Chapter 187: Capture the Heart: Part-3
Aria Zephyr, A Sweet woman!
When Aether first saw her in a life-threatening situation, he was truly puzzled.
The scene before him was both shocking and mesmerizing, something he had never anticipated. He couldn’t quite grasp what was happening or how to react.
What kind of expression did she have when she faced the bear monsters?
It was a look of…. excitement and thrill!!!
Unlike anything he had ever seen before. Her eyes sparkled with wild, untamed energy, and there was a slight curve to her lips that spoke of exhilaration.
Yes, it was the face of thrill. Even though she felt a profound sense of hopelessness, she was clearly excited. The contrast between her dire circumstances and her vibrant expression was striking, almost surreal.
It was very subtle, but Aether was able to recognize it.
Even now, when Kaelen and his team cornered her, there was a subtle emotional thrill that ran through her body, as if a hunter were hiding behind her struggling facade.
It was as if she was savouring the tension, the adrenaline, the sheer intensity of the moment.
‘Looks like being held captive and alone made her weak and hide her true self,’ Aether mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible. He slowly leaned his head on hers, which was already resting on his shoulder.
By now, they looked like a couple comforting each other, finding solace in each other’s presence amidst the chaos surrounding them.
[+700 Affection]
Even Aria blushed, but she did not push him away…. She thought it was just a head resting on hers, so it was fine. She rationalized it in her mind, telling herself that this small act did not constitute a betrayal.
She wasn’t cheating on Alaric!
Even if Alaric didn’t care for the marriage, Aria, as a woman who believed that marriage was sacred, would not allow her feelings to be swayed so easily.
Aether glanced at his mission; it was still blinking slowly…
“You know…” Aether began, his tone shifting as he started his game… This was a game where lies and truth would mix, blending into a complex web of deception and honesty.
The only game he was forced to play.
Seduction Game!
Before he could pull her out from her cage and bring out the hunger, he needed to make sure she heard his name in her heart. He needed to create a deep, lasting impression.
A name she would always remember!
“Hmm?” Aria responded, her curiosity piqued.
“My master actually… was the one who asked me to anger the Principal, just like before,” Aether confessed, his voice carrying a mix of regret and obligation.
Aria simply listened to him, her expression attentive and patient.
He continued, “Then she ordered me to steal the flags.”
Aria wasn’t surprised, as she knew more or less about Villainess Aqualina, so she softly asked, “So, you came here to steal my flag?”
“No, I came here because I… I truly don’t know,” Aether admitted, his voice softening, “But I do know that my gut feelings told me that I needed to see my Aria,” he mumbled softly.
“!!” Aria’s eyes widened when she heard the word ‘my,’ and her heart skipped a beat. The possessiveness in his words caught her off guard.
[+700 Affection]
“I…I don’t know what this feeling is but…” Aether touched his heart as if trying to physically grasp the emotions swirling within him, “When I saw you hurt… i-it almost tore my heart… At that moment, all I wanted was to protect you, nothing more.” Aether’s body trembled, and his vulnerability lay bare.
Aria immediately looked and asked, “A-Aether, w-what are you talking about?” She knew what Aether was trying to imply; she wasn’t an idiot in that department. His words were clear, but their implications were staggering.
Aether had an unexplainable expression, “I… I don’t know… Aria…” and looked at his trembling hand, “When I saw your wound… my hands trembled in fear of… losing… losing something important…” Aether said as he looked at Aria’s face, who in return had her eyes widened. She was seeing a side of him she had never seen before.
This time, Aether was really truthful…. When he saw her wound, he couldn’t control his inexplicable emotions. It was as if something deep within him had been awakened, but he didn’t want to acknowledge it.
He was scum… He shouldn’t feel that!
‘No… What’s happening? Did I show too much care for him to think like that?’ Aria wondered, her mind racing. She looked at his trembling face, which winced in inner pain, struggling to understand his own emotions.
“Aether, I am a married woman, and you are—”
“Yeah… I am just a servant. I shouldn’t have this feeling for anyone other than my master, and yet…. What is this feeling, Aria?” Aether interrupted, his voice filled with both innocence and fear.
Aria held her breath in shock, not knowing how to respond.
Aether suddenly smiled, saying, “And even more, my heart beats faster whenever I see you smiling, and when you smile at me…
My heart skips a beat…
Sometimes I am even over the moon when you touch me…
Why am I feeling this?
Aria, do you have these feelings?
Am I suffering from a serious illness?
I want to protect you,
I want to pamper you, and even… hehe… be pampered by you…
I want to give you something, and I don’t know what it is….”
“….”
“Aria?” he called out, his voice gentle yet pleading.
“…. I-It… It’s called Love” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.
[+800 Affection]
“Love, huh?” Aether repeated, a gentle smile forming on his lips, that struck her heart even more!
Aria, as the older person, needed to talk to him correctly. She knew what Aether was feeling, but she also understood that these feelings were likely a result of the care and attention she had shown him. There was nothing more to it, she told herself.
“Aether I think you–”
“It must be disgusting to be loved by a servant, right?” Aether interrupted, his voice tinged with self-loathing.
“Huh? No, that’s not what I mean—” Aria tried to clarify, but he cut her off again.
“I.. I am sorry, Aria— Queen Aria. Please forgive this mundane servant for his unforgivable sins… A servant loving a royal… even I feel disgusted to hear it. I am pretty sure you must be too… I am truly sorry!” Aether interrupted again, his voice filled with anguish.
[+800 Affection]
Aria’s face turned shocked and pained when he called her by her title, adding a barrier between them.
“Aether, just listen—” she began, but he was already standing up.
“It’s fine, Queen Aria…” Aether said with a broken smile, “I will hold them off; you can run away.” His words were resolute as if he had already made up his mind.
[+900 Affection]
“A-Aether, just listen to my words first—” Aria tried once more, her desperation growing.
Yet again, Aether interrupted, “It’s fine, Queen Aria…. As long as you are alive,” he said, smiling gently, “I am very happy… though tell my master that I am sorry for not obeying her order.”
He said those romantic and tragic parting words as if a soldier going to war with no return, his expression both noble and heart-wrenching.
“W-Wait!!” Aria shouted, her voice echoing through the cave.
She wanted to follow him, to rush after Aether and stop him, yet…. something held her back. It was as if an invisible force compelled her to stay, urging her to make a crucial decision. If she followed him now without clarity, it might only shatter his heart further.
‘W-What should I do!!’ Aria screamed internally, her thoughts in turmoil.
She was a married woman, bound by the vows she had taken before the gods and her people.
She must reject him outright, SHE MUST!!! she told herself….. Yet, when she saw his sad, almost heartbreaking smile, she felt her heart being pierced by thousands of needles, each one more painful than the last.
“N-No.. P-Please…” She screamed, trying to convince herself not to betray her sacred marriage. She must not let her heart waver, must not let it belong to anyone else. And yet,
“Ba-Dump”
He was always there when she was alone and suffered!!
Her heart felt heavy all of a sudden as if weighed down by the immense conflict within her.
To be honest, she had never been interested in becoming a sovereign or in the trappings of power….. She wasn’t interested in other men either.
But when she first made contact with Aether, a boy….. no, a man of small presence, she felt something entirely different. It was as if she was living a different life, one filled with possibilities she had long forgotten.
She smiled after hundreds of years, and not just the fake smile she used with her family to comfort them.
This was a genuine smile, one that reached her eyes and warmed her heart. Whenever she looked at Aether, a genuine smile always appeared on her face, unbidden and sincere.
And she truly liked spending time with him. Those moments were precious, filled with laughter and a sense of ease she hadn’t felt in centuries.
Sometimes she wondered whether Aqualina was using Aether as bait for her, a pawn in a larger, more devious game. But those thoughts vanished whenever she saw…
His genuine smile!
His genuine shyness!
His genuine blushing whenever she was near him!
His genuine eyes, which seemed to stare only at her, not at her title or her body, but directly into her soul!
His genuine concern!
His genuine…. love!!
“As long as you are alive, I am very happy.”
“As long as you are alive, I am very happy.”
“As long as you are alive, I am very happy.”
….
….
Those words still echoed around her, reverberating through her mind and heart as if they were inscribed upon her very soul.
It was as if her heart was echoing them to ensure she realized her love for him….. Or maybe, Aether was the one who had ingeniously used the echo principle within the cave to amplify his words, making them resonate even more deeply within her.
He becoming more of scum now!!
Aether glanced at her, his eyes catching the sight of her clenching her heart. He nodded in satisfaction, seeing the effect of his words. Then, he stopped the echo, deciding it was time to pull the hunter now as he hurriedly looked for his baits, he looked at his mission tab which started to pulse even more faster…. The time had come for the finale for Aria’s heart!
meanwhile,
‘So, this is love…ah,’ Aria mumbled to herself, her voice barely a whisper.
She touched her heart, still feeling the impact of those words. They had struck a chord deep within her, awakening feelings she had long suppressed or forgotten.
[+900 Affection]
[+1000 Affection]
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 12%↑]
However,
What Aether didn’t know was that he had forgotten the crucial information or rather he slid it without care…. she was a woman who had lived for hundreds of years, enduring the loneliness and isolation that came with such a long life.
She had longed for genuine love, a love that was pure and true.
So,
If a hundred years dam were to break, it should pour out everything, all the emotions and desires pent up over centuries, right?
[+1000 Affection]
[+2000 Affection]
[+2000 Affection]
[+3000 Affection]
[+3000 Affection]
[+3000 Affection]
[+4000 Affection]
[+4000 Affection]
[+4000 Affection]
[+4000 Affection]
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 11.9%↓]
[Remaining AP: 53,890]
And that’s what happened. The floodgates opened, and her feelings for him poured out uncontrollably.
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