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

Anvis woke up with a severe headache.

Consciousness was like being submerged in murky water, struggling to surface, only to be instantly overwhelmed by the screaming pain throughout the body.

He couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his eyelashes trembling as he struggled to open his eyelids.

My vision was initially blurry and distorted, and I could only vaguely make out that I was in a luxuriously decorated but unfamiliar room.

Beneath him was a soft velvet mattress, and the air was filled with a sweet, cloying fragrance, a stark contrast to the cold, imposing atmosphere of the palace he was familiar with.

He moved his wrist and found it had been carefully bandaged, but he still felt a sharp pain, which was the wound left after Shen Yan's mental energy needles pierced through it.

The excruciating pain in the sea of ​​consciousness was even more unbearable, a severe aftereffect of being struck by an SSS-level mental force, with every breath pulling at the depths of the soul.

"Well……"

Another suppressed groan of pain escaped his lips, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open.

"You're awake? You slept for a long time, three whole days."

Through the blurry vision, a figure walked in against the light.

Anvich squinted with difficulty, trying to make out who it was.

As the figure gradually came into view, the female insect's heart sank.

It was Count Ralph... his fiancé.

The male prince's appearance was only average, but because his family held hereditary titles, had a long history in the empire, accumulated great wealth, and had intricate connections with the royal family.

When Anvishi was still a child, the other party took a liking to him and asked the emperor for the status of his fiancé.

However, Earl Rauf did not have a good reputation among the nobles of the Imperial Star.

He was amorous and promiscuous, and had already taken in many female slaves in his household. His private life was also known for its chaos and perverse tastes.

Anvich's two elder brothers had both had unhappy marriages, and they were not allowed to leave the palace by their rulers, almost losing their freedom and dignity. This filled him with fear and repulsion towards this political marriage.

His goal was the throne. Once he sat on that throne, he would have enough power and reason to reject this disgusting marriage and even trample the Laof family underfoot.

Therefore, she kept delaying, even though she was already an adult, she always politely declined to get married, looking for an opportunity to get rid of him...

He never imagined that he would end up in such a pathetic state, falling into the hands of the male insect he had been so desperately trying to get rid of.

And, was he rescued?

A mix of emotions welled up inside him, a sense of relief at surviving a disaster, and a sliver of hope that he might be able to use him to escape.

Anvih barely suppressed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and forced a weak, yet resolute, smile at Laof as he approached the bedside:

"Did you save me? Thank you..."

His voice was hoarse and dry, carrying the helplessness of someone severely injured.

However, before he could finish expressing his gratitude, his thoughts were interrupted by the cold and hard sensation at his ankle.

That feeling...something's not right!

The female insect instinctively looked down.

But she noticed that a metal electronic ankle bracelet had been put on her slender, fair ankle at some point.

The shackles were exquisitely crafted, even inlaid with tiny gemstones.

Rather than a torture device, it resembles a bizarre ornament, but the faint blue light emanating from it clearly indicates its function of confinement.

The color drained from her beautiful face instantly, replaced by surprise and doubt, which replaced the composure and gratitude she had just forced.

He abruptly looked up at Count Lauf, who stood by the bedside, looking down at him, his voice trembling uncontrollably:

"What...what do you mean by this?"

The male smiled, a smile with aristocratic politeness, and lightly kissed the female insect's hand, but his eyes were devoid of warmth, as if he were appraising a precious collectible that was about to be acquired.

His gaze lingered unceremoniously over Anvis's fragile, pale body, his eyes unfathomable, carrying a chilling possessiveness.

"My dearest fiancé..."

His voice was calm, yet every word was like an ice pick, piercing Anvis's heart.

"I went to great lengths and took enormous risks to rescue you from the palace and treat your injuries..."

"Asking for some compensation isn't unreasonable, is it?"

He leaned slightly closer to Anvis, his voice low, carrying an undeniable verdict:

"Dei is dead, and you are now a wanted rebel criminal throughout the empire. Besides staying by my side, who else can you rely on?"

He reached out, his fingertips almost touching the female insect's cheek, but she turned her head away in fright.

He didn't seem to mind, straightened up, slowly adjusted his cuffs, and continued:

"To prevent my pampered fiancé from being disobedient or having unrealistic fantasies..."

"I hope you get used to this little anklet."

"No...you can't do this!"

Anvis cried out in despair, overwhelmed by the devastating news of his father's death and the sudden deterioration of his own situation, which nearly broke him.

"I am a prince! How dare you..."

"A prince?"

Rauf interrupted him with a sneer, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes:

"Soon there will be no more Prince Anvisi; all that will remain will be my property."

Before he could finish speaking, the female insect, in her terrified gaze, suddenly reached out and forcefully pressed him onto the bed.

Anvixi screamed and struggled, tears mixed with cold sweat streaming down her face.

He never imagined he would end up in such a state.

Throne, power, dignity...

Everything collapsed at that moment, leaving only boundless darkness and pain.

But Count Rauf did not tell Anvis that on the third day after rescuing the other party, he had already contacted Shen Yan in secret.

As a shrewd opportunist, he knew all too well that it would be extremely foolish to oppose the new regent and his backers for the sake of a prince who had already lost power and was wanted throughout the country.

During the meeting, Lao Fu presented a series of enticing conditions, including family support and concessions in certain areas, and assured Shen Yan:

"Your Excellency, Anvis is now a fugitive. Even if you capture him, according to imperial law, the most you can do is imprison him for life."

"Leave it to me, and I assure you, he will be confined to the manor for the rest of his life and will never appear in public again."

"It is even less likely to pose any threat to you or His Highness Kalandall."

"He will pay a price for everything he has done that is far more profound than imprisonment."

Shen Yan listened in silence. He didn't care about Anvis's fate, but he also felt that the Empire's laws were too lenient and insufficient to make up for the harm his partner had suffered.

Since there are insects willing to take revenge without getting their hands dirty, why not do it?

Rauf's proposal saved him the trouble of official procedures and allowed Anvis to receive additional punishment, which, to some extent, suited his wishes.

So, they tacitly approved the deal.

After all, a female insect imprisoned in a private insect manor and suffering endless torment was more pleasing to him than a prince who wasted time in prison without suffering any physical pain.

With Shen Yan's tacit approval, Lao Fu became even more unscrupulous.

After the initial novelty and desire to conquer wore off, he quickly grew tired of Anvis's body.

This prince, whom he had coveted for many years, was nothing special except for his prestigious status. He even seemed somewhat dull and uninteresting due to his serious injuries and despair.

So, a few days later, Lao Fu completely tore off his mask of hypocrisy.

He was no longer satisfied with mere violation and began to torture Anvis in various ways.

Whipping, branding, starvation, mind control... all sorts of methods were used.

The basement was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a mixture of rust and disinfectant odors.

Anvis's body was almost completely mangled from the torture, with old wounds piled on top of new ones, and his beautiful face was now only numb and in pain.

The male stood in front of him, leisurely admiring his masterpiece, his hand supporting his chin, seemingly still pondering some new trick.

Their gazes began to linger on Anvis's back.

Due to severe injuries and weakness, and on the verge of mental collapse, the female insect is no longer able to fully control her insect-like characteristics.

A pair of enormous, deep violet butterfly wings trembled uncontrollably behind him.

The wings were the color of the deepest purple clouds in the sunset, with a melancholic yet mysterious luster.

The wing veins outline intricate and gorgeous patterns, with a few silver star spots adorning the edges. Even in dim light, its beauty can still be seen.

Normally, these purple wings would be enough to draw much admiration.

However, a subtle hint of criticism and comparison flashed in Rauf's eyes.

Although the purple was beautiful, it was still somewhat lacking compared to the wings he had glimpsed briefly at Samuel's house.

Those blue wings belonging to Calander were a deep sapphire, as if formed from the condensation of the clear sky and the purest seawater.

It was dazzling and colorful, with iridescent light.

It was as if life flowed within it, carrying a breathtaking, almost divine beauty and nobility.

In comparison, Anvis's purple wings, though beautiful, lacked a certain captivating charm and grandeur.

It appears somewhat...artificial and dull.

"I remember... you and that incredibly powerful Prince Kalandall, your true forms are both butterflies, aren't they?"

Rauf spoke, his tone tinged with naive cruelty.

Anvis's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and his purple wings twitched slightly, as if he had sensed some kind of extreme danger.

Receiving no answer, Lao Fu didn't mind and continued talking to himself, his voice carrying a hint of reminiscence and excitement, but that excitement clearly stemmed from his longing for the pair of blue wings in his memory:

"To be honest, I had the privilege of visiting Samuel's private insect collection."

"There's a pair... well, supposedly wings that he cut off from Kalandall himself, and they're in perfect condition."

His eyes became somewhat unfocused, as if he were seeing that breathtaking blue light again:

"That was truly a masterpiece, unforgettable."

He walked up to Anvisi, reached out, and his icy fingertips, carrying a sense of blasphemy, gently traced the base of the pair of purple butterfly wings on Anvisi's back.

Feeling the intense trembling of his subordinates' bodies caused by fear, he smiled with satisfaction.

"I quite liked those wings, but unfortunately, I heard that Shen Yan took them back and returned them to Kalandel."

His tone was filled with undisguised regret, and then his gaze refocused on Anvis's trembling purple wings.

They became eager and greedy, but this eagerness was mixed with a reluctant compromise and a deeper destructive urge.

"Then... my dear fiancé."

He asked slowly, his voice like the flicking of a viper's tongue:

"Would you be willing to offer me these wings, which, while not as exquisite as Kalandall's, are still quite unique, as part of my personal insect collection?"

The phrase "not as good as Karandal" was like a poisonous thorn, piercing deeply into Anvis's already riddled heart.

Humiliation, fear, and a deep-seated jealousy and hatred towards Kalandall erupted at this moment, almost suffocating him.

He wanted to scream, to struggle, but was firmly pinned to the spot by the cold chains and the cruel gaze of the male insect.

To provide wings... that means to tear his butterfly wings off his body alive!

"No...no...please...Lao Fu...Lord...no..."

"I'll do whatever you say, I won't resist anymore, please..."

He pleaded incoherently, his voice broken and fragmented, his last shred of dignity and pride crumbling at that moment.

Even her beautiful wings, which she was so proud of, were seen by the other party as nothing more than inferior substitutes for Kalandall.

However, Rauf simply smiled and took a strangely shaped and exceptionally sharp silver scimitar from the wall displaying a dazzling array of torture instruments.

The blade reflected a cold luster in the dim light, also illuminating the female insect's purple eyes, filled with extreme fear and despair.

"Don't be afraid, these are my collections."

The male's voice was so gentle it made insects nauseous.

"While they may not be as good as the best pair, I will try my best to keep them in good condition."

He approached step by step, the cold glint of his scimitar reflecting on Anvis's beautiful face, contorted with extreme fear, and illuminating his pair of futilely trembling purple butterfly wings.

In the basement, soon came suppressed, agonizing screams, along with the faint sound of flesh being torn from bone...

The last beautiful symbol belonging to Prince Anvis was completely stripped away and crushed in this dark basement.

It became a substitute on another insect collection shelf, "somewhat unique," but forever living in the shadow of a more perfect collection.