Chapter 265: Death is still scary!
“Where have you been?” Maelona asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance as she saw Aether entering the dining hall after being absent for most of the day.
“Hmm?” Aether’s surprise was evident as he noticed Maelona eating alone, “Mother-in-law, are you eating by yourself?” he asked, his concern quickly replacing his curiosity, “Are you alright?” he added, hurrying to her side with a look of worry etched on his face.
Maelona blinked, feeling a warm rush of emotion at his genuine concern.
She glanced at her palm where the tattoo itched, sensing the bond between them. Shaking her head, she smiled playfully, “Ara~ Are you worried about your mother-in-law~?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Seeing her actions, Aether gently smiled and said, “Yes, I am.” His sincere response startled Maelona for a second, calming herself, She motioned for him to sit and eat with her.
“Hmm?” As Aether took his first bite, his eyes widened in delight. The dish was unlike anything he had tasted in this place, bursting with flavour and warmth. “This is amazing,” he exclaimed between bites. “It’s my cooking. How is it?” Maelona asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Aether swallowed the delicious food and gave her a thumbs up, saying, “My mother-in-law is the best cook I’ve ever met!”
[+600 AP]
Maelona chuckled softly, her grin widening. “Of course, I am the best!”
Aether, noticing her slightly different actions, asked, “Where is Aria?”
“She is currently resting. Her body still hasn’t healed properly,” Malone explained. Before Aether could inquire further, she added, “But don’t worry, she already ate some of my food.”
Aether blinked, then nodded, continuing to eat with gusto, “Your cooking is incredible” he said between bites as if he were eating grandma’s food that was filled with love!
Maelona watched him silently, her heart warming at the sight of him enjoying her cooking. ‘He sure likes my food,’ she thought, her eyes drifting to his lips. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed by her thoughts.
[+700 AP]
Aether flinched slightly and blinked before noticing Maelona’s blush. He shook his head with a wry smile, thinking, ‘Let’s hope nothing happens.’
After finishing the meal, Maelona stood up to wash the dishes. “Hmm? What about the maids?” Aether asked, frowning. He was used to seeing the maids handle such tasks.
Maelona shrugged, “Since I cooked after a long time, I wanted to do the dishes myself,” she said, turning to the sink.
Aether frowned as he watched her, his eyes trailing over her back… ahem, He was looking at her healthy figure.
That’s all!!
He sighed inwardly, ‘I suppose death is still scary…’ He walked towards her and slowly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“H-Huh?” Maelona was surprised but didn’t push him away. She knew he meant no harm. Aether tightened his embrace and whispered gently in her ear, “I am here, Maelona… I won’t let you die… I promise.”
Trcckkk
The plate in her hand fell to the floor.
Maelona’s eyes widened, brimming with tears. Of course, any sane person would act differently after seeing their own death, especially when it seemed inevitable.
She was still hanging on the edge of life and death, her emotions in turmoil.
So, of course, she acted differently… and Aether understood. He had been in that situation himself.
“I… I… I don’t know wh–”
“Sssh,” Aether interrupted, placing his fingers gently on her lips. His expression was solemn, filled with unwavering determination, “No need to think about anything. I will take care of everything… Believe me!”
Maelona’s heart calmed a bit, even though she was still in turmoil. His resolute expression was enough to offer her a fragile sense of security. She gently wrapped her hands around him and mumbled, “L-Let’s stay like this… just for a while longer.”
“Hah… Of course, anything for my beloved mother-in-law,” Aether laughed softly, hugging her tightly and drawing comfort from the embrace.
[+700 AP]
After a minute or so, Maelona looked up at his handsome face, her thoughts drifting. A thought crossed her mind, one that she couldn’t keep to herself.
/My daughter found a wonderful man/
The telepathic message echoed in Aether’s mind, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.
She was using telepathy, which means….
His face turned awkward as he realized this was inevitable. He responded telepathically,
/Aria told you everything?/
/Yes/
Maelona replied, confirming she had a small talk with her daughter after she woke up.
/Everything?/
/….Yes/
Aether’s expression turned amused before he asked, “Then, are you fine with a slave like me?”
“….” Maelona didn’t answer immediately, just stared at him, her eyes searching his.
“???” Aether tilted his head in confusion.
Maelona slowly parted her lips and said gently, “My son-in-law… not a slave.”
Those words were enough for Aether to understand. He shook his head, recalling the similar response he got from Liora, though Liora had put it more bluntly, saying, “My future husband… not a slave!”
Aether was initially surprised by their acceptance. He never expected both Liora and Maelona to accept him, especially considering Maelona, who was prim and proper and followed the rules strictly.
Aether tightly hugged her and whispered, “Thank you. It means more than you know.”
“Hmm…” Maelona nodded, her eyes softening. She was about to joke about incidents she heard from her daughter how he tried to help Aria during their encounter but almost hurt her…. But then,
“Arh!”
Maelona groaned in pain as her eyes turned blood red, and her face slowly started to decay.
“Looks like the effect is wearing off,” Aether mumbled, checking her face with a concerned expression. ‘So the small bottle lasts for 12 to 14 hours,’ he thought before taking out another bottle, slightly bigger than before.
“This bab– ahem, I mean, this Yang Energy is double the amount, so let’s see how much longer it will work,” Aether said as he gently cupped her cheeks and carefully poured the liquid into her mouth, rubbing her chest to help her swallow.
[+700 AP]
Maelona blushed, feeling like he was treating her like a child. After drinking the liquid, she licked her lips. “Hmm… It tastes surprisingly sweet for medicine,” she mumbled thoughtfully.
Her red eyes gradually returned to their natural green, and her body once again regained its healthy appearance.
Aether awkwardly smiled at her words. As much as Maelona wanted to live, she was also a traditional woman who respected her rules and the bond with her husband. She would never allow such things to happen easily.
So, Aether needed to lie.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me what this medicine is?” Maelona asked curiously. She wanted to know, and if the recipe were easy, she wouldn’t need to burden Aether.
“W-Well…” Aether’s face turned awkward.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to—”
Aether interrupted, “It’s something that only I can make… with my own hands,” he explained, showing her his hands.
Maelona nodded, understanding that Aether was different, just like her daughter had told her. She had witnessed it herself…. Hell, she was the living witness to his actions!
Maelona gently caught his hands and slowly massaged them tenderly, “Thank you for your hard work, Aether. I can’t express how grateful I am.”
“…” Aether had an unexplainable expression. He felt both sad and guilty. ‘Tsk, what’s the point of feeling guilty every time?’ he cursed himself before grabbing Maelona’s hand and saying seriously, “We need to talk. There are some things you need to know.”
Though Maelona was taken aback, she nodded, seeing his serious face. “Alright, Aether. I’m listening.”
“I want you to…”
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