“Puffff! Hahahaha…” Aria laughed heartily, her eyes sparkling with genuine amusement as she looked at Aether. “You’ve got some guts, kid.”
“No, I’m serious,” Aether replied, his expression unwavering. Ever since his survival rate had increased, he realized he needed to be straightforward with her, abandoning any passive or indirect approaches.
Aria’s laughter faded, and she frowned for a moment before shaking her head, her face clouding with a hint of sadness. “I’m happy you’re asking for a kiss from an old lady like me…”
“Old lady?” Aether echoed, his brow furrowing. He scrutinized her from head to toe. ‘There’s no way she’s an old lady… Damn, she doesn’t even look like a MIL— Ahem, a mature woman! She just looks like a girl in her twenties,’ he thought incredulously.
Noticing Aether’s intense gaze, Aria smiled gently. “I might not look old, but I am actually quite old, you know,” she said, rising gracefully from the bed and smoothing out her dress.
“How old are you exactly?” Aether’s curiosity was piqued even further.
“Hmm? Don’t you know it’s rude to ask a woman’s age?” Aria teased, picking up a piece of luggage that was sitting near her bed. She cast a playful glance at him, but there was a seriousness beneath her words.
Before Aether could respond, an elderly woman, who had been silently observing their exchange, chimed in, “Young man, she may look youthful, but she’s far older than I am.”
“!!!!!” Aether’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mind reeling with the information.
Aria’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she scolded the older woman, “Seriously, how can you say that to him?” She then glanced at Aether, who was still staring at her in shock, his mouth slightly agape.
Now visibly irritated, Aria snapped, “Why are you acting as if you’ve just heard something beyond imagination?”
“H-Huh?… If I say that was really beyond imagination, would you believe it?” Aether asked, still in shock, his voice almost trembling.
How was he supposed to react to this revelation?
He glanced between the elderly woman, who clearly appeared to be in her 80s, and Aria, who looked no older than her early twenties. And yet, the elderly woman claimed Aria was older than her.
Aria’s expression soured slightly. Noticing this, Aether hurriedly added, “N-No, don’t get me wrong! I just thought you were around 20 years old… so, you know…” He awkwardly scratched his head, hoping to defuse the tension that had settled between them.
Hearing that, Aria’s displeased expression softened into one of amusement as she mumbled, “Twenty… ah.”
“Tsk,” the old woman suddenly clicked her tongue, shooing them away from her territory.
‘I suppose no matter who it is, women surely hate mentioning their age…’ Aether thought, glancing at the door the old woman had just slammed.
Aether then turned his attention to Aria, who was walking away without responding to him.
“H-Hey!” Aether hurried to catch up with her. “You left without saying anything.”
“Hmm? What do I need to say to you?” Aria asked genuine curiosity in her voice. She was truly intrigued by this child, knowing full well what he was referring to.
Aether glanced around nervously before awkwardly saying, “K-Kiss?”
“….” Aria’s face lit up with amusement as she asked, “You really are asking for it? Even though I’m old and married?”
“OH! You’re married too?” Aether’s expression grew even more shocked.
“Tsk, don’t act like you don’t know!” Aria said with a smirk. She found his playful attitude endearing, not really minding her status.
“I really don’t know…” Aether’s eyes looked wide and innocent as if he genuinely had no idea she was married.
Veins popped on Aria’s forehead as she grabbed Aether’s ear and pinched it, saying, “You surely are a naughty brat.”
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!!” Aether winced in pain….. though not sincerely.
“I’m sorry, Miss… Please, don’t hurt this pitiful child!” Aether pleaded, his tone dramatically pitiful.
“Pff… hahaha…” Aria couldn’t help but laugh at Aether’s fake acting. She never thought she would encounter a child like him. To her, he seemed like a little boy acting out, completely contrasting his previous demeanour when he had saved her.
Aether then asked, “Can I help you?” as he tried to take her luggage from her hand, but Aria purposely refused.
“Please, I am the one who broke your ribs, so at least give me this chance to make amends,” Aether said with a serious and sorrowful expression.
Aria hesitated for a second, but seeing his sincere expression, she could only nod and hand over her luggage.
But then,
“Broke my ribs?” she echoed, thinking, ‘Yeah, I didn’t break my ribs until he arrived’ she frowned as her eyes widened in realization…. She looked at Aether, who was now running away as if he had been caught.
“You damn brat!” she shouted, a smile spreading across her face as she followed him.
[+10 Affection]
There was no hint of her regal status or even of being a married woman… All Aether saw was a straightforward child who loved to be praised by others.
“I am sorry… ouch,” Aether said with pitiful eyes as Aria pinched his ear like she was punishing a child.
Seeing his genuine discomfort, Aria nodded and released him, noticing the odd looks from passersby. She didn’t want to cause Aether any more trouble, so she let him go.
Some even started murmuring themself… If her husband were to hear that… She could only think what might happen to Aether.
As they walked in silence, Aether couldn’t think of anything else to say, so he decided to ask, “Why did the monsters only target you?”
It wasn’t just for the sake of conversation…. well, maybe a little—but he had noticed that she was the only one surrounded by the monsters. More importantly, the wolfman had led those creatures directly to her. It was clear her life had been in danger before, but his mission suddenly changed, suggesting the trouble had passed.
Although he doubted the wolfman had done it deliberately, the wolfman was also severely injured…
Suddenly, Aria’s face darkened…
She hadn’t realized it during the fight, but when Aether had smashed those monsters, she had seen faint threads wrapped around their bodies like puppets. She wasn’t sure who was behind it, but Kaelen was the first to come to mind since he had brought those monsters towards her when she was hurt. However, she didn’t rule out the possibility of the other two having a hand in it.
“Ms. Aria?” Aether called, noticing her prolonged silence.
“Hmm? Yes… I don’t know, but all I can say is that being the Arcane Queen is surely the worst thing,” Aria said, her face gloomy.
“…” Aether didn’t respond, sensing her distress.
As they reached the girl’s dormitory, Aria said she could handle it from there, but Aether refused and entered the dorm as if he owned the place.
When they arrived at the top floor using the spatial elevator, they were suddenly confronted….
“What are you doing?”
“…” Aether flinched when he saw Aqualina glaring at him with a mix of fury and doubt.
Aria also flinched, seeing Aqualina face-to-face for the first time.
“W-Well, I am…” Aether tried to explain, but his words faltered. ‘Shit, my luck is really bad!’ he thought.
Aqualina glanced at Aether’s hand, which was holding Aria’s luggage. No words were needed as she…
‘SLAP!’