Ruan Shu quietly pressed her little belly, her soft furry face looking a bit annoyed.
“It’s raining outside,”
Almer suddenly said, holding the now well-fed little cat and walking over to the window.
Ding-a-ling-ling~
The gentle sound of wind chimes filled the air. Only then did Ruan Shu notice the wind chime she had gifted Almer was hanging by the window. As it swayed with the breeze, it seemed to carry the sound of the wind with it.
Ruan Shu stared at the wind chime for a few seconds, oblivious to the fact that her tiny paw had been gently squeezed several times in the meantime.
Looking at the gloomy sky outside, mist shrouded the distance. It really was raining.
Ruan Shu suddenly remembered she hadn’t returned home yet, and if the butler couldn’t find her, he’d surely be worried.
She twisted around, intending to leap off Almer’s lap and run outside, but he caught her.
Almer’s voice was tinged with teasing. “Where do you think you’re going? It’s raining. Were you planning to run back?”
Ruan Shu looked at the weather outside; running back in the rain would only worry her father even more if she caught a cold.
Jumping out of Almer’s embrace, she transformed into a little girl with porcelain-like features, her skin and hair as pale as snow, almost glowing, with a pair of clear, sparkling eyes looking up at him.
“M-My Lord…”
Nervous, her voice came out in a stammer.
Almer put on a disappointed expression. “Aren’t we friends? Why are you calling me so formally?”
Ruan Shu hurriedly waved her hands, her soft voice laced with urgency.
“It’s not that! I didn’t know you were the Emperor before.”
He was, after all, the supreme ruler of the Star Beast Empire. Being friends with him… somehow it didn’t feel right.
Almer sighed. “But I thought we were already friends. You’re my only friend. If you…”
The forlorn look on his face was truly heart-wrenching, and besides, he was so very handsome.
“So you dislike me too. I’ll take you back then.” His tone carried a trace of sadness.
Ruan Shu’s heart softened, though she was still a bit nervous.
“No, I don’t dislike you,” she quickly reassured him. “I just… I just…”
“Then we’re still friends.”
Almer finished her sentence, even crouching slightly to gently ruffle her soft, fluffy hair.
“Could you call me Almer from now on? Could you say my name, just once?”
Dazed, Ruan Shu nodded, and, fulfilling his request, softly called out, “Almer.”
A smile spread across Almer’s face, and in a place she couldn’t see, a glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Then, as naturally as could be, he took her small hand in his.
“It’s raining right now. I’ll take you back once it stops.”
He led her to the balcony of the lounge, and as soon as Ruan Shu stepped inside, she was stunned.
The room was lavish and beautiful, decorated with gemstones, crystals, and more. Even the floor was scattered with pearls and jewels.
For a moment, she had no idea where to put her feet.
But Almer simply picked her up, leaving his slippers outside and stepping barefoot into the room.
When Ruan Shu saw his pale feet walking across the sharp-edged gems and pearls, she winced as if she could feel the discomfort herself, her toes curling instinctively.
Without realizing it, her hand clutched at the fabric on his shoulder, looking at him in mild disbelief. Didn’t it hurt?
Almer carried her straight to the balcony. Unlike the room, the balcony floor was covered with a soft, snow-white carpet.
“Don’t worry, those things won’t pierce my skin.”
Though in a human form, he wasn’t as fragile as an actual human.
The rain outside was growing heavier, and through the balcony’s glass doors, it looked like a curtain of water separating them from the outside world.
Ruan Shu sat on the plush carpet, a small low table in front of her, while Almer sat across from her.
However, the table seemed made just for her height, and Almer’s long legs looked a bit cramped. He had to bend one knee slightly.
Yet Almer seemed unbothered, gracefully peeling a grape and, without warning, offering it to Ruan Shu, who was busy messaging the butler.
Instinctively, the sweet, obedient girl opened her mouth to eat it, and by the time she finished her message, she’d already eaten five grapes. Her cheeks were stuffed, round like two little dumplings, and she even let out a tiny grape-flavored burp.
Ruan Shu: “…”
Blushing, she hurriedly chewed and swallowed the grapes, feeling embarrassed as she fidgeted with the hem of her little dress, unable to look Almer in the eye.
This was so embarrassing! How could she be so greedy, eating whatever was offered without even thinking?
“Look up.”
Ruan Shu raised her red face, and a hand—beautiful enough to be a work of art—reached out to gently wipe her mouth with a tissue.
Ruan Shu: …………
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.
Almer laughed.
“You get embarrassed way too easily.”
As he spoke, he pinched her soft, chubby cheeks.
Her cheeks were adorably round and soft, like milk jelly, something Almer had wanted to pinch for a while now.
Ruan Shu froze as her cheeks were pinched, lifting her little head but not daring to move.
“What else would you like to eat?”
Ruan Shu touched her face. Though it didn’t hurt, it felt warm and was probably still flushed.
“I… I’m already full.”
She pressed her little belly as she spoke.
“So soon?” Almer’s tone was surprised. “You’re not just being polite, are you?”
Ruan Shu shook her head, her voice sincere and earnest.
“No, I really don’t eat much. I’m truly full.”
Almer looked disappointed; he had wanted to feed her more. He hadn’t expected her to fill up so quickly.
“Last time, I promised to give you a sapphire when we met again.”
With a flick of his wrist, a dazzlingly beautiful blue gemstone appeared in his hand.
The sapphire shimmered, its surface gleaming with a mesmerizing glow. It was so pure and vibrant that it was unforgettable at first glance.
Ruan Shu blinked in surprise, still not reacting as he held the gemstone out in front of her.
“A gift for you,” he said.
Ruan Shu: Σ（°д°lll）
“N-no, I couldn’t possibly…”
The sapphire looked incredibly valuable, and it was almost the size of her palm!
“You already gave me a ruby last time, and that was very generous. I can’t accept this too.”
Almer’s golden eyes glinted with amusement.
“Don’t worry about it. I always give gemstones as gifts because I have… well, more than I know what to do with.”
As he spoke, he propped his chin on his hand and glanced around the room.
Ruan Shu followed his gaze, and her lips twitched involuntarily.
It really didn’t seem like he was exaggerating.