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

Carrying the distinctive pink bag, Shen Yan followed the signs to the floor where Karandal was located.

The corridor was solemn and quiet, with only the soft sound of shoes on the floor. The door to the office at the end was open, and conversations could be heard coming from inside.

He approached and peered into the room, where he saw his mistress sitting opposite a tall, upright old man. The man was wearing a dark green military officer's uniform with several gleaming medals on his left breast, and he was focused on saying something.

Instead of barging in, they politely knocked twice on the door. The conversation inside the office stopped, and the two insects looked up at the same time.

Upon seeing that the newcomer was a handsome young man with black hair and black eyes, Kalandel's sapphire blue eyes immediately lit up, and the originally cold and stern facial features softened at a visible speed, with a genuine and warm smile appearing at the corners of his eyes and brows:

"My lord, what brings you here?!"

With genuine surprise in his voice, he quickly took two or three steps to the door, turned sideways and led Shen Yan into the office, while introducing him to the old man who had already stood up: "Marshal, this is my lord, Shen Yan."

After speaking, he turned to Shen Yan and said, "This is Marshal Hermann. When I first joined the military, I was assigned to his command to hone my skills. Over the years, I have received much guidance and care from him. He is the elder I respect the most..."

Herman was a gentle and cheerful female insect. The battles and killings of the first half of his life did not make him ruthless; on the contrary, he was kind and approachable.

"Hello, sir."

Knowing that Shen Yan saved Karandel, and that he was said to be gentle and had successfully won Karandel's heart, she had a natural affinity for this rumored male.

He warmly invited the other to sit in the reception area, his gaze shifting between the two insects opposite him, finally settling on the female insect's noticeably gentle expression, and he smiled.

That kind of happiness that radiates from within cannot be faked.

"At this hour... you've come specifically to have lunch with the general, haven't you? Oh dear... this old man has lived to a ripe old age, and I've never seen such a person personally come to pick me up in the military."

He shook his head with a smile, his tone full of good-natured teasing: "Young people in love are so clingy."

Karandal's ears burned at the blunt teasing, and he lowered his head uncomfortably, clearly not quite able to handle the situation.

After teasing the young couple deeply in love, Marshal Hermann remembered something, his expression gradually becoming serious, and he sighed softly in a slow, deliberate tone:

"Speaking of which... when Kalandall's accident happened, I was conducting investigations in a remote, isolated star system. I only learned about the terrible ordeal the child suffered and the near-death experience when I returned to the Imperial Star a couple of days ago..."

His eyes revealed genuine regret and heartache, and his gaze towards the female soldier was filled with lingering guilt: "If I had been on the Imperial Star back then, I would never have let..."

Sensing the self-reproach in his voice, Calander immediately offered words of comfort, his tone calm and sincere.

"Marshal, it's all in the past. You don't need to dwell on it."

Seeing him like this, a more complex look of reminiscence flashed in Hermann's eyes, as if he saw another blurry yet similar figure through Kalandel, and he couldn't help but complain aloud:

"Are all butterflies this stubborn? Their unyielding nature is exactly like his. If only you had been a little more tactful, even just lowered your head a little to buy time until I came back..."

He stopped abruptly, as if suddenly realizing he had misspoke, and withdrew from the conversation. He coughed lightly twice and gave a self-deprecating laugh:

"Look at me, I get so old that I tend to ramble on and on, and I've steered the conversation off-topic again."

As if only then noticing the pink bag Shen Yan had placed beside the sofa, when he caught a glimpse of the unique logo "Sweet Words" on the packaging, a knowing look flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"It seems I really shouldn't bother them anymore." He stood up and gave them a friendly, teasing look.

"During your lunch break, you two should enjoy your time in the world of the two insects. 'Rift' just sent back a message, and I'm going to take a look around the General Staff Headquarters."

……

The moment the door closed gently, Shen Yan's facade of civility in front of the outsider vanished without a trace.

Almost without any regard for appearances, it immediately pounced on the female insect like a large canine, burrowing its entire body into her embrace and tightly wrapping its arms around her slender yet supple waist.

"Wife, stick to me—"

Resting her chin on the other's shoulder, her warm breath gently caressed the sensitive skin behind his ear.

"That butterfly that Hermann just mentioned..."

The male's voice carried a hint of casual curiosity, his lips almost touching the side of Calander's neck.

"Who is it? Does it look a lot like you?"

Feeling a little itchy from his rubbing, the female insect turned her head in unbearable discomfort but did not flee. Instead, she raised her hand and covered the back of his hand that was wrapped around her waist.

She shook her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty: "I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but I do know that the Marshal once had a highly regarded adjutant who was a female of the Butterfly Attribute Army, possessing S-level mental strength and outstanding talent."

"But for some reason, before he could truly make a name for himself in the military, he quietly retired and disappeared without a trace..."

This is a great loss for both the Empire and the military. Karandal also felt regret: "Such a shining star who should have shone brightly in the Empire has left us prematurely. No wonder the Marshal always avoids the topic..."

The topic of this female soldier didn't last long. Shen Yan had only asked casually, and his attention quickly returned to the main purpose of his trip.

While nestled in the other person's arms, he took out the pink packaging bag he had been carrying the whole way.

Instead of immediately handing it to Kalandall, he held it in his hand and deliberately hooked the ribbon with his fingertips, letting the bag sway gently between the two insects. His expression was a mixture of mystery, anticipation, and excitement, and his eyes gleamed with a bright and mischievous light.

On my way to find you, I passed a clothing store...

He deliberately lowered his voice, his tone enticing and eager: "I found quite a few good things, and I immediately thought... they would be perfect for my General, so I bought them on a whim."

His tone was light and airy, and to keep the conversation in suspense, he deliberately paused halfway through his sentence, observing the growing curiosity in the female ruler's eyes and the slight blush on her earlobes. Knowing that she must have vaguely guessed something, he continued slowly, drawing out the last syllable with suggestive undertones:

"Honey...you'll do me the honor, won't you?"

As he spoke, Shen Yan casually placed one hand on the back of the female insect's neck, his fingertips seemingly circling around the sensitive teeth marks. It was a gesture with clear possessive and soothing connotations, but the slightly rapid circling still revealed his anticipation and eagerness.

Whether it was the almost overflowing fervor and expectation in the lord's eyes or the suggestive words, both made Kalandel's heart uneasy, and he subconsciously pursed his lips, thus revealing his inner unease.

If it were Shen Yan, he could lower his standards to the absolute minimum.

Moreover, the clothing store certainly wouldn't go too far. Anyway, he had already seen everything in private, and some tricks would make the other party happy. He had no sense of rejection at all and accepted it completely, both physically and mentally.

"I like anything given by a male lord."