Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 399 Weird woman...

”Hmmm? I didnʼt expect you to bring a... friend, I suppose?” A woman in her early thirties, with an amused expression playing on her lips, asked as she watched her daughter, Penelope, walk in with a rugged-looking boy—Aether.

Her voice held a mix of curiosity and playful teasing.

Penelopeʼs cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she quickly averted her gaze, gently pulling Aether further into the warmth of the house. ”He got a little hurt, Mother,” she explained, her voice laced with concern as she shot a glance at Aetherʼs bruised face.

”Oh dear~” The womanʼs tone shifted to one of genuine worry as she approached Aether. Her sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on the bruises marring his face and the cuts on his knuckles.

She gently took his hand, inspecting the wounds with a motherʼs care. ”What happened, dear?” she asked, her voice softening as she looked into his eyes.

Aether hesitated, his gaze flickering to Penelope, who seemed slightly startled by her motherʼs directness. Finally, She stammered, ”W-Well, He... uh, fell down the stairs.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. Both she and Aether exchanged a look, and then turned their eyes to Penelope, who stood there, her face a deep shade of crimson.

She knew her mother wasnʼt buying the excuse. Without another word, Penelope hurried off to fetch the first aid kit.

They moved to the living room, where Aether sank into the plush sofa, still feeling the lingering tension in the air. The woman sat across from him, her intense gaze making him shift uncomfortably.

After a few moments of silence, Aether couldnʼt take it anymore. ”Is... is something wrong?”

The mother shook her head, her lips curling into a sad smile. ”No, nothingʼs wrong... I was just thinking how much time can change everything,” she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

The boy sitting before her was a far cry from the one she had once known. ”Youʼve changed so much... youʼre almost a different person now,” she added softly, her eyes studying his face with a mix of regret and sorrow.

Aether frowned.

The woman, sensing his discomfort, decided to shift the conversation. She began asking about his life—how he was doing, what he was up to these days. Aetherʼs answers were vague, almost dismissive, but it was enough for her. She could see through the cracks in his facade, reading between the lines, ʼHeʼs sufferingʼ she thought.

Just then, Penelope returned, cradling the first aid kit in her hands. She knelt beside Aether, her movements gentle as she tended to his wounds with the utmost care. Her mother watched her daughter with growing surprise, noting the tenderness in Penelopeʼs actions. ʼShe really cares about him... maybe loves him more than I thoughtʼ the mother mused, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

”Tsk, Iʼll get more tape. Donʼt move, okay?” Penelope said, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and concern as she quickly stood up, leaving before Aether could even protest that it wasnʼt necessary.

As soon as Penelope left the room, her mother leaned in slightly, ”She loves you, you know,” she stated plainly, her eyes locking onto Aetherʼs with a seriousness that made him pause.

Aether blinked, taken aback. ”She... she does?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

The woman chuckled softly, ”Haha... I donʼt think any girl would bring a boy to her home and care for his wounds with such tenderness.... if she didnʼt love him,” she replied, her voice gentle yet firm.

Aether blinked again, the realization slowly dawning on him, ”I... I guess I never really thought about it that way,” he admitted. He began to rise, intent on leaving, but the womanʼs next words stopped him in his tracks.

”At least let her finish treating your wounds before you reject her, dear. Thatʼs the least you can do to acknowledge her feelings and the effort sheʼs putting in,” the woman said with a small, sad smile, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and sadness.

Aether stared at her. Her gaze remained steady, silently urging him to sit back down. With a heavy sigh, Aether complied, sinking back onto the sofa.

The womanʼs smile softened, a hint of relief visible in her expression, ”You know, itʼs good to see that you still care about not hurting othersʼ feelings,” she remarked, her tone gentle and warm.

Aetherʼs heart suddenly skipped a beat when hear heard that heart soothing tone...

The woman continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, ”You know... for people like us... Well, Iʼm not exactly famous, but Iʼve been around the top circles enough to understand how they operate.” She leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with a mix of knowledge and sadness.

”Your mother and your previous father... they were both incredibly ambitious. They wanted to reach the top, to be the best at whatever they did... just like anyone else,” she said, her voice growing more somber. ”But staying at the top... well, thatʼs far more dangerous than reaching it in the first place.”

Aether frowned, ”So?” he asked, his tone cautious, unsure of where she was going with this.

The womanʼs smile returned, but this time it was tinged with a sadness that made Aetherʼs heart ache. He wondered why he felt this way—why her words were affecting him so deeply.

”Staying at the top comes with a heavy price. They need everything to be perfect... and I mean everything,” she explained.

Aetherʼs frown deepened, ”I see... since Iʼm not perfect—”

”No, dear... Itʼs not about whether youʼre perfect or not. Itʼs about them... itʼs about society and the system that demands perfection from those who are at the top,” she interrupted gently, her eyes softening with sympathy.

Aether snorted, a bitter laugh escaping him, ”Heh So, you all chose society over your own child?” he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and hurt.

The womanʼs face crumpled, ”Well... that depends on the person who—” she began, but Aether cut her off, his patience wearing thin.

”Whatʼs the point of talking about all this?” he asked, his tone sharp, his frustration evident.

The woman took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she met his eyes, ”What Iʼm trying to say is... please, just be yourself. You donʼt need to prove anything to anyone,” she implored, her voice soft and almost pleading. ”Youʼre enough as you are.”

Aether shrugged, ʼWhat does she knows?ʼ he thought... When suddenly the woman noticed a dark stain on his pants. Without a second thought, she moved quickly, kneeling before him as she placed a gentle hand on his knee.

”Ouch!” Aether winced, pain shooting through his leg. As he looked down, his eyes accidentally fell on the womanʼs cleavage.

His face flushed, and he quickly averted his gaze.

”Roll up your sleeve,” the woman instructed, her voice firm yet gentle.

Aether shook his head, ”Itʼs fine—”

”Please...” she interrupted, her eyes softening into a pleading expression that was impossible to resist, almost like a puppyʼs. Aetherʼs heart nearly skipped a beat at the sight.

ʼW-Whatʼs wrong with these people?!!ʼ Aether screamed inwardly, feeling trapped. With a resigned sigh, he rolled up his pant leg, revealing the bruises and cuts beneath.

The womanʼs touch was tender as she began to treat the wounds on his knee, her fingers moving with practiced ease.

The pain subsided slightly under her care... but Aetherʼs heart was racing for a different reason altogether.

”You know...”

”Hmm?” Aether glanced at her but quickly looked away, unsure why he felt so unnerved. Something about her presence made him feel vulnerable, and he wasnʼt sure he liked it.

”My daughter... she always talks about you, ever since that dance.”

”Huh?” Aether blinked in confusion.

The dance?

”Haha...” The woman laughed softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Aetherʼs spine, ”Yes, you might not know or even have seen her much after that, but every day after school, she would come home and talk about you—the things you did, the way you moved, your expressions. I know everything about you... Your likes, your favorite food, your weaknesses... everything.”

Aether frowned, unease creeping into his heart. ”What do you mean?” he asked, feeling a bit creeped out. He was sure he hadnʼt seen Penelope after that dance... or had he?

Her mother let out a strange, almost eerie laugh, ”Fu~Fu~Fu~,” and it sent another shiver down his spine. Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming more serious, almost stern. ”And lately, sheʼs been taking the local transport. I wonder why?”

Aether flinched, startled by her knowledge, ʼIʼve been using the local transport tooʼ he realized, thinking it was part of his rebellious phase, trying to distance himself from his usual routine.

The womanʼs voice took on a dangerous edge, ”Then, yesterday, I heard she was nearly molested by some jerk.”

Aetherʼs heart raced as he recalled the incident. He had intervened to save a girl from being molested... Could it have been Penelope? ʼIs she... stalking me?ʼ he thought, a cold chill running down his spine.

”Ouch!” He winced when the woman applied more pressure to his knee, her touch no longer as gentle.

”How dare a filthy creature lay a hand on my lovely daughter...” she muttered, her voice filled with venom. Then she looked up, her eyes locking onto Aetherʼs with a dangerous intensity. ”Donʼt worry, I made sure that filth never sees another day~”

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ʼGulpʼ

Aether swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. Her eyes were filled with a dangerous glint, a dark thing that sent a thrill through him.... one he wasnʼt sure he liked, but couldnʼt deny.

He felt something stir within him, an attraction to the danger she exuded.

ʼW-What the fuck...ʼ he thought, bewildered by his own reaction. He tried hard not to let his gaze drop again, struggling to keep his thoughts in check.

The tension in the room was thick, almost suffocating, and just as he was about to say something, Penelope reappeared.

”What are you two talking about?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she sensed the strange tension between Aether and her mother.

”Nothing much,” her mother replied with a smile, her expression completely different from the one she had just shown Aether. She gracefully stepped back, allowing her daughter to take over the care of Aetherʼs wounds.

ʼSomething is definitely wrong... I need to get out of hereʼ Aether thought, his mind racing as he waited for Penelope to finish treating his injuries. As soon as she was done, he decided to make his escape, but then—

”W-Would you mind having dinner here?” Penelope asked hesitantly, her voice soft and unsure. Her fingers fidgeted nervously, a shy smile tugging at her lips. The sight was undeniably endearing.

Any other man might have been swayed by her charm, but, ʼIs she really stalked me?ʼ he wondered before ”Nope!” he replied bluntly, already turning to leave when—

”Aether,” her motherʼs voice called out to him, stopping him in his tracks. Her eyes were wide, almost pleading, and her voice carried an amused lilt, ”I made your favorite dishes...”

Aetherʼs heart skipped a beat, recognizing the manipulation in her tone. He knew she was trying to play him, and yet... The memory of her earlier dangerous gaze lingered in his mind, ʼThat was her real face...ʼ he thought, feeling a strange mix of fear and fascination.

”Well... If youʼve already gone through the trouble, thereʼs no point in refusing,” he said reluctantly, turning back toward the dining room.

Her motherʼs grin widened in satisfaction, while Penelope pouted slightly, clearly disappointed by his initial refusal but quickly perking up at his agreement.