MRG Chapter 36: The Focus of All

Translator: Kii

Editor: Agneya

Like fireflies, the trails of the flying aircrafts left countless arcs of light in the dark night. Their radiance reflected off the majestic domes of the royal buildings, making the night seem as bright as day.

The curved, silver aircrafts stopped on the lawn. Vincent North opened the hatch and jumped down. The glass window partially reflected his handsome profile. He put out the nearly burned cigarette in the ashtray handed to him by a servant, looking uninterested. “It’s surprising that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would take the initiative to host a banquet.”

He quipped, “I hope the topic of the banquet isn’t about mecha combat plans, or I’m afraid I might just fall asleep.”

The nobility that accompanied him laughed. “I heard that His Highness held this banquet for his little brother, my friend.”

“Little brother?” Vincent raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. “When did Lance Yigor need someone to help him host a banquet?”

“It isn’t His Highness Lance, but his other younger brother. Four years ago, you even invited him to dance at his coming-of-age banquet, but you ended up like a defeated rooster. Did you really forget?” Vincent’s friend teased, “But that’s normal, after all, you’re our famous ‘playboy.’ You can hold a banquet just by gathering all the people you have pursued.”

Vincent pursed his lips, but showed no sign of anger.

The other party continued, “He graduated from No. 1 Military Academy, just a few days ago. Now, he not only holds the title of Duke, but is also a lieutenant.”

Vincent suddenly said, “I remember.”

His friend didn’t wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying. “Ah?”

Vincent curled the corners of his lips. “Nothing.”

Mu Chen’s appearance emerged in his mind.

The Blue Planet’s last merman who possessed ocean-like eyes, an existence more dazzling than diamonds. Four years after he rejected him at the banquet, he still couldn’t forget his appearance.

How could he forget?

As the two were talking, they were greeted by the welcoming attendants and walked into the magnificent palace gate, surrounded by noisy conversation.

When Vincent reached into his front pocket to feel for his cigarette box, he realized belatedly that smoking was not allowed indoors. He raised his eyes, and his gaze froze.

In the banquet hall, the youth’s slender and upright figure stood in the center of the light, overlapping with the memory of four years ago.

Compared to back then, Mu Chen seemed to have grown a few centimeters taller. Four years in the military academy had softened the youthful innocence in his features, replacing it with a more mature and composed demeanor…

It made one unable to look away.

……

In a relatively secluded corner of the banquet hall, Light’s gaze landed on one of the guests who went up to talk to Mu Chen. He looked at the other person’s “gleaming” head, frowned, and asked, “How old is he?”

The attendant next to him immediately pulled up the other party’s file. “Your Highness, he has just turned fifty this year.”

Light, “…”

Fifty wasn’t considered that old for an interstellar person. After all, they could live over two hundred years old on average. However, Mu Chen was twenty-four years old today, so that man was more than capable of being his father.

This person is absolutely not acceptable.

Light was expressionless, and he gave an order in a cold tone, “Cross him out.”

Attendant, “Okay, Your Highness.”

Light, “From today onward, cross out everybody over forty from the banquet guest list.

“Okay…”

Before the attendant could complete the sentence, Light changed his mind and said, “No, change it to everyone over thirty-six.”

“Alright, Your Highness.”

The “only” fifty-year-old suitor had just left when someone immediately stepped in to fill his position. The newcomer’s enthusiastic face was practically radiating “youthful energy,” and he almost wanted to ask if he had graduated high school this year.

Light’s eyebrows which had just been smoothed down, furrowed again.

The attendant carefully observed his expression, asking, “Your Highness, does he have any problems?”

Light, “He’s too short.”

Attendant, “Ah…”

“Ahem…ahem…” Light was aware that his words just now were somewhat inappropriate and lightly coughed. “I mean he’s too young, cross him off.”

Attendant, “Okay, Your Highness.”

After sending away the “high school student,” another person immediately appeared in front of Mu Chen.

The servant gradually learned to take the initiative in speaking—

“How about this person, then?”

“Too fat.”

“Got it, Your Highness.”

“This person?”

“Too…”

Light swallowed back his phrase that he was about to blurt out. After all, it was a bit rude to say something like “too ugly” outright.

His eyes briefly scanned the crowd surrounding Mu Chen. As Mu Chen’s future spouse, the other party must undoubtedly be a person of noble character, but at the same time, their appearance couldn’t be…

Too shabby.

Perhaps it was the innate difference in personalities, with girls generally being more reserved and men more confident. As a result, those who actively struck a conversation with Mu Chen were usually men. Light looked at those faces, each with its own flaws, and their inexplicable confidence that seemed to come from nowhere, his expression growing increasingly somber.

Although there were some people who were barely passable, compared to Mu Chen, they were still…

Quite ugly.

Unable to think of the right words, Light simply gave up and said coldly, “Cross them off.”

Attendant, “Okay, Your Highness.”

He removed the man’s name from the whitelist and looked up at the next person. “This…”

The attendant paused for a moment, because this was a lively girl with a sweet smile.

Compared to the previous few people who approached him, Mu Chen looked much more natural when talking to her.

Light didn’t tell the attendant to cross her out, rather, he looked at her. “Who is she?”

The attendant flipped through the files. “Shea Erwin, daughter of Earl Erwin, the Lord Chamberlain.”

While the two people were chatting, the girl’s hand suddenly grabbed Mu Chen’s cuff as she leaned into his ear, and whispered a few words. This small gesture seemed particularly intimate to the outside eye.

After she finished speaking, Mu Chen curled the corner of his lips and smiled at her.

Seeing this, Light’s pupils trembled, and he turned his head away slightly.

Unlike the previous suitors, this girl wasn’t unpleasant and had a lovely personality. Mu Chen…Mu Chen probably liked her. He had found a suitable partner, and he should feel happy for him, but at this moment…

His heart was in a complete mess, as if there were a dozen ropes tangled together. Light really couldn’t call this emotion “happy.”

Light raised his eyes again, only to discover that the girl had turned to look in his direction, and Mu Chen also turned his head.

Caught off guard, Light’s expression froze for a moment as he met their gaze from afar. He subconsciously clenched the wine glass in his hand, and saw the girl grabbing Mu Chen’s sleeve and bringing him over.

Shea politely bowed in front of him. “Your Highness.”

Light slightly nodded at her. “Hello.”

He really wasn’t good at initiating a conversation, so he could only wait for the other party to take the initiative to speak.

Shea raised her head and looked at him hopefully. “Your Highness, may I ask you for a favor?”

Light was stunned for a moment. He looked at Shea, then looked at Mu Chen who was standing next to her, asking, “What is it?”

Mu Chen gave a smile, but didn’t speak.

“That is…” Shea suddenly took out her terminal. “Could we take a picture, the three of us?”

Light couldn’t keep up with her rhythm for a while. “Ah?”

Shea blinked her eyes. “We can’t?”

“Cough, cough.” Light covered his mouth and coughed twice. “We can.”

Although he didn’t exactly understand why she wanted to do this, taking a picture wasn’t a big deal.

Shea smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Then, Light walked over to Shea, who handed the terminal to the attendant. “Can you help us take a picture, thank you.”

After the three people stood still, the attendant was about to press the shutter, but Shea suddenly called for a stop, “Wait.”

Under Light’s slightly stunned gaze, Shea pulled Mu Chen’s sleeve and had him switch places with her, so that Mu Chen stood next to Light.

Only then did Shea, in satisfaction, signal the attendant to continue.

Ka-chak!

The moment the shutter was pressed, the other two smiled at the camera skillfully, but Light’s face still looked a little serious.

Receiving the terminal from the attendant, Shea looked at the photo excitedly. She turned her, her fingers a blur as she typed; she shared it with her sisters immediately. “Waaaa my ship, it’s real, such cp feel…”

Light, “?”

Realizing something was wrong, Shea suddenly covered her mouth…

Crap, why did I accidentally say that out loud?

She turned around, trying to hide her embarrassment with a smile. “Your Highness, this banquet is really nice hahaha. I won’t bother you guys now, I’ll leave first, bye bye~”

Without giving them time to react, Shea darted off.

Watching her departing back, Mu Chen explained to Light, “That was my old classmate.”

Light was still perplexed by her peculiar phrases. Shea’s words made him feel a little strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. He could only ask Mu Chen, “What did she say was real?”

“I also don’t know.” Mu Chen shook his head, yet he couldn’t stop smiling. “Girls’ minds are hard to figure out.”

During the conversation, Light’s gaze fell on the wine glass in Mu Chen’s hand and his eyebrows furrowed. When he was about to remind him to avoid drinking for the time being since his stomach was unwell…

“Your Highness…”

A man’s deep voice broke his train of thought.

Light raised his eyes and saw a familiar frivolous face. The “playboy” that Lance had mentioned previously was standing in front of them.

“Do you mind if I take up a bit of your little brother’s time?”

Vincent deliberately emphasized on the phrase, “little brother.”

Light peered down at him. His amber eyes didn’t reveal any particular emotion, but the oppressive atmosphere around him said it all.

But before he could speak, Mu Chen smiled meaningfully and said, “Of course Gege doesn’t mind.”

After speaking, he walked out with Vincent.

After walking a distance, Mu Chen took a sip of his wine, then heard the other party introduce himself—

“I am Vincent North, the Lord of Anza City. We met at a banquet four years ago. You rejected my invitation for the first dance then.”

Although he had no recollection of the person in front of him, as soon as he heard him mention Anza City, Mu Chen immediately thought of the infamous “playboy.” He looked at the smiling black-haired man and suddenly became interested…

He was just worrying about choosing someone Light “liked” best, but now the person had willingly come to him.

Mu Chen smiled at Vincent. “I kind of don’t remember…”

Vincent’s expression froze, and just as he was about to tell Mu Chen that it was fine, he heard the other party continue—

“If I had any impression, I would have doubted why I had rejected Duke Vincent in the first place.”

They weren’t talking very loud, but it was enough for Light to be able to hear.

After Mu Chen finished speaking, he looked back and met Light’s unhappy gaze, which was colder than any of his previous suitors who had come up to talk to him before. He could almost feel the chill emanating from the invisible stare.

“Then I hope you will be able to remember my second invitation tonight.”

Vincent’s voice brought Mu Chen back from his thoughts.

Mu Chen curled the corner of his lips, looked at Vincent, then spoke in a voice that Light could clearly hear each word—

“It’s a very tempting invitation, but unfortunately, I can’t.”

Vincent raised the corners of his lips and a keen light flashed in his eyes. “If you don’t tell me the reason, I’m afraid I won’t be able to rest easy when I go back home tonight.”

Mu Chen slightly leaned close to Vincent, but his gaze fell on Light. He observed the man’s tightly pursed lips and the persistent glances casted in his direction. A smile curved on Mu Chen’s lips as his thin lips parted slightly.

“This time…I’m choosing a suitable partner, a merfolk’s lifetime spouse, so…you’re the first person I’m eliminating.”

A light, tickling breath fell by his ears. Vincent looked at the beautiful face so close to him. His gaze seemed to be fixed, and he was completely unable to move away from Mu Chen’s slightly drooping eyelashes. He didn’t notice the other’s little movements at all.

He seemed to understand why a siren’s singing voice had the power to bewitch people and make sailors never return.

Mu Chen’s deep blue pupils reflected Light’s tall and upright figure. At this moment, the man’s handsome long eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and the low-set brows made his eye sockets look even more profound. Mu Chen that this was exactly how his eyes looked when he was angry.

Are you angry, Gege?

But if you don’t tell me, how would I know?

Just as Light was glaring at him, Mu Chen retracted his gaze and smiled at Vincent. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Saying so, he turned around and left holding the wine glass without waiting for the other party’s response.

……

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

When he entered the rest lounge, Mu Chen looked at the digital clock on the wall. He tapped his knuckles on the table and mentally calculated the time…

A man’s crisp footsteps sounded as he had expected.

Mu Chen raised his eyes, which clashed with Light’s cold gaze.

He lowered his head and sipped on the wine, pretending to be clueless. “What is it, Gege?”

The man had a dark expression as he walked step by step toward him.

Light put his hand on the glass, trying to stop Mu Chen from drinking. “Stop drinking, your stomach was rather unwell yesterday…”

In the next second, there was a sudden warm touch that startled Light. He raised his eyes and met Mu Chen’s bright eyes. There was a hint of provocation in the upturned corners of his eyes.

Mu Chen placed his fingertips on the back of Light’s hand and drank the wine glass directly from the other’s hand.

As he expected, the man’s expression turned ugly in an instant.

But it was as if Mu Chen was completely unaware of this. Under Light’s stiff gaze, he rubbed his lips, which were stained red by the wine, with his fingers and stared into his eyes.

“I will find my own partner, and Gege will also marry someone else someday…”

When he said this, Mu Chen leaned close to Light. With half-lidded eyes, he continued in an especially coquettish tone—

“Or does Gege plan on taking care of me forever?”