Tuck!
Tap!
Tuucck!
Rrrrrrr!!
The rhythmic sounds of wood being cut and nails hammered echoed through the dense forest.
The construction of a massive, sturdy wooden house was progressing rapidly. Above the bustling workers, a pair of soft, twitching ears emerged, flicking in the air before a curious head peeked out…. it was none other than Liora.
Her hands gripped the wooden beam tightly as she balanced on the side wall, her muscles taut with focus. Each nail she drove into the wood echoed with precision and strength.
“Is something the matter, Lady Liora?” one of the workers called out, her voice edged with concern when she noticed her sudden pause.
Liora didn’t respond immediately. Her nose twitched, and her ears flicked again, attuned to something beyond the ordinary.
Her gaze darted left and right, sharp and alert, before her lips curled into a mischievous grin. She fixed her eyes on a particular direction.
“Husband~” she murmured, her voice dripping with excitement as her tail wagged furiously.
Meanwhile…
Aether appeared inside Aria’s house…
He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the room. The familiar surroundings triggered a wave of nostalgia, pulling him into a flood of memories—each one vivid, each one stirring something deep within him… they had their passionate moment here and his life saved by Maelona in this room… everything was here!
A soft smile formed on his lips. After a moment of silent, he exited the room and wandered down the corridor, his eyes scanning the bustling scene before him.
The entire city seemed alive, with people darting back and forth, their energy filling the air. Everything was as vibrant and lively as he remembered.
“Where is Aria?” he inquired, stopping a maid who was hurrying past him.
“Her Majesty is currently in the Empire’s castle,” the maid replied, bowing slightly.
‘Castle?’ Aether blinked, momentarily taken aback.
What could Aria possibly be doing there… in the very place where she had once been imprisoned?
He closed his eyes, hiss mind sharpened as he visualized the castle’s layout from memory, and then—
“???” The maid gasped audibly as Aether vanished right before her eyes. She blinked a few times, shook her head in disbelief, and then returned to her work, muttering something about hallucinations.
Meanwhile…
Aether materialized within the grand halls of the Empire’s castle, his sudden presence caused immediate attention.
“Who are you?!” A chorus of shouts erupted as the guards sprang into action, their swords gleaming as they pointed them directly at his throat, their eyes brimming with lethal intent.
“Whoa, whoa… Calm down, gentlemen! I’m not here to harm anyone,” Aether said, lifting both hands in a gesture of surrender, his tone light yet cautious.
But the guards were unmoved…. Their grip on their swords tightened.
Trespassing into the castle without permission was a crime—one that carried severe, often fatal, consequences!!
“Kneel down, human,” one of the guards barked, his voice authoritative and cold.
“Well, I’d rather not—”
“I SAID KNEEL DOWN!” the guard roared, his patience wearing thin.
Just as the tension threatened to explode into violence—
“Aether?”
Aether turned towards the familiar voice. His tense posture eased as he saw Maelona approaching, flanked by a group of servants.
“Your Grace, this human was attempting to pass without proper—” the guard began, but Maelona’s icy glare cut him off mid-sentence.
“Step away from him,” she commanded, her voice low but laced with unmistakable authority.
“Your Grace, he—”
“I said, step away from him,” Maelona repeated, her tone sharp enough to pierce steel.
Without further protest, the guards immediately backed off, their expressions wary.
Maelona rushed to Aether, her eyes scanning him for injuries, “Are you hurt? Did they harm you?” Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire
Aether couldn’t help but chuckle softly, her concern touching him. “I’m fine, Mother-in-law. Not a scratch.”
At his words, everyone around them stiffened, their eyes wide with shock. ‘Mother-in-law?’ whispered through the crowd, disbelief etched on their faces.
Maelona exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing, “You could have informed me before barging in like that,” she scolded gently, though her tone held relief. She snapped her fingers, dismissing the remaining guards, who hurried away as if their lives depended on it.
Aether scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Well, I thought a surprise visit would be fun.”
[+3000 AP]
Maelona shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “A surprise, indeed… though you nearly gave my guards heart attacks.” She smiled warmly before reaching out to touch his face gently. “How’s my son-in-law doing?”
“Better than you’d expect,” he said with a wink, then added, “And you? Are you holding up well?”
Maelona’s smile widened. “Oh, I’m doing fine… as you can see,” she teased, playfully winking back at him.
[+3000 AP]
Aether raised an eyebrow, amused by her lighthearted demeanour.
“Come on, let me show you what your beloved has been up to,” Maelona said, motioning for him to follow.
Upon arriving at the throne room, they observed a serious discussion in progress.
“What about the status of the Spirit Tribe?” Aria, seated gracefully on the throne, addressed the group of Elders assembled before her, her gaze sharp and authoritative.
“Your Majesty, as of now, they are in harmony with the neighbouring tribes. I don’t believe they would retaliate unless provoked,” one of the Elders replied, his expression serious, voice steady.
“I see…” Aria responded in an indifferent tone, “Even so, they need to present their leader to integrate properly into our society.” She paused for a moment before continuing, “Next, bring a revised report on the Empire’s total revenue. We need to increase the infrastructure budget for transportation. Ensure the proposals are ready by the next council session.”
From a concealed viewpoint, Aether and Maelona observed the scene unfold. Maelona’s chest swelled with pride as she watched Aria assert herself with the confidence and grace of a seasoned ruler.
“Just like me,” Maelona murmured, beaming. She turned to Aether, expecting him to share her pride, but his expression was far from it…. His brow furrowed, his eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and concern.
“Is something wrong? Should I call her over?” Maelona asked, her voice soft but curious.
Aether shook his head firmly. “She’s busy. Let’s not disturb her,” he replied, turning to walk away.
Maelona frowned, her expression deepening into concern as she followed him. “What’s bothering you, Aether? Don’t you like seeing her rule the Empire?”
“Of course not,” he said quickly, his voice steady. “I couldn’t be prouder of her.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Maelona pressed, tilting her head slightly, though she sighed in relief at his earlier reassurance.
“Well…” Aether hesitated before speaking, his voice lowered. “How did she become the ruler so quickly? What happened to Kaelen? Weren’t they supposed to fight for the throne before taking control?”
Maelona’s eyes widened in realization. She finally understood his confusion. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she began to explain.
“Well… that was the plan. We used both Kaelen and Aria to force Alaric from the throne. The idea was that they’d stabilize the Empire together, prove their worth, and then face off for the right to rule. However…” She trailed off, hesitating.
“However?” Aether prompted, his eyes narrowing.
Maelona sighed. “Kaelen… he said he didn’t want to rule the Empire.”
Aether’s frown deepened. “He said that? Wasn’t he the first one willing to kill Aria to elevate his tribe’s rank?”
Maelona shrugged, frustration creeping into her expression. “Believe me, I’m just as baffled. I wish I knew why he changed his mind.”
“Where are Liora and Kaelen now?” Aether asked, his tone sharper than before.
Maelona’s lips twitched in irritation. “Liora? Busy building some ridiculous—”
“HUSBAND~~~”
Thud!
Aether didn’t have time to react before something crashed into him, knocking him off his feet.
Maelona blinked in shock, her eyes widening as she turned to see Liora perched on top of Aether, licking his face with abandon.
“I missed you~ Lick~ Where have you been? Lick Lick~ You should’ve told me you were coming! Lick Lick~ Let’s mate~” she purred, rubbing her rear against his groin suggestively.
“I missed you~ Lick~ Where you have been? ~Lick~ Lick~ You should have informed me coming here ~ Lick~Lick~Lick~ Let’s mate~” as she rubbed her ass on his groin.
Maelona’s face turned a deep shade of crimson. Without hesitation, she grabbed Liora’s tail and yanked her back.
“HIKK!!” Liora yelped, glaring at Maelona. “If it were anyone else, they’d be dead a hundred times over by now!”
Unfazed, Maelona glared right back. “And if it were anyone else, they’d be rotting in prison for attacking the Majesty’s husband!”
Liora snorted, “He’s mine too!”
Aether chuckled, shaking off the impact, ‘She is faster than before’ he thought before He stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes before opening his arms.
“Where’s my good wolfy~?”
Liora shot Maelona a triumphant smirk before throwing herself into Aether’s embrace, her lips pressing against his in a deep kiss.
“~hmm~”
Maelona snorted, rolling her eyes as she looked away, waiting for their little reunion to end.
“Husband~ I was so lonely~” Liora pouted, her eyes wide with innocence as she licked his neck affectionately.
Aether chuckled at her clinginess, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
Maelona cleared her throat loudly. “Where is Kaelen?” she asked, her patience wearing thin with their lovey-dovey!
Liora glanced at her but stayed silent.
Veins throbbed on Maelona’s forehead. She clenched her fists, itching to teach this smug wolf a lesson.
“Where is he, Liora?” Aether asked, his voice calm yet firm. Liora’s tail wagged furiously, her eyes gleaming with admiration as she took in how tall and handsome he looked.
“Well, he’s…”
Meanwhile
“Come again?” Kaelen’s bewildered expression reflected his disbelief as he stared at the twin-tailed girl standing before him, her face flushed bright red.
“I-I said… I’ve always loved you!!!” Vesperine stammered, shouting in a burst of embarrassment, her voice quivering but resolute.