"You want to give a speech?" Aether blinked, visibly caught off guard by Sera’s words, his voice laced with disbelief.
Sera gave a small nod as she settled comfortably on his lap, her body moulding against his as though it belonged there.
She held a neatly folded sheet of paper in her hand—sothing she had worked on with careful thought and deep consideration, "Yes. The people are getting restless, Aether. The main temple has collapsed, and the Mother’s statue is broken... their symbol of hope is gone.
Even though they believe in you, they can’t help but feel abandoned. Their faith is shaken. I thought maybe... if you gave them a speech, sothing from the heart, it could restore their confidence."
Aether exhaled slowly, processing her words. One hand instinctively settled around her waist, gently gripping her soft hips, while his other hand accepted the paper. His eyes scanned the words she had written for him, muttering a few lines under his breath. "In the na of Mother... Mother’s blessing... Mother... Mother..." He glanced up at her, uncertainty swirling in his gaze.
Sera’s cheeks tinted with a soft blush as she t his eyes. "Co on. You are their Archpriest. For them, you are the closest thing to Mother now."
Aether sighed, leaning back a bit, his expression conflicted. He stared back down at the sheet again, his voice heavy. "I just... I don’t think I’m the right one to say these things." His eyes flicked up to hers.
Sera’s lips pressed into a thin line as she reached up and brushed a lock of his hair behind his ear. "You have to do this, Aether. You’re no longer just you... You’re their hope now. This is your first speech as the Archpriest of this Empire. Your voice carries weight. You have to be strong for them"
Aether bit his bottom lip, his jaw tightening. After a mont, he drew in a deep breath and gave a small, reluctant nod. "Fine..."
Sera smiled warmly and leaned forward to kiss his lips—tender, grateful, and filled with a quiet kind of intimacy. "Thank you~" she whispered gently.
Aether chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting as he set the paper aside. He held her a little tighter, his arms wrapping securely around her waist. "So... anything else I should know~?"
Sera puffed her cheeks slightly, "Of course! You forgot sothing important!" she said, eyes narrowing slightly.
Aether blinked, confused. "What did I forget?" He frowned, genuinely trying to recall, but nothing ca to mind.
Her pout deepened as she looked away. "Hmph. Looks like I’m not even important enough to be marked by you..." Her voice trembled with a soft undertone of hurt, almost as if she hadn’t ant to let that vulnerability slip out.
His heart dropped. Her words struck sothing deep in him.
"You an... the Seal?" Aether asked.
Sera gave a short nod, her brows furrowed, clearly upset.
How could everyone else have already shared such a bond with him, and not her?
Wasn’t she the closest to him?
She clenched her fists on his chest. The frustration was obvious in her eyes.
Aether’s expression shifted—guilt, conflict, and a trace of fear danced in his eyes. He gently rubbed her forehead, his thumb brushing her skin as if trying to soothe her storm. "Yeah... about that. It’s not that I forgot... it’s just—" his voice cracked for a second before turning serious,
"The Seal... it binds souls together forever, Sera. It’s not just a symbol, it’s eternal. I used to feel honoured, even blessed, that soone would want to be bound to forever. But lately, I keep wondering... am I forcing that connection on them? Are they really choosing it freely? Or just accepting it out of love... or out of fear of losing to soone else?"
Sera’s eyes widened at his words, and without hesitation, she flicked his nose, her face scrunching into a scowl.
"Ow!" Aether winced, rubbing the spot with a sheepish look.
"You’re such a dumbass sotis," she muttered. "You think too much. I get it—you’re worried, you’re being cautious. But listen to , Aether." She took his face in her hands, forcing him to et her eyes.
"I won’t speak for others, but I’ll speak for myself. I don’t agree to be bound to soone forever just because I’m emotional or afraid. Even if I were forced to marry you, I wouldn’t accept the Seal unless I loved you with everything I had. I know what I’m getting into. I know the aning behind it. So stop overthinking and just do it already!" Her hands slamd lightly against his chest as she pouted again, though her eyes shimred with both affection and frustration.
Aether stared at her for a mont, before he chuckled lowly and leaned in to kiss her lips again—slow, warm, full of emotion. "Yeah... maybe I’ve been overthinking lately," he whispered.
"But before we get to that..." He smirked, his voice dropping a notch as his hand slid down to cup her ass. "...Anything else?"
Sera giggled, her mood shifting in an instant from serious to sensual. "Well~ we could do sothing else too~" she purred as her fingers slowly undid the clasp of her robe. The silky fabric slid down her shoulders, revealing the alluring swell of her breasts—round, full, pushed up behind a lacy white bra that barely contained them.
Aether’s eyes darkened with desire as he leaned into her, burying his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet, arousing scent. "Hmm... you sll different today... like flowers mixed with sothing sinful."
Sera winked, her voice low and teasing. "What? Just sniffing got you hard already? Bad boy~" she whispered, grinding her hips against his lap, feeling the growing bulge beneath her.
"You seductress..." Aether growled playfully, his hands sliding up and down her curves—her soft waist, the swell of her hips, the roundness of her thighs. "You know exactly what you’re doing to ."
With a mischievous grin, he tackled her onto the cushions, and within monts, the room was filled with gasps, breathy moans, the rustle of clothing, and the wet sounds of their bodies connecting—hot, needy, and unrestrained.
*****
The Next Morning,
In the shelter, the people who had gathered wore anxious and slightly panicked expressions.
Today, they would find out what was going to happen to their Empire.
"I hope my house didn’t get destroyed..."
"Mother should protect us, right?"
"Hey, where is the Apostle?"
"The children are scared now..."
Worried voices and hushed murmurs filled the air, echoing off the walls.
Standing before them on the podium were Helena and the Archpriestess.
The Archpriestess stood tall, her posture calm and commanding. Her voice, clear and composed, carried to every corner of the shelter as she began,
"Please remain calm."
Imdiately, the crowd quieted down, all eyes turning to her.
The Archpriestess gave a small nod and continued, "There is no need to panic. Everything has been arranged with utmost care. The dical team and the shelter departnt are on high alert, prepared for any ergencies. So please, stay here peacefully without causing any unrest." She paused and glanced at Helena.
Helena stepped forward with a frown and addressed the crowd, "Due to certain complications, the Apostle is currently outside the Empire."
With that, she stepped back.
The Archpriestess resud, "But don’t worry. We are all here. No matter what cos, we will face it together. This is our Empire, and it is our responsibility to protect it."
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Slowly, one by one, the people lowered their heads in solemn understanding. They trusted her. They trusted the Archpriestess.
The Archpriestess offered a soft smile. "Thank you for your cooperation. And... one more thing." She motioned toward the side of the podium.
"All of this—the shelter, the care, the organization—this was only possible because of one person. The one who got down on his knees and begged for you all. The one who persuaded ... The one chosen by the very Mother Goddess herself. Let us welco...
Our First Archpriest—Aether!"
Step... Step...
The sound of slow, steady footsteps echoed across the quiet shelter as every pair of eyes turned toward the figure walking forward.
A man dressed in pure white robes adorned with golden embroidery, delicate feathered patterns etched into the fabric, approached the podium. His expression was serene and warm, carrying a gentle grace that felt divine yet distant—like soone you could see, but never truly touch.
His black hair swayed slightly in the still air, and his ice-blue eyes shimred with innocence and quiet strength.
For a mont, no one breathed. They didn’t understand why, but sothing about him felt... familiar. Deeply familiar. Like a forgotten dream returning in full clarity.
"Good morning, everyone," Aether’s gentle voice rang out, soft but powerful.
"My na is Aether... Archpriest Aether."
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