MRG Chapter 23: Retreating to Advance

Translator: Kii

Editor: yuki_shuichi

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Light indeed didn’t have any experience in that aspect; telling him that he would teach him how to date was too baffling. However, there was an ambiguity in the other party’s flippant tone that was easy for one to misinterpret.

He obviously knew that Mu Chen didn’t mean it in that way, but he still felt as if a feather had landed on his face and tickled his brow. His back was so stiff that he had to lean against the wall.

The silent atmosphere in the room turned a little awkward.

A sudden knock on the door broke the impasse.

Mu Chen took a step back upon hearing it, distancing himself from Light, and said to the person at the door, “You may enter.”

The maid opened the door, asking them, “Your Highnesses, is it convenient for you guys to come over now to try on your dress suit? And familiarize yourself with the procedures of tomorrow’s banquet while you’re at it.”

“We are.”

Mu Chen spoke as he walked toward the door.

Light followed after him, walking while re-adjusting his dress shirt’s cufflinks, and returning to his meticulous appearance.

In the spacious fitting room, several small tailor robots were busy trimming the edges of an intricate dress suit.

Lance had just finished trying on his dress suit and came down the stairs. His eyes moved between the two people who walked into the fitting room one after another.

As soon as he saw this silent atmosphere, he knew that Light and Mu Chen had talked about that matter.

While Light went into a fitting booth to try on the dress suit, Lance stopped Mu Chen and asked probingly, “Just now, did he…”

Mu Chen bluntly made a sound in affirmation. “He doesn’t seem to support me dating.”

Lance looked in the direction of the tightly closed booth door, then pulled Mu Chen a bit farther away. There were some words that Light might not know how to express to the other party, so he could appropriately convey them on Light’s behalf.

“You can date, but don’t mess around. Da-ge may speak a bit strict, but he’s definitely doing it for your own good.”

Lance knew how much Light treasured this little brother; if he really led him astray, he could almost imagine Light’s frosty face.

Mu Chen curved the corner of his lips, almost as if thinking that the man’s advice was a bit unnecessary. “Don’t worry…”

He thoughtfully looked at the closed curtain, his long and narrow eyes were tinged with a layer of obscure emotions. “I know very well what I like.”

……

The day of the birthday banquet.

In the brightly lit preparation room, the stylist was making final preparations for Mu Chen.

There was still an hour left before the banquet started.

In accordance with the Atlantis custom, a few silver pearl chains were embellished on Mu Chen’s silver hair that cascaded down his temples.

At first, the stylist was a little worried it might be inappropriate to stick with the Atlantis design. After all, not everyone could handle such bright and luxurious accessories, and it would be easy to backfire and appear too top-heavy.

It wasn’t until he saw Mu Chen that the stylist realized it was perhaps designed for merfolks.

At this moment, the exquisite silver pearl chains became a humble accessory against the man’s face that resembled a work of art.

The attendant at the side looked at the resplendent crowns arranged on the table. “Your Highness, which crown do you want to wear tonight?”

Mu Chen lowered his eyes and glanced at them briefly, his gaze ultimately landed on that crown inlaid with blue gems and pearls. “This one.”

This was the engagement gift that Light gave him when he was fourteen.

—The Oz Pearl.

“Okay.”

The attendant reached out his hand to take it, but when his fingers were about to touch the crown, the latter stopped him.

Mu Chen, “I’ll do it myself.”

……

Ambiguous warm light illuminated the banquet hall, carpeted in red velvet. All around were swaying dresses, as well as the continuous clinking of glasses. Today, nobles from various city-states and territories had gathered here.

Unlike the majority of people who were smiling and exchanging pleasantries, a black-haired youth looked around vigilantly while holding a glass of wine.

Just now, with the accompaniment, or rather “coercion” of his parents, Xavier had greeted at least twenty people.

He was afraid that before the banquet officially began, his own ears would get calluses from listening; so while his parents were in the middle of chatting, he hurriedly found a quiet place to hide.

“Oh, Xavier, who are you hiding from?”

A chuckle suddenly came from afar.

Xavier turned around and found that the person walking toward him was Charles, his high school classmate who was admitted to the same military academy as him.

He looked at the restless crowd outside and sneered. “Aren’t you the same?”

Charles grabbed a wine glass from the AI attendant’s tray. He chatted with him casually, “I heard that you were previously classmates with that merman?”

Although Mu Chen always lived in the palace, he was very low-key. Aside from being in live broadcasts for the first two years he was brought into the palace, he hardly appeared in the public eye since then. Most people’s memories of the merman were still of him as a kid, teasing the puppies with his round.

He was indeed cute when he was a child, but now they don’t know what he looks like now that he has grown up.

The guests who came today, at least half of them came here today were as curious as he was about whether this last merman of Blue Planet was as stunning as rumored.

After hearing Charles’ words, Xavier raised a brow and let out a “mhm” sound. “This was something from elementary school, who would remember.”

Although he said this, his mind uncontrollably began to recall the little merman’s sweet dimples when he smiled, as well as his…

Fist which was as hard as a sandbag.

Thinking of this, Xavier’s back began to hurt as if stressed, and his temples throbbed. He quickly shook the memory of Mu Chen out of his mind.

Charles lowered his voice, leaned into his ears, and spoke with an expression of gossiping, “Do you know that…Prince Light actually already canceled the engagement?”

Xavier, “…?”

He really didn’t know.

Charles, “Although the royal family has yet to officially announce it, the news has already spread privately for a while now. Otherwise, why isn’t there any news about the engagement preparation? And at the banquet later, you’ll see, the eldest prince doesn’t regard him as a fiancé at all.”

Xavier didn’t say anything. He wasn’t interested in such royal scandals. It was just that in his impression, the relationship between Mu Chen and the Crown Prince had always been good. At the time, Light would personally come to pick up the little merman after school almost every time.

Why has their engagement been canceled?

Charles lowered his head to drink a sip of the wine. “Do you think it’s possible that the little merman had grown ugly now, so the Crown Prince decided to cancel the engagement?”

Xavier’s eyelids twitched. “…”

Charles, “What? Isn’t this a reasonable guess? Otherwise, why would they call it off for no reason? Which man can bear marrying someone ugly, let alone the Crown Prince? Either that or he has a mistress outside…”

“Cough! Cough!”

Xavier coughed heavily twice, his brows furrowed together. “This is the imperial palace, be careful with what you say.”

Lest he be implicated along with this idiot who spoke without thinking.

Charles lightly chuckled, seeming to find the other man’s reaction really boring.

At this moment, the bright white light in the center of the second floor stands lit up. King Jorah, leaning on a scepter, walked toward the throne led by a team of guards. The scepter hit the floor with a heavy sound, and the entire crowd suddenly fell silent at once.

Everyone held their breath and looked at the second floor simultaneously.

Then, they saw the person dressed in white walking beside King Jorah. He was tall, his silver hair falling to his waist, and his skin had a usual pale tone.

At this moment, the other party stood under the glittering white beams of light, casting a nonchalant glance at the crowd below with those blue eyes that were as deep as the sea…

It was like a god accepting the worship of mortals.

The dance floor immediately erupted in a number of murmurs.

Charles furrowed his brows, and unconsciously raised his hand to cover his mouth. “F*ck, I don’t get it. It could only be that the Crown Prince doesn’t like men…ah!”

His foot was stepped on by Xavier.

In the next second—

Xavier looked straight into that pair of deep blue eyes. The moment their eyes met, he looked at that face and felt his breathing stagnate for a moment; even his heartbeat quickened… Damn it, how could someone look like that?

Then his Adam’s apple rolled up and down. His gaze slowly swept downward…

So tall…

The memory of being beaten to the point of being unable to breathe came to his mind, and his temples began to throb again.

“Ahem…”

Xavier suddenly drank a gulp of his wine and pushed into the crowd in embarrassment.

He still wasn’t able to look at that face even after so many years had passed. His heart would hurt from just one look…

Very much so.

……

Light stood to the left of the throne. He was still wearing the solemn black military uniform that represented a high-ranking general of the Imperial Mecha Corps, and his blond hair was neatly combed back. Even if he wasn’t standing under the spotlight, the biting pressure he exuded was still impossible to ignore.

He stood straight, the golden medal he wore on his chest represented the highest title conferred by the empire.

—The guardian of the border that couldn’t be offended.

Across the distant crowd, Light glanced sideways and met Mu Chen’s gaze. The luxurious crown now appeared plain against the other party’s silver hair.

The instant their eyes met, Light’s eyes trembled slightly; like a drop of water from a pot spout falling into an almost overflowing teacup and causing a very tiny ripple—or like the evening breeze blowing through the quiet woods and making a rustling sound.

He turned around and saw the countless gazes of the people below, with various expressions, all fixed on Mu Chen, unable to look away. It was almost as if they were gazing at the brightest star in the night sky.

In this moment, Light realized more clearly than ever that the little merman had really grown up.

Jorah sat on the throne and began his speech about the significance of today’s banquet.

—Besides celebrating Mu Chen’s coming-of-age, he wanted to grant him the title of Duke.

The attendant beside him brought Jorah the crown and scepter, which symbolized supreme honor. The enthronement ceremony was held in an extremely solemn atmosphere.

Under the bright white light, they watched Mu Chen half-kneeling on a red velvet cushion, half his silver hair falling from his shoulder. The king lifted the scepter dipped in holy water and lightly tapped his shoulder. The young duke raised his handsome profile, and those sapphire-like eyes contained a light that was as dazzling as the galaxy.

It reminded people of the once magnificent Atlantis civilization.

The title of duke was the highest recognition for a member of the royal family, but it also confirmed the rumor that Light and Mu Chen had canceled their engagement.

In the solemn silence, various speculations about the royal engagement had slowly begun to ferment.

……

After the conferment ceremony was done, the banquet officially began. The attendants and AI robot butlers were busy clearing a spacious space for the dance floor. The musicians also began to enter one after another.

When Mu Chen and Light came down the flight of stairs, Mu Chen heard the other party whisper in his ears, “You need to choose a partner to lead the opening dance later…”

The ball was a traditional social ceremony preserved by the Oz Royal Family to this day, and it was also one of the most important ways for nobles of marriageable age to choose a future spouse. A ball doesn’t necessarily mean you could dance with one person, but the partner for the opening dance was still extremely important. Inviting the person to dance the first dance was usually a way to show affection.

If the engagement hadn’t been canceled, the person who would dance the opening dance with Mu Chen should have been Light.

Light looked at him. “Do you have anyone in mind?”

Mu Chen pursed his lips. “No…”

“And don’t you think you’re going too far, Gege?”

Light was stunned for a moment—this was the first time Mu Chen had complained he was “going too far.”

Mu Chen spoke in a blaming tone, “You said you wanted to cancel the engagement only a week before the banquet. I had thought that Gege was going to dance the opening dance with me, so I didn’t make any preparations. If nobody asks me to dance later, and I’m standing there alone, I’ll be making a fool of myself at my own birthday banquet. Then, everyone will make fun of me with this matter…”

“If there’s no one…” Light’s amber eyes were unreadable. He spoke word by word, “I’ll do it.”

Although he didn’t think that would happen.

Mu Chen pursed his lips, not saying anything.

After going down the last step, he looked up and saw that a large crowd of people had gathered at the entrance of the dance floor in front. Countless pairs of eyes were focused on Light and him, like glaring searchlights in the dark night.

Mu Chen turned around and saw Light stopped two steps away from him on the stairs. He was just calmly watching him, or rather, “seeing him off.”

He raised his eyes, his gaze slowly swept over the man’s handsome uniform. He directly turned around and walked in the direction of the crowd, not stopping at all…

After all, his duty as an older brother was to just send him off here.

Looking at the other party’s back as he left, Light walked to the corner against the wall with a pair of calm eyes and watched Mu Chen enter the crowd. Then, almost at the moment when he stepped on the dance floor, numerous hands reached out toward him; the nobles took the initiative to surround him in the center. They were scrambling to introduce themselves, trying to attract Mu Chen’s attention.

Light didn’t speak. His thin lips, which were sharp as a blade, were pursed into a straight line.

He watched each and every one of those smiling faces move close to Mu Chen and felt as if there was a fire in his heart—he was upset but couldn’t find the cause of it. It was like a time bomb beeping incessantly, yet he couldn’t see even a trace of the fuse. Maybe he should directly tell Mu Chen that these people were not worthy of him.

“Tch, he’s more popular than I thought.”

Lance came up to Light from who knows when. He held a glass of wine, looked at the lively dance floor, and spoke in a teasing tone, “Who do you think he’ll choose?”

Light responded with a sharp gaze that was as cold as snow.

Lance was puzzled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Just when Lance finished speaking, a tall, black-haired man walked to the edge of the dance floor, standing out among the crowd. His face, which should have been handsome and chiseled, appeared somewhat flirtatious and charming due to the mole at the corner of his eye. The man lifted his eyes and looked straight into Mu Chen’s eyes. Unlike the other suitors who greeted him with a smile and were a little reserved, it was a very daring kind of gaze.

He walked up to Mu Chen, slightly leaned down, and stretched out his hand toward the other party. Then, he belatedly raised his head to look around, saying in a rather helpless tone, “It seems Your Highness isn’t short of dance partners. It’s truly difficult to attract your attention. Let me think…”

In the next second, the man smiled as he pulled back his outstretched hand and hid it behind his back. He looked at Mu Chen with a leisurely gaze.

Mu Chen raised a brow. “That’s indeed so. Knowing when to back down is a good idea.”

The man raised the corner of his lips. “It’s retreating to advance. Your Highness, I wonder if I have the honor to be your first dance…”

He inclined his body, leaning into Mu Chen’s ear, and said while smiling, “I don’t mind taking on the female part.”

This scene turned into a miniature reflected in the bottom of Lance’s slightly shaking wine glass. He looked at Light and said, “Vincent North, the Duke of Anza City. Do you know he has a nickname called “The Womanizer.”

Light looked at Vincent who was leaning close to Mu Chen and talking with him. He furrowed his brow, recalling the seasoned flirt Mu Chen met at the club before, and a nameless anger was building up in his heart.

Lance continued his introduction, “It is said that he has never failed to capture the target he sets his sights on.”

Just at this moment, as if he noticed the movements over here, Vincent turned his head and glanced at them.

Perhaps it was because he was naturally flirty, never restraining his unruly charm in his every move. Vincent’s casual gaze at the moment seemed like a provocation to Light.

Light’s pupils darkened slightly, raised his hand to loosen his collar, then took a step toward the dance floor.

Lance spoke in shock, “Hey, Da-ge what are you going to do?”

On the other side, Mu Chen lowered his eyes and examined the people surrounding him. Out of etiquette, he must choose a dance partner among the suitors in this crowd.

He still maintained a polite smile, but he was already starting to get impatient.

Tsk, they’re just a group of idiots, and…

His gaze swept over Vincent…

A guy who thinks he’s oh so clever.

What a headache.

Just as Mu Chen was hesitating—

Clack, clack.

It was the crisp sound of military boots stepping on a marble surface.

Mu Chen raised his head, his eyes reflected the man’s neat military uniform and handsome appearance. Light walked through the congested crowd, and directly stretched his hand out to him.

Light’s hands were beautiful; his fingers were long and the fingertips had a thin layer of calluses from years on missions. The cuffs of his uniform, which were as stiff as cardboard, were adorned with a pair of sharp-edged black gemstone cufflinks—it was just like him, exuding a solemnity and order from the inside out.

The scene in front of him gradually overlapped with the one from several years back. Many years ago, that man walked up to him just like he was doing now, then picked up the gray shark toy and gave it to him.

He picked up a worn-out doll that nobody cared about, as well as providing the wandering merman a harbor.

From that day forward, he had a family.

Mu Chen looked at the outstretched hand in the crowd, an imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of his lips. Without much hesitation, he placed his own hand in Light’s palm and moved closer to him. The two people stepped onto the dance floor. The conductor, noticing this, immediately waved the baton, and as the music played, the ball officially began.

Vincent, who was thrown to the curb, stood stunned for a moment as if he never expected this could happen.

Halfway across the dance floor, he saw Light cast a cold glance his way. And for some reason, he read some sort of warning in that gaze.

Mu Chen saw all of this, but he pretended that he didn’t see anything. He only leaned close to Light’s ear and whispered—

“Gege, doing this can easily cause a misunderstanding.”