A is in StarCraft, just disembarked from the Zerg Prince spaceship.

*************

......

The next day, the lady moved back to the White House, hosted Orion, and invited him to have tea in the greenhouse garden.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge arched glass dome of the West Wing Conservatory Garden of the White House, providing a gentle warmth without being too bright, making it very soft and comfortable.

The greenhouse garden is planted with tropical plants that require high temperatures, large-leaved plants such as fan palms and palms, and also houses several brightly colored macaws.

The soil is moist, the grass and trees are fragrant, and countless rare flowers mingle, creating a naturally refreshing atmosphere.

It's completely different from the overpowering rose scent outside.

In the center of the garden, the lady had a carefully arranged rest area set up.

The light-colored rattan table and chairs were covered with a white linen tablecloth, on which sat a silver teapot and a three-tiered dessert stand, gleaming in the sunlight.

When Orion arrived, the lady was already sitting there waiting.

She wore a well-tailored, soft, light apricot-colored suit; the color was gentle and harmless.

Her long hair was loosely tied up, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. Her smile was gentle, and her eyes were clear.

Like the purest flowers in a greenhouse.

More beautiful than flowers.

The air was clean and the pheromones weren't pungent, which made Orion feel much more pleasant.

Seeing Orion arrive led by a waiter, the lady immediately stood up and said sincerely, "General, welcome to the Human Federation. I hope you enjoy your stay here."

Her voice was so beautiful, gentle and soothing. The soft pheromones of an Omega emanated from her, like a flowing, delicate white veil.

Although the lady was always confined to the home, she was perceptive, kind, and had a good attitude, and never annoyed anyone.

Orion wasn't particularly fond of humans, but he didn't have a bad impression of this human female. She seemed quite nice and patient, and in a good mood, so he was willing to have some tea with her.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Orion sat down, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant surroundings before settling back on the lady.

Human females are clearly confined to the domestic sphere and are not involved in power.

sad.

Orion's face once again displayed the princely smile he had worn at the banquet the night before.

He nodded slightly, his voice softer than usual: "Earth is incredibly beautiful, a truly breathtaking sight. It is my honor to be here on Earth and to be invited to share a drink with you."

"You're too kind," the lady said with a slightly embarrassed smile. "The tea culture of the world has a long history, with many varieties and different flavors. Today I have prepared several kinds, including green tea from the East and black tea, which is popular in the West. Green tea is refreshing, black tea is rich, and there are also some flower and fruit teas. Please see which one you prefer."

As she introduced the tea, she personally picked up the small silver teapot and gracefully poured the clear, slightly green tea into the teacup.

The aroma of tea rose gently with the steam.

Orion watched her pour the tea quietly, without the slightest impatience: "I don't know, I've never tasted it myself."

Such peaceful everyday scenes are a very, very distant thing for him now.

The pheromones of Zerg females can clash, and the only ones in the world whose pheromones do not clash with his are his female father and Atticus.

The last time he sat with a female without being swarmed was when he and Atticus were children.

"Then please try them," the lady said with a smile, handing him a teacup.

Orion picked up his teacup and gently sniffed the aroma.

It's green, so it must be green tea.

It's strange; the taste is faint, bitter, and grassy.

Then I took a sip.

The warm liquid slid down my throat.

It is indeed bitter, with a slightly astringent aftertaste.

"It's very special," he commented calmly. "It's refreshing and delicate, quite different from the drinks in Liernia."

To be honest... never mind, I won't tell the truth.

It wasn't really to the Zerg's liking, but for some reason he didn't want to say it.

The lady was delighted to see that he liked it; her face seemed to glow, like dewdrops illuminated by sunlight shining through glass.

"I'm glad you like it. Try this too!" She gently pushed the three-tiered pastry stand toward Orion, which was adorned with exquisitely crafted scones, mini sandwiches, and colorful macarons. "These are all signature treats from the White House kitchen, perfect with tea."

Orion did not refuse; he picked up a macaron that best suited the aesthetic of a butterfly moth and savored it elegantly.

The macarons were so sweet that they masked the bitterness of the tea.

Orion was relaxed, a stark contrast to his demeanor in the banquet hall the night before.

The lady also picked up her teacup and took small sips.

Her gaze seemed to fall on him casually, but Orion could sense that she was observing him.

It wasn't scrutiny, nor was it calculation; it was a kind of... like envy, yet also like worry, a gentle observation.

Confined to the framework of her family and far removed from the political core, she envies Orion, a female insect of the same sex as an omega, for being so powerful and free.

Her innate sensitivity also allows her to perceive certain things.

Orion... doesn't seem like a good person.

"Was the banquet last night very grand?" The lady put down her teacup and began the conversation in a soft voice, with a hint of casual conversation and a touch of inquisitiveness in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, I'm not in good health and I get dizzy easily when I travel by car, so I can't go out often. I couldn't come with me to welcome you yesterday."

"You're too kind," Orion said casually, leaning back in his chair and sipping his tea. "Haven't you already welcomed me?"

"That's true." The lady smiled shyly, then lowered her head, hesitated for a couple of seconds, and then raised her head again.

"Did my son Ferdinand offend you yesterday?" she asked Orion, her tone filled with natural concern and worry. "I'm so sorry, I apologize on his behalf. Please don't hold it against him. I didn't raise him well, but he's not a bad person at heart."

Orion held his teacup for a few seconds without speaking, but a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

Indeed, very perceptive.

He is nothing like the Alliance Director.

"It's alright, young people are bound to be a bit reckless." After a few seconds of pause, Orion spoke, his tone still gentle, even carrying a hint of elder-like understanding.

Just as the lady was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he steered the conversation away from the specific details, saying, "The plants on Earth are truly beautiful. Could you tell me about the plants here?"

His gaze swept over the lush plants in the greenhouse, as if he were genuinely seeking advice.

Looking at Orion's gentle profile and listening to his calm tone, the lady sensed that the general did not want to talk about her son, and her worries deepened, but her good upbringing prevented her from pressing the matter.

She simply sighed softly to herself, almost inaudibly, sounding somewhat powerless.

The prince from a distant star system before me, though gentle and patient at the moment, exuded a sense of aloofness that suggested certain boundaries were insurmountable.

I don't know what her husband is up to, but it's certainly no less than asking a tiger for its skin.

"Ah, this glass greenhouse mainly grows large tropical plants, and also houses some rare birds. The most beautiful ones are these large macaws. There are two kinds, one is the original color and the other is albino. I don't know the specific species, but I know that their ancestral home should be Congo." The lady followed his words, her gaze also falling on the lush greenery under the glass dome, as she introduced it to him.

Orion raised his hand, and a large, brightly colored macaw flew automatically onto his hand.

Large macaws differ from common small parrots; they can reach a length of over one meter, and their claws and beaks are thicker than those of eagles.

Orion teases it.

After being teased by him for a while, the macaw probably got annoyed and suddenly opened its mouth, its hard, curved beak swooping down on Orion's hand with lightning speed!

"Watch out!" the lady exclaimed.

Large macaws are actually birds of prey. Their beaks, which are so sharp they're like pliers, are great for cracking nuts. Every year there are records of owners being injured by large macaws. Their beaks are a powerful tool for cracking macadamia nuts like sunflower seeds.

The parrot's beak snapped against Orion's hand with a "snap!" sound.

"Are you alright?" The attendant quickly came over to shoo away the parrot and check the guest's injuries.

But what no one expected was that the next second, the large parrot screamed and flew up.

Its beak was broken.

Orion's hand was unharmed.

He kept his hand there, and didn't move an inch when the parrot pecked at him.

The large parrot's strong beak snapped off instantly!

The lady covered her mouth: "Ah!"

Orion smiled and withdrew his hand: "You don't need to worry, the bodies of higher female insects are very strong."

The lady said enviously, "That's amazing! They're so different from us omegas... I wish we omegas could have this kind of physical ability..." Her words carried a hint of wistfulness.

But she quickly composed herself, realizing that such emotions were inappropriate in front of foreign guests, and put on a smile again, "That's great, thank goodness you're alright, otherwise I would have felt so guilty if you had been injured because of my tea party invitation."

The servant went to retrieve the parrot.

Orion was probably in a really good mood today, because he actually reached out and let his wife touch his perfectly intact hand.

He wasn't dressed very formally today, and he wasn't wearing gloves, so his wife came into direct contact with his skin.

The lady's mood quickly improved; she felt that Orion might not be so bad after all.

"The sun is shining brightly today. I hope every day you spend in the White House is as pleasant as today," she said sincerely, raising her teacup. "Let's toast with tea instead of wine, wishing you a happy and fulfilling time on Earth."

Orion looked into the clear eyes of the human female before him.

The shape of its eyes is similar to that of the dog from yesterday, but it has no scheming, no ambition, only a naive feeling that the whole world is full of good people.

Like Atticus.

Whether out of pleasure or annoyance, he raised his teacup and calmly said, "Thank you, madam. I had a very pleasant day."

Sunlight streamed down from the glass dome, illuminating two equally beautiful faces that represented vastly different worlds.

A caged bird and an eagle in the sky—when the eagle and the caged bird sat together, they surprisingly developed a rare patience.

Orion hadn't been this peaceful in a long time.

......

However, this peace did not last long.

While they were chatting over tea, Ferdinand came over again, eager to curry favor with Orion.

A series of slightly hurried footsteps sounded, and Ferdinand Rodri reappeared before Orion.

He changed into a more formal suit, styled his hair carefully, and his face showed a mixture of nervousness and eagerness.

No wonder he was so eager; he was genuinely interested.

On the one hand, it was due to the desire for political power, and on the other hand, it was because of Orion's extremely aggressive beauty.

When a person is both beautiful and powerful, and marrying him can lead to instant success, it's really hard for anyone not to be tempted.

"Good morning, Mom," Ferdinand greeted his wife first, but his eyes remained fixed on Orion.

He then turned to Orion, a wide smile spreading across his face: "General, you're here too!"

The lady's gentle smile faltered slightly.

She looked at Ferdinand, who was so different from usual, and a hint of worry and...heartache flashed in her eyes.

She knew the Alliance Director all too well, and she saw through his ruthlessness and unscrupulousness.

Ferdinand's current behavior intensified her ominous premonition, and she vaguely understood what her husband wanted to do.

However, with foreign guests in front of her, she did not speak or interrupt, but simply watched quietly, her hands on her knees gently tightening her skirt.

Orion viewed Ferdinand's petty thoughts as if they were goldfish in a fishbowl—clumsy and laughable.

But a playful smile played on his lips, as if he were watching an interesting drama.

He nodded slightly in a condescending yet tolerant manner, which was his response.

Ferdinand was greatly encouraged by Orion's response, even if it was just a look and a nod, and took out a square black velvet jewelry box from the inside pocket of his suit.

He opened the box, knelt on one knee, and presented it to Orion.

It is a pendant.

An egg-sized gray moonstone, surrounded by a ring of gray diamonds. The moonstone's grayish-brown base features a bright white iridescence, exhibiting exceptional purity, like moonlight pouring down. As the viewing angle changes, the iridescence flows and diffuses like water, creating a dreamlike and ethereal effect.

Pure white-gray moonlight with such high purity is extremely rare.

Ferdinand stammered, his face flushed, "Your Excellency, the bouquet of flowers yesterday was really too little for me. This is...this is a gift for you, please accept it and don't find it offensive."

As he spoke, his face flushed even more, his voice lowered, stammering but revealing his undisguised sincerity: "I think...it...it looks a lot like...your eyes..."

Orion looked at the beautiful moonstone, his eyes showing no amazement or emotion, only a sense of boredom.

Couldn't the Alliance Director send his wife to arrange the marriage? At least she wasn't as repulsive as this.

His son is far less skilled than his wife; he's only fit to be treated like a dog by Orion.

Orion raised his hand and picked up the moonstone pendant.

It then skipped over the jewelry box and landed directly on Ferdinand's meticulously tied black tie.

Under Ferdinand's astonished gaze, and under the lady's sudden, breathless stare.

Orion casually and nonchalantly hung the gray moonstone pendant on Ferdinand's bow tie, as if it were a toy.

The pendant hangs down perfectly, without leaning to one side.

It was hanging right below Ferdinand's throat.

Like a dog tag or bell hanging from a puppy.

......

Orion's expression was so gentle that Ferdinand couldn't grasp the mockery and humiliation; he only felt touched by Orion.

His eyes lit up with immense surprise and flattery, and a blush spread from his cheeks to the base of his ears.

The lady sat to the side and took in all of this.

The serenity on her face vanished completely, replaced by pallor.

She looked at the glaring dog tag around her son's neck, at the ecstatic, oblivious humiliation on his face, and at the utterly unemotional mockery in Orion's eyes.

The temperature inside the tropical greenhouse was very high, but she felt a huge chill spread from her spine to her whole body, and she tried her best to suppress the urge to tremble.

Her hands, resting on her knees, clenched into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white and the hard wedding ring was deeply imprinted on her palms.

She could only watch silently, powerless to stop it all from happening.

Because Orion was a distinguished guest of the Federation of Humans, and Ferdinand had come to him of his own accord.

She knew the Commissioner of the Alliance and Ferdinand; without the Commissioner's authorization, Ferdinand wouldn't have dared to do something so daring.

The atmosphere was inexplicably tense.

Just then, a waiter in formal uniform strode into the greenhouse and went straight to Orion.

Unlike the servants on his wife's side, his uniform was from the Alliance Director's office.

The attendant approached Orion and bowed respectfully. "Your Excellency, the Director has urgent diplomatic matters that require your attention. Do you have time to visit the West Wing office now?"

The sudden interruption was perfectly timed; Orion felt that talking politics with the old man, the Alliance Director, was better than dealing with this boring human male.

He nodded to the waiter: "Understood."

Then he stood up, turned to his wife, and said goodbye: "Madam, thank you for your hospitality today. The tea and refreshments were delicious, and the garden was delightful. I regret to inform you that I have official business to attend to. Please excuse me."

His expression was clear and gentle, completely different from before.

The lady forced a smile and nodded: "...Please do as you wish, General."

Led by a waiter, Orion strode away from the lush green greenhouse, his figure disappearing behind the broad leaves of the tropical plants.

Only the lady and Ferdinand, whose neck still held the cold moonstone pendant, remained in the greenhouse.

Sunlight streamed through the glass dome, warm and bright. The heating rods in the tropical greenhouse were working, making it humid and hot, but they couldn't dispel the bone-chilling coldness in the lady's heart.

It couldn't illuminate Ferdinand's eyes, nor the priceless moonstone that dangled below his throat.

"Ferdinand," the lady called to him.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Ferdinand, still basking in happiness, excitedly turned to his wife: "Mom, look at Admiral Orion—"

"Ferdinand," the lady interrupted him softly but firmly, looking into his eyes.

Two similar almond-shaped eyes meet.

What's in Mom's eyes?

Gradually.

Ferdinand stopped laughing. He stared at his wife with a stiff expression.

"Ferdinand, I think your father is leading you down a very wrong path," the lady said softly to Ferdinand, her eyes gentle. "Could you please stop doing this?"

Ferdinand was suddenly filled with irritation.

Why should his mother, an omega who knows nothing, try to meddle in their alpha affairs, these political matters!

He suddenly became very impatient and said with dissatisfaction, "Mom, Dad must have his reasons for doing this. You don't understand, so can you just leave it at that?"

"Ferdinand, I'm not..."

Before she could finish speaking, her son, no longer wanting to listen, impatiently said, "Mom, I have things to do, I'm leaving too."

Then he got up, and without waiting for his wife's reply or looking at her again, he walked away quickly without turning his head.

She didn't take off the humiliating pendant until she left.

The lady remained where she was.

She felt she should call Ferdinand back, teach him, and explain things to him, but her throat felt like it was stuffed with a wet cotton ball, unable to make a sound or swallow.

She knew it was no use.

The Alliance Director treated her this way, and now the child she raised from childhood is treating her the same way.

The lady fell silent.

She just sat there, like an object forgotten in a corner, even her breathing was very soft.

The home she had painstakingly maintained for decades seemed, at this moment, to be completely rotten inside and out.