Chapter 1228: Hello, Mary

Stealing Fate of Others... was so wrong!

Aether was the first one to suffer and feel the pain... He knew how one could lose everything and how one could even... become nothing.

It was... so wrong!

The thought clawed at his chest like a curse. Stealing the fate of others just so he could live... what about them?

What about the ones he loved?

It was cruel, merciless, almost unforgivable to do that to those who love him.

/That’s what it said, guys/

Aether muttered inwardly, his voice echoing inside the shared bond. He didn’t try to mask it, didn’t try to lie.

He allowed the truth to flow out, to every single one of his women.

He didn’t need to hide this anymore... With a heavy exhale, he closed his eyes.

/Thought so.../ Sandra’s voice came first, calm and resigned, as if she had expected this revelation from the very beginning... after all, she expected there would be nothing coming out of nowhere!

She knew more than anyone!... There was a price for everything!

Even his Log, something must be going on back end.

/Well... I didn’t expect that,/ Aqualina admitted, her tone carrying genuine surprise, though it was softened by the warmth in her voice.

/... Am I useless?/ Celestia’s words were fragile, heavy with doubt. Her frown could be felt through the bond.... She was not useful to Aether because of her heartlessness?

/Hmm.../ Raven’s voice was short, though beneath it there was something thoughtful.

/.... So your reality would crumble if not for the contract itself?/ Maelona’s surprise rang clear, her tone filled with disbelief.

/To think... Affections are not just affection... but Fate itself. Ah... If you want, "/ Aria muttered softly, almost motherly... as if she wanted to hold Aether to get what he wanted from her.

/I am... confused?/ Liora’s voice cracked as she struggled to understand, her words clumsy yet sincere.

/You’re fine, right?/ Helena’s voice trembled with worry about him, if he was doing anything wrong.

/... Fate, ah? Fuck that bitch!/ Seraphine’s mutter was sharp, crude, and yet oddly comforting in its defiance.

/.../ Delphine, as always, kept silent but listened to everything.

/.../ Nightfire was deep in her sleep.

/Are you feeling guilty now?/ Selene’s voice came with a sigh, annoyed yet softened by something tender, her question striking close to his heart... that’s what he was feeling right now.

Each of them reacted differently. Every voice carried a unique response... shock, acceptance, confusion, bitterness, or silence.

Yet when the bond quieted, there was no rage, no hatred, no turning away.

None of them seemed willing to condemn him for it.

They weren’t idiots!

Of course, they understand what it means... they lost the fate to receive something great.

Aether smiled softly, the expression bittersweet.

/Well... nothing, I guess. I thought you would all be angry. After all, what I have is what I stole from you, right?

You might have become greater, brighter, stronger if not for me. And for that... for holding you back, for taking what should have been yours...

I am truly sorry./

/.../

There was a tense silence before it shattered—

/Fuck you!/

/What you stole is my fucking heart, bastard!/

/Fuck yourself if you ever think of it that way again!/

/Hmm... Hmm.../

/Y-Yeah, do that?!/

/... I am still confused. What’s the problem here?/

/As long as you’re happy, I don’t mind at all!/

/Aether... don’t be sorry! Be better and shower me with love!!/

/... There’s nothing to be sorry about/

/.../

/If you’re so sorry, then come to my room... give me a baby already! Let’s make a new fate for them!!/

Aether blinked in surprise before his lips curved into a gentle smile. /You guys... I know you’re doing it for me, but I... I-/

/But you know what? Even if it’s true, I don’t regret being with you. Fate or no fate, you gave me warmth.... shared my burden and gave back my family. That’s more than enough. If you can share my burden... then can’t you just give my fate to you? If anything... I am sorry for not giving anything to you/ Sandra said with a soft yet authoritative voice.

/Hey, that’s not what I meant.../ Aether weakly smiled, /You are more than enough for me/

Aqualina added with a serious tone, /Honestly... I do care, but if my fate is what keeps you alive, then take it. You’ve already given me something better than fate... you gave me a reason to love, a reason to smile again.... That’s enough... So don’t be a jerk, just accept the truth, okay?/

/... Am I useless then? If my fate couldn’t be taken, what am I to you? Just... empty? Worthless?/ Celestia trembled tone... as he felt her loneliness.

Aether sighed, /You are not useless, Idiot... My Seirn Queen is not useless or Worthless... I love you, darling/

/Even so... I still want to stay by your side. Even if I can’t give you fate, I want to give you... myself./

Aether weakly smiled.

Raven added more words that sounded serious,

/Hmm... Hmm... So that’s what it is, huh? Honestly, I am supposed to die there... even if you say a miracle will happen for me to save me... But... you are my miracle and it’s not Law or whatever saves me... It’s you, my Fate! At least with you, I know where my fate went. Better in your hands than wasted in death./

/I... I.../ Aether bite his lips.

Maelona added clearly and directly,

/.... If anything, I am the one who is leeching off you, Aether./

/Come on, don’t say like that/

/Haha... yet here you are saying it to persons who love you too, right?/

/.../ Aether went silent.

Aria added softly,

/It’s fine, Aether... Take whatever you need, Aether. I’d rather be empty in fate than empty in love. I don’t believe in this fate, nor do I care... You made me realise, Everything in our hands, no matter what we lose./

Aether’s expression turned softened, /Aria.../

Liora’s voice cracked with confusion,

/I... I’m confused. I don’t really get it. But if all this means you get to keep living... then what’s the problem?

I just want you to stay. Isn’t that enough?/

Aether chuckled, he could already imagine his wolfy titling her head cutly, /My idiot... aha/

Helena’s gentle voice came like a balm.

/You’re fine, aren’t you? That’s all I need. If your survival comes at the cost of something I never even noticed, then I’d gladly give it. You’re my happiness, Aether. Don’t carry this guilt alone... Share it with me... or us/

Aether’s lips trembled, /Hel.../

Seraphine broke the moment with a sharp growl, her words crude but sincere.

/Honestly, Fuck that Fate bitch! If she dares to take you away from me, I’ll rip her apart myself. You belong here—with us.... With me!!/

Aether could already feel her love through their connection... she was getting really possessive, didn’t she?

/Girl... ahah/

Delphine didn’t say anything for a second before,

/... Don’t worry, I decided what I want... no matter what happens./

Aether’s eyes lowered slightly, /Hmm.../

/..../ Nightfire was still asleep.

Selene’s tone came last, sharp with irritation yet softened with affection.

/Stop it. What you stole isn’t our fate.... It’s our hearts. And we gave them to you willingly. If anything... just how many fucking bitches needed for you to stop this/

/haha.../ Aether laughed happily.

Selene’s tone softened even more, /Good... that’s what I wanted to hear... don’t be an idiot. We came this far... we wouldn’t leave you after all this, Dear./

/Than--/ Before Aether could say anything.

Selene added, /Well, of course, if you feel too much guilt, I don’t mind having a baby one or... more... my room is free cum to me~/

And with that... the chaos beings!

/Oi, bitch! He comes to my room first!/

/I need his baby first, fuckers!/

/HMmm!! HMM!!/

/Nope!/

/Have you seen his coc—/

Aether instantly cut the connection before the chaos could spiral further... He sighed deeply, but the weak smile on his face betrayed the warmth filling his chest.

"I’m not sure if I should be happy about those selfless idiots... or worried about who’s going to have the first baby... ahaha..." he muttered under his breath, laughing weakly as his head tilted back.

But despite the madness, his heart felt lighter, calmer, relieved.

[They are understanding ones, aren’t they?]

Aether smiled gently at the Log’s words. If it had been any other women... any selfish, or even ordinary ones...

He knew, he fucking knew, they would have clawed back their stolen fate. They would have hated him for it.

They would have demanded like a property!!

After all, he had admitted that he took from them, stripped them of what was theirs just to continue living. It was stupid, it was wrong, and yet...

These women, his women, didn’t hate him.

They didn’t curse him. Instead, they thought of him, selflessly placing his existence above their own losses.

Honestly... he was glad. More than glad. He was blessed, truly, to have them in his life.

[I think you’re forgetting something important]

Aether tilted his head slightly, ’Which is?’

[What about you doing the deed and levelling them up?]

Aether blinked, caught off guard, his lips parting in surprise. ’Wait, that—’

[Indeed... We couldn’t just keep stealing fate and expect it to go unnoticed that easily, even if tricked it... It will be noticed in some way.

In exchange, you’ve been giving your essence to them, levelling them up... strengthening them. In a way, the fate you take is not stolen forever. It’s returned, reshaped, and reborn through you...]

Aether raised his eyebrows slowly, his expression shifting from shock to a strange, conflicted curiosity. His thoughts spun, tangled between guilt and relief.

’So... every time I... with them...’

[Exactly. Your essence—those intimate moments weren’t just lust, Aether. The more you bonded with them, the more their strength grew. The fate you borrowed came back, crystallised as power inside them. That is why they have been changing... evolving. Not only are you surviving, but so are they.]

’So I wasn’t... just stealing from them. I was... giving back?’

[Hmph. Not entirely innocent, don’t flatter yourself. You still tore fate from their cores. But unlike others who would consume and leave nothing, you returned it in your own way.

Balance, Aether. That is why the Law has not erased you yet.]

Aether exhaled slowly, his lips curling into a faint, tired smile.

’Balance, huh...?’

[So... any other truth you want?]

The Log asked softly.

’Well... Oh? Let’s talk later for now...,’ he muttered, his voice low as he finally pushed himself up from the cold ground.

He turned his gaze toward the barred opening of the cell where he had been trapped.

Thud!

A shadow fell across the stone as a blurry figure stepped inside.

"Fu~Fu~ Aether~"

Aether’s expression hardened, "Hello, Mary"