“Still, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re trying to adopt a slave as your son! Have you completely lost your damn mind? Do you even realize what kind of disgrace this would bring? What would others think of this?” Velc shouted furiously, his voice shaking with anger. His name, his reputation, his entire family—already tarnished by that damn letter—and now this?
He wasn’t going to let this slide!
Xara’s expression darkened,
“Now you’re worried about what others think?” She let out a bitter laugh before her face twisted in rage. “You, of all people, have the audacity to talk about disgrace when you and your wretched father stole a child’s future right out of his hands? Both of you destroyed an innocent life without a second thought! And now, you stand before me, acting like you have the moral high ground?
You have some fucking nerve to say that to me, bastard!”
Velc clenched his teeth, his fists tightening at her words. “But it was for the future of our household—”
“For the future of your household?” Xara scoffed, her disgust evident. “By snatching away a child’s rightful future?” She took a step forward, her piercing gaze making Velc instinctively avert his eyes. “Tell me, Velc. When you destroyed that child’s destiny, did you once stop to think about the consequences? Or were you too blinded by greed to care?”
Velc remained silent, unable to meet her eyes.
Xara’s gaze then snapped toward Kai, her tone sharp as she asked, “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“W-What?” Kai stammered, his body tensing under the weight of her stare.
Xara frowned, her voice low but firm, “Don’t play innocent with me, my son. I raised you—I know you better than anyone. I know when you’re hiding something from your sister… just like someone else I know.” She cast a pointed glance at Velc.
Kai swallowed hard, his gaze shifting nervously to Selene, who was blinking in confusion, wondering why he seemed so scared of her.
“I-I am not scared of my own sis—” He tried to deny it, but—
“My dear,” Xara interrupted smoothly, her voice dripping with amusement. “I really didn’t want to speak before her… but do you?”
Kai immediately shut his mouth, his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Mom?” Selene called, her tone laced with curiosity. “What’s going on?”
Xara turned to her daughter, her expression softening slightly. She smiled, but there was a weight behind her words. “It’s fine, my dear. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
Selene hesitated. She wanted to know more, but she trusted her mother’s judgment. With a small nod, she let it go.
However, Aether’s expression darkened. ‘Scared of his sister? What does she mean by that…?’ His sharp eyes drifted toward Velc, and suddenly, things began to fall into place.
‘Don’t tell me… he was afraid of her growing stronger and taking over the household?’ His thoughts raced as he pieced everything together. Velc had always been terrified of his sister, Delphine—because she was more competent, more capable.
He had feared that she would become an obstacle in his path. The only reason he had ever been given control of the household was because Mortimer wanted a male heir, not because he was the best choice.
‘So that’s why he was so desperate. That’s why he agreed to let Timmy marry his sister… or even tried to marry her off to Leon. As long as he kept his grip on power, nothing else mattered to him.’ Aether frowned, his fingers twitching slightly. A dangerous thought crossed his mind—should he end this power-hungry man who was just like his father?
But there was a difference… His father, Velc had known when to bow when to kneel in fear and step back to survive. Kai, on the other hand, was reckless. He did whatever he pleased without considering the consequences.
‘No… I won’t act yet. Let’s mark him… and wait,’ Aether decided.
He wasn’t worried about Kai killing him. What truly concerned him was the potential danger Kai posed in the future. He had that sword—the one with a power eerily similar to the Sovereign’s. Aether had promised Selene he wouldn’t take another life, but if the time came… if Kai became a true threat… ‘I’ll have no choice but to end him too.’
“Kai,” Xara called out again, this time her voice carrying an unmistakable authority.
Kai bit his lips, his hands curling into fists before he finally nodded. “Y-Yeah, I know who Aether is! Grandpa already told me about his powers and everything.”
“And you accepted it?” Xara’s eyes narrowed, disappointment slowly creeping into her features.
Kai’s entire body tensed. He hesitated before responding, his voice weaker than before. “B-But… a lowly slave is not worthy—”
“WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO DETERMINE WHO IS WORTHY?!! HUH?!” Xara’s voice exploded through the mansion like thunder, shaking the very walls with its intensity.
Aether raised an eyebrow, watching with amusement. ‘Damn, she’s good.’
Xara was trembling with rage, her teeth gritted as she struggled to keep herself in check. She took deep, measured breaths, silently repeating to herself, ‘He is my son. He is my son. He is my son…’ over and over until she regained a sliver of control.
Finally, in a slightly calmer tone, she spoke, “Only the gods have the authority to decide who is worthy, my son.” She lifted a hand, pointing at Aether.
“And the gods chose him. The Arcane chose him. She saw his worth and deemed him worthy… Yet here you stand, questioning that decision?” She leaned in closer, her gaze now ice-cold. “Tell me, Kai… are you a god?”
Kai’s body trembled, his hands shaking with both fear and frustration!!
Xara scoffed, shaking her head, true disappointment written all over her face,
“I thought you had grown into a fine, honourable man,” she murmured, her voice heavy with regret. “Maybe… maybe I was wrong. Maybe I failed as a mother. Maybe I’m the one to blame for raising you like this.” Her expression twisted with pain, as if she truly believed her own words.
Kai’s eyes widened, his heart clenching. “N-No, Mom, you did we—”
“No,” Xara cut him off sharply, her tone filled with bitterness. “The moment you took the power and future that rightfully belonged to an innocent child… all while knowing exactly what you were doing… that’s when I knew. That was my mistake.” She exhaled, as if nodding to herself, as if coming to terms with something.
Kai bit his lip so hard he nearly drew blood. His body shook, and for a moment, it looked as if he might break down at any second.
Xara exhaled sharply before speaking, her voice laced with sorrow and quiet frustration,
“When the Empress told us that we should return the stolen power to its rightful owner… for a moment, I hesitated.
Just for a brief second, I accepted it. But then…” Her eyes darkened, her fingers clenching into a fist as she recalled that moment,
“Then I saw Aether’s eyes—those egoless, untainted eyes, filled with nothing… and I knew. I couldn’t do it. Even if my own child was in the wrong, even if justice demanded it… I couldn’t bring myself to take that step against my own blood. I just… I couldn’t.” She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment. “And in the end… I failed as your mother.”
“M-Mom… P-Please… it’s not…” Selene’s voice wavered, her lips trembling as she watched her mother breaking apart before her very eyes. Xara had always been a pillar of strength, unshakable, unbreakable. But now… now, for the first time, she looked defeated.
Kai’s lips quivered, his entire body feeling like it had turned to ice. His mouth moved, barely forming words as he muttered, “T-Then… it… ba…”
“Huh?”
“I SAID TAKE IT BACK!!” Kai suddenly erupted, his voice raw and cracking under the weight of his emotions.
“Take this shitty power of the Chosen One that everyone keeps blaming me for!! I never asked for this! It was Grandpa who gave it to me!
I was just a damn child back then!
What did you expect me to do? Just throw it away?!” His body trembled, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as frustration and pain spilled from every word.
“I… I just wanted to know what it felt like to have power… I wanted to be the hero from the stories I grew up with! I was too young to understand any of this! I just… I just wanted to be happy… to make Grandpa proud… That’s all! Was that really so wrong, Mother?! Was it?!” His voice wavered at the end, his vision blurring with unshed tears.
Xara’s expression hardened, her disappointment growing heavier with every passing second. “Even now… even after everything… it’s still just about you?” Her voice was eerily calm, “You couldn’t even say… ‘I’m sorry’?”
“H-Huh?” Kai took a step back, his breath hitching in his throat.
That was all Xara had wanted—just an apology. Just an ounce of regret. Not for herself, not even for her family, but for Aether.
That was all she had wished for from her son.
What was done was done… No one could change the past!!
But a simple acknowledgement, a moment of true remorse—was that really too much to ask for?
Yet Kai… he was still only thinking about himself.
She had truly, truly failed as a mother!
Xara shook her head, the weight of disappointment pressing heavily on her shoulders.
“Tsk! Why are you making my son out to be some kind of murderer?!” Velc finally interjected, unable to hold back any longer, “Do you even realize how many innocent lives he’s saved using that power?” His furious gaze locked onto Aether as he spat out, “What could a mere servant have possibly done with such power? He would have wasted it! Or would he even—”
“If you utter another word,” Xara interrupted, her voice eerily soft, “I swear… I will paint this table with your blood.”
She smiled—just a small, delicate smile.
But her eyes… her eyes were void of emotion, like an endless abyss swallowing every trace of light.
Velc’s entire body shuddered in fear. Without realizing it, he leaned back in his chair, instinctively trying to put distance between himself and the woman before him.
Xara held her empty stare on him for a long moment before shifting her gaze toward Aether.
“Every power comes with responsibility. Whether to waste it or wield it—that decision belongs to the one who holds it. We are not the ones who get to judge how someone should use their power, nor…” She turned back to Kai, her voice colder than before, “..Should we let jealousy consume us.”
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her back,
“Anyway, you’ve all had your say… now it’s my turn. I will bear the sin of being the wife of a useless man and the mother of a selfish son… and I will take responsibility in my own way.” She reached into her bag and placed a stack of documents on the table with a firm hand. “From this moment forward, I am adopting Aether as my son.”
The room fell into stunned silence seeing the documents… she came well prepared!
Velc’s eyes widened in pure shock before rage overtook him… His entire face twisted with fury as he slammed his fist against the table. “Do you think you can do whatever the fuck you want?!” His voice was filled with venom, spitting out every suppressed grievance he had been holding back.
“I am the Master of this Household! I hold the power over everyone in this family—including you, my wife! So just bow your damn head and—” His voice rose further as he roared, “Know your place, you bitch!!”
And then—
Xara laughed.
A chilling, humourless laugh. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
“Hahahahahaha…” Her laughter echoed throughout the room, sending a shiver down Velc’s spine. It was a laugh-filled with amusement, mockery, and something even darker, something unsettling.
Then, with a smirk, she reached into her bag once more, pulling out yet another document. She slid it across the table without saying a word.
Velc’s hands shook as he picked it up, his fingers tightening around the edges as his eyes scanned the contents.
A divorce paper.
She had come prepared. Very well prepared!!