“A-Aether…” Selene’s voice trembled, the words barely escaping her lips. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of confusion and disbelief surging through her veins.
She couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.
The man she saw before her now… was different from the one she had known, the one she had cherished in her heart.
His actions, his reactions, his modulation, his emotions, his acting, his calculation…. were really different from what she had seen.
“Is that… really Aether?” Selene mumbled again, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes wide with shock and… fear?
“The One and only!”
The sudden, almost playful response startled her, and she nearly cried out before a warm hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her.
“K-mffff!!”
“Calm down, it’s me!” Celestia’s voice oozed with amusement as she grinned, her expression smug.
She revelled in the fear she invoked in others, in the way they jumped and squirmed at her sudden appearances. There was something intoxicating about it, something that made her feel alive in a way few things did. She wasn’t entirely sure how others felt about her unsettling presence, but the way they reacted, their wide eyes and pounding hearts… it was a thrill she savoured.
Selene’s panic subsided as she recognized the voice. She nodded slowly, her breath still ragged, and Celestia withdrew her hand with a satisfied smirk.
They both turned their attention back to Aether, who was engaged in a tense conversation with Helena. His demeanour was serious, his every word measured, every gesture purposeful.
“You still have time, you know,” Celestia murmured.
Selene frowned, her confusion deepening, “What do you mean?”
Celestia’s grin widened, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light, “To run away.”
“Huh? Run away? Why?” Selene’s voice was laced with genuine confusion.
“Of course, from Aether,” Celestia replied calmly.
“…” Selene blankly stared at Celestia.
Celestia simply shrugged, the movement casual, dismissive, “I mean, if you were truly wondering if that man is Aether… then yes, he is indeed Aether—the only man trying his best to capture women’s hearts while sacrificing many things!”
“Okay, so what are you getting at?” Selene’s voice was tinged with frustration.
Celestia’s gaze bore into her as if searching for something hidden within Selene’s soul. “Because you’re scared,” she said softly.
Selene flinched at the accusation, her eyes dropping to the ground.
Celestia’s smile softened, “Fear… it’s the beginning of doubt–” she said, her voice almost gentle now.
However,
Selene shook her head, her voice a quiet denial, “No, it’s not doubt… I will never doubt my beloved!” She raised her gaze, her eyes now cold and emotionless, a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside.
‘That’s a high level of craziness…’ Celestia thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had seen many things in her life, but this… this was something else. Something dangerous.
She pressed on, wanting to see just how deep the madness ran, “Then why fear? Is it because he’s changing? Or….. is it because he’s not your ‘Ether’?” Her voice was taunting now.
Selene shook her head again, a bitter laugh escaping her lips, “Haha… Of course not… He is my Aether/Ether, there’s no way I’m denying that… He’s the love of my life.” Her words were filled with a fervent passion.
“Then?” Celestia frowned unable to understand this girl’s fear.
Selene’s expression shifted, her face a mask of sadness and fear, “I… I… I’m just scared… scared of not seeing this side of him until now.” Her voice cracked.
“… Pardon?”
Selene’s eyes filled with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she spoke, “You’ve already seen this side, right?”
“…Yes, kind of,” Celestia answered cautiously. She had seen many sides of Aether since she was following Aether all the time.
Selene’s sadness deepened, her fear turning into something darker, “So, I was the only one who didn’t know…ah.” The realization hit her like a physical blow, her breath catching in her throat.
“…”
“It’s not that I fear his new side… I’m actually happy to see every side of him, whether good or evil… I want to embrace every part of him.” Her voice was strained as if she were fighting against the tears that threatened to spill, “And yet, he never showed these new sides…
to me.” Her pain was palpable, her voice filled with anguish as she looked at Celestia, her eyes pleading for an answer, for some kind of comfort, “D-Does he not trust me anymore?”
Celestia blinked, momentarily taken aback by the depth of Selene’s despair. She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t anticipated just how deeply Aether’s actions would cut her. Slowly, understanding dawned on her.
Selene wasn’t just afraid….. She was terrified!
Terrified that Aether had hidden this side of himself from her, that he no longer trusted her enough to reveal his true self.
Even Celestia knew more about Aether than Selene did and had seen parts of him that Selene had never glimpsed and… That stung Selene in a way she had never expected.
For the first time, Selene felt as though she had failed. Failed as a lover, failed to truly know the man she loved with every fibre of her being.
Celestia shook her head gently, her expression softening as she spoke with a sisterly tenderness, “Do you truly believe he doesn’t trust you after sharing everything about his past, his mission, his deepest secrets?” She patted Selene’s head.
“…N-No, it’s not like that…” Selene stammered.
Before she could continue, Celestia pulled her into a warm embrace, surprising Selene with the unexpected gesture. “I believe he needed time to show you this side of himself,” Celestia whispered, her voice gentle yet firm.
“What do you mean?” Selene asked, her curiosity piqued. But even as she listened, a stray thought flickered through her mind, ‘Damn, her boobs are huge!’ She snorted inwardly, suddenly understanding why Aether always stared and played with them.
Celestia, oblivious to Selene’s inner musings, slowly ruffled her hair, her touch soothing, “Just like you, he’s been scared of what he is… He’s searching, Selene.
He’s still searching for what he truly means, for the purpose that defines him.
He’s like a puppet trying to find its own meaning.” Her voice was as soft as a warm breeze.
Selene didn’t fully grasp the depth of Celestia’s words, but one thing was clear. “You know more than me,” she grumbled, though there was a begrudging respect in her voice as she snorted again.
Celestia laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and wisdom. “Experience, little girl. Experience! I may not fully understand others’ emotions, or even my own at times, but I’ve observed the nature of people… and nature is always changing. So do people.”
“…” Selene shook her head, still struggling to wrap her mind around Celestia’s cryptic advice.
Celestia simply smiled, her expression turning mischievous, “Once he finds meaning in his true nature…” Her eyes darkened, a hint of something dangerous flickering within them. “Neither you, nor I, nor any woman who loves him will be able to escape his grasp.”
Selene’s throat tightened, her heart pounding as she instinctively pulled away from Celestia.
With that same dark glint in her eyes, Celestia continued, her voice low, “And I’m pretty sure, you’ll love that part more than anything… You’ll crave being under his control, to the point where he might even get jealous of the air you breathe.” Discover exclusive tales on
‘Gulp’
Selene gulped in… Excitment!
Selene’s breath hitched, excitement bubbling up within her. Her pulse quickened, her skin tingling with anticipation.
Any sane woman would have been terrified by Celestia’s words, yet here she was, feeling something entirely different.
“~ha~”
“~ha~”
Selene’s breathing grew ragged, a heat rising from deep within her belly. She wasn’t sure why, but the thought of Aether’s possessiveness, of being wholly and utterly his, sent shivers down her spine.
She imagined those intense, possessive eyes devouring her, claiming her body and soul…. she suddenly remembered something… something she didn’t understand at that time… but she got it, ‘T-Those were true emotions?’ she was surprised.
And to her surprise, Celestia’s breath seemed to quicken as well, her imagination running wild. She licked her lips, her voice barely a whisper as she confessed, “I can hardly wait for him to seduce the Empress…”
Selene, who had been lost in her own heated thoughts, suddenly frowned. “Empress? What do you mean?”
‘Oh! Shit!’ Celestia mentally cursed herself, scrambling for a cover. “I mean—”
“NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!”
A shrill scream pierced the air, snapping both women out of their reverie. They turned to see Helena fleeing like a frightened cat, her face was as red as a tomato, while Aether’s laughter echoed loudly. freēwebnovel.com
Selene glanced back at Celestia, only to find empty space, as if she had vanished into thin air.
“Tsk.” Selene clicked her tongue in annoyance, steeling herself for what she knew was coming.
She straightened her back, took a deep breath, and began walking toward Aether… Since she feared about his nature… she deserved ‘Punishment!’