Aurelia Scarlet’s POV
The last thing I remembered was darkness. In that murky void, I saw a strange figure—a distorted version of Leon, twisted as if transformed into a child with massive fangs protruding awkwardly from his small frame. He looked like he could barely stand.
“Y-You…” I managed to whisper, but my strength was fading fast. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw someone strike down that weird child Leon.
“A-Aether…” I mumbled as I caught a glimpse of his familiar blue eyes. He gave a soft, reassuring smile… but I felt hollow for some reason, and everything went black.
…
…
“Wakey, wakey~”
A gentle voice pulled me from the depths. My eyes fluttered open, vision blurred, as I tried to make out the figure hovering nearby. I rubbed my eyes, and finally, everything came into focus.
“A… Aether?” I muttered.
“Yup!” he replied with that cheeky smile I knew so well, “The one and only~”
A soft chuckle escaped me. Slowly, I pushed myself up from the bed. “Where am I? What happened?” The fog in my mind began to clear, and a sudden urgency filled me. We were still in enemy territory, and my instincts kicked in.
I attempted to get out of bed, “Aether, we need to leave this place imme—”
But Aether placed a hand on my shoulder, gently pressing me back onto the bed. “Don’t worry, everything’s fine,” he said with a calm confidence that only frustrated me.
“Fine?” I stared at him, incredulous.
What in the world was he talking about?
Did he even realize we were still trapped in the Dragon Emperor’s territory?
That monstrous tyrant could have us killed with a mere flick of his wrist, and yet here was Aether, telling me—
“It’s fine,” he repeated, this time with a wink, “Victor’s taking care of it. Just trust him.”
“Victor?” The name left a bitter taste in my mouth. My face twisted in disgust, “That backstabbing bastard—”
“Whatever you think you saw, it wasn’t real,” Aether interrupted, holding my gaze. “It was all part of Victor’s plan. I was just playing my part, and now it’s his turn.”
His words shocked me… not because of some elaborate plan or covert operation, but because… Aether had endured torture for it. My mind raced, piecing together the implications, and the fury within me boiled over.
“What the…?” Without thinking, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him close, anger flaring in my eyes, “Why did you go through that torture, Aether? Why?!” My voice cracked as the emotions I’d been bottling up burst free. “Are you insane? Do you have any idea what that inhumane treatment did to you?! How could you put yourself through that?” Even I felt pain watching him suffer!!
As I shouted, tears I hadn’t realized I’d been holding back spilled down my cheeks. I remembered every wound, every bruise, every moment of suffering he’d endured—all because of some plan. The flood of anger, pain, and relief was overwhelming.
“Was that plan so important? ha?” I shouted.
Aether watched me, completely silent. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t try to quiet me or push me away. He simply let me pour everything out, waiting as my tirade gradually weakened, my voice growing hoarse.
Finally, I had no more words, just a dull ache in my throat. I slumped, breathless, feeling utterly drained.
Aether reached up, brushing away a tear with a gentleness that surprised me, “Feel better now?” His voice was soft, his gaze tender in a way that made my heart skip a beat. Embarrassed, I looked away but gave a small nod.
Aether gave me a faint smile, tinged with awkwardness, “I’m sorry…”
I scoffed, wiping my face, “Sorry? What on hell do you have to be sorry for?” with annoyance and answer.
Why was he sorry? He hadn’t done anything wrong. It was all Victor’s doing—that scheming, manipulative bastard with his absurd plan.
But Aether’s expression turned soft and sad, “For making you worry… for putting you through that.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically shy.
I felt my cheeks flush. “Well, what else was I supposed to do? Let my friend suffer? Of course, I had to come after you.” I tried to keep my tone light, brushing it off with a smile. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the image of Aether enduring that pain alone.
Aether chuckled softly, his eyes meeting mine, “Friend… ah?” He mumbled quietly but that was enough for me to understand.
His words hung in the air, the implication clear. My heart pounded as I thought back to that impulsive kiss!
“I… I’m sorry, Aether,” I stammered, feeling uncharacteristically flustered. “About that… the kiss… It was just an impulse, okay? I was… you know, kind of out of it, and drunk…” I let out an awkward laugh, hoping he’d dismiss it as easily as I tried to.
After Kai, Aether was only my boy… friend, I didn’t want to have an awkward relationship between us especially knowing he was with Selene and Ar–Wait!
But then something clicked in my mind, and I froze. I looked at him, dread pooling in my stomach, “Wait. Are you… are you with Selene and Aria?”
Aether didn’t even blink. There was no shock, no hesitation, just a calm acceptance that made my stomach twist.
He gave a slight shrug as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “Yes. I love them both,” he replied simply, his tone even.
For a moment, I couldn’t speak.
My heart twisted painfully as if something deep inside me had shattered. “I-Is that so…” I mumbled, my gaze darting everywhere except at him, “D-Do they know, or… are you che—”
“They know.” His voice was steady, his face serious.
“Oh… I-I see…” I murmured, sinking back onto the bed. I couldn’t quite place what I felt. Sadness, yes, but also… an odd relief? My thoughts were a tangled mess, impossible to unravel.
Aether’s eyes softened as he watched me, and for a brief moment, he reached out as if to hold my hand. But I instinctively pulled back, and he hesitated, a faint smile on his lips. “All I can say is… don’t live with regrets.” He turned to leave, but I grasped his sleeve, stopping him.
“Regret?” I asked, a frown forming on my face. “Why do both you and Victor keep saying that? What should I regret? Why should I regret?” Frustration bubbled within me; I couldn’t understand any of it.
Aether nodded knowingly, “Because You are like an open book, Lia….. I can see it, plain as day.” He gestured to the mirror, and reluctantly, I turned to look.
I turned and caught my reflection.
Shock rippled through me as I truly looked at my own expression—hurt, longing as if I wanted something desperately but was too afraid to ask.
There was a pain there, a raw ache that I couldn’t hide, and a glimmer of… regret?
It wanted something but it couldn’t ask for it!
That expression was like I was hurting myself more and more with pain that I could not bear.
I lowered my head, feeling my lips tremble as the truth welled up inside me…. Because deep down… I knew…. I knew…
“I… damn well know!” I shouted, voice trembling, “I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU!” My chest tightened as I slammed a fist against my heart, which pounded so wildly whenever Aether was near.
“Of course, I know these stupid feelings!” My voice broke. “B-But… I’m scared… I’m terrified that I’ll be hurt again.” The tears came, pouring down like an unending storm. The fear, the pain of what happened with Kai… it haunted me, an endless shadow.
I covered my face with trembling hands, sobbing. “I… I’m so sorry… sob, sniff… I just can’t shake these fears…”
I had tried to ignore these feelings, pretended they were just friendship, nothing more.
But deep down, I’d known.
The ribbon Aether gave me—I cherished it more than anything, guarding it like some precious treasure… because I was falling all over again…. And that was terrifying!!
Knowing that my feelings would never be reciprocated, knowing that he’d only ever see me as a sister— it was a nightmare I couldn’t bear to relive!!!!
And yet…
When I kissed him that day, it felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders, like he would finally see me as more than just a sister. That kiss replayed in my mind over and over; That night, I hadn’t slept, reliving the kiss, replaying the look of surprise on his face over and over…. the thrill it had sent through me.
It was beautiful…. So beautiful, and…. so bittersweet!!
Regret? No… I didn’t regret a single moment.
As silence settled between us, I slowly lifted my head, afraid he might have left. But he was still there, grinning at me with an amused sparkle in his eyes.
“W-What?” I stammered, my cheeks burning.
His grin grew wider as he reached over and pinched my cheeks playfully, “Look at you, falling for me.” He sighed dramatically. “Tsk, tsk… I mean, I get it—I’m incredibly handsome and all, but come on… It’s tough being me, you know? Too many girls, not enough hands to fend them all off.”
His tone was so playfully arrogant that it made my lips twitch, ‘Here I am pouring my heart out, and this… this…’ I gritted my teeth, but a part of me felt relieved that he hadn’t changed, that he was still the same infuriating Aether.
Then his expression softened, the playfulness vanishing. “Lia… if that’s truly how you feel about me…” He extended his hand, his face now serious. “Then take my hand. But, understand this—my life isn’t simple. It’s… complicated” He hesitated before continuing, “You won’t be the only one in my life. So, if you choose this, choose it carefully. Because, as much as I’d love to pretend otherwise…” His face turned awkward,
“I’m not your only option. Don’t think that just because I’m here, I’m the only… fish in the sea.” He gave a small, almost regretful smile.
