Chapter 79: Before the Empress
“Care to explain what happened?” Velc demanded, his voice carrying a menacing tone as he fixed his gaze on Aether.
After their arrival at the mansion, Velc and the others partook in a hearty meal before retiring to their chambers due to the long and exhausting carriage journey.
Having overheard the events of their Monster Hunting expedition, Velc summoned Aether to his office for an explanation.
“W-Well…” Aether began, sticking to the same lie about his supposed sleepwalking. However, his words were cut short by a sudden cough, blood-tinged with his breath, as he felt the immense pressure bearing down on him, forcing him to kneel.
“Cough, Cough”
However, his words were cut short by a sudden pressure, blood-tinged with his breath, as he felt the immense pressure bearing down on him, forcing him to kneel.
“Do you think I’m an idiot, boy? Since when did you have a sleepwalking problem?” Velc’s frown deepened as he increased the pressure, his doubt and anger palpable.
“I-I…” Aether struggled to speak, the pressure making it difficult to breathe. Despite his recent level-up, he keenly felt the vast gap between himself and Velc.
Aether’s eyes flickered to his Magic Affinity, contemplating whether to increase his magical might to resist the pressure. However, he hesitated, knowing that drawing attention to himself might alert Mortimer, that old bastard far stronger than Velc.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Delphine entered the room, her mere presence causing the oppressive pressure to dissipate instantly.
“What are you doing?” Delphine’s voice cut through the tension as she assessed the situation with a single glance, her expression unreadable.
“Tsk, I thought you were still speaking with Father,” Velc remarked with disdain, reclining back in his chair.
“Yes, I finished our conversation and briefed him on everything,” Delphine confirmed, her gaze shifting from Aether to Velc with a hint of amusement. “I never expected you to resort to threats against a child…. Velc, Some things never change.”
Velc’s expression twisted in frustration as he retorted, “So now you think you’re better than me, huh? He’s my son’s servant; I can treat him as I see fit!” Velc’s voice rose with anger.
Delphine nodded calmly a few times before a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes as she leaned forward, her tone chilling, “Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to, Little brother?”
“!!!” Velc flinched, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he struggled to maintain composure, “I was just asking why he tried to run away, that’s all,” he said, masking his true emotions behind a soft tone.
“Who said he ran away?” Delphine interjected, her voice calm but piercing.
“H-Huh? Everyone…” Velc’s response faltered as Delphine cut him off.
“I’m the one who threw him into the forest,” Delphine declared matter-of-factly, her statement causing Velc’s frown to deepen in confusion.
“What?” Velc’s shock was palpable. This was not what he had heard from others.
“What do you mean ‘What’?” Delphine shrugged indifferently, “You all asked me to increase his level, so I tossed him into the forest to let him gain experience.”
“Y-You…” Velc’s voice shook as he struggled to process this new information, “Do you realize that if anything happened to him, Kai would–”
“That’s your concern for making him Master of Aether” Delphine cut in sharply, “I’ve done what you all asked…” With that, she grabbed Aether’s arm and briskly exited the room, leaving an angered Velc behind.
“Are you alright?” Delphine asked Aether, concern evident in her eyes as she noticed him wiping blood from his lips.
“Yeah…” Aether nodded with a small smile, but internally seethed with anger, ‘I will kill him…’.
This marked the first time Aether entertained thoughts of killing. Until now, his retaliation had been limited to physical confrontations or overcoming challenges, but after enduring so much hardship…. Lots of shit, his mind was slowly adapting to the harsh realities of this world.
“Is that fine?” Aether suddenly asked, his expression clouded with worry about the lie they had told Velc.
Delphine glanced at him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips, “Are you concerned about me?”
“Yes, I am,” Aether replied honestly, his thoughts racing with the realization that her fate was closely tied to his survival rate, though he couldn’t understand why.
“….Hmm…” Delphine nodded with a serious expression before continuing, “I’ve informed my father the same story, so there’s no need to worry; even if they send an investigation team, they won’t find anything.”
“Hmm…” Aether simply nodded, feeling a bit reassured by her words.
“~SSS~”
The white snake peeked out from its hiding spot…. Delphine’s bosom cleavage.
“Hello, Snowflake,” Aether greeted the snake with a smile.
Since the snake didn’t like Aether’s ex’s name, Aether had tried to name it Boy, but it had rejected that name as well. Seeing its white snow-like skin, Aether settled on the name Snowflake.
Just as Aether was about to touch Snowflake, he heard Delphine’s voice.
“Brat?” Delphine’s smile was anything but friendly.
“…Haha… I’m sorry,” Aether apologized awkwardly, realizing he had almost touched her without thinking.
Despite his best efforts, Aether’s curiosity often got the better of him.
“But seriously, you could hide more than one snake in those knoc—Fuck!!” Aether’s words trailed off as he abruptly realized the implications of what he had just said. Without looking back, he immediately bolted away from Delphine, his face flushing with embarrassment.
“!!!” Delphine’s face flushed red once again, her frustration evident as she gritted her teeth. This was the third time Aether had verbally crossed the line with her.
She pushed Snowflake back into her cleavage like a button, and for some reason, the snake obediently complied. With determined steps, Delphine made her way in the direction of Aether’s so-called room, her expression a mix of annoyance and anger
Meanwhile, as Aether attempted to escape the MIL—ahem, demon, Velc hurriedly ran towards his father’s chambers.
“Father!” Velc burst into the ice room, his face a mask of anger and concern.
“I’m aware,” Mortimer replied calmly, as he knew what his son was going to talk about.
“And you didn’t punish her?” Velc’s voice carried a hint of accusation. It was clear to him that Delphine was the one responsible for everything, and if anything were to happen to Aether, Kai would bear the brunt of it.
“You know she does as she pleases, and there’s no point in punishing her when we were the ones seeking her assistance,” Mortimer explained, his voice tinged with weariness. After hearing the details from his daughter, he was shocked to learn that she had put Aether’s life in danger.
Moreover, when Delphine mentioned that she acted to prioritize her nephew and niece over a mere slave, Mortimer relented from punishment. For him, family reasons outweighed the need for retribution…. except when it came to his own useless son.
“Grrr…” Velc gritted his teeth in frustration before storming out of the room.
Mortimer sighed and let his son’s anger pass without further comment. His thoughts turned to Aether’s failed summoning attempt, “So, he couldn’t summon the card… ah,” he sighed again, regretting that he couldn’t witness Aether’s potential power before the Empress could intervene.
Fate, it seemed, had different plans for him.
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