Chapter 196: Capture the Heart: Part-8
Aqualina Naiadia’s POV
‘H-Huh? What did he just say?’ I was completely taken aback, not understanding what I had just heard. It felt surreal, almost like a dream.
I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. Maybe it was my dizzy mind or the overwhelming exhaustion taking over, but I must have misheard him.
I was sure about it!
“W-What did you just say?” I asked carefully, my voice trembling, wondering why my heart suddenly tightened as if I subconsciously hoped it was all just my imagination.
Yet,
“I… I think… I fell for Aria Zephyr,” he said with a lovely, sincere expression that I had always believed was reserved solely for me.
But now, it was directed at someone else.
“…” My eyes stared blankly at his shy expression.
The expression that I thought was meant only for me was now meant for s-someone else. My chest felt like it was constricting painfully… I-I lowered my eyes, unable to meet his gaze.
I wasn’t sure what to say to him as my chest suddenly felt unbearably heavy, ‘I-Isn’t he supposed to be a Tsundere? Why is he speaking his emotions so straightforwardly to me? Is that what it means to be a Tsundere? And… he called her by name?’
I didn’t understand why I was even bothered by this….. I mean, I had calculated that he might fall for someone in the Arcane Queens group. I had even prepared a plan for him to have a good life with the woman he eventually fell for, but… I-I thought it would take a long time, and yet…
W-What’s this feeling? I should be happy for him, right? And yet…
“I see…” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.
I felt my eyelids grow heavy. Maybe I was just too tired, too overwhelmed by the day’s events.
My eyes subconsciously fell on his face…
[+800 Affection]
His smile, which had always been so beautiful and comforting to me, now seemed broken, as if he had given up on something precious.
“…A-Aether…” I called him softly. I didn’t know why, but I felt I should keep talking to stay occupied until others arrived. Otherwise… I felt something might happen to my heart, something I couldn’t quite understand.
“Yes…”
Hearing his broken voice, I bit my lips tightly so they wouldn’t tremble. The last thing I wanted was to show him how much this affected me.
“H-How did you fall for her?” I asked…. surprised to hear myself ask that question. It wasn’t something I had planned to ask, yet the words slipped out naturally, almost involuntarily.
I glanced at his face, and once again, he wore that gentle, lovely expression as if he had truly fallen for her. It was a look of genuine affection that tore at my heart.
I-I bit my lips tightly, trying to hold back the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me.
‘What did that bitch do?!’ I screamed inwardly, wondering why I was even bothered by this so intensely.
“Aria is gentle…” he said with a warm smile, recalling moments with Aria that were obviously cherished memories.
‘G-Gentle?’ Something struck my heart as if something sharp had pierced it, leaving a painful sting.
I-I have always been gentle with him, right?
I thought to myself and slowly remembered our first encounter…
‘….Yeah, I didn’t even acknowledge him to begin with…’ I thought, realizing that unlike me, his encounter with Aria had been pleasant.
Even though she was a Queen, she spoke to him as an equal. There was no indifference in her expression. Unlike me, she was sweet and always gentle with Aether. And even more…
One time, they were sitting under a tree, and she taught him something while Aether happily… I mean, I literally saw his genuine emotions as if he was enjoying spending time with her.
That was something that struck my heart that day!
“Aria is cute… Hehe…” He giggled like an idiot in love, his eyes shining with affection.
‘Hehe…’ I mocked him inwardly, mimicking his laugh as I clenched my teeth.
I-I think I am also cute!! I wanted to shout at him but decided to keep my mouth shut, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness.
“Aria said she loves me so much that she wouldn’t mind giving up her title,” Aether said with happiness as if he was looking at a goddess.
“…” I frowned deeply.
‘Is that bitch serious? She’s ready to give up her title just for a servant…? Come on, bitch, I will not fucking believe this. And… this idiot, did he fall for her lie?’ I mumbled inwardly. I really think that bitch must be trying to use my Aether… Wait, My?
I frowned at my choice of words and shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I looked at Aether, who still had a lovestruck expression, and my eyes twitched with irritation and an unrecognized pang of jealousy.
‘D-Did that bitch seduce him?’ I frowned, a deep crease forming between my brows. There had to be a possibility, right? Who knows, she might be a cunning manipulator hiding behind her soft facade… No, she must be a cunning bitch trying to take advantage of him and use him against me!!
That’s it!! I knew it!! A sly smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I said to Aether, “I-I think she might be lying to get you back…”
Aether frowned at me. It was the first time I had ever seen him frown at me… My heart suddenly ached, but I continued. I needed to tell him the truth, otherwise, he might be swayed by that cunning bitch.
“Listen to me, Aether, I think she’s trying to play with your emotions and use you agai—”
“Princess,” he interrupted with an emotionless voice that made me flinch.
He continued, “I am well aware that others might try to use me but… Aria, she is not!!” He said this with a firm expression as if she had become more important than me.
I felt a surge of annoyance seeing my servant siding with her. I bit my lips and clenched my fists. An intense mix of annoyance… anger….. and hatred slowly started to flood my heart.
“Oh! I see… What makes you think so?” I asked back, a hint of displeasure evident in my voice.
His face suddenly turned gentle as if he remembered something good.
‘Grrrrrr,’ I gritted my teeth subconsciously.
He then said with a shy expression…
‘Come on!! Don’t be shy every time, bastard!!’ I screamed inwardly but outwardly I calmly waited for his answer so that I could rectify him and set him on the straight path.
Yet,
“S-She kissed me,” he stammered, covering his face like a girl in shyness.
“W-What?” I asked, my tone breaking.
Aether continued, his shyness apparent, “T-Then she hugged me and said, ‘I am going to divorce Alaric and I will be a single bird… w-waiting for another bird.” He shyly circled the sand with his fingers.
“!!!” I couldn’t believe she was divorcing Alaric, the Arcane King!!
‘Is she fucking serious!!!’ I screamed inwardly.
‘Is she really going to divorce an Arcane King… just for a servant!!’ I thought, glancing at Aether, who was touching his lips as if he was remembering a kiss he had with her.
‘Grrrr,’ an unknown anger surged within me. I really wanted to vent my feelings on someone.
“But then… I remembered that… Princess,” he said, looking at me softly and gently, just like before, making my heart skip a beat.
He continued, “I told her I cannot leave my princess alone now… she needs my help, she wants to build a peaceful life for herself and her mother… and I want to be part of it… I really want to support my princess’s dream!!”
I forgot to breathe for a moment.
Something was rising….. in my heart.
I could feel it as my cheeks turned hot…
[+800 Affection]
[+900 Affection]
[+1000 Affection]
[+1000 Affection]
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