In the Auslan Empire, every female is equipped with at least three guardians to provide her with a better quality of life.
Only males outstanding in aspects such as status, strength, character, and genes are eligible to become guardians. Moreover, they must go through a series of professional examinations and assessments in social networking, living habits, female psychology, and female health guidelines before they can officially become guardians.
After females come of age, they can choose to turn their guardians into spouses if they wish. Since females are scarce, males often queue up for a long time without being matched with a female. Therefore, many males start to exploit loopholes by using their status as guardians to gain advantage, raising little females and cultivating a bond with them before naturally transitioning into spouses.
It's a bit like 'waiting in line with a ticket of love', so to some extent, guardians are more like predestined spouses for females.
Leberli sneered, and though his tone was mocking, the condemnation it contained was already very obvious.
"I must be hearing things, Ruka Xikoses has learned to 'bite off more than he can chew.' What, enjoying the benefits of this little female once wasn't enough, and now you want to become her guardian and seize another opportunity? Do you even remember that you're Princess Isabelle's spouse?"
Ruka's expression was icy, his eyes utterly indifferent. After a long pause, he finally said, "It was my fault this time, it won't happen again."
Leberli stopped laughing and looked at him for a long time, then as though confirming something, he asked, "You really don't plan to apply to be her spouse, do you?"
"..."
Ruka looked straight into Leberli's probing eyes, his hand in his pocket clenched into a fist.
"Yes. I belong only to Princess Isabelle."
"Sikoses, remember your words."
...
The following day.
Qiao Suisui had slept for an entire day and only woke up as dusk fell.
She sat up from the large bed, rubbed her eyes, and seeing the room's lavish decor, thought she had drunkenly snuck into the Louvre.
Qiao Suisui got down from the high bed, and the moment her toes touched the floor, her legs gave out, and she fell to the ground with a stifled grunt. Apparently, someone outside had heard the noise, and the door was pushed open in the next instant.
She saw a handsome man with a somewhat raffish air walk in, followed by a tall and handsome blond man with a powerful aura.
Is it him?
Memories emerged... a cage, a bathtub, an embrace, panting.
Qiao Suisui looked at Ruka with a flushed face, but he stood by the door without coming any closer. As soon as their eyes met, the man's light pupils indifferently shifted away the next second.
She paused, also quietly withdrawing her gaze.
By now, Leberli had walked up to her and helped her up, then used his Healing Talent to ease the soreness in her legs.
After doing this, Leberli put a bracelet on her. Made of baroque pearls and filigree clasps, the bracelet shimmered with a soft luster under the light, perfectly suited to her pale skin. Her wrists were very slender, but the bracelet fit just right, as if it had been measured in advance.
"Testing, testing, one two three, one two three, can you hear me?"
She wasn't deaf...
Wait a minute! She could understand now???
"I..."
Qiao Suisui had only said a word when Leberli suddenly covered his mouth in surprise, a look of incredulity on his face.
"My God! She can even talk!"
Having said that, he saw Qiao Suisui's eyes widening slightly with bafflement. "She still shows emotions, indeed... Is this what a naturally born female is like? How can she be so cute!"
Qiao Suisui: ...
It wasn't until Leberli explained that she learned the bracelet was a Light Computer, which contained a universal translator. No matter where she went in the future, she would be able to communicate without barriers. It also had a positioning function. Next, Leberli taught her how to use the Light Computer, and as a modern person, Qiao Suisui quickly adapted, amazed by its magic.
"This device can also be used for video calls, making payments, identity verification; in short, many aspects of life rely on the Light Computer."
Afterward, Leberli asked her many questions about her identity. Qiao Suisui only mentioned what she could and dismissed the rest by saying she 'couldn't remember'.
Leberli's gaze flickered, and he glanced over at Ruka, then casually asked, "Do you remember what happened last night?"
Remembering Ruka's coldness just before, Qiao Suisui looked down and shook her head.
"I don't remember anything."
Ruka's expression barely changed as he frowned and looked at her with an enigmatic gaze. He was about to say something when Leberli swiftly changed the subject.
"Do you have the contact information for a guardian? They must be very worried about your disappearance."
Without answering, Qiao Suisui asked, "Where is this place?"
Ruka timely interjected, "My secondary palace." After a pause, he added, "You are very safe here."
"No, I mean, which country is this? On which continent?"
Both men were taken aback. Leberli said, "You are now in the capital of the Auslan Empire—Atlantis. The level of development and civilization here are the highest in the entire Federation. As for the continent you mentioned... I'm not quite sure what that is."
Qiao Suisui lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming.
Indeed, the place names matched the settings in the game.
She had asked her questions clinging to the last shred of hope that she was still in the real world. It seemed now that she had indeed crossed into the game, a 'life simulation' kind of game. Sadly, she wasn't fond of reading game guides, so she knew very little about the worldview of this game.
After a long while, she finally spoke, "Then it's unlikely that you'll find my family."
Ruka sensed her disappointment, his lips moved slightly, but ultimately he turned away, saying nothing.
Observant, Leberli caught Ruka's subtle expressions and looked down pensively. He then approached Qiao Suisui and consoled, "Don't worry, with how cute you are, many people will line up to be your guardian."
Qiao Suisui: ?
That sounded a bit odd.
"I am an adult, I don't need a guardian."
For Qiao Suisui, it was just a normal response, but the first reaction of both Leberli and Ruka was—what had this female been through before?
According to regulations, females without a spouse, even after reaching adulthood, should be protected and provided for by their guardian until the very end. Unless the female was dissatisfied with her guardian and requested to dissolve the relationship, no male would abandon his female.
...Especially since she was such a delicate, naturally born female.
Ruka had already checked her records and found that she did not exist within the entire Federation, indicating she might not have any guardian, let alone a spouse. The thought of her possibly having lived a life of constant upheaval deepened Ruka's sense of guilt.
Leberli's understanding of the darker sides of life was no less than Ruka's. After hearing the facts, less savory possibilities crossed his mind, and looking at Qiao Suisui, his gaze contained more genuine distress.
Kneeling before her, Leberli said softly, "Suisui, without a guardian, you can't live alone in the Empire. I've already heard about the situation at the auction. Your fragrance will attract so many uncontrollable, aroused males. How can you be without protection?"
"Fragrance?"