Chapter 95: Zombie King x Ex-Girlfriend (17)

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of something resting over the wooden railing just outside her window- a neatly folded black oversized button-down shirt and a belt!

A sudden lightbulb went off in Lyra’s brain!

She didn’t waste a single second. She quickly peeled off her dirty, blood-stained uniform, stepping out of the ruined fabric. Slipping her slender arms through the long sleeves of the black shirt, she buttoned it up halfway, pulling the broad collar off one shoulder. The shirt was far too large for her fragile frame, hanging down to her mid-thighs like a stylish, baggy mini dress.

Lyra wrapped the belt tightly around her tiny waist, buckling it secure. The black fabric cinched in, beautifully accentuating her slender curves while leaving her smooth, porcelain-white legs completely exposed down to her short boots.

As she fixed the collar, a faint scent of cool cedarwood and icy mint wafted into her nose.

Lyra paused, blinking her dark eyelashes. She definitely recognized this rich, expensive cologne from somewhere in her memories, but she couldn’t quite place who it belonged to. Shrugging off the thought, she smoothed down her shirt and called out in her mind:

System! How do I look?

Ding!

[ UM... YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, HOST! BUT- ]

Before the System could finish pointing out the potential hazard of her outfit, Lyra cut it off with a wave of her hand!

"No buts! That’s it, I’m going out! We seriously need to go on an emergency shopping spree for clothes later!"

With her hair cascading down her back in soft waves, Lyra turned on her heel and strutted gracefully out of her room.

The moment Lyra stepped out into the main administration hallway, every single passing guard and survivor stopped dead in their tracks!

Gasps of utter spellbound admiration echoed down the corridor. In a place where everyone was covered in soot, blood, and torn rags, Lyra looked like a breathtaking, delicate, and high-fashion model stepping off a runway. Her long, smooth legs were on full display with every graceful step she took.

Lyra walked into the main command office on the top floor.

The second she pushed the double doors open, the busy room fell into a deathly, pin-drop silence! Every single officer, scout, and squad leader turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes bulging out as their gazes locked onto her!

Lyra felt a violent wave of heat surge straight into her cheeks, her fair skin flushing a deep, rosy pink under the intense, suffocating stares!

Suddenly, a deathly cold aura cut through the heavy silence of the room.

Lyra tilted her head up, making direct eye contact with the man standing at the head of the central tactical table- Kael Noctis.

Kael’s piercing, emerald-green eyes had darkened into a pitch-black abyss, swirling with a storm of volatile, unknown emotions. His lashes cast heavy shadows over his cheekbones as his terrifying gaze locked dead onto her figure.

Whispers instantly bubbled among the surrounding vanguard officers in the room:

"Wait... isn’t that the Captain’s shirt?!"

"Is Miss Lyra and the Captain secretly together?!"

"Why on earth is she wearing his personal clothes?!"

Kael’s gaze slowly lowered, scanning down her slender waist, tracking every inch of her smooth, bare legs exposed beneath the black hem.

His Adam’s apple rolled heavily down his throat.

A dark, dangerous glint flashed deep within his emerald eyes as he raised his head, looking over at Senior Sister Claire.

"Take the Base B manifest papers," Kael commanded, his deep voice sounding raspy, quiet, and dangerously cold. "Everyone... walk out right now."

Claire blinked in surprise, but quickly gathered the files. The surrounding officers didn’t dare to hesitate for a single second, scrambling out the double doors as fast as their boots could carry them!

Lyra stood near the entrance, looking completely dumbfounded. Eh...? What about me?! Am I supposed to leave too?!

She turned on her heel, preparing to slip out behind Claire-

"Stay right there."

Kael’s icy voice echoed through the empty room!

Lyra’s breath caught in her throat. She gulped heavily, her eyes shaking in internal panic! HOLY SHIT! THIS IS IT! HE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO CONFRONT ME FOR SPYING ON HIM OR THROW ME OUT TO THE ZOMBIES!

STEP. STEP. STEP.

Kael stepped out from behind the table, his towering frame moving toward her with long strides.

Panicking, Lyra instinctively took a step back with every single step he took forward.

BAM!

Her back slammed against the cold wooden panel of the closed door!

Kael stopped right in front of her. He raised his long arm his hand against the doorframe right beside her head, trapping her completely within his shadow!

His terrifying gaze locked onto her trembling, rosy face. For some bizarre reason, an intense, burning wave of heat washed over Lyra’s entire body. Her heart began to pound loudly.

What on earth is going on...? Why is it suddenly so hot in here?! Lyra thought frantically!

Kael slowly leaned his tall frame down, his face hovering just inches from hers, his cool, mint-and-cedarwood breath brushing against the delicate shell of her ear.

"You..." Kael growled low and raspy.

Lyra’s face burned like a fiery volcano! She pressed her back flat against the door, her clear voice trembling with flustered panic: "W-What are you trying to do?!"

"Isn’t this... exactly what you want?" Kael whispered against her skin, his dark voice laced with a dangerous, intoxicating bite.

"WANT?! WHAT DO I WANT?!" Lyra squeaked out, her dark eyes wide with confusion!

"To seduce me... hm?" Kael murmured, his emerald eyes boring straight into her soul.

"EH?!!"

Lyra was completely dumbfounded! Her brain short-circuited so hard it practically burst into literal sparks!

Seeing her wide-eyed, completely speechless reaction, a sudden spike of bitter irritation flared deep within Kael’s chest. His jaw set tightly, his voice dropping into a cold sneer.

"Why?" Kael scoffed darkly. "Wasn’t that your exact plan from the very start when you followed me to my base?"

"ARE YOU COMPLETELY CRAZY?!" Lyra roared, her temper exploding out of embarrassment!

She ducked underneath his broad arm like a terrified cat, sprinting ten feet away to the opposite corner of the room, turning around to glare at him like a wild kitten that had just been forced to take bath!

"I literally didn’t have a SINGLE change of clothes left to wear because my uniform was torn to shreds!" Lyra yelled, pointing a finger at him! "I found this shirt hanging outside on the rail and put it on! That’s all! I NEVER HAD A SINGLE THOUGHT TO SEDUCE YOU"

Kael stood completely motionless by the door. His emerald-green eyes turned deathly cold.

"Oh... is that so?" Kael stated flatly, a bitter sneer touching his sharp lips. "Yes... after all, my lady would never pick up what she has already thrown away."

The quiet way he pronounced the words "my lady" sent an ice-cold shiver straight down Lyra’s spine! Her blood ran completely cold. Why did that specific phrase sound so terrifyingly familiar to her memories?!

Kael turned his broad shoulders, walking away without looking back, and sat down behind his mahogany desk. He picked up a pen, his voice flat, raspy, and completely devoid of warmth:

"Tell Claire to lend you some proper clothes for now. This shirt makes it look like you’re offering your bare legs for the zombies to chew on."

Lyra dropped her gaze, looking down at her slender, exposed legs- before her brain connected his words!

WHAT?! Lyra’s soul shrieked in absolute, bloodcurdling terror! THE ONLY ZOMBIE KING IN THIS ENTIRE BASE IS YOU! HOLY SHIT! WHAT IF HE’S TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF?! WHAT IF HE SEES MY LEGS LIKE ROASTED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS AND WANTS TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF ME AT NIGHT?! AHHH! SYSTEM! YOUR MALE LEAD IS TERRIFYING!

"EXCUSE ME!" Lyra shrieked, pulling open the double doors and sprinting out of the command office like a bat out of hell!

Inside the quiet command office...

Kael watched her small, panicked figure bolt down the hallway.

Seeing her genuine, terrified expression as she ran away, the cold tension in Kael’s emerald eyes slowly smoothed out. A tiny, soft breath of air escaped his chest.

"Too easy to scare..." Kael muttered softly under his breath, a tiny, almost invisible curve touching the corner of his lips.

However, the very next second, a sudden realization flashed deep within his mind.

She didn’t want to seduce him...

Kael leaned back against his chair, looking down at his empty desk. The last time a desperate female survivor had tried to use her body to entice him for protection, he had coldly thrown her to the outer mutant pack without a second thought. Yet this time... when Lyra explicitly declared that she had zero intention of seducing him...

Why on earth did he feel a sudden wave of... disappointment?

Outside in the main hallway...

Senior Sister Claire, who was waiting near the archway with the supply manifests, saw Lyra sprinting out of the office in panic!

SWOOP!

Claire reached out her long arm, catching Lyra firmly by her shirt collar before the girl could bolt down the stairs!

Lyra tumbled to a halt, looking up with big, teary eyes.

"What did the Captain say to you?" Claire asked, her eyebrows pulling together into a stern scowl. "Are you getting thrown out of the base right now?"

"EH?! NOT YOU TOO, SENIOR SISTER!" Lyra whined dramatically, pouting her rosy lips as she sniffled. "Does everyone in this base just want me kicked out?! Am I really that terrible?!"

Claire let out a heavy sigh, looking down at the dramatic girl. "Did the Captain scold you heavily?"

Lyra quickly shook her dark head, her hair swaying around her shoulders. "No..."

Claire stared at the oversized black shirt wrapped tightly around Lyra’s tiny waist, her sharp eyes softening into a complicated, weary expression.

"Why are you pulling these dangerous tricks, Lyra?" Claire asked softly.

Lyra blinked her large dark eyes in genuine confusion. "What tricks?! I didn’t pull any tricks!"

Claire lowered her gaze, pointing a finger at the custom silver buttons on the black shirt collar.

"You’re wearing the exact same designer shirt that you personally gifted to the Captain two years ago when you two were still dating on campus," Claire explained, her voice carrying a quiet weight. "And yet you wore this exact outfit into his office today to provoke him. Where did you even manage to dig it out from?"

EH?!!

Lyra’s jaw dropped in absolute shock! Her eyes bulged out of her head!

THIS OVERSIZED SHIRT WAS A GIFT TO KAEL FROM THE ORIGINAL HOST BACK WHEN THEY WERE DATING?!! AND HE STILL KEPT IT ALL THIS TIME?!

"I swear on my life, Senior Sister, I had absolutely zero idea!" Lyra stammered out frantically, cold sweat breaking out across her forehead as her brain went completely haywire! "I... I honestly thought he would have burned every single item I ever gave him into ash!"

She stood frozen in the hallway, clutching the black fabric around her chest as her mind raced in absolute chaos!

He kept her old gift for two whole years... even through the apocalyptic outbreak?!

WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON IN THIS CRAZY WORLD?!