"Hmm?" Blake looked at Aether with a quizzical expression, his gaze probing. "Is sothing wrong?"
"O-Oh, no... It's just that I didn't hear about this before," Aether replied awkwardly, feeling slightly doubtful.
"Yes, even I didn't know that the Empress was conducting a tournant for her daughter's engagent," Stella added, her brow furrowing with doubt as she processed the unexpected revelation.
"Well, it's not announced to the public. Only a select few mbers were called for the tournant.... It's a test for the person chosen for her daughter's hand," Blake explained, shedding light on the clandestine nature of the event.
"I see..." Stella nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the new information. anwhile, Aether couldn't help but stifle a laugh inwardly, 'You've really gotten yourself into sothing, Kai. Your future mother-in-law is quite the character!... hehe' he mused silently, struggling to suppress a grin.
"Those who win against the Empress's future son-in-law will receive 1000 gold coins and a job in the royal house," Blake continued, his voice tinged with excitent at the prospect.
"1000 gold coins?" Aether's curiosity was piqued as he tilted his head, contemplating the significance of such a sum. However, the gleam in Blake's eyes hinted at the wealth and security it could provide, sparking Aether's imagination.... Aether understood it might be enough for their entire life to live luxuriously.
"That's quite a substantial amount," Stella remarked, her surprise evident in her expression as she processed the implications of the reward.
But then, Blake's deanor turned somber as he muttered, "That's why we ca here to level up... but never in hell did we think we'd run into a Silver Star Monster."
A heavy silence descended upon them, filling the space with an air of tension.
Aether couldn't help but ponder, 'Two Silver Stars an... Mid-Level Aptitude with a Level 30 Monster, right?' He hesitated, wanting to ask about the monster's level, but the sombre expression on Blake's face dissuaded him from voicing his question.
After a few monts, Blake broke the silence with a query, "So, why are you guys here?"
'It seems like it's our ti to answer,' Aether thought to himself, but he remained silent, deferring to Stella to handle the situation.
"We are here to level up, but we sohow got lost in the woods and didn't know the way out," Stella said, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness as she tried to maintain her facade.
Aether observed Stella's attempt at deception with a mixture of taken back and frustration. 'Damn, girl, you really need to work on your lying skills,' he scread inwardly.
and it seed Blake had noticed sothing was amiss.
"I see..." Blake nodded, his expression growing more serious. Then, he posed a direct question that caught both Stella and Aether off guard. "So, do tell , why was that slave mark blinking red?"
Hearing Blake's question, Stella and Aether exchanged a quick, apprehensive glance before turning serious.
"It looks like soone has strayed away from their master?" Blake's frown deepened as his hand slowly moved towards his weapon, his suspicion evident.
Aether was about to interject, but before he could, Stella spoke up unexpectedly.
"Yes," she said, surprising Aether with her response.
Aether was taken aback, he had disbelieving eyes controlling his anger, and he cursed himself for placing trust in a stranger. Seeing Blake's hand inching towards his weapon, Aether prepared himself for the worst. However, Stella continued speaking, catching Aether off guard once again.
"Since we got separated from our group," Stella explained with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Separated?" Blake's expression softened slightly as he lowered his guard, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, we ca here with a group of four," Stella began, her voice carrying a weight of regret, "but we got separated when we stumbled upon a cliff and fell into the river. We lost contact with the rest of our party mbers and His Master was among them..." Her words echoed the pain of their predicant, emphasizing the gravity of their situation.
"I see... now" Blake nodded in understanding, his expression softening as he offered a reassuring smile to Aether as he lowered his guard.
Aether glanced at Stella, feeling a mix of relief and disbelief towards the girl who had just played with his life.
As Blake departed to attend to other areas, leaving them alone once more, a tense silence settled between Aether and Stella.
"..."
"..."
Aether glared at Stella, who seed determined not to et his gaze, as if suppressing a laugh that threatened to escape her lips.
"You really pulled so shit now..." Aether muttered, his tone heavy with frustration.
Hearing his words, Stella couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. She burst into giggles, unable to contain her amusent, "ppffft.... Hahaha... I an look at you...ahaha... you looked like you almost...ahahaha... shahah..
shit yourself...ahahahaha"
Aether clenched his fist and gave Stella's head a soft, playful tap. "You are not cute at all, little lady," he muttered in an annoyed tone. Despite her laughter, Aether found himself feeling irked by Stella's teasing. After all, he was a man in his previous life, approaching his thirties, and being teased by a teenage girl was more annoying than endearing.
"H-huh?" Stella's laughter ca to an abrupt halt as she felt the gentle tap on her head, her cheeks flushing a bright shade of red.
Aether tilted his head in confusion, unsure why Stella had suddenly stopped laughing.
Stella found herself unable to tear her gaze away from Aether's blue eyes, her blush deepening by the second. It felt as though she were staring at a rare and precious sight.
"C-Could you take y-y-your hand of ?" Stella stamred, her voice barely above a whisper, her embarrassnt evident in her flushed cheeks.
"O-Oh? Right," Aether responded promptly, withdrawing his hand. As he observed Stella's flushed face and shy deanour, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. 'It must be uncomfortable for her...' he thought, realizing the impact his actions had on her.
[ 1 Affection]
Aether's gaze softened as he recognized Stella's happiness at his respectful gesture. He made a ntal note to always be mindful of her boundaries.
However, Stella shot a few quick glances at Aether, her heart skipping a beat when she heard him call her 'cute.'
After an awkward silence, Stella mustered up the courage to speak. "I-If you don't have anyone, you c-c-can follow m-," she stamred, her face flushing so deeply it seed smoke might co out of her head.
Hearing her offer, Aether turned to look at Stella with an incredulous expression. "Are you serious?" he asked, his tone filled with disbelief.
Stella nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the flas dancing in the fire.
Aether paused for a mont, contemplating why this girl would suddenly extend such an invitation..... He recognized the danger in blindly letting a stranger, particularly a male. Acting as a Mature and responsible man, he reached out and gently grasped Stella's shoulder.
"W-Wha---" Stella's face turned even brighter red as Aether leaned in closer to her.
"Listen, girl," Aether interrupted firmly, his voice tinged with concern. "It's good to have a beautiful heart, but you shouldn't let a stranger follow you, especially a male. You might not know what kind of snake you are inviting into your room."
Stella took a mont to process Aether's words, her face burning with sha. "Y-You!!! What the hell are you talking about?" she exclaid, flustered and embarrassed by his warning.
"Of course, Sex--puffff!!" Before Aether could complete his sentence, Stella's fist t his face with a resounding thud, a mix of sha and anger fueling her blow.
"You jerk!!" Stella's voice echoed with indignation as she spun on her heels and stord away, her steps brisk and purposeful.
Aether stood there, montarily stunned by the unexpected assault. Rubbing his cheek where Stella's punch had landed, he couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and frustration. "What just happened?" he muttered to himself, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He had only been attempting to offer so well-intentioned Elder's advice, yet it seed to have backfired spectacularly.
"Though, it's not as painful as Selene's," Aether couldn't help but think back to the girl who had offered him a cookie, a faint smile tugging at his lips at the mory.
Pushing aside his thoughts, he decided to follow Stella. She was his best chance at avoiding trouble with others in this unfamiliar place.
User Comments
0 comments from readers