“Omg, look at that!”
“Is that for real? Am I seeing things?”
Soft whispers spread like wildfire among the maids and servants as they witnessed something utterly shocking—their Majesty being carried in a man’s arms.
And not just any man, but her own son-in-law!
It was so surreal that many of them rubbed their eyes, convinced they were hallucinating. Some even exchanged glances, silently confirming that this was indeed happening before them.
“Please… no!” Maelona trembled, her entire body heating up from the sheer embarrassment of the situation. The fact that she was being carried like this in front of everyone was already mortifying, but to make it worse—it was Aether who held her!
Her hands instinctively shot up to cover her burning red face, her heart thudding wildly inside her chest. It was an uncontrollable storm of emotions, a swirling tornado of flustered chaos stuck inside a man’s arms.
She didn’t understand why, but she could feel these arms holding her so firmly, her entire body enveloped in a sturdy warmth that sent shivers down her spine.
That grip… so tight, so possessive—it was as if he wouldn’t let her go no matter what. Those broad, strong arms secured her in a way that made her breath hitch, a sense of security mixed with something far more dangerous.
Her body trembled even more, her thighs pressing together as she bit her lip.
‘No, no, no!’ Maelona screamed inside her mind, the intensity of the moment threatening to make her heart explode.
She wasn’t used to this—no, this was too much! It was raw, electric, something she had never experienced before, ‘I-I need to get away from him!’
Muffling her voice behind her trembling hands, she somehow managed to force out a weak, stammering plea. “P-Put me down! R-Right now!”
But Aether didn’t listen. His steps remained firm, steady, as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. The way he carried her so effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing in his arms, only made her face burn hotter.
Unable to withstand her own embarrassment any longer, Maelona hesitantly parted her fingers, sneaking a glance at him through the gaps.
And the moment she did—
Ba-dump!
[+8000 AP]
Her heart skipped so violently that she nearly forgot to breathe.
Aether was staring at her.
His piercing gaze held an amused glint, but beneath it, there was something darker, something that made her insides coil in nervous anticipation. He was grinning—a slow, knowing smirk that sent chills cascading down her spine.
Something inside him had snapped.
The way she trembled in his arms, the way her breath hitched so delicately—he could see it all. And that dangerous part of him, the one he usually kept in check, was starting to stir.
‘N-No, no, don’t do that… Man, she is your mother-in-law!’ Aether scolded himself internally, but his fingers betrayed him. They tightened around her, gripping her waist just a little firmer as if savoring the feeling of holding her.
Maelona flinched slightly, her breath hitching as she felt the sudden squeeze. Slowly lowering her hands, she peeked up at him, only to be met with that same devilish grin.
Aether’s grin was different now—it wasn’t just amusement. It was dangerous. Possessive. Like a predator toying with its prey.
She gulped, her throat suddenly dry.
“You should put your hands around my neck,” Aether spoke, his voice deep, smooth, and strangely persuasive.
Her lips quivered. “W-Why?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingers curled slightly, her nails pressing against his chest as if seeking some sort of stability. She didn’t see any reason to—
“HII!!”
A gasp tore from her lips when, without warning, Aether loosened his grip on her body for a split second. She felt the terrifying sensation of falling, her stomach flipping in panic.
Her reaction was instant.
Her arms flew up and wrapped around his neck, clutching onto him tightly before she even had time to think.
Aether chuckled, effortlessly catching her again before she could slip further. Holding her firmly once more, he smirked down at her, his lips curling in amusement. “This might happen,” he said teasingly, as if it had all been planned.
Maelona’s cheeks turned an impossible shade of red, her breath coming out in uneven puffs.
She had never been this close to him before.
Her face was practically against his, her nose barely an inch from his skin. His breath fanned against her lips, warm and teasing, sending an unfamiliar warmth down to the pit of her stomach.
Her eyes wandered without meaning to—his skin, pale and flawless. His nose, sharp and defined like it was sculpted by the gods.
His lips… soft, almost kissable.
And his sharp, dangerous eyes….. Her mind short-circuited.
“D-Damn, that’s hot…” she mumbled without thinking.
Aether’s smirk widened instantly.
“Hmm?” His deep voice rumbled, his gaze flicking to her in amusement.
Maelona’s entire body stiffened.
Her eyes flew open in pure horror as she realized what she had just said out loud.
“I-I mean—n-nothing!!” she stammered frantically, her hands gripping his shoulders as if trying to push him away. “I-I just said today is hot! Y-You know! The w-weather!”
Aether, of course, heard exactly what she said. But instead of calling her out, he merely smiled.
He could push her. He could tease her endlessly.
But where was the fun in that? No, he would drag this moment out, make her stew in her own embarrassment, make her squirm.
Aether adjusted his hold slightly, pressing her just a little closer, making her breath hitch again. Maelona swallowed hard, her thoughts scrambling. ‘Think of something! Say something! Anything but this!!!!’
Aether suddenly leaned in closer, his lips dangerously near her ear. “What are you thinking about?” he whispered softly, his voice like silk.
Maelona jolted, her fingers clutching his clothes.
“OH! C-Come on now! Stop it!” she practically screeched, her hands flying to his cheek to pinch it in frustration. “W-What do you even want?!”
Aether chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly, thoroughly enjoying her flustered state.
“I just want to know…” he trailed off, his tone teasing. “What should we do with our child?”
Maelona froze.
Her cheeks erupted in heat, her eyes wide in absolute shock.
“H-How can you be sure it’s our child?! Ha?!”
Aether shrugged nonchalantly. “It did call us Mama,” he murmured, rubbing his nose against hers playfully before adding, “And Papa, right?”
Her breath caught.
She was horrified.
He was rubbing his nose against hers.
In broad daylight.
In front of everyone!
Her mind spiraled, her heart pounding so violently that she thought it might explode.
“Y-You should… not do this!!” she cried, her voice high-pitched with panic as she glared at him furiously.
Aether merely grinned, his expression smug. “What exactly should I not do?” he asked, feigning innocence as he leaned closer.
Maelona’s heart reached its limit. She was going to die at this rate!
Still, she forced herself to gather whatever shred of dignity she had left.
“Y-You need to stop carrying women like this!” she declared, her voice shaky. “E-Especially older women!”
Aether raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why is that?”
Maelona hesitated before mumbling, “B-Because… women might feel… something…”
Aether smirked. “Butterflies?”
Maelona’s face burned.
Damn him!
Why was he like this? Why did he always have to tease her like this? She felt as if he was peeling away every layer of her composure, exposing her most vulnerable self.
Maelona huffed, trying to mask her flustered state, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. “W-Well… women sometimes feel like that…” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Then, quickly regaining her composure, pointed a trembling finger at him. “A-Anyway! Next time, don’t do this to any other women! You got that? This is an order from me!” she declared, trying to sound authoritative, though her voice still carried hints of nervousness.
For a moment, Aether didn’t respond. His expression changed, his grin fading into something more unreadable. His face darkened, his eyes dropping slightly, and Maelona felt an odd twist in her chest, as if she had just said something she shouldn’t have.
Then, he muttered, his voice quiet but firm, “But… I didn’t carry any woman… Only my woma—”
“Huh?”
“I mean… my family.”
Maelona frowned, narrowing her eyes suspiciously before shaking her head. “Anyway, even if they’re your family, you shouldn’t be carrying any woman like this… other than your wife, you got it?” Her voice carried a stubborn authority, but the way her grip on his neck only tightened betrayed something else—reluctance.
Aether studied her for a moment before nodding softly. “I see… fine then.”
She should have felt relieved at his answer.
But instead… something inside her twisted uncomfortably.
And then—
“My other mother-in-law will be sad to hear that… but I’ll tell her it’s not good,” Aether muttered with a defeated sigh.
Maelona’s brow twitched. Other?
“Other?” Her voice carried a sharp edge. “What do you mean Other?”
Aether blinked at her, as if she had just asked something completely obvious. “Of course, I have another mother-in-law,” he said matter-of-factly. “She cares a lot about me… She always makes delicious food whenever I visit. Every dish she prepares is filled with love, and I can taste it in every bite…” His tone softened, almost dreamlike, as if recalling some nostalgic memory. “Mmm… I used to love taking it all in… savoring it slowly…”
His voice trailed off into a blissful murmur.
Maelona narrowed her eyes, ‘I can cook food too, you know!’ she thought as her jaw tightening as she definitely didn’t like where this was going.
“And she’s really cute when she—”
“Enough,” Maelona suddenly cut in, her tone sharp, her lips pursed in an irritated pout.
Aether grinned, “Are you angry?” he asked innocently, tilting his head slightly.
Maelona scoffed, crossing her arms—not that it helped, considering she was still wrapped around his neck. “Of course not,” she huffed, but the way her grip on him tightened completely contradicted her words.
Aether nodded as if he believed her, completely ignoring the obvious anger in her tone. “Do you want to know who it is? I mean, you guys are going to be family too, right?”
Maelona clicked her tongue, irritation flickering in her eyes. “Yeah, yeah… whatever,” she muttered, her voice laced with forced indifference. She could already tell she wasn’t going to like whatever he was about to say.
Aether’s smirk grew wider. “She even said she loved to sleep with me.”
Maelona’s entire body stiffened.
Her pupils shrank, her breath caught, and her fingers dug into his shoulders.
“What?!” she hissed, her voice dropping into a dangerous tone before almost shouting, “Who is that bitch?!”
Her reaction was instant—pure, unfiltered rage.
But she managed to hold herself back from screaming because, after all, she was a composed, reasonable woman who believed in discussing things calmly!
Right?
Aether blinked, tilting his head as if confused by her reaction. “I mean, she sleeps beside her daughters who sleep with me.”
Maelona’s fiery expression froze.
“…Oh?”
Her anger paused, her thoughts rearranging themselves as she processed his words properly this time.
“…Oh.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly as her expression calmed—but only slightly. That irritation? Still there.
And why was she still feeling so damn irked?! She was still in his arms, listening to him talk about another woman, when he should be paying attention to her!
But damn it, why did she care?!
She wasn’t jealous… No way!!
And yet, a sour taste remained on her tongue… the pain on her leg already forgotten!
But before she could dwell on it—
“However…” Aether’s voice dropped, his tone turning slow, deliberate. “Do you know who my favorite is?”
Maelona clicked her tongue, feigning disinterest, but her curiosity betrayed her. “Tsk, who is it?” she asked, shifting slightly—only to realize too late—
“!!!”
Her breath hitched.
Their faces…
His face—his damn face—was mere centimeters away from hers.
So close.
Her lungs refused to work, her heartbeat thundering violently in her chest.
Aether smiled, a soft, gentle curve of his lips, “You already know who my favorite is… don’t you?” he whispered, his warm breath fanning against her cheek.
Her nostrils quivered at the heat of it, her throat suddenly dry.
“A-Aether…” she whispered shakily, her lips parting slightly when she saw Aether getting closer and closer…
No, he wasn’t getting closer—she was pulling him in!!
Her fingers, her arms, her entire body… They moved on their own, tightening around his neck, dragging him closer and closer.
It was unconscious. Involuntary. Her hands around his neck, her body leaning in, as if craving something she couldn’t quite name.
Her lips trembled, her breathing uneven.
Just a little more…
Her heart pounded mercilessly as she inched closer, her parted lips slowly drawing toward his, her eyelids fluttering, her entire body melting into the moment—
Just a little more…
Just a little more and she would—
“KYAAAAAAA!!!”
A piercing scream shattered the air.
Both Aether and Maelona jerked violently, snapping out of their haze, their heads whipping toward the sound.
And there, standing in the middle of the courtyard, was a terrified maid—screaming at the top of her lungs.
Because of a butterfly.
Aether let out a long, exasperated sigh.
Maelona blinked, still dazed, still trying to process what almost just happened.
And then it hit her.
What the hell was she about to do?!
Aether groaned, rubbing his temple as he muttered under his breath,
That’s definitely their child.
Because only children could perfectly ruin a parent’s moment at the worst possible time, and Log too, couldn’t help but comment,
[Well then, stop seducing your mother-in-law who already gave birth to your child, you bastard!! 🤬🔥 Focus on important matters! 😤]