Chapter 168: Maid is a just a tool!
“~Mmm~”
Aether’s lips brushed against hers, soft and lingering like a whisper of a breeze. A gentle current surged through them both.
“~Mmm~”
Taylor’s fingers found their way to the nape of his neck, threading through his silky, dyed jet-black hair, tugging him closer with a mix of urgency and tenderness. Each strand slipped through her grasp like liquid midnight, a sensation both thrilling and strange to her.
“~mmff~”
Aether cupped her cheeks with his hands, his thumbs tracing tender, slow circles on her skin, sending shivers down her spine. He kissed her with a growing intensity yet held back, sensing her inexperience and wanting to savour every moment.
His lips moved with controlled passion, deliberately avoiding the plunge of his tongue, making each touch an intimate exploration of uncharted territory.
“~mm~”
“~hmmm~”
Their bodies pressed together in a heated exchange of warmth and need, creating a fervent connection that was both exhilarating and overwhelming.
Taylor’s breath quickened, her chest rising and falling against his as if she were trying to keep up with the rapid beat of her heart. She was having a hard time reciprocating his kiss, the sensations flooding her being almost too much to handle. To her, this was a new kind of sensation and feeling, one that made her feel alive in a way she had never experienced before.
“~ha~”
The world around them blurred, leaving only the sensation of their kiss, the pounding of her heart, and the undeniable chemistry that threatened to consume them both entirely.
Aether’s kisses deepened, his lips moulding to hers in a dance of desire that spoke of his longing and restraint. He felt her body respond, her initial hesitance giving way to a growing hunger that matched his own.
“~mmm~”
Each kiss was a question, an invitation, and she answered with fervent curiosity, exploring this new realm of intimacy with him.
Taylor’s grip tightened in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer. Her body pressed into his, seeking more of the intoxicating connection that left her breathless. She shivered as his hands left her cheeks, tracing a slow, deliberate path down her neck, over her shoulders, and finally over her breasts, making her heart race even faster—
Bang, Bang
The sudden, loud knocking on the door shattered the romantic atmosphere, jolting both of them back to reality.
“Grrrr,” Aether growled through gritted teeth, reluctantly moving away from her. He approached the door cautiously, his mood visibly darkened.
‘Thud’
“You fucking jerk, how dare you go against my lord John?!” A boy, who seemed to be a lackey of John, stood there with a few servants, his voice dripping with disdain and arrogance.
Veins bulged on Aether’s forehead. He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at them and…. it was enough,
‘Thud’
‘Thud’
‘Thud’
‘Thud’
‘Thud’
One by one, they all kneeled down, Aether unconsciously using the same pressure that Alaric had once used on him though not as powerful as Alaric, it was enough for these low flies…. a power that demanded respect and obedience.
They looked at Aether with expressions of sheer horror. They had underestimated him, thinking he was just another servant. Despite his display of power at the entrance ceremony, there were always those foolish enough to believe they knew everything and could challenge anyone.
Now they lowered their heads in fear, unable to speak or even unable to breathe properly as if their breath was being held by an unknown force.
Aether, with a menacing gaze that could pierce through their very souls, said, “I.will.fucking.kill.you.next.time….Go!” as he gradually lowered the pressure on them.
But no one moved at first, as if the pressure still lingered around them, paralyzing their bodies with fear.
“I said… G.O!” he repeated.
They immediately stood up and walked away with trembling legs, their fear palpable in the air. Amidst everyone, Aether noticed Timmy was also there, looking as terrified as the rest.
‘That fucker…’ Aether mumbled under his breath before closing the door. He looked at his bed but… there was no one there anymore.
Aether sighed heavily and glanced at the upper berth. He saw her lying there silently, avoiding his gaze.
He then glanced down, feeling his raging hormones threatening to burst his pants. He looked to his left hand, then back at the bathroom…
“Sigh,” he mumbled visibly under his breath, “Hope you are satisfied with my hand.”
“….” Taylor stared at Aether’s departing back as he headed to the bathroom, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks.
One hour later, Aether emerged from the bathroom feeling slightly refreshed, his expression one of relief. He fell onto his bed with a contented sigh, his mind still replaying the earlier moments.
“…”
“…”
Silence descended again, enveloping them both in its quiet embrace.
Aether suddenly asked, breaking the silence with his soft, yet probing question, “Have you fallen asleep?”
“….”
Undeterred by the lack of response, Aether continued, his voice filled with a quiet urgency, “I want to know if there was any spell that could be used to halt the inner organs of the human body under certain conditions. Something precise, controlled, and effective.”
“….”
He sighed deeply, he was just about to apologize for what happened earlier when a voice from the upper berth cut through the silence.
“Those spells are dangerous and only someone with a level around 20 or 30 could cast them,” Taylor’s voice drifted down, calm and informative.
Aether smiled to himself, relieved that she wasn’t angry or upset. He nodded in acknowledgement of the information and then asked, “Any kind of shortcuts?”
“….”
“…” Aether waited patiently for her to reply, but the silence stretched on, feeling almost interminable. Just as he was beginning to consider other options, Taylor suddenly spoke again, “There is one way,”
“Which is?”
“Spell Scrolls”
“Spell Scrolls… ah,” Aether mumbled.
Taylor elaborated further, providing more detail, “A spell scroll bears the words of a single spell written on a single parchment paper. Once you pour Arcane Energy into the paper, the spell will activate and execute on the spot, making it a powerful tool for those who can afford it.”
“Oh!” Aether exclaimed, his voice tinged with genuine surprise, even though he already knew about these details from the games and novels he had read before.
He then asked, “So, can you do that? Create these spell scrolls?”
“…. It cannot be done by just anyone since it requires a lot of concentration, a high level of intelligence, and most importantly, certain bloodline abilities,” Taylor explained, her tone turning more serious, “Only a handful of people can do this. If you want one, you can buy it from a few specialized dealers in the market, but they are rare and expensive.”
“I see…” Aether nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. ‘Seems like I cannot go with the ‘sacrificing plan” he mused internally, realizing the limitations of his current situation.
Taylor, sensing his contemplative silence, suddenly asked, “Why do you need that kind of spell?”
“Well, for my grand entry”
“….”
“….”
Suddenly, a heavy silence descended between them again.
After a few minutes, Aether broke the silence once more, his voice softer, “I… I am sorry.”
“…. Why?” Taylor asked.
“You know what happened earlier,” he said, as he added inwardly, ‘and this morning as well.’
“…” Taylor stayed silent for a moment, considering her words carefully before saying, “Why are you sorry then?”
“Hmm?”
“I didn’t push you away and… we both know what happened. Neither of us rejected the other, so there was nothing wrong with it. There’s no need to feel guilty,” Taylor said, her voice calm and reassuring.
“….. I see…” Aether smiled slightly, reassured by her words. He then asked with a little hesitation, “So?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, now what?”
“Now what?”
“What are we now?”
“…. what you mean?”
‘This girl!’ Aether frowned, feeling his patience wear thin. He knew she understood exactly what he was asking but was deliberately playing with her words. Aether sighed deeply, deciding to be more direct.
“Sigh, I mean what kind of relationship are we in?”
“….”
“Taylor?” Aether called out, hoping to draw an answer from her, but there was no reply. He peeked up at the upper berth and saw her lying still, her breathing steady and calm, as if she had already fallen asleep.
Aether knew she was pretending, but he chose not to push her. Instead, he leaned in and,
‘~chu~’
Gave her a simple peck on the cheek, and laid back on his bed.
“…” Taylor’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red again, a mix of emotions flooding her mind, ‘C-Come on, you are just a tool! You will kill him if the Empress orders you!’ she screamed inwardly, feeling a small tear escape and roll down her cheek.
The tear went unnoticed by anyone in the world, except… the Eyes of the Arcane.
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