Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 790: An Happy Ending?

After Drakhairʼs sworn loyalty, Aether was overjoyed... and to top it off, he even got a title!

ʼDoes a title give me a boost or something?ʼ Aether asked curiously.

[Negative! A title is just a title that you receive when it is recognized.]

ʼOh...ʼ Aether nodded in understanding, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his face. He had been expecting at least some kind of enhancement.

As he reached his room and pushed the door open, his expression shifted instantly.

The air was thick... heavy... tense. A silent yet suffocating tension lingered in the room.

His eyes landed on Raven, who stood with arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked onto Sandra. Sandra, in contrast, sat huddled on the bed, her knees drawn up tightly, her face hidden beneath a veil of purple hair.

Aether glanced between them, his brows furrowing in wonder.

Thalia, standing off to the side, sighed in relief the moment she saw him. ”Aether, you need to stop this idiot before she runs her mouth any further!” she blurted out, her voice carrying an almost desperate urgency.

Raven snorted, unfazed. Shrugging casually, she remarked, ”I just spoke the truth, thatʼs all.”

Then, as if washing her hands of the situation, she turned her focus onto Aether.

With a smile, she strode towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Pressing her body against his, she whispered, her lips brushing against his ear, ”You can talk to her,” her voice carrying a hint of amusement... and maybe jealousy? To make it even clearer, she playfully nibbled at his neck before stepping back, her fingers lingering for a moment before she slowly walked away.

Aether blinked, watching her retreating form. His gaze lowered slightly, and an amused smirk appeared on his lips.

ʼSheʼs really cute when sheʼs jealous.ʼ

When he noticed her hips swaying more than usual, her movements exaggerated, as if silently tempting him to chase after her. His quiet chuckle must have been louder than he thought, because Raven suddenly stiffened before picking up her pace and disappearing out the door, her ears flushed red.

Thalia, watching the whole exchange, snorted. ”Unbelievable,” she muttered. She was about to make a sarcastic remark, but before she could, her mother grabbed her wrist and started dragging her away.

”Come on, letʼs leave them alone,” her mother said firmly.

”W-Wait! I havenʼt even finished talking—!”

Thud!

The door slammed shut, leaving only Aether and Sandra alone in the room.

Aether let out a slow breath before stepping toward the bed. ”Well...” he murmured, his voice softer now. As he neared her, his fingers unconsciously reached out, drawn to her long, silky purple hair.

”Donʼt touch it.”

Her cold, indifferent voice sliced through the air, sharp and immediate.

Aetherʼs hand hovered for a brief second, but instead of pulling away, he continued, his fingers moving forward until they gently brushed against her strands... This time, she didnʼt say anything.

He didnʼt push her, didnʼt force her to talk. Instead, he simply ran his fingers through her soft hair, ruffling it lightly before whispering, ”Are you angry?”

”...”

Aether chuckled weakly at her silence.

If he wanted to, he could have used Aqualinaʼs escape as leverage to force a conversation out of her. But now, that idea didnʼt sit right with him.

He didnʼt want her to talk to him out of obligation, gratitude, or guilt. He wanted her to speak because she wanted to.

Aetherʼs brows suddenly furrowed as a scent reached his nose. His nostrils flared slightly as he leaned in closer.

”Sniff, sniff...”

Sandraʼs body tensed, a subtle tremor running through her.

Aether smiled. ”What kind of bath do you take? You smell so good~ sniffff~” His voice was playful, teasing, but there was truth in his words. Her scent was completely different from Aqualinaʼs... unique in its own way.

He chuckled to himself, mumbling, ”Maybe I should use it on m—”

”On your bitches?” Sandra suddenly snapped, her voice sharp and laced with bitterness.

Her head jerked up, revealing her face—flushed, her deep red eyes burning with emotion, unshed tears clinging to the edges.

Aetherʼs heart skipped a beat.

Without hesitation, his fingers moved, brushing against the corner of her teary eyes, wiping at the moisture before it could fall.

She didnʼt stop him. She didnʼt push him away. But even as he touched her, she continued to glare at him, her expression torn between anger and something else.

”On me,” he corrected, his voice gentle yet firm. ”I was talking about me.”

Sandra snorted, her glare still intense as she yanked his hand away. Turning her face toward the window, she clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding together in frustration.

Aether weakly smiled. He wasnʼt entirely sure what had transpired between them, but one thing he was certain of—Raven wouldnʼt have hurt Sandra, not in any way.

He knew her too well. She could be sharp-tongued and brutally honest, but she wasnʼt cruel.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Sandra finally muttered, her voice laced with frustration, ”So Iʼm the one in the wrong here? Even after everything Iʼve done for you?”

”See, you need to—”

”Itʼs not like I wanted to bring up everything I did for you,” she cut him off, her tone bitter and raw. ”Thatʼs not who I am… I donʼt throw my sacrifices in someoneʼs face. Yet that bit—” She gritted her teeth, her fingers tightening into fists, as Ravenʼs words continued to echo in her mind, fueling her anger.

Aether sighed and shook his head, ”Whether you say it or not… Iʼm grateful. Without your help, I wouldnʼt even be here right now. So as a person, I genuinely appreciate—”

”Then mind telling me why the fuck your bitch is saying I betrayed you? Huh?” Sandra snapped, whipping her head toward him, her furious eyes boring into him like daggers.

Aetherʼs expression darkened as his brows furrowed, ”Sandra… watch your words.”

Sandra stared at him for a long moment, then scoffed, her lips twisting in bitterness.

”Of course. Those women mean more to you than I do, right?” she spat before turning her back to him, facing the window. Her shoulders stiffened, her body tense, yet Aether caught the slight tremor in her frame. Though she kept her face again covered by the strands of her hair, he could tell… her eyes had turned hazy, dangerously close to spilling tears.

Aether let out a deep sigh, knowing full well that this entire mess was his responsibility to fix.

He had to set things right!

”No… itʼs not you who betrayed me,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. ”Honestly, who am I to even be betrayed? Back then… I was a nobody. Yeah… if anything, I was the one who betrayed you. Not just you… but everyone.”

Sandra remained unresponsive. She continued to stare out the window, her expression void of emotion, almost as if she had shut herself off completely.

Aether took a step closer, then sat beside her, his presence filling the empty space between them. Slowly, he leaned against her, resting some of his weight on her shoulder. The moment he did, she flinched and instinctively shifted away, but Aether didnʼt pull back. He simply allowed himself to remain there, pressing against her warmth, his gaze following hers toward the endless horizon outside.

”And yet… here I am,” he continued softly, ”Still wanting everyone—wanting you—to be happy. I guess that makes me selfish, doesnʼt it?”

”...”

Still, she said nothing... Just continued staring into the void!

Seeing her so unmoving, so distant, Aether exhaled heavily. Then, with a voice filled with reluctant finality, he murmured, ”Well… if you donʼt want me in your life anymore… then...” His tone was weak, his words faltering as if they hurt to say. He didnʼt look at her. He simply gazed out the window, his voice laced with quiet sorrow.

”Iʼll leave you.”

For the first time, Sandraʼs body tensed... It was faint—barely perceptible—but Aether noticed it instantly. Out of the corner of her eye, she flicked a glance at him.

But he still didnʼt look at her. He remained still, his voice carrying a weight of emotion he couldnʼt suppress. ”But before that… I need to know. I need to understand the missing part of our… no, your story. I need to know the truth so I can fix this mess, Sandra.”

Finally, he turned toward her, his gaze searching hers.

But the moment he did, she averted her eyes. She immediately turned away, her expression unreadable.

Aether pressed on. ”Just think of it as… a way for me to repay the debt I owe you. Tell me the truth, Sandra.”

Sandra remained motionless, silent. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak, but then she closed them again.

Seconds passed before she finally found her voice.

”Why do you want to fix my mess, huh?” she asked, her tone quieter, almost unsure.

Aether let out a weak chuckle, pushing himself away from her. It was a small movement, but Sandraʼs fingers twitched ever so slightly. For a fleeting second, it almost looked as though she wanted to reach out… to hold onto him.

But she didnʼt.... She pulled her hand back before she could act on it!

Aether didnʼt notice.... Or perhaps he pretended not to.

He slowly stood from the bed and walked toward the window, stepping into her view. Then, turning to face her, he smiled—a soft, gentle smile that held an unspoken truth,

”You already know the answer, donʼt you?”

Sandra met his gaze, blankly staring at him. Indifferent. And yet—

[+7000 AP]

!~Ding~!

[Survival rate: 83.4↓%]

The room fell into silence as the two of them locked eyes. The air between them felt thick and heavy with unspoken words.... Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Sandra exhaled and broke the silence.

”I… I made a promise to the gods.”

He let out a shocked expression as if he was hearing it for the first time before asking, ”And”

”Thatʼs it,” she shrugged as if it was nothing.

Aetherʼs temple twitched. Veins popped along his forehead as he forced himself to stay calm. ʼCalm down… calm down… Youʼll punish her later. Right now, you need information.ʼ

With an exhale, he smiled—softly, carefully. ”You can tell me…”

Sandra, however, shook her head, ”Theyʼll get angry if I tell you the truth,” she said, her voice suddenly serious.

Aether scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. ”Hah… donʼt worry, they wonʼt be that pi—”

THUNDER!!!!

A sudden bolt of lightning struck somewhere in the distance, despite the fact that the sky outside was perfectly clear.

Aether blinked, ”...Well, you just have to believe!”

THUNDER!!!!!!!!!!

Another one, louder this time.

Sandra turned to him with a deadpan expression.