“W-Why did you let him go, San—Mom?” Aqualina asked, her pouty lips trembling slightly as she watched Aether walking away… or rather, running away, as though escaping from some unseen terror.
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she let out a frustrated sigh, crossing her arms like a petulant child.
Sandra chuckled softly, “Come on, dear… You can’t just lock someone inside the Palace. It’s not fair, and it’s certainly not love if you hold someone captive against their will. You might not understand this now, but trust me, it’s incredibly painful to be confined, unable to see the outside world. Especially if it’s someone you care about deeply. Love isn’t about chains; it’s about freedom.”
Aqualina’s lips quivered slightly as those words hit her, stirring memories she had buried deep. She recalled a time when she said…. the exact same thing to her daughter.
Back then, Sandra had locked herself in her room, unwilling to face a world she believed had nothing to offer her… Until Aqualina dragged her out.
However now, that didn’t mean she was willing to let go of her pout. She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head to the side with an exaggerated huff, clearly displeased. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire
Seeing her daughter’s childish defiance, Sandra smiled warmly,
“Don’t worry, my sweet girl. You’ll have him eventually. I’ll do whatever it takes to see my daughter happy. But you have to promise me one thing—don’t lock yourself away like before. Don’t shut the door on life just because things don’t go your way. If there’s something you want, just say the word, and I’ll move mountains for you. But no more of those silent protests. Do you understand?” Her tone was gentle but carried a mother’s firm authority.
Aqualina lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. She felt a wave of conflicting emotions—happiness that her mother loved her so much, sadness at being treated like a child by her own daughter, and frustration at the helplessness she couldn’t seem to shake.
Sandra’s thoughts, meanwhile, were a storm of their own. As much as she wanted to hand Aether over to her daughter, there was a selfish reason behind her hesitance as well. She wanted him, too—for reasons she didn’t dare admit, even to herself.
But killing the Frostblade family outright wasn’t an option; it would ignite chaos among the nobles… And Aether’s warning to prepare for anything loomed over her like a shadow. She couldn’t afford to lose the resources and alliances crucial to her empire’s survival.
Above all, Aether was now the Emperor. She couldn’t act recklessly or decide things on a whim. The only way to claim him was to convince Kai to transfer ownership. But as long as Mortimer, the old bastard, was alive, Kai would never relent. That man’s grip on the Frostblade family was ironclad.
Sandra sighed internally. She needed a plan…. Something decisive.
“M-Mom?” Aqualina’s hesitant voice broke through Sandra’s spiralling thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
“Yes, dear?” Sandra blinked, focusing on her daughter’s face.
“C-Can we… play together?” Aqualina’s voice was soft, almost shy, and her eyes carried a vulnerability that tugged at Sandra’s heart. It had been so long since they’d done anything like that together.
Sandra tilted her head slightly, taken aback by the request. ‘What’s gotten into her?’ she wondered, studying her daughter’s expression. The longing in Aqualina’s eyes was unmistakable.
‘Argh… It’s so confusing to see her as my daughter after all these years…’ Aqualina thought to herself. Though she didn’t suffer from an identity crisis like Thalia, she often found herself caught between two roles—daughter and something more complex. Still, she had come to accept who she was… now.
But even so, her motherly instincts occasionally surged to the surface, leaving her feeling disoriented.
Sandra giggled softly, brushing aside her concerns, “Well, if you want to play, how can I say no? Let’s play together, then.”
Aqualina’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “Yay! Let’s play cards! I’ve been practising!”
“Cards, huh? Ah, it’s been ages since I last played with my own mother,” Sandra said with a nostalgic smile.
…..
…..
Meanwhile,
Aether finally stopped running once he was sure he was a safe distance away. Leaning against a wall, he wiped the sweat off his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief. His eyes darted back the way he’d come, half-expecting someone…. But no one appeared.
“Fuck… I almost got locked up in there,” he muttered to himself, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders to shake off the tension.
He sighed as he thought about Aqualina’s situation… He knew Aqualina would be fine… Sure, she might have a few episodes here and there, but he was confident she’d manage unlike Thalia.
Still, as he walked away, his thoughts were so messed up,
There were too many unanswered questions swirling in his mind.
How had Sandra regained her eyesight?
How had she become so powerful that she managed to kill two Chosen Ones?
The whole thing felt like one of those ridiculous overpowered MC stories where a weak, pathetic protagonist trashed around by others and then suddenly gets a lucky stone and starts conquering realms with a flick of their wrist.
Sandra’s life felt like it had been ripped straight out of a novel, and the thought gnawed at him too much, ‘Am I just a stepping stone in her grand story? Is she the MC, and I’m just another obstacle in her path?’
Aether frowned, his hand running through his hair, “Is that why my survival rate drops every time I’m near her?” he muttered, the thought sending a chill down his spine.
As he walked, something in his pocket began to glow faintly. He reached in and pulled out a small, ring-sized orb—a communication device Jack Sparrow had given him. It doubled as an identification tool and worked like a voicemail system.
Clicking his tongue, Aether ducked into a shadowy alley and activated the device. A voice filled the air:
“Hello, Victor Darl—ahem. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I know you must be exhausted from handling an entire empire, but don’t forget—you’re still an Arcane Hunter. Please come to our garden. Everyone is waiting for you… and of course, I am too. To be honest, I miss you more than the others, so you’d better come visit me soon. Otherwise… hehe… I’ll haunt you~ My dear Victor~”
[+4000 AP]
“!!!” Aether’s entire body tensed as goosebumps erupted across his skin…. The voice was haunting enough, but the sudden surge in affection points was the icing on the terrifying cake.
Even though it was just a voicemail, he felt a wave of dread wash over him.
‘Damn, this guy’s getting scarier by the day…’ he thought, his eyes narrowing as he stuffed the orb back into his pocket.
Before sighing, Aether muttered to himself, “Well, let’s see what they’ve got…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, rolled-up piece of paper, identical to the one Jack had used before. It was a peculiar object that had baffled him ever since Jack handed it over.
It had been a parting gift after Aether had successfully taken down the Empire and proven his worth to Jack. This wasn’t just a token—it was a tool, a symbol of trust!
Unfurling the paper, Aether studied it for a moment before pressing it firmly against the wall. The image of a door, drawn with intricate detail, flickered briefly before transforming into a real, solid door right before his eyes.
He couldn’t help but marvel at the technology. “Hmmm… it’s terrifying that something like this doesn’t even exist in the black market,” Aether mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. Whatever this was, it was leagues beyond anything he’d encountered before.
Taking a deep breath, Aether quickly disguised himself and,
….
….
Chirp, Chirp…
The cheerful sound of birdsong filled the air, mingling with the bright and vibrant hues of the sky above.
He moved forward toward the centre of the garden, where a table stood surrounded by six figures. As Victor approached, his gaze locked onto one person in particular—Jack. The man’s grin was wide and unrestrained, his eyes alight with excitement, as though he were greeting a long-lost lover.
[+4000 AP]
Victor suppressed a shiver as goosebumps crawled up his arms. ‘Fuck,’ he cursed inwardly, his calm expression betraying none of the turmoil he felt. With measured steps, he approached the table.
“Bam, bam… bam! Victor is finally here~” Jack announced loudly, his voice dripping with enthusiasm. He pushed his chair back and stood, dramatically motioning for Victor to take his seat. “Come, come, my dear Victor! We’ve been waiting for you!”
Victor’s eyes flicked to the other figures seated at the table. Their forms were obscured, blurry holograms flickering in and out of focus. One sat directly across from him, while two occupied each side of the table.
‘Still hiding their faces, huh?’ Victor thought to himself. He approached the chair Jack had offered and sat down gracefully, his movements deliberate and controlled.
Jack, grinning like a mischievous schoolgirl, leaned in close, resting his head lightly against Victor’s shoulder.
‘Don’t kill him. Don’t punch him. Don’t cut him off…’ Victor chanted silently in his mind, desperately trying to suppress the growing urge to fling Jack away.
The hologram directly opposite Victor flickered before a deep, authoritative voice spoke. “I’m very proud of you, Victor. You’ve exceeded my expectations in every conceivable way.” The figure clapped slowly, the sound resonating through the garden.
The other holograms followed suit, clapping in unison. Even Jack joined in enthusiastically, though his applause was far more energetic and over-the-top.
“Yes! Yes, he really did it!” Jack shouted, his expression wild with excitement. “He cut down the Emperor like he was nothing more than a chicken! And letting Leon live… genius! He’s now nothing more than a tool for us to manipulate as we please. Master! Victor deserves much more than just praise—he deserves everything!”
Jack’s voice grew louder and more frenzied, his eyes glinting with a crazed light.
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
Victor’s shoulders stiffened slightly as another surge of affection points flooded in. ‘Damn it, this guy’s obsession is getting out of hand…’ he thought.