By the time Lenon suddenly woke from his long, deep slumber, he had no idea how much time had passed.

He felt as if he had slept for a century. His body was warm and sluggish, unwilling to move even a single inch. When he groggily opened his eyes and looked out the window, he couldn't help but feel dazed for a moment.

It was still winter when he returned from Zone 35, and the trees outside the window had only bare branches left. But now, they were full of lush greenery.

He sat up, grabbed the clothes from the bedside, and changed neatly. Then, he walked through the corridor to the high-ceilinged atrium of the prince's residence.

He didn't encounter anyone along the way.

The prince's residence was terribly quiet today. Whether it was the attendants, the butler, or the gardeners, none of them were around. The residence felt almost like an empty city. Lenon was slightly bewildered for a second, but the garden was kept in perfect order, with dead branches and fallen leaves swept away one by one. It didn't look unattended.

He sat quietly for a while until his chaotic thoughts finally cleared up a bit. Then he picked up his Light Brain. Lin You was not online, and no one replied. Lenon had no choice but to contact Devon. A few seconds later, Devon sent an exaggerated expression: "My god, Sir, you're finally awake! Have you seen what the date is today?"

Lenon swiped the light screen. It had been a full four months since he was last conscious.

Devon: "Did you just wake up? Then hurry to the Central Trial Court. I'll wait for you at the entrance."

...Trial court?

The prince's residence wasn't far from the Central Trial Court. Lenon walked along the street. There were hardly any pedestrians in the normally bustling market, but as he got near the trial court, the crowd suddenly thickened. They were all looking towards the trial court, seemingly waiting for something.

When he reached the entrance, Devon happened to come around from the trial court. With a joyful expression, he walked quickly down the steps, grabbed Lenon's wrist, and, without waiting for him to say a word, led him straight to the public gallery.

Lenon raised an eyebrow slightly. Before, Devon would never have dared to grab him directly like this. This superior officer had been lying in bed for five months, and his subordinate had already gone rogue.

However, before he could tease him, Devon had already pressed him down into a seat. The usually steady colonel of the Third Legion couldn't hide the excitement in his tone: "Hey, never mind all that nonsense, just look down there first."

Lenon looked down as told and immediately paused.

Below him were the defendants' seats, enclosed by metal fences into small cubicles. Looking down from the public gallery, the people in those cubicles looked like rats on running wheels, subjected to everyone's scrutiny.

After being framed by the First Prince, Lenon had also worn chains and stood in one of these small cubicles.

But now, the people in the cubicles had changed into a uniform group of Zerg political figures. Lenon glanced sideways and recognized several of them: there were high-ranking officials from the Imperial Research Institute, directors from the Galaxy Group, officers from the Second Legion, and even his former fiancé, White from the Liam Family... And sitting right in the middle of this group of government dignitaries was actually the Admiral of the Third Legion, Lawrence.

This time, even someone as calm as Lenon couldn't help but show a look of astonishment.

He looked at Devon: "What kind of play is this?"

Devon: "Why don't you look at the judge's bench?"

Lenon then looked up, gazing past the crowd awaiting trial to the judge's bench. The next moment, he was completely stunned.

...The Third Highness?

Sitting next to the chief judge was, impressively, Lin You.

He had changed out of his casual everyday clothes into a complex formal attire. He was leisurely holding a teacup, his half-closed eyes slightly lowered, lightly sweeping his gaze over the people awaiting trial. His expression was surprisingly, terrifyingly cold.

At this moment, he didn't look at all like that pampered, smiling Third Highness.

The judge struck the gavel, and the trial court fell completely silent. It was at this moment that Lenon finally saw the push notification on his Light Brain.

—"The case of forging and trafficking Addictive Pheromones in the black market on the border of Zone 35 opened today in the trial court."

"..."

For a split second, Lenon thought he hadn't fully woken up yet.

The First Prince's forces were deeply entrenched and had a vast influence. Admiral Lawrence was also a long-established senior in the military. These people had woven a dense, massive web whose shadow loomed over the imperial capital. With Lenon's seniority, trying to shake them was like a mayfly trying to topple a giant tree. Even if he risked his life, he could only kill the chief culprits. But to clear the names of his innocent deceased old friends, or even just to wash away his own false charges, he would still be powerless.

But now, these people had their arms bound and were detained to face trial just like that?

Devon explained to him in a low voice: "A lot has happened over these past five months. The First Prince died, and the Old Zerg Emperor passed away as well. The maternal family of the Second Prince is weak. Admiral Lawrence originally wanted to defect to and support the Second Prince, but who knew Admiral Hoyle would act even faster? He surrounded the palace that very night, obtained an edict from the Old Zerg Emperor, and contacted the Senate. As you know, Admiral Hoyle's First Legion is stationed right in the capital, so the Second Legion couldn't arrive in time to rescue them. Everything that followed fell naturally into place."

Lenon: "Then the Third Highness..."

"You can't call him the Third Highness anymore," Devon interrupted. "Although he hasn't been crowned yet, the next time you see him, you'll have to call him His Majesty the Zerg Emperor."

Lenon lowered his eyes, momentarily filled with a sense of melancholy.

In just five short months, that Little Highness who used to sleep beside him was actually about to ascend the throne.

Devon continued his explanation: "As soon as the situation stabilized, His Majesty began thoroughly investigating the affairs at the border of Zone 35. The Factory got the news and tried to flee to a more distant galaxy, but with its massive size, where could it run to? Admiral Hoyle personally led people to search for them, practically plowing through the border inch by inch. Then they caught them red-handed. All the researchers in the Factory were escorted to the Main Star to await trial, and our captive comrades were released too. A few of the field officers are old acquaintances; we should go grab a drink together sometime."

Lenon fell silent: "All these years, I'm the one who let them down."

Devon: "Hey, how could this be blamed on you?"

He patted Lenon's shoulder: "Oh, the Factory was also dragged over to the Main Star. It's docked at the First Legion's landing port. If you want to go up and take a look, you can ask the Little Majesty to take you."

Lenon raised an eyebrow: "Little Majesty?"

His tone was tinged with dissatisfaction.

Devon said: "Alright... Only you can call him that, okay? His Majesty, I'll call him His Majesty."

He then added: "Many valuable clues were found in the Factory, such as the production records of the inferior Pheromones, including the amounts and their destinations. They amassed enormous wealth, which the First Prince used entirely to build up his forces. Every single one of these things is on the record; there's no denying them."

"And the number of personnel involved is even more terrifying. The ones you see on the defendants' stand right now are just the chief culprits; there are still plenty locked up in prison. Anyway..."

Devon leaned back, revealing a rare, relaxed smile. Ever since their pyrrhic victory in Zone 35, it had been a long time since he had felt this unburdened. "Anyway, the things we've been agonizing over and running around for have finally come to an end."

"..."

Lenon's gaze fell on the defendants' stand, sweeping over those faces that were either ashen or miserable. Back then, it was he whose future had been completely ruined, bowing his head here as he awaited trial. But at this moment, these people were standing in the exact same position he had been, looking utterly desolate and trembling all over.

How ironic.

The outcome of this trial was self-evident. The First Prince's faction had provoked public outrage by hoarding wealth through Pheromones. Various forums were boiling over, all kinds of accusations were emerging endlessly, and demands for capital punishment were making a massive uproar. And according to the laws of The Empire, there was only one path left for them.

With the striking of the judge's gavel, the case was finalized. The cronies involved in the incident were sentenced to death or life imprisonment depending on the severity of their crimes.

With the matter concluded, Lenon didn't feel much joy. Thinking of those permanently frozen faces in the star ring, he let out a breath of stale air. His gaze swept over the people below the stand, unsure whether he was feeling emotional or melancholy. He simply lowered his eyes and said: "This, at least, counts as closure."

In the lounge of the trial court, Lin You tugged at his complicated coat and let out a long sigh.

He tried to unfasten the buttons, but a patterned hidden button got tangled with his hair.

To this day, Lin You still couldn't get used to the life of an emperor-to-be, such as the etiquette regarding these complicated clothes. Just as he was about to stop an attendant for help, a pair of hands gently took over from behind.

The fingers of these hands were long and beautiful. They deftly loosened Lin You's clothes and hung them on the coat rack to the side. Lin You subconsciously wanted to say thanks, but then he heard someone sigh with emotion: "Five months have passed, and Your Majesty is still exactly the same as before."

Previously, when Lin You was still the Third Prince, he couldn't handle complicated formal wear either. On the eve of every banquet, he always needed Lenon's help.

Hearing this voice, Lin You froze.

Five months wasn't considered long, nor was it short. Running consecutively into the death of a prince and the passing of the emperor, the imperial capital was instantly thrust into an unpredictable state, surging with undercurrents. Although Admiral Hoyle could protect Lin You, only Lin You himself knew the perils involved.

Lin You was a soul from another land. In the Zerg world, the only two he could confide in were Lenon and the System. However, for five months, Lenon was in a deep sleep, and the system couldn't help either. Later, Admiral Hoyle went far away to oversee Zone 35, leaving Lin You utterly isolated and helpless for a time. Truly forced to step up to the plate, he had to bring out the energy he used for his college entrance exams just to barely keep the situation under control.

Hearing this voice again after five months, Lin You actually had the illusion that a lifetime had passed.

"..."

In the prolonged silence, Lenon leaned down: "Little Majesty?"

Still, no one spoke.

Lenon corrected himself, switching to a more familiar title: "Little Highness?"

"..."

"Alright." Lenon seemed to understand. He took Lin You's hand, placed it against his own cheek, and rubbed it gently. Then, he dropped to one knee and performed a knight's salute, just like when he first begged for the Third Highness's pity. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have slept for so long. Did I make you worry?"

Lenon's face was as handsome as ever, his azure eyes like deep lakes. He looked at Lin You without blinking: "Tell me, Your Majesty, what must I do for you to forgive me?"

The next second, he was hoisted straight up from the ground.

Lin You had a gentle personality and was rarely ever unreasonable, but right now, as he grabbed Lenon, his strength was surprisingly great. He gripped Lenon's jaw, forcing him to raise his head for a kiss. Their teeth clashed and their lips and tongues pressed together until, eventually, the taste of rust seeped out from somewhere.

Only at this moment did he truly resemble the tyrannical and ruthless Third Highness from the rumors.

Lenon was surprised at first, but then he smiled, his eyes curving slightly. He allowed Lin You to invade and explore, even carefully wrapping up his teeth. When the kiss ended, Lenon supported his displeased Majesty and asked softly: "Has your anger subsided?"

Lin You ground his teeth: "No."

He pressed down on Lenon's shoulders and forcefully turned him around: "Show me your wings."

He still remembered how much artillery fire those beautiful wings had endured on the aircraft, and he remembered Devon saying there was a possibility of amputation.

The silver wings unfurled in the air, their lines smooth and beautiful, trembling slightly. Most areas had already healed, but the color of the newly grown soft flesh was distinctly different from its surroundings. As Lin You stroked it, Lenon actually shuddered.

The Major General was also surprised by the sensitivity of his wings. He somewhat wanted to retract them, but Lin You pinned them down, forcing them to stay spread open. The Male Zerg's fingertips stroked across that soft flesh, covering the scars left by bullet holes, teasing his nerves until they went numb and itchy.

"..."

Lenon gritted his teeth slightly: "Your Majesty, is this a punishment?"

"Major General, of course not." Lin You's fingertips trailed down along his waist, seemingly measuring something. "This is merely a measurement."

Measurement?

Before Lenon could even ask, he heard Lin You grinding his back molars: "For the wedding attire! Lenon, if you had woken up two days later, I really would have had to ascend the throne all by myself!"

Male Zergs of the Zerg race all married early. The First Prince and the Second Prince both had their Female Consorts early on. As soon as Lin You came of age, Admiral Hoyle began making arrangements for him too. If Lenon hadn't struck first to gain the upper hand, it really wouldn't have been his turn to snag this prime catch.

—Damn it.

Lin You thought, feeling rather gloomy: 'If the Zerg Emperor ascends the throne without a Female Consort accompanying him, he will definitely become the laughingstock of the imperial capital for many years to come!'