“How to seduce? … Like this?”
The teenager felt like it wasnโt just his heart that couldnโt take itโhis whole being was on the verge of shutting down.
Major General, you know youโre handsome. Iโve known that for ages, and the universe knows it too! So you donโt need to shove that face this close to remind me how impossibly attractive you areโahhh!
I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I shouldnโt have offended you, bossโI know I was wrong, so please donโt demonstrate it to me anymoreโ
Wait, demonstration?
As Miao Teโs brain started to reboot from the sensory overload of the breathtakingly beautiful face in front of him, a realization hit him.
Come to think of it, since earlier, the Major General didnโt seem very happyโฆ
And ever since he saw Miss Salomeโno, the princessโhis gaze toward me has been even colder than usualโฆ
Ohhh, I get it now.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place for the teenager.
Although Princess Salomeโs beauty couldnโt quite rival that of the Major General, she was still a peerless beauty in her own right. Back then, when the Major General said he wanted me as his partner, it was because he was interested in the Earth from my memories, not because he liked men.
Look at Salome: sheโs a princess. A princess and her knightโthatโs a perfect match! Faced with a fair-skinned, stunningly beautiful princess with long legs and a cascade of golden hair, what man wouldnโt be tempted? Besides, the princess had long since made it clear that she was interested in the Major General. Everyone knows the saying: when a woman chases a man, itโs like a thin veil between themโseemingly impenetrable, but easily brushed aside. The Major General may seem composed, but whoโs to say his heart isnโt already swayed?
As a result, not only was he regarded by Princess Salome as having some strange hobby, but the princess also had someone else try to ‘seduce’ him, and in the end, he was caught in the act by the princess… Ugh, no! It was that the princess saw him in an intimate scene with someone else.
If it were him, and the girl he liked saw him getting close to another guy, of course, he wouldnโt be happy.
As Miao Teโs thoughts raced, he felt he had finally pieced it all together. His wide, shocked eyes slowly softened, and the way he looked at the Major General now carried a hint of sympathy and apology.
After all, things had turned out this way partly because of him, even if he was forced into itโฆ
โMajor General,โ the teenager mumbled a bit shyly, trying to offer Taylor some comfort. โDonโt worry, the princess still really likes you.โ
Your face.
To avoid further wounding the Major Generalโs pride, Miao Te swallowed the last word.
Taylor: โ…โ
The Major Generalโs expression became even more complex as he gazed down at the teenager beneath him. The youth looked up at him with pure, innocent eyes, his dark pupils shimmering with sincerity.
The prolonged eye contact made Miao Te blink, his long lashes fluttering lightly. When those eyelashes fluttered, they brushed against Major Generalโs lashes, and that sudden, feather-like tickle at the base of his lashes made the stern-faced Major Generalโs eye twitch slightly.
His deep blue eyes darkened as if something unseen was stirring within them. His face slowly moved closer, and suddenly, he was curiousโif he were to open his mouth and bite the black lashes that had brushed against his eye, causing that faint itch, what kind of expression would the youth beneath him show?[T/N: translating this kind of poetic description isโฆugh]
[โYes, Major General, I donโt like you.โ]
Taylorโs approaching face suddenly paused. He looked at the teenager beneath him, shrouded in his shadow. Bright black eyes reflected his face gazing up at him with unguarded trust.
An image abruptly flashed through his mindโon the other side of a transparent hatch, the teenager stood in the water, drenched, but smiling at him with unshakable calm.
[โRemember, Taylor, in battle, keep your cool. Donโt act without absolute certainty, or even a tiny mistake could lead to total defeat.โ]
Seeing the Major General frozen in place, just staring at him, Miao Te felt a flicker of guilt. To quickly win him over, he doubled down on his flattery.
โSomeone like you, Major General, doesnโt need to learn any tricks about โseducingโ or anything like that.โ
So please, donโt lean so close. Looking your this face up close is not good for my heart. Even though I like girls, just looking at this face has my heart racing like crazy!
โAll you have to do is stand here, and people will be throwing themselves at you,โ Trying hard to calm the Major General down, he flattered enthusiastically and got carried away, blurting out, โAnyone who doesnโt like you must be an idiotโโ
After flattering him for quite a while, Major General finally decided to speak again.
โIs that so?โ Taylor said, staring at Miao Te. His tone suggested it was a question, but the way he said it made it sound anything but.
โOf course!โ
Look at your face, your physique, those incredibly enviable long legsโ Miao Te felt confident enough to swear on his chest.
โAnyone who doesnโt fancy you must be downright stupid!โ
Major General stared at him coldly for a long moment. Finally, those attractive thin lips moved slightly, spitting out a word.
โIdiot.โ
“…”
Major General, after all my effort in praising you and buttering you up, you think itโs fair to repay me with insults?
While the teenager was still silently grumbling to himself, the Major General, who had coldly called him an idiot, had already straightened up. He had just heard the faint sound of footsteps coming from outside the doorโmore than one person.
Sure enough, as soon as he turned toward the door, it swung open. A young, handsome attendant stepped in, standing to the side with one hand on the door, bowing slightly.
Princess Salome, now dressed in a soft, pale blue gown, entered through the open door. The sheer fabric of her skirt trailed behind her, cascading onto the floor, while the front formed a high arc, revealing her long, pale legs. As she walked in, the sharp sound of her slender heels clacked against the wooden floor, each step echoing her bold, confident, and dazzling presence that captured all attention.
โMajor General Taylor, are you satisfied with the service provided by my servant?โ Salome asked with a smile, glancing briefly at Miao Te, who was still seated on the sofa, and then at Taylor, who stood across from her.
She shot Miao Te another look and noticed the slight gleam of the metal collar peeking from his neck. Pausing for a moment, Salome shifted her gaze back to Taylorโs face. Taylor stared at her, his eyes deep and cold, his lips pressed into a thin line without saying a word.
โIf you find this youth satisfactory, how about I gift him to you?โ Salome continued, her emerald-like eyes fixed intently on the Major General, locking directly with Taylorโs gaze.
For a moment, the two exchanged a subtle and intense stare, and then the Major General gave a slight nod.
โThanks,โ he said.
โNo, itโs my pleasure to offer my servant to Major General Taylor,โ Salome replied with a sweet smile.
โNow, before you leave, Iโd like to have a few words with my servant.โ
The Major General glanced at her again, then walked out without another word. The princess looked back at the group of servants following behind her, and they all withdrew as well.
Wait, wait, waitโplease donโt leave me, my golden thigh!
Feeling the usual chill run down his neck whenever he saw Princess Salome, Miao Te watched the Major Generalโs departing figure with a longing gaze, only to see the door slam shut behind him without mercy.
In the blink of an eye, the princessโs beautiful face appeared before him, blocking his view of the doorway.
โWell done,โ the princess praised.
โ…Ohโฆ uh, thank you.โย
After thinking for a long time about how to respond, Miao Te could only manage to say these few awkward words.
Salomeโs smile widened, clearly delighted by his response.
โI just handed you over to Major General Taylor, did you hear that?โย
“…”
Miao Te pondered for a moment, thinking that saying “thank you” in response might not be quite right in this situation. While he was still mulling it over, Princess Salomeโs expression sharpened slightly, and she continued to speak, fixing her gaze on him.
โEven though Iโve handed you over to him, youโre still mine. Keep doing your job of seducing him, and make sure no one else gets close to him. If anyone tries to seduce him, report to me immediately.โ
The teenager’s eyes darted around quickly, and he lowered his voice to whisper, โAre you saying you want meโฆ to be a spy?โ
Could it be that the princess is planning to send him over, using the metal collar around his neck to control him, and have him stay with the Major General as a spy to feed her information?
“Ha ha.”
The princess gave him a disdainful look.
โIf you were that capable, I wouldnโt be willing to give you away.โ
“…”
Your Highness, if you donโt tell the truth, we can still be good friends.
Miao Te grumbled inwardly. He thought for a moment and then asked, โI donโt get it. If you like the Major General, why would you arrange for me to get close to him? If you liked him, wouldnโt you not want anyone else near him?โ
From their interactions over the past few daysโespecially from her reactions to the stories sheโd told himโheโd gathered that the princess was a rather domineering and self-centered type. Such a woman typically wouldnโt want anyone else approaching the person she liked.
โOthers canโt, but youโre fine.โ
โHuh?โ
โHeโs mine, and youโre mine too.โ
“…”
โSo you didnโt know?โ Salome said, her eyes curving into a seductive almond shape as she leaned down, one hand resting on the armrest of the sofa.
Her shadow fell across Miao Te, and her bright blonde hair cascaded down like a waterfall, brushing against his cheeks, neck, and body.
Not againโ?!
Having just been pinned down on the sofa by the Major General, Miao Te now found himself pressed down by the princess. But this time, the sensation was even more overwhelming.
Salomeโs outfitโa pale blue off-shoulder dressโleft half of her snow-white chest exposed right before his eyes. As a perfectly normal young man, Miao Teโs face instantly flushed bright red, and he hurriedly averted his eyes downward in discomfort.
But as his gaze shifted down, he caught sight of those slender, pale thighs faintly visible beneath the thin, flowing blue skirt. His heart skipped a beat, and his cheeks burned as he quickly turned his gaze away to the side.
This is the girl the Major General likes, this is the girl the Major General likesโฆ
He silently chanted in his mind, trying to cool his flushed cheeks and calm his racing heart.
Never mind whether he had any chanceโthe Major General liked the princess, and the princess liked the Major General (or at least his face), so the two of them were a pair, mutually attracted to each other. There was no way heโd be so immoral as to interfere; he didnโt want to be a third wheel.
Seeing Miao Teโs flushed face and his eyes darting away in embarrassment, Salome laughed softly.
โIt seems you donโt knowโฆ According to the unofficial tradition, once a Royal princess ascends the throne as empress, sheโs entitled to five legal consorts.โ
She spoke gently.
โMajor General Taylor will be one of themโIโve already claimed him. When that time comes, if you work hard enough and keep his interest, then maybe, since youโre already my servant, I could save a spot for you as well.โ
“…”
Salomeโs words made Miao Te turn back abruptly, his eyes wide with shock.
Your Majesty, are you planning to start a harem?!
โOf course, if you want to get intimate, thatโs fine with me. I donโt mind.โ
“…”
Miao Teโs mouth hung open, too stunned to speak.
What the heck, Your Majesty, are you this open-minded and wild? You may not mind, but I certainly do!
โSo, now that youโre going over to Major General Taylorโs side, youโd better work hard~,โ Salome said, her eyes narrowing slightly, a touch of allure glimmering at the corners. Her soft blonde hair spilled over Miao Te, who was wide-eyed and utterly shell-shocked.
She leaned in closer, her smiling eyes narrowing as she extended her hand. Her perfectly manicured, soft fingertips grazed the teenagerโs neck. The moment her hand touched his neck, the muscles there tensed sharply. He stared at the princessโs half-closed, teasing eyes, his shoulders stiff with nervousness.
He swallowed nervously, trying hard to calm himself down.
โNo…โ
Maybe rejecting her would anger the princess, maybe heโd lose his head, but the teenager firmly shook his head, striving to maintain his composure.
โIโm sorry, Your Highness, but I canโt accept thisโโ
Just as the word โnoโ left his lips, the metal collar around his neck made a sharp clicking sound, sending a chill up his spine. He squeezed his eyes shut in fear.
Itโs over, he thought. Iโm going to lose my head.
He stiffened, bracing himself for the loud bang that would end it all, but after waiting a few moments, he realized nothing had happened. Confused, he slowly opened his eyes.
At some point, Princess Salome, who had just been leaning over him, had moved away and was now standing to the side, sipping a pink drink with a poised and graceful demeanor. She looked so elegant and dignified as if she were not the same woman who had been leaning over him moments ago, smiling seductively.
His neck suddenly felt lighter. Miao Te instinctively reached up and touched his throatโnothing but soft skin. Lowering his hand a bit, he felt the metal collar. Grasping it firmly, he lifted the metal collar off his shoulder.
Looking down, he saw that the right half of the metal collar was in his hand, and as he moved, the other half clattered to the floor.
The teenager, completely baffled by the current situation, looked at Salome in shock.
The princess cast him a sidelong glance, taking another sip of her pink drink.
โA spy? You?โ she snorted dismissively.
โโJohnโ? …Or should I call you โMiao Teโ?โ
Miao Te froze for a moment, then quickly realized.
Ah, Iโve been found out.
He glanced at Salome, blinking awkwardly as he scratched his head.
โSorry, I didnโt mean to deceive you… So, when did you find out?โ
โYou think I havenโt known Major General Taylor for years?โ Salome clicked her tongue.
โWhen I saw how bold you were with him and he didnโt kick you away, I pretty much guessed it then. I may not know him inside out, but Iโve known him for over a decadeโheโs not the kind of guy who lets just anyone touch him.โ
Not even me, she thought bitterly, feeling a pang of dissatisfaction.
โThe way you โseducedโ him was so idiotic, itโs obvious who you areโeven an idiot could figure it out.โ
After witnessing Taylorโs response to Miao Teโs so-called โseduction,โ Salomeโs initial confusion quickly gave way to a realization and suspicion about his identity.
Her excuse of taking Caesar for a meal had been a cover for sending someone to investigate.
She had learned that Taylor had arrived on Mia Star before her and had then left urgently to return to the Ishtar starship. She also knew that Major General Taylor had brought a teenager with him to Mia Star and had gone missing during the previous night’s chaos.
Putting all the pieces together, if she still couldnโt figure out who this โJohnโ really was, then her decades of being a princess would have been for nothing.
Princess Salome stood there with an arrogant expression, continuing to sip her pink drink. Miao Te looked at her lofty demeanor and suddenly couldnโt help but laugh.
He recalled how, not long ago, when Princess Salome casually offered him to Major General Taylor like he was a mere object, it made him feel a bit uneasy. But thinking about it now, the princess did it to avoid revealing his identity in front of the other servants.
After all, he was a subordinate of Major General Taylor. If word got out that a subordinate of Major General Taylor had become the princessโs servant, it would reflect poorly on the Major General. Although the princess claimed she was only attracted to the Major Generalโs looks, her careful consideration of such details showed that she truly cared about him deep down.
Yep, classic tsundere behavior, Miao Te thought with a smile.
On second thought, Princess Salome was quite endearing. Plus, she and the Major Generalโboth a handsome man and a beautiful womanโmade a good match.
As he thought this, another question popped into his mind.
โWait, Your Highness, if you know his personality and know he wouldnโt normally give anyone the time of day, then why did you tell me to โseduceโ him in the first place?โ
Princess Salome put down her pink drink, glanced at him, and the corners of her lips curled into a smile.
โBecause I wanted to watch the show of you getting kicked away by him~~โ
Miao Te๏ผโ…โ
I take it all back!
***
After bidding farewell to the unpredictable Princess Salome, Miao Te finally managed to follow the Major General out of the banquet hall and board the waiting landing craft.
The red-haired man, who had been waiting in the landing craft for a long time, immediately brightened up when he saw him.
โYo! Youโre still alive, kiddo.โ
Robin quickly strode over and gave Miao Te a heavy pat on the shoulder before pulling him into a bear hug with a hearty laugh. With his tall and broad frame, Robinโs arm practically engulfed the teenager, wrapping him up against his chest.
โNot bad! I thought for sure with those scrawny arms and legs youโd be a gonerโuh.โ
While laughing heartily and patting the teenager in his arms, the red-haired Major inadvertently looked up, only to meet the gaze of the Major General, who had just turned and glanced at him.
A sudden chill ran down Robinโs spine as he froze in place, his arms immediately shooting up as if heโd been caught red-handed. He stood there stiffly, looking like heโd been turned to ice.
Miao Te, happy to see Robin standing in front of him safe and sound, had been eager to give him a big hug. But barely had they embraced when Robin suddenly flung his hands up like heโd been burned, striking a bizarre pose with his hands held high.
โWhatโs wrong?โ
Miao Te barely managed to get the question out when someone yanked the back of his collar, pulling him abruptly away.
โCome here.โ
The Major Generalโs voice was cold as he grabbed the teenager by the collar, dragging him to his side.
Good grief, Boss, your stareโs getting scarier and scarierโwas it that bad for us to hug?
And hey, I just narrowly escaped death, too! Boss, you could at least comfort me instead of glaring daggers.
Feeling more than a little aggrieved, Robin sulked internally.
Whatโs the deal? Sure, heโs a burly tough guy, but who says a tough guy canโt be a little sensitive sometimes?
***
Translated by NightOwll
***