Ark Simulator, Don't I Lack a Physical Body?

Su Rui tightened her tail and lowered her head to gently kiss her hair. "... Mmm."

The promise contained in this simple syllable is more reassuring than any grand vow.

The tranquility of Wenyue Estate was broken at lunchtime.

A servant dressed in Ursus uniform appeared at the gate, holding a gold-embossed invitation. "Her Majesty the Empress invites Lady Wenyue and her two guards to dinner."

His gaze lingered on Su Rui for a few more seconds, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Lady Wenyue accepted the invitation, her face revealing neither joy nor anger. "Please convey to His Majesty that I will be there on time."

After the servant bowed and withdrew, the atmosphere in the tea room instantly became heavy. Bai Xue nervously twisted her fingers, while Su Rui stood by the window, her tail wagging uneasily.

"There's no escaping it now." Lady Wenyue sighed. "Talulah never does anything pointless."

Her gaze fell on Su Rui: "Are you going?"

Su Rui's ears twitched. "... As you wish, Madam."

"Then let's go." Lady Wenyue closed her folding fan. "Perfect timing, I'd also like to see what this 'old friend' is up to."

Bai Xue mustered her courage. "Can I go too?"

"Of course." Lady Wenyue smiled meaningfully. "After all, you are Su Rui's 'Silver Bell' now, aren't you?"

The name made Bai Xue blush instantly. Su Rui's tail quietly wrapped around her wrist, with a bit more force than usual, as if silently declaring its ownership.

Outside the window, dark clouds gradually gathered, obscuring the midday sun. A storm seemed to be brewing.

Inside the dressing room of Wenyue Estate, Bai Xue was busily adjusting Su Rui's collar. The Ursus- style formal attire was elaborate and gorgeous, with dark patterns embroidered on the deep black fabric, making his silver hair even more dazzling.

"Don't move..." She tiptoed, her fingers brushing against the silver buttons on his collar, "Why are these buttons so hard to fasten..."

Volume 15, Chapter 878 Talulah's Thoughts

Su Rui stood quietly, his tail gently wrapping around her waist to help her maintain her balance. His breath brushed against Bai Xue's forehead, carrying a faint minty scent—he had specially used the mouthwash Bai Xue had given him that morning.

"All done!" Bai Xue finally buttoned up the last button, took a half step back to admire her masterpiece, and said, "It looks beautiful."

Su Rui's earlobes turned slightly red as he looked down at himself—his tuxedo was impeccably tailored, perfectly outlining his lean waistline. The Wenyue House family crest was pinned to his chest, along with a small silver bell, a matching accessory to the one in Bai Xue's hair.

"You too..." His voice was very soft, and he touched the Bai Xue ornament with his finger.

Bai Xue's face flushed instantly. Today she was wearing a light purple furisode kimono, and the silver bell hair clip in her hair was specially prepared for her by Lady Wenyue.

"I... I'll go see if Madam is ready..." she stammered, turning to run away.

Su Rui's tail suddenly tightened, pulling her back to him. His arms encircled her waist, and he lowered his head to gently kiss her lips. "... Don't be afraid."

The sudden kiss left Bai Xue's mind Blank for a moment. She could feel that Su Rui's lips were slightly cool, as if he had been nervous for a long time, but his movements were incredibly gentle.

"I'm not afraid..." she muttered softly, her fingers unconsciously clutching his collar, "It's... that Talulah..."

Su Rui's ears twitched, and her tail nuzzled soothingly against her back. "... I'm here."

Those two simple words brought tears to Bai Xue's eyes. She took a deep breath, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him again, more forcefully than before, as if to stamp a mark. "This is a mark! To let her know you're mine!"

Su Rui's pupils dilated slightly, then he chuckled softly. His laughter was very light, like the soft tinkling of a wind chime, but it made Bai Xue's heart skip a beat— Su Rui rarely laughed like that.

"... Okay." He nodded solemnly, the tip of his tail gently tapping the silver bell in her hair. "Yours."

Footsteps came from outside the door. "Mr. Aju? Madam says it's time to leave."

The two quickly separated, but Su Rui's tail lingered reluctantly around Bai Xue's wrist. He glanced at her one last time before turning and walking towards the door.

"Su Rui!" Bai Xue suddenly called out to him.

He turned around, his silver hair gleaming softly in the twilight light.

"I..." Bai Xue twisted her fingers, "I'll wait for you to come back."

Su Rui's lips curled up slightly, and her tail swayed gently. "... Mmm."

The reception hall of Wenyue Estate was brightly lit.

Su Rui stood behind Lady Wenyue, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His silver hair gleamed coldly in the candlelight, contrasting sharply with his black tuxedo. From the moment he entered the room, his tail had maintained an alert curve, and his ears were slightly pressed back—a posture that Bai Xue was familiar with; Su Rui would do this when he was on guard.

"Relax," Lady Wenyue said without turning her head, lightly tapping her palm with her folding fan. "She is the Empress now, not the little girl she used to be."

Su Rui flicked her tail slightly. "... Yes."

The sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a servant's loud announcement: "Empress Talulah of the Ursus Empire has arrived—"

The door slowly opened.

The first thing that catches the eye is a head of long, SilverAsh hair, darker than Su Rui's, like molten steel. Then come a pair of crimson eyes—like burning embers, carrying an undeniable majesty. Talulah is dressed in the formal attire of the Ursus Queen, a black and red robe embroidered with a golden double-headed eagle, every step she takes exuding a sharp aura.

"Lady Wenyue," her voice was deep and elegant, carrying the chill unique to the North, "It's been a long time."

Lady Wenyue gracefully curtsied. "Your Majesty's demeanor is even more radiant than before."

Talulah's gaze passed over her and landed directly on Su Rui. For a moment, her pupils contracted slightly, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

"Su..." She almost blurted out a name, but quickly controlled herself, "And who is this?"

Lady Wenyue turned aside without showing any emotion. "The manor's guard, Su Rui."

Talulah's lips curled into a meaningful smile, "A good name."

She took a few steps forward, her red eyes fixed on Su Rui: "Haven't we met somewhere before?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Su Rui's tail was taut, but her expression remained calm. "... Perhaps."

Talulah suddenly reached out, her fingertips almost touching his silver hair. "This color is very unique..."

Su Rui subtly took a half-step back, avoiding her touch. "... Your Majesty flatters me."

Lady Wenyue's folding fan opened with a "whoosh," perfectly separating the two. "Your Majesty has come from afar, why not try some tea from Lungmen first?"

Talulah withdrew her hand, a fleeting emotion flashing in her red eyes. "Of course."

She sat down gracefully, her long robes billowing like flowing night. Attendants immediately came forward to pour tea, but her gaze never left Su Rui.

"I heard you've recently met an interesting young girl?" Talulah suddenly asked, "Her name is... Bai Xue?"

Su Rui's tail bristled, but she remained calm on the surface. "... Yes."

"Where is she?" Talulah took a sip of tea. "I'd really like to see her."

Lady Wenyue smiled and said, "That child is shy and afraid of offending His Majesty."

"Is that so?" Talulah's red eyes narrowed slightly. "What a pity."

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the teacup, producing a crisp sound, "Besides catching up, I have another matter to discuss with you..."

Su Rui's ears perked up alertly.

"Ursus needs talent," Talulah, looking him straight in the eye. "Especially... talent familiar with the North."

The room temperature seemed to drop suddenly. Lady Wenyue's folding fan froze in mid-air, and Su Rui's pupils contracted slightly.

"Your Majesty is too kind," Lady Wenyue chuckled. "We are just ordinary families; how could we possibly have any talented people?"

Talulah remained noncommittal, then took a small box from her bosom. "A small gift."

The box was opened, revealing a silver badge—the emblem of the Ursus Imperial Guard, engraved with a small wolf's head.

"Think about it." She pushed the box towards Su Rui. "The terms are excellent."

Su Rui didn't reach out. "... Thank you, but no need."

A dangerous glint flashed in Talulah's red eyes. "So decisive? Won't you reconsider?"

"Your Majesty," Lady Wenyue interjected at the opportune moment, "This child is stubborn; perhaps we should have our meal first?"

Talulah stared at Su Rui for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "Fine."

She rose gracefully, her long robe brushing against Su Rui's hem. "However..."

As she leaned down, her lips almost touched Su Rui's ear, and she whispered in a voice only he could hear, "You think you can erase the past by changing your name?"

Su Rui's tail snapped straight up instantly, but Talulah had already stood up and walked nonchalantly toward the restaurant.

In the flickering candlelight, Su Rui's gaze fell on the window— Bai Xue was hiding behind a pillar in the corridor, watching them with worry. His tail swished gently, sending her a silent signal:

fine.

Bai Xue understood what he meant, but she didn't leave. She quietly made a hand gesture to indicate that she would wait.

A night breeze rustled their clothes and hair. This undercurrent had only just begun.

Volume 15, Chapter 879: The Snows of Ursus

After the banquet, Lady Wenyue excused herself, citing illness. The sounds of the servants clearing away the dishes gradually faded away, leaving only Talulah and Su Rui in the reception room. The flickering candlelight cast their shadows onto the landscape-painted screen, where they intertwined into a blurry outline.

Talulah stood by the window, her back to Su Rui, her fingers gently tracing the carved patterns on the window frame. Moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a cool sheen on her long SilverAsh hair.

"Do you remember the snow in the North?" she suddenly asked, her voice much softer than at the dinner party. "The kind of snow that can bury you up to your waist."

Su Rui's tail tightened slightly, but he didn't answer. His gaze fell on the exit on the other side of the room, calculating the shortest path to leave.

Talulah turned around, her red eyes flickering like two dancing flames in the dim light. "The year you left, the snow season was exceptionally long."

She approached slowly, her long robe trailing on the wooden floor, making a soft rustling sound. Su Rui unconsciously took a half step back, her back pressed against the screen.

"What are you hiding from?" Talulah chuckled, her fingertips tracing his silver hair. "This hair... is it dyed? Or has even this changed?"

Her fingers slid down her hair and stopped on Su Rui's cheek. The touch was icy, carrying the chill unique to the North. Su Rui's ears perked up alertly, but he didn't pull away—the Empress's majesty was like an invisible shackle, preventing him from pushing her away as he had with Lappland.

"Speak," Talulah's red eyes narrowed slightly, "Or do you not even want to hear my voice anymore?"

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed. "... Your Majesty, please have some self-respect."

The unfamiliar address made Talulah's smile freeze for a moment. Her fingers suddenly tightened, gripping Su Rui's collar. "Your Majesty? You didn't call me that back in my bed."

Su Rui's pupils contracted sharply, and his tail snapped open. He grabbed Talulah's wrist with such force that he almost Skullshatterer: "... The past."

"The past?" Talulah sneered, her other hand resting on his side. "The scars here are still there, aren't they? The one that took the knife for me."

Her fingertips traced the old wound through the fabric, the movement as gentle as if caressing a precious jewel. Su Rui's breathing became erratic, and a dangerous glint appeared in her amber eyes.

"Let go." His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a warning.

Talulah didn't let go; instead, she moved even closer. Her red lips almost touched Su Rui's earlobe. "Do you remember what you said before you left? 'Wait for me to come back'..."

Her breath, carrying the rich aroma of red wine, warmed against Su Rui's neck. "I've been waiting, waiting for the coronation, waiting for the border war to end... waiting for everyone to say you're dead."

Su Rui's tail thrashed irritably, slapping against the screen with a dull thud. He shoved Talulah away, but she grabbed his tie, and the two of them crashed into the display shelf behind them. Porcelain shattered on the floor, but no one paid any attention.

"You owe me an explanation," Talulah's red eyes flashed with a dangerous light, "And a farewell."

Talulah forcefully picked up Su Rui and, as if she had thought of something, hugged Su Rui tightly, as if worried that Su Rui would run away or be kidnapped.

Clearly, Su Rui's frequent appearances and disappearances had a negative impact on Talulah; Su Rui felt like her back was about to break.

Scanning Vision revealed that Talulah's eyelashes were trembling, and her hormones were changing... In short, it looked like she was about to cry.

I never expected that the powerful Ursus Queen would have this side to her.

Sensing that Talulah seemed about to cry, Su Rui's tail froze in mid-air, neither pushing her away nor responding.

"Come back to Ursus with me." As they parted, Talulah looked at Su Rui with some urgency and said, "I'll give you everything you want."

A complex emotion flashed in Su Rui's eyes. "... Impossible."

"Because of that little girl?" Talulah sneered. "She doesn't even know who you are."

These words were like a knife, precisely piercing Su Rui's most vulnerable spot. His tail snapped straight up, and his fingers clenched involuntarily.

Talulah keenly sensed his wavering, her red eyes narrowing slightly. "At least tell me the truth... Why fake your death? Why hide in Lungmen?"

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed, and just as she was about to speak, a slight noise came from outside the door—the sound of Bai Xue's silver bell hairpin hitting the door frame.

The two turned their heads at the same time. A hint of amusement flashed in Talulah's red eyes, while Su Rui's tail instantly bristled, and she rushed towards the door almost instinctively.

Bai Xue stood outside the door, holding a pot of hot tea, her face as pale as paper. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two women, finally settling on Talulah's hand, which she had not yet fully withdrawn.

"I..." Her voice trembled slightly, "Madam asked me to bring tea..."

Su Rui quickly stepped forward, her tail tightly wrapped around her wrist. "... It's alright."

This simple word of comfort instantly brought tears to Bai Xue's eyes. She put down the teapot, turned and ran, the silver bells ringing crisply in the night.

Talulah leaned against the display shelf, elegantly straightening her disheveled robe. "Looks like the little cat's jealous?"