[Life is quite amusing, don’t you agree… Gentleman Aether?]
Aether stared blankly at the words, his eyes dull and devoid of any real emotion, yet within them flickered glimpses of the past, unravelling like a film reel before him.
He let out a deep sigh, his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and frustration, “So, this is your so-called heart game? Or whatever the hell you want to call it?”
The words shifted rapidly,
[Hahaha… There’s no need to act so superior, Gentleman Aether… The game hasn’t even truly begun yet.]
Aether’s expression hardened, his gaze intensifying as he glared at the mocking words. But then, without warning—
“Hehe…Mommy….!!”
The innocent sound of a child’s laughter echoed through the room, pulling Aether’s attention away from the taunting text. He turned his head towards the reels and saw a small child, barely two years old, speaking with remarkable fluency. The scene before him showed the child being lovingly embraced by both parents, their affection filling the room with warmth that Aether could almost feel.
His jaw clenched involuntarily, the muscles tightening as a strange sensation began to creep into his body, an emotion he couldn’t quite place. He shook his head, dismissing the feeling as he refocused on the words. “I don’t have time for this pointless game… Let me out.”
[Fu~Fu~ What’s this? Are you feeling scared now?]
“Scared?” Aether’s brow furrowed, his voice laced with irritation.
[Yes~ Gentleman… I can see it. Your emotions are starting to unravel, aren’t they? Hahaha.]
Aether’s lips twitched in annoyance as he glanced at the corner of his vision. Sure enough, his Level Bar was fluctuating wildly, the inconsistency only fueling his growing agitation.
[You see… Life is full of unexpected surprises, the kind that leaves you breathless, wondering how on earth such things could happen… especially when a defective product is somehow made into something high-end.]
Aether’s eyes burned with a deep, simmering rage. His vision tinged with red as veins bulged across his forehead, He gritted his teeth, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare call me defective… or else…”
[Or else what?]
“…” Aether fell silent. He could only stare at the words.
[Hahaha… You’re speechless, I see. Let’s move on, shall we? Let’s take a look at the beginning of your miserable existence.]
Suddenly, the scene before him changed.
The atmosphere transformed into that of a lively, extravagant party, and Aether’s expression twisted in discomfort, a bitter taste filling his mouth as he bit his lip to hold back the surge of emotions.
It was the child’s fifth birthday. Aether’s parents had spared no expense, hosting a grand celebration in his honour…. Today was the day they would show him to the outside world.
The guest list was filled with their influential colleagues, top actors, and key figures from the entertainment industry, all mingling in a display of opulence.
“Oh! Is this your son? My, he’s absolutely adorable~” a stunningly beautiful woman remarked, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the five-year-old boy who stood before her, dressed impeccably in an elegant outfit that made him look like a miniature gentleman.
“Thank you,” the boy replied with a small, polite smile, bowing slightly in a manner far beyond his years.
“Wow! Look at him, he’s so well-mannered,” the woman exclaimed, clearly impressed. She turned to the boy’s parents, who were beaming with pride, their smiles wide as they basked in the praise being lavished upon their son.
“Haha… Thank you,” the boy’s mother said, her smile radiating with warmth as she leaned down to plant a tender kiss on her son’s cheek. “He’s such a curious child, always eager to learn new things, always striving to improve himself.”
The boy’s father nodded in agreement, “To be honest, even I was taken aback when he started flawlessly imitating my rehearsals. He picked it up just by watching me.”
The woman nodded, her expression a blend of surprise and genuine interest as she continued to observe the boy. Then, as if remembering something, she turned and called for her own child.
A little girl, also five years old, appeared by her side, shyly clinging to her mother’s leg. Her large, nervous eyes flickered between Aether and his parents.
“Her name is Penelope,” the woman introduced, gently encouraging her daughter to step forward. “I hope you can become friends with her… As you can see, she’s a little shy.”
Aether regarded the girl for a moment, his expression softening just a fraction. He nodded politely, bowing his head slightly before extending his hand to her in a gesture that was both respectful and inviting. “Would you care for a dance?” he asked, his voice gentle.
The girl hesitated, her gaze darting to her mother, who smiled down at her with a gentle nod of encouragement. Gathering her courage, Penelope reached out and took the boy’s hand, her tiny fingers trembling slightly as they intertwined with his.
Slowly, almost cautiously, the boy began to lead the girl in a dance, his movements graceful and deliberate.
“Hmm… not bad at all,” Penelope’s mother murmured, her eyes widening in surprise as she watched Aether expertly guide her daughter across the floor, the two children moving in perfect harmony.
“And to think, I never taught him how to dance,” Aether’s mother chimed in, her voice carrying a hint of pride. Penelope’s mother looked at her in astonishment, her jaw dropping slightly. “That’s… remarkable. How on earth is he managing that?”
“Just by watching us dance,” Aether’s father answered, a touch of amusement in his tone as he watched his son with a mixture of pride and amazement.
As they continued to dance, Penelope shyly lifted her gaze to meet Aether’s, her voice barely above a whisper, “You… You’re really good at this.”
Aether’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “Thank you”.
A certain five-year-old boy stood off to the side, his small face twisted into a frown as he watched Penelope and Aether dance together.
A knot of jealousy tightened in his chest, his young mind struggling to process the unfamiliar sensation.
“Looks like someone’s snatched your fiancée,” a nearby adult teased with a smirk, not realizing the impact those words would have on the child.
Hearing this, the boy’s annoyance flared into something stronger. His little hands clenched into fists as he marched toward the dancing pair, each step heavier than the last. Without warning, he stopped the dance by shoving Aether hard, sending him stumbling to the ground.
“Get away!” the boy snapped, his voice high-pitched but filled with authority.
The entire party came to an abrupt halt, all eyes turning to focus on the unfolding situation. The atmosphere, once filled with laughter and music, grew tense with uncertainty.
Aether, however, remained calm. He stood up slowly, dusting off his clothes with a serene smile. “Is something the matter?” he asked politely, his tone almost too mature for his age.
The other boy snorted in disdain, his chest puffed out in an attempt to appear intimidating. “She is my fiancée!” he declared, grabbing Penelope’s hand with a possessive grip that made her wince in pain.
Aether’s eyes flicked to the boy’s tight grip, then to Penelope’s distressed expression. His smile faltered slightly, replaced by a look of quiet concern. “I see,” he said softly, his voice steady. “But… you’re hurting her.”
“So what? She’s mine!” the boy retorted, tightening his grip even more. Penelope’s face contorted in pain, her small voice trembling as she cried out, “M-Mommy!”
Her mother moved to intervene, but before she could reach them, Aether stepped forward, his hand moving swiftly to catch the boy’s wrist. “You’re hurting her,” he repeated, his voice now carrying an edge that hadn’t been there before.
The boy’s eyes widened in shock as he felt Aether’s grip tighten around his wrist, a sharp pain shooting up his arm. He let go of Penelope, who immediately bolted toward her mother, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For a moment, the two boys locked eyes, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.
Aether’s gaze was unwavering, his grip firm yet controlled. Finally, he released the boy’s wrist and offered a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You should treat everyone with respect,” he advised calmly before turning and walking away.
The adults watching were stunned into silence, their gazes following Aether as he moved gracefully back into the crowd. Aether’s parents exchanged a glance, their hearts swelling with pride at their son’s maturity and composure.
The party gradually resumed, though the atmosphere had shifted. The boy who had caused the commotion stood rooted in place, his face red with embarrassment and anger.
His eyes followed Aether with a look of pure hatred, a bitterness that seemed too intense for someone so young. Meanwhile, his parents were engaged in a hushed but tense conversation with Penelope’s parents, clearly apologetic for their son’s behaviour.
Suddenly, the party’s uneasy peace was shattered by a loud, angry voice echoing through the hall. “YOU BASTARD!!”
Aether, who had been dancing with another girl, halted mid-step. He turned his head to see his father, his face twisted with fury, shouting at a man who wore a smug expression. Aether’s mother was at his father’s side, trying desperately to calm him, her face pale with worry.
“Father?” Aether called out, his voice small as he quickly moved to stand beside his father, confused and concerned.
The man being held back by Aether’s father sneered down at the child, his eyes glinting with malice. “Hey, kid, I heard you’ve got a little problem, don’t you?” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “Like you laugh all the time, even when you’re hurt, right?”
“I TOLD YOU TO STOP!” Aether’s father bellowed, his voice thick with barely restrained rage. But the man only grinned wider, his words cutting deeper.
“It’s not like hiding it will do you any good… Just admit it to everyone—your child is defective!”
“GUARDS!!” Aether’s mother screamed, her voice filled with panic. This was supposed to be their family’s secret, something they’d fought hard to keep hidden. But somehow, this man had uncovered it.
As Aether watched the scene unfold, worry gnawed at him, twisting his stomach into knots. Before he could fully process what was happening, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, only to be met with a fist crashing into his face.
Thud!
The force of the punch sent him sprawling to the ground, his hands instinctively flying to his nose as pain radiated through his skull.
He cried out in pain.
“Hehe… mom… Hehe..he.. It hurt… Hehe…”
The sound of his laughter, so out of place and unsettling, sent a ripple of discomfort through the room. The guests stared at Aether in shock, their faces contorted with a mix of horror and pity.
“Ewww… Why are you always laughing? That’s creepy and disgusting!” the boy who had punched him muttered, his voice laced with both amusement and disgust.