Between Stars and Heartbeats

Chapter 1

In a galaxy far beyond our own, the Empire was ruled by Emperor Bartholomew Garfield, a figure whose appearance belied the struggles he faced. Half sea serpent and half carnivorous plant, Bartholomew had spent five hundred years unable to blossom, both literally and metaphorically. To pass the time in the sprawling Cypress Palace, he immersed himself in the world of his passionate obsession—lowbrow comics, filling the void of his lonely existence. The rest of the Fairy Galaxy often whispered behind his back, knowing his romantic pursuits were more theoretical than practical.
Bartholomew's duties as emperor were far from glamorous; he often found himself quelling rebellions, a task he engaged in with fierce energy—considering he was a middle-aged virgin, it was his way of venting pent-up frustrations. However, amid the chaos of his imperial life, something unexpected changed.
One day, while sprawled on the luxurious couch of his royal chambers, he stumbled upon a shocking ad aimed at the universe’s most eligible bachelor: a call for suitors from Lydia Althom, his favorite—and controversial—comic artist. The promise of love and companionship from someone as vibrant as Lydia stirred something deep within him, an emotion he hadn’t felt in centuries.
Meanwhile, the social scene of Emerald Star was buzzing with influential women. Ambassador Daphne Rivers, the most sought-after socialite of Emerald Star, radiated sophistication. Then there was Marshal Rosemary Lane, renowned for her striking beauty and fierce loyalty to the Empire. Director Gentiana Wise, a coveted figure in high society, emerged like a flower in pristine bloom, representing the ideals of any man who dared venture into romance.
As the plot thickened, Bartholomew's heart raced with hope, while his head wrestled with self-doubt. Would boldness lead him into the arms of the captivating Lydia, or would he become just another name in her countless stories? The stakes were high, and the stakes were not just romantic. With a backdrop of political strife, rebellious factions lurked not far from the palace, waiting for his next move.
In an unexpected twist of fate, not only did Bartholomew's longing for love ignite, but it also set off a chain reaction across the social sphere of Emerald Star. Everywhere, schemers, lovers, and rivals plotted their way into the emperor's admiration, with passion barely contained behind charming smiles.
As Bartholomew laid awake, pictures of Lydia danced in his mind, intertwined with dreams of grand gestures and heartfelt confessions. But little did he know that the whispers of jealousy and intrigue encircled him like a tightening noose.
In this strange universe of powerful beings, flamboyant personalities, and the laughter of high society, would love bloom where it seemed impossible? Only time would reveal whether the lonely emperor could seize his chance at happiness or watch it slip through his fingers like stardust on a clear night. Tissues may be needed for the emotional riding tides ahead—readers, be prepared for the laugh, the joy, and the unexpected drama that awaited in the interstellar courts of Emerald Star.

Chapter 2

In the Fairy Galaxy, the two-dimensional idol Lydia Althom announced that she was looking for love.
This was a major event that sent waves of excitement across the entire star system.
Every day, countless men anxiously waited in front of their devices for Lydias' holographic updates, eager to indulge in her latest work.
Residents of Botany Planet remarked, "With Lydia Althom’s spicy comics, my mom no longer has to worry about my love life."
Orcish clansmen proclaimed, "Thanks to Lydia Althom’s steamy comics, my wife no longer frets about my lack of interest in romance. Thank you, Lydia, for showing me so many new moves."
Merfolk added, "With Lydia Althom’s sultry comics, even we merfolk, who often find ourselves out of sync, can relish the joys of love."
As the spiritual leader of the Die Die Squad, Bartholomew Garfield was one of those eagerly anticipating Lydia Althom’s updates. His favorite pastime was racing to be among the first to see her new postings, though he often found himself disappointed.
Across his conquests in the Emerald Star, most planets in the Fairy Galaxy had already submitted to his rule.
But today was quiet—no conflicts at all.
So, Garfield once again found himself distracted online.
Despite a plethora of trending news and juicy gossip flooding the internet—filled with videos and songs—his patience was thin when it came to scrolling through. Ever since yesterday at 11 PM, it had been a full 28 hours without a single update from Lydia Althom. This was utterly unreasonable. Lydia had been reliably posting updates at 11 on the dot since her debut five years ago. Anxiety gripped Garfield as he wondered if something had gone awry.
What if she had been captured by those desperate orcs in some never-ending cycle of torment, or lured to a secluded island by merfolk to perform a classic dance?
Just the thought of it sent shivers down his spine. Even though he had never bloomed, there was something electrifying about the anticipation—truly classic Lydia Althom material.
Though his smart device was programmed to notify him of any new updates, Garfield stubbornly kept refreshing the page himself. Even if he couldn’t see the update, reading the comments still provided some solace. Some user suggestions were worth noting down, though he questioned how useful such notes would actually be.
As he pondered over this, a wave of melancholy washed over him. As a plant alien who hadn’t bloomed in five centuries, his worries felt justified. After all, 99% of plant aliens only experience their bloom once a year. Yet, like in Lydia Althom's comics, those devoted souls couldn’t bloom until meeting their destined partner—it was an oath to true love.
Reflecting on this lightened Garfield's spirits considerably.
So, my source of inspiration, Lydia Althom, why haven’t you updated? Perhaps it’s time to send the Royal Guard to do a little investigating.
Feeling restless, he clicked into Lydia Althom’s review section, only to find it flooded with comments: “Please marry me!”, “Give me a chance for that classic dance!”, “Will you create comics just for me in the future?” By the time he reached the last comment, Garfield slammed his palm on the table in frustration: “Lydia Althom is a shared treasure of the entire star system! How selfish! So incredibly selfish!”
Yet within the chaos of those posts, he seemed to grasp something significant. Staring at Lydia's name, a bright red live stream appeared. The unsettling title read: "The Hottest Comic Author Lydia Althom Revealed to be a Virgin, Seeks a Soulmate to Share Life."

Chapter 3

Lydia Althom was a virgin. Garfield Bartholomew’s eyes widened in disbelief. This revelation was more shocking than anything he’d encountered before, even more so than the sensationalism surrounding Sirius’s most beautiful starlet. After all, he was the artist behind countless blush-inducing masterpieces.
Pushing this puzzling question aside, the term “soulmates” struck Garfield right in the heart—a heart that had felt the gnawing loneliness of five hundred years. Without hesitation, he clicked on the video.
To his astonishment, the video was recorded in Sirius.
Ninety-nine percent of Sirius's population consisted of local beastmen, known for their aggressive customs and underdeveloped technology. The region, impoverished in mineral resources and remote in the galaxy, had merrily escaped the notice of any invading forces for years. More to the point, safety in the Sirius system was notoriously unreliable; it was said that someone would die on the streets every day while the authorities did nothing. This left Garfield worried for the safety of the captivating author he adored.
The host began, “Lydia Althom, what made you decide to seek a partner?”
The camera swiftly turned to Lydia, who had never exposed herself in the three-dimensional realm before. Garfield felt his heart race. Lydia approached with a radiant smile, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders, held back with a pretty piece of wood, revealing her captivating peach blossom-like eyes. She was petite, especially amongst the towering average height of 6’3” seen in Sirius, but Garfield was certain that even in a crowded room, she would draw attention effortlessly. Her skin gleamed like polished jade, and her features were painted with exquisite detail. Then there was that elusive quality about her.
It would be much later that he would come to realize this quality had a name: cultural rebel.
Lydia, feeling wonderfully satisfied in her classic, elaborate attire, thought of adding a wheelchair to fully embody a character from her favorite classic, but she figured these extraterrestrials wouldn’t comprehend the essence of this imperfect beauty, so she let it go.
With her long fingers crossed gracefully in her lap, Lydia sat confidently and answered, “This was just an impulsive decision by my editor.”
The host’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Was this not your choice?”
Shrugging, Lydia replied, “Well, sort of. I did admit to the editor that my home felt a bit quiet.” Not to mention a little lonely and cold. Men, after all, had their monthly hormonal fluctuations, which made them feel especially isolated. During those times, they often misspoke, leading to misconceptions of being overly eager. It was all rather unfair. Yet living alone for five years had sparked certain kinds of needs.
The host was genuinely shocked, “After reading your comics, us fans have always believed you...”
The host, a member of the Botany people known for their indirect speech, faltered at the gaze directed toward him; he was blushing now.
“What’s the matter? You’re turning pink,” Lydia said, frustrated. For someone who had never been on TV before, she wondered why her audience was so embarrassed.
The host managed to stammer, “You should stop being so modest.”
Lydia looked perplexed. “Modest about what?”
With growing courage, the host pressed on, “Fans think you have a stunning beauty beside you every day. They even speculate if you might be a prince from some planet with countless companions in your harem.” A speculative glance followed, “Seeing you in person, I must candidly say, you don’t quite fit that description, do you?”
Lydia was tight-lipped and filled with disbelief: Did they think she was spoiled?
“I am pure-hearted. It’s always been just me.”
The host sighed regretfully, “That’s a real shame then.”
Lydia lifted an eyebrow, sensing an impending storm, “A shame for what?”
Waving his hands defensively, the host quickly correct, “Oh no, no! You’re genuinely brilliant! Even without personal experience, you depict your stories so vividly and realistically.”
That’s true; her four years in college spent indulging in artful media should be paying off. Not like these aliens who had hung onto the most traditional two positions for millennia—it made her lose interest. Coughing lightly, the host quickly redirected the conversation, “Lydia Althom, what kind of partner are you hoping for?”
“Honestly, I don’t ask for much. Easy companionship is key because I believe true connection matters most.” The elegant statement cleverly cloaked her superficial preferences. She flashed a charming smile, “I’m looking for someone to hold hands with and never let go.”
Like a small hammer striking at his heart, Garfield felt the ripples of longing swell within him.
The show shared his private email publicly, and as Lydia made her way home, her communicator buzzed incessantly. Flooded with emails, she quickly issued a command, “Filter out all correspondence from Sirius.” After all, her agreement to such an obviously promotional matchmaking scheme was merely a ploy to escape this dangerous planet.
This place was no home for a person.
The anguish ran deep. Picture this: a fine young man from the 21st century, inexplicably stuck here after a plane crash, not dropped in one of the three primary cities, but rather in treacherous wilderness; had it not been for Old George, he would have been prey for beasts by now.
Even after Old George had brought him to the relative safety of Agra, he had been attacked multiple times on the streets. It seemed his blood was like ambrosia to the beastmen. Resolute about his departure from this perilous planet, he soon discovered that leaving was far tougher than crossing any nearby border. So he buckled down and worked tirelessly to save for a ticket on a costly private vessel. The risks were high; if caught, it would mean certain doom. But then, Lydia's unexpected plea for connections sparked brilliant inspiration—what if he could convince a peaceful world’s citizen to come take him far away? He wouldn’t have to live in fear on this planet anymore.

Chapter 4

Returning to her cozy apartment, Lydia Althom finally felt a sense of safety enveloping her. The streets outside were teeming with robbers, pickpockets, and murderers, but her residence in the Noble Quarter provided a haven, complete with patrolling guards, surveillance cameras, reinforced windows, and a triple-locked door. As long as she stayed inside, she was safe. With a careless kick, she sent her shoes flying off her feet and collapsed onto the sofa. "Show me my emails, Quantum."
Emails projected across the large screen of her interstellar TV.
The senders showcased an unusual level of confidence in their appearances, each email festooned with photos. A surprising number showed various naked creatures, and whether intentional or accidental, they flaunted their impressive anatomy, leaving Lydia squirming at the thought—those sizes were beyond human comparison, making her want to curb certain excesses.
"Did I not tell you to filter out all the Sirius ones?" Lydia exclaimed, slapping the table in frustration.
Quantum sighed, looking somewhat hurt. "It’s not just Sirius that has beast folk. Your influence reaches the entire galaxy, after all."
"True." Lydia nodded, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "Then delete them all—beast illustrations are just annoying. Can we not? I'm not into bestiality."
"And merfolk,” she added. “I can’t live underwater, and a damp indoor environment doesn't work for me either." That eliminated another group entirely.
After some more filtering, only the plant folk and a few unshapeshifting minor races remained.
With renewed interest, Lydia began to peruse the remaining selections.
Most of the photos from the plant beings featured vibrant flowers: small chrysanthemums, delicate peach blossoms, charming plum blossoms, and an enormous specimen dubbed Lord Emperor Blossom...
Flowers = the reproductive organs of plants; Lydia had retained that nugget of knowledge. The prettiest flowers no longer held her interest. After sifting through email after email, she didn’t find a single appealing candidate. That was until an image of an impressively gigantic willow tree caught her eye.
The picture seemed to have been taken on a breezy, sunny day, where countless green branches danced gracefully in the wind, creating a delightful green oasis. The sender's name—a whimsical "Lily"—evoked a refreshing and innocent vibe.
As she read the email, it felt reminiscent of a schoolgirl’s letter or a writing assignment, bubbling with a childlike excitement. Stretching a whopping five thousand words, the correspondence meandered through topics ranging from the latest anime releases and melodramatic soap operas to the culture and geography of Emerald Star, before finishing with a rosy vision of their potential future together.
Because King Bartholomew was an "X-challenged" individual, there was nary a risqué topic touched upon—stargazing together was kept delightfully wholesome.
One crucial point stood out to Lydia: this person was from Emerald Star.
Emerald Star was a marvelous place, boasting welfare systems and safety akin to that of Switzerland. It was home to plant beings who thrived on sunlight and flowing streams, and its technological advancements were notable; much of the Fairy Galaxy was comprised of colonies from Emerald Star. However, the challenges of immigration were well-known…
This was ripe for seduction.
Nurturing a tree? That sounded manageable.
Lydia’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she reread the email, seizing on a particular detail. To charm this guy—clearly a homebody into anime—her reply needed to include a playful barrage of kawaii emojis while maintaining an air of shy allure, reaching out like a delicate olive branch from an unreachable flower atop a mountainside.
Having decided on this, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t finished today's comic strip: oh no, her daily posting record would be shattered!
Dropping followers equated to dropping revenue, and no revenue meant no ticket to purchase her own spacecraft.

Chapter 5

Bartholomew Garfield felt a rush of motivation as soon as he thought about it.
"Set the email notifications to silent; I need to draw for a bit."
He laughed happily for five minutes, a rare show of joy that left Marshal Rosemary, who had come to report on national affairs, bewildered at the door. "Your Majesty, are you finally losing your mind for refusing to take your medicine?"
Garfield slammed his hand on the table, laughing uproariously, completely ignoring her.
Rosemary, arms crossed, was torn between wanting to throw a stack of documents requiring his signature at him and shaking her head in disbelief. "What are you even doing? If you’ve got nothing better to do than sit there and act ridiculous, I have serious matters to attend to."
Garfield finally straightened his face, but his lips betrayed him, and the smile he fought to hide made him look even more charming, irritating Rosemary further.
The "serious matter" on his mind was, of course, sending a reply to Lydia Althom. Just thinking about it made him giddy with excitement.
With a frustrated slap on the desk, Marshal Rosemary reacted, exasperated by five centuries of service to such an unreliable boss. "Is waiting for Lydia Althom’s update really more important than finalizing the trade treaty with Sirius?"
"You don't understand," Garfield said, suddenly adopting a regal demeanor. "Responding to Lydia Althom is my top priority!"
"You've got to be kidding me." After a moment of disbelief, Rosemary stared in shock. "You expect a reply? Especially today, when she just announced her search for a suitor?"
Garfield's face lit up again, and he chuckled. "It must be because she has taken a liking to me. We have a connection!"
Taking advantage of his merriment, Rosemary rushed to check the screen on his computer. The email history was glaringly in view. "Wow, Your Majesty, you can hardly keep track of the speeches you’re supposed to make, but here you are, overflowing with words in a marriage proposal email."
Garfield defended himself vehemently. "This is about my happiness for the rest of my life!"
Rosemary cast a dubious look his way. "With that half-millennium of being single, what makes you think you’re entitled to happiness? And who would dare to marry a man-eating tree, anyway? Are you sure your identity hasn’t been exposed?"
"Not a chance! I have an anonymous ID for reviewing," Garfield replied with a patronizing eye-roll. "Lydia sounds similar to Bartholomew. That's not deception!"
Rosemary’s apprehension grew. Online romances? That was widely known to be untrustworthy. She recalled a news story about a mermaid who got tangled up with a piranha in an online relationship, which ended badly when she excitedly went to meet him and ended up as his lunch.
“Rosemary.”
“What?”
“You’ve dated several people, haven’t you?”
Rosemary immediately tensed; years of experience told her this was trouble. “What are you getting at?”
Garfield erupted with irritation. “Help me draft a reply! The noble yet cute response I’m imagining has completely fried my brain!” How could he use such an adorable emoji like ^_^? And how could he dare to add "meow" to a sophisticated line? It made his stomach flutter with excitement, and he had no idea how to handle it.

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