[Author’s Note: 598 PS… A bit short of the target, but we almost made it. This time is exceptional 😉.]
“NOO! NOOO! LET ME GOOOO!! MY GRANDFATHER… SOB, SOB… WHO LOVED ME LIKE HIS OWN GRANDSON… SNIFF, SNIFF… NOOOO! GRANDFATHER!!!”
Aether’s anguished cries echoed across the horizon, reverberating through the air as the ice block carrying Mortimer floated away, a symbol of a life departing forever.
Aqualina was caught completely off guard, struggling to restrain Aether, who thrashed weakly in her arms. His face was contorted with grief, tears streaming down his cheeks, snot dripping, and drool spilling as though his very soul was breaking apart with every sob.
“NO!! He’ll be all alone… P-Please… Sniff, sniff… L-Let me gooo…”
Aether’s heartfelt words rippled through the crowd like a wave…. just like a sea wave!
Those who had been trying to suppress their own tears finally broke down, their restrained grief exploding into loud sobs.
“W-What the…” The Empress blinked in disbelief, her gaze fixed on Aether. ‘What is he playing at now?’ she wondered, her eyes narrowing as she observed his dramatic performance… she even wondered whether he was acting or not… that much performance going on before the live audience!
Kai’s face twitched visibly as he watched Aqualina hold Aether close, her ample chest almost pressing against the boy’s back. Rage bubbled up within him, and he finally snapped, shouting, “W-What the hell are you talking about?! He’s my grandfather!”
But Aether completely ignored him, continuing his tearful monologue,
“H-He treated me with kindness, f-fed me when no one else would, even when the world shunned me for being a servant… Sniff, sniff… He was like a god to me!
O-Oh, dear god, why? WHY!! Why would you take someone so innocent?!
P-Please, take me instead… Let the Hero live longer! Sob, sob…”
His words struck a chord in the hearts of everyone present. Even Velc’s stoic lips began to tremble, and tears quietly rolled down his cheeks.
Meanwhile, murmurs rippled through the gathering like whispers carried on the wind.
“Looks like our Hero even cared for this poor child… Did you see how he’s crying? That’s genuine grief.”
“Unlike his real grandchildren… They didn’t even shed a tear! Tsk, tsk…”
“That Kai… He didn’t cry at all. Is his heart made of stone?”
“Tsk, tsk… Probably because he’s the Arcane King. No wonder he is arrogant!”
Kai’s face reddened in frustration as he overheard the biting remarks. ‘These bastards! I cried alone! I just didn’t want to show weakness in front of the masses… but now…’ His eyes flicked toward Aether, who was still crying as though the world had ended.
Leon quietly approached Kai, leaning in to whisper, “You need to cry. Now.”
Kai shot him a glare. “Huh? Cry? In front of everyone? That’s weak—”
“Do it,” Leon interrupted firmly. “If you don’t, you’ll lose the people’s respect. Even if it’s an act, you have to cry.”
Kai growled in frustration, hesitating for a moment before covering his face with his hands. He sniffled theatrically, attempting to force out a sob, but it was painfully obvious that no tears were falling.
Meanwhile, Our Oscar Nominee, Aether’s wailing continued to captivate the crowd.
“G-Grandfattteerrrrr… I-I’m so sorry… Hic… Hic… P-Please don’t leave me… Hic, hic… You promised to free me from this nightmare… Y-You promised to protect me!!! And now… Sniff, sniff… Grandfatherrrrrr!”
Velc frowned slightly, his sharp eyes catching the nuances in Aether’s performance, but the raw emotion radiating from the boy drowned out any doubts.
Aether weakly struggled in Aqualina’s grasp, his voice trembling as he cried out, “P-Please… L-Let me go… I… I want to be with him!”
Aqualina, though bewildered by his sudden outburst, played along seamlessly. Her voice was soft and consoling,
“It’s okay, Aether… You don’t need to worry anymore. He’s finally resting after a lifetime of hard work. People might forget him someday, but his deeds will live on for eternity… Through the ages, he will be remembered as the saviour of millions. A true hero…
All hail the True Hero!”
Moved by her words, the crowd erupted in unison, their voices ringing out as tears streamed down their faces. “TRUE HERO!!”
Aether let the chant wash over him, a sly grin momentarily flashing across his face before he masked it with sorrow. His voice cracked as he said,
“H-He told me… H-He would free me from this cursed world… How cruel of fate to take him away! Hic, hic…”
Suddenly,
“Young Master Kai!!”
The shout came from Timmy, who was sprinting through the crowd, his face flushed and breathless.
Kai lowered his hands, his forced sobbing cut short as he frowned in irritation. “What now?” he muttered, glancing at the murmuring crowd that had clearly noticed his lackluster attempt to cry.
Timmy skidded to a halt in front of him, clutching a crumpled piece of paper. “I… huff… I was cleaning Master’s clothes and… huff… I found this!” He held the paper aloft. “It’s Master’s final note!”
Kai reached out to take it, but before he could, Velc snatched it from Timmy’s hands, his expression dark and unreadable.
“Father?” Kai asked, his tone tinged with confusion and annoyance.
Before Velc could respond, Xara stepped forward and plucked the note from his grasp with a quick motion. Velc’s lips twitched in visible irritation, but he said nothing.
Xara’s brow furrowed as she read the note, her expression shifting rapidly from curiosity to shock. “Oh… my!” she exclaimed, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of urgency.
Her reaction drew the attention of everyone present, their curiosity piqued. Murmurs filled the air once again as all eyes turned to Xara…
Xara took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she held the paper close to her face as she began to read aloud, “By the time you read this message… I know I will have already left this world behind…”
The weight of Mortimer’s final words was enough to make everyone freeze, their attention solely on the paper in Xara’s hands.
Velc made a move to snatch the letter, but Xara swiftly turned her shoulder, ignoring him as she pressed on,
“I know how devastating my death will be to everyone, but… I am not a god. When the time comes, no matter who we are, we all must go, even if it feels unbearably cruel.
I love my people—those who have worked tirelessly for this Empire—and I beg you all to continue striving for greatness, even in my absence. Your growth is the Empire’s growth. Do not hurt one another, no matter what. This is my only wish for the people who have believed in me with such unwavering faith.”
The crowd erupted into waves of muffled sobs and heartfelt cries, their hearts broken by Mortimer’s humble and selfless words!
Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire
The Empress raised a brow, her expression a mix of intrigue and mild surprise. Mortimer’s message wasn’t what she had expected from him.
Xara’s voice steadied slightly as she continued, “And for my family… Please, do not tarnish the legacy I’ve worked so hard to build. Serve the Empire with honour and be prepared to sacrifice for its future, no matter the cost!” Xara was shocked to hear that.
Velc let out a soft snort, his scepticism apparent, though he remained silent.
Then, Xara’s tone softened unexpectedly. Her lips curled into a faint, almost sad smile as she read the next lines, “And… Aether… Oh, my dear Aether. How I wish you could have truly been my grandson… Aether.”
Kai’s face twisted into an expression of sheer disbelief, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. The murmurs began almost immediately, and everyone’s eyes turned toward the servant boy who was still on his knees, tears streaming down his face.
A sense of unease rippled through the crowd as they began to question just how close Aether and Mortimer had been.
Xara’s voice gained a hint of amusement as she read further, “Though you are but a servant, to me… in my heart, you are my one and only grandson!”
“What the hell is this?” Kai muttered under his breath, his anger and confusion bubbling to the face.
Gasps erupted across the shore, and all eyes locked on Aether… Who to surprised and cried even more, “Awwwww… Grandfatherrrrr.. I too, sniff… I too thought of you my one and only grandfat..herr…..” his words tairled of as his shoulders now slumped as exhaustion overtook him…. Slowly, his body tilted, and he collapsed onto the ground.
“You have to stop reading!” Velc’s voice was sharp and filled with urgency. He reached out to grab the paper again, sensing that whatever was written next could be catastrophic.
The Empress stepped forward, her mere presence stopping Velc in his tracks. “Let her finish,” she commanded, her voice calm yet firm.
Xara hesitated, her hands trembling as she pressed on,
“My dear Aether… I will miss the time we spent together so deeply.
T-Those moments made me realize just how blessed I was to have you by my side. You brought light into my life in ways I cannot describe, and though you are not truly my grandson, in my heart, you always will be. I know my passing will devastate you, but please, believe me when I say I will always be watching over you, my beloved grandson… even though you are not…!”
Veins throbbed on Kai’s forehead, his anger barely contained, ‘That fucking old man…’ he thought bitterly, here he was crying for him and yet…. Kai gritted his teeth as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Xara continued, “And so, I have one final wish… no, a plea.
To my son, Velc, as my dying request… I ask you to let the boy be free.”
Gasps echoed again, this time louder. Velc, the Empress, Delphine, Kai, Xara herself, Aqualina, and even Selene stood frozen, their eyes wide in shock.
Xara’s hands shook as she read, “L-Let Aether be released from the torment you have forced him to endure.
LET THE REAL ARCANE KING BE FREED FROM HIS SHACKLES!!
That is my final request for my one and only grandson, Aether… even though he is not!”
“N-No… No… This can’t be true,” Kai mumbled, his voice trembling with horror, “T-That letter is lying… It must be someone else!!”
“The real Arcane King?” someone whispered, the disbelief in their voice mirroring the expressions on every face.
Everyone struggled to understand what that meant.
Xara’s face was pale, her lips quivering as she whispered,
“I know this revelation is shocking… That is why I wrote these words with meticulous care, so the truth would come to light only after my death.
Aether… is the Real Arcane King. And I… I stole it from him and gave the power to Kai.”
“….”
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Slowly, every head turned toward Aether, who lay unconscious on the ground, his tear-streaked face a picture of exhaustion and pain.
Xara gulped hard, her hesitation obvious and unable to understand what was happening… to her son and Aether….
The Empress took note with a firm hand and began to read the remaining lines aloud,
“That is why I beg you to release him.
Velc,
I trust you will honour my final wish. And now, I shall rest, knowing I will soon be reunited with my beloved wife. Goodbye, everyone.”
The crowd’s attention shifted to the Prophetess wondering what beloved wife Mortimer was talking about…
‘I mean, I didn’t know she was alive until now…? The old bastard is always alone, you know!!’ Aether thought, even as his unconscious body lay motionless.
‘What?
Did everyone seriously think I’d let the old man go so easily?
Did everyone really expect me to have such a dramatic ending to that bastard?
Hell Fucking no!
Didn’t I say I’d take everything? Hehe… I’ll suck every last bit of glory out of this, even from beyond the grave… You are still useful Mortimer… Hehe~’
A Devil indeed~