“You like it?”
“Like it?… I love it~”
Haha… You look absolutely stunning in it, my love.”
“T-Thank you~” Vesperine’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink, her heart swelling with a mixture of happiness and shyness.
“….”
Meanwhile, Aether’s lips twitched as he observed the scene unfold before him. Kai and Vesperine were lost in their own little world, their hands brushing as Kai handed her the ornament.
They were on a date, strolling hand in hand through the lively capital city near the castle, while Aether was stuck playing the role of the ever-dutiful servant, weighed down by countless shopping bags.
“Are you sure? You’ve already bought me so much…” Vesperine’s voice trembled with uncertainty, though her eyes betrayed her true desire as they lingered on the exquisite ornament.
Kai caught the flicker of longing in her gaze, “There’s no need to worry, my dear. Your happiness is all that matters to me. Take whatever you like; it brings me joy to see you smile.”
Vesperine’s heart melted at his words, her resistance crumbling as she blushed deeply.
She nodded with a shy smile, her fingers lightly brushing against his as she accepted his gift. “You’re too good to me, Kai.”
Kai’s eyes softened as he added the bag to Aether’s already overloaded arms. He leaned in close, his voice a tender murmur, “No, Vesperine. If possible… I will give the world to you!”
Aether’s lips twitched even more…
As they continued their leisurely stroll through the bustling market, Aether couldn’t help but notice the abundance of shimmering jewellery, ornate metals, and intricate ornaments on display.
‘I guess this place is rich in resources… That must be why the markets are overflowing with such beauty,’ Aether thought.
Suddenly, Vesperine’s voice broke the momentary silence.
“I-Is your father really going to accept me?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, laced with fear and uncertainty.
She bit her lower lip, unable to shake the words she had heard—the words that Kai’s father wanted him to end their relationship.
Kai’s grip tightened around her hand, his jaw clenching as he struggled to mask his frustration. But then, he turned to her, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve. “Of course, Vesperine. You have nothing to fear…. I, Kai Frostblade, give you my word. My love for you is unshakable, and I will stand by you no matter what.”
Vesperine’s eyes filled with tears… She leaned in, pressing her trembling lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. “T-Thank you, Kai… I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, darling. I’d do anything for you~.”
‘Yucckk….’ Aether, who had been trying to tune out their affectionate exchange, nearly gagged.
He turned his head away, rolling his eyes dramatically. But then, something—or rather, someone—caught his attention. There, in the crowd, peeking out from behind a stall, was… Helena?
Or at least, it looked like Helena. She was doing her best to blend in, wearing oversized black glasses and a girly cap pulled low over her face. She was practically hunched over as she spied on him, clearly trying to go unnoticed.
Discover more content at empire
But Aether knew better. He smirked to himself, a mixture of amusement and exasperation flooding his senses. ‘Believe her… She thinks she’s in disguise, but there’s no mistaking it. That’s Helena.’
Aether amused inwardly at the same time,
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
Cold sweat beaded on Aether’s forehead. The side effects were kicking in… and this was just the beginning.
The very first stage!!!
Stalking~
A shiver ran down his spine as he forced himself to remain calm… He discreetly glanced around, trying to assess the situation. His eyes widened as he spotted another familiar face… Aqualina, trailing him like a shadow.
But it didn’t stop there. Just ahead, browsing a stall with feigned nonchalance…. was Aria. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Selene was following Helena, her eyes locked on Helena as she kept glancing at Aether.
Every direction was covered!!
‘DAMN IT!!!!’ Aether cursed inwardly, his mind racing. One wrong move, one slip-up, and he knew he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow, ‘I need to keep things calm… Just play it cool, Aether. Friendly relations. That’s the key.’
Kai and Vesperine had finally finished their lovey-dovey moment and were now eagerly exploring the rest of the city.
A servant who had been accompanying them began pointing out the various landmarks.
“That place is where our Dragon Emperor rests!” the servant announced proudly.
Kai and Vesperine gazed at the cave with wide-eyed wonder, their awe palpable.
But Aether? He could hardly contain his disbelief.
‘Seriously?’ Aether thought, his face twisting in annoyance. He couldn’t believe they were so fascinated by a cave.
Meanwhile, inside the castle, in the grand chamber of the Dragon Emperor…
“My son… I am truly disappointed in you!” The Dragon Emperor’s voice rumbled with authority and displeasure as he leaned back in his opulent throne, his piercing gaze fixed on Leon, who knelt before him.
“I am sorry, Father,” Leon murmured, his voice heavy with shame as he kept his head bowed low.
The Dragon Emperor’s nostrils flared as he snorted in frustration, his blue horns glowing with a fierce, otherworldly light, “A lowly human dared to speak to me as if we were equals… grrrr…” His growl reverberated through the room, shaking the very walls.
Leon gritted his teeth, anger boiling beneath his skin. As a dragon, he understood all too well the sting of humiliation, especially given the pride that ran deep in their bloodline. He could feel the rage simmering in his father’s words, the fury at being disrespected by someone so beneath them.
But the Dragon Emperor knew better than to let his rage cloud his judgment. As long as the Principal was present, he couldn’t move against Victor.
Not yet, anyway!
Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside and refocused on his son. A cunning smile tugged at his lips as he leaned forward, “About the trial… why don’t you go first? I’ll ensure the others are held back for a while. You can finish it before anyone else even has a chance. What do you think?”
Leon hesitated, a mix of discomfort and reluctance crossing his face, “B-But, Father… I want to fight f-fair and square.”
The Dragon Emperor’s expression darkened, his voice hardening with disappointment, “Still the same as ever, I see…”
Leon could only scratch his head.
The Dragon Emperor sighed, his voice softening as he tried a different approach, “Listen to me, my child… One day, this empire will belong to you.
I don’t care if you don’t want my support. In fact, I’m proud of your desire to be independent….
But there are times when you must seize opportunities without hesitation, or else they will slip through your fingers, and you will live to REGRET it!” His words were sharp, each one a deliberate attempt to drive the point home.
Leon lowered his head further, nodding as he took in his father’s wisdom.
Seeing his son’s conflicted expression, the Dragon Emperor’s stern demeanour softened slightly, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes, “I’ve noticed you’ve been… distracted… recently. Tell me, has a certain someone caught your eye?” The Dragon Emperor’s smile widened as he recalled the way Leon’s gaze had lingered on a certain bluish-black-haired girl.
Leon’s face flushed a deep crimson, his father’s knowing grin only making it worse.
Meanwhile, back in the bustling marketplace with Aether…
“This area is where dragons come to shed their scales,” the servant explained, pointing to a vast, open space where dragons of all sizes gathered to shed their old, worn scales, leaving behind a glittering, otherworldly landscape.
Aether sighed, trying to muster some semblance of interest, but the sight did little to impress him. As they continued to walk, his eyes were drawn to a small, rocky mountain situated behind the scale-shedding grounds.
The mountain was surrounded by guards, their presence heavy and foreboding.
Yet, to Aether’s eyes, there didn’t seem to be anything particularly noteworthy about the place. His curiosity piqued, he couldn’t resist asking, “What’s that place?”
The servant sneered at Aether, clearly finding his presence repulsive… due to his status! before turning back to lavish attention on Kai and Vesperine.
Aether’s lips twitched in irritation, but before he could press further, a familiar voice chimed in.
“That is Arcanium Mountain…”
Aether’s head snapped to the side, his eyes locking onto the approaching figure of Raven Noir. As she drew closer, she adjusted her sunglasses, “The same material used in the artifact you analyzed before.”.
Aether blinked, his interest rekindled. “Oh… I see. But why is it so heavily guarded?”
“It’s not about keeping people out,” Raven explained, her voice low and serious. “They’re preventing others from getting too close. The mountain’s materials are volatile and dangerous… It could easily kill anyone who doesn’t handle it properly.”
Aether’s frown deepened as he processed the information, ‘Interesting… But why are you suddenly talking to me, Raven? You’re digging your own grave…’ He subtly glanced at the women who had been trailing him… Helena, Aqualina, Aria, and Selene. All of them were watching, their eyes sharp, their expressions unreadable.
Aether could practically feel the heat of their gazes boring into Raven, who remained oblivious to the storm she was unwittingly walking into.