Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1433: I am so proud of you, darling... so very proud

Drakhairs... he was, without question, an Ex-Arcane King.

Most people never knew this fact. Even Raven and the others who stood close to Drakhairs remained unaware. Only Aether and a select few, including Dora, Mary, and Morgana.

Those three had faced Drakhairs once before.

The rest were stunned when the truth surfaced.

That led to an unavoidable question.

Why would Aether place someone like Drakhairs inside the Empire, treating him as if he were merely a guardian rather than a force capable of helping far better?

The answer was simple... Aether did not remain within the Empire at all times, and from what he had once witnessed in Drakhairs, he understood one undeniable truth. If calamity ever struck the Empire, if Raven or the others ever stood at death’s edge, Drakhairs would be the last wall standing between ruin and survival.

More than a guardian, Drakhairs his back-up.

”I didn’t expect you, of all people, to step into my territory,” Mary said, her voice calm yet edged with authority, as she reclined upon a newly formed crimson throne that looked as though it had been shaped from blood itself.

The throne shimmered beneath her, droplets of crimson light glistening like polished gems. They radiated purity and elegance, while a gentle, intoxicating fragrance lingered in the air.

Drakhairs shook his head slowly, ”I came here as nothing more than a humble servant to my Queen,” he replied as his gaze briefly shifted toward Raven, who stood beside him with a composed and unreadable expression.

Mary’s brow furrowed slightly, her crimson eyes glowing dangerously.

”Please refrain from using your manipulation, Empress Mary,” Drakhairs continued, his voice calm yet firm. His eyes narrowed, pupils sharpening into slits, a silent warning that he would not sit idle while she toyed with him using such filthy abilities.

”...” Mary hummed softly, a smirk curling across her lips as her gaze drifted toward the women beside him.

Raven stood unwavering, while Aria, Helena, and Aqualina remained alert.

”Interesting,” Mary said at last, ”Why are the chosen ones of four Empires standing before me?”

Aria stepped forward, fingers tightening briefly around the hem of her attire before she composed herself and offered a respectful bow.

”We came here with the hope of forging a strong bond between our Empires, Empress Mary”

Mary raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across her expression that hid behind the blurriness.

Aria drew in a steady breath and continued, ”Ever since the new trial appeared, the Umbrionis Void Empire chose isolation, severing every connection with the rest of us. We do not fully understand why, nor what we did to deserve such distance, but we respected that decision.”

Her gaze hardened slightly as she pressed on. ”However, the emergence of the Unknown Empire made ignorance impossible. To protect our lands and our people, we decided to stand together and face what threatens us all.”

She exhaled slowly before adding, her eyes filled with sincerity and urgency. ”As representatives of our respective Empires, we ask you to join forces with us and confront the danger that looms before it consumes everything.”

”...” Mary tilted her head, a faintly amused expression hidden behind the blur of her shifting presence.

Look at those little foxes~

For a moment, tension thickened the air, silence pressing down upon them like an unseen weight, every heartbeat echoing with anticipation.

”Hahaha... Hahah,” Mary suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the chamber as if sanity itself had slipped from her grasp.

Aria’s lips twitched as she glanced toward Aqualina, who let out a sharp snort and turned her head away, irritation written plainly across her face.

This was exactly why Aqualina had told her from the beginning to speak directly to Lia instead of wasting breath on this bitch.

However, both Aria and Helena had insisted otherwise. They believed it was wiser to speak to Mary first, no matter how unpleasant she was.

After all, Mary ruled this Empire, and protocol demanded at least the courtesy of approach. Even if their true objective lay with Lia, they would inevitably have to pass through this woman first.

Now, standing there under Mary’s gaze, it felt as though that entire idea had been thrown straight out the window.

Mary, having finally calmed herself, leaned back slightly and let out a mocking laugh. ”Ha... ha... what did you just say now?” Her eyes narrowed, ”You don’t understand why, and you don’t understand what? Haha... oh dear sheep, was it not obvious?” Her smile twisted into something sharp and cruel.

”I merely wanted to raise the fucking value of my Empire.”

She slammed her wrist down onto the armrest, the sound echoing sharply through the chamber as she stared directly at the group.

”It wasn’t me who became isolated. No... it was all of you who were left behind.”

Frowns spread across their faces as her words settled in.

What exactly was she implying?

There were four Empires standing united before her, and she stood alone.

So who, truly, was isolated here?

”Anyways,” Mary continued as she shook her head. ”I have no interest in entertaining your childish games. This trial exists for every Empire, and you should face it on your own instead of clinging to one another.” Her lips curved into a wicked smirk. ”Who knows? One of you might decide to stab the others in the back when things turn ugly.”

Aria parted her lips, ready to respond, but before she could speak, Aqualina stepped forward.

”Sorry to burst your bubble,” Aqualina said, her voice cold and merciless, ”but no. We are not like you.”

Mary’s expression darkened instantly as she fixed her gaze on Aqualina. ”Oi,” she snapped, ”Did you think I forgot what you did to my daughter?”

The air itself seemed to pulse as pressure flooded the room.

Aqualina merely shrugged. Mary was powerful, undeniably so, but Aqualina was no stranger to standing before monsters. She carried enough strength within herself to remain steady without fear.

”I do not believe I made the wrong decision,” she replied evenly. ”Your daughter was the one who trespassed into my territory and attempted to disrupt my engagement. If anything, compensation should have been demanded for what she tried to do to a royal union.”

Mary’s fist clenched, her eyes glowing dangerously as fury surged through her.

Aqualina was not backing down.

Not even now.

Certainly not from this bitch.

Aqualina understood one simple truth. The moment they showed weakness, it would all be over.

She held Mary’s gaze without hesitation, her stare sharp and unyielding.

Once again, tension wrapped tightly around the chamber, as though a single breath could shatter it.

Then, hesitantly, Helena stepped forward and placed her hand on Aqualina’s shoulder.

”L-Let’s not bring up the past,” Helena said softly, ”Shall we?”

Aqualina snorted. ”I didn’t bring it up. It was that woman who believes everything she does is justified.”

Mary’s frown deepened, her blurred figure flaring faintly as power rippled around her. ”The woman who can do anything she wishes,” she said coldly, ”because you are standing in her domain, little girl.”

Aqualina stared back at her, expression empty of fear or hesitation. ”Do not call me little girl,” she replied flatly. ”I am not your daughter.”

Mary raised an eyebrow before shaking her head slowly. ”You are just like your annoying mother,” she said with disdain. ”I suppose the apple does not fall far from the tree.” She waved her hand dismissively.

”Get out, before I decide to kill your sorry asses.”

Why were these girls truly here?

Mary blinked in clear confusion.

If anything, that bastard should have been the one dealing with her directly, standing here face to face and bearing the consequences himself. Yet instead, for reasons she could not immediately grasp, these little girls had come in his place.

Why?

Did he truly believe she would soften, even slightly, simply because he sent girls instead of confronting her himself?

How naïve...

Mary shook her head slowly, disappointment heavy in her gaze as she looked at them, as though their presence itself offended her expectations.

Helena suddenly stepped forward,

”May I know where Lia is?”

Mary’s eyes snapped toward her, irritation flaring instantly, sharp and unrestrained.

”I told you all to leave!”

Helena offered an awkward smile,

”Actually... we are her friends,” she explained softly. ”We haven’t spoken to her since we were separated, so we hoped we could see her, even just once.”

Mary stared at Helena without blinking, the silence stretching uncomfortably. Helena shifted under that gaze.

Mary snorted with pride,

”Friends? The fuck?” she scoffed openly. ”My daughter doesn’t need weak asses like you.

I am all my daughter needs. I am her father, her mother, her grandfather, her grandmother, even... her friend-”

”Helena? Aria?”

The sudden voice cut through her words.

A figure entered the room without permission, something only one person would ever dare to do.

Lia stood at the entrance, eyes widening the moment she saw Helena and Aria. Surprise flickered across her face, quickly replaced by genuine happiness, and without hesitation, she hurried toward them.

Aria and Helena smiled gently.

”Hello—”

Before either of them could finish, a sudden burst of air rushed past the group and,

”Darling~”

Mary was already there, pulling Lia into her arms and hugging her tightly, possessively, as though afraid she might disappear.

”M-Mom... stop it,” Lia protested, her face flushing deeply as she glanced awkwardly toward Helena and Aria.

”My friends are here.”

Mary smiled sweetly, her voice light and affectionate. ”Of course, of course,” she said, finally setting Lia down while grinning shamelessly at her daughter’s embarrassment.

Lia cleared her throat and stepped forward, coughing lightly as she composed herself before looking at Aria and Helena.

”It’s been a while... You both really look different now.”

Aria smiled warmly and nodded, pulling Lia into a gentle hug.

”You too,” she replied softly. ”Look at you. You’ve grown so much.”

She gestured lightly toward Lia’s height, and it was true.

Lia had grown.

Helena smiled as she hugged her next. ”I missed you buying lunch for me.”

”...”

Lia blinked, momentarily stunned.

What the heck?

Did she miss her or... the lunch?

”And you haven’t changed,” Lia said with a small, amused smile as she hugged Helena tightly before turning toward Mary.

”Mom, these are my—”

”Of course, my darling made friends~” Mary suddenly exclaimed, pulling Lia back into her arms while also dragging Helena and Aria into the embrace.

”I am so proud of you!!”

”I am so proud of you, darling... so very proud,” Mary continued, kissing Lia’s face again and again, showering her with affection as if making up for lost time.

Why she was proud remained a mystery.

Everyone stared at her in open confusion. Just moments ago, she had declared her daughter needed no friends, yet now she looked genuinely delighted.

”M-Mom, stop it!” Lia protested again, her face burning red.

Mary grinned beneath her blurry form, eyes filled with strange warmth. ”My darling brought friends for the first time,” she said cheerfully. ”Of course, I’m proud of you. You finally made friends. I’m so proud of you, darling... sooooo~chu~”

She leaned in and kissed Lia’s cheek deeply.

Lia shoved her mother away and quickly slipped from her grasp, retreating a step with a flustered expression.

Mary chuckled softly before releasing Helena and Aria as well. She leaned closer to them, lowering her voice as she whispered directly into their ears.

”If you hurt my darling’s feelings,” she murmured, her eyes glowing with lethal intent, ”I will make sure your bodies are never found.”

Both Helena and Aria flinched, not merely because of the words, but because of the chilling certainty behind them.

Mary was not joking.

They both gulped audibly!