"Arrh... I cannot handle those people, Aether!!" Xara shouted furiously, her voice dripping with irritation as she stormed into his room without knocking, her heels clicking hard against the floor.
Her expression was a mix of frustration and exhaustion. Her hands were clenched, and her long coat swayed with her every step.
Those gratitudes, those lovely smiles, those innocent, pure-hearted expressions... Honestly, she hadnât done it for them. It had always been for her own research, her own goals, her own answers.
Thatâs why she didnât even want to give those things away to them directly. She didnât want their thanks... She didnât need validation.
Aether turned from his seat, his eyes softening the moment he saw her furious figure stomping toward him. She looked ready to explode again, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths as she marched up, lips parting to yell againâ
But before a single word could leave her mouth, Aether suddenly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a firm hug.
"You did good..." he whispered gently near her ear, his voice warm and calm. "Now everyone can finally see what Iâve always seen... that my lovely Xara can perform miracles. Youâre not some cold monster. Youâre amazing."
"..." Xara blinked rapidly. Her fury paused. Her chest still heaving, but her voice caught. Her arms were limp between their bodies for a second before she snorted and lightly pushed against his chest.
"Donât think your sweet words work on me!" she snapped, though her voice didnât carry the sharp edge it had a moment ago. It was softer now, tinged with reluctant affection.
Aether grinned, his hands still resting on her waist. "Is that so..." he murmured, his smile widening as he leaned in and kissed her lips slowly, gently, with affection.
Xaraâs eyes widened slightly. But she didnât pull away.
"Hmmm~" she let out a soft, surprised sound from the back of her throat.
Aether pulled back just enough to look into her eyes and smiled again. "Letâs go have lunch... You havenât eaten anything, have you?" he said, not even waiting for a reply as he casually grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the dining hall like it was already decided.
He didnât ask. He didnât need to. His confidence was annoying, and yet... oddly comforting.
In the dining hall,
Emberlyn placed the prepared dishes for Aether and Xara, her movements graceful and her smile warm, the way a woman naturally served someone she genuinely cared for.
The table was filled with aromatic platesâsteamed vegetables, roasted meat glazed in herbs, warm bread, thick soup, and a soft dessert on the side. It smelled like a feast.
Aether licked his lips eagerly and grinned, "Itâs been a while since I got to taste my mother-in-lawâs cooking again!" he said, picking up his utensils quickly and taking a bite with pleasure, then glanced at Xara, flashing a teasing look.
"Her cooking really is top-notch, Xara. Youâre lucky to be her daughter."
Emberlyn chuckled softly, clearly pleased with the compliment.
Xara, however, narrowed her eyes and leaned slightly forward, eyeing both of them.
"Did you fuck her?"
"PUFF!! Cough cough!!" Aether choked mid-bite, coughing violently as he slapped his chest and turned to her, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"What the hell, Xara?!"
"Oh? So youâre not lying to seduce her now, huh?" Xara tilted her head, her tone playful but serious.
Aetherâs gaze darted toward Emberlyn, whose face had turned bright red, horror clear on her features.
"I... I didnât say anything like that! Believe me!" he said, waving his hands frantically.
"R-Right... Y-Yes..." Emberlyn stammered, nearly dropping the tray before quickly walking out of the dining hallâmore like sprinting, in fact, her footsteps vanishing down the hallway with panic in every step.
Aether stared blankly at the door she disappeared through, speechless.
Xara took a bite of the food and let out a surprised sound. "Oh? Itâs good."
Aether turned to her, eyebrows raised. She looked genuinely surprised.
"Youâre not even jealous?" he asked cautiously.
"I am," Xara replied casually, chewing, then swallowing. "But the food is still good."
Aether sighed and shook his head slowly, rubbing his forehead. "Youâre unbelievable..."
"So sheâs really not your target?" Xara asked, her tone softening slightly as she ate another spoonful, her curiosity genuine now.
"No. Sheâs not. And donât start twisting things into something weird again," Aether said firmly.
Xara smirked. "So somethingâs already going on between you two, huh?"
Aether groaned. "You talk way too much," he said, then scooped a spoonful of food and shoved it into her mouth mid-sentence.
"Mmmph!!" Xara yelped, caught off guard, cheeks puffed as she glared at him but still chewed.
But Aether didnât stop. He kept feeding her spoon after spoon, ignoring her protests as if it were perfectly normal.
Xara finally smiled, a soft, amused curve on her lips as she opened her mouth willingly for the next bite.
As they ate together, Aether explained the situation outsideâeverything that had happened, the chaos that had unfolded, the tension building like a storm cloud. He told her everything without holding back.
"I see..." Xara hummed thoughtfully, still chewing. "That explains why I felt a subtle wave of interference back in the lab earlier... That strange shift in energy... now it makes sense."
Aether watched her closely. She was calm, too calm. She didnât seem concerned about what others thought or feared. She simply existed in her own rhythm, uncaring about the worldâs judgmentâand honestly, he kind of admired that.
After finishing the meal, Xara leaned back and let out a long, satisfied sigh, placing her hand on her stomach as if she hadnât eaten properly in days.
"Sheâs really good... but of course, not better than me."
Aether raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You cook?"
Xaraâs lips curled into a smirk. "I am a mother, Aether. Of course, I know how to cook."
Aether grinned, his lips curving with a playful glint in his eyes. "Then next time... Iâd like to eat youâ" he paused with a deliberate smirk, watching her reaction, "I mean... your food."
Xara stared at him with a deadpan expression, her face unreadable for a moment. But the subtle blush dusting her cheeks betrayed the little flutter inside her chest.
"A-Anyway..." she cleared her throat, clearly trying to change the subject, "Why havenât you used your seal on me yet? Iâm curious. How exactly are we even connected? Is it something like... soul binding?"
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tilted her head, genuinely wanting to know more.
Aether nodded slowly, watching her carefully. "Yes... It connects our soulsâfor eternity. Thatâs why I was waiting. I didnât want to force it. I was wondering if... You wouldnât mind."
Xara hummed thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand. "Why are you even asking me that? You already know the answer, donât you?" she smirked suddenly, eyes narrowing. "Or... should I leave you?"
Her teasing was light, but the implication carried a dangerous edge, like a dare.
Aetherâs expression instantly turned dark, a shadow falling over his face. "Donât think you can escape from me..."
Xaraâs eyes widened slightly, and a shiver ran through her bodyânot of fear, but of anticipation. She gulped, her body reacting instinctively to the sudden shift in his presence. She bit her lip, trying to hide the spark in her eyes. Her voice trembled just slightly, betraying her excitement.
"N-No, I didnât mean it like that! I was just wondering why itâs taking so long..." she replied quickly, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.
Aetherâs expression softened, and the darkness faded as he smiled again, calm and composed.
"I wanted to give you some time before giving it to you. This isnât just about meâitâs about you too. Thatâs why..." he paused, meeting her eyes seriously, "...are you willingly doing this?"
Xara leaned back, a mischievous light playing in her eyes. "And what if Iâm not~?" she purred, enjoying the way his emotions shifted, poking at the side of him she wasnât sure existed.
He wasnât yandere. Not officially.
But damn... he was possessive enough to make her wonder.
Why didnât he ever deny it properly?! Why was it so easy to provoke him?!
"You littleâ!" Aether growled as he suddenly grabbed her, lifting her effortlessly and pulling her onto his lap. He hugged her tightlyâso tightly it almost knocked the air out of her lungs.
"A-Ack! O-Okay, ouchâ! I-I got it, I got it! Iâm sorry!!" Xara winced, her voice strained as she squirmed against his crushing embrace.
Aether nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with himself, before releasing her just enough to activate the skill.
Suddenly, a black translucent screen appeared before both of them.
[â ïžAlert: 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?]
Xara blinked, her eyes going wide with surprise. "Oh my... interesting..." she whispered, her voice tinged with fascination as she read the message carefully. Her lips curled into a smirk as she nodded, "I agree."
The moment she said it, she flinched, her body jerking slightly.
"Ack... I-Itches!" she yelped, reaching back to scratch at her upper back.
!~Ding~!
[Error! Cannot be performed!!]
Aether blinked, confusion crossing his face. "Cannot be performed...? Why?"
But the LOG system remained silent. There was no explanation. No reason.
Xara tilted her head, her expression mirroring his concern. "What happened?"
"I donât know..." Aether muttered, his brows furrowed. "It says I canât perform the action. Somethingâs not right..."
"Well... I felt something," Xara murmured, rubbing her back gently. "An itching sensation, like something tried to mark me."
"Let me see it," Aether said firmly, his voice suddenly serious.
Xaraâs face flushed red instantly, her body tensing. "I-I donât think thatâs neceâ"
"Xara. Itâs serious." Aether repeated, his tone sharp and commanding now.
Xara bit her lower lip, glancing at him. He wasnât joking. There was a weight to his words, a calm intensity that made her heart beat faster. It wasnât lust this timeâit was genuine concern.
"...Fine," she mumbled with a tiny pout. She slowly turned around on his lap, her back facing him. Her hands moved up to her collar as she hesitated, then slowly slid her upper clothes down her shoulders, the fabric slipping past her skin. Her fingers gathered her hair, lifting it gently to reveal her nape and upper back.
Aether had a serious expression, but inwardly, âHehehe~â
However,
A huge â8â burned into her skin, stretching almost entirely across her back.