Chirp… Chirp…
The birds’ chirping echoed across the balcony, their song blending with the soft rustle of leaves as a gentle breeze passed through.
The sky was bright, clear, and serene, yet the calmness in the air seemed at odds with the tension between the two figures seated on the balcony.
“Looks like someone’s grown quite a bit of nerve lately… wouldn’t you say?” Marisandra’s voice was smooth but carried a sharp edge. She rested her chin on her knuckles, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes narrowing as she studied Aether.
He sat opposite her, sipping tea with an ease that only irritated her further.
Aether let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head with a teasing smile, “Nerve? Me? I haven’t grown anything, Empress. Same old Aether, just as you know me…” His tone was light, but his eyes gleamed with mischief.
Marisandra’s lips twitched in irritation, “Anyway…” Her voice lowered, adopting a more serious tone. “Let’s talk business. The Empires are on the brink of colliding, and you believe you’ve seen the Ebon Pillar of Eternal Rite stone here? In this Empire?”
Aether nodded, setting down his cup. “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. It was during a strange encounter… My childhood days.”
Marisandra leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “A childhood? And you remember this from your past?” Her voice was laced with disbelief.
She hadn’t been informed of him regaining his memories.
Was Celestia lying to her?
Aether hesitated, then nodded. “The memories… they came back unexpectedly. After a near-death experience with a monster in the Pyra Empire, everything started resurfacing. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Dora.” His tone was cautious, careful not to reveal too much. He knew bringing Celestia into this would complicate things.
Marisandra nodded in understanding. Since Celestia had left with Aqualina, it made sense she hadn’t received a report about this. But then—
Marisandra arched a brow. “Dora?” she repeated, frowning.
Aether’s lips curved into a warm smile, “It’s my Master’s name. I call her that because, well… we’ve grown close. She absolutely loves it when I call her that,” he added with a chuckle, though his eyes flashed with amusement at the memory of Isadora’s furious reactions every time he dared use her name.
Marisandra’s eyes widened slightly, ‘That woman? Impossible!’ she thought. She was convinced Aether was lying, yet his genuine, almost genuine expression made her doubt herself.
Her lips twitched, as she quickly masked it with a snort, “Whatever! So, you want me to track down this place and find the stone? And then what? It’s not like we can destroy it, can we?”
Aether shook his head solemnly, “No. That thing is powerful enough to withstand a Sovereign’s full strength. Destroying it isn’t an option. And no, I’m not asking you to find it—I’ll handle that part.”
Marisandra frowned, her fingers tapping against the armrest. “Then what exactly do you want from me?”
Aether leaned in slightly, his tone turning grave, “I need you to prepare. I believe there are specific conditions required to activate the Ebon stone, and it’s protected by powerful, dangerous creatures. This isn’t something we can underestimate.” as he moved his chair closer to her.
Marisandra nodded at his words, ignoring his subtle closeness. “Alright, so we stop it before it activates?”
Aether shook his head slowly, “I wish it were that simple. But no matter what we do, it’s inevitable. Those stones will activate, whether through eternal force… or by the will of the gods.”
Marisandra contemplating those words… After a moment, she exhaled. “Alright. So, what do you need me to do?”
“I need everyone should be ready for anything… Like the Army, Fully mobilized. Over the next few months, we’ll face challenges unlike anything before. The monsters here might be far more dangerous than anything we’ve encountered.” His eyes locked onto hers, deadly serious.
Marisandra studied him carefully. If he were just some reckless boy, she would’ve dismissed his warning. But she had seen too much to doubt him now. His strange powers, his unwavering resolve… He wasn’t ordinary.
And now, he was an Emperor!
Suddenly, the tension broke as Aether’s grin returned. “Anyway, let’s talk about our previous conversation… So, Marisandra, can I take your hand, Empress?” His voice was light and playful, yet laced with something deeper.
Marisandra’s lips twitched, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, “Watch your mouth, brat. I’m not going to—”
“Still calling me a brat? After everything? Am I not a man in your eyes, Empress?” His tone was soft, but his gaze was intense as if silently pleading for recognition.
Marisandra froze, her words caught in her throat. She knew he was playing her, but something about the vulnerability in his eyes made her heart stutter… Like a wounded puppy, ‘Don’t fall, Don’t fall for it, Don’t fall for it….!’ she repeated in her mind. Yet, with an annoyed snort, she looked away, trying to mask the warmth rising in her cheeks.
[+2000 AP]
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 88.8↓%]
Aether’s grin remained hidden beneath a carefully crafted mask of vulnerability. His eyes held that downtrodden look, and as he slid his chair a little closer, his movements were subtle but intentional.
He wasn’t retreating.
He was closing the gap.
Marisandra’s gaze on him was sharp and unreadable. He knew she saw it now—he was no longer beneath her, no longer a mere interest.
He had risen.
No longer just a slave, a boy, or some intriguing anomaly—he was a man.
A man who had climbed high enough to meet her as an equal. She could no longer brush off his intentions, pretending not to notice his persistence.
He wasn’t backing down, and she knew it.
Any fool could see it: Aether’s pursuit wasn’t idle. He had declared his intent long before he reached this height, but now, with strength and confidence, he stood firm.
Ignoring him now wouldn’t just be avoidance—it would be a blatant insult. No woman should stall or dismiss a man who had fought and grown, who stood before her with unwavering resolve.
Accept or Reject… otherwise, it would be total disrespect to that person!
Marisandra’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing as her thoughts raced. She was processing, and calculating. Aether watched her closely, his grin widening inside. He was close, so close to breaking through her defences.
‘Just a little more…’ he thought, ready to push her to that final step. “You know,” he started, his tone light, teasing, “some women try to appo—”
“I heard my daughter kissed you.”
Her words landed like a hammer. The lighthearted tone in Aether’s voice vanished. He stilled, masking his reaction with a casual shrug, “She kind of forced me—”
“And I heard she took you on a date.”
“Well… she wanted to—” His voice wavered slightly, and he cursed himself for it.
“And you two were fooling around at a movie theatre?”
“….” He blinked. How did she know about that? He hadn’t even told anyone.
“And she took you to a restaurant, didn’t she?”
“….” Aether shifted back slightly in his chair.
Marisandra with the same smile continued,
“And then, you both stayed outside the Academy for two days.”
“….Well, She wanted to stay awa–“
“And,” her voice was dangerously soft, “I heard you two… slept together.”
“….”
Silence.
His chair creaked faintly as he stopped moving… as it already returned to its previous position.
“And…. She lost her Virginity” Her voice ice as cold.
He stared at her, his expression carefully neutral, but inside, his mind raced. How did she know? Telepathically, he reached out to Celestia. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire
/How the hell does she know all this?!/
/I swear, I didn’t report anything to her!/ Celestia’s voice was panicked, defensive. /I would never risk that!/
Marisandra leaned forward, her eyes narrowing further. She studied his face, his calm exterior, but she could feel it. Beneath that mask… There was fear!
“Hehe…” Her lips curled into a sly smile. “What’s wrong, Aether? No witty comeback? No bold denial?”
His voice was steady when he finally spoke. “What are you talking about? I couldn’t respond because all of this sounds like baseless—”
“Taylor or… Should I say Celestia isn’t my only spy,” she cut in, snapping her fingers. From the shadows emerged a figure.
Aether’s eyes widened slightly. It was the old man—the one who had driven the carriage during his date with Aqualina…. They travelled in this old man’s carriage all the time they stayed outside of the Academy, ‘A spy? Him?’
“You think I wouldn’t notice?” Marisandra’s voice was icy, her gaze unrelenting, “After everything that’s happened, you really believed you could keep secrets from me?”
In truth, she hadn’t placed another spy until after glimpsing Aether’s memories from the previous timeline. Once she saw danger and death… she wasn’t taking chances. Unlike Celestia, who had the freedom to move as she pleased in the academy, this man had no such liberty.
He reported everything that happened outside of the Academy.
“You slept with my daughter,” Marisandra said, her voice icy, “and now you dare to stand before me and ask for my hand? Do you take me for a fool?” With a dismissive wave, the old man melted back into the shadows.
Aether knew he was fucked up. Any chance of winning this seemed slim. Yet, he remained calm, his face unreadable. Then, with a steady nod, he confessed, “Yeah… I slept with your daughter.”
In an instant, her hand shot out, wrapping around his throat with a vice-like grip. She lifted him effortlessly off the ground, her voice a dangerous growl.
“You dare admit that to my face? After playing with her heart?” Her grip tightened, and she spat the next words like venom. “Fallen Princess!”
Celestia appeared, materializing under the force of Marisandra’s call. She dropped to her knees, unable to resist the oppressive weight pressing down on her upon arriving,
“You.” Marisandra’s gaze burned into Celestia. “How long have you been betraying me? How long have you been playing your little games with him?”
Celestia’s fists clenched, her voice strained. “N-No… I-I would never… betray you…”
Aether’s eyes flicked between Marisandra and Celestia.
He should’ve been panicking. The situation was spiralling out of control!
But instead, his expression remained oddly calm, even amused. As if he was thinking, ‘Nah, everything will be fine.’
Because he still had a final card to play. And one thing was clear—he wasn’t done yet.
He knew by any chance one or another… she would find him!
That’s why… He prepared something special!
‘Hehe…That’s Empress for you~’