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

A barely perceptible hint of displeasure flashed in the Emperor's eyes at Karandal's overly indifferent and even aloof reaction, but he quickly concealed it.

He still had that kind fatherly demeanor, his tone gentle:

"Lanlan, you have suffered. Now that you have returned, I will take care of everything for you from now on."

Seemingly unconcerned by the female insect's distant "Your Majesty," it instead extended a warm invitation:

"Today, my son and I are reunited; it is a joyous occasion. Please stay in the palace for dinner."

Shen Yan frowned slightly, about to politely decline, when Karandel gently squeezed his palm.

She immediately fell silent, turned to look at her partner, and saw a calm, weighing expression in his icy blue eyes. She suppressed her reluctance and acquiesced.

The royal banquet was extremely luxurious, but the atmosphere was subtle and oppressive.

At the long dining table, Prince Anvisi sat at the lower end, a serene smile on his face, though it seemed frozen and stiff.

He barely touched his food, but kept his knife and fork in his hand the whole time.

Shen Yan took in his awkwardness and spoke gently, seemingly unintentionally:

"Is His Highness Anvis unwell? He doesn't seem to have much of an appetite."

Anweixi seemed startled, abruptly raising her eyes to meet Xiongzi's seemingly serious but actually sharp gaze, then quickly lowering her eyes again, her voice weak:

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Shen Yan. I... am indeed unwell. Please excuse me for a moment."

He rose almost hastily, bowed to the emperor, received a dismissive wave from him, and then hurriedly left the restaurant.

Kalandall watched the female insect's retreating figure, put down his cutlery, and asked directly in a calm tone:

"Your Majesty, Prince Anvis... doesn't seem to welcome my return?"

The emperor's smile remained unchanged. He picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, speaking as casually as if discussing the weather:

"Don't worry about it. His mother, Dei, recently made a mistake and is currently in solitary confinement."

"The child is probably worried about his mother and is in a bad mood. Please forgive him if he has been rude."

Shen Yan and Kalandel fell silent. Although the emperor tried his best to appear as a kind father, something felt off, as if that wasn't the case at all.

The female insect also didn't seem to have much feeling for this so-called male father.

This dinner, where everyone had their own thoughts, finally came to an end.

No matter how much the emperor tried to persuade them to stay overnight at the palace, Shen Yan and Kalandel firmly and politely declined.

The vehicle smoothly drove away from the palace area, and the view outside the window gradually changed from the solemn and orderly royal buildings to the city street scene.

Inside the car, Shen Yan did not let go of his wife's hand; instead, he completely enveloped her warm hand in his own palm.

Turning her head to look at her partner's pale profile and tightly pursed lips, she felt a pang of tenderness.

He made no comment about the so-called father emperor, but simply reached out his other hand and gently smoothed the empress's slightly furrowed brow with his fingertips, his voice low and warm:

"If you're tired, lean on me and rest for a while. I'll wake you up when we get home."

Her icy blue eyes shifted slightly, meeting Shen Yan's gaze, which was full of concern and understanding.

That gaze was like the most effective soothing agent, slowly pulling him back to reality from the tension brought on by the cold imperial power.

She gently rested her head on the boy's strong and reliable shoulder, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

The nose is no longer filled with expensive court incense, but with a clean scent that reassures the insects, unique to the male ruler.

Shen Yan adjusted her position to make him more comfortable, and gently combed his long, icy blue hair that was draped over his shoulders with her fingers.

Neither insect spoke, and a silent understanding and warmth filled the hovercar, as if using this tranquility to dispel the oppressive atmosphere they had just experienced in the palace.

However, this brief period of calm did not last long.

Just as the hovercar was about to arrive at the villa area, Shen Yan and Kalandel's private insect terminals emitted short and peculiar vibrations almost simultaneously.

That was the alert tone for a top-level encrypted message.

The message came from Marshal Hermann.

He said he would visit the villa tonight.

This was the pillar of the military, and the only elder whom Karandel respected. Shen Yan naturally dared not neglect him and hurriedly instructed the driver to speed up and get back as soon as possible.

Shortly after we entered, Hermann's hovercar arrived.

The old marshal was not wearing a formal military dress, but only a simple civilian uniform. However, the solemnity between his brows, a testament to his years of battlefield experience, and the deep sorrow he felt at that moment made him appear exceptionally dignified.

Upon receiving news that the royal family had approached Kalander today, Herman sent a visit invitation and drove over almost immediately after the young couple left the palace.

Without much small talk or pleasantries, after confirming that the villa's security system was fully activated, Hermann stared intently at Karandel for a long while before speaking:

"I've come today to tell you the real story about your father, Iris."

"I'm not surprised that the emperor has come to you. You're carrying the only male child with royal blood."

"This may be cruel, but you have the right to know the truth."

The truth he told was completely different from the earth-shattering love tragedy the emperor described; it was full of coercion, darkness, and bloodshed.

"Your female father, Iris."

The old marshal's voice was filled with an indelible sorrow, and his gaze seemed to pierce through time:

"He was once my most promising adjutant. Although he came from a commoner background, he was exceptionally gifted, calm and decisive, and had an amazing intuition in tactical planning."

"I firmly believed that he would shine brightly in the military and become a pillar of the empire..."

At this point, his voice choked up, filled with helplessness and regret:

"But... at a victory celebration banquet, His Majesty not only forcibly took him, but also wanted to force him into the palace as a concubine!"

"Iris also refused and begged me to save him."

"I...I tried my best to intervene, even going so far as to submit numerous petitions as a marshal of the military to dissuade them...but in the end, I could not overcome the power of the royal family..."

Hermann closed his eyes, as if he were back in that moment that made him feel utterly powerless, his voice hoarse:

"I still remember the look in Iris's eyes when she was taken away; those eyes, which always shone with wisdom and resilience, became lifeless..."

"I witnessed a rising star being forcibly abducted and buried in that worm-eating palace... I could only watch him leave with tears in my eyes, unable to do anything..."

Later, he got pregnant with you.

"The palace is very secretive about news, but I have a vague idea that he is not in a good position. His Majesty's possessiveness and the jealousy of the other concubines make it difficult for him to move forward."

The old marshal took a deep breath: "Until he escaped... I secretly sent my most trusted confidants to search for him, hoping to give him a way out..."

"But... all we got was the devastating news that the spaceship had crashed and all the insect eggs were destroyed."