Reborn: The Female Monarch Is My Life’s Greatest Love - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Stabilizing Emotions

Having already known that someone was secretly plotting to use him against Nal, Constant instinctively took two steps back to create distance the moment he realized the man before him was not the real Nal.

Ward was left utterly bewildered by the sudden change in Constant’s gaze. Surely he wouldn’t look at me like that just because I backed away? Am I some sort of unknown hybrid pest? He was, after all, a military bug with many female and sub-female followers. Why the blatant discrimination?

Just then, Nathanael’s hover-shuttle screeched to a halt in front of their villa. The moment he pulled the handbrake, he saw his Master charging toward his adjutant, Ward.

Nathanael had originally intended to use the aphrodisiac Iris bouquet to set a romantic mood after his return tonight. Who could have guessed that Constant would be so excited that he’d take a massive lungful of the scent?

Witnessing Constant lunging at Ward, Nathanael didn’t hesitate; he kicked the shuttle door open with a violent crash. The sudden noise drew Ward’s attention.

His Major General was back!

Ward’s excitement was genuine, but as a thick wave of Master pheromones suddenly washed over him, his legs turned to jelly and he slumped to the ground. Heaven knew why the Major General’s Master was suddenly releasing such a high concentration of pheromones—had the Iris effect truly taken hold?

But following that was the glint of a short blade emerging from Constant’s sleeve.

Wait! Why does a Master carry something like that on him?! Did his Major General have some strange hobby? Otherwise, why would his Master be carrying such a “prop”?

The commotion from Nathanael caused Constant’s hand to pause just as he was about to plunge the blade into the stranger’s throat. In that split second of hesitation, the distant figure blurred toward him, seizing his wrist and neutralizing the weapon.

“Ale.”

At that single word, Constant’s raised hand slowly lowered. He finally released the blade and called out, “Nal?”

The person before him emitted a wonderful scent. Mixed with his own fig-like fragrance, it smelled somewhat like licorice candy with a honey-sweet finish.

After that single call, Nathanael watched as his Master fainted right into his arms.

Due to the lingering influence of Constant’s pheromones, Ward still hadn’t recovered from his physical weakness. When Constant collapsed toward him earlier, Ward had reflexively rolled to the side.

However, before Constant could hit the ground, Nathanael had already gathered him securely into his embrace.

In that moment, Ward felt his earlier rolling maneuver was as ridiculous as a clown performing for an audience.

While Nathanael carried Constant back into the house, Ward operated the hover-shuttle and made a hasty exit.

Upon entering the house, Nathanael saw the dinner table perfectly arranged with roses and prepared food. Several candles were placed in the center; though it wasn’t night yet and their glow wasn’t dazzling, the sight filled Nathanael with an extraordinary warmth.

These meticulous arrangements were clearly the work of his Master’s own hands. As Nathanael laid Constant on the sofa, he couldn’t help but lean down to gaze at his face, placing a soft kiss on his brow.

Yet, that touch allowed Nathanael to feel Constant’s current body temperature—it was abnormally high.

The Iris flowers…

Before Nathanael could pull away, Constant’s eyes suddenly fluttered open. “Nal…” His voice was laced with a lingering, clingy softness; for a moment, one might have thought it was a female slave acting spoiled for his master.

It was that very voice that caught Nathanael off guard. In his momentary daze, Constant’s arms hooked around his neck, pulling him down into a close embrace.

Though they had been intimate many times before, this time Constant’s call felt different. There was a sense of… pain.

Based on Nathanael’s understanding of Constant, the man had never shown such an emotion since childhood. Constant had a strong-willed nature and usually kept all his grievances and bitterness bottled up, leaving Nathanael to guess.

Sometimes, if he guessed wrong, Constant would even lose his temper with him.

“Nal, I’m sorry.” Constant looked at the Nathanael he held in his arms and whispered into his ear, “I didn’t mean it, Nal… please forgive me…”

Nathanael’s brow furrowed at the repeated apologies. He allowed his weight to rest against Constant’s chest, listening to the heartbeat beneath. Finally, he voiced the suspicion he had held for a long time.

“Who are you?”

“Constant Allex.” At this moment, Constant offered no concealment to Nathanael’s inquiry.

“And who is your legal Female Spouse?”

“Nathanael Allex!” Constant’s brows lifted as he spoke, filled with a pride that seemed almost boastful. After marriage, a Female Spouse would take the Master’s name to signify sovereignty.

Seeing the smile in Constant’s eyes, the corners of Nathanael’s mouth curled slightly. His own eyes danced with affection at Constant’s proud display.

“But, Nal…” Constant’s smile suddenly faded as if he had remembered something, and his brow furrowed deeply. “It was I who caused your death… I shouldn’t have done that…”

Hearing this, the smile in Nathanael’s eyes vanished, replaced by a stunned realization. A guess began to form in his mind. “Was it because I didn’t do well enough?”

Could the ‘me’ of that world not keep you by my side?

“No, Nal.” Constant shook his head violently at Nathanael’s question, pulling him even tighter into the embrace. “It was I who betrayed your trust. You were already in a desperate situation, yet I was still so senseless.”

In the end, I pushed you into the abyss…

Even at the very end, you died in the chaos of battle because of me.

Listening to Constant’s confession, Nathanael returned the embrace while feeling a growing distaste for the “him” of the previous life. Desperate, so he chose to put Constant in danger? Why would you do something so stupid…

“Nal, if you knew the truth, you would hate me…” Constant’s eyes were already beginning to redden. Even if everything happening now was a dream, he still didn’t dare admit the harm he had once caused Nathanael.

But just as Constant was about to vent his remorse, Nathanael silenced him with a sudden kiss.

Realizing that Constant’s eyes were becoming more inflamed with tears, Nathanael sensed the next move from his Master’s trembling shoulders.

He chose to soothe his Master’s emotions with a kiss. Whether or not Constant remembered today’s events upon waking, he would surely suspect something had happened due to the soreness in his eyes. If Constant remembered the image of himself weeping in his Female Spouse’s arms, he would likely avoid Nathanael for days out of sheer shame.

That was not a result Nathanael wanted to see.

Besides, because he had been recalled to duty on short notice, the Zerg Command Center had compensated him with double vacation time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have specifically sought out the Iris—the “Aphrodisiac Enchantress”—to stimulate his Master’s emotions. If not diluted or blended, its effects could last for up to a week.

However, the distribution of this flower was strictly prohibited among Female Bugs…

Nathanael’s kiss was like a sweet candy to the sobbing Constant. The suppressed emotions gradually dissipated, and as Nathanael pressed closer, Constant reached out to tighten his grip on the other’s waist.

The leaves outside rustled in the breeze, and the moisture of the night grew heavier. A sudden shiver of wind caused droplets to slide down the veins of the leaves, dripping into the soil.

The night wind carried a hint of chill. As it brushed against Nathanael’s skin, he involuntarily snuggled deeper into Constant’s arms.

When Constant woke the next morning, his head was still somewhat heavy. The fainting spell caused by the Iris pollen left him unable to fully concentrate.

“Ale.”

Hearing movement on the bed, Nathanael stepped out of the kitchen and poked his head toward the bedroom. At the same time, he was trying to dissipate the thick smoke behind him by opening the windows.

It was then that Constant froze in the middle of propping himself up. Why did he smell something burning?

As Nathanael slammed the bedroom door shut behind him in an attempt at concealment, Constant’s suspicious eyes narrowed slightly.

“Nal, did you…”

Before Constant could finish the question, Nathanael strode over, grabbed Constant, and pulled him into a hug. “I was very happy that you came to find me yesterday.”

“???”

“Nal, that was what I should have done.” Constant felt his Female Spouse’s behavior this morning was very abnormal. When he tried to pull back from the hug, he was pulled right back in.

“No, you don’t understand.” Nathanael cupped Constant’s cheeks in his hands. His gaze was so intense, almost sacrificial, that it made Constant feel a bit of a chill.

It was as if his spouse wasn’t holding his head, but a trophy seized from elsewhere, protecting it in his palms with a posture of devotion.

No, I understand. You definitely burned the kitchen down…

Looking into Nathanael’s eyes, Constant suddenly found his Female Spouse rather adorable. He raised his hands to grasp the ones on his cheeks, holding them in his palms as he looked directly at him. “No, I understand.”

His Nal always managed to give him endless surprises…

Thinking this, Constant pulled Nathanael toward him and kissed his forehead. At most, some kitchenware is damaged. Nal is being a bit too cautious with me.

However, when Nathanael finally opened the bedroom door, the thick smoke from the open-plan kitchen caused Constant to cough uncontrollably.

And when he looked up, he saw the clear blue sky.

He remembered their “bug nest” wasn’t supposed to be open-air…

Turning around, Constant met Nathanael’s forced, calm gaze. He watched as his spouse cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a fist. “Ale…”

Constant raised a hand to stop him. “It’s fine, Nal. You don’t need to explain.” Although the scene was a bit too “magnificent,” he felt Nal’s intention to be good to him.

It’s just that the current cost was a bit high.

After Constant led Nathanael out through what used to be their front door, the two went to a breakfast shop. While waiting for their order, they began planning which apartment district to stay in while the nest was being repaired.

When Constant opened his light-brain, a letter of condolence popped up on his display.

Hello, Mr. Constant. Due to your Female Spouse’s improper operation of kitchen equipment, your normal living trajectory can no longer be guaranteed. For the inconvenience caused, you may initiate an appeal to the Master Association or report Nathanael’s intended acts of rebellion to the Zerg Command.

Constant scanned the message briefly before tossing it into the recycling bin. He continued scrolling through the screen to find available apartments nearby.

Opposite him, Nathanael was reading a letter of reprimand from the Zerg Command regarding his unauthorized departure from the meeting—but it was merely a reprimand.

Thanks to the effective communication of Ward and Sace, the military was inclined to be more lenient toward Nathanael, who had led the Zerg to a final victory with zero casualties. Furthermore, his departure was deemed reasonable since his Master’s vital signs could not be confirmed at the time.

After throwing the reprimand into the recycling bin, Constant held a freshly delivered sandwich to Nathanael’s mouth. This action caused a sub-female server, who had just unbuttoned his top to approach Constant, to freeze.

The server’s gaze flickered between Constant and Nathanael in disbelief. From their aura, the handsome man feeding the other should be the Master. But why was a Master performing such a fawning gesture for a Female Bug?

As for Nathanael, his keen senses had detected the sub-female the moment their eyes landed on Constant. But seeing the soothing smile as Constant handed him the sandwich, the chill in his eyes dissipated.