Let’s be honest… Aether never planned to go after Thalia Crimsonclaw.
She was practically his sister-in-law!
Sure, he had told Aria that Thalia was his target, but that was only because he knew Thalia could stop Aria if she ever went berserk. It was a strategy, a backup plan, nothing more.
Even that kiss he’d shared with Thalia—it wasn’t meant to spark anything deeper. It was either out of a fleeting moment of joy or just a cheeky tease in response to how she’d teased him before.
That was it. Nothing more, nothing less!!
Believe him!!
Yet,
Gulp.
Aether swallowed hard, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his neck as he caught Thalia staring at him like he was her next meal.
‘What the hell did I do wrong?’ he panicked inwardly. ‘There were no signs, no clues… Come on, how do you jump from 500 affection points to 5000 just like that? What the actual fuck, bro?’ He wondered…. He genuinely wondered!!
He had thrown his net expecting a modest catch, not realizing he’d snagged a shark instead.
‘Why does it feel like everyone except my actual targets is falling for me?’ Aether thought with a blend of panic and arrogance, ‘Such a sinful man I am… truly irresistible~’ He sighed inwardly, his narcissistic side making a brief appearance.
Still, he racked his brain, unable to pinpoint when or how he had triggered her flag.
Meanwhile, Raven held her younger sister tightly in her arms, her voice soft but filled with love and vulnerability. “Please… never leave me again,” she whispered, as if afraid Thalia might slip away once more.
Thalia’s intense stare broke as she snapped back to the moment, nodding softly in response.
Raven took a step back, her gaze shifting between her mother and her sister.
Despite everything….despite the loss of her father and the countless years of pain—she had finally found her family again….. Her mother was alive and her sister was with her all this time…. It had been far too long since she had felt this sense of belonging, and all of it was thanks to—
“Aether…” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes lifted to meet his, and for a moment, she simply stared at him, gratitude and something… deeper… swirling in her gaze…. Love?
Ever since Aether had come into her life, Raven had been overwhelmed by emotions she thought she had buried long ago.
Joy, warmth, hope—feelings she’d once locked away now bubbled to the surface every time she saw him.
And it felt… good!!
Raven rose from the bed with quiet determination. Both Thalia and their mother watched her, confused by the sudden shift in her demeanour. Her steps were slow but deliberate as she walked toward Aether.
Aether, still seated, furrowed his brows. ‘What now?’ he wondered, genuinely unsure of what was coming. Unlike other women, he couldn’t easily read Raven. Her stoicism was like a shield, and it left him at a loss.
Stopping before him, Raven spoke, her voice steady but laced with emotion, “What… what can I give you, Aether?” Her heterochromatic eyes trembled as they searched his face.
“Y-You gave me back my family… What can I possibly give you in return? What do you want? My body? My life?” Her voice broke slightly, “I-I’ll give you anything for what you’ve done for me.”
Aether’s expression softened as he reached out, his hand gently resting against her chest, just above her heart, “All I need,” he said, his voice calm and sincere, “is your love, Raven. Not because I brought your family back. Not because I’ve done anything for you. This… this isn’t a transaction.” His hand moved to her cheek, cradling it softly. “All I want is for you to be happy. That’s it.”
Thud!
Raven’s legs gave out beneath her as she knelt before him, her face blank with shock. Slowly, she leaned forward, resting her head on his lap, her hands clutching the fabric of his pants as if grounding herself.
Aether smiled gently and began to ruffle her hair with a tenderness that surprised even him.
Thalia and her mother looked on in stunned silence. There was something undeniably intimate about the scene unfolding before them. And Raven—whose face rarely showed emotion—now wore a soft, contented smile as she snuggled against Aether’s lap.
“It’s warm…” Raven mumbled, her voice barely audible. She tilted her head up to look at him, her heterochromatic eyes brimming with life for the first time in what felt like forever.
She slowly pushed herself up, settling onto his lap. Her fingers traced his cheek, trembling slightly as her gaze locked onto his. His blue eyes looked straight into hers, as if piercing through to her very soul. Her body shivered under the intensity of his stare before she leaned closer and whispered, “Then… I’m happy to give you my love.”
[+4000 AP]
Without hesitation, Raven closed the gap and kissed him…. For the first time, she was the one to initiate.
Aether instinctively placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer.
Thalia and their mother were frozen in disbelief. The kiss felt surreal, like something they weren’t meant to witness. Thalia, however, quickly snapped out of her shock.
“D-Don’t believe him, Big Sis!” she shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Aether. “That guy is just manipulating you! H-He’s only after your body!!”
Raven pulled away from the kiss, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. She looked at Thalia with a calm, determined expression. “Not as a transaction… but because I’ve already fallen for him,” she said softly, her lips curling into a shy smile, “I love you, Aether.”
[+5000 AP]
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 81.8%↑ ]
!~Ding~!
[Congratulations on Completing the Mission: Seduce Raven Noir]
!~Ding~!
[Reward: 50,000 Affection Points]
!~Ding~!
[Reward: Skill: Phantom Steps]
Aether’s grip on Raven’s hips tightened as he watched her shy, blushing face, ‘Damn
…’
He had to bite back the primal urge to pounce on her right then and there.
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If not for Thalia and her mother still being present, he’d probably have gone far beyond savouring just her shy expression.
Thalia gritted her teeth in frustration, her fists clenched at her sides, “B-Big Sis! Don’t fall for him! Don’t trust him!” Her voice trembled with urgency. “Do you even know who he is? He’s that bastard Victor! He’s been playing us all along!”
She shot Aether a sharp, victorious grin as if she’d landed the final blow. He blinked, his shock evident, ‘May you rest in peace, bastard,’ she thought, smirking smugly.
However—
“I know,” Raven said softly.
“Huh?” Thalia froze, her jaw slack.
“Mom told me everything,” Raven continued, her tone calm and unbothered. When Aether and Thalia had left earlier, she and their mother had discussed many things, including Aether’s true identity as Victor.
‘Hehe…’ Aether’s lips curled into a sly smirk as he turned toward Thalia, and showed his middle finger!!
Thalia’s face turned beet red, her teeth grinding audibly, ‘That fucking bastard!!’ she fumed inwardly.
[+6000 AP]
Aether blinked, confused, ‘
Why the hell is her affection increasing?’
he wondered, but quickly shrugged it off.
His mission was finally complete, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he could relax.
The tension that had been coiling in his chest eased. Until now, he’d been on edge, fearing death would send him all the way back to the time he seduced Helena.
But now, with the checkpoint secured, he could finally breathe a little easier.
“A~Aether~” Raven’s soft voice snapped him from his thoughts. His eyes widened as she suddenly removed her top, revealing a red face and a delicate white bra that strained against her curves.
Aether gulped audibly, his gaze drawn to her with an almost magnetic pull, “W-Wait! Your family is sti~Mmph!”
Raven silenced him with a kiss, her lips pressing against his with newfound boldness.
This wasn’t the shy, tentative peck from before; it was hungry and full of passion. Her teeth grazed his lower lip as she bit gently, her tongue exploring his with fervour.
“Mmm~”
Slurp!
Thalia, watching from the corner of her eye, covered her face with her hands. Her fingers, however, betrayed her as they spread just enough to let her peek, “A-Are they really going to do it now?” she whispered, gulping audibly.
Before she could witness more, her mother caught her by the ear.
“Let’s go!” she barked, dragging Thalia away.
“W-Wait!! MOM! I have to see what’s going to happen!” Thalia protested, her tone dead serious, “I need to take notes!!!!”
Her mother’s face turned crimson with embarrassment. “Brat! It seems like you’re in need of a good beating!”
“NNNOOOOOO!! LET ME SEEEE—!”
Thud!
Both Raven and Aether blinked at the sound of the commotion outside. Aether couldn’t help but chuckle, while Raven’s lips curled into a rare, soft laugh.
“Ha-ha… Was she always this shameless?” Aether asked with a teasing grin, though inwardly, he was entirely serious.
Raven tilted her head, genuinely confused. “Shameless? What do you mean?”
Aether sighed, finally realizing these dragon women didn’t even
comprehend
the concept of shame.
Shaking his head, he pulled her closer, his expression softening. “Are you really sure about me? You know I kissed Selene, right? Maybe your sister’s right. Maybe I am manipulating you and everyone else.”
Raven stared at him for a moment before her lips parted with quiet confidence, “I may not understand others completely, but when I look into your eyes… I see the truth. You love me. You care for me. You want to protect me, don’t you?”
Aether’s breath hitched before he nodded silently.
Raven smiled gently, cupping his cheek with a trembling hand. “Then I’ll gladly let myself fall for your ‘manipulation’ again and again…”
Aether bit his lip, his restraint hanging by a thread. “Girl… let me warn you, you’re
really
making me hard.”
Raven blinked, then tilted her head as she adjusted herself slightly on his lap, her cheeks flushing as she felt a certain firmness pressing against her. “Yes, you’re hard… indeed,” she murmured innocently.
Aether sighed in exasperation. “I wasn’t talking about that, Raven.” His lips curled into a wry grin, “I meant my
heart.
But whatever.”
Without waiting for her to process his words, he leaned in, capturing her lips once more in a searing kiss. His hands slid up her back as his lips moved to her neck and then to her collarbone. Slowly, he traced his lips downward, planting a lingering kiss just above the swell of her breasts.
And then he bit her gently.
“~Ahh~”