Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1310: Making Aether guilty: Part-3

”Before that... let us talk first.”

Sandra turned her head to Maelona, who spoke with a sly, knowing expression, her eyes glittering with something unreadable beneath the surface.

Sandra glancing toward Kaelen... her gaze asking him, silently, to remain quiet. However, Kaelen straightened his posture and replied instead, his voice measured,

”What do you wish to discuss, Elder Maelona?”

Maelona lifted her chin with quiet dignity, her eyes settling on Aether,

”He has been in this place for a long time, and... who can truly say what shadows have crept into his mind? What powers might have twisted his will, or... what unseen forces may have sought to claim him?” She cast a pointed, sidelong look at Sandra, and the circle of Elders murmured and nodded, faces hardening with silent concern.

Maelona’s tone softened, yet held authority. ”So... let us speak with him first. Allow him the freedom to decide, after hearing us. The choice must be his alone...” She turned to Sandra, her expression gentling just for a moment.

”Are you at peace with this, Empress?”

Sandra stared blankly for a heartbeat, then nodded with a small, ”Proceed... the outcome is already decided!”

The Elders exchanged glances before turning their collective attention toward Aria, urging her forward.

Aria drew a slow, anxious breath, her hands twisting at the fabric of her dress, ”How... how are you, Aether?”

Aether offered a weak, tired smile, ”I am fine,” he said, though his voice trembled.

Aria parted her lips, struggling to find meaning in the silence.

What was she supposed to say now?

She had fucked him only hours ago, and now she was supposed to feel emotional?

That was hard, you know!!

This was awkward... Maelona, sensing the tension, smiled with a strange sympathy and interrupted,

”Let us be honest, Mr. Aether. We all know there is love between you and Aria. With the blessing of our entire tribe, we wish to make it official—so you may marry her freely, without fear or doubt.

You would be welcomed as kin, a person of honour in our midst.

Are all the Elders in accord with this path?”

The Elders nodded as one... Yet Liora frowned deeply, her eyes flitting between faces—was she not meant to be the one to marry him?

What’s going on here?

One of the Elders leaned close to Liora and whispered, ”Remain calm... this is for our benefit as well. The tide will turn. Your beloved will not be taken from you.”

Liora’s frown deepened. She fell silent, forced to watch the scene unfold.

Hearing all of this, Aether flinched. If he accepted, what would become of his title as Archpriest?

His role... his vows!!

Before he could answer, Sandra’s voice sliced through the haze, ”Just so you understand... You love my daughter as well, do you not?”

The faces of the Aurora Group turned ashen, a collective gasp stifled behind trembling lips.

Their Archpriest—had he truly given his heart to not one, but two women?

Was their faith misplaced, or was love itself a sin beyond atonement?

How wicked!!

Shock rippled across their faces... they could barely comprehend that the man they trusted, the man they revered, was at the heart of such forbidden longing.

Just as their disappointment threatened to spill over, flickering in their wounded eyes,

Aether drew a steadying breath, ”Let us be clear, Empress Sandra... I fell in love with Ms. Aria first. Even Princess Aqualina knew the truth of my heart...”

Aurora Group blinked, their expressions clouded with disbelief.

Oh? They hadn’t expected this confession... So the women had known all along, yet still chose to pursue him?

Was such cunning truly possible for women of their standing?

Could women truly act with such deception?

So vile... so shameless. How could women act like that?

Disgust gnawed at the edges of their faces; disappointment flickered in their eyes as they glanced at Sandra, unable to hide a trace of contempt.

The Elders, watching the growing tension, exchanged quick glances before one raised an eyebrow and smirked. ”That’s it, then. Everything is resolved... Lord Aether should marry our Princess Aria and become a pillar of our Empire. All is settled now.”

However,

Aether shook his head, ”But... due to certain complications, we parted ways for a brief time.”

At this, the Elders’ faces hardened with disapproval, scorn flickering in their eyes.

Aether’s voice grew softer, tinged with a shadow of regret. ”And during that... Princess Aqualina cared for me. She nursed my broken heart, and... well, somewhere along the way, we fell in love.”

The Aurora Group’s eyes widened with surprise.

So... it simply happened.

No one had betrayed anyone, no one had been cruel—life and fate had twisted their paths. ’

Both women seemed to be good-hearted; perhaps time itself had been the real culprit, revealing love in ways none of them could foresee.

A few members of the group slapped their own faces, embarrassed by their earlier harshness, and glanced at Sandra with apologetic expressions.

Sandra, sensing their shame, ignored their remorseful eyes and instead turned her gaze to the Zephyra Group, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

”Well then... that settles it. He is in love with my daughter now. There’s no more room for debate.”

Zephyra Group frowned deeply, their faces darkening with resentment. They looked to Aria, whose eyes fell, her voice barely a whisper.

”It’s not like I abandoned him... I just needed time to think, to understand if I was truly serious about this. And in that time... it’s that bitc—ahem, your daughter—she seduced my Aether.”

Aria’s glare shot daggers at Sandra, her frustration barely contained beneath her trembling voice.

The Aurora Group reeled in shock, unable to comprehend such open conflict and bitter confessions.

Sandra merely shrugged, her voice sharp, ”Early bird gets the worm... If you needed time, that’s not my concern. Love waits for no one.”

The Elders frowned, displeased. ”That doesn’t change the fact that your daughter took advantage of the situation and wormed her way into his innocent heart.”

Aria blinked in surprise at the accusation. Innocent? She cast a sidelong glance at Aether, whose eyes nervously avoided hers.

Sandra’s lips curled into a frown. ”Oi... If she needed time, she could have taken it, and Aether as well. If he truly fell for my daughter, then perhaps their love was never as strong as you believed.”

The Elders gritted their teeth, frustration twisting their logic as they volleyed arguments back and forth, each side twisting words, unable to surrender. Sandra stood her ground, meeting them with logic.

Meanwhile,

The entire Aurora Group was utterly flabbergasted.

What were they supposed to do now?

Their Archpriest had fallen in love with two women—yet how could that be a sin?

Love was a gentle, unpredictable force, and who could ever know when or how it would arrive?

And it was...a different time, so not two women actually at the same time!

Honestly, as they looked back on everything, they could see it clearly: Aether had never wronged anyone, never acted with deceit or cruelty toward any woman.

He respected them, cherished them. His heart had simply wandered to another when the first had walked away.

It was something even the people of Aurora struggled to comprehend, yet in this moment, they understood.

They understood perfectly.

And by the looks of it... Aria herself seemed to be pushed by others. She clearly loved Aether, but didn’t want to disturb his future, to become an obstacle to his destiny.

What a remarkable woman!!

She must be grieving quietly inside, knowing what she was being forced to do to the man she cherished. All the while, others were using the chance to snatch away the love she thought was hers.

Disgusting people!

This was why the Aurora people hated coming to other Empires.

Still, this wasn’t right!

Everyone here was only fighting among themselves—what about the rest? What about their people, their home?

Suddenly, the Archpriestess shivered and whispered to her group, ”At this rate... what are we even doing here?”

The High Priests flinched, worry flickering in their eyes. They glanced at the Followers, who nodded grimly in agreement, and then one of them coughed—loudly enough to cut through the growing storm of words between Sandra and the Elders.

”You’re all still here?” Sandra asked, a sly, amused tone in her voice, barely hiding her smile.

Aurora Group’s lips twitched in annoyance, but ignoring Sandra’s mockery, they turned to Aether.

With hearts full of pain and voices trembling with sincerity, they spoke in unison,

”We are sorry for what we’ve done... and for the faith we lost. We don’t ask for your forgiveness, My Archpriest.”

The Followers and High Priests bowed their heads, and then, as if this moment had been rehearsed countless times in their minds, they declared in grave, unified voices,

”We know what we have done cannot be undone, and... so we... our people...” Their hands shook as they pointed at Aether,

”Your people... wish to start anew. So, could you... could you please accept our apology and—”

They gulped, eyes flicking nervously to the Saintess, whose head was bowed, a faint red tinge on her cheeks.

”—Marry our Saintess?”

Everyone in the grand room gasped in astonishment.

Sandra frowned, her brow furrowing in disbelief. ”Oi, oi... what the hell is going on here?”

The Elders erupted as well, their voices sharp and incredulous. ”What do you mean, marry the Saintess? Are you trying to use your own people to win him back now?”

Aurora Group shot them a look full of silent accusation—look who was talking! The hypocrisy hung heavy in the air.

The Elders’ faces flushed crimson with embarrassment, but they quickly coughed, masking their discomfort. With forced seriousness, one Elder declared, ”This is wrong and... I believe our Lord Aether would never accept such a proposition—”

But before he could finish, the Saintess rose to her feet, every movement trembling with resolve.

She crossed the floor to Aether and, with a dignity that shook the room, knelt at his side. Bowing her head low, she spoke in a voice both humble and strong.

”I may not love you yet... my body and soul will always belong to the Mother. Yet, for these people, for all those who lost hope and found themselves again only because of you... I... I cannot find words great enough for it.” As she reached for his hand, Aether froze, utterly taken aback.

The Saintess lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, the sincerity in her voice like a vow, ”So... for our people, I am willing to give a part of myself... to you, for all eternity. Would you accept me, with your gentle hands, and... return to us?”

”Aww, Saintess!” one of the followers sobbed, tears streaking down his cheeks at the sight of her humility and courage.

She had initially rejected the very idea of this union—yet now, she was the first to step forward, for their sake.

What a miraculous, selfless Saintess they had been blessed with.

If the Archpriest and Saintess married... surely their land would be more blessed than any other.

Aether was still reeling, his voice stammering with disbelief. ”P-Please... stand up, Saintess—”

But she shook her head firmly, her resolve unshaken. ”No... I cannot. If my people can kneel before me for all their days, then I will kneel before you until you grant me your answer. This Saintess shall remain in this position, for their sake.”

Aether’s face turned grim, his voice breaking. ”Ar... Saintess, you’re making this so difficult.” Tears welled in his eyes as he glanced helplessly at the Archpriestess.

”Please, do something... this isn’t right...”

The Archpriestess drew a trembling breath. ”We did wrong. That is why...” She lowered her head in shame, her words trailing away.

Guilt, uncertainty, and sorrow crashed through Aether’s chest, leaving him trembling. He bit his lip, eyes brimming with tears.

”I... I don’t understand... I never meant for any of this to happen... but I have no family—” His voice shook as the weight of loneliness pressed down on him.

Before he could finish, the Saintess’s voice rang out, clear and true,

”We are your family, Aether...”

Aether gave a weak, broken smile. ”Yet... you all left me, didn’t you?”

His words struck the Aurora Group like a blade.

Suddenly, the High Priest fell to his knees,

”Archpriest... please... please... we have sinned, we know it. We accept any punishment you decide. But please, come back to us... sniff, sniff... without you, our people have grown silent and broken. We are nothing without you... please!!”

Aether bit his lip harder as tears finally spilled down his cheeks. ”Guys...”

Another follower, face streaked with tears, spoke with trembling despair, ”If... if you still do not feel it... Then I have no other choice but to lay down my life for you!” With shaking hands, he drew a knife from his pocket and pressed it to his throat—

Chuckk~

Drip...