Aether blinked slowly, as if something had just clicked in his mind. His gaze narrowed as he said, “Hey… Don’t tell me we just fucked because you thought you might die and didn’t want to leave with any regret?”
She flinched, her body reacting before her mind could. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but Aether caught it.
Noticing that small tremor in her, Aether’s frown deepened. He gently pushed her back just a bit, enough to study her face with a seriousness that left no room for escape. His voice dropped low, slow, steady. “Are you?”
Sandra’s breath caught. She bit her lip hard, trying to calm the sudden ache blooming in her chest. Seeing the raw intensity in his eyes, like he was already hurt by the answer he suspected was coming, she hesitated. Her voice trembled as she spoke, “…I… I’ll be honest… Yeah. I didn’t want to have any regrets, that’s…”
Aether’s expression darkened. His jaw tensed, and he pulled his hand away from her skin with a sharp exhale.
Sandra felt the shift instantly. The warmth of his touch disappeared, and with it came a wave of cold panic that made her heart skip.
She quickly reached out, her voice rising in desperation. “A-Aether… it isn’t like that, please! I-I wasn’t even planning anything, it just… it just happened, you know? And I… I thought it was okay because I didn’t want to regret not… not being with you like that. I really didn’t mean to use you or anything, I swear—”
Before she could spiral into full panic, Aether burst into laughter.
“Hahahah!” He leaned back slightly with an amused expression, watching her try so hard to explain herself.
Her face was flushed, her voice desperate, and her whole body screamed guilt and vulnerability. “You should’ve seen your face… I was just messing with you… ahaha…” he chuckled even more, shaking his head.
Sandra blinked, stunned for a second. Then she let out a heavy sigh of relief, the tension slowly bleeding from her shoulders. For a moment, she had truly thought he was furious—furious enough to leave.
But the laughter… the teasing…
She narrowed her eyes at him, lips twitching in irritation as she gritted her teeth. “Bastard,” she muttered with a growl.
“Haha…” Aether kept laughing.
The mighty, feared Empress—reduced to a panicked, stammering mess because she thought her man was angry.
What a sight!
What could possibly be more amusing than this?
Sandra’s eye twitched as his laughter dragged on. Her pride had taken a hit. She was the one feared across her Empire, and here she was—scared of losing him over a misunderstanding.
Clicking her tongue in mock annoyance, she leaned back slightly.
Suddenly, Aether paused mid-laugh when two silky, thick legs slowly lifted and landed on his lap, sending a gentle splash through the bathwater.
His gaze dropped, his amusement fading into intrigue.
“What? I can put my leg anywhere I want… It’s mine, right?” Sandra said in a low, teasing voice, her tone full of haughty confidence, like she was reclaiming control.
Aether blinked once, then smirked. Without a word, he reached out, pulled her a little closer, and adjusted her legs so they rested comfortably across his lap. His hands moved gently, deliberately. “Didn’t I say before?” he murmured, eyes locked with hers. “Everything is yours~” he added with a soft wink that made her stomach flutter.
Sandra’s lips curled upward slowly. She gazed at Aether’s face—something about him looked… different. She couldn’t put it into words. He was still Aether, but now… there was a weight, a presence that felt deeper.
More rooted. As if something fundamental had shifted between them.
Maybe it was just the aftermath of their intimacy… or maybe…
Her eyes drifted down to his bare chest.
And then she saw it—’♾️’—the strange tattoo marked there… Faintly glowing.
Her breath caught.
In a blink, Thalia’s words echoed in her mind.
Her brow furrowed. Slowly, her fingers reached out and gently brushed against the symbol, tracing its curves. There was warmth beneath her touch, and something more… something ancient.
Aether noticed her touch, and smiled softly as her fingers lingered. She was staring at his chest, but her eyes… they shifted slowly back to his.
He didn’t say anything.
And neither did she.
She wasn’t going to ask. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But she stared into his eyes, trying to understand the man before her, trying to feel whatever it was that bound them.
Then, without warning,
A black transparent screen flickered in front of her eyes.
[⚠️ Alert: You are entering the Seal of Aethernal Bond, which means you cannot break this even if you die… Your soul will always be bonded with Aether. Forever, to Eternity.]
[Are you willing to proceed?]
Her lips parted… Her heartbeat quickened.
She blinked, reading it again and again before glancing at Aether, who was gently massaging her silky legs, his fingers moving in slow, soothing circles, occasionally glancing up at her with unreadable eyes.
She licked her lips.
“Hypothetically—”
“Just say it,” Aether interrupted her gently, a knowing smirk on his lips.
“Well… what if I actually died? I mean… there’s always a possibility, right?” Her voice trembled slightly, almost lost in the steam and ripples of the bath. “Would I still be with you? Even after death?”
As she asked, her voice softened into a quiet hum, her toes twitching slightly under the delicate pressure of his thumbs.
Aether was silent for a moment.
He hummed thoughtfully, eyes lowering in contemplation.
“Once you’re dead…” he began quietly, “Your soul without a shell can’t stay. It’ll drift. Disperse. Fade.”
He said it with a weight behind each word, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. Maelona’s soul… it had once been tied to him. And yet, if her body were gone, so would she.
“But…” he added, voice softer now, “maybe, just maybe… if our souls are truly bound, some part of you might linger. Somewhere…”
Sandra tilted her head slightly, watching his face carefully. “Like… a ghost?” she finished for him, lips quirking in faint amusement.
Aether nodded slowly, “Yeah… something like that.”
Sandra hummed thoughtfully, her expression briefly pensive before it turned mischievous. With a cheeky grin, she said, “Then even if I die, I’ll always haunt you… so you better be ready~” Her voice dripped with playful menace as she pinched his cheek, a sly glint in her eyes, like she was absolutely certain she’d become the most annoying ghost he’d ever meet.
Aether chuckled, his voice smooth and warm. “I’d love to be haunted by you…” he murmured as he leaned forward and pressed a soft peck to her lips, then added with a teasing glint in his eye, “In fact, I’d really like to know… how a ghost tastes like~” His gaze flickered over her bare body as he slowly licked his lips, oozing seduction.
Sandra’s face turned a deep crimson. Her eyes widened in disbelief as her expression twisted into something between horror and mockery. “EEEUUUU!” she exclaimed with a scrunched-up face, resembling Aqualina’s exact reaction when disgusted.
Aether nearly burst out laughing.
Her lips twitched, clearly flustered. “Come on, it’s not something to laugh about…” she muttered and gave his shoulder a soft smack.
She couldn’t believe he was serious.
Seriously?
Would he really consider having sex with a ghost?
That was just… completely ridiculous!!
And insanely insane!!
Yes, even in their world, ghosts existed—known more commonly as Wandered Souls. Souls burdened by unresolved grudges, unable to move on, trapped in places where they had suffered or died. That’s why ‘The Eye’ constantly scanned the world, seeking such Souls and forcibly ushering them into the cycle of Samsara.
“What? I’m being serious…” Aether replied with a completely straight face, which somehow made it worse.
Of course, if it were his beloved Empress—even as a ghost—he’d still want to taste her.
Why wouldn’t he?
It wasn’t some weird fantasy or perversion…
It was love!
Pure, passionate love!
Believe him!
He swore it wasn’t some unholy kink or his fantasy thoughts!!
…Please believe him!!
Sandra shook her head slowly, unable to hide her growing smile.
Her man was weird.
Totally, completely weird.
But she kind of liked that about him too…
Anyway, trying to refocus on the screen still floating in front of her, she took a deep breath.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice soft but firm as she nodded and glanced at Aether with a small, meaningful smile.
Aether couldn’t help himself—he leaned in again and kissed her lips tenderly.
“~hm—Stop it!” she squeaked with a light blush rising to her cheeks.
“What? When we were doing it, you were the one begging for kisses, weren’t you?” Aether replied with an amused expression, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction.
Sandra coughed, her face glowing with embarrassment. “That was different! This is different!” she protested, then coughed again before mumbling, “A-Anyway, let me focus on this.”
As she returned her attention to the black, semi-transparent screen, new glowing letters materialised before her:
[❗Notice: Where do you want the Eternal Seal?]
“Well…” Sandra blinked at the question and frowned in thought. Then she turned toward Aether and asked, “Where do you want it?”
Aether shrugged casually. “It’s your choice. Anywhere’s fine with me… even on your pus—”
“Sorry, I asked the wrong person,” she interrupted him swiftly before he could finish his vulgar suggestion. Shaking her head with a slight eye-roll, she paused again and looked back at him. “…Alright then. What do you like about me?”
Aether didn’t even hesitate. “I like how fierce you are. How sexy you look when you’re being assertive. How adorably flustered you get when I take the lead. How—”
“I was asking about my body, Idiot”, she cut him off with a deadpan stare, though her lips quirked slightly in amusement. She couldn’t lie—his earlier words made her heart flutter a little.
Aether frowned as if disappointed. “You already know the answer to that, don’t you? I mean… I fucking love your misty purple eyes more than anything else. Even your boobs and pussy don’t compare—”
Ignoring that vulgar bastard who couldn’t help being shameless even in a serious moment, Sandra clicked her tongue and nodded, choosing not to dignify that last line with a response. With firm resolve, she looked at the floating screen and softly declared,
“My eyes.”
[Initiating Seal of Aethernal Bond…]
Aether’s eyes widened in shock. “Wai—!” he tried to stop her, his hand instinctively reaching toward her face, panic quickly blooming in his chest.
But it was too late.
“AARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHH!!!”