Chapter 178 – Brutal Beastman Marshal vs. White Lotus, Black Lotus, Pitiful Plant Prince (05)
Cromwell is already fifty years old this year. Interspecies beings come of age at twenty and can live for two to three hundred years. So, this imperial marshal is still in his prime. However, most people get married before the age of thirty-five, making someone his age without a partner quite rare.
What’s more surprising is that this marshal has never even experienced love, mainly because he finds love and finding a partner far less interesting than going to battle. Given the choice, he’d rather spend his time sparring on the training ground.
But at this moment, he genuinely felt that fabled1 feeling of heart-stirring excitement. It was unexpected for him that this feeling would arise at his own wedding, and even more wonderful was that his future partner was the source of this excitement.
The rest of the ceremony went extraordinarily smoothly: the vows, the exchange of rings. When the officiant announced they could kiss their beloved, Cromwell eagerly pulled Mu Jin into his arms and fervently kissed his lips.
The softness of the kiss immediately drove Cromwell to madness. Just as with his usual dominant and aggressive manner, he impatiently parted Mu Jin’s lips, controlling his partner’s feeble attempts to push him away.
To Cromwell, Mu Jin’s struggles were as insignificant as a tickle and were completely ignored by the man in front of him.
Soon, Cromwell noticed the many guests attending their wedding. Unwilling to let others see his partner’s seductive appearance, he turned his back to the crowd, shielding Mu Jin from their view as he continued to kiss his freshly-wedded partner, feeling overjoyed.
The guests were all stunned by Cromwell’s behavior. After all, almost everyone had heard that the marshal seemed quite displeased with this arranged marriage. Some even said that he hadn’t met the prince from the Plant Empire before the wedding.
However, despite the long kiss, they could clearly see Cromwell’s desire to devour the Plant Prince with his eyes. It seemed that the imperial marshal was more than just satisfied with his partner; he was utterly delighted.
The passionate display made it look as though the little prince would pass out from the kiss. The guests had no doubt that if there weren’t so many people present, the marshal might have acted out something more explicit right then and there.
Although passing out might be an exaggeration, by the time the long kiss ended, Mu Jin indeed felt like all the air in his lungs had been sucked out. He went limp in Cromwell’s arms, barely able to stand.
Cromwell, on the other hand, stared intently at Mu Jin’s flushed face and his lips, now a deep red from the kiss. Licking his own lips, he gazed at Mu Jin with an increasingly dangerous look.
Mu Jin, naturally feeling the heated gaze, seemed to shrink back in fear, but in reality, he was thrilled. He thought it was incredibly charming how his lover could be so dominant right from the start.
Not far from them, Wilson felt like there were ten thousand wild horses stampeding through his mind. He couldn’t help but think, wasn’t Cromwell the one who said he was dissatisfied with this marriage?
Who was it just now, shouting that they didn’t want a complicated marriage? And now look at this, a classic case of ‘I didn’t want it, but it turns out I do’!
Although Wilson was happy that Cromwell seemed to like Mu Jin, which meant this cute little guy would have a much better life at the Marshal’s residence, he couldn’t help but worry. Kissing him so intensely right at their first meeting—wasn’t Cromwell afraid of scaring the poor thing?
The little guy was already trembling in Cromwell’s arms. As expected, that brute was as rough as ever. Hopefully, he wouldn’t leave any lasting trauma on the little one.
After their kiss, the wedding ceremony was officially completed. Normally, the newlyweds would stay to entertain the guests, but everyone knew how headstrong the Imperial Marshal was.
So, it was no surprise when, after the officiant declared the ceremony concluded, Cromwell scooped Mu Jin up and headed straight for the starship.
Caught off guard by being picked up, Mu Jin let out a small gasp. He quickly covered his mouth, then shyly buried his face in Cromwell’s chest. This sight made the tall beastman holding him even more fervent2.
The starship traveled swiftly, and Cromwell set it to autopilot. He sat next to Mu Jin, wanting to say something to his new partner. But seeing the young man keeping his head down, refusing to meet his gaze, left the Imperial Marshal feeling uncharacteristically unsure.
Earlier, on the ceremony stage, Cromwell had impulsively hugged and kissed him fiercely, asserting his claim. The sweet taste of the little one was deeply imprinted in his mind, making him wish he could devour him whole.
However, he was also aware that since the Plant Kingdom’s prince arrived, he hadn’t returned to the estate once. To Mu Jin, he was a complete stranger.
He knew about the rumors but didn’t care. He had never expected to fall for his partner at first sight at their wedding.
At this moment, Cromwell finally realized the consequences of his earlier nonchalance. He regretted his dismissive attitude towards the little one. His fierce reputation, marked by his facial scars, might be nothing to other beastmen, but it seemed terrifying to the Plant people.
In his excitement earlier, he hadn’t noticed, but now he recalled that Mu Jin had indeed tried to push him away and was trembling all along.
A flicker of remorse crossed Cromwell’s eyes. He had indeed scared the little one with his eagerness. Not knowing how to comfort him, he awkwardly asked, “Are you okay?”
Mu Jin nodded in response, not saying much. He just curled up in his seat, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, perfectly embodying a timid and fearful little soul.
Note :
- “Fabled” means legendary or renowned for its excellence. ↩︎
- “Fervent” means having or displaying a passionate intensity. It describes a strong, intense, and enthusiastic feeling. ↩︎