Aether sighed heavily as he clenched his fist, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered softly to the empty night sky, a pang of guilt tugging at his conscience.
He was acutely aware of what he had just done… toyed with someone’s emotions, manipulating them for his own ends.
But what choice did he have? His target was a newly betrothed princess…. already engaged to another.
Seeking a way into the princess’s heart, Aether had seen an opportunity in Lia’s plight. By stirring up dissatisfaction with Kai’s behaviour, even if just a little, he hoped to plant seeds of doubt in the princess’s mind.
Using that chance, he might strike the iron while it’s hot.
Yet, despite the calculated move, Aether couldn’t shake his apprehension. What if his plan backfired? What if the empress discovered his meddling and grew angry?
Nevertheless, Aether was determined to see his mission through to the end, come what may. Whether it led to a happy ending or death before he knew it.
He would face it…. By using any chance or anyone!!
“Come on, Aether,” he urged himself forward, steeling his resolve despite the heavy weight of guilt pressing down on him, threatening to suffocate him.
“Come on, Aether!!!” His voice echoed with determination, his trembling face a reflection of his unwavering resolve. If he allowed himself to be consumed by guilt now for using a little girl, what chance did he have against the trials that lay ahead?… He knew his journey would be lots fuck ups, but succumbing to guilt was just another obstacle in his path.
Steeling his resolve to pursue his seduction strategy with the young princess, Aether stepped back into the hall….. only to be greeted by a scene of horror.
“HOW DARE YOU?!!”
“BOOM!!”
‘Thud’
A loud impact reverberated through the hall as Lia Scarlet was forcefully slammed into the wall by a sword.
Gasps of horror echoed through the hall as Aether and the others watched in disbelief, their eyes darting to the source of the violence… the Empress.
“No, Not me,” the Empress casually shrugged off any blame, deflecting attention away from herself.
The room fell into a tense silence as all eyes lowered to…. Princess Aqualina Naiadia, her expression seething with fury as she stood holding two swords.
‘Gulp’
‘W-What just happened?’ Ran through everyone’s minds as they tried to make sense of the sudden chaos.
The incident had unfolded mere moments earlier, when Lia Scarlet, her steps hurried and determined, approached the engaged pair and uttered words that would alter the course of the evening irreversibly.
That all!
In a flash, Lia found herself impaled against the wall, the sharp blade piercing her flesh with brutal force.
“Y-Your Majesty?” Velc, his voice trembling with uncertainty, attempted to seek clarification from the Empress, hoping to quell the rising tension.
But the Empress merely shrugged once more, her demeanour betraying nothing but detached amusement. “Ask her?” she suggested, gesturing towards the enraged princess.
Gulping down hard, Velc’s gaze shifted to the Princess, his voice quivering as he asked, “D-Daughter-in-l—,” but his words faltered.
“I am not yet your daughter-in-law, Velc Frostblade,” her voice, as cold and unforgiving as ice, echoed through the tense air.
Velc’s face twisted in a momentary frown, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he stammered, “P-Princess, what has happened?”
“Hmm… Perhaps you should ask your son,” she replied coolly, the weapons in her hand dissolving into ethereal particles before she gracefully took her seat.
The sword that had mercilessly pierced Lia’s side vanished, and Lia fell to the ground unnoticed by all except Selene, whose movement was halted by the Empress’s stern gaze; every eye in the room was fixed on the Kai.
‘Thud’
In a swift motion, Aether caught the Lia before she hit the ground, his actions disregarding Empress’s silent expression.
“Oh…” The Empress’s surprise was palpable as she observed Aether’s brash actions.
“What the hell have you done?” Aether demanded, his hands urgently trying to stem the flow of blood from Lia’s wounded abdomen.
“Cough, Cough”
Lia struggled to speak, blood trickling from her lips, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Slave and managed, “Y-You said L-Love is a Fight, right?”
“…. Yes,” Aether responded, sensing where it was going.
“S-So, ‘cough, cough,’ I-I proposed a challenge. If I emerge victorious, I shall be his first wife; if she prevails, she will claim his first,” Lia explained amidst her coughs and gasps for air.
“….” Aether paused, a mixture of disbelief and frustration crossing his features as he looked at the idiot, thinking to himself, ‘I should have told a different boasting story. Fuck!’ Yet, a wry smile tugged at his lips as he couldn’t help but think, ‘Regardless of the outcome, that guy is still the fucking winner!’
Due to Aether’s persistent efforts, the flow of blood had nearly halted, yet it continued to seep, staining not only the ground but also Aether’s pristine new tuxedo.
“I am deeply sorry, Your Highness. But all she requested was a fair contest. There was no need to inflict such harm upon her,” Kai interjected his expression a mix of anger and deference.
The Princess glanced briefly at Kai, her demeanour indifferent as she remarked, “I see… then, as a man, how would you propose we resolve this matter?”
Kai’s face lit up with a knowing smile, that’s what was needed for a relationship, sensing an opportunity to make his point, “Your Highness, perhaps a more diplomatic approach could be considered. Rather than resorting to violence, one could simply ask her to depart or even accept her challenge.”
The Princess regarded Kai with a sceptical stare before shifting her gaze to her mother, silently questioning her choice of Kai as a potential husband. “Are you serious?” she asked incredulously.
“Hehe…” The Empress chuckled, nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders. “It is what it is,” she replied cryptically.
Veins bulged on the Princess’s forehead as she shot a piercing glare at her mother, “Really, Mother?”
The Empress maintained her serene smile, refusing to engage further.
The Princess let out a resigned sigh, turning back to Kai with a matter-of-fact tone, “Very well, let’s entertain your perspective… If a man were to challenge you on our engagement day, asking to fight for me, what would you do?”
“Without hesitation, I would accept the challenge,” Kai replied confidently.
“Hmmm,” the Princess nodded thoughtfully, continuing her inquiry, “But what if he proposed a contest to determine who would be my first, you or he? Would you engage in discussion or agree to fight?”
“…” Kai froze like a statue as he couldn’t bring out any words from his mouth.
Aether who was also having the same doubt so he asked the idiot directly, “I thought you were fighting for love, not for the position of who comes first?”
Lia, despite her condition, managed a faint smile tinted with blood as she spoke softly, “I-I don’t want him sad to leave her, that’s all.”
“….” Aether stared at the idiotic girl with no words, ‘This bitch is fucked up!!’ he thought.
The Princess, growing impatient with the silence, prodded Kai, “Say something.”
Kai’s throat tightened, a bitter taste of regret settling in as he realized the gravity of the situation. Today was meant to be a celebration, a union of two noble families, yet it had spiralled into chaos and pain. Looking at Lia’s bloodied form, his heart clenched with anguish.
He knew who was wrong here. He wasn’t siding with his new fiance… He just sides with the right side.
“I-I will Ki– throw him out of the palace” Kai finally uttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his gaze lowered in pain.
“You heard that, right, Guards? Throw that woman away!!” the Princess said with a stern voice.
Hearing that, “W-Wait!” Kai tried to stop her.
The Princess looked at him like a pathetic guy who could not decide anything correctly and said, “If you act like that, then you are not suitable for the King to rule the Empire”
“!!!!” Hearing that, everyone flinched in shock.