Who understands? The aloof female ruler always flirts without even realizing it.

Torses leaned forward and gently pressed his hand on Calander's shoulder. The steady strength seemed to penetrate the fabric, conveying a reassuring warmth to the insect.

His voice was much softer than when he spoke in parliament.

His eyes, usually sharp as a hawk's, had all their edge hidden at this moment, revealing only the simple and deep concern of an elder.

He doesn't seem to be good at, or rather, not used to, expressing his affection in an overtly expressive way.

But the slightly slower pace of her speech and the effort to soften her facial features revealed the female insect's deep concern.

"How are you feeling? Have you been able to handle things these past few days?"

"Is the little one in your belly... not too bothering you, right?"

The question was direct, with the sharp style characteristic of female insects.

Karandal felt a warm current spread from the large, warm hand on his shoulder, instantly coursing through his entire body.

He obediently relaxed his body, sinking deeper into the sofa cushions, and looked up at Tosses with an incredibly genuine smile:

"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law. I'm in good health."

"The ruler is very considerate..."

He subconsciously touched his protruding belly, where the fruit of his and Shen Yan's love was growing.

"The little one is a bit naughty, very energetic, and often gets rowdy, especially at night..."

"However, it's all still within my tolerance range. Thinking of it's him makes me feel that it's all worth it."

Upon hearing the word "naughty," Tosses' lips curled slightly, a faint yet genuine smile flashing across his face, carrying a hint of distant and warm memories.

"You're naughty."

A subtle, almost imperceptible tenderness crept into her voice.

"His lively nature... probably comes from his father."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through time, returning to a moment many years ago.

"When I was pregnant with Yan Yan, he was a restless child."

It's rare for her to use words that carry a hint of reproach, yet there's not a trace of genuine complaint in her tone, only the warmth that comes with the passage of time.

"I'm a light sleeper, but he always chooses to be active in the middle of the night. His kicks are so powerful that they can wake me up right out of my sleep."

"Throughout the entire pregnancy, instead of becoming more plump like other female insects, she actually lost a lot of weight."

"Back then, the powerful ruler was so worried that he almost gathered up all the nutritional recipes on the capital planet and sent them to me in all sorts of different ways."

"He was young back then, not even as old as Yan Yan is now. All he did was cry. I had to endure the pain while also comforting him..."

Karandal's eyes widened in surprise, yet he found it incredibly novel and interesting, and he could almost picture the scene in his mind.

The younger male father, Shen Jiyun, wearing an apron, frantically tried to follow the recipe while crying, while the outwardly stern female father, Toses, helplessly and indulgently patted his aching belly...

This scene was a stark contrast to his image of a dignified council president and an elegant, masculine father, making him burst out laughing.

Because of this shared topic, the distance between the two insects seemed to shrink instantly.

Although Torses was not a man of many words, whenever he spoke, he always managed to pick up on the Queen's train of thought precisely.

Although the expression remains concise and pragmatic, it is full of subtle care.

Karandal leaned back on the sofa, listening attentively, occasionally asking questions and sharing his own feelings.

One was calm and reserved, the other gentle and resilient, and they started chatting back and forth.

The conversation started with the physical changes and taste preferences during pregnancy, and gradually extended to some anticipation for the future hatchlings.

The atmosphere was unusually harmonious and warm, like the most natural casual chat between elders and younger generations in an ordinary family.

However, beneath this warm facade, the undercurrents of unrest on the capital city star cast a shadow that cannot be completely avoided.

As the conversation went on, after a brief pause, the topic inevitably shifted to recent events.

royalty.

After a few seconds of silence, Torses sighed almost inaudibly, a sigh that was extremely soft yet carried immense weight.

The gentleness on his face gradually faded, replaced by his usual seriousness and depth, but his gaze toward Kalandall still held warmth and protectiveness.

"Lanlan..."

He used a more intimate form of address and lowered his voice.

"To be honest, my original intention was never to get you involved in this mess."

He paused slightly, as if considering how to recount that long-forgotten past.

"I only met your father-in-law once."

"That was many years ago, after a year-end court meeting. Salio seemed to be in a good mood and summoned a female attendant to accompany him."

"He was holding a thin female insect in his arms at the time."

Tosses' tone was calm, but the word "emaciated" carried a subtle heaviness, as if it carried the coldness and melancholy of that distant afternoon.

His deep gaze seemed unfocused as he briefly drifted into memories, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on his knee—a habitual gesture when he was thinking.

Karandal's hands, which had been resting loosely on his abdomen, tightened almost imperceptibly, his fingertips sinking slightly into the soft fabric.

He held his breath; the profound weight in his father's words felt like invisible threads binding his heart.

For the first time, the image that only existed in the mouths of other insects and in tragic endings had a vague yet painful outline.

"The other person kept their head down and remained silent most of the time."

"But in those fleeting moments when he glanced up, I saw deep in his eyes... a cluster of tenacity and pride, like a candle flickering in the wind, stubbornly refusing to be extinguished."

As he spoke, he slightly raised his right hand, his thumb and forefinger pinching together as if to depict the faint yet persistent flame.

"That look in his eyes is very special..."

He lowered his hand, refocused his gaze, and looked deeply into Karandal's eyes.

"So, I've remembered it."

His gaze seemed to carry warmth as he meticulously traced the young female insect's features, his tone carrying a settled confirmation:

"Although you are much luckier than Iris, and your eyes are clearer and more determined, the charm that is etched into your bones cannot be deceived by the insect."

He shook his head slightly, with a hint of emotion: "I knew it almost the moment I saw you."

After saying that, he leaned back slightly, sinking into the soft sofa back, assuming a brief resting posture, before continuing:

"I've discussed this with the male lord privately many times."

"My initial thought was that you two could live a peaceful life, away from the dirty mess of the royal family."

"We originally planned to keep this matter to ourselves for now, and tell you everything slowly when the time was right..."

"I understand."

Karandal finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet filled with understanding and gratitude:

"You and Xiongfu are doing this for our own good."

He could understand the considerations of his elders at the time.

Tosses sighed almost inaudibly and raised his hand to rub his temples.

"I just didn't expect... the palace would act so quickly."

There was a hint of melancholy in his tone, but that melancholy was quickly replaced by a resolute sigh.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter."

He lowered his hand, straightened his back again, and regained the composure and strength of a council speaker, as if the gentleness of the moment before was just an illusion.

"Grievances must be settled. Since they can't hold back any longer, let's follow suit."