[Author’s Note: Actually it’s re-edited for… This announcement.
Hello, guys! 😊 It’s been a while… I sincerely apologize for the sudden pause. Due to personal health issues, I couldn’t write for some time. Please forgive me for that. 🙏
I’m still not fully recovered, so for the time being, you’ll mostly receive just one chapter per day. This is only temporary, though! Once I’m feeling better, we’ll return to our previous schedule. 📅
Also, the chapters you get for now might be random, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. 💖 Please forgive me once again! 🙇♀️
Once again, I’m asking my privileged readers since they’re the first ones to read the chapters. They’ll be able to tell me whether the chapters are of good quality or not. Once I get their feedback, I’ll inform you all again. If not, I’ll continue to update..😊]
“I wonder… what a kiss feels like?”
“Huh? What did you just say, Princess?”
“I-I was just thinking, you know… I mean… Argh! Why are you so dense about this, you idiot!!”
“W-Wait, what are you doing?”
“Looks like I need to teach a certain dense man a thing or two about romance?!”
“B-But I already have someone I like…”
“H-Huh? Then what about me? Didn’t you say you loved me?”
“W-Well, I mean… I love protecting you, but that’s—”
“That’s all I need… Hmmm~”
“Princess, wha—MMFFF!”
Marisandra sat with a blank expression, her dark eyes as deep as shadows, glued to the crystal ball showing a recorded video of her daughter pushing Aether onto the bed…. His reluctance was evident, yet there she was, teasing him, kissing him passionately.
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Aether, sitting awkwardly before Marisandra, rubbed the back of his neck, his face strained in apparent discomfort. Yet, beneath that troubled expression, he was inwardly grinning with satisfaction.
‘This plan was foolproof,’ he thought.
What’s with this newly recorded video?
The recording was perfect. It clearly portrayed Aqualina as the one initiating everything… She seducing Aether!!
Some might have forgotten, but Marisandra had instructed Celestia to observe Aqualina’s interactions with Aether closely… Heck, she was the one who asked Celestia to record everything and report to her. [A/N: Hint: Snowflake called Marisandra ‘Mother’]
It wasn’t overly explicit—just enough. Teasing, kissing, occasional groping, and some soft moans—perfect bait for what he had in mind.
He had prepared it for when things might go south, and, just as he predicted, they did.
Celestia, standing stiffly behind Marisandra, finally spoke, her voice laden with guilt. “Your Majesty, I recorded this as per your orders, but…” Her eyes flicked toward Aether before continuing, “He found the artifact’s hiding place and… confronted me. He told me not to report anything to you. At first, I was hesitant. But he insisted it would shatter your heart, He told me he didn’t want to make you worry more and that the Princess might act recklessly if she knew everything. So… I… I had no choice but to conceal it and remain silent about their relationship.” She knelt on one knee, bowing deeply. “Please, forgive me, Your Majesty! I accept whatever punishment you deem fit!”
Marisandra’s eyes remained on the recording, watching Aether being pushed around by her daughter, unable to resist her advances. He was cornered, unable to push her away or stop her without consequences.
With a frustrated growl, Marisandra crushed the crystal ball in her palm, shards glittering in her hand as she barked, “I told you to push her if she crossed the line! W-Why didn’t you?!”
Aether, his shoulders drooping, murmured, “She’s already had enough with Kai’s betrayal… and now you want me to push her away too? Can’t you see it? She was desperate, yearning for some form of reassurance… I couldn’t do it. I-I felt if I pushed her… it might’ve shattered her completely,” he stammered, his voice low but trembling with conviction.
Marisandra’s jaw tightened as she bit her lip, processing his words.
She knew the pain Aqualina had endured… Seeing her fiancé with another woman would have devastated her, amplifying her insecurities. And with Aether being the only man close to her, she clung to him for validation.
She forced herself onto him so that her insecurities would disappear.
If Aether had rejected her… Marisandra understood. Aqualina might have spiralled deeper into despair, doubting her own worth, her beauty, everything.. all because of a damn useless boy!!
After a tense silence, Marisandra exhaled, her gaze softening. She turned to Celestia and gently patted her head. “Perhaps… I overreacted. You may go. We’ll talk later.”
Celestia bowed her head, disappearing without a word.
Marisandra then turned her attention to Aether, who was still rubbing his neck, “Well… I… I’m sorry…” The words stumbled awkwardly from her lips, barely audible.
Aether blinked, unsure if he heard correctly, but he knew better than to press his luck. He needed to tread carefully.
“As long as you trust me…” he muttered, wincing dramatically as he continued to massage his neck.
Marisandra bit her lip, hesitating for a brief moment before slowly extending her hand toward him. Aether flinched instinctively, leaning back, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes as if unsure of her next move.
Seeing his reaction, Marisandra’s eyes widened in surprise. A pang of guilt rippled through her as she realized she might have been too harsh. Softening her approach, she moved closer, letting her fingers brush against his neck. A faint blue glow radiated from her touch. Her voice, now gentler, asked, “Is it still painful?”
Aether blinked, his eyebrows lifting in mild surprise. “It feels… warm,” he said softly, his hand rising to cover hers, their fingers almost intertwining.
Marisandra flinched but didn’t pull away, the warmth of his touch felt weirdly good to her.
Aether’s lips curled into a playful grin. “If I’d known you could be this caring… maybe I should’ve let you beat me up before I told you the truth.”
[+2000 AP]
Marisandra’s brow twitched in irritation. “…Are you an idiot?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief, though the corners of her lips threatened to betray a smile.
“Maybe… but only for you,” Aether teased, his grin widening with mischief.
[+2000 AP]
Marisandra rolled her eyes, wriggling her hand free with a snort before letting out a soft sigh.
The playful atmosphere shifted as Aether’s expression grew more solemn. His shoulders sagged, and guilt weighed heavily in his voice… at least he tried to,
“I’m really sorry for what happened… I should’ve handled the Princess’s emotions better.
But she asked me to go on that date, and after everything she did… all the effort she put in for me… it genuinely touched my heart. It was inevitable. She showed sides of herself I’d never seen before…. It made me happy really… someone doing their best for me.. just me… it is amazing…” His smile really genuine, as he recalled how meticulously Aqualina had planned every detail of their time together, her sole focus on making him happy.
Marisandra’s lips twitched, her mind swirling with unease, ‘Don’t tell me… he’s falling for her’ she thought, suppressing the rising dread.
“Maybe she was just jealous of Kai messing around with another girl and wanted to… well, act out too,” she said, yet, her tone lacked conviction… or maybe worry?
Aether’s smile vanished. His voice, calm but firm, carried an undercurrent of anger. “Do you honestly believe your daughter would stoop so low?… That she’d lose her virginity to someone else out of jealousy?”
Marisandra stiffened, her brows furrowing. She knew better, of course, but hearing him say it aloud made it sting more. She opened her mouth, then shut it, unable to meet his gaze.
Shrugging, she muttered, “Anyway, she lost her virginity. That’s the reality. But don’t mistake it for love. She might be infatuated with you now, but once she matures, she’ll realize what she truly needs in life.” her expression slightly showed desperation.
Aether nodded with a small smile… but, Marisandra noticed the flicker of pain, subtle but unmistakable.
Clicking her tongue, she muttered with even more desperation, “Sometimes, physical intimacy can make people believe they’re meant for each other. But in reality, it’s just that—physical. Once you’re used to it, those feelings fade. So…” Her words drifted off as she watched him closely, searching his expression.
Aether sighed deeply, “I see…. I can’t hide anything from my Empress… can I?” he murmured, his voice soft yet laced with yearning.
His eyes locked onto hers, filled with a longing that made her heart pound faster.
Marisandra’s pulse quickened, Those eyes—why did they make her feel this way? She could see it clearly now….. Aether loved her.
But fate had tangled him with Aqualina, and she couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.
She knew her daughter wouldn’t sleep with anyone out of mere jealousy. If anything, she’d destroy Kai before doing something like that.
Her daughter was in love with Aether!!
And despite the circumstances, despite being forced into that situation, Aether was starting to feel something for Aqualina.
Marisandra didn’t like it one bit!!
If it had been a fleeting encounter one-night stand or just for fun, she wouldn’t have cared. But seeing his anger when she questioned Aqualina? It confirmed her fears.
Aether was slowly falling for her daughter.
“Even though you love me!” she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with frustration and… jealousy?
“Hmm? What did you say?”
“N-Nothing!” she snapped, her cheeks flushing slightly as she turned away.
“Anyway… I haven’t seen the Princess lately. Where is she?” Aether’s tone was casual, but there was a warmth, almost longing, in his voice that made Marisandra’s chest tighten painfully.
“Tsk,” she clicked her tongue in annoyance.