Chapter 169: Marriage already?
Next Morning
The situation repeated itself almost identically to the first day.
Selene, with an air of deliberate indifference, ignored Taylor, handed her bag to Aether, and hugged his arm tightly. Her touch lingered a moment too long, sending a shiver through Aether.
When she saw her brother, her demeanour changed abruptly. She let go of Aether, picked up her bag, and composed herself, masking her earlier intimacy with a cool detachment.
However, something different happened.
“Hello,” Leon’s voice broke through the morning air as he suddenly waved at Selene.
She frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly before she forced a smile…. a smile that was professional and cold, as she greeted him back, “Hello, Sir Leon!”
“Sir?” Leon’s smile widened, his eyes twinkling mischievously, “There’s no need for formality between us,” he said, placing a familiar hand on Kai, who could only muster an awkward smile in response.
Selene’s expression darkened for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile and gentle smile then walked away.
Seeing her actions, Kai’s frown deepened, worried that his new friend might feel slighted. But when he saw Leon’s flushed expression, he found himself at a loss for words.
“Man, your sister’s smile almost made my heart race like a wild horse!” Leon mumbled, touching his chest as if to calm his racing heart. He could still vividly remember her smile, a smile unlike any he had ever seen on a girl before…. captivating, yet so unattainable.
He wanted to attain that!
Kai shrugged, relieved that Leon was alright. As long as Leon felt fine, everything would be fine.
Leon’s interest in Selene intensified as they followed her to class, his eyes lingering on her every move, each step she took more alluring than the last.
‘Should I….. kill him?’ Aether’s thoughts were dark and brooding, his expression blank but his eyes filled with an unsettling intensity.
“What are you doing?” Aqualina’s voice snapped Aether out of his thoughts. He followed her, his mind still swirling with unspoken emotions.
While Kai attempted to flirt with Aqualina, his words stumbling over themselves, Leon’s attempts to flirt with Selene were more confident, though equally unsuccessful.
Selene’s cold demeanour seemed to only heighten Leon’s determination.
Aether watched Leon with a mixture of unknown emotions swirling within him….. His hand, almost as if guided by an unseen force, slowly raised toward Leon’s neck…. Just as he was about to touch it,
“What are you doing?” Taylor’s whisper was urgent as he caught Aether’s hand, his grip firm yet gentle.
Aether snapped back to reality, looking at his hand with a deep frown, ‘W-What did I try to do?’ he thought, though a part of him already knew.
He glanced at Selene, who continued to ignore Leon with a practised ease. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Taylor and said, “Sorry, I got caught up in the moment.”
‘Caught up in the moment, you say?’ Taylor thought to himself, his mind racing as he tried to understand Aether’s sudden lapse. He nodded slowly, his grip on Aether’s hand tightening for a moment before letting go.
After that, Aether walked calmly, his gaze fixed on his hand, ‘I-I am acting up… again,’ he thought to himself, clenching his fist as if to ground himself in the present.
Soon, they arrived at class, and as usual, everything played out as it had been before. The first period ended, and but something unusual… Delphine called him personally.
…..
…
‘Thud’
Aether looked at the office, which bore a striking resemblance to the Principal’s. It seemed Delphine had her own private cabin within the academy.
In truth, it wasn’t just her; the five representative professors of each empire enjoyed this generous privilege, while the lower-ranked professors shared common offices.
Anyhow,
Aether wondered why Delphine had singled him out. His eyes brightened with curiosity, and something naughty… he was about to voice his thoughts when,
Delphine’s strict voice cut through his musings, “Don’t you dare say anything explicit here.”
Her voice was cold, devoid of the warmth she had previously shown, as if her earlier interactions had been nothing but an illusion.
However,
“Explicit? What are you talking about, Ms. Delphine?” Aether’s frown deepened, his disappointment palpable,
“I was about to ask whether you are going to teach me something to prepare for the contest.” Then, with a deeper frown, he accused her, “Don’t tell me… you are thinking something else?” with teasing eyes.
Hearing that, Delphine’s stern facade crumbled like fragile bread, her cheeks turning beet red as she stammered, “W-What are you talking about?! I-I didn’t think anything!”
Aether grinned inwardly, pleased to see the old Delphine resurface. He slowly stepped forward, his movements deliberate and sensual, as Delphine unconsciously stepped back, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and something else entirely.
“Delphine~” Aether called her name, his voice dripping with longing, his eyes sparkled with desire.
“!!!” Delphine flinched, her heart racing as she instinctively backed away, wondering why she felt such an overwhelming urge to retreat.
As she backed up, her buttocks bumped against something solid. Glancing back, she saw it was her desk… Turning her head again, she found Aether’s face inches from hers, his intense gaze locking onto her.
“!!!” Delphine flinched again, leaning back against the desk, her breath hitching, “W-What are you doing?” she managed to stammer.
Aether gently lifted her, his touch sending electric shocks through her body, and made her sit on the desk.
Aether’s eyes softened as he stared at her, but inwardly he thought, ‘Damn, I’m never washing this hand again…’ The sensation of her flesh beneath his fingers felt like the softest, most luxurious cushion imaginable.
“A-Aether,” Delphine stammered, feeling an uncharacteristic girlishness take over her.
“Yes~” Aether whispered in her ear, his breath warm and tantalizing.
“!!!” Delphine flinched, clenching her fists. Feeling a surge of danger, Aether pulled back slightly, He needed to slow his advance towards her, meeting her eyes as he asked, “What is it, Delphine?”
“…” Delphine relaxed her fists, her annoyance barely masking her confusion, “Formal already?”
Aether’s lips curled into a sly smile, “There’s no need for us to be formal,” he said, tucking a few stray strands of her silky aqua colour hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her skin.
Delphine blushed deeply, her heart pounding in her chest, ‘W-What’s wrong with this boy?’
“Well, if you want to be formal, then I am fine with that,” Aether said, his face adopting a slightly sad, gloomy expression, his eyes reflecting a hint of disappointment.
Seeing this, Delphine averted her eyes, her expression turned soft remembering his past closeness, so said, “Well, I don’t mind when we are alone,” she muttered.
Aether smirked, his eyes lighting up with mischief, “I see… When we are ALONE… ah.”
Delphine’s face turned pale, realizing she might have said something inappropriate. Before she could take it back, Aether’s expression turned serious, “So?” he asked.
Delphine matched his seriousness, handing him an envelope, “Here,” she said, her voice steady.
“What is it? A love letter?” Aether asked, his curiosity piqued, his expression playful.
Delphine’s face turned furious as embarrassment washed over her when she heard him call it a love letter. Her cheeks burned with a deep crimson… However, the embarrassment reached its peak when he uttered the next words.
“Maybe… a marriage contract!”
“Y-YOU!!!!”
[+100 Affection]
Delphine was furious, her hands glowing with magical energy, ready to blast Aether into oblivion.
‘Maybe that’s too much!’ He thought and without waiting for her wrath to manifest, Aether hurriedly left, but not before daringly pinching her nose and whispering his parting words,
“You look cute when you’re angry, Delphine~”
‘Thud’
He ran away, leaving behind a fuming Delphine. Her bosom rose and fell with her heavy breaths, each exhale filled with frustration and a confusing undercurrent of something more.
“That jerk!! I was trying to help him and yet… ggrrrr,” she gritted her teeth, slowly calming down.
Her thoughts raced back to the moment when Aether had grabbed her waist with such audacity as if he owned her, body and soul.
[+100 Affection]
She touched her own waist, feeling the gentle warmth left by his hands. The memory of his touch sent a thrilling shiver through her body, making her blush even deeper, ‘W-What am I even thinking?!’.
[+200 Affection]
‘Thud’
“Oh! By the way, what’s this fo…r” Aether’s voice trailed off as he opened the door. His eyes widened when he saw Delphine, her hand lingering on her waist where he had touched before, her expression a mix of confusion and a deep, rosy blush.
“W-What!!!!” Delphine’s face turned a furious shade of red, both from embarrassment and the sudden intrusion. Her heart pounded, and she felt a surge of heat rush to her cheeks as she shouted, “GET OUT!!”
“BOOM!!”
A fiery explosion erupted from her hands, a Fire Magic spell blasting the door Aether had just closed.
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