Chapter 18: The Secretary’s Heat

Lucas’ voice was freezing cold.

Luo Ran stood to the side, staring blankly as Lillia turned towards him, then Lucas, her face full of unwillingness.

Yet Lucas was unmoved. His entire bearing expressed that this matter couldn’t be smoothed over.

After a long while, Lillia twisted her sleeve, pressed her lips together, and grudgingly bit out, “Sorry, Secretary Luo.”

Luo Ran couldn’t figure out what Lucas was thinking, so he stood to the side without speaking a word, and bowed his head.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. “Your Highness, have you ever fought a war?”

“…Ah?” Lillia froze, then replied, “O-Of course not!”

“Then have you assisted in national affairs?”

“No… that, they don’t need me to, my elder brothers and sisters…”

Lucas interrupted her. “Do you know what kind of life Luobing’s citizens live?”

“I…” Lillia was taken aback. Huh?

Why would I need to know this?

Before she could say a word, Lucas sneered. “Then you’re just trash. Why do you think you’re so noble when you depend on the royal family for every little thing?”

“…”

It was the first time anyone said this to her. Lillia’s eyes reddened and she couldn’t resist raising her voice. “B-But isn’t your empire’s Zhou Mingkai also, also very…”

“He also uses his background to bully others like you?” Lucas’ tone was slightly disdainful.

“…” Lillia was scolded into speechlessness. While she already trembled with anger, it became worse because the one who humiliated her was the prospective marriage partner whom she admired, making her feel even more embarrassed.

With red eyes, Lillia choked out, “You- you’re bullying me! You guys are bullying a female omega.”

Looks like we can’t eat this dinner, Luo Ran thought.

Lucas was also very impressive. At the meal with the prince, he turned it into an interrogation, and at the meal with the princess, he made her cry.

When Lillia begin to tear up, Lucas simply rolled his eyes and left.

Luo Ran stepped forward and handed Lillia a tissue from the table. “We do apologize, please don’t take it to heart.”

Luo Ran never involved personal feelings in his work. Even now, he was amiable yet distant.

Lillia looked up to see a silver-haired man with warm features and a gentle voice.

She stiffened for a moment then took it with a hum.

Luo Ran continued, “Your Highness mustn’t take it seriously, otherwise it would be awkward when we next meet.”

Lillia, who planned to make a huge fuss, file a complaint with Luobing and the embassy, and vent on the forum, paused.

That’s right.

If she did, it would mean completely severing ties with Lucas, and with his temper, there would be no chance of marrying him in the future.

Lillia angrily wiped away her tears, pouting. “Y-you scram.”

After confirming that Lillia didn’t intend to cause trouble, Luo Ran strode away to catch up with Lucas.

Lucas had waited in front of the hover car for a while before Luo Ran came.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Where’d you go?”

Luo Ran shook his head.

“Say it,” Lucas coldly ordered. “You can say whatever you want.”

Lucas knew Luo Ran must have stayed to coax Lillia, and now he would tell him to restrain himself and think of the overall situation or something like that.

Luo Ran replied, “I do have something to say.”

Lucas raised his eyebrows.

Luo Ran looked down and smiled. “For tonight… thank you, Admiral.”

…?

Lucas looked at Luo Ran with some surprise.

Luo Ran turned away slightly and said in a low voice, “It’s one thing to take care of the empire and the admiral’s reputations, but the admiral’s consideration for me is another. Thank you.”

“Yeah.” Lucas touched his nose. Suddenly not knowing how to move his hands and feet, he turned stiffly and boarded the hover car. “As long as you understand!”

Luo Ran looked at Lucas with a smile and also jumped into the hover car.

After this ‘dinner’, the forum became very lively that evening.

[The admiral and the princess had dinner together!]

1: Ahhh so who does Sir Admiral like! Does our Secretary Luo still have a chance does he still have a chance!!!

2: Don’t be nervous, sister! I think they haven’t discussed marriage yet, it’s only having a meal with Luobing’s side to see both of them, there’s no word about liking them yet right?

…

13: So what, Secretary Luo was there both times… Damn, I thought up an angsty plot! #I will personally send you to another’s side

…

17: What’s going on upstairs??* Must it be angst? Why can’t it be because the admiral wants to make the secretary jealous /covers face

Luo Ran only glanced through the forum. After confirming that everyone no longer focused on the relationship between Lucas and the prince, he stopped reading.

Speaking truthfully, if he went on the forum every day and read the analysis and brain holes of these netizens, Luo Ran would also think he and Lucas were a pair.

Their words were too convincing. 

Luo Ran slept soon after returning home. Just like that, the first day of his heat passed peacefully.

The next day, Lucas had to attend a military parade.

Lucas went to the parade once a week to check on the soldiers in training, and Luo Ran accompanied him every time.

Before Luo Ran headed home last night, he’d brought out Lucas’ military uniform, carefully ironed it, and hung it outside Lucas’ room. When he arrived at the company early in the morning, Lucas was already dressed.

Lucas wore a military outfit with white gloves and long black boots. Tassels fell along his broad shoulders, metal buttons and military emblems were pinned on his chest, and the belt at his waist shone in the light.

When such a mighty man stood there, he seemed to be the empire’s impenetrable line of defence and a symbol of strength.

Perhaps it was because of those weird blessings on the forum that Luo Ran took a few more glances.

He was indeed handsome and heroic, maybe even the most handsome alpha he’d ever seen. It wasn’t just due to his face but also because Lucas had an overwhelming aura, like a fierce lion.

No wonder the forum was so insane.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

The empire had military bases scattered everywhere, all filled with its elite. When someone looked in from the outside, they could only see densely packed simple housing and a training ground, but the people inside all knew how strong and meticulous its defences were.

Lucas seemed like a different person as soon as he stepped foot into the barracks.

Normally, his temper was rather grumpy, and he gave the impression that he was indifferent to everything. His daily life was rarely very organized; it could even be said that he couldn’t be bothered to care.

But when he entered this place which was half a battlefield, Lucas’ true nature was exposed.

The barracks were full of big, muscular male alpha and beta, but they were all extremely respectful when facing Lucas and Luo Ran.

Lucas took off his long coat and threw it to Luo Ran, then climbed into his mecha.

His exclusive mecha was a big one, much larger than other mecha. Its silver body was decorated with light blue pieces, and the designer also carved a golden lion that shone in the sun.

It was the mecha whose name resounded throughout the empire and brought awe wherever it went: Lion One.

The big guy towered over everything else. There weren’t many alpha in the empire who had the spiritual power to control such a beast.

When Luo Ran saw that Lucas and the soldiers began arranging their formations, he turned to head into the office.

He also came to inspect the military headquarters every week, since the military documents, weapons, and other miscellaneous items couldn’t leave the base.

The one who received him was Lucas’ adjutant, Lu Cheng. As Lucas’ adjutant, Lu Cheng was also an outstanding alpha with sharp features and a sunny smile.

When he saw Luo Ran, he immediately straightened into a military salute. “Mada…”

Then his voice abruptly stopped.

“What is it?” Luo Ran was inspecting the weapons held in the warehouse. With one hand holding a rifle, he turned to look doubtfully at Lu Cheng.

I’m done for, Lu Cheng thought. Everyone in the military camp was used to calling Luo Ran the admiral’s madam, and he almost blurted it out by accident.

“Mad… Adjutant Lu Cheng is here!” Lu Cheng saluted again.

Luo Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Relax, I’m not the admiral.”

“Yes!”

As expected, the heat still affected him.

Luo Ran inspected the camp for the whole afternoon, and by evening he felt a little dizzy.

He could normally work for 24 hours straight without issues, and none of his previous heats were so serious.

Luo Ran frowned.

“What’s the matter?” Lu Cheng, noticing that Luo Ran seemed a little uncomfortable, became nervous.

“It’s nothing.” Luo Ran glanced at the list in his hands and said, “There’s not much left, we’ll do the rest tomorrow.”

He wouldn’t force himself.

“Yes sir!”

Luo Ran and Lu Cheng left the storage area and came to an open field, where Lucas stood atop a high platform as he commanded troops.

An imposing man, standing high above, issued orders as the sun backlit his silhouette.

Luo Ran held a pile of official documents and watched with a smile.

Lucas noticed him and quirked a finger to call Luo Ran up.

Luo Ran took a step forward, but the world suddenly swirled around him.

Lu Cheng was startled and hurriedly reached out in support.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…” Luo Ran stood firm with great effort, waving his hand off. “I…”

Before he could finish, he really couldn’t hold on anymore. His whole body lost strength.

“Secretary Luo…!”

In his confusion, Luo Ran could faintly feel someone holding him.

He weakly ordered, “Find… Xia Zhi, no one else.”

Then he passed out.