Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 147: Date?

”How is it?” Selene asked with a bright smile as she picked up a cute pair of coupleʼs dresses. Her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement. Yeah, she didnʼt even hide her love anymore; her affection was becoming increasingly transparent.

”T-Thatʼs a coupleʼs dress, right?” Aether asked with a frown, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the clothing in Seleneʼs hands.

Selene blinked, looking down at the dress she had picked: two T-shirts, each emblazoned with half a heart that would form a complete one when placed together.

”N-No!!” Seleneʼs face turned a deep shade of red in embarrassment as she hurriedly put the dress back on the rack and picked up another, ”I-I-I just thought it was c-cute, thatʼs all,” she stammered, trying to cover her flushed cheeks.

ʼSigh... I guess she unconsciously picked it up. She might not be that pushy,ʼ Aether thought, letting out a quiet sigh.

After that little incident, Selene dragged Aether outside of the Academy campus. To Aetherʼs surprise, the guards allowed them to leave without asking any questions. ʼI suppose this whole city is under the Academyʼs control,ʼ he mused.

Selene and Lia then entered a womenʼs clothing shop. As they browsed, Aether felt increasingly out of place among the racks of dresses and blouses.

”How long are you going to ignore me, bastard?” Lia asked finally, standing right beside him with her arms crossed.

And Yeah... If Lia hadnʼt been standing there, he would have already bolted out of the shop, feeling the strange gazes from the other shoppers.

”Oh? You know me? I thought you didnʼt want to speak with me,” Aether said, genuinely surprised. He wasnʼt being rude; he seriously thought she might have forgotten him after that previous event.

Liaʼs lips twitched as she saw Aetherʼs genuine surprise. ”You really thought I wouldnʼt speak with you?” she asked incredulously.

”Well...” Aether nodded awkwardly. Veins bulged on Liaʼs forehead, but she calmed herself and asked, ”Why?”

Aether gave her a perfectly truthful answer: ”Noble.” She was noble, and he was a servant. Though their paths had crossed, it was only for a brief moment, so Aether believed she might return to her usual self, just like when he had initially met her.

Lia nodded silently, though she felt a little hurt that Aether judged her like that. She understood why he thought that way, though. If not for that incident, Lia herself knew she wouldnʼt be speaking with Aether now.

”Anyhow, donʼt ignore me...” Lia said with a stern face, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Aether smiled and nodded. With a cheeky grin, he said, ”Call me big bro.”

Liaʼs eyes twitched when she saw the annoying bastardʼs playful side emerge. Though her lips curled up slightly despite herself.

”Tsk”

[+10 Affection]

”Haha...” Aether chuckled softly and asked, ”How are you? Did you finally get over him, or do you still want to take him back?”

Lia smiled a little, her expression softening, ”I am fine... I am truly fine! Yes, I kind of got over him.”

”Good,” Aether nodded with a warm smile as he patted her head gently.

”Hey!!” Lia swatted his hand away and said, ”Donʼt treat me like a child!” Though her face was flushed with a mix of embarrassment and lingering affection.

[+10 Affection]

”Okay, okay...” Aether laughed and patted her head again, teasingly.

ʼThis infuriating man...!!!ʼ Lia thought, gritting her teeth. ”Donʼt get me wrong; I am not here for him,” she clarified, trying to maintain her composure.

”Oh?” Aether smiled, noticing her determined and proud face. ʼI suppose she really has gotten over him,ʼ he thought. But he couldnʼt resist teasing her a bit more, ”Then you came here for... me?”

Liaʼs eyes widened in shock. ”O-Of course not, you jerk!!”

[+10 Affection]

Aether offered a genuine smile had enough teasing he asked, ”Did you buy the clothes you wanted?”

”Yes,” Lia replied, her expression brightening as she showed him the bags.

Thatʼs quite a lot! he thought but didnʼt comment, having experienced many things with his ex-girlfriend that had taught him when to hold his tongue.

Lia glanced at Aether, who was staring at Selene with a thoughtful expression. Then she looked at Selene, who was still rummaging through the clothes with a happy, almost childlike enthusiasm.

At last, Lia couldnʼt control her curiosity any longer. ”She loves you, doesnʼt she?” she asked softly.

”....” Aether didnʼt answer immediately; he simply glanced at Lia for a moment, his expression unreadable.

”Sigh... So, you are not that dense,” Lia nodded and continued, ”I just want to know... is she the one you talked about before? Is she trying to get back to you now after doing those things?” Lia was aware of his love story and his mention of status before, so she could already conclude it was all about Selene and him.

ʼAh.... Fuck!ʼ Aether mumbled inwardly. He had told that story to keep her from breaking down, yet it had come back to bite him.

If he said yes, things might get complicated, and it could even break their friendship if she mistook it that Selene left him for status.

”...No, she isnʼt,” Aether said with a straight face.

Lia breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She had almost thought Selene was just like her brother. Thank goodness she hadnʼt asked her directly..... Then it begged the question.

”Who?... Who else would it be?” Lia asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity like a mischievous little sisterʼs.

Aether wanted to avoid delving deeper into this topic. Just then, Selene arrived at the scene, inadvertently rescuing him.

”Ether, how about this?” she asked, holding up a fluffy pink dress.

”Itʼs good,” Aether nodded with a smile. Soon, they picked up what they wanted and arranged for them to be delivered to the Academy.

Lia and Aether decided to leave, but then Selene pulled Aether into a menʼs clothing store.

”S-Sel?” Aether was shocked when he saw Selene picking out every fancy dress. He didnʼt have a single penny on him.

”Letʼs buy you a handsome and sex—ahem—good dress,” Selene said as she picked a lot of clothes, her face slightly flushed.

ʼShe has a good sense of selection...ʼ Aether thought, nodding as he noticed her choices were not only trendy and fancy but also perfectly to his taste.

Aether picked up a shirt and looked at the price tag. His heart almost leapt out of his chest.

”2000ˀ”

Here they used ʼZenithʼ as currency notes, which was almost similar to the dollar, though there wasnʼt any penny or cent. Zenith was denoted by ʼˀʼ or what they called ʼZʼ.

Anyhow,

ʼA fucking 2000$ for a single shirt!!ʼ Aether thought, practically screaming internally. He could literally live off that money for an entire month without worrying about getting a job.

Seeing Aether staring at the price tag in shock, Selene smiled and patted his back reassuringly. ”Donʼt worry about the money... as long as you are happy, money doesnʼt matter.”

Suddenly, in Aetherʼs eyes, Selene looked like an angel. He even rubbed his eyes, but the angelic vision remained, still smiling at him.

”My angel...” Aether mumbled, causing Selene to blush deeply. ”I-I am not, i-idiot!”

[+4000 Affection]

[Remaining AP:27225 ]

Still, Aether was a little hesitant. It wasnʼt about her buying him something; rather, it was the money itself that troubled him.

Whose money? Velcʼs? If it was, he would rather not accept it.

Sensing the reluctance in Aetherʼs eyes, Selene frowned for a second, then smiled as she understood. ”Donʼt worry... Thatʼs my hard-earned money,” she explained softly.

”....” Aether looked at her with a surprised expression. Selene winked at him with a shy smile.

ʼBa-Dumpʼ

Aether clutched his heart, feeling it pound in his chest, ʼS-She is trying to rizz me... isnʼt she?ʼ he thought, feeling both flustered and endeared by her efforts.

But their day wasnʼt over yet. After their visit to the clothing store, even Lia picked out some clothes for Aether. Despite his best attempts to stop her, she was insistent, saying she was just repaying a favour she owed him.

”If you want to repay me, then call me big brother!” Aether said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he teased her.

”Hell no, brat!” Lia shot back instantly, not missing a beat.

Aetherʼs lips twitched at her calling him ʼbratʼ again. He rubbed his fingers together in mock irritation. ”I told you not to call me brat,” he said, his tone playful yet tinged with mock seriousness.

”... Brat!” Lia repeated with a smirk, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.

Aetherʼs eye twitched in annoyance. Without hesitation, he reached out and pinched her cheeks hard enough that Lia yelped in protest. ”If you dare to say those words again...” Aetherʼs smile was anything but friendly, and Lia gulped, wincing in pain.

Selene, who was at the counter paying for their purchases, noticed the sudden closeness between Aether and Lia. Her expression darkened, and she clenched her fists, jealousy surging through her as she watched Aether pinching Liaʼs cheeks.

Suddenly, Lia flinched when she felt two deadly eyes staring at her. She immediately pushed Aether away and saw Selene talking to the person at the counter.

ʼM-Maybe itʼs my imagination,ʼ she thought, trying to dismiss the feeling.