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

After a period of peaceful and contentment, Shen Yan was alone in her room when she suddenly felt a bit stifled.

Outside the porthole, there was always that familiar starry sky, and the room still held the scent of pheromones left by the female ruler before she left this morning.

I just finished reading a book on military theory, and as soon as I closed the book, all the knowledge that had entered my mind was forgotten.

He looked through the battle reports in Kalandall's collection again and again, even counting the leaves of the potted plant on the table.

A total of twenty-eight pieces.

"I'm so bored..."

He lay on the sofa, his tail hook lightly tapping the sofa cushions intermittently.

Normally at this time, if Calander were on the ship, they could always kiss, hug, and cuddle. But today, unfortunately, there was a small group of enemy troops harassing the front lines, so the Empress led the fleet out to war early in the morning.

During this time, he has fully adapted to the pace of life on the mothership.

The activity area is no longer limited to that private cabin.

The male begins like an asteroid on an exploration, slowly expanding its range of activity along a fixed orbit.

The corridor was quiet, with only the low rumble of the circulatory system running.

Occasionally, when they encounter patrolling soldiers, the soldiers immediately stop and respectfully salute. Their eyes convey not only respect for the male insect, but also another layer of meaning.

After all, everyone knows that this is Admiral Callandall's partner.

Instead of following the usual route, they impulsively turned into a passage they had never been to before.

The bulkheads here appear more grayish-white, the lights are dimmed to conserve energy, and there are far fewer insect crew members coming and going.

A faint, distinct scent, a mixture of disinfectant and a somber, oppressive atmosphere, emanated from the bow area of ​​the warship.

Wandering aimlessly, my footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

On either side were tightly closed hatches, marked with function codes he couldn't understand.

Reaching a corner, I saw a half-open metal door at the end. An electronic sign next to the door clearly displayed the following words:

Temporary sanatorium

Out of curiosity, Shen Yan gently pushed open the door.

The sight inside made him pause.

The room wasn't small, but the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Three or four female soldiers lay on a few makeshift medical beds.

They were connected to monitoring equipment, their faces were pale, their brows were tightly furrowed even in their sleep, fine beads of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads, and their bodies would occasionally twitch slightly uncontrollably.

The air was filled not only with the smell of disinfectant, but also with a faint, chaotic fluctuation caused by the uncontrolled dissipation of mental energy.

Several female soldiers who were still able to move sat silently on the bench, their eyes dim, as if they had lost all hope.

A young female military nurse, dressed in a white medical gown, was writing something down with her head down.

Shen Yan's appearance was like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, instantly attracting the attention of all the female soldiers.

Those gazes were initially filled with astonishment, but then an uncontrollable spark of instinctive desire ignited upon seeing the male insect.

That is a deep-rooted yearning for healing and comfort.

They are currently suffering from the pain of damage to their spiritual consciousness, and a male insect, especially one with strong spiritual power, is undoubtedly the only possible light in their despair.

As long as I can get comfort from the other party...

However, the firelight flickered for only a moment before quickly going out, replaced by a deeper somberness and a respectful, even guilty, avoidance.

The nurse immediately bowed respectfully: "Your Excellency."

"What...what's wrong with them?"

Shen Yan's gaze swept over the female soldiers who were clearly suffering immense pain. His brows furrowed involuntarily, and his heart felt as if something was gripping it, leaving him with a dull ache.

This scene was completely different from the composure and strength that I usually saw in Karandal after he had been properly appeased.

The caregiver sighed, her voice low:

"Your Excellency, these are all elite soldiers who have retired from the front lines. Due to excessive mental exhaustion in the previous battles, their consciousness has been severely damaged..."

"Existing inhibitors and conventional treatments have become less effective."

He paused, his tone becoming even more somber.

"According to regulations, they are no longer fit to serve and are waiting here for the next transport ship to repatriate them to the Imperial Star for long-term recuperation."

Everyone understands that long-term convalescence is almost equivalent to the end of a military career, and may even mean a long-term companionship with mental anguish.

One of the female soldiers, who was in slightly better condition and still conscious, struggled to sit up. Her eyes were filled with intense longing, but that light quickly dimmed and turned into deep awe and restraint.

He spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse: "Your...sir...we..."

He wanted to say something, but in the end he just lowered his head in dejection.

"...I'm sorry, I was rude."

Shen Yan's heart sank as he understood what the unfinished words meant. They longed for the male insect's spiritual energy to be channeled, for it was their only hope of returning to the battlefield.

For the first time, he realized with such clarity that he possessed the ability to change the fate of female insects.

Looking at these once valiant warriors, now like eagles with broken wings, confined to their sickbeds awaiting their fate.

A strong sense of sympathy and pity welled up in my heart.

Because of his high level, he could even vaguely sense the sound of the opposing person's spiritual sea shattering and wailing.

If he makes a move...

The idea is incredibly tempting.

But the next second, another, more powerful thought firmly restrained his impulse.

The mental guidance that male insects give to female insects is an extremely private act.

It was not merely comfort and solace, but also accompanied by a strong spiritual resonance and an indescribable sense of pleasure; its intimacy was no less than that of physical intimacy.

But such behavior, regardless of the purpose, is a betrayal to one's partner.

It's not as simple as just treating it. It's like in modern society, would he sleep with someone else just because he has a wife, out of pity?

Moreover, there is more than one female soldier who needs to be appeased.

The image of Kalander instantly flashed into Shen Yan's mind, those gentle, ice-blue eyes.

He loved Karandal, deeply.

His spiritual power, his touch, the unique pleasure and comfort he could give—all belonged to his wife.

If it weren't for Karandal, he might be willing to provide mental support to these poor female soldiers, but engaging in such intimate behavior that is usually reserved for couples is considered infidelity.

This has nothing to do with jealousy or pettiness, but stems from one's loyalty to the relationship.

to be honest.

He didn't feel much of a sense of belonging to the Zerg, but he happened to have love and family.

Although I may occasionally feel pity or sympathy for these flesh-and-blood female insects, I am still not obligated to do so.

So he silently, almost as if fleeing, left the sanatorium, feeling incredibly heavy-hearted.

That instinct of compassion clashed fiercely with his unwavering devotion to Calandall, and in the end, the latter prevailed with an overwhelming advantage.

I can't help.