Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 625 Hehe...Thatʼs Empress for you

Chirp... Chirp...

The birdsʼ chirping echoed across the balcony, their song blending with the soft rustle of leaves as a gentle breeze passed through.

The sky was bright, clear, and serene, yet the calmness in the air seemed at odds with the tension between the two figures seated on the balcony.

”Looks like someoneʼs grown quite a bit of nerve lately... wouldnʼt you say?” Marisandraʼs voice was smooth but carried a sharp edge. She rested her chin on her knuckles, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes narrowing as she studied Aether.

He sat opposite her, sipping tea with an ease that only irritated her further.

Aether let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head with a teasing smile, ”Nerve? Me? I havenʼt grown anything, Empress. Same old Aether, just as you know me...” His tone was light, but his eyes gleamed with mischief.

Marisandraʼs lips twitched in irritation, ”Anyway...” Her voice lowered, adopting a more serious tone. ”Letʼs talk business. The Empires are on the brink of colliding, and you believe youʼve seen the Ebon Pillar of Eternal Rite stone here? In this Empire?”

Aether nodded, setting down his cup. ”Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. It was during a strange encounter... My childhood days.”

Marisandra leaned forward, eyes narrowing. ”A childhood? And you remember this from your past?” Her voice was laced with disbelief.

She hadnʼt been informed of him regaining his memories.

Was Celestia lying to her?

Aether hesitated, then nodded. ”The memories... they came back unexpectedly. After a near-death experience with a monster in the Pyra Empire, everything started resurfacing. If you donʼt believe me, you can ask Dora.” His tone was cautious, careful not to reveal too much. He knew bringing Celestia into this would complicate things.

Marisandra nodded in understanding. Since Celestia had left with Aqualina, it made sense she hadnʼt received a report about this. But then—

Marisandra arched a brow. ”Dora?” she repeated, frowning.

Aetherʼs lips curved into a warm smile, ”Itʼs my Masterʼs name. I call her that because, well... weʼve grown close. She absolutely loves it when I call her that,” he added with a chuckle, though his eyes flashed with amusement at the memory of Isadoraʼs furious reactions every time he dared use her name.

Marisandraʼs eyes widened slightly, ʼThat woman? Impossible!ʼ she thought. She was convinced Aether was lying, yet his genuine, almost genuine expression made her doubt herself.

Her lips twitched, as she quickly masked it with a snort, ”Whatever! So, you want me to track down this place and find the stone? And then what? Itʼs not like we can destroy it, can we?”

Aether shook his head solemnly, ”No. That thing is powerful enough to withstand a Sovereignʼs full strength. Destroying it isnʼt an option. And no, Iʼm not asking you to find it—Iʼll handle that part.”

Marisandra frowned, her fingers tapping against the armrest. ”Then what exactly do you want from me?”

Aether leaned in slightly, his tone turning grave, ”I need you to prepare. I believe there are specific conditions required to activate the Ebon stone, and itʼs protected by powerful, dangerous creatures. This isnʼt something we can underestimate.” as he moved his chair closer to her.

Marisandra nodded at his words, ignoring his subtle closeness. ”Alright, so we stop it before it activates?”

Aether shook his head slowly, ”I wish it were that simple. But no matter what we do, itʼs inevitable. Those stones will activate, whether through eternal force... or by the will of the gods.”

Marisandra contemplating those words... After a moment, she exhaled. ”Alright. So, what do you need me to do?”

”I need everyone should be ready for anything... Like the Army, Fully mobilized. Over the next few months, weʼll face challenges unlike anything before. The monsters here might be far more dangerous than anything weʼve encountered.” His eyes locked onto hers, deadly serious.

Marisandra studied him carefully. If he were just some reckless boy, she wouldʼve dismissed his warning. But she had seen too much to doubt him now. His strange powers, his unwavering resolve... He wasnʼt ordinary.

And now, he was an Emperor!

Suddenly, the tension broke as Aetherʼs grin returned. ”Anyway, letʼs talk about our previous conversation... So, Marisandra, can I take your hand, Empress?” His voice was light and playful, yet laced with something deeper.

Marisandraʼs lips twitched, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, ”Watch your mouth, brat. Iʼm not going to—”

”Still calling me a brat? After everything? Am I not a man in your eyes, Empress?” His tone was soft, but his gaze was intense as if silently pleading for recognition.

Marisandra froze, her words caught in her throat. She knew he was playing her, but something about the vulnerability in his eyes made her heart stutter... Like a wounded puppy, ʼDonʼt fall, Donʼt fall for it, Donʼt fall for it....!ʼ she repeated in her mind. Yet, with an annoyed snort, she looked away, trying to mask the warmth rising in her cheeks.

[+2000 AP]

!~Ding~!

[Survival rate: 88.8↓%]

Aetherʼs grin remained hidden beneath a carefully crafted mask of vulnerability. His eyes held that downtrodden look, and as he slid his chair a little closer, his movements were subtle but intentional.

He wasnʼt retreating.

He was closing the gap.

Marisandraʼs gaze on him was sharp and unreadable. He knew she saw it now—he was no longer beneath her, no longer a mere interest.

He had risen.

No longer just a slave, a boy, or some intriguing anomaly—he was a man.

A man who had climbed high enough to meet her as an equal. She could no longer brush off his intentions, pretending not to notice his persistence.

He wasnʼt backing down, and she knew it.

Any fool could see it: Aetherʼs pursuit wasnʼt idle. He had declared his intent long before he reached this height, but now, with strength and confidence, he stood firm.

Ignoring him now wouldnʼt just be avoidance—it would be a blatant insult. No woman should stall or dismiss a man who had fought and grown, who stood before her with unwavering resolve.

Accept or Reject... otherwise, it would be total disrespect to that person!

Marisandraʼs lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing as her thoughts raced. She was processing, and calculating. Aether watched her closely, his grin widening inside. He was close, so close to breaking through her defences.

ʼJust a little more...ʼ he thought, ready to push her to that final step. ”You know,” he started, his tone light, teasing, ”some women try to appo—”

”I heard my daughter kissed you.”

Her words landed like a hammer. The lighthearted tone in Aetherʼs voice vanished. He stilled, masking his reaction with a casual shrug, ”She kind of forced me—”

”And I heard she took you on a date.”

”Well... she wanted to—” His voice wavered slightly, and he cursed himself for it.

”And you two were fooling around at a movie theatre?”

”....” He blinked. How did she know about that? He hadnʼt even told anyone.

”And she took you to a restaurant, didnʼt she?”

”....” Aether shifted back slightly in his chair.

Marisandra with the same smile continued,

”And then, you both stayed outside the Academy for two days.”

”....Well, She wanted to stay awa--”

”And,” her voice was dangerously soft, ”I heard you two... slept together.”

”....”

Silence.

His chair creaked faintly as he stopped moving... as it already returned to its previous position.

”And.... She lost her Virginity” Her voice ice as cold.

He stared at her, his expression carefully neutral, but inside, his mind raced. How did she know? Telepathically, he reached out to Celestia. Your next read is at

/How the hell does she know all this?!/

/I swear, I didnʼt report anything to her!/ Celestiaʼs voice was panicked, defensive. /I would never risk that!/

Marisandra leaned forward, her eyes narrowing further. She studied his face, his calm exterior, but she could feel it. Beneath that mask... There was fear!

”Hehe...” Her lips curled into a sly smile. ”Whatʼs wrong, Aether? No witty comeback? No bold denial?”

His voice was steady when he finally spoke. ”What are you talking about? I couldnʼt respond because all of this sounds like baseless—”

”Taylor or... Should I say Celestia isnʼt my only spy,” she cut in, snapping her fingers. From the shadows emerged a figure.

Aetherʼs eyes widened slightly. It was the old man—the one who had driven the carriage during his date with Aqualina.... They travelled in this old manʼs carriage all the time they stayed outside of the Academy, ʼA spy? Him?ʼ

”You think I wouldnʼt notice?” Marisandraʼs voice was icy, her gaze unrelenting, ”After everything thatʼs happened, you really believed you could keep secrets from me?”

In truth, she hadnʼt placed another spy until after glimpsing Aetherʼs memories from the previous timeline. Once she saw danger and death... she wasnʼt taking chances. Unlike Celestia, who had the freedom to move as she pleased in the academy, this man had no such liberty.

He reported everything that happened outside of the Academy.

”You slept with my daughter,” Marisandra said, her voice icy, ”and now you dare to stand before me and ask for my hand? Do you take me for a fool?” With a dismissive wave, the old man melted back into the shadows.

Aether knew he was fucked up. Any chance of winning this seemed slim. Yet, he remained calm, his face unreadable. Then, with a steady nod, he confessed, ”Yeah... I slept with your daughter.”

In an instant, her hand shot out, wrapping around his throat with a vice-like grip. She lifted him effortlessly off the ground, her voice a dangerous growl.

”You dare admit that to my face? After playing with her heart?” Her grip tightened, and she spat the next words like venom. ”Fallen Princess!”

Celestia appeared, materializing under the force of Marisandraʼs call. She dropped to her knees, unable to resist the oppressive weight pressing down on her upon arriving,

”You.” Marisandraʼs gaze burned into Celestia. ”How long have you been betraying me? How long have you been playing your little games with him?”

Celestiaʼs fists clenched, her voice strained. ”N-No... I-I would never... betray you...”

Aetherʼs eyes flicked between Marisandra and Celestia.

He shouldʼve been panicking. The situation was spiralling out of control!

But instead, his expression remained oddly calm, even amused. As if he was thinking, ʼNah, everything will be fine.ʼ

Because he still had a final card to play. And one thing was clear—he wasnʼt done yet.

He knew by any chance one or another... she would find him!

Thatʼs why... He prepared something special!

ʼHehe...Thatʼs Empress for you~ʼ