Back to the Naiadae Empire, inside a room of the Frostblade mansion…
“Where in the world did you just go running off to? Do you even realize what will happen if your Slave Mark blinks? Are you an idiot or what?” Xara asked with an irritated frown and worries, her sharp eyes locking onto Aether, who had once again slipped out of the house without permission.
Aether let out an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head before flashing a small, sheepish smile, “I was… uh… Hmm…” He hesitated, but before he could, Xara’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.
“Let me guess… A surprise?”
Aether’s eyes widened in shock, his expression stiffening. “H-How did you know?”
Xara’s smirk deepened, her voice taking on a teasing yet firm tone. “Because, Aether, a MOTHER always knows everything,” she said, deliberately emphasizing the word “mother” as if to drive the point home.
Aether’s lips twitched slightly. Of course, it had to be Selene who snitched on him… And yet, here was Xara, acting all high and mighty as if she had figured it out on her own.
But something was different this time. Unlike before, she hadn’t pinched his cheek or even moved close to him. She was keeping her distance, which meant… she was becoming more aware of him.
Aether exhaled slowly. If he hadn’t been so persistent from the start, he knew he would never have reached this point with her. Looking back, he was glad he hadn’t messed up too much before.
“I cannot believe you were actually willing to risk your damn life over a surprise. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?” Xara groaned, rubbing her forehead in frustration, “Where is the surprise?”
“Not ready yet!”
Noticing how Aether was still smiling at her, she inwardly clicked her tongue.
What was she going to do with this man?
How was she supposed to set him straight before he did something even more reckless?
‘Maybe spending some time together will knock some sense into him?’ she thought to herself. It suddenly hit her that they hadn’t really had any mother-and-son moments. Perhaps if they had one, Aether would stop obsessing over her so much…
Her gaze dropped to his clothes, and something clicked in her mind. Without hesitation, she said, “Let’s go buy you some new clothes.”
Aether raised an eyebrow, looking at her in amusement. “A date?”
Xara’s lips twitched in annoyance. “It’s not a date, you idiot… It’s just—arrgh! Forget it! Just wait outside. I’ll be ready in a few moments!” she snapped before shoving him out of the room and slamming the door shut.
Aether chuckled softly, shaking his head as he walked down the corridor. Now that he was officially adopted into the family, there was no need for him to work anymore.
And the most amusing part?
The very same servants who once ignored his existence were now bowing their heads to him with forced politeness.
Aether couldn’t deny that it felt satisfying… Sure, he could have forced them to do this before by using Victor’s name. But this… this was different.
They weren’t bowing to Victor’s influence. They were bowing to Aether himself—the weak, useless boy they had once looked down on.
The very same boy they had treated like trash was now someone they had to acknowledge.
It must be eating them up inside!!
Here, the weak were supposed to bow before the strong, and yet… in the minds of these servants, the strong were now bowing before the weak.
And that was deliciously ironic.
Just then,
“Hmm?” Aether suddenly felt something tug at his leg. Stopping in his tracks, he glanced down… and saw Timmy.
“Oh? What are you do—” Before Aether could finish his sentence,
“P-Please forgive me, Young Master Aether!” Timmy suddenly cried out, dropping to his knees as he clung to Aether’s leg. His face was twisted in pure desperation. “I am so sorry for whatever happened! P-Please, I beg you, don’t kill me!”
Aether’s expression darkened as he stared down at Timmy, ‘What the hell is he doing all of a sudden?’ he wondered… There was no anger or disgust in Timmy’s eyes—just raw, unfiltered fear.
Aether frowned slightly.
To be honest, he had almost forgotten Timmy even existed after what happened.
The bastard had treated him like shit, and nearly got him killed, and even after that, he had tried a few times to crawl back up. But Aether had made sure to put him in his place each time.
And now… now, Timmy wasn’t even worth paying attention to.
With a blank expression, Aether lowered his head slightly, his voice dropping into something dangerously cold. “You tried to… no, you almost killed Ether, didn’t you?”
His tone was devoid of emotion, but the weight behind his words was suffocating.
Timmy flinched violently, his face turning ghostly pale. “Y-Y-Young Master… P-Please, I-I… I-It wasn’t… I j-just… I d-didn’t mean to… I—” Timmy stammered, his words tumbling over themselves in panic.
His body trembled uncontrollably, and Aether could see it clearly now—Timmy wasn’t just afraid.
He was terrified.
It was as if a predator was looming over him, ready to strike… like a Dragon!!
Timmy had once been arrogant, believing he could treat Aether however he wanted. But now… now, he realized just how powerless he truly was.
And Then,
Psssssssssssss!
Aether’s face twisted in disgust as he watched a dark stain spread across Timmy’s pants, the unmistakable stench hitting the air.
“Tsk, fucker,” Aether muttered before kicking Timmy’s hands off his leg and stepping away from him in irritation.
Timmy didn’t even try to stop him. He simply curled up on the floor, trembling like a pathetic, broken animal.
“P-Please… P-Please d-don’t… I… I was just being an idiot… I swear… I won’t—please… P-Please don’t kill me…” Timmy whimpered pitifully.
Aether stared at him for a long moment.
He didn’t feel anger.
He didn’t feel hatred.
He felt… nothing.
Timmy wasn’t even worth the effort.
Aether nudged his forehead with an annoyed expression, just about to speak, when suddenly, a voice interrupted him.
“Please forgive him, Young Master Aether…”
The unexpected plea rang out from behind him. Aether turned around, his eyes narrowing in surprise, only to see Alfred kneeling on the ground, his head bowed in complete submission.
‘What the heck is going on here?’ Aether thought, his brows furrowing. He had always known that Alfred was a prideful man—someone who would rather die than lower himself before someone he deemed weak.
And yet, here he was, kneeling before Aether as if he were pleading for his very life. ‘Something is definitely off,’ Aether mused, suspicion creeping into his mind.
Alfred kept his gaze down as he spoke, his voice trembling, “What we did… we cannot be forgiven for… but at least punish me instead of my son… I am the one responsible… P-Please, Master!” His hands trembled as he raised them slightly as if surrendering himself completely.
Aether stood still, his expression unreadable as he watched the father and son kneel before him, seeking either forgiveness or retribution. Just how desperate had they become? He was still processing the bizarre scene when suddenly—
“AETHER!”
Xara’s sharp voice cut through the corridor. Aether sighed, rubbing the back of his head before turning away. Without uttering another word to the two grovelling figures, he walked off.
Yet, even as he disappeared from sight, neither Alfred nor Timmy moved an inch. They remained frozen, their foreheads touching the ground as if waiting for a judgment that never came.
Aether soon arrived at another room, where Xara was already waiting for him. Her attire made him pause. She was dressed in an old, shabby black cloak, her figure mostly hidden beneath its folds…. A large, black hat sat atop her head, casting a shadow over her sharp features.
She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with him. “Shall we…?” she asked, her tone even, yet there was something weary beneath it.
Aether took in her appearance before giving a small nod, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. ‘She looks even more broken than I do today,’ he thought, finding the irony almost amusing.
Just as he was about to step forward, Xara suddenly called out, “Selene, are you coming with us?”
Aether stiffened slightly. ‘Oh no!’ Panic flashed through him as he immediately tried to telepathically reach Selene before she could respond. But before he could say anything—
“NO, Mom, I’m busy here!” Selene’s voice rang out from her room.
Aether exhaled in relief, but
/You better seduce her this time!/
Selene’s voice echoed inside his head, laced with both irritation and amusement. He could feel her reluctance, yet there was an underlying tension in her words. She was doing this for him, in her own way.
Aether couldn’t help but grin inwardly. Selene was truly something else—a devoted and possessive yandere through and through.
Xara sighed deeply, shaking her head before glancing at him again. “Shall we?” she repeated.
Aether gave her a soft nod before, without hesitation, reaching out and gently wrapping his arm around her hand.
“Huh?” Xara flinched slightly at the sudden contact, her body tensing for a moment.
“This is how a son and mother go shopping together, right?” Aether asked with an honest smile, his face the perfect picture of innocence.
Xara blinked rapidly, clearly caught off guard. After a short pause, she managed a hesitant nod. “Y-Yeah,” she murmured, though her hands trembled slightly as she walked beside him.
Aether’s grin widened just a little…. She had no idea what kind of devil hid behind his angelic face.