Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1511: Mother who got trapped by her own daughter! Part-2

Aether was honestly surprised to see Maelona standing inside the room, frozen between the door and the wall as if she had walked into a trap she never meant to step into.

’This is the surprise she was talking about?’ he thought weakly, a quiet disbelief passing through him before he shrugged one shoulder. His gaze dropped on instinct, landing on his proud shaft that stood without shame.

He had expected fire, so he came prepared, but instead he found himself drowning in water, deep, flustered, and... far more dangerous~

Maelona was already panicking, her palms striking the door again and again as her composure shattered.

”O-Open the door, Aria. Aria, please open the door.”

Her fingers curled around the handle as she pulled hard, but the door did not move even a fraction.

Her entire face burned beet red despite her blue skin; the colour bloomed across her cheeks and down her neck as if she truly were on fire, exposed in a way no one had ever seen her before.

”I am going to beat your ass, ARIA. Open the freaking door right now!!”

Her voice cracked between fury and embarrassment, the shout echoing uselessly in the enclosed room.

She understood immediately that her daughter had set this up, had planned it all, but this was far too vulgar!

Setting up with your own husband with your own mother?

What the heck?

Especially when he was standing there like that!

”Arhh, ARIA!”

Maelona struck the door again, harder this time, as images she did not want refused to leave her mind.

That thing... seeing her son-in-law like that... burned itself into her thoughts no matter how hard she tried to look away.

Damn it!

This was far too vulgar for her heart to handle.

That idiotic Daughter of hers!

Fuck!

”FUCK YOU, ARIA!! OPEN THE DOOR DAMN IT!!”

Aether smirked faintly as he adjusted the towel, one end caught briefly between his lips while his single hand wrapped it securely around his hips. He tucked it firmly in place before stepping toward her.

The moment she sensed him drawing near, Maelona’s pulse spiked. Her hands struck the door faster now, harder,

”A-ARIA, LIORA... ANYONE, PLEAse... just open.... the.... d...r...”

As Aether closed the distance, her shouting faded into shallow breaths. Her chest tightened, her heart racing so loudly it felt as if it would betray her.

He towering body stood before her proudly.

”A-Aether...”

The name left her lips barely audible, fragile, as she lifted her gaze. His eyes held hers with a smouldering intensity. She swallowed once, then again, painfully aware that even beneath the towel, the shape of him remained undeniable.

He leaned in slowly with a smirk.

Maelona flinched anyway, her eyes squeezing shut as her body went rigid. Her lips trembled, breath caught between anticipation and fear as she waited for something she could not name.

... Nothing came!

When she opened her eyes, her breath hitched. His sturdy chest filled her vision, so close that warmth radiated against her skin. A faint steam seemed to rise from him, as if his body carried its own heat, wrapping around her senses and leaving her unsteady.

She stared blankly, mind stilled, until a sudden sound snapped her back.

”Here.”

Aether’s voice was calm, almost amused. Maelona blinked, finally realising he had stepped back, a faint smugness resting on his expression.

”The door was locked from the inside, Maelona. I already unlocked it.”

”...”

She blinked again, her mind catching up at last as embarrassment crashed over her. Her face burned even brighter as realisation settled fully.

”I-I... I knew it, O-Of course,” she said weakly.

She turned quickly, opening the door at once, ready to flee the moment it gave way.

Behind her, Aether spoke again, his tone quieter now,

”Aria and Liora knew I wouldn’t like it if they forced someone into anything,” he said slowly. ”So they arranged this and stepped away, leaving the choice and the conversation in your hands.”

He walked back toward the bed as he spoke, unhurried, giving her space without turning his back completely.

Maelona had been ready to run like a startled animal, but his words stopped her cold. She halted mid-step, shoulders stiff, then slowly lowered her head. Confusion crossed her expression, mixed with something softer she was not ready to acknowledge yet.

Aether sat on the edge of the bed, fingers brushing over the scattered flower petals as if he had only just noticed them. A soft laugh slipped from his lips,

”Haha... look at this,” he said, lifting a few petals and letting them fall back onto the sheets. ”They even went as far as making everything romantic.”

He shook his head lightly, then looked up at her with a calmer expression,

”Should we talk, Maelona?” he asked. ”A real talk. Heart to heart.”

Maelona hesitated, her hand still resting on the door as if escape remained an option. She already knew what her daughter would say, knew she could not keep running forever.

Still, her thoughts were tangled, her emotions clashing in ways she had never prepared for. One wrong step now, and she feared she might lose everything she had carefully protected.

”Maelona?”

A quiet sigh escaped her lips before she closed the door behind her. Turning around, she faced Aether sitting on the bed, his fingers idly playing with the petals as if waiting patiently for her answer.

He patted the space beside him in a gentle invitation.

Maelona bit her lower lip, ”I... I am fine standing here,” she said, forcing steadiness into her voice.

Aether let out a small laugh and said, ”I won’t bite you, my dear... come here,” as he motioned for her to approach with a soft wave of his hand.

Maelona managed a weak smile before taking careful steps forward. She sat beside him with visible hesitation, her posture stiff, her expression conflicted as if she were bracing herself for something she could not yet name.

Aether said nothing at first. He simply looked at her, not with hunger, not with pressure, but with a quiet attention that made her far more aware of herself than any touch could.

The silence stretched until her pulse began to race without her permission.

”A-Aether...?” she murmured, unable to endure it any longer.

He smiled softly and lifted his hand, gently tugging a loose strand of hair away from her face, revealing the shyness she had tried so hard to hide.

”It’s just that you’re beautiful,” he said simply.

[+8000 AP]

Maelona’s heart skipped. She tried to laugh it off, to shield herself with haughtiness.

”A-Ara... was I not beautiful before?” she asked, attempting to lighten the charged air between them.

Aether chuckled quietly, his gaze never leaving her.

”Of course you were,” he replied, then took a slow breath, his voice lowering. ”That’s exactly why I wanted you all to myself.”

Maelona blinked, surprise widening her eyes as she turned toward him.

”A-Aether?”

He moved closer.

”I want you, Maelona,” he said. ”No... I need you in my life. Not as my mother-in-law. Not as someone I must pretend not to see.”

He reached for her hand, and she flinched instinctively, yet did not pull away as he gently placed it against his chest.

”I want you as someone close to my heart,” he continued. ”So close it hurts. So close I can’t breathe without you being there.”

Maelona’s breath trembled. Her fingers curled unconsciously against his chest as tears gathered in her eyes.

”A-Aether... this... this is wrong,” she whispered.

He smiled softly,

”Wrong because people will talk?” he asked. ”Or.. because of your daughter?”

Her lips trembled into a weak smile as she answered honestly.

”Both—”

”Or because you’re afraid you’ll steal your daughter’s happiness?” Aether interrupted gently, cutting straight to the heart of her pain.

Maelona froze. Her eyes widened before slowly lowering, her expression clouded with guilt and sorrow.

”She did this for me,” she said after a moment. ”I know she did. And just like her, I need to do what is best for my daughter. I cannot betray her, Aether... Not after everything.”

Aether nodded slowly, understanding settling in his eyes. He did not argue. He did not push. He simply accepted the weight she carried.

Maelona was different from the others... What bound them was something quieter, something rooted deeply in connection and shared understanding.

Without that bond, she would have remained only his mother-in-law.

Nothing more.

And that truth was exactly what made this hurt so much.

And perhaps more than anything, it was the truth she never spoke aloud that haunted her most.

She had not been there when her daughter needed her the most. That failure lingered like a scar that never healed, shaping every decision she made afterwards. Now, when given a chance to choose, she wanted to do right by her daughter, even if it meant pushing her own feelings deep into silence.

Aether watched her struggle with a quiet understanding, then leaned closer, his expression softening into something tender.

”You are so lovely, Maelona,” he murmured gently.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, slow and careful, as if asking permission through the act itself.

Maelona flinched at the warmth of it, her breath catching as her body reacted before her mind could.

”A-Aether...” she whispered, her hands stiff at her sides, trembling as they almost moved to wrap around him.

He lingered there for a moment, his thumb brushing lightly over her forehead before he pulled back just enough to look at her.

”Tell me,” he asked quietly, ”Do you love me?”

Maelona let out a weak sigh, her lips parting as she tried to form words that refused to come.

”Aether... I didn’t—”

”I love you, Maelona,” he said softly, interrupting her, ”I truly love you.”

[+8000 AP]

He paused, then asked again, slower this time, as if giving her space to breathe.

”Now tell me... do you love me?”

Maelona’s eyes trembled violently, glassy with emotion as she turned her gaze away, unable meet his gentle yet serious gaze that was boring into her.

Aether’s voice remained gentle, ”Maelona... Aria would never feel betrayed by this,” he said. ”If she prepared all of this, if she went this far for her mother, do you really think she would do it without understanding?”

Her lips trembled.

He smiled faintly, ”You already know everything is not wrong,” he continued softly. ”You’re just bound by what happened to your daughter. That helplessness you felt, the fear, the loneliness she endured.”

”You want to repay that debt, don’t you?”

Maelona’s eyes shook as a weak smile formed through her tears.

”W-Why are you so accurate?” she asked quietly. ”Did you read my mind?”

Aether let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

”I wish I could,” he replied gently.

”So I could understand you even more, Maelona.... So I could hold you forever.”

”To hold the pain. To hold the love. To hold the angry Maelona, the shy Maelona, the haughty Maelona, the lovely Maelona.... and...”

He smiled softly.

”To hold my Maelona.”

Her heart fluttered painfully, warmth spreading through her chest as she looked into his eyes. In that moment, she felt seen not as a role, not as a mother or obligation, but as a woman whose existence mattered.

He gently parted the strands of hair framing her face and leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper near her ear.

”I’m going to kiss you,” he said. ”Push me away if you want.”

He leaned in slowly, giving her time, giving her choice, until his lips met hers in a soft, careful kiss.

”Hmm~”

Maelona flinched at the contact, eyes widening as warmth spread through her chest. A single tear slipped down her cheek as her hands twitched and trembled between them.

Then, slowly, they moved.

Her arms wrapped around his back, pulling him closer as she closed her eyes.