Taylor replied with a cheeky smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “What? Missing me already even though you proposed to the Empress?”
Hearing that, Aether’s face turned a deep shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and confusion swirling within him.
He hadn’t expected Taylor to know about the proposal, especially considering their unknown relationship status.
His mind raced with thoughts, trying to decipher what she must be feeling now.
Taylor grinned, placing her hand gently on Aether’s neck, savouring the look of surprise and discomfort on his face, “What?” she asked, her voice laced with playful curiosity.
“Well… Don’t you feel… anything?” Aether stammered, his words stumbling over each other as he struggled to express his thoughts.
Relationships were a still mess for him, and he felt vulnerable and exposed, scratching his head awkwardly.
Taylor’s smile softened, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and tenderness, ‘So, he does care about my feelings,’ she thought, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
That was enough for her!
She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips, a soft and unexpected gesture that left him momentarily stunned,
“I… don’t feel anything,”
Hearing that, Aether’s heart sank, a wave of sadness washing over him. If she had felt jealous, it would have been a sign of her affection. But most of all…
‘She never gave me any affection points!’ Aether thought, recalling how earlier, Delphine hadn’t given him any affection points either…. it made him ponder deeply, it was then he remembered that Taylor had never shown any affection points despite their intimate moments. It was his mistake for not noticing before!
He was truly careless against Taylor!
He asked his log for answers, but as usual, it didn’t respond, leaving Aether to ponder whether she was playing with him all this time or if there was something else entirely.
If it was ‘Play’ then… He would feel truly devasted!
Despite his confusion, he couldn’t deny the sincerity in her eyes. Her expressions were genuine, filled with warmth and affection… not the points.
If she was acting, she was doing an incredible job and he fucked up!
Seeing his sad face, Taylor bit her lip, hesitating. She wasn’t sure if she should reveal the truth, knowing she was just a tool for the Empress. But she remembered how angry Aether had gotten for her… even though she had lied.
Biting her trembling lips, she thought, ‘Forgive me, your Majesty,’ and said softly,
“… Because you are the only one I have feelings for!”
Aether was confused. Taylor smiled and showed him her log as if she lying naked before him:
Name: Celestia Nocturne
Sex: Female
Race: Siren [The Auralis Bloodline]
Level: 41
Title: Tool for the Marisandra Naiadia, Fallen Princess, Heartless Creature, Heart only for Aether.
Attributes:
Strength: 403
Agility: 410
Intelligence: 405
Magic Affinity: 410
Charm: 410
When Aether saw the log, he was shocked.
The title ‘Heart only for Aether’ stunned him. He immediately picked her up and sat on the bed, placing her on his lap. He gently asked, “What does ‘Heart only for Aether’ mean?”
For him, this was more important than anything else, although he had many questions he wanted to ask later.
Still, He wanted to know as his heart beat faster.
Her face turned a deep shade of red as she shyly looked down.
“I-Is it… what it says,” she stammered.
‘Gulp’
Aether gulped, feeling his heart race as he looked at her expression, ‘My goodness!!!’ he screamed inwardly, pulling her even closer and kissing her hand.
Then Aether softly asked, “I want to know everything about you… Please tell me,” as he entwined his fingers with hers, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and tenderness.
She smiled, seeing how much Aether wanted to know about her. Slowly, she began to tell her story,
“I was the child of the previous Empress and Emperor of the Aquaris Naiadae Empire. I was born with an innate bloodline called The Auralis Bloodline of the Siren Race, which is the most powerful and dangerous one.”
She paused, taking a deep breath, “It has the ability to enchant others with mere songs. My voice was enough to make my enemies scream in nightmares, to break their minds without me lifting a finger. Just a few sounds from my throat were enough to end their lives or… to let them sleep peacefully in sweet dreams.”
Aether listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers.
“However,” she continued, her voice softening to a whisper, “due to this bloodline, I lost my heart… or more accurately, the ability to feel emotions towards others.
I felt completely empty!
I couldn’t feel sorrow for a death, happiness for a victory, disgust for unsightly things, or… even love for someone.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at Aether, her expression filled with raw vulnerability.
“But t-then…” Her voice wavered, and she took a moment to compose herself, her eyes searching for the right words.
“When I… I encountered a white-haired boy, my heart, which had been silent and emotionless, suddenly began to beat. I don’t know why or how, but every time I was near him, my heart would flutter uncontrollably.
Thinking about him made me feel alive as if I could live a normal life.
That lifeless dance suddenly became bright and filled with colours it made my heart race even more…
And when that boy kissed me… A whole new array of emotions erupted within me… happiness, fear, sadness, possessiveness, and… lust.
Emotions I had never felt before in my life.”
As she looked at Aether, her eyes turned teary, her voice trembling with emotion, “I-I feel really alive now… as if Arcane brought him into my life just for me.”
Aether smiled gently, as he rubbed away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Though he understood her words, he knew she was holding back a deep well of pain that couldn’t be easily expressed.
No one could explain their pain in just a few words!
He, too, had suffered greatly in his past!!
Aether hugged her tightly, “Then?”
She smiled, continuing her story, her voice steady, “Well, due to internal problems, the throne was usurped, and both the Empress and Emperor were killed.”
Aether noticed there was no pain in her eyes as she spoke about the death of her parents. ‘Maybe they didn’t treat her well, or she didn’t feel anything towards them… Must be hard,’ he thought, his heart aching for her.
She continued, “Then Empress Marisandra Naiadia took over the Empire. She didn’t kill me; she just let me go. But I didn’t leave. I formed a contract with her, agreeing that my sole purpose would be to serve as her tool. She could use me and discard me as she wished.”
Hearing that, Aether frowned, “Why didn’t you leave? You could have had a normal life.”
She looked at Aether, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and confusion, “I… I don’t know… I don’t understand myself sometimes… Maybe if I had left that day,” she said, touching his cheek gently, “I don’t think I would have ever met you.”
Aether was speechless, “Still…”
She shook her head, smiling softly. Whenever she saw his worried expression, she felt her heart being pierced, yet it made her feel truly alive.
In a soft, almost inaudible voice, she said, “Maybe because… Marisandra Naiadia… is my big sister”