In the secluded chamber,
Maelona stared blankly at her daughter, who stood before her with her head bowed in guilt and shame. The silence between them was heavy…
“You know, I thought you had matured a lot, know better and yet…” Maelona’s voice was tinged with a profound sense of defeat. Her heart ached with the unbearable dilemma she faced: either sentence her beloved daughter to death, a choice no mother could bear, or… confine her once more to the cold, unforgiving cage.
Maelona sighed deeply, her breaths heavy with the burden of her thoughts. She considered the myriad possibilities, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions, yet…
“Why did you do that?” Maelona finally asked her voice a mixture of exasperation and sorrow.
“… I… I… I wanted to show my affection,” Aria stammered.
Hearing this, Maelona’s anger surged like a storm, “Affection? Now look at where it has brought you!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber.
Aria bit her lip. She had thought a simple hug would be harmless, but it seemed the old fools were resolute in their adherence to tradition.
“Aether?” Aria’s brow furrowed as she realized his absence, a pang of worry piercing her heart.
“Hmm? That bastard already ran away,” Maelona said with a disgusted expression, recalling how he had slipped away from the court. She couldn’t believe she had almost been swayed by his determined look, now revealed as a facade.
“Run away?” Aria shook her head in disbelief, her heart refusing to accept the possibility, “There is no way!”
Maelona snorted, unimpressed by her daughter’s steadfastness. “Looks like he played you very well… That servant!” Her words were laced with contempt.
“Mother!!” Aria protested, her voice rising with a mix of anger and hurt. She hated the way her mother referred to him.
“Hmm? Are you still defending him, even though he abandoned you?” Maelona’s voice was cold, her eyes narrowing.
“He didn’t abandon me!” Aria’s voice was firm, her faith in Aether unwavering.
“Then where is he?” Maelona asked sarcastically, her eyebrow raised in a cruel challenge.
“H-he must be looking around the city,”
“Yeah, yeah… When his lover was about to be hanged to death?” Maelona’s voice grew thick with irritation, her patience wearing thin.
Aria gritted her teeth, her faith in Aether steadfast. She knew he would never abandon her….. That was her love! She could not and would not doubt him, no matter what.
“He might be thinking of some way to escape…”
Maelona shook her head, dismissing her daughter’s words as fantasy. There was no conceivable way he could manage it. “Anyhow, I don’t want my daughter to die before me,” she said, her tone final as if she had reached an irrevocable decision.
Aria’s face drained of colour, her heart sinking, “M-Mom, you want me to suffer with that incompetent bastard?” Her voice cracked, the desperation clear.
Maelona bit her lip, her face stern. “Is there any other way?” she asked, her eyes searching Aria’s for an answer that could change their fate.
“… I… Give me time, Mom. I will—”
“You know you cannot, right?” Maelona interrupted, her voice soft but unyielding.
“….”
“And here I thought you believed your ‘lover’ would come and save you,” Maelona’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“MOM!! He is just a small boy! What do you expect from him?” Aria shouted back, incredulous that her mother still spoke lowly of her lover. Sure, Aether didn’t know much about the outside world, but Aria was certain that once he learned, he would be the best among the best! Her heart burned with a fierce love and unshakeable belief in him.
All Aether needed was time and knowledge!
Maelona wore a pitiful expression before she turned and walked back to the Elven Court
…..
…
The grand hall of the Elven Court was once again filled with an air of anticipation, the gathered elves murmuring softly as they awaited the resumption of the proceedings. Their faces were a mix of curiosity and dread, knowing the gravity of the situation.
Maelona entered the hall with a commanding presence, her platinum hair shimmering like moonlight against her dusky blue skin. She moved with grace and authority, each step echoing in the silent room. She ascended the elevated floor, taking her seat with an air of solemn dignity. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on her.
“This session of the Elven Court is now reconvened,” Maelona began, her voice resonating powerfully through the chamber, each word measured and deliberate. “We have gathered once more to deliver the final judgment regarding the dissolution of the union between Aria Zephyr and Alaric Zephyr.”
She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle over the room, each elf holding their breath. “After careful deliberation and consideration of all presented grievances, it is time to announce the court’s decision.”
Maelona’s gaze shifted to Aria and Alaric, who stood before her, their expressions tense and filled with dread. “Aria Zephyr, who committed adultery, shall be hanged to death….”
A collective gasp swept through the hall. Even Alaric’s face showed shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. But Maelona raised her hand, signalling for silence as she had not yet finished.
“However,” Maelona continued her voice unwavering and clear, “Alaric Zephyr, considering he is the EMPEROR of this world and still loves and desires her even after her transgression, we shall acknowledge his love and earnestness. Thus, in light of his plea and the love he still holds for Aria….”
Aria gritted her teeth, her heart pounding in her chest. The situation was dire, and she knew she had only one option left: to escape before he could capture her again and imprison her in the cage.
Her hands trembled as she prepared to summon her Arcane Card…
Alaric’s smile broadened with triumph, feeling as though he had finally ensnared the bird. All he needed to do now was secure it carefully and tightly within its cage…
Maelona turned to Aria, her expression severe as she prepared to deliver the verdict. “Aria Zephyr will not face death. Instead, she shall be removed from her ti—”
“YOUR GRACE!!!!” a panicked voice interrupted.
Maelona frowned as she saw a group of guards rushing into the grand hall. “What has happened?” she demanded, her tone sharp.
“I-It-it’s m-my… oth-other… no…” The guard stammered, his face pale with fear and confusion.
Alaric, irritated by the disruption just as he was about to claim his prize, released a menacing pressure upon the pitiful guard, “We are busy. Speak quickly and clearly,” he growled.
The guard nearly collapsed under the weight of Alaric’s power, but Maelona’s stern command broke through. “Alaric Zephyr, stop this at once!”
As the pressure lifted, the guard panted heavily, his eyes wide with terror. “M-My wife… she committed adultery,” he finally managed to say.
“Hmm?” The gathered elves frowned, their expressions asking, ‘So what?’ They saw it as an issue easily resolved by filing a formal complaint, rather than interrupting the ongoing court session.
Maelona’s frown deepened. “You could have just filed a complaint.”
“F-Forgive me, Your Grace!” the guard shouted in fear, quickly adding, “It’s not just me….”
“Then what?”
“T-The whole city”
“What do you mean?” Maelona frowned.
“E-Everyone is waiting outside, Your Grace!” the guard said urgently.
Maelona’s eyes narrowed in worry. She could see the genuine fear and confusion on the guard’s face. She hurriedly stepped down, followed by Alaric and the rest of the court.
Upon stepping outside, they were met with a shocking sight.
“What in the world…” Maelona gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“What is going on?” Alaric’s frown deepened as he took in the scene before him… not just 10 or 20…. Hundreds upon hundreds of commoners stood before the Elven Court. Women were weeping openly, while the men wore expressions of utter devastation.
“What is going on here?” Alaric demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.
“T-They are saying that their wives have committed adultery,” the guard answered, his face a picture of pain and sorrow.
“All of them in a single day?” Maelona’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
“Are you kidding me? How could all these women commit adultery?” Alaric shouted, his voice rising in frustration.
“T-They said… they saw their wives hugging someone,” the guard explained, his voice breaking with emotion.
“That’s it?”
“Y-Yes!”
“Hugging? It’s just hugging! You basta—” Alaric’s voice halted abruptly as a shocking realization dawned upon him.
“…..” Maelona’s expression mirrored his shock.
Aria’s eyes widened in astonishment, ‘M-Must be Aether!!!!’ she thought, her heart pounding.
Meanwhile, in the crowd,
“What a sinful man you’ve become… Aether,” Aether mumbled to himself with a pitiful, yet amused expression.
With a fake cry, he added narcissistically, “It’s not my fault, being born with such a handsome face… What a sinful man~” He swept his white hair dramatically, casting a sly look at Alaric and the others before disappearing into the ground with a mischievous smile.