Last night, after the fearful scream, Aether tenderly took care of Aria, believing her exhaustion was the primary cause of her distress. They then engaged in a deep conversation about her mother’s precarious situation and Liora’s equally troubling circumstances.
Aria comprehended that what Aether had accomplished was nothing short of miraculous. She was profoundly grateful that her mother was still alive.
Despite the fact that her mother’s soul was now irrevocably tied to Aether, Aria was immensely thankful. Without his intervention, she would have lost her mother forever, and that thought filled her with a mixture of relief and gratitude.
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Regarding Liora, Aether had revealed the truth… or at least a partial truth.
He recounted how Liora had almost cornered him, attempting to leverage the situation to her advantage and nearly managing to mate with him. However, Aether, ever loyal to Aria, made a specific compromise: he would only be with Liora if she could genuinely make him fall for her.
This compromise left Aria feeling both relieved and powerless…. She knew from the very beginning that the woman was after Aether and she was really grateful that due to her keen sense for Aether, she saved them…. still, She felt utterly helpless in this situation!
She knew Aether was trying his best to keep Liora on the bay so that their tribe would not cause any problems.
Anyhow,
Aria glanced at Liora, who was attempting to bite Aether’s neck as if trying to mark him. Aria’s lips twitched in irritation before she declared, “Let me tell you this, no matter what happens, I will never let you have my husband!” Her expression was stern and cold, underscoring the seriousness of her words.
Liora simply smiled in response and said, “We will see about that…”
The veins on Aria’s forehead bulged in anger. Sensing the escalating tension, Aether decided to intervene. “So, did you get the coachman’s details?” he inquired, referring to the coachman who had driven them previously.
“Yes, but it seems he’s a local who works for anyone as long as he gets paid. And the group that attacked you initially appears to be an old mercenary group that works for money… in every empire” Liora explained thoughtfully.
Aria snorted, “Well, You are useful to my husband…” before Aria’s expression turned serious and cold as she replied, “Only two people knew that I had that particular item. One is Kai Frostblade, and the other is—”
“No, the Princess wouldn’t do that,” Aether interjected, his face grave. This made Aria twitch her lips in frustration as she responded, “Aether, I know she’s important to you, but she’s just as opportunistic as anyone else.”
Aether shook his head firmly, “I know the Princess better than you do, Aria. Yes, she might be cunning, but she would never harm me in the process and… never go back on her word”
Aria clicked her tongue in annoyance. ‘Looks like that villainous bitch brainwashed him perfectly…’ she thought bitterly.
Aether could sense what she was thinking but chose not to address it, wanting her to believe that there was indeed something more between him and Aqualina.
“Then it leaves Kai…” Liora mumbled under her breath.
“No, it’s not him either,” Aether stated with certainty.
“Hmm?” Both Liora and Aria frowned, puzzled by Aether’s unwavering conviction.
Aether chuckled softly before slowly wrapping his arms around their waists, pulling them closer, “Kai has a twisted sense of selfish justice. He wouldn’t do something like that…”
“But it—” Aria began, but Aether interrupted, “He doesn’t have the brain to make such decisions…. It must be either his father or his grandfather.”
Both Aria and Liora fell silent, processing his words.
They might not know much about Kai and his family dynamics, but they understood that Aether was familiar with them, so his insights were likely accurate.
Suddenly,
Thud
Maelona burst into the room, her face etched with annoyance.
“What happened, Mom?” Aria asked worriedly. Instead of responding directly, Maelona marched over to the trio, staring intensely at Liora before demanding, “Mind telling me why you’re fawning over my son-in-law?”
Liora, rather than answering the question, retorted, “Did he… finally dump you?”
Veins popped on Maelona’s forehead as she gritted her teeth and replied, “He didn’t dump me! I dumped him!” she declared with a mix of annoyance and satisfaction.
Both Aria and Aether were taken aback before they started smiling, understanding that Maelona was finally starting to move on from her past.
“Ahem.” Maelona cleared her throat awkwardly before continuing, “A-Anyhow, move away,” she said, attempting to push Liora away from Aether. But,
“Nah!” Liora hugged Aether even tighter, whispering seductively, “He’s my hubby~”
Both Aria and Maelona’s lips twitched in irritation as they tried to pull Aether away from Liora.
“Let him go, Bitch!!!”
“He’s my son-in-law!”
Meanwhile, Aether wasn’t sure whether to be happy or not but clearly enjoying the different softness.
‘Hehe…’
…
…
After a long and exhausting fight, Aria found herself sitting on Aether’s lap, while Maelona and Liora settled themselves on either side of him, each trying to claim their space.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The silence was thick, and everyone’s faces turned slightly red, embarrassed by their intimate positions in front of each other. Yet, none of them were willing to relinquish their spots.
Aether sighed, breaking the uncomfortable silence. He leaned towards Aria and asked gently, “What are you going to do now?”
Aria lowered her eyes, her heart heavy with the knowledge that her treasured item was lost. She felt a deep sense of loss and frustration.
Maelona sighed deeply before saying, “If I’m being honest, I don’t think they will trade Aether for it. They secretly sent people to steal it, so I highly doubt they’d consider a trade, from the very beginning.”
“…” Aria bit her lip, feeling her one chance to get what she desperately wanted to slip away. She struggled to process the situation, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
Sensing her distress, Aether hugged her tightly and said, “It’s not like I’m going anywhere, am I? So there’s no need to dwell on it too much….”
Hearing his comforting words, Aria felt a glimmer of hope. She gently smiled and nodded. If she had lost her chance, so what? She had many other paths to explore and would find another opportunity… Clearing another trail! She needed to remain patient, just as she had been all this time.
“Yes, I will be patient then…” Aria mumbled. The trio nodded in agreement. Then, Liora, her curiosity piqued, asked about the treasure Aria had mentioned.
“It was a flower…”
“Flower?”
“Yes, a flower that I planted when I was caged by him. It was my only solace in that haunted place… a White Spider Lily, a rare species,” Aria explained, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory.
Aether had a shocked face before remembering he talked with Lia who didn’t even know about the Lily flower so he asked, “A White Spider Lily? I’ve never heard of it…”
“Me neither,” Liora added, looking puzzled.
Aria smiled softly and looked at her mother, “It belongs to Mother…”
Maelona nodded, adding, “Yes, it was a seed used in ancient times, passed down through our lineage…”
“I see…” Aether nodded thoughtfully, ‘Looks like the Moon tribe and Earth humans from either side were related somehow…’ he mused.
Aria’s expression turned serious, “Anyhow, it was Alaric, right?” she asked with a blank expression, her tone devoid of emotion.
Aether didn’t answer immediately, but his silence was enough for the trio to understand.
Seeing their expressions, Aether asked with an amused expression, “Not going to ask any questions?”
“Haha… I believe in my Aether!” Aria declared confidently, her eyes shining with trust.
“Hmm… I believe in my son-in-law!” Maelona added with a proud smile.
“…” Liora remained silent, hugging Aether tightly.
Seeing one person staying silent, the trio looked at Liora, who was just hugging Aether.
“What?” Liora asked defensively, knowing why they were looking at her.
“…” Only silence answered her, their expectant gazes piercing through her.
“Sigh, I don’t know… It’s not that I don’t believe, but I don’t care whether it’s the truth or a lie. It doesn’t matter to me…” Liora’s face turned awkward. “I mean… I don’t know how to say it like you guys, but…” She awkwardly scratched her head, trying to find the right words.
It wasn’t that she didn’t believe Aether; rather, just as she said, she didn’t care. It indicated she was ready to stand by him through thick and thin, but she couldn’t express it since she wasn’t comfortable showing her feelings so openly…. if it was mating and fighting she would be the first one but something like believing, and supporting was different to her.
Aether understood. Seeing her awkward face, he sensed she might be feeling a little lonely. He subconsciously leaned in, kissed her forehead, and said with a teasing smile, “Aren’t you a little shy~”
Liora flinched before averting her eyes, her cheeks flushing with colour.
Liora mumbled, “I’m not shy… just… not good with words…” Her tail wagged slightly as she looked at Aether with puppy eyes, silently pleading with him not to tease her too much.
Aether chuckled softly, his heart melting at her innocent expression. “Damn, girl! You really are a cute one!” he mumbled, unable to hide his amusement.
Liora’s lips trembled, she knew her acting was working on him… Yet, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She felt a strange, unfamiliar sensation clenching her heart.
She was supposed to be the one making Aether fall for her, yet here she was….. feeling something profoundly different… Her heart beat crazy when he called her cute…
[+4000 AP]
and,
“OUCH!
“OUCH!”
Aether was pinched by two sets of fingers, both Aria and Maelona glaring at him with death stares.