Reborn: The Female Monarch Is My Life’s Greatest Love - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: An Encounter with an Old Acquaintance

Constant was naturally aware of the strange flicker in Nathanael’s eyes. In the brief moment when a sudden chill emanated from his partner, Constant used the motion of receiving the tray to glance toward the spot where Nathanael’s gaze had landed.

That movement allowed him to notice a sub-female standing not far behind him, currently unbuttoning the first button of his shirt.

He thought he understood why Nathanael’s mood had suddenly turned sharp and cold.

Thus, he picked up a sandwich from the tray and proactively held it to Nathanael’s lips to redirect his attention. As for whether others were curious about this gesture—that wasn’t within his realm of concern.

After taking a bite of the sandwich Constant offered, the frost in Nathanael’s eyes thawed instantly. He tilted his head slightly toward his Master. “Ale, about the irises yesterday…”

“…My apologies.” Mentioning those flowers made Constant feel as though his brain had short-circuited yesterday, leading him to dive into that bouquet and take such a deep breath so defenselessly.

Though, there had been a slight element of spite involved…

After all, his carefully prepared meal hadn’t been enough to wait out his Nal; how could there not be a trace of resentment? Knowing the properties of the iris, it not only provided Nal a reason to leave early but also brought him back at top speed—why wouldn’t he take advantage of that?

However, he didn’t remember a single thing that happened after that point.

Given Nal’s attitude this morning, he assumed he hadn’t said anything he shouldn’t have…

“It was my fault.” Nathanael seemed to notice the shift in Constant’s gaze. As he leaned down for a second bite, his lips brushed against Constant’s fingertips. He caught a small breadcrumb on his lip and smirked, his beautiful amber eyes shimmering with an alluring light. “I knew they were dangerous, yet I brought them before you anyway.”

Looking at the Nathanael before him, Constant felt the tips of his ears begin to burn. Why is my Nal suddenly looking at me like that?

Just as Nathanael maintained that gaze and prepared to lean down to kiss Constant’s fingertips, an untimely call interrupted his movements.

“Young Master Allex?” That voice caused Constant, who had been dazed by Nathanael’s gaze, to snap back to reality instantly. At the sound of such a familiar voice, Constant’s heart gave a sudden thud.

He knew this voice all too well…

Shelley Clark. The Clark family was hailed as a top-tier sub-female lineage, highly esteemed among the Zerg because they had once produced an Imperial Consort. The females of the Clark family received aristocratic education from childhood to ensure they could better serve their Masters in the future.

Their appearance went without saying; their innate elegance, forged by years of noble tutoring and Zerg etiquette, drew the eyes of countless bugs with every gesture.

It was precisely because of this family’s charm that the Constant of his previous life had chosen Shelley as a weapon to strike at Nathanael, hurting him time and time again.

“It has been a long time. I heard you now have a Female Spouse of quite distinguished status.” Shelley clearly hadn’t noticed how Constant’s body had gone rigid the moment his surname was called.

As Constant heard the footsteps drawing closer, he could hear his own heartbeat clearly. At this point in his previous life, he and Shelley had only recently been briefly separated due to Nathanael’s “forced” marriage. Before that, the two of them could certainly be described as… intimate confidants.

Because of Shelley’s call, Nathanael’s eyes—which had only just warmed up—landed on the sub-female now approaching Constant.

Shelley glanced over Nathanael’s face, flashing a provocative smile as he came to Constant’s side. But before his hand could land on Constant’s shoulder, the Master sitting on the aisle side suddenly slid toward the inner wall of the booth. He moved so quickly that Shelley had no time to react.

The hand intended for Constant’s shoulder froze in mid-air. Though Shelley was surprised by the reaction, he didn’t let it show on his face.

“Shelley Clark.” Shelley extended his hand toward the female sitting opposite Constant with an air of feigned magnanimity. “I hope we can get along harmoniously in the future.”

In response to the sub-female’s provocation, a flash of impatience crossed Nathanael’s eyes. He looked away and turned to Constant. “Aren’t you going to introduce him personally? Ale.”

“…I don’t know him.” To Nathanael’s inquiry, Constant shook his head vigorously while meeting his gaze. “It’s been too long since we met; I can’t remember what he’s called.”

Constant’s answer left Shelley, standing behind him, momentarily stunned. He didn’t believe for a second that a Master like Allex would suffer brain damage just because he married a Female Spouse a few months ago.

Nathanael seemed satisfied with the answer and withdrew his gaze from Shelley. “He just introduced himself. Shelley Clark.”

If he remembered correctly, the Clark family had been grooming this sub-female for the aristocracy for a long time. Looking at him now, the way he spoke and carried himself certainly suggested he had that pedigree.

The sub-female before them had curly flaxen hair. As the sunlight hit his delicate face, it cast a shadow across his nose, making his features appear more three-dimensional. Shelley’s eyes were a gentle pale pink; when he smiled, the corners of his eyes curved like crescents—bright yet elegant.

“Oh, really? The name sounds a bit familiar.” Constant finished the sandwich Nathanael had bitten into in a few quick mouthfuls, pulled a tissue to wipe his hands, and prepared to stand up.

But before he could move, Shelley—as if anticipating the exit—sat down right next to Constant. He gestured with his chin toward a cherry atop a cream cake on the table, signaling for Constant to feed him.

At such a sudden move, Constant suppressed his urge to drag Nathanael away immediately. Instead, he picked up the cherry Shelley had indicated with a fork.

Just as Shelley flashed a victorious smile at Nathanael, Constant shoved the cherry straight into his own mouth.

Before Constant could even bite down, Nathanael, sitting opposite him, suddenly stood up. After giving Shelley a mocking smile, he reached out, grabbed Constant’s collar, and pulled him toward himself.

Constant was still dazed until Nathanael’s lips pressed fully against his own. He instantly understood the reason behind Nathanael’s actions.

Nathanael tilted his head slightly and hooked the cherry from Constant’s mouth into his own. After releasing Constant’s collar, he sat back down with a look of pure satisfaction.

Beside them, a stunned Shelley was left staring. His mind was filled with the possessive look Nathanael had shot him while kissing Constant—a single glance that made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. Those cold amber eyes had looked at him with such indifference, as if he were already a dead object.

Despite this, the habitually determined Shelley Clark felt his competitive spirit flare up. Before Constant could settle back into his seat, Shelley sneered, “It seems even an Imperial Major General has to resort to such methods to hold onto his Master. I suppose you’re no different from us sub-females after all.”

“There is a huge difference.” Constant, who had been savoring the taste of Nathanael’s lips, turned to retort immediately upon hearing Shelley’s words. “There is no comparison between you and him, Mr. Clark.”

“You…” Only a few months had passed since they were apart, yet when they met again, the man had changed into this.

Though he had originally only intended to use Constant as a tool for amusement, seeing a Master who once cared for him so deeply turn around to protect someone else still made him feel uneasy.

One had to know that because he had “stolen” Constant’s attention in the past, Nathanael’s status among females had plummeted. Major General or not, if you couldn’t control your own Master, that marriage certificate was nothing but a decoration.

The capital he once used to boast was, in this moment, being completely stripped away by Nathanael right in front of his face—as if his pride were being ground into the dirt.

“Just as Zerg Marriage Law stipulates, Nathanael is my Female Spouse. He is my acknowledged, unique partner!” As Constant spoke, he reached out toward Nathanael.

As their fingers intertwined, their wedding rings clicked together. Constant waved their joined hands in front of Shelley. “In this life, I will only be with him.”

Hearing this, Shelley found it laughable. A Master having only one partner for life was a fairy tale in the Zerg world. Given the disparity in status, how could a Master give up the privilege of having multiple partners to accompany him? Furthermore, the number of females under a Master determined his status; the more noble the Master, the more females he had to showcase his prestige.

Holding this thought, Shelley looked into Constant’s eyes, but as he did, the mockery in his gaze slowly faded.

This Allex—the one who used to know nothing but wine and pleasure—was telling the truth. He truly had chosen Nathanael, the one whose fingers were now locked with his, for life.

This was the first time Shelley of the Clark family had lost his composure. He looked into Constant’s eyes and, to suppress the rising anger in his heart, bit down hard on his lower lip.