novelraw Chapter 188 : The Cat-like Girl
Chapter 188 : The Cat-like Girl
The security within Fry Castle was excellent.
While corridors, gardens, and public areas had round-the-clock surveillance, there were few cameras installed inside private rooms.
The study where Gu Junwan and the Grand Duke of Fry were meeting had no hidden listening devices and excellent soundproofing.
None of their conversation within could be overheard by a third party.
Gu Junwan made no comment on the Grand Duke's previous words laden with murderous intent.
Often, showing mercy to one's enemies is cruelty to oneself.
After a moment of silence, she raised a question: "Little Lott is still young, and his psychological trauma hasn't healed yet."
"Aren't you worried that allowing so many hostile forces to approach him might be excessive and end up harming the child?"
The Grand Duke walked around to sit behind his desk. Staring at a quill pen in the pen holder at the corner of the desk, he sighed softly: "But I don't have much time left."
"If I don't let Little Lott experience some things in advance, his enemies will present the cruelest world to him later. He's a very intelligent child; he'll understand my good intentions."
Looking at the silver-haired old man, Gu Junwan felt quite moved.
At this point, the Grand Duke changed the subject, saying directly: "As compensation for you and your Alpha partner, how about I pressure King Hols to facilitate the energy cooperation you want?"
Gu Junwan shook her head gently: "There's no need. We don't require such compensation."
"Deep cooperation between two countries must be built on mutual recognition to achieve the desired effect. If coercion is involved, it's tantamount to planting a hidden danger. When it eventually explodes, it's the people of both countries who will ultimately suffer."
The Grand Duke seemed not to have expected Gu Junwan to refuse directly. He was taken aback for a moment before chuckling softly.
He raised his eyes to reassess the young woman before him, his slightly cloudy pupils filled with undisguised approval.
The Grand Duke's previous words weren't a test.
He had genuinely intended to facilitate cooperation, to establish goodwill with the Federal Empress and secure a potential ally for his Little Lott.
But at this moment, he felt that he had still underestimated his counterpart.
Her legendary past wasn't due to luck, but stemmed from her vision and wisdom.
With such an outstanding leader at the helm, the Free Federation was destined to grow increasingly prosperous in its development.
After his thoughts raced quickly, the Grand Duke spoke again: "Would Your Excellency mind telling this old man about your cooperation terms with Hols?"
"Many large energy bases in Ksenrode are privately owned by various power players. You don't necessarily have to cooperate exclusively with the royal family."
At this point, the Grand Duke smiled slyly: "The energy projects controlled by my Fry family are no less than those of the royal family."
"Moreover, Hols can't interfere with my affairs."
Hearing him omit the title 'King' when referring to Hols, Gu Junwan also smiled.
With such a wild card joining the game, the old king's plan to hold out for a better price would have to be abandoned.
This was all benefit and no harm for Gu Junwan, so she naturally wouldn't refuse.
While the Empress and the Grand Duke were discussing cooperation in private, Fry Lotte slipped up to the sixth floor to find Shen Han.
After a thorough examination found no issues, Shen Han had returned to the VIP suite.
She was very pleased to see Little Lott come to find her.
"I didn't expect you to be so precocious, actually knowing to secretly bring my girlfriend here."
"Thanks to you this time. Without your help, our relationship would definitely have been exposed."
Fry Lotte felt a bit embarrassed at the praise.
He fidgeted with his fingers and said quietly: "No, no, it was your Empress superior who was especially capable. She taught me on the phone what I should do."
Shen Han smiled, raising her eyebrows: "That's right, my superior is indeed very capable!"
She then looked into the little boy's azure eyes and asked: "How was it? Were you very surprised when you saw her?"
Fry Lotte thought for a moment, then replied with puffed cheeks: "I was almost scared to death."
"I think you're still the most amazing, being able to make Her Imperial Majesty your girlfriend."
Hearing this, Shen Han felt as if she could float away.
She recalled how Gu Junwan had said she wanted to spend a short vacation with her that afternoon, and her heart began to anticipate.
When Gu Junwan emerged after finishing the discussion, her expression was as calm as when she had entered the room.
No one could deduce her current mood from her demeanor, except for Xu Zhao, who could sense that her liege was in good spirits.
After all, as a long-time close aide to Gu Junwan, if Xu Zhao couldn't perceive her emotions, she wouldn't dare call herself the Empress's special assistant.
As they walked downstairs, Jiang Xinyue lowered her voice and asked urgently: "Your Majesty, did you borrow the guards? When are we going to make the arrest?"
She didn't know the details of Gu Junwan's conversation with the Grand Duke, so she was particularly worried now.
She had just seen Little Lott go downstairs and feared he might fall victim to foul play.
Gu Junwan turned her head with a smile: "The Grand Duke has already taken care of everything. Don't worry, the castle is very safe now."
She then addressed her entourage: "Everyone has worked hard. We'll stay at Fry Castle for one more day. Rest well tonight, and tomorrow we can tour this peninsula. It will make the trip worthwhile."
Back in the VIP suite, Shen Han immediately clung to her.
"Wife, are you tired? Let me carry you to the bathroom to freshen up."
Before Gu Junwan could reply, she was already swept up into her arms.
She indeed didn't want to move anymore, so she simply wrapped her arms around her Alpha's neck, enjoying her attentive service.
The two had just bathed before leaving the suite, and only about forty minutes had passed, so there was no need to shower again.
Two sets of pajamas were stacked on the cabinet next to the sink, which Shen Han had asked Little Lott to arrange earlier.
The original pajamas in the suite were slightly coarse, so she had them replaced with softer silk ones.
Looking at the familiar marble countertop, Gu Junwan felt quite embarrassed.
The scene of her being marked while leaning on it not long ago was still vivid in her mind, causing her heart to beat slightly faster.
She turned around, facing away from the sink, only to meet Shen Han's clear eyes.
Her ponytail was undone, with her glossy black hair cascading over her shoulders and neck, making her face look particularly delicate and her skin fair.
The Alpha hadn't released her pheromones, but Gu Junwan felt she could still detect a faint scent of snow cedar.
That scent was extremely light and subtle, like thin clouds about to dissipate on the horizon, making one want to find a way to hold onto it.
Shen Han was unaware of her wife's thoughts.
Seeing her staring, she quickly picked up the two sets of pajamas placed nearby and offered them proudly: "Wife, these are made of your favorite fabric. Purple and pink, which one do you want to wear?"
Gu Junwan lowered her gaze to look, then said with her eyes half-closed: "Purple."
She was a bit curious about how the jelly-like light pink pajamas would look on her Alpha.
Shen Han efficiently helped her change into the purple set, then put on the pink one herself.
In an instant, Gu Junwan's eyes gleamed.
The Alpha before her, dressed in pink silk, looked soft and adorable, just like an innocent cat-like girl.
Gu Junwan's gaze swept over her own mature purple pajamas, and she suddenly felt a bit regretful.
She thought she should have chosen the pink one, so the age difference between them wouldn't seem so large.
Shen Han, however, was delighted. Looking at the noble and pure woman before her, she felt as if she were gazing upon Athena from Greek mythology.
With this thought, she impulsively took Gu Junwan's delicate hand and, following Ksenrode etiquette, bent down to offer a kiss on the back of her hand.
The Alpha's lips were very soft, feeling like a cloud brushing against the Omega's hand.
A hidden electric current seemed to flow from that cloud, tingling through her palm and then surging through her entire body.
It was just a simple kiss, yet it stirred ripples across the lake of Gu Junwan's heart.
She had originally planned to retire early due to fatigue, but now her companion's unintentional flirtation had banished all thoughts of sleep.
Watching Shen Han busily preparing toiletries nearby, Gu Junwan raised her hand to gently brush her fingertips across the back of the other's neck, then spoke softly: "Come here."
As the skin near her gland was caressed by the Omega, Shen Han's heart immediately began to race uncontrollably.
She turned to stand before Gu Junwan, blinking her eyes, obediently waiting for her wife's instructions.
Gu Junwan tenderly caressed her beloved's cheek, rising slightly on her toes to press her red lips against the other's.
Shen Han had originally prepared to do nothing tonight except hold her wife as they slept.
She hadn't expected the other to take the initiative and give a subtle hint for intimacy.
Gu Junwan was shy about such matters and couldn't voice explicit desires.
But her touch on the Alpha's gland had said everything.
Shen Han responded to the kiss without trying to take control of this intimate exchange.
Fearing her wife might tire from standing too long, she gently grasped her slender waist and carefully lifted the Omega to sit on the edge of the marble counter.
Gu Junwan very much appreciated these thoughtful gestures from her Alpha.
She wrapped her arms around the other's neck, once again closing the distance between them, then shut her beautiful eyes, immersing herself in the soft entanglement with her beloved.
Shen Han braced one hand on the edge of the counter, the other supporting Gu Junwan's delicate back.
She gradually released her pheromones, slowly imbuing her partner with her scent.
The bright vanity mirror clearly reflected the outlines of two figures lost in each other.
They comforted one another, playing a warm and joyous melody in this strange land where unexpected events always seemed to occur!