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

He took a deep breath and stepped forward. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly in the gradually quieting hall, bearing an undeniable weight:

"Is that enough? I'm taking him with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yan turned around deftly and pulled a thick, dark green decorative rug with intricate patterns embroidered in gold thread from the sofa in the rest area next to him.

With a flick of his wrist, the blanket was precisely and swiftly draped over Locke, barely concealing the disheveled scene.

Only his sweat-dampened, matted, silvery-white hair and pale, limp neck were visible.

The male insects exchanged knowing glances, their faces showing understanding.

Clearly, even the aloof and dignified Lord Shen Yan could not resist the temptation and wanted to get a share of the pie.

Since it was this person who spoke, naturally no insect dared to object. They even smiled ingratiatingly, stepped aside to make way, and whispered flattery: "You have good taste, sir. Although it's dirty, it tastes good..."

Ignoring the surrounding whispers and stares, Shen Yan gestured for the attendant beside him to come forward:

"take away."

Two servants immediately stepped forward and carefully wrapped the limp Locke in the carpet.

The female insect's body hung limply, unresponsive, with only its heaving thorax proving it was still alive.

Walking ahead expressionlessly, Shen Yan's steps were steady as he passed through the chaotic banquet hall and left this cage of desire called Lanjing Palace.

He booked a penthouse suite at a nearby luxury hotel.

The warm, bright lighting and clean, comfortable environment contrasted sharply with the decadent, depraved atmosphere filled with desire and violence that had just passed, as if they were two completely different worlds.

The servants carefully placed Locke on the soft, wide bed. The dirty, tattered pieces of gauze had been roughly cleaned off before he arrived. Now he was only wrapped in the dark green blanket, like a broken piece of abandoned art.

After the servants finished doing all this, they respectfully withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the room. Shen Yan poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table.

Instead of leaving immediately, he sat down on a single sofa not far away and waited quietly.

Time passed slowly, and the neon lights of the capital city outside the window continued to flicker, illuminating this sleepless night.

Not long after, a very faint groan came from the bed, as if the person had recovered.

Locke's light gold eyes shifted slightly, still empty and unfocused, but at least now they had some focus. His gaze wandered aimlessly across the ceiling for a moment before settling on Shen Yan in the shadows not far away.

Upon recognizing Shen Yan, a twisted, self-deprecating smile slowly spread across his pale face.

That smile was even uglier than a cry.

Why?

Confused by his behavior, Shen Yan spoke, his voice unusually low in the quiet room, revealing little emotion:

"Why would you stoop to such a low level, Sivorock?"

They even called him by his full name.

Upon hearing this, Locke made a hoarse, bellows-like sound in his throat, and his laughter grew louder, aggravating his injuries and causing him to tremble violently.

Blood was seeping from the crack at the corner of his mouth. He gasped for breath several times before speaking in a hoarse, almost broken voice:

"You asked me...why?"

His eyes darted around, unfocused, as if he were reminiscing or talking in his sleep:

"While my predicament today wasn't directly caused by you or Kalandall, upon closer reflection, it's undeniably connected to you both..."

Shen Yan's body tensed for a moment, and his brows furrowed even deeper, but he did not interrupt, and simply listened in silence.

The female insect continued speaking, very slowly, each word sounding as if she were exerting all her strength:

"If I had successfully been promoted to general back then, I could have firmly grasped military power and would still be the pride of the family. For the past few decades, they have been proud of me because of my S-level mental strength, believing that I could lead the family back to its peak..."

A fleeting glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, a light that belonged to past glories, but it quickly vanished.

"Or... to become your queen... by virtue of your status and position, I can still live with dignity and pride in the sunlight."

He paused, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid, his chest heaving violently, and his pale gold eyes finally revealed uncontrollable deep pain, despair, and a utterly crushed humiliation.

"But none of that happened. I lost. I couldn't beat Karandal and didn't get the position of general."

When he uttered the name "Kalandall," his voice carried a complex and indescribable emotion, a mixture of resentment, frustration, and perhaps even a hint of envy.

"I failed... to capture you. The family is utterly disappointed in me. What use is a female insect who has neither real power nor high position, and who cannot bring significant assistance to the family through marriage?"

"In the eyes of the family, they are just trash, garbage that can be disposed of at will."

"So I can only demonstrate my last bit of value, just like what you saw tonight. Using this body that's still presentable... to 'generate revenue' for the family."

Shen Yan remained silent for a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for so long:

"Why does it have to be my queen?"

He clearly remembered the blind date arranged by the empire; it was uneventful and harmonious, and he did not see the other party show any particular enthusiasm.

Moreover, Shen Yan was new to the area at the time, and if the other party was willing to reveal their predicament, he would be happy to lend a helping hand, which would be a good way to avoid being pressured to get married, killing two birds with one stone.

But it was too late to say anything; he already had Karandal.

The female insect's eyes held a complex mix of resentment and numb acceptance of her fate.

"My family requires me to marry a man of high enough status or rank. You are the one who best meets the requirements, and also... the most special one in my eyes."

Her voice lowered, tinged with a barely perceptible sob and a lingering stubbornness characteristic of female soldiers:

"I can't bear to give up everything in the military, and I naively hope that I can keep some of my job after marriage, even if it's just a nominal position."

He struggled to turn over and continued:

"I have observed you. You have a gentle personality and a good reputation. You have no violent tendencies and do not have female servants or slaves. Among the male masters I can come into contact with who meet the family's requirements... you are the most likely, and the only one, to agree to let me continue working..."

With her eyes closed, as if she had exhausted her last bit of strength, her thick, silver eyelashes trembled fragilely.

"My judgment proved to be correct."

"You're even... willing to use your own resources and influence to support Karandel, so that even after recovering from his serious injuries, he can return to the military and be given important responsibilities again..."

"You truly respected his career and ideals. If... if it were me back then..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the unfinished words, the fingernails deeply embedded in the pillow, and the pervasive, almost tangible, exhaustion all spoke volumes.

Choosing Shen Yan was not only due to pressure from his family, but also because he was desperately planning for himself in the abyss of despair, and it seemed to be the last path that could simultaneously preserve his family's responsibilities, dignity, and ideals.