“The money you’re asking about—I really gave it to the orphanage,” Aether declared, his voice steady but his face betraying an awkward tension as he faced Raven Noir. She sat rigidly in her chair, her gaze shifting between Aether and Lia, who stood uneasily beside him.
Lia nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring Aether’s discomfort….. It was Raven’s money, after all, yet they had chosen to donate it to the orphanage, believing they were doing something noble and right!!
However,
“I don’t care about the money,” Raven stated coldly, her tone leaving no room for doubt as she adjusted her sleek sunglasses. Both Lia and Aether exhaled deeply, a visible wave of relief passing between them as they exchanged furtive, relieved smiles.
Aether, sensing the tension easing, nodded toward Raven, “Well then, we’ll be leaving. And thank you for your generosity… ” he said, forcing a smile as he gently squeezed Lia’s hand and began to move toward the door.
But just as they reached the door, Raven’s voice sliced through the silence like a dagger.
“But I do care about the person who escaped from my grasp.”
Aether froze mid-step, his hand lingering on the doorknob.
He slowly turned…
Raven rose gracefully from her chair, “What’s your name?” she asked, her voice low and commanding.
Aether frowned, confusion knitting his brows together. “Don’t you already know—”
“What’s your name, boy?” Raven interrupted sharply, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
“…Aether,”
“Hmm… Do you know your parents?”
Aether’s confusion deepened, “I don’t. I’m just a servant… someone they bought from the slave market.”
Raven continued to stare at him, her expression inscrutable. Then, as if the conversation was of no consequence, she simply nodded and sat back down.
“…”
The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the soft clink of porcelain as she poured herself another cup of tea.
Aether felt a surge of frustration, ‘Is that it?’ he thought incredulously. He watched her sip her tea.
Lia leaned in, her voice barely a whisper, “We should leave, now,” she urged, her eyes wide with fear.
But,
“Why are you so interested in me?” he blurted out.
Raven paused, her teacup hovering mid-air. Slowly, she set it down, She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pointed to his neck… not at his neck exactly, but at the ring hanging from the chain around it… inside his clothes,
Aether blinked, taken aback. He hesitated, then pulled out the ring, holding it up for her to see. “This?”
“Yes,” Raven confirmed, her voice low and dangerous. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes fixed on the ring as if it were a piece of a puzzle she had been searching for. She remembered that moment clearly…. during their fight when her blade had slashed through his shirt, that’s when she had first noticed it.
“You recognize this ring?” Aether asked. He took a step closer, his earlier fear now mingling with a burning curiosity.
“I do,” Raven said, her tone measured.
“….” She picked up her teacup again, taking a slow sip.
Aether eagerly waited for even more revelation but…
“But nothing in this world is free.”
“What do you want from me?” Aether asked with curiosity.
Raven remained silent, her gaze never leaving his.
Aether, unable to contain himself, let out an exasperated sigh and moved to the chair opposite her. He poured himself a cup of tea, his movements deliberate as if trying to match her calm demeanour, before…. Drinking it.
Both Lia and Raven stared at him, their surprise evident…. They had expected him to pour tea for Raven… That’s how he portrayed it for a second.
Instead, Aether leaned back, his posture relaxed yet determined. He took a sip of the tea, the warmth spreading through him.
“Tell me what you need me to do,” he asked calmly, his tone shifting to one of professional detachment.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of Raven’s lips. She appreciated his change in demeanour, recognizing it as a strategic move. For her, this was always about business—transactions, power, and control, never about emotions or trust.
And Aether slowly starting to grasp her… more like trying to grasp her previous actions and trying to give an appropriate answer.
To be honest, Aether didn’t have a choice here, he needed to learn about this silent businesswoman.
Raven’s gaze flicked over to Lia, “Please leave,” Experience exclusive tales on empire
Lia blinked, “I—I can’t leave him here alone!” she protested, her voice trembling. The thought of leaving Aether alone with this woman terrified her.
Who knew what Raven might do?
Even if she said she didn’t care, Lia knew… money was always the matter!
Aether glanced at Lia, his eyes softening as he reached out to calm her, “It’s okay, Lia,” he whispered. “I’ll handle this. Trust me.”
Reluctantly, Lia let out a shaky breath and stepped back, exiting the room.
As the door closed, she hesitated, pressing her ear against the wood, desperate to catch even the faintest whisper of their conversation.
But only silence!!
Seconds passed…. Minutes Passed….
And then,
Thud!
The door burst open, and Aether stood there, his expression unreadable.
“Ouch!” Lia yelped as she stumbled forward, crashing into his chest. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she rubbed her sore head, peering up at him with a mix of worry and awkwardness. She quickly straightened up, trying to regain her composure, but the closeness of his body, the warmth of his skin against hers, made her heart race uncontrollably.
[+600 AP]
Aether’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he gazed down at her.
He glanced back at Raven, who continued sipping her tea with an air of nonchalance. She gave him a subtle nod as if sealing some unspoken agreement.
[+10 AP]
Aether nodded back at Raven before quietly closing the door behind him.
Lia’s curiosity burned bright in her eyes as they walked together down the dark yet dimly lit corridor.
“What did she ask you?” she asked.
‘Steal the Dragon Emperor’s two horns.’
Of course, he couldn’t say that aloud… not here, in the very heart of the Dragon Emperor’s castle. Even Raven had activated a barrier device to ensure their conversation remained private.
Seeing him remain silent, Lia’s face fell. Her lower lip trembled, and her eyes darkened with sorrow. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, her voice cracking under the pressure of her guilt.
She couldn’t even look at him.
The truth she had confessed to Raven….
It all happened so quickly…. Raven’s arrival, her probing questions, the way she twisted the conversation until Lia had no choice but to reveal the truth. And when Raven threatened to inform her family about the money, Lia’s resolve crumbled. She had no other choice. Her hands were tied.
It wasn’t her family’s anger that she feared.. it was Aether… If her family discovered how close she was to a servant, she couldn’t bear to think of the consequences that would rain down on him… After all, he was still a servant!
Seeing the gloom settle over her like a dark cloud, Aether’s expression softened. He reached out, cupping her face gently with his hands. “What am I going to do with you, Lia?” he murmured, his voice laced with affection. He playfully tugged at her cheeks, “Having a haughty little sister is quite a handful~”
[+700 AP]
Lia’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her heart skipping a beat, “I’m not your little sister!” she retorted, her voice high-pitched with embarrassment. She puffed out her cheeks, swatting his hand away as she glared at him, but there was no real anger behind it.
She couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. With a huff, she turned on her heel and sprinted away, trying to escape the confusing feelings bubbling up inside her.
“Hahaha…” Aether’s laughter echoed through the hallway.
Lia’s feet carried her faster than she thought possible.
She burst into her room, slamming the door behind her as she leaned back against it, gasping for breath. Her heart was pounding so hard she feared it might burst out of her chest. Her face was still flushed, her skin burning with a heat she didn’t understand, “W-What is this feeling?” she whispered, her voice trembling as two fangs slid from her gums.
“I—I need blood…” she muttered, fumbling for the blood pack she always kept close. She tore it open and drank greedily, the metallic taste soothing the raging thirst within her. Slowly, her face returned to normal, and the fangs retracted, leaving her feeling dazed and confused.
“Why do I feel this bloodthirst whenever I’m with Aether?” she wondered aloud, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn’t quite grasp. This had never happened before… not once in her entire life. And yet now, it was all-consuming.
‘I need to figure this out…’
Meanwhile,
Aether’s laughter faded as he fell into deep thought, his gaze fixed on the ring clutched tightly in his hand. Raven’s words echoed in his mind, unsettling him….. to steal the Dragon Emperor’s horn… was one thing, but what she revealed next shook him to his core.
“Remember, that ring you’re holding… it’s something the Dragon Emperor would kill you for without hesitation… so hide it well.”
He stared at the ring, wondering what secrets it held. Was it a gift from his birth parents?…. Or had Ether found this randomly?
He tried to recall the memories he saw before…. piece them together—the image of a baby, wrapped in a blanket—but it was all too unclear.
Just then,
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
“A-Aether~ What are you doing here?~ Alone at night?~”
The soft, melodic voice startled him out of his thoughts. He turned quickly, his heart skipping a beat, to find Helena standing there. Her face was flushed, a shy smile playing on her lips as she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She wore a delicate nightgown that clung to her curves, the fabric shimmering in the moonlight. She looked at him with wide, expectant eyes, her shyness only adding to her allure…. but behind it,
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
[+9000 AP]
‘Damn it!!’