Ornada faced no obstacles along the way.
At last.
He stopped not far from the roses.
The human female inside the golden cage was even more dazzling than she had appeared on the monitor, with almond-shaped eyes as dark and bright as fireflies drifting into a summer night's forest.
Outside the window, the setting sun was rich and deep.
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the glass window, spilling over her raised collarbones and casting a porcelain-white sheen that was dazzling to the eyes.
Her jet-black, curly hair rested quietly against her delicate shoulders, and whenever she moved, the butterfly hairpin in her locks fluttered its wings in tandem.
She was even more dazzling than the roses twined around the cage's bars.
She made one want to pluck her, to ravage her.
Ornada walked straight toward her.
The human female emitted a very pleasant scent.
That sweet fragrance entwined around him unbridled, lingering by his side without any sense of propriety, soaking deep into his body and mind.
She seemed quite surprised by his appearance, her upper body leaning back so sharply that one of her earrings shook loose.
Ornada picked up the fallen gemstone earring and handed it back to her through the golden cage, brushing against the back of her hand by accident before withdrawing his hand like a gentleman.
Just as he had expected.
Her skin was like jade, impossibly smooth.
Ornada greedily lingered for two whole seconds before pulling his hand back; he did not want to frighten her, so he deliberately feigned gentleness and refinement.
"Pardon me."
His voice was warm and soft.
Yuxing widened her eyes.
This gentleman is actually rather nice!
He's the one!
Yuxing put the earring back on and noticed the alien before her looking her up and down.
His gaze was intensely aggressive, like a knife, while she was a fish on a cutting board, having its scales peeled off layer by layer.
This sensation vanished in an instant.
Yuxing did not believe she had been mistaken.
The apocalypse had honed her vigilance, and she was far too familiar with that kind of gaze.
Still, since he was apologizing to a pet living at the bottom of the pyramid, the alien's gentlemanly demeanor must be carved deep into his very bones.
Terrifying as his gaze might be, it held no greed or desire.
She wasn't sure if she would ever meet a better alien in the future, and she didn't want to miss this chance, so she proactively reached out her hand.
"Would this gentleman be willing to keep me? I'm very easy to take care of!"
Ornada's expression was unreadable.
The pretty, petite human female looked up at him, offering herself right to his doorstep without knowing his true background.
How truly innocent.
Seeing that the alien didn't move,
Yuxing seized the opportunity and laid it on thick: "Sir looks so kind-hearted, gentle, and steadfast—you surely couldn't bear to refuse me, right?"
I'll butter him up, up, up, up, up!
The alien suddenly closed in on her.
He was far too robust.
Like a towering ancient fortress, when he leaned over, the shadow he cast threatened to engulf her instantly.
Startled out of her wits by this move, Yuxing quickly let go of his sleeve: "If you're not willing, that's fine..."
The alien grasped her hand back tightly.
Even through the black leather glove, his large palm remained powerful and strong, radiating a surging heat.
Ornada smiled gently, his voice low: "How could I possibly not be willing?"
Yuxing was dazzled by that smile, and by the time she came to her senses, the curator had returned from somewhere.
Strangely enough, the curator's tone now brimmed with utter humility: "One moment, I'll process the adoption paperwork for you right away."
Ornada glanced down at the pet's bare feet.
Understanding instantly, the curator produced a pair of crystal high heels and then discreetly withdrew with a knowing look.
Ornada crouched beside the human female, his gaze lingering on her glowing white feet. Holding the shoes in his hand, he delayed putting them on her.
Yuxing: "..."
He seemed to be staring at her feet.
His expression was calm, without a single ripple, but for some reason, Yuxing instinctively tucked her feet beneath her skirt.
Ornada narrowed his eyes, relishing the human female's present trembling.
Yuxing shrank her neck; years of surviving near-death experiences told her something was wrong—very wrong.
Just as she was about to test the waters.
Her owner conjured a box out of thin air, and upon opening it, an exquisite bell anklet rested inside a red velvet case.
Yuxing inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
That gave her a start.
She had thought her owner had a foot fetish!
Yuxing exposed her feet once more.
Her owner seemed unaccustomed to putting on jewelry.
He tried twice without managing to fasten the clasp properly, which tickled her somewhat. She pulled her foot back slightly, but failed to withdraw it.
Ornada seemed to be smiling: "Don't move, it will be done soon."
Her frightened appearance truly made his blood race.
He wanted to take off his gloves and use the pads of his fingers to gently stroke that crimson ankle, but unfortunately, he couldn't do that yet.
Yuxing could only feel the scorching tension in the atmosphere.
She glanced back at her owner.
His cultured, scholarly face showed not the slightest change.
As expected of the alien she had set her sights on!
And so Yuxing went home with him.
Along the way.
Ornada bent down and unfastened the collar around his pet's neck: "My pet has no need for such shackles."
Yuxing wore an expression of profound moving.
?^? Her owner really is a good person!
Soon.
The good owner came to a halt.
"From now on, you will live here with me."
Yuxing looked inward, following his gaze.
The interior was pitch black.
It exuded a strong, dangerous aura exclusive to males.
The sheer darkness was like a ferocious beast opening its giant maw, as if stepping inside would cause one to be swallowed whole without a single bone left behind.
Yuxing felt an unbidden sense of timidity and instinctively stepped back.
A large hand reached out and clamped onto her arm, bringing both a scorching touch and immense strength that left her unable to move.
His palm was still searing hot.
Like a ball of fire, it burned her so intensely that she couldn't help trembling, and it halted her retreat.
Yuxing looked up at the person beside her.
Ornada wore an inscrutable expression, his blue eyes deep and dark as something terrifying seemed to brew within them.
"Why did you back away?"
He had clearly disguised himself so well.
Why was she still showing resistance?
Yuxing ventured a bold suggestion: "I want to sleep alone."
Cohabitation? Wasn't she biting off more than she could chew?
After her parents died, Yuxing had lived alone for over a decade until the apocalypse arrived; she was simply not accustomed to close physical contact with strangers.
Just as she intended to continue arguing for her right to live alone,
a wolf-eared girl spoke up, interrupting Yuxing's reasoned defense: "Your Majesty, the Lord General is waiting for you in the council hall."
Yuxing: "..."
Online? Your Majesty?
The original owner's memories told her that there was one and only one ruler in the Alpha Galaxy—a capricious, bloodthirsty, and tyrannical despot.
Ornada slowly released his pet: "We can discuss this sleeping matter when I return. If you find it boring waiting, you can walk around and look at things."
Yuxing nodded obediently.
Just look at how understanding he was!
How could he possibly be a tyrant?
After Ornada left,
Yuxing ran over to the corridor to take in the scenery.
The air was filled with a moist, humid fragrance.
Looking out as far as the eye could see, the corridor was suspended over water, and the deep water divided reality and reflection into two separate worlds.
Breathing in the cool scent, Yuxing saw herself in the water—her face and height were identical to those in her past life.
Yuxing was extremely astonished.
The original owner actually looked exactly like her!
Suddenly, she sensed a malicious intent. Turning her head, she ran straight into the jealousy burning in the wolf-eared girl's eyes.
The wolf-eared girl wore a Rococo court dress reminiscent of the Middle Ages, entirely in soft pink, radiating a luxurious and cloying sweetness.
Stripped of her gentle charm, the girl transformed instantly into the Big Bad Wolf.
Oh my, this little thing has two faces!