Counterattack [Interstellar] - Chapter 13

On the way back to Alan’s palace, Pei Yao sat silently to the side with a stiff, wooden face, not saying a single word.

“Are you angry with me?” Alan gave an apologetic smile. “You saw the situation at the time; the reporters were aggressive. If I hadn’t presented a concrete plan, I wouldn’t have been able to convince them at all. As you said yourself, the Royal Family cannot endure any more scandal right now. I am trying…”

“Your Highness, although I am not sensitive to politics, even I can see that what happened just now was not a momentary impulse.” Pei Yao looked up at Alan and said quietly, “I do not wish to be sentimental, but my appointment as Principal was likely part of Your Highness’s plan all along, was it not?”

Alan shook his head and laughed. “I knew I couldn’t fool you. Yes… but Pei Yao, I didn’t withhold this from you on purpose. I was just afraid…”

“I do not mind the last-minute appointment. You are a Prince; I will execute any decision you make without objection. I simply feel that for a decision of this magnitude, you shouldn’t have made it alone—at the very least, you should have notified His Majesty.” Pei Yao’s handsome brows furrowed tightly. “What happened today clearly exceeded His Majesty’s expectations. It is fortunate that His Majesty did not say anything more. If His Majesty had failed to control his temper at that moment, how did you plan to clean up the mess? The Crown Prince was also enraged… how could you defy him like that?”

“Why should I care whether Anthony is enraged or not?” Alan raised an eyebrow and sneered. “How would I clean up the mess? Pei Yao, do not forget—I came to the Capital Star, I came here… precisely to clean up the mess for your dear Crown Prince.”

“Have I not done enough? On a whim, he directly cost two lives! He nearly plunged the Empire into crisis. As a discarded pawn they once threw away, I’ve returned to settle Anthony’s disaster—and they still expect me to want nothing in return, to work willingly like a servant?” Alan let out a series of cold laughs. “Major General Pei Yao, what makes you think I should act as the fall guy? Do not push me too far. In terms of status and rank, the Anthony of the past wouldn’t even have been qualified to speak to me face-to-face!”

Although Alan truly did not want to vent the anger he had been suppressing for days on Pei Yao, the man’s words were too grating. Moreover, every sentence seemed to confirm Alan’s earlier dark suspicions, making him—already slightly agitated from the wine—exceedingly irritable. He yanked off his tie, threw it aside, and turned to look at Pei Yao. “And on what grounds are you accusing me? Heh… Pei Yao, sometimes I truly do not understand. Anthony once locked you on Nymph Island for three whole months! For three months, he subjected you to endless mental attacks, and the wounds in your brain still haven’t healed! And you? Instead of seeking revenge after your release, you’ve continued to serve him with loyalty for nearly ten years! Haha…”

Alan continued to sneer coldly. “I don’t want to overthink it, but I truly suspect you contracted Stockholm Syndrome during those three months! The worse Anthony treats you, the more you insist on sticking to him! Now that I’ve designed a way for you to escape, you actually turn around and accuse me! Are you unhappy about it?” Alan slowly leaned down, staring intently into Pei Yao’s eyes, which were burning red with anger. He gave a cruel smile. “Can’t bear to leave him? During the years I was away, what exactly happened between you two? That ‘pure’ act from earlier was just a lie to fool me, wasn’t it? Well?!”

Pei Yao’s right fist clenched tightly as he exerted every ounce of strength to suppress the rising mania in his heart. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, “No matter what you think of me… you were indeed wrong regarding what happened just now. You can disregard my feelings, but His Majesty’s and the Crown Prince’s…”

“Don’t mention him to me again!” Alan’s good temper had completely evaporated. He roared sharply, “Exactly what benefits did Anthony give you to make you protect him so obsessively?!”

“I am protecting you!” Pei Yao’s mania was completely triggered by Alan’s provocation. After several attempts at restraint, his eyes had turned blood-red. His Giant Dragon was forced to manifest due to its master’s agitation, roaring repeatedly within the cramped confines of the flying shuttle. Pei Yao did his best to soothe his Quantum Beast, gasping, “I mean no offense… but please understand one thing, Your Highness. The Crown Prince can afford to make mistakes because he always has His Majesty to shield him! But what about you?!”

Pei Yao’s dragon let out a howl and tried to lunge at Alan. In his fury, Pei Yao turned and shoved the dragon away. The dragon crashed heavily to the side, scrambled back up, and hissed at Pei Yao with unwilling rage. Pei Yao gritted his teeth against the mania in his heart and continued, “What about you? Given the current situation… can you afford to be so reckless?! Last time you were sent away for ‘recuperation.’ What about this time? Have you considered the consequences?!”

Alan stared blankly at Pei Yao, who was spiraling into mania yet still struggling desperately to suppress it. For a moment, Alan felt like strangling himself.

Had he gone mad? To actually doubt Pei Yao’s loyalty.

Pei Yao took a deep breath, his hand trembling as he reached into his jacket for a sedative. Before he could pull it out, Alan preemptively extended his mental tentacles. Dozens of thread-like tentacles gently pierced through Pei Yao’s brain, quickly extinguishing the fire within.

Since the two had already established a shallow-level bonding, this degree of mania was easily cured. Pei Yao soon regained his clarity, and his eyes returned to their original dark color. He looked somewhat exhausted. Recalling everything that had just happened, he felt a wave of regret and bowed. “I lost my composure… please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Unable to endure it any longer, Alan stepped forward and kissed Pei Yao directly.

Startled, Pei Yao tried to push him away, but Alan beat him to it, wrapping his arm around Pei Yao’s back and pressing him against the wall of the shuttle. Alan repeatedly kissed Pei Yao’s lower lip, which had been bitten raw during the mania. He took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, “I’m sorry.”

Pei Yao’s eyes widened. After a stunned pause, he hurriedly said, “Your Highness, please do not do this…”

“I’m sorry.” Alan didn’t want to lose his composure in front of Pei Yao, but his voice still carried a slight tremor. “It… it has been a very long time since anyone has looked out for me like this. I have become accustomed to suspecting the worst of everyone because they are constantly trying to harm me. A single second of carelessness could lead to disaster. I thought… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Pei Yao. I’m a wretch… to actually doubt you.”

Pei Yao felt very ill at ease. He pursed his lips and said, “Please do not apologize, Your Highness…”

“Forget what I just said…” Alan felt like killing his past self from a few minutes ago. “I drank too much tonight. I’m sorry…”

Pei Yao felt a bit stifled thinking about Alan’s words from earlier. He whispered, “I will forget it. Please do not insult me like that again in the future.”

“Never again. I was out of my mind just now.” Alan felt a sharp pang of guilt in his heart. “I am too suspicious. I promise, this is absolutely the last time.”

Having received the promise, Pei Yao felt a bit better. Alan, however, only felt more heartache for him. He couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss Pei Yao’s lips repeatedly. Pei Yao was somewhat embarrassed; he turned his head away and frowned. “Your Highness… please behave with dignity.”

Alan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Dignity?”

Pei Yao looked at Alan blankly, not understanding why he had suddenly started laughing again. Alan simply felt he had found a true treasure. To avoid making Pei Yao loathe him, Alan backed away slightly and said softly, “Your lip is split. I’ll get you some medicine.”

There was no repair device in the shuttle, so Alan rummaged around and found a bottle of ointment. After carefully reading the instructions, he nodded. “This will prevent infection… come, let’s apply some.”

Pei Yao nodded. Alan avoided Pei Yao’s hand as he reached for the ointment; instead, Alan cleaned his own fingers with foam disinfectant and dabbed a bit of the cream. Seeing Pei Yao’s slightly guarded look, Alan gave a bitter smile. “Pei Yao, I just want to put some medicine on you. You can’t see it yourself; it’s inconvenient.”

Left with no choice, Pei Yao nodded. Alan then meticulously applied a thin layer of ointment to Pei Yao’s injured lower lip. Pei Yao gave an embarrassed nod. “Thank you… Your Highness.”

Alan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his fingers. He paused and said in a low voice, “Though you may not necessarily believe it… I still want to say it once more. Pei Yao, I… I never intended to hurt you. My paranoia just flared up again. I’m sorry.”

Before Pei Yao could speak, Alan added, “Don’t say it’s fine. Listen to me first.”

“I know the situation on the Capital Star very well. What I did today was indeed playing with fire. But Pei Yao, you must understand… even if I didn’t fight or snatch, they wouldn’t let me go. You are right; Anthony has the Emperor, while I have nothing. Therefore, I must be careful in everything. But simply being careful won’t make the final outcome much better than it is now. Furthermore…” Alan shook his head and smiled. “No one would likely believe this, but I’m not doing this entirely for myself. The Guide issue has been neglected for too long; it must undergo reform. Whether people say I’m doing it for personal gain or to honor Queen Mary Ann’s legacy, establishing a new order is something I must do.”

“I believe you.” Pei Yao looked at Alan with a clear gaze. “Ten years ago, you told me that a system that maintains high-level social stability by victimizing Guides could be sustained in times of war through the public’s hero complex and spirit of sacrifice. But once that fig leaf is stripped away, it will inevitably lead to a total upheaval. Now… your words have been proven true.”

“You actually remember…” Alan took Pei Yao’s hand in his own, his gaze resolute. “Also… do not worry. My situation is not as precarious as you imagine. Since I dared to return, I have the confidence that I can establish a firm foothold here.