Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1197: Please, give me a chance! I-I really did love you!!

Vesperine finally managed to calm them, though her heart was still fluttering from everything that had happened.

Kai and Leon had stayed close, making sure to shower them with the love and affection they craved, her touches and smiles a constant reminder that they were wanted.

She had done everything she could to reassure them so they wouldn’t feel neglected or unloved.

It had taken time—time filled with kisses, warm embraces, and whispered reassurances—but in the end... it had been worth every moment.

Now Kai and Leon had accepted Kaelen, and... even Finnian.

The pieces were falling into place. Vesperine’s next task was far more important... she had to deal with Kaelen and Finnian personally before they found her secrets.

Which would be a pain in the ass.

And if she managed to win them both over... she would have four Arcane Kings as her husbands.

Four?

The fuck!

Just imagining it made her chest swell with pride and wicked delight.

The entire world would lose their minds. They’d be furious, envious beyond reason—especially women.

Oh, they’d seethe with rage, whisper curses under their breath, and glare daggers at her.

Why? Because she’d have every single one of the most handsome, powerful, and unattainable men wrapped around her little finger.

Hehe... just thinking about it made her lips curl into a giddy smile.

Her cheeks heated at the thought of their different touches, their voices, their eyes on her alone.

She was basking in her little fantasy... when reality struck like ice water.

Her happiness was shattered far too soon.

A woman in black stepped out of nowhere, commanding her to meet Kaelen... and Aether.

Her breath caught. Even though she wasn’t ready—she had barely steadied things with Kai and Leon—and now Kaelen was suddenly in the mix?

She hadn’t planned for this, not at all. But that woman didn’t care for her hesitation; she forced her to the Zephyra Empire.

By the time she arrived at the appointed place—a quiet, upscale restaurant with hushed voices and the faint scent of roasted herbs... her stomach was already tight with unease.

She was led to a secluded meeting room.

****

Inside,

Kaelen sat straight-backed, his eyes dark and unreadable. Aether leaned casually in his chair, but there was a subtle weight in his gaze.

Before them sat a yellow-haired woman with twin-tails, her posture stiff, fingers clasped tightly together on her lap as if holding herself from trembling.

The polished table between them seemed the only barrier keeping emotions from spilling over. Three untouched glasses of water stood like silent witnesses to the moment.

Vesperine drew in a careful breath, ”H-Hello, Kaelen... it’s been a while.”

Her own words stumbled over her tongue, her throat tightening as her gaze flickered nervously between the two men.

Kaelen’s bloodshot eyes locked on her, making her pulse jump.

Her gaze darted to Aether. He sat calmly, unnervingly so, as if carved from still water. No anger, no cold hostility... just a steady calmness that unnerved her more than rage would have.

It was nothing like the last time, when he’d nearly raised his hand to her.

Kaelen inhaled slowly, his voice low and strained. ”How are you?”

Vesperine blinked, startled by the question. A smile tugged at her lips, thinking he was fine, ”I’m fine... and you? How are you?”

”Broken.”

The single word landed like a blow. Vesperine’s breath caught, her smile faltering. Her eyes widened in horror as she instinctively looked above his head—there it was, the glowing meter level on his forehead, steady and unchanged.

Still at 75%💗.

That meant nothing between them had shifted... he still loved her.

Slowly, she reached across the table, her fingers brushing against his hand before curling around it in a tender grasp. ”Broken? Why?” she asked gently.

Kaelen didn’t pull away. His eyes searched hers—searching for truth, searching for something he desperately wanted to see.

She knew her own gaze must have been trembling, holding fear and longing all at once.

He bit his lower lip, glancing toward Aether. Aether, still indifferent in his posture, met his glance with a subtle shift.

Aether exhaled softly, as if answering an unspoken question. He rose from his chair, resting a hand briefly on Kaelen’s shoulder. ”You decide what you want,” he said simply, before turning and stepping toward the door.

When the door clicked shut, Aether stood outside, his eyes lifting to the cloudy sky. His expression remained unreadable, lips parting just enough for a quiet murmur to escape.

”Did you see that?”

From the shadows, Celestia emerged, ”Yeah... that girl... she looked above his head for a few seconds, then her body eased, just like that. She is hiding something”

Aether’s gaze stayed on the drifting clouds, silent, his thoughts unreadable.

Back inside—

Kaelen’s voice trembled, his eyes glistening as he leaned forward. ”W-Why? Why did you lie to me?”

Vesperine froze, her fingers tightening on his. ”L-Lie? What are you talking about? I never lied to you...” Her tone was firm but carried an edge of desperation.

Even if Aether had told him about her past with Kai, she could manage it, twist it, make him understand it was history—and that anyone saying otherwise was trying to break them apart.

”Kai was my past... now I think only of you... Please, Kaelen, believe me.”

Kaelen stared at her blankly for a few seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the sharp edge of betrayal.

”Kai was your past? So you’re telling me... you didn’t do anything while I was breaking myself just to make my mother accept you? You weren’t fucking around with Kai behind my back?”

Vesperine’s lips twitched in shock, her back straightening. ”Kaelen... mind your words! I am not that kind of girl!” Her voice rang with fierce defiance, her hand gripping his tighter, as if afraid he would pull away entirely.

Her eyes flashed with indignation as she added, ”Your so-called father was just taking revenge on me... for treating him like a slave in the past.”

Kaelen’s gaze lowered to where her fingers clung to his hand. She didn’t let go—not even a little. And yet, in her eyes burned a fury.

A faint, bittersweet smile tugged at his lips. ”I knew...”

”Then wh—” she began, but his quiet voice cut her off.

”Yet... I still feel the pain.” The words were barely more than a whisper, but they were laced with a deep, breaking sadness. His tail lowered, the once-proud motion now drooping lifelessly, and he gently pulled his hand from hers.

Thuck!

He placed a thick stack of reports onto the table. His face was utterly void of expression, as if he’d locked away everything just to keep from crumbling.

”Then... can you answer this?”

Vesperine blinked, her hands hesitating before reaching for the pages. As her eyes scanned them, her blood ran cold. Photos... too clear to deny, of her with Kai... with Leon... with Finnian.

Moments she thought were hidden. Her heart lurched violently, her expression twisting in horror.

’H-How?’ The thought screamed inside her head. Her chest felt tight, her stomach churning. Someone had dug into her life and caught her most guarded secrets.

Panic surged. What could she do? If she didn’t act, she was going to lose Kaelen completely—something she could never allow.

”T-That’s fake!! Belie—!!” she started desperately.

”Please... be honest with me, Vesperine.”

His interruption was soft, almost gentle, but the smile that accompanied it was fragile, so weak it seemed ready to shatter.

His eyes held no anger, only exhaustion and quiet heartbreak, and that hurt her more than any rage could.

Vesperine’s vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears.

Her gaze fell to the table, shame and dread pressing down on her shoulders. Words clawed their way up her throat, unplanned, uncalculated—her heart speaking before her mind could stop it.

”... Y-Yes... it’s true.”

The confession came out trembling, her fists clenching as her eyes closed tight. She braced herself, expecting the sudden slam of his hand, a shout, some violent outburst—anything.

But there was only silence.

An unbearable, suffocating silence.

When she forced herself to look up, her breath caught.

Kaelen was crying... His lips trembled, his eyes red and wet, his face carved with an expression so wounded it made her weirdly chest ache... she had never felt before.

He wasn’t even breathing properly.

”I see...” The words were whispered, almost inaudible, his lips curling into something that might have been called a smile if it wasn’t trembling so badly.

He rose from his seat, movements slow, as if each one hurt.

”Wait—” She lunged forward, grabbing his hand tightly. ”L-Listen to me, Kaelen... I know I did wrong, but... please, give me a chance! I-I really did love you!” Her voice cracked, raw with desperation.

Kaelen’s eyes shifted to her, softening only for a fraction of a second. His reply was barely a breath.

”So do I.”

Then he wrenched his hand free and turned, walking toward the door.

”N-No!! Please, don’t leave me!!” Vesperine’s scream ripped from her throat, echoing in the small room. Her powers flared instinctively, reaching for him, trying to soothe him, trying to calm his nerves as she had so many times before.

But it wasn’t working.

Why?

Why wasn’t he bending to her like before?

Was her skill not working anymore?

NO!!

Her skill wasn’t failing.

She could feel it—her power still clung to him. The love meter above his head still showed the same number, glowing steadily at seventy-five percent.

It wasn’t that the love was gone.

It was just... Kaelen was hurt.

Just deeply hurt!

”....”

Vesperine’s hands lowered to her chest, fingers curling as if to hold the heavy ache pressing inside... She wondered why she was feeling it.