver-haired male insect’s shoulder, watching gold and silver strands intertwine around the cool-toned neck. He rubbed his head against it and whined aggrievedly. “Sadro, I’m really going to be disgusted to death. He’s even bringing a female slave to the gathering now. Aren’t those punishments just rewards for these thirsty female insects?”

They were not exactly rewards. Most female slaves were sold to foreign races, and male insects like Shen Yu and Demian who patronized female insect exchanges were exceedingly rare. Shen Yu rubbed his head and said indifferently, “Don’t be mad anymore.”

Fred pursed his lips. The Empire’s gender conflicts were deeply divisive. As a major general with broad horizons, though a female insect himself, he understood some male insects’ plights. Male insects enjoyed privileges, but these were not true power. Few male insects truly penetrated the Empire’s power structure—likely tied to their scant numbers.

Different genders meant different standpoints, making true empathy difficult. From Fred’s perspective, at least, the oppression female insects endured far outweighed their contributions.

He pursed his lips again. Andre’s unabashed words left him deeply awkward.

Fortunately, the awkwardness did not linger. The music shifted to dance tunes. Andre was drawn into the dance floor by his accompanying female insect. Fred led Shen Yu in as well. Shen Yu placed his hand on the female insect’s shoulder, and they soon completed one dance.

Court gatherings forbade dancing a full piece with the same partner. During the partner exchange, Shen Yu scanned the room and spotted Sainka standing alone in the corner.

The female insect wore impeccably tailored formal attire, sharpness and melancholy etched in his brows and eyes.

The once-celebrated genius major reemerged on the Empire’s elite stage, but as a female slave—under the crowd’s gaze, enduring undisguised scrutiny from former comrades and male insects’ scornful stares.

What thoughts ran through Sainka’s mind at that moment?

Shen Yu sometimes felt puzzled himself. He could not help suspecting that Demian might not be as pro-female as imagined—merely possessing some particularly humiliating techniques?

In that case, his basement would have been preferable.

Shen Yu straightened the rose brooch on his chest and promptly devised a loosen-the-soil plan. He strode directly to the female insect and extended his hand to the dazed one. “Major, care to dance with me?”

A white-gloved hand appeared before him, a strand of silver hair drifting amid the floral fruit scent.

Sainka was grateful to the male insect Excellency for rescuing him from the exchange and purchasing his lifetime usage rights, sparing him service to foreign races. Though his current predicament was mortifying, Sainka harbored no resentment.

He knew the male insect Excellency acted with good intentions, aiming to prove his innocence. But Sainka was no saint; he could not face it with equanimity.

Who would invite him now?

Puzzled, Sainka raised his head and met a pair of icy eyes.

“Vidonien, what are you doing!”

A sharp rebuke rang out.

Shen Yu’s expression changed at once. Other male insects wore shocked looks, staring incredulously at Demian. Many female insects showed surprise as well.

Male insects knew one another’s names privately but used surnames in public. Names were their safeguard and prerogative. Should a female insect learn a male insect’s name, they gained the right to pursue openly.

And male insects could not refuse.

Among the Empire’s elite, male insects’ relations were tangled with interests, yet as the same sex, they extended mutual consideration. Even the most venomous male insect would not publicly utter another’s name before such a crowd!

The area plunged into instant silence, all eyes fixed on the two principals.

Shen Yu withdrew his hand and straightened slightly. His long, curled pale lashes lifted, ice-blue pupils gliding toward Demian.

Demian stared back in a daze, unsure why all eyes were on them. He clenched his fingers, straightened his spine, and returned Vidonien’s gaze.

The Sadro Family’s genes were exceptionally potent. That silver-haired male insect was coldly beautiful, unearthly in origin. His white-gloved fingers lifted a nearby wine glass brimming with liquor and approached Demian directly.

Vidonien halted before him.

Demian frowned. “Vidonien, Sainka is my female insect.”

Again.

Vidonien raised his wine glass. Already tall, he needed no effort to hold it over Demian’s head.

Under the lights, the glass tilted.

Amber liquid spilled instantly along the rim, splashing onto Demian’s stunned, wide-eyed pretty face. His meticulously styled fluffy soft hair and pristine white shirt were instantly ruined.

The liquid chilled him. Demian’s shock swiftly turned to fury.

Vidonien gazed coldly at the disheveled male insect.

“You dare call my name too?”