Counterattack [Interstellar] - Chapter 20

Ever since their return from the Evoda Summer Palace, Prince Alan and Major General Pei Yao had fallen into an inexplicable cold war.

In truth, it wasn’t exactly a cold war; the two still communicated as necessary. However, every time they exchanged a few words, the atmosphere would turn frigid. Pei Yao appeared no different from usual—at least on the surface. Aside from occasional moments where he seemed lost in thought, he maintained his business-like demeanor, his face devoid of excess expression. He remained as submissive and obedient as ever; even someone as fastidious as Alan could not find a single fault in his conduct.

By contrast, Alan was not nearly as skilled at controlling his emotions. Although he was never a particularly warm person, he usually wasn’t harsh. Yet, over the past two days, he hadn’t shown a single smile. The atmospheric pressure within the palace had plummeted; the attendants were on edge, terrified of crossing their master and becoming collateral damage.

The old butler, Edward, was the first to notice the anomaly. The elderly man had always liked this young, accomplished, and exceptionally diligent General. Seeing that his master no longer seemed to value the General as he once had, Edward grew worried. Having watched Alan grow up and being held in high regard by him, Edward felt he owed it to that trust to resolve his master’s troubles and mend the unnecessary friction with his subordinate.

“This is the formal suit I have selected for you to wear at the ball.” Edward called up a holographic image and bowed. “Do you find it acceptable?”

Alan put down his paper book, glanced up, and nodded. “It’s fine.”

“There is one more thing… previously, you mentioned that when ordering custom clothes for yourself, I should also prepare some for the Major General. I still remember.” Edward smiled, entered a command, and pulled up Pei Yao’s data. “What do you think? And what does the Major General himself think?”

Pei Yao looked over blankly. Edward gave a fatherly smile. “I specifically chose this style for you… it’s very similar to the Prince’s, using the same fabric, but with a simpler design. I think it suits you perfectly.”

For some reason, Pei Yao felt a wave of unease. Preparing a formal suit for him must have been an earlier command from Alan. As for now… Alan likely didn’t even want to acknowledge him, let alone waste any effort on his behalf.

Alan, indeed, remained cold. He gave a cursory glance and said dismissively, “Not bad.”

The matching suits failed to revive their former camaraderie. Old Edward felt a bit defeated, but he quickly adjusted his mindset. Persevering, he said with great enthusiasm, “Tomorrow is Prince Adair’s birthday. Your Highness and the Major General will surely be the center of attention at the ball. I hear Madam Jenny has invited many noble youths for you; I am quite looking forward to it.”

Edward turned to Pei Yao and smiled. “His Highness has no experience in dating and might be negligent in some areas. Please pay close attention, Major General, and help His Highness more.”

Pei Yao paused, then nodded. “Yes.”

Edward shook his head and sighed. “To be young is wonderful. In my youth, I also went to balls with my best companion. We encouraged each other to invite our favorite people to dance—that feeling is truly something one never forgets! Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

Edward did his best to stir up Alan’s passion. Alan had no choice but to nod in cooperation. “Yes, yes…” Alan glanced at the still-calm Pei Yao and said with a light laugh, “That’s true… Major General, if I take a liking to a cute boy, I might truly be too shy to speak to him. At that time, I’ll have to ask you to relay my affections for me.”

Pei Yao did his best to suppress the manic dragon in his heart and nodded. “Yes.”

“As you know, I am an impatient person…” Alan said pointedly, curling his lips into a smile. “If the one I love responds to me, I might not be able to resist pulling him aside to kiss him right then and there. At that moment, please be sure to keep a good watch so I won’t be caught by the media, alright?”

Pei Yao clenched his fist, then instantly released it. He lowered his eyes respectfully. “As you command.”

“Your Highness…” No matter how dense Edward was, he could now sense the friction between them. However, that wasn’t what concerned him most. Alan’s words were far too crude. Edward couldn’t help but remind him, “Please mind your language. Do not let inappropriate jokes ruin your noble upbringing.”

Alan set his book aside and gave a relaxed smile. “My apologies. I got a bit excited speaking of cute boys. I will be careful.”

Edward nodded and said sincerely, “I also hope you meet someone you like. Your palace is so large; it is in dire need of another master and the master’s offspring to move in.”

Alan laughed. “You’re thinking too far ahead.”

“It isn’t far. Once you are married, we can immediately welcome our little master.” Edward fell into a fantasy of a beautiful future. “Since you like boys, the future little master will grow up in an artificial womb… I can look after the little master every day until he is born. How wonderful that will be…”

As Edward began to ramble on, Alan turned to look at Pei Yao. Pei Yao was hurting; Alan could feel it.

Alan had no desire to attend any ball. Yesterday, he had only wanted to tease Pei Yao; as long as Pei Yao said the work was too busy to leave, Alan certainly wouldn’t have gone. But Pei Yao didn’t.

He clearly didn’t want Alan to go—Alan could feel it. Even if Pei Yao hadn’t fully fallen in love with him yet, they had established a temporary bond. No Sentinel can tolerate their Guide being close to someone else, yet Pei Yao had somehow managed to do exactly that.

To say he wasn’t frustrated would be a lie. Alan couldn’t resist testing him step by step, wanting to see how much he could endure, wanting to see if he would break the barriers in his heart for Alan’s sake. But looking at it now… loyalty to the Empire had triumphed over Pei Yao’s desire for him.

Alan shook his head with a smile, interrupting Edward’s vision of the future. He stood up and said tiredly, “I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep.”

Edward nodded hurriedly. “Rest well. I will wake you on time tomorrow.”

Edward was a very punctual man. The next morning, he knocked on Alan’s door exactly on time.

After three knocks, Edward pushed the door open to begin his day’s work. Alan frowned slightly, sat up, and asked vaguely, “Is the Major General awake?”

“The Major General woke up long ago.” Edward smiled. “As expected of someone who grew up in the military; the Major General is very self-disciplined. He wakes up early every day to run two laps around the palace… though, he hasn’t run for the past two days.”

Alan frowned. “Is he unwell?”

Edward shook his head. “I don’t think so… but his complexion was a bit poor this morning. He likely didn’t sleep well last night. For breakfast, he only ate half a piece of bread before saying he wasn’t hungry.”

Alan’s expression turned complex, but he didn’t reply.

Madam Jenny and Prince Adair currently resided in the Adelle Estate. It was quite a distance from Alan’s palace. On the shuttle, Alan watched Pei Yao’s still-calm face and let out a helpless sigh. “Major General… is it truly that difficult for you to yield?”

Pei Yao looked at Alan in confusion and moved to stand up. Alan couldn’t be bothered to talk in circles anymore; Pei Yao was not on the same frequency as him, and they simply couldn’t get in sync. Alan said bluntly, “Do you truly want me to go to the ball and participate in what is essentially a blind date?”

Pei Yao pursed his lips. After several moments of hesitation, he whispered, “Madam… Madam Jenny said it herself. You need the support of a powerful family right now.”

Alan froze, his heart aching fiercely. Was Pei Yao worried that Alan would lose a powerful ally because of him?

“Pei Yao… your Prince has never relied on anyone to get where he is today.” Alan stepped forward, staring into Pei Yao’s eyes as he spoke in a deep voice, “Right now, I only want to ask you: do you want me to go?”

Pei Yao took a flustered step back, his eyes frantically avoiding Alan’s. Alan gave him no chance to escape, pressing further, “Speak… answer me. Do you want me to go? Do you want me to meet other boys?”

A flicker of pain passed through Pei Yao’s usually steadfast eyes. Alan smiled, savoring the pained sensation, and asked softly in a self-punishing tone, “Do you want me to kiss them? Just like I kissed you before…” Alan successfully backed Pei Yao against the shuttle wall, leaning down to lightly brush his lips against Pei Yao’s. He whispered, “Just like this… do you want me to kiss others like this? Not just kissing—I’ll hold them in my arms, stroke them… and perhaps more…”

Pei Yao’s brows were knit tight, his teeth clenched hard. Alan told himself over and over not to soften his heart; if he let him go this time, there might never be another opportunity this good. Alan took a deep breath and gave a cruel smile. “They likely won’t be as rigid as you. I hear the boys on the Capital Star are very open, very good at pleasing people, and making them happy…”

Because of the repeated suppression, Pei Yao’s eyes began to turn a slight red. Alan’s heart ached for him, yet his powerful self-restraint kept him from softening to coax or comfort him. Alan closed his eyes and whispered, “Say the word ‘no’ now, and I will turn back to the palace immediately.”

Pei Yao suddenly looked up at Alan. Alan’s face turned completely cold as he said sharply, “Where has all your usual decisiveness gone? Ten years ago on the Pearl, you killed seven people in a single minute for my sake! Where is that courage now?!”

The events of the past flashed through Pei Yao’s mind. After several attempts at restraint, he finally could not suppress the desire screaming in his heart. Like a man losing his strength, Pei Yao leaned against the wall. He struggled to swallow his shame, lowered his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice:

“I don’t… I don’t want Your Highness to go…”

In that instant, Alan hated himself. To what extent had he pushed him, that someone as steadfast as Pei Yao would utter such a wronged, pleading sentence?

At the same time, Alan leaned down and kissed Pei Yao with a tenderness that surpassed all before, doing his utmost to soothe his wounded Sentinel.