Sandra’s lips twitched slightly when her eyes fell on the document… the one that had been carefully placed on the table. She slowly turned her head to the right side and looked toward her maid—no, her younger sister, who stood silently by her side.
“So…” Sandra began, her voice soft but laced with disbelief, “you’ve already prepared everything, huh?”
Celestia didn’t say a word. She merely bowed her head in response.
Sandra stared at her for a moment, her lips twitching again, almost bitterly. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to let Maid go.
No… it was something deeper.
She had been with her for so long—through every moment of pain, loneliness, and recovery. And now, all of a sudden, Celestia was just… leaving?
It was too abrupt.
Too surreal.
Sandra felt slightly taken aback, like the ground beneath her had shifted without warning.
‘Heck…’ she thought, sighing inwardly, ‘I didn’t even expect this…’
She hadn’t anticipated a resignation letter. Celestia had everything ready, like she had planned this for a while. Like she had already decided to leave—without even discussing it once.
Sandra let out a soft hum, her eyes scanning the document again. “So this is how sisterly bonds come to an end, huh…” she muttered quietly, half to herself, before her gaze returned to Celestia. “Are you really sure about this? I mean, I could hire as many maids as I want… that’s not the issue. But you—are you really sure about going?” she asked again, her tone now a little more vulnerable.
Like she was clinging to the last thread of hope.
Because beneath her composed exterior… Sandra was scared. Scared of losing her.
Of course, she couldn’t just come out and say that!
Celestia gave a silent nod, not a single word leaving her lips.
Sandra’s brows twitched in frustration. Seeing her so calm—so indifferent—it stung. “Fine then,” she said through gritted teeth, her voice suddenly sharp. She huffed, her expression turning furious as she raised one hand.
Celestia, still silent, respectfully handed her a pen.
Sandra took it with a tense hand, her fingers hesitating briefly over the paper before she finally signed it, the motion stiff and reluctant.
Aether remained quiet, simply watching the entire exchange. Aqualina, who was sitting comfortably on his lap, also watched in silence. Her eyes, wide and soft, flicked between her mother and Celestia with a mixture of curiosity and quiet sadness.
“Here…” Sandra muttered, sliding the signed document toward Celestia with an annoyed expression.
Celestia took the document and pen, her fingers pausing over the smooth surface of the pen. She stared at it for a moment, then asked softly, “So… now I’m free? Free to do whatever I want?”
“Tsk,” Sandra clicked her tongue. “Isn’t that why I signed it in the first place? Why even bother asking—”
But before she could finish the sentence, Celestia raised her hand and burned the paper in a flash of flame.
Everyone in the room froze, stunned.
“What the hell—” Sandra blinked, confused and shocked, but before she could say more, Celestia stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her tightly.
“It’s okay now, sister…” she whispered, her voice soft and humming, almost like a lullaby. “I’m no longer needed in your life anymore…”
Sandra stood frozen, her mind struggling to catch up. “W-What are you…” Her words trailed off as she felt Celestia tremble slightly against her.
“My big sister…” Celestia continued in a quiet, choked whisper, “…has finally found her family. You’re no longer burdened by guilt… no longer drowning in loneliness… or sadness. You’re standing on your own now. With the man you love by your side. You’re strong… proud… and happy.”
Her voice cracked as she said those words—each one carrying the weight of years.
Sandra’s eyes trembled, her vision slowly blurring as tears welled up. “I… I see…” she breathed, her voice barely audible as her arms slowly lifted and returned the hug, gripping her sister tightly.
“All this time… I thought I was the one taking care of you…” Sandra murmured, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips. “…but I was wrong….. idiot… I am…”
Celestia chuckled softly, tightening the embrace. “So… your maid… will now leave her post. Her duty… has finally ended. Let her go, Sandra. Let her go.”
“H…Hmm…” Sandra’s lips trembled as she nodded, her face contorting with emotion.
Aqualina and Aether shared a glance, their expressions softening as they watched the deeply emotional moment unfold.
Despite all their bickering, despite the distance, despite the way they never quite said it aloud… these two sisters had always supported each other. In silence. In shadows. Through heartbreak and chaos… And it was Celestia who had stood firm, guiding her shattered sister from the darkness.
And now, seeing that broken woman finally healed—smiling, crying, living—Celestia knew her duty was complete.
Her duty?
Yes. Even if Celestia never said it out loud, she had always carried the guilt. That day… if she had just been a little more careful… they wouldn’t have lost mother. Sandra wouldn’t have shattered into pieces.
That’s why Celestia had taken it upon herself—like a silent vow—to take care of Sandra. To fix what was broken… Because deep down, she believed it was her fault.
“So…” Sandra murmured, her voice gentler now, “…should we announce to the world that their lost princess is still alive?”
Celestia shook her head. “No,” she said simply. “I don’t need it anymore. Honestly… I never cared for the title. Or the throne. Or ruling.” She gave a small, wistful smile.
Because truthfully… Celestia never cared for any of that.
After all, wasn’t she a heartless creature?
Even now, the emotion she was showing—it wasn’t truly hers, was it?
No… not exactly fake. But it was like she was mimicking what someone should feel. Expressing what others would expect in this moment.
If she didn’t force herself, she’d probably be standing there with the same stoic expression she always wore.
Sandra tilted her head slightly, concern rising again. “Then… what now?”
She was starting to worry again.
Was Celestia going to leave them?
Was she planning to disappear?
But before she could spiral too far—
Celestia turned her gaze to Aether, who was still watching her. She smiled softly, then walked toward him.
“There’s only one person I need to take care of now… for the rest of my life.”
“Oh?… Oh…”
Sandra blinked, realisation dawning as her expression shifted to one of amusement… and maybe, just a touch of jealousy, watching her sister walk toward the man she loved.
“A man… who stirred my lifeless heart… A man who made me realise what I truly desired… A man who constantly makes me worry about him, even when I try not to… A man who sometimes drives me insane with how reckless he is… A man who loves me so much that it actually hurts…” Celestia’s voice trembled slightly as she stood before Aether, eyes locked on his.
“He throws himself into danger without hesitation and leaves me panicking every time. So… I need to take care of him. No—I should take care of him. Because he needs me.”
Aqualina, who was still sitting on Aether’s lap, instinctively tightened her hold around him, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Her brows twitched, her lips forming a straight line.
She knew it. She knew this was coming. Damn it! She fucking knew this moment would come!!
There was no way—absolutely no way—she was going to let this woman just walk in and take him away.
And fuck… after another five days?!
Her poor Aether had already been drained and sucked dry by her mother’s wild cravings, and now… Celestia too?!
No way. She wasn’t going to let him suffer again! Not just for his sake… but for her own too.
Most importantly… she needed to mark her scent all over his body again.
She had to.
There was no way she was losing this battle.
However—
“…Oh? Selene?” Celestia suddenly muttered in a startled tone, her head snapping toward the entrance.
“Another bitch?”
“What?”
Aqualina and Sandra both jerked their heads toward the door in confusion—only to find no one there.
Their expressions twitched.
But when they turned back—
Both Aether and Celestia were gone.
And worse… Aqualina, who had been hugging him tightly, was now sitting on an empty chair as if she’d never touched him in the first place. She hadn’t even noticed when it happened.
“Grrrrrr!!!” Aqualina growled violently, her fists clenching. “I cannot believe that woman just snatched him away right in front of me! I swear, I’m going to find them—”
She was ready to tear apart the entire palace if she had to, but—
“They’re not here, darling…” Sandra spoke calmly, her voice holding a trace of amusement. She had already scanned the entire palace with her senses. “No one’s inside except us.”
“Huh? What do you mean they’re not here? Then where the hell did they go?” Aqualina demanded, her brows furrowing hard.
Sandra shook her head slowly. “She must’ve taken him to her home.”
“Her home?! But this is her home!”
“It is, yes…” Sandra said with a small smirk. “But everyone keeps a few secrets, right?”
There was a glint in her eye as she spoke, but her tone turned serious right after.
“Anyway… did you take contraceptive medicine?”
Aqualina stiffened by the sudden question, her gaze flicking to the side. “O-Of course I did… obviously!”
It was painfully clear she hadn’t.
Sandra sighed, long and deep. “Aqua… it’s your choice, I won’t tell you what to do. But I’m saying this as your mother… now is not the right time. We can’t afford to tie him down like this. Something’s coming… I don’t know what it is, but I feel it. Something cold… dark… terrifying.
And if that time comes, we can’t have him slowed down by anything—not even a child. Understand?”
Aqualina’s lips parted as her expression turned thoughtful. Her mother’s rare seriousness sent a shiver down her spine.
But then—
“Wait a second… Are you sure you’re not just making up some convenient excuse? So you can get pregnant first and show off? Isn’t that exactly what you’ve been doing these past five days?” she asked with a sharp grin, like she’d just uncovered the ultimate truth.
Sandra’s cheeks instantly flushed a deep crimson. “Y-YOU BRAT…!!!”
Meanwhile… somewhere in the middle of the ocean. Deep beneath the waves.
Ploppppp—
Aether floated inside the vast, cold water. His eyes were wide open, pupils dilated as if old trauma had come flooding back in an instant.
Just a moment ago… he was sitting peacefully at the dining table, when suddenly—A shadow had loomed over him, swallowed him whole… and now he was here.
His shocked face twitched as bubbles floated out of his mouth, his body suspended in the abyssal silence.
And then—he felt it. A soft hand landing gently on his bare back.
Before he could process it, warm lips met his own.
“Hmmmm~”
A soft breath passed from her to him… air—sweet and gentle—rushed into his lungs as she shared it with him.
His eyes widened even more as he stared at the figure now floating before him.
A woman.
No—a creature.
Half fish… half woman?
What the hell just happened?