Even a god had to take his Alpha's arm

Compared with the flat terrain of the Third Oasis, the First Oasis was much more rugged.

An enormous tree rose from the center of the lush forest.

It looked like a tree, but only up close did it become clear that it was actually a rock covered in greenery.

The White Sand Star lord's Moon Palace stood atop that rock.

The moment they stepped off the airship, Barry, the plump steward of the Moon Palace, came up to greet them.

"Young Lord, young Lord's Wife, you're finally here! Come... er, what's..."

He stared blankly at the strange group before him.

Pei Ji stood on the right, while Shen Que stood on the left.

Almost the entire width of the broad reception path separated them.

Hall and the three maids stood between the two, smiling awkwardly at him.

"Old Barry! Long time no see!"

Hall stepped forward and clasped Barry's hand, lowering his voice as he said, "Something happened on the way. A bit of... a disagreement... you know how the young lord is..."

Old Barry, who had served Pei Li his entire life, understood at once.

"Oh, oh, oh..."

He clasped Hall's hand in return.

"I understand, I understand!"

"Ah, the young lord really does take after his father!"

One plump and one thin, one short and one tall, the two old stewards with graying temples sighed together and said in unison, "You've had it hard, too!"

While the servants briefed one another, Pei Ji shamelessly sidled up to Shen Que.

"Commander Shen, can you stop being angry?"

Shen Que gave him a sidelong glance.

"I'm not angry."

"All right, I was the angry one. I was angry, okay? I'm not angry anymore. Won't you talk to me?"

As he spoke, Pei Ji offered his elbow ingratiatingly.

Shen Que showed no intention of taking his arm.

Pei Ji could only edge a little closer.

"Mom asked us to come a day early, so some of the guests must already be here."

"I'll go see them first. Wait for me in Zhiyue Garden. That's where I lived as a child. They should have it ready by now."

Shen Que paused slightly. "I don't need to go?"

Pei Ji smiled.

"No. I told Mom you weren't well, so you don't need to meet them today. The ones who came early are all familiar guests. I know how to handle them."

As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Que.

The Omega stood tall and straight, looking back at him.

They had changed into more formal clothes before disembarking.

A low-necked, off-the-shoulder outer robe was paired with a fitted black inner layer, with decorative sashes hanging from both shoulders, adorned with ornaments of pure gold.

A ruby pendant rested right between Shen Que's brows.

This was White Sand Star's traditional formal attire.

Pei Ji liked Shen Que in this outfit.

Although he wore a similar style himself, it looked entirely different on Shen Que.

The Commander already had a noble bearing. Paired with this attire, his cool, aloof face made him look like a god at first glance, sacred and mysterious.

Beyond desecration.

Determined not to miss a single chance to look, Pei Ji kept his eyes fixed on Shen Que and said softly:

"Tomorrow's banquet will drag on for ages. Your job today is to get plenty of sleep."

After holding his gaze for a while, Shen Que lowered his eyes and gave a noncommittal "Mm."

After a brief pause, he raised his left hand and hooked it through Pei Ji's arm.

Pei Ji's lips curved upward.

So what if he was a god?

Even a god had to hold on to his Alpha's arm in the mortal world.

But the arms they had finally linked had to part as soon as they entered the palace.

Pei Ji followed Barry to Green Mo Garden, where the honored guests were staying, while Shen Que went to Zhiyue Garden to rest.

Built along the rock, the Moon Palace's gardens and courtyards rose in tiers, large and small.

From a distance, they looked like countless exquisite birdcages nestled in an enormous treetop.

Shen Que followed the maid into the elevator.

As they rose, the magnificent expanse of the First Oasis unfolded before his eyes.

All kinds of utility machines flew through the air in orderly streams, while elevated tracks wound through the forest like silver vines, connecting steel buildings that rose above the canopy.

But Shen Que knew.

The prosperity before him was only the tip of the iceberg.

Something far greater lay hidden beneath this forest.

Under the thick, fertile soil, concealed by coiling roots, lay the most powerful underground water circulation system in the entire Icarus Galaxy.

It was the culmination of centuries of technology and sweat from the desert people, the lifeline that had allowed them to build three entire oases in such a harsh environment with so little rain.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling in mottled patches across Shen Que.

In a daze, he recalled the Empress's private audience with him on the night before his departure.

Deep concern and worry showed on Carolina's icy face.

She gently held Shen Que's slender hand, speaking as though to him, yet also to herself:

"White Sand Star is a planet with tenacious vitality."

"It was once terribly barren-short of water, desolate, technologically backward. A planet like that is no more than a grain of sand in the universe. No one would mourn its disappearance.

"But it survived and became what it is today."

"Its people are just like their land."

"Passionate, bold, and brimming with life."

"I hope they can share some of that vitality with you."

"Stay alive, Shen Que."

"You are Messiah's blade."

"You must stay alive."

Shen Que slept until the moon hung high overhead.

Although he had slept for quite some time, for some reason, his body still felt exhausted.

His sleep had been anything but restful. He kept dreaming of a surging Insect Swarm engulfing him, of red alerts covering an enormous screen.

Fortunately, the pain had not flared up.

Otherwise, he would have had to check into a hospital before he even attended the banquet.

Shen Que sat in bed for a while.

Leaf-shaped lamps glowed in the small, elegant bedroom, and a plate of cookies, still warm, sat nearby.

Anya was not there.

Pei Ji had not returned either.

The Terminal on his wrist flashed.

Shen Que opened his chat with Pei Ji.

On the night of the call with the Empress, that Alpha had made him add him to his contacts with an attitude that brooked no refusal, then insisted that he pin him to the very top.

Several complaints greeted him.

Pei Ji: [I'm losing it. I'm losing it.]

Pei Ji: [These people never stop.]

Pei Ji: [Social can go to hell. Who the fuck invented this shit?]

Shen Que frowned slightly.

There were endless formalities and exchanges among the nobility. Given Pei Ji's position, there were certain occasions where he had to show his face.

If... he were a healthy Omega, perhaps his Alpha would not be in such a sorry state.

Lowering his eyes, Shen Que moved his fingertips and sent a few words: [Thanks for the effort.]

He closed the Terminal, got out of bed, and began dressing, only to hear the door open.

Assuming it was Anya or Phil, he asked without turning around, "Where is the General having dinner today?"

After a brief silence, an unfamiliar voice answered:

"The young lord will be dining with the guests tonight. You needn't wait for him to return."

Shen Que paused slightly, then turned to see an unfamiliar maid standing by the door.

The maid bore a strong resemblance to Anya, but she seemed more outgoing, her gaze openly appraising Shen Que rather than lowering her head shyly as Anya usually did.

She lifted her skirt and dipped into a curtsy before Shen Que.

"I'm Annie, Lady Ai Fan's maid."

"Lady Ai Fan has prepared dinner and is waiting for you in the garden dining room."