The trio sat together in the vibrant garden, the fragrance of blooming flowers blending with the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Celestia moved gracefully, pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups, her every motion precise and refined.
Aqualina stared at Marisandra with a blank yet conflicted expression.
Her heart ached as she studied the woman before her—no, not just a woman. Her daughter. It was hard to reconcile the memory of her small child with the regal and composed figure sitting across from her.
‘She’s grown so much… It must have been so hard for her,’ Aqualina thought, her chest tightening with guilt. Memories clawed at her, but she quickly shook her head to dispel them.
She had made her choice: the past would stay buried. Aether’s words echoed in her mind, a lifeline against the tide of emotions. ‘Some things are meant to stay hidden forever.’
Aqualina wanted to shout the truth, to beg for forgiveness, to ask for redemption for the sins she could never undo. Yet, deep down, she knew that woman—the Aqualina who had been a mother—was gone. Dead and buried along with her past mistakes. The woman she was now, the daughter of Marisandra, couldn’t risk shattering the fragile relationship she had now.
Her gaze grew distant, her eyes hollo–
“HIKK!” Aqualina jolted, snapping out of her thoughts as she felt a sharp pinch on her thigh.
“Hmm? What happened?” Marisandra asked, her brows knitting together in concern as she looked at her daughter.
“N-Nothing…” Aqualina stammered, her face flushing. “I’m just… happy,” she added hastily, forcing a smile as she shot a glare at Aether. The culprit continued sipping his tea with a serene expression, as though nothing had happened.
Marisandra’s expression softened, her concern melting into a gentle smile. “As long as you’re happy, my dear, that’s all that matters to me. But please, promise me one thing—don’t do anything to harm yourself. I’m here for you, always. If something happens to you, I don’t think I could bear it. If you need anything, anything at all, just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”
Aqualina’s lips trembled as a mix of emotions swirled within her—love, guilt, and admiration. Her daughter, no, her mother, had become someone far more steadfast and composed than she had ever been.
“O-Of course, Sa-Mom,” Aqualina replied softly, her voice trembling as her eyes misted with unshed tears.
“Good” Marisandra nodded, her warm smile returning, though her sharp gaze lingered on Aqualina. Something about her daughter felt… off. Clearing her throat, she decided to probe further. “So, my dear, why exactly have you been locking yourself in your room so much lately?”
Aqualina froze, her breath hitching as the inevitable question fell. She had known this would come. Sandra’s sharp instincts and relentless curiosity would never let it rest. Aqualina’s hands trembled in her lap as she scrambled for an answer.
Meanwhile, Aether leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of tea with a blissful expression. ‘So quiet… so peaceful… I could get used to—’
“I LOVE AETHER!!”
Crack!
Crack!
The sound of shattering porcelain cut through the tranquil garden. Both Aether’s and Marisandra’s teacups lay broken, their contents spilling onto the table.
Aether choked, his head whipping around to stare at Aqualina in disbelief.
Marisandra’s eyes widened, her lips parting as she blinked at her daughter, who had abruptly stood, her face flushed and her hands fidgeting nervously.
“Y-You see, Mom…” Aqualina stammered, her voice trembling as she darted glances at Aether, who was now standing (though not by choice) beside her. “I… I mean…”
Marisandra’s gaze slowly shifted to Aether, her expression darkening with every passing second.
Who would have thought Aqualina would brazenly announce her love for Aether right in front of her mother?
Aether certainly didn’t. In fact, he thought it would take some time but now…. He would’ve been easier if Aqualina had turned out to be some twisted individual who wanted to kill her mother.
He could handle that kind of crazy!!
But this? This was on another level entirely.
‘Fuck this,’ Aether groaned internally, his gaze flickering toward Celestia, who was barely holding back her laughter. Her shoulders shook, her amusement practically radiating from her.
‘I’m going to spank you later,’ he thought darkly, his jaw tightening as Aqualina’s next words rang out loud and clear.
“I-I know he’s a slave and all… Sa—Mom…” Aqualina’s voice trembled as she took a deep, shaky breath. Gripping Aether’s hand tightly, she declared, “But I—I love him!” Her face flushed beet red, her emotions unrestrained.
She couldn’t believe she was in a position where her daughter was essentially granting her permission to be with the man whom she loved!
It was an utterly bizarre situation—one so unprecedented and surreal that it felt like something out of a twisted drama no one would ever dare to script!
For a moment, Marisandra’s expression didn’t change, her face a mask of calm.
But to Aether, the silence was deafening.
Aether was dying inside!!
‘Kill me already,’ he groaned inwardly as Marisandra’s blank expression slowly turned toward him. She looked at him like he had somehow cheated on her with her own daughter—a scenario so absurd that Aether didn’t even know how to react.
Well… right! But still… this wasn’t what he had anticipated at all!
Aqualina’s face was glowing with determination… she wanted to use this chance to get Aether!! This would be a perfect opportunity to convince her mother to accept Aether, even though he was a slave…. It was like a child throwing a tantrum to get what they wanted.
“A-Aether, say it!” Aqualina turned to him, her face blushing furiously as if urging him to confirm her words.
“Hah… hahaha…” Aether chuckled nervously, sweat dripping down his back. His eyes darted to Marisandra, whose indifferent expression sent chills down his spine. Gulping, he stammered, “Y-Yeah… I-I…” Inwardly, he screamed, ‘This is so fucked up! I wasn’t ready for this twist, man!’
“Come on, Aether, there’s no need to be shy,” Aqualina teased with a soft chuckle, clearly amused by his awkwardness.
Aether glanced at her, feeling a mix of horror and disbelief. At that moment, she didn’t look like a lovestruck girl to him. No, she felt like a demon—one sent specifically to torment him.
Reluctantly, he nodded. “Yeah… W-We love each other.”
Crack!
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 88.9%↑]
The sound of cracking porcelain brought Aether back to reality. Startled, he instinctively checked his neck to make sure nothing had snapped. When he saw it was just the teacup, he exhaled in relief.
‘Thank goodness.’ But his relief was short-lived. Another thought struck him: ‘Why the hell did my survival rate suddenly increase?!’
“M-Mom?” Aqualina’s voice wavered as she clung to Aether’s arm, her fear evident.
Marisandra stared at her daughter, her gaze unreadable…. Her daughter was already in a rebellious phase even as far as going hiding in her room for this…. After a long moment, she sighed. “Well… if that’s what you truly wish for… I don’t mind,” she said with an indifferent shrug.
Aether gulped, unable to ignore the emotionless look in her eyes. The blankness of her expression screamed volumes, silently promising, ‘I’ll deal with you later.’
“T-Thank you, Mom!” Aqualina shouted, her joy overflowing. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed Aether.
Crack…
Aether’s heart sank as he turned his gaze to Marisandra again. ‘Oh, please… don’t provoke her any more than this,’ he thought desperately, his body as stiff as a board.
Aqualina giggled, amused by Aether’s rigid demeanour, “Why are you so tense, Aether? It’s not like Mom is going to kill you,” she teased, a sly smile playing on her lips.
She turned and walked over to Marisandra, wrapping her arms around her in a warm hug. “I love you… Sandra.”
Marisandra froze, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, her lips trembled, as though she were struggling to process what she’d just heard…. those familiar tones… those emotions… those love… she felt she was familiar with…
“Ahem” Aether coughed awkwardly.
Aqualina flinched, her face burning with embarrassment. “I-I mean… Mom!” she corrected hastily.
Marisandra blinked before finally regaining her composure. Hugging her daughter even tighter, she whispered, “I love you too, my dear Aqua….” Her voice was gentle, her hand patting Aqualina’s back softly. But her sharp, icy glare never left Aether.
“What about him?” she asked coldly. “He’s still an Eternal Slave.”
Aqualina pulled away, her expression hardening, “About that…. What about eradicating the Frostblade household?” she asked, her tone chilling.
She remembered the time when she had asked Mortimer for his support, only to have him look at her with blatant disgust. He had even gone so far as to make vile remarks about her daughter, mocking her blindness as though it were something to be ashamed of.
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Sandra raised her eyebrows, clearly shocked by Aqualina’s words, and even Celestia and Aether were caught off guard.
But Aqualina wasn’t done. She pressed on, “Once Aether becomes a Stray slave, no one will have any authority over him. No one will dare to touch him, not a single soul. He will be free, and I’ll have him in this palace, where we can be left alone, just the way we deserve.” A mischievous smile curved her lips, “Fu~Fu~ He’ll be perfectly fine as long as he’s locked away here with me, right?”
Her words were laced with a wicked smile, and Sandra, for reasons she couldn’t quite understand, found herself smiling at her daughter’s words—her daughter, who had grown into someone so unrecognizable, so beautiful, so fierce… and weird?
Aether stood frozen, his mind racing to catch up with the situation.
‘What the fu–‘ Before he could process anything further,
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 88.8%↓]
It was at that moment he knew he needed to escape at all costs!!