“You’re avoiding me, aren’t you?” Aether asked, his expression filled with judgment.
Empress studied Aether’s face for a moment, noting the annoyance etched there. She inwardly found his sudden accusation amusing and decided to play along, saying, “What gives you that impression?”
“Tsk, did you think I wouldn’t notice your beautiful eyes avoiding looking at mine?” Aether voiced his dissatisfaction.
“Cough, Cough,” Empress sputtered as her tea took an unexpected route down the wrong pipe.
Never in her life had she imagined hearing a complaint intertwined with a compliment.
Just as she reached for a handkerchief,
Aether’s concern interrupted herm “Are you okay?” He stood before her, patting her head and using his sleeve cuff to wipe away the spiled tea from her lips.
Empress momentarily froze, not because of Aether’s touch, though that played a part, but most importantly because she hadn’t sensed his approach until he touched her head.
‘He’s growing stronger at an alarming rate…’ Empress thought, observing Aether’s shining blue eyes reflecting genuine concern.
“Hmm?” Aether tilted his head, noticing the Empress’s once-misty purple eyes now looking at him directly. A small warmth and happiness graced Aether’s face as he remarked, “Now you’re looking at me…”
‘Ba-Dump’
“!!!!” Empress’s eyes widened in surprise, her heart pounding loudly in her chest all of a sudden…. She could literally hear the beating!!
‘pufff’
“What the…?” Aether was taken by surprise as he watched the Empress vanish before his very eyes. He scanned the room, bewildered, only to find her standing in the farthest corner.
‘What in the world is she doing over there?….. Could it be that she’s scared of me? Empress never reacted like this?’ Aether wondered, his smile tinged with genuine surprise. He was truly surprised to see her running away like a rabbit… Just as he was about to take a step forward to inquire…
“Did you get drunk again?” The Empress’s stern and serious voice cut through the air, her gaze fixed firmly on Aether.
“Hmm? What are you talking about?” Aether furrowed his brow, puzzled by the accusation of being drunk.
He? Drunk? Of course not.
In fact, the situation amused him, especially seeing the Empress’s sudden change in demeanour.
He wanted to tease her!
“No, don’t move!” Empress commanded with a serious tone, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and authority.
‘I just want to be true to myself instead of holding back and overthinking… but that seems to have caused quite a diverse reaction…. It’s truly amusing,’ Aether thought, a hint of amusement playing on his expression.
He was well aware that he was being bold; summoning his card had slightly filled the dark side… He knew after reading the data… He brought out his hidden desire and that was… to make her blush.
Of course, that desire was only temporary. He wasn’t daring enough to take it any further.
Continuing to tease her, Aether furrowed his brow and inquired, “Why?”
Empress glared at Aether, her tone laced with authority, “Because I am the Empress, and you are nothing but a slave!”
Hearing that, Aether’s lips twitched in amusement, ‘You speak of our status when you practically sit on me?’ he wanted to retort but knew this was a delicate moment; he needed to tread carefully, or his head would be rolling on the ground before he knew it.
“I-I apologize for my insolence…” Aether said with a sad, fake expression, overlaying it with his true emotions, “I-I simply wanted to understand why you seemed to be avoiding me. Please forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty.”
“H-Huh?” Empress observed Aether’s change in demeanour, sighing inwardly as she calmed herself from overreacting to a simple touch. She recognized his genuine curiosity, especially since she often teased him.
“Fine!” Empress declared, walking toward Aether and positioning herself before him, “But don’t touch me without my permission.”
“I see…” Aether met her gaze, noticing her avoidance, and offered a sly smirk. “Then you shouldn’t touch me without my permission, Deal?”
“Hmm?” Empress found his negotiation amusing. ‘Look at him, trying to bargain with me… Oh?’ she mused, replying, “As the Empress, I can do as I please,” as she lightly touched his chest with her fingers, wearing a seductive smile.
She anticipated Aether’s reaction, expecting him to tremble like a rabbit caught in her net, just like before. However, this time…
“You touched~” Aether remarked with a small smile, seemingly unfazed and almost as if he had been anticipating her touch.
Empress’s seductive smile faltered when she noticed the tenderness in his eyes as if he were taking care of her with just his gaze.
‘Ba-dump’
‘Fuck This! What is wrong with him!!’ She screamed inwardly, feeling a surge of frustration, and was about to push him away when…
“Empress…” Aether’s face broke into a wide grin as he spoke gently, “You are blushing~”
Empress flinched instinctively, her heart skipping a beat. In a matter of seconds, she found herself standing before a mirror, scrutinizing her reflection… To her shock, she noticed a slight red hue on her cheeks.
“Me?” She questioned herself, surprised by her own reaction, before glancing back at the boy who was grinning as if he had won something.
“Tsk” Empress clicked her tongue in annoyance before swiftly returning to Aether and pushing him onto the bed, taking her seat atop him just like before.
“Y-You should consider yourself l-lucky to see me blush, you little brat!” Empress declared, her grip tightening around his neck.
Empress was well aware that Aether was weak against women’s advances, especially given how he often avoided her like a plague. She had hoped to see him blush and tremble beneath her touch, expecting a certain reaction from him…
Yet,
“Your eyes are even more beautiful when you’re blushing!” Aether remarked with a gentle and warm smile….. The next moment, he found himself standing outside her room.
‘How did I end up here?’ Aether wondered, slightly perplexed but,
[+100 Affection]
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 6.4%↓]
He shook his head thinking this was not the Empress he had in his mind… She truly acted like a little girl. He smiled to himself as he walked away, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Once Empress threw Aether out, she slammed her hand on the table in frustration, emitting a loud “grrrr” as she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t believe her heart had been swayed by his sweet smile as if he had awakened something inside her heart.
“Damn that brat!! He must be laughing at me!!!” Empress’s face turned even redder in shame, and then she shouted to herself, “Damn, heart!! Just fucking calm down!!”
Hearing the ruckus, the Empress’s maid entered the room immediately, worried that the Empress was under attack. To her surprise, the Empress was the one causing the commotion, breaking things in her fit of anger.
The maid wanted to inquire about what happened, but she chose to stay silent. After a minute of venting her frustration, the Empress finally composed herself and said firmly, “Get everyone ready; we are leaving for the Academy.”
“Understood, Your Majesty!” The maid bowed before quickly leaving to carry out the orders.