Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1593: My lovely husband… I will protect you

They say once you grow familiar with dark coffee... the bitterness that once felt unbearable slowly fades.

More like the tongue starts to crave more bitterness... just to feel the dark coffee again.

The feeling... that quiet pull on the senses... becomes the measure of how deeply one has grown used to it.

And once that feeling reaches its peak, when no amount of bitterness can stir that same sensation again...

’The Feel’ won’t be the same anymore.

Even the strongest taste feels dull against a numbed tongue...

It becomes empty!

That is why... you should never, ever allow yourself to grow used to anything.

No matter what it may be... dark coffee, money, love, hate, relentless training, or even death itself.

He blinked as the warmth from this girl, who walks between death and life, hugged him and cried in his ear, saying... ’Death is scary!’

Her fingers curled into his clothes as if letting go would mean losing him forever, and for a brief moment, the world around them felt distant... blurred beneath the weight of her fear.

Seeing her like this, breaking apart in his arms, Aether found himself wondering... did he truly feel nothing when the thought of his own death crossed his mind?

Had he already stepped so far into that darkness that fear no longer reached him?

He couldn’t answer that.

But one truth stood unmoving within him... that path, no matter how cold or how lonely, was the only way to save them all.

The only way to protect those he loved from being swallowed by death... even if he had to walk straight into it himself.

Yet... as her trembling refused to stop, as her fragile breaths shuddered against him, the heart he had been hardening into an unbreakable wall... faltered.

Crack

A thin crack formed!

Aether parted his lips... he wanted to tell her he was fine, that everything would be alright, that she didn’t need to be afraid.

But no... those words never came.

After all... this woman, somehow, saw everything.

’Hey, Log... how did she know? Does she know everything?’ he asked inwardly.

No answer came.

But even without it, he already understood... this must be tied to the contract he shared with her.

A faint, almost helpless smile touched his lips.

He lifted his hand and gently patted her back.

”Silly girl...” he murmured softly.

”I am sorry.”

Because that was all he could offer her... an apology that held everything he could not say.

Nyx slowly lifted her face from his chest. Her eyes, still shimmering with tears, searched his skull-masked face, as if trying to see through it, to reach the man behind it.

”Why? Why are you sorry?” her voice trembled, ”Shouldn’t we be sorry for... for forgetting everything that happened to you... for every pain you carried alone... and for... only being a bur—”

His hand moved gently, lifting his mask just enough, his lips pressing softly against hers, silencing the word before it could fully form.

”I heard it somewhere...” he said quietly.

”A burden is something you carry against your will.”

His thumb rose, brushing gently against the corner of her eyes, wiping away the traces of her tears with a tenderness that.

”My love is not a burden. Not now... not ever... not in any future that awaits us.”

His hand shifted, resting against her cheek,

”I will happily carry ’My love’... willingly, proudly... no matter how many times it takes me to see the death.”

”H-Husband...” Nyx’s lips trembled as she bit down softly, her breath catching at the unwavering certainty in his eyes.

Aether’s smile softened.

”And don’t paint me as some kind of great, selfless man,” he continued, ”In truth... I am just a selfish man.”

”A man who wants to save everyone... who wants to stand together with everyone... even knowing each of you holds your own heart, your own love, your own world beyond me.”

He let out a quiet breath, shaking his head lightly, a faint smile returning as he remembered Delphine’s words.

”I am still nothing in front of the love each of you carries... a love that chose me despite everything... haha.”

His gaze returned to her,

”Our family stands together because every single one of you chose to sacrifice something precious.

That... is selfless love.”

”Compared to that... I am just a selfish man.”

Nyx stared into his unwavering eyes... he meant every single word.

She understood now... he wanted them to live a happy life, not because he had chosen them, but because they had chosen him, believed in him, entrusted everything they had to him without hesitation.

That belief... that quiet, unshaken trust... was what pushed him forward again and again, even when the path ahead demanded everything from him, even when it threatened to consume him entirely.

But even then... she didn’t care.

Because in her eyes, the one who had been suffering in silence, carrying everything without uttering a single word, without asking for anything in return... stood right before her.

Her husband.

She parted her lips, wanting to speak, to stop him, to argue, to cry, to hold him tighter... to say something, anything that could reach him.

But Aether cut her off,

”I am sorry... I cannot promise you.”

Her heart froze for a brief second, her breath hitching as the world around her seemed to dim, those words echoing louder than anything else.

Aether continued,

”I will do whatever it takes for everyone... even if it means facing death a million times...”

His fingers curled slightly,

”I will do it not because it is a burden... not because it is my duty... but because...”

”I am in love.”

Nyx’s vision blurred instantly, her fingers clutching tightly onto his shirt... as if she were pleading without words... don’t go that far... don’t disappear from me.

Aether smiled gently,

”But... I can promise you one thing.”

He crouched slightly, lowering himself to her level, staring into her teary eyes,

”I will never act before you all.”

Slowly, he raised his pinky finger toward her, a small, almost childish gesture... yet it carried a sincerity deeper than any grand oath.

”Will you help me recognise my emotions, my love?”

His voice softened further, almost fragile beneath its calm surface, revealing a side of him rarely seen.

”Will you help me protect them... for me?”

The skull mask slipped from his face and fell to the ground with a dull, hollow thud.

Then, without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee before her...

”Will you marry me?”

A dark, obsidian ring rested between his fingers.

Nyx froze.

For a moment, her thoughts scattered, her heart caught between confusion and disbelief, struggling to grasp the weight of what was happening.

Marry?

Hadn’t they already...?

But then... her gaze fell upon the ring.

And suddenly, memories surfaced... Delphine... the others... the same ring resting upon their fingers.

Without hesitation, without second thought, she nodded.

Her eyes remained locked onto his face.

Even though his face had been giving her heart attacks for the entire day, in this moment, he looked like a normal man in love, not handsome, not a ruler, not a power... just a normal man!

Just... hers.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as her voice trembled softly,

”I-If that’s what my husband wishes... then as his wife... it is my duty to fulfil his love...”

Her hand pressed gently against her chest, her fingers tightening slightly over her heart,

”I will protect every emotion of yours, my Aether... my lovely husband... I will protect you, no matter what comes.”

Her hands rose, cupping his cheeks softly.

Aether’s lips quivered faintly as he slid the ring onto her finger, sealing that silent promise between them.

Their foreheads leaned closer... breaths mingling, hearts beating in quiet harmony... and then their lips met once more, as if time itself had slowed just to witness them.

Behind his back, between his shoulders, a faint tattoo flickered to life... crimson and gold flames dancing for a brief moment before vanishing, like a fleeting pulse of something ancient awakening and fading.

Rustle... rustle...

A faint sound stirred in the background.

But neither of them noticed.

Nothing existed beyond the warmth they shared, beyond the quiet world they had created for themselves in that moment.

Time passed... stretching endlessly between heartbeats.

Until slowly, they parted, their eyes still locked together.

Suddenly, Nyx’s face flushed deep red, heat rushing to her cheeks as realisation struck her all at once.

Without warning, she shoved him back lightly before hurriedly picking up the skull mask and placing it back onto his face, her movements quick, almost flustered.

”T-Too muc—”

She turned her face away, unable to finish, her embarrassment spilling through every small gesture, every breath she took.

And then... she noticed.

The bench.

Empty?

The things they had brought... gone without a trace.

Flap~

A sudden gust of wind swept past them.

Both Aether and Nyx flinched, their heads snapping upward in instinctive reaction.

A winged figures soared above... harpies, its silhouette cutting through the sky, clutching their bags tightly as its laughter echoed mockingly through the air.

”Hahah... love? My ass!!!”

”Hahahah... loser!! Why don’t you suck each other’s dick! Hahaha!”

”Damn, so many things... today we got lucky!”

”Haha... all because of their so-called love...”

”I am telling you, they just want to fuck in the name of love... ahaha... just fuck already!”

Veins bulged across both Nyx and Aether’s foreheads as their gazes slowly shifted toward each other.

The next moment...

”I am so sorry! Awwweee!”

”W-We don’t steal anymore! Please leave us!”

”Arrh!!”

”Please don’t hurt me... N-No! Monsters... NOOOO!!!”

”DADDDDYYYY!!!”

The arrogant laughter shattered instantly... replaced by desperate and broken cries.

****

Aether and Nyx quietly walked down the street, their hands intertwined, shoulders brushing against each other...

”Are you sure you want to visit your previous house?”

Nyx nodded calmly, ”Since I am going to watch over the trading, it’s better to stay in a place I am familiar with.”

”But... isn’t it broken?” he frowned before adding, ”Also, Mary might have demolished it. After all, you are exiled, right?”

Nyx smiled faintly, a knowing curve touching her lips as she glanced at him.

”You still think of her that low... my husband. Once we reach there, you will understand.”

Aether frowned, shrugging his shoulders lightly.

He didn’t want her to be disappointed. Knowing that woman... who knew what she might have done just to spite them.

As he walked, something suddenly shifted.

His heart skipped a beat.

His nose scrunched faintly, his steps slowing for just a fraction of a second.

Two familiar sensations stirred within him at once.

The seal in his chest burned faintly... a subtle heat spreading beneath his skin.

And along with it... a strange connection?

Something he wasn’t even aware he had.

Calling him.

Then—

He turned his head.

To the right.

Across the street—

Wrrrrrrhhhh!

A loud mechanical roar tore through the moment as a massive vehicle, a heavy crane, rumbled past between him and the opposite side. Its towering bulk swallowed the entire view, blocking everything beyond it, its metal frame groaning as it moved.

”Husband?”

Nyx called out, her voice pulling him back.

”Hmm... nothing.” Aether shrugged lightly, forcing his gaze away as if nothing had happened.

Nyx smiled as she tightened her hold on his hand and gently dragged him forward.

”Come with me!”

They continued walking, their steps matching the slow, heavy movement of the crane beside them, its shadow stretching across the road.

Soon, Nyx and Aether arrived at her previous house and...

”It’s... still here?” Aether was surprised as his eyes took in the sight before him.

The house stood intact.

What’s more...

Orc guards stood stationed outside.

The moment they saw Nyx, they bowed their heads in unison and stepped aside, opening the gates without hesitation, as though this had always been their purpose.

Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly,

”Why are you guarding this place?”

One of the guards stepped forward slightly and answered with a respectful tone,

”It was Her Majesty’s order. Until Mrs. Nyx Shadowfall returns, we are not allowed to leave or allow anyone inside the gates.”

Aether raised his eyebrows, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

”Since when?”

”It has been a month,” another guard replied.

Aether’s expression shifted further, ’As soon as she left?’ the surprise deepening as his gaze slowly moved toward Nyx.

She met his look with a calm expression... one that clearly said, ’See?’

”Tsk.”

Aether clicked his tongue as a certain familiar, annoying face appeared in his mind.