Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

Ash's knuckles clicked.

Talulah chuckled softly and finally released her grip: "Goodnight, my star."

As Ash dragged Suri out of the office, she could still hear Talulah's low laughter behind her. The candlelight flickered in the corridor, and Ash's steps were quick and hurried. Only after turning the corner did she suddenly slam Suri against the wall.

"Shackles?" Her voice was extremely low, carrying a dangerous undertone. "You guys are playing pretty clever games?"

Suri looked up at her, a sly smile still playing on her lips: "Jealous?"

Ash's thumb ground heavily against his lower lip: "What do you think?"

Su Rui chuckled, then suddenly leaned close to her ear, her warm breath brushing against her earlobe: "So... how about we play a round too?"

Ash squinted: "...What game?"

Suri's fingertips lightly hooked around her belt: "Let's see who makes the other beg for mercy first."

Ash was silent for two seconds, then suddenly hoisted him up and strode towards the palace: "You're doomed."

Suri laughed like a triumphant cat on her shoulder.

The candlelight flickered, and the black and white squares on the chessboard gleamed warmly in the dim light. Su Rui rested her chin on her hand, her fingertips lightly tapping the table, her amber eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses filled with a sly smile.

"Are you sure you want to bet on this?" He tilted his head to look at Ash, his tone as light as if he were discussing the weather.

Ash sat opposite him, his silver-gray eyes calm as still water, his fingers steadily holding a black chess piece: "A bet is a bet."

Su Rui smiled slightly and gently pushed out a white piece with her fingertips: "Then I won't be polite."

The game was one-sided from the start. Ash's style was steady and sharp, but Su Rui's layout was more unpredictable, with each move seemingly calculated in advance for all of her reactions.

"Checkmate." Su Rui gently placed the last chess piece, her smile as bright as a cat that had stolen a fish.

Ash stared at the chessboard for two seconds, then calmly put down the black piece in his hand: "You win."

Suri immediately took out a pair of silver handcuffs from the drawer, the metal gleaming coldly in the candlelight. He stood up, walked behind Ash, and gently stroked her wrist with his fingertips, his tone tinged with mockery: "You chose these yourself."

Ash didn't resist, letting him handcuff his hands behind his back. The shackles clicked shut, and Su Rui clapped his hands in satisfaction: "Alright, now you—"

Before she could finish speaking, Ash suddenly raised her leg, hooking and pressing down with her long legs. Caught off guard, Su Rui was thrown onto the sofa.

"Hey!" Su Rui struggled for a moment, but found that even with her hands cuffed, Ash could still firmly restrain him with her legs. Her knees were pressed against his waist, the force neither too light nor too heavy, yet he was unable to move.

Ash looked down at him, a hint of amusement flashing in his silver-gray eyes: "You think you can subdue me like this?"

Suri's eyes widened, and she twisted her body in dissatisfaction: "That's not fair! You're cheating!"

Ash chuckled and tightened his knee slightly. Suri immediately groaned and struggled even more fiercely: "Let go!"

“A bet is a bet,” Ash said slowly, mimicking his earlier tone.

Su Rui glared at her angrily, then suddenly had a brilliant idea. She jerked her head back and bumped her forehead into Su Rui's chin. Ash turned her head to avoid it, but this momentary lapse in concentration gave Su Rui the opportunity. She flipped over and pinned Ash down.

"Ha!" Suri straddled her waist triumphantly, pressing her hands on her shoulders. "Now who's in control?"

Volume 10, Chapter 627: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain

Ash raised an eyebrow, his handcuffed hands twitching slightly, the metallic clanging sound ringing out: "You think this is how you win?"

Su Rui narrowed her eyes, then suddenly leaned close to her ear, her warm breath brushing against her earlobe: "Then... how about another round of gambling?"

Ash's breath hitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "What are we betting on?"

Su Rui's fingertips gently traced her collarbone, her voice low and seductive: "Let's see who makes the other... beg for mercy first."

Ash's eyes suddenly darkened.

The next second, before Suri could react, Ash had already flipped over and shoved him back onto the sofa. The chains of the shackles rattled with each movement, but it did nothing to weaken her control.

"You—" Just as Su Rui was about to protest, Ash lowered his head and bit down hard on his Adam's apple.

"Ugh...!" Su Rui's protest instantly turned into a muffled groan, her fingers unconsciously clenching the sofa cushion.

Ash's lips pressed against his skin, his voice low and dangerous: "This time, I won't give you another chance to turn things around."

Suri was panting, her gold-rimmed glasses were already askew, and her amber eyes were glistening with tears, yet she still glared at her defiantly: "...Try it?"

Ash chuckled softly, her fingertips gently tracing his waist. Suri immediately tensed up, struggling to get away, but she held him firmly.

"Are you admitting defeat?" she asked.

Suri gritted her teeth: "...I won't admit it!"

Ash's fingertips continued downwards, and Suri finally couldn't hold back any longer. She suddenly tilted her head back and bit her shoulder in retaliation.

The two wrestled on the sofa, the metallic clanking of shackles, rapid breathing, and occasional groans mingling together, until Suri finally collapsed, panting, her cheeks flushed, her black hair disheveled and plastered to her forehead.

“…I give up,” he muttered softly.

Ash chuckled softly, then lowered her head and kissed the tip of his nose: "Wouldn't it have been better to do this earlier?"

Suri pouted and poked her collarbone: "...I'll definitely win next time."

Ash's eyes darkened slightly as she gently stroked his wrist with her fingertips: "I'm always here for you."

The flickering candlelight illuminated the intertwined shadows of the two, while the chess pieces on the board had long since been scattered on the ground during their playful fight, and no one cared about the outcome anymore.

The morning dew had not yet dispersed, and the gardens of the Winter Palace were still shrouded in a tranquil mist. Suri vaguely felt himself being gently lifted up, and familiar red hair brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood and rust—it was Talulah.

He drowsily opened his eyes, his gold-rimmed glasses perched crookedly on his nose, his voice hoarse from just waking up: "...Talulah?"

"Mmm." The Queen's voice was even gentler than the morning breeze, her fingertips lightly brushing away the stray hairs from his forehead. "Sleep a little longer."

Su Rui instinctively snuggled closer to her, her cheek pressed against the crook of her neck, her breathing quickly becoming long and even again.

Ash leaned against the headboard, her silver-gray eyes silently watching Talulah carry Suri away, giving only a slight nod as a greeting. She was indeed a little tired; the entanglement of last night had made her want to rest a little longer, and Talulah seemed to have seen through this, choosing this moment to take her away.

-

When Suri awoke again, he found himself sitting on a stone chair in the garden, draped in Talulah’s scarlet cloak, while the Queen herself sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand and watching with interest as he gradually regained consciousness.

"Awake?" She chuckled softly, tapping the plate in front of her with her fingertip. "Have something to eat."

Suri blinked, looked down at the soup and bread in front of her, and frowned slightly: "...Is it cold?"

Talulah didn't answer, but simply flicked her fingertips, and a flame of Originium Arts ignited in her palm, which she then gently placed over the rim of the soup bowl. Within seconds, the broth was steaming again, and the bread regained its freshly baked soft and fragrant aroma.

"It's not cold now." She withdrew her hand, and the flames dissipated.

Su Rui stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Abuse of Originium Arts."

Talulah raised an eyebrow: "What, didn't Ash do this before?"

Suri picked up the bread, took a slow bite, and mumbled, "She only knows how to heat it the normal way."

Talulah chuckled and reached out to wipe the breadcrumbs from the corner of his mouth: "So it's not as convenient for her as it is for me."

Suri squinted, deliberately brought her fingertips close, and gently bit them: "...You stole me out so early in the morning just so I could have breakfast?"

Talulah withdrew her hand, her red hair gleaming like a burning flame in the morning light: "Is that not allowed?"

Suri tilted her head, her amber eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses holding a hint of amusement: "That's fine... but Ash will definitely come looking for me once he wakes up."

"Let her find it." Talulah said dismissively, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table. "You should spend more time with me sometimes."

Su Rui stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed and reached out to pinch her cheek: "...Are you jealous?"

Talulah didn't deny it, but gently grasped his wrist and pulled him closer to her: "Just a little bit."

Su Rui chuckled, letting her pull him closer, resting his forehead on her shoulder: "..."

Talulah paused for a moment, then whispered, "...I regret it."

Su Rui paused, looked up at her, and found a rare hint of tenderness in the Empress's eyes.

He suddenly didn't know what to say, so he simply leaned closer and placed a brief kiss on her lips.

Talulah didn't deepen the kiss, but after he pulled away, she gently traced the corner of his lips with her fingertips: "...The broth is getting cold."

Suri chuckled, sat back down, picked up the bowl and took a sip: "...why not just heat it up again with Originium Arts?"

Talulah narrowed her eyes: "Who just said this was abuse?"

Suri blinked innocently: "Really? I didn't say that."

Talulah gave a soft hum, but still reached out and warmed the soup bowl with the flames once more.

As the morning light grew stronger, the mist in the garden gradually dissipated, and the two sat quietly in a secluded corner, occasionally talking and sometimes falling silent, enjoying their rare time alone.

Suri and Talulah's time together was undisturbed until noon, when they finally moved to another place.

In the private study deep within the Winter Palace, heavy red velvet curtains were half-drawn, filtering the midday sunlight into an ambiguous dark gold. Suri lay lazily on Talulah's lap, letting her fingertips slowly and methodically comb his black hair, occasionally brushing against his ear, causing him to flinch slightly.

"Ash isn't bothering us today?" Talulah's voice was languid with contentment as she twirled a strand of his hair with her fingertips.

Suri squinted, like a cat being stroked: "The guards took her to visit the armory." He suddenly laughed, "I had the steward schedule the most tedious part—the history of armor development—for this morning."

Talulah chuckled, her red hair falling beside his cheek: "How naughty."

Volume 10, Chapter 628: Disappearance

"I learned it from you." Suri rolled over, his gold-rimmed glasses perched crookedly on his nose. He reached out and tugged at Talulah's scarf, "Now, how is Your Majesty going to compensate me for my lost sleep?"

The gilded pocket watch slipped from Talulah's chest and fell with a thud onto the Persian carpet. She let him hold it, her hair brushing against his collarbone as she leaned forward: "What...is this gesture implying?"

Suri's fingertips traced the contours of her spine, finally lingering on a spinous process and circling it gently: "What do you think?"

Sunlight danced slowly across the gilded grandfather clock in the corner. As the pendulum struck twelfth, Suri, biting Talulah's shoulder strap, mumbled a protest: "...Don't leave a mark..."

"Afraid of being seen by the Ashes?" Talulah's voice was laced with a wicked laugh, but her lips lingered even more intensely on his neck.

Suri suddenly rolled over and pressed her down onto the cushions, pulling a scarlet cloak over them both: "...You knew perfectly well she was going to check me for any new injuries tonight."

A rustling sound came from beneath the dark red fabric, and Talulah's gilded belt clattered to the ground. She suddenly let out a muffled groan, then chuckled and whispered in someone's ear, "...Now that I'm in this position, she can't see me, can she?"

Su Rui's response was drowned out by the rustling of fabric. Outside the window, the patrolling guards tacitly avoided the side hall, and even the snow sparrows on the branches quietly flew away.

It wasn't until the sun was setting and the gilded clock struck four times that the door to the study was gently knocked on.

"Your Majesty?" the steward's voice came through the door. "The Duchess of Romanov requests an audience."

A pale arm emerged from beneath the cloak, groping haphazardly and knocking over the ink bottle on the coffee table. Talulah's hoarse voice, still tinged with lingering desire, said, "...Let her wait."

Suri peeked half her head out from the edge of her velvet cloak; her gold-rimmed glasses were nowhere to be seen, and a pair of wet, amber eyes peeked out from her disheveled black hair: "...I bet she's going to talk about military spending."

Talulah pulled him back into her arms, her fingertips twirling the sweaty ends of his hair at the nape of his neck: "The bet?"

"Let me go home tonight."

"turn down."

Suri bit a shallow tooth mark on her collarbone: "Tyrant."

As dusk deepened, the study door finally opened. Talulah, draped in a bathrobe, leaned against the doorway, watching Suri bend down to pick up the clothes scattered on the floor. He was barefoot on the carpet, her finger marks still visible on his ankles, and a few suggestive red marks were visible on his lower back as he bent over.

"Will you come again tomorrow?" she asked.

Suri turned to look at her, her eyelashes casting dappled shadows on her cheeks in the backlight: "...the feeling of looking at ashes."

Talulah chuckled and reached out to fasten the silver chain around his collar: "Tell her the Winter Palace will always welcome her to come and snatch him away."

That night, as Ash examined Suri's back, his fingertips suddenly stopped on a hidden bite mark. Suri immediately tensed up, but then heard a soft, ambiguous groan behind him.

"...have fun?"

Suri turned around, hugged her neck, buried her face in her shoulder, and chuckled softly, "...You're much cuter when you're jealous than she is."

Ash grabbed him by the back of the neck and lifted him up, his silver-grey eyes gleaming like ice in the moonlight: "...Starting tomorrow, you are forbidden from having a private audience with the Queen."

Suri blinked: "Under what pretext?"

"In..." Ash suddenly pressed him into the mattress, whispering in his earlobe, "...in the name of your host."

In the misty corridors of the Winter Palace, Ash packed her belongings, stuffing her neatly folded tactical uniform into her backpack. Her movements were gentle, but Suri still woke up.

He leaned against the doorframe, his amber eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses showing a hint of weariness, but his voice still carried a smile: "So early?"

Ash didn't look up, but continued packing his equipment: "We're setting off today."

Suri tilted her head: "Aren't you going to say goodbye to Talulah?"

“There’s no need.” Ash zipped up his backpack, his voice calm. “She already knew.”

Suri gave a soft "hmm" and looked down at his fingertips—they had begun to become somewhat transparent, like a thin mist pierced by sunlight. He had long noticed that this body was gradually dissipating.