‘SLAP!’
That slap was enough to make Aether fall to the ground, his head spinning from the impact.
It took a second for Aria to react. “W-What the…?” she exclaimed, just about to help Aether when,
“Mrs. Aria Zephyr,” Aqualina said, her voice cold and indifferent.
“Y-Yes?” Aria flinched, looking up at Aqualina.
“Mind telling me why MY servant is holding your luggage?” Aqualina asked, her tone dripping with disdain.
“W-Well, he was trying to help me,” Aria stammered.
“OH? Helping…ah,” Aqualina nodded as she crouched down, her gaze piercing into Aether. “So, you’re licking another’s foot now?”
“H-Hey, what are—” Aria began, but Aqualina cut her off with a steely glare. “He is MY servant… Do you have any problem with that?”
“…” Aria halted her words, her eyes dropping in defeat.
Aqualina nodded, satisfied, and turned back to Aether. “Now…” she said, grabbing Aether’s hair roughly, “are you licking another’s foot now?”
“N-No, M-Madam!” Aether replied, his voice trembling as he avoided her gaze.
“Then why…” Aqualina asked, slamming Aether’s head onto the ground with brutal force.
“BOOM!”
“…are you holding…”
“BOOM!”
“… her luggage?”
“BOOM!”
‘Drip, Drip’
Blood flowed from Aether’s head, his eyes becoming hazy and unfocused.
Seeing this brutality, Aria couldn’t help but reach out and grip Aqualina’s hand, trying to stop her.
“Hmm? Is something wrong?” Aqualina asked with a frown, looking at Aria’s hand gripping hers.
“….” Aria just stared at Aqualina.
“Is something wrong?” Aqualina asked again, her tone more threatening.
“D-Don’t you think this is too much?” Aria asked, her grip tightening on Aqualina’s hand, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.
Aqualina smirked, sensing Aria’s anger and frustration, “Too much? Come on now… He is MY servant.
I can do whatever I want.
I can even kill him.
He. belongs. to. me!
You got it?”
“Grrr,” Aria clenched her jaw, her anger boiling over. She wanted to say something to stop this madness, but she knew she was in no position to challenge Aqualina. She glanced at Aether, who was still smiling faintly despite the blood streaming down his face. It only angered her more. Just a few moments ago, they had been talking and laughing, and now…
“Sigh,” Aria sighed deeply, releasing Aqualina’s hand. She looked at Aqualina with an indifferent face, masking her turmoil. “You act like a child whose toy was stolen.”
“What?” Aqualina frowned, her eyes narrowing as she let go of Aether and stood up to glare at Aria. “What did you just say?”
Aria met her glare, her voice steady despite the tension. “I said, you act like a spoiled child whose toy was taken away. It’s pathetic.”
Aqualina stared blankly at Aria, then looked up and down before smirking and said, “I suppose, for an old hag like you… I might seem like a child.”
Veins popped on Aria’s forehead, the tension escalating as if they were about to fight. However, Aqualina suddenly stepped back. “I don’t have time to play with you,” she said, walking towards the spatial elevator. Before disappearing, she commanded,
“Come with me, Aether.”
“U-Understood” Aether nodded.
Aria immediately helped Aether to stand up and tried to wipe his forehead, but he protested, “I-I am fine Ms. Aria.” He was about to follow Aqualina, but Aria caught his hand.
“You are bleeding. You need to go to the infirmary, now,” Aria insisted, trying to guide him there.
“I-I am sorry, Ms. Aria, but Madam Aqualina will punish me again If I don’t go now,” Aether said with a gloomy smile.
“….” Aria’s face turned sad. Just by looking at Aether’s face, she could see how much he was enduring. She couldn’t help but think of how he had grabbed her husband’s neck without hesitation.
She felt like Aether was chained LION!
“A-At least let me wipe the blood,” she said.
This time, Aether let her. Her hands trembled a bit as she wiped the blood from his forehead.
‘She must be a soft person…’ Aether thought.
“Thank you,” Aether said with a gentle and grateful smile before following Aqualina.
Aria stared at the spot where Aether had disappeared before looking at the bloodstained handkerchief in her hand.
Her mind turned hazy before she shook her head, saying, “T-This is just normal,” trying to convince herself. She took her luggage and entered her room, though she glanced at the spatial elevator one last time…
[+100 Affection]
…..
…
INFIRMARY
“OUCH!” Aether shouted as the old lady in the infirmary treated his wounds, her hands steady and experienced. “C-Can’t you just use a healing potion?”
The old lady replied while plastering his forehead, “Young man, this wound will heal easily. There’s no need for a healing potion…”
“Even so…” Aether grumbled.
“Believe me… Healing potions are not as simple as you think. They have side effects, like stunting your growth if you use them too often, and they can even cause mental fatigue. In simple terms, they can do more harm than good. For wounds like this, you just need normal treatment,” the old lady said with a warm smile.
Aether sighed, and then his eyes fell on Aqualina, who was standing beside them.
“Off you go,” the old lady said after finishing, then turned to Aqualina. “I believe you said he fell down the stairs, right?”
“…Yes,” Aqualina nodded.
The old lady noted it in her records and looked at Aqualina with a stern face. “This is the last time, right?”
Having worked in the infirmary for almost a decade, the old lady knew the nature of these wounds. She didn’t want to press the issue on their first day, so she issued a warning to Aqualina, making her expectations clear.
Aqualina nodded curtly and left the infirmary, with Aether following behind her. He turned back to thank the old lady before exiting.
As they left, the old lady stared at the door for a moment, then looked down at the datasheet about Aether. “Ether… ah,” she mumbled, lost in thought.
Outside the Infirmary Corridor,
“Princess, you really are good at acting!” Aether said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood as they walked down the corridor.
“Oh! Am I?” Aqualina replied with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Yes, I really thought you were angry. You know, the slap didn’t even hurt me in the first place,” Aether said, still shocked by the recent events.
He had genuinely believed she was furious when she caught him with Aria, but her quick thinking to make him look pitiful in front of Aria and cast herself as the villain was truly impressive.
“Well… I was also surprised when you came with Aria. You really know how to make a move on women,” Aqualina said with a smile. She had only been out to see the layout of the academy for her future plans… when she stumbled upon Aether with Aria.
She couldn’t miss the opportunity and instantly took the villain route.
“Even though you are a villain,” Aether said those words unconsciously, his thoughts slipping out before he could stop them.
“!!” Aqualina flinched, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Aether. “What did you say?”
“N-Nothing!!” Aether waved his hands in defence.
Aqualina’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Aether’s forehead where the plaster was placed. “D-Does that hurt?”
“…Well… Yeah,” Aether nodded. Even though Aqualina had been acting, she had really slammed him against the wall, and the force of her slap, though controlled, had still left a mark.
“Hmm…” Aqualina hesitated, glancing at Aether.
“Yes?” Aether asked, curiosity piqued by her uncharacteristic pause.
“I…..”
“You?”
“I…I s…. Nothing,” Aqualina simply shrugged, then quickened her pace, her demeanour closing off again.
Aether tilted his head in confusion, a slight frown forming on his face. However, a notification popped up in his mind:
[+400 Affection]
Aether could only smile inwardly and shook his head, thinking, ‘Typical Tsundere…’
After their exchange, Aqualina and Aether spent the remainder of the day exploring the Academy, making mental notes of its layout and significant landmarks. Aether found the architecture impressive, a blend of old-world charm and modern facilities.
As the sky darkened, signalling the end of their tour, Aqualina returned to her dormitory while Aether finally stood before the Servants’ Dorm.
“Not bad,” Aether muttered as he entered the building. It wasn’t as fancy as the main dormitories, but it was far better than what he had rented in his previous life. The common areas were clean, and the atmosphere was surprisingly welcoming.
Finding his room, number 28, Aether entered and smiled, “Good…” he said, looking around. It was a typical dorm room, much like the ones he had seen in his past life. A single room with a bunk bed and an attached bathroom.
“I guess I’m not alone then,” Aether mumbled when he saw the bunk bed. He wanted to take the lower bunk but decided to wait for his roommate to arrive and let them choose first.
He had no luggage, just the spare clothes offered by the Academy for servants. He inspected the room, noting its simplicity but appreciating the comfort it offered.
“SSsss~”
A small sound drew his attention, and Snowflake, his pet, peeked out from his pocket, her tiny face filled with concern.
When Aqualina had slapped him, Snowflake had almost burst out if not for Aether holding her down.
“I’m really fine, you know,” Aether reassured her, though Snowflake’s worried eyes told him she wasn’t convinced.
“Sssss~”
[+1000 Affection]
Snowflake kissed his forehead, showing her deep concern for him. The gesture touched Aether, bringing a warm smile to his face.
“Hahah…” Aether laughed softly, feeling grateful for her affection. But then,
“You tamed a monster?”
“SHIT!!”
“HIIISSS!!”
Both Aether and Snowflake were startled by the sudden voice behind them.