Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 798: Okay Signal... Finally!!

Third Person's POV

After learning more about each other's Log... Sandra had countless questions about those strange skills and titles. But Aether didn't give any detailed explanations.

Instead, he shifted the conversation to something else—something that had been bothering him more than anything.

He asked about the remaining part of the curse—the part that, strangely, felt like a blessing.

For someone who had been blind all her life, suddenly being able to see should have been nothing short of a miracle, right?

It was supposed to be a gift.

Yet...

"I see... so the curse isn't just about granting you vision," Aether muttered, his voice low as his gaze darkened after realizing what she said... "Rather, it's about something far worse… You can never see darkness again, no matter what."

Sandra too believed her curse was a blessing. That's what she had told herself from the moment she gained her sight.

However, she hadn't thought about what it truly meant.

Her once-blind eyes would never return to darkness again—ever.

No matter what she did, how hard she tried, or how much she wished for it, she could never close her eyes and be surrounded by nothingness. Even if she covered them with her hands, wrapped them in cloth, or hid in the deepest of caves... her sight remained.

She saw everything.... Always!

That was why, whenever Aether saw her, she was usually lying on the bed, exhausted beyond words, struggling to sleep....

"That makes sense..." Aether nodded, his expression grim. His fingers reached out gently, rubbing her tired eyes as if trying to soothe them.

"Tsk, I am not some pitiful damsel, bastard!" Sandra scoffed, slapping his hand away. Her voice carried irritation, but there was no real bite in it. What annoyed her more was the look in his eyes—the tender concern that made her feel like she was being pitied.

Aether chuckled at her reaction. "Of course not," he said with a smirk. "You've endured everything on your own, haven't you? I wouldn't dare to pity you… I'm just wondering how the hell the world crafted your life"

He ruffled her hair, making it even messier, and then added, "So, let me get this straight… You gave birth to your own mother? The woman who was supposed to be your mother is now your daughter?"

Sandra let out a deep sigh and nodded. "That's right," she said, but then her sharp eyes caught something in Aether's expression. She stared at him before asking, "Wait… So, you already knew?"

"Huh?"

"I mean…" Sandra narrowed her eyes at him. "You don't seem even remotely shocked to hear that."

Aether blinked. Then, as if realizing his mistake, he muttered under his breath, "Oh… fuck." He cursed himself for not keeping up the act but quickly shrugged. "Well… I did hear a few things from her."

Sandra stared at him blankly for a moment before letting out a short, humourless chuckle.

"Honestly, I started noticing her behaviour a while ago. The way she moved, the way she spoke… it reminded me of my mother. And sometimes, she even called me 'daughter' by accident. That's when I realized… The time has come" She exhaled sharply before looking straight at him. "Now you understand why I'm doing this, don't you? I don't have a choice, Aether."

Aether clenched his jaw... He understood—of course, he did. But still...

"You could have told me," he said after a pause. His voice was firm yet laced with something close to frustration. "Before it all started, before things reached this point, you could have just told me everything. I could've—"

"And what would you have done?" Sandra cut him off, her tone sharp and laced with scepticism, "Tell me, Aether. What could you have done?

This is inevitable.

A life for a life.

The gods will do whatever it takes to claim that balance. It was either her or me… and I won't let her die."

Her voice trembled slightly as she gritted her teeth, determination burning in her eyes.

Aether clenched his fists. He understood her reasoning, yet…

He bit his lower lip before nodding slowly. "I see..." he murmured. But even as he said it, there was still a question lingering at the back of his mind. A question he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Why?" He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Why do you love her that much? She tried to kill you, didn't she? So why? Why go this far to save someone who almost took your life?"

Sandra let out a weak chuckle, but there was no amusement in it... Just pain.

"Because I'm defective, Aether," she whispered.

Her words hit him like a dagger straight to the chest.

"Do you know what happens to defective products among royals?" she continued, her voice bitter. "They discard them. They throw away anything that isn't useful. I was supposed to be killed the moment they realized I wasn't what they wanted."

She pointed at herself, her expression twisting in pain.

"It was my mother… the woman who should have abandoned me, who should have let me die, who should have chosen power over me… But she didn't. She begged for my life. She clung to the hope that I could create some kind of miracle to save us both.

Sure, she was power-hungry. But that didn't blind her! If she had wanted to, she could have just killed me and had another child. It would've been easy, right? Instead, she chose to suffer for a defective product like me.

She sacrificed everything… just so I could live. Just so I could have a chance to grow up happy. Just so she could protect me from everything."

Sandra took a shaky breath.

"Yes, she tried to kill me. I won't deny that. I...I'll never forget it either. But it wasn't her fault!

It wasn't her who truly tried to end me! It was those bastards who pushed her to the edge. Those who forced her into a corner until she had no other choice!"

Her voice trembled with anger and sorrow.

"And even if she hadn't tried to kill me… I know that bitch would never have let me live! The only reason I survived… was because of my mother's death!" she spat furiously, her hands trembling in her lap.

No one could understand what she felt.

Everyone pointed their fingers at her mother, blaming her, and cursing her. But Sandra knew the truth.

Her mother had sacrificed more than anyone could ever comprehend. And if she had to do the same for her now… then so be it.

"I see..." Aether murmured. "So you believe this is the only way to save her?"

"Yes."

Aether frowned, his eyes locked onto her determined face. He understood her resolve, but deep inside, he couldn't help but think...

'Is there really no other way?'

He didn't voice that thought, though. Instead, he clenched his jaw and stayed silent.

Sandra, noticing his troubled expression, forced a weak smile. "It's fine, Aether... It's fine... J-Just don't forget abou—"

Before she could finish, Aether suddenly cut in.

"What is the deal you made with Master?" he asked curiously.

"Hmm... Deal?" Sandra blinked. "Yeah… I had a deal with him… Yeah... Hmmm?" She frowned suddenly, confusion flashing across her face.

Aether's frown deepened. "You don't remember the deal?"

Sandra's expression darkened. "No… I remember making a deal… But…" Her breath hitched, her eyes widening in realization.

"No, I..." She paused for a long moment before her body tensed.

Then, in a sudden breath, she whispered, "My memories were erased."

"Huh?" Aether's eyes widened in shock.

Sandra clenched her forehead, her fingers pressing hard against her temples as frustration built up inside her, "Yes… there is no other way," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper,

"I know that. I remember him speaking about our deal. I remember everything clearly up until that point, but… somewhere along the way, the memory was erased." Her brows furrowed deeply, her unease evident in the way her fingers trembled against her skin. "Why? Why would he remove it?"

Aether narrowed his eyes, observing her closely. Something about this felt off. Then, a distant memory surfaced in his mind—something Jack had once told him.

A bloodline that possessed the ability to erase memories... Just like what they had done to Kaelen.

'I see…' Aether nodded inwardly, his thoughts racing as the pieces slowly started to connect. 'That means… Master's end goal was entirely different' His frown deepened. There was something he had overlooked—something crucial about Master's true intentions.

Even others said he was a good guy but the Master he knew was different.... He was a cunning man... who would waste his time for others revenge or shit!

'I need to check that...' he thought before his gaze softened as he looked at Sandra, who was still desperately trying to recall what had been erased from her mind. Despite her usual strength, despite her unwavering determination, she now looked… lost. Vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.

Not wanting her to drown in frustration any longer, Aether suddenly smiled, his voice steady as he spoke, "Anyway… No matter what happens, you will not die. I will—"

"Sorry, Aether," Sandra cut him off abruptly, her voice sharp and unwavering. "You don't get to decide that." She took a deep breath before continuing, her gaze locking onto his with grim determination. "Either she or me… and I believe it has to be me."

Her words were like a dagger to his heart.

"She is already in Master's hands! Who knows when they'll—"

"She's in the academy," Aether interrupted, his lips curling into a confident smirk, arms crossing over his chest. "Safe and sound, along with Celestia."

He expected a surprise... happiness... Maybe even relief.

But instead, Sandra merely nodded, her expression eerily calm.

"Of course… You did," she murmured as if she had predicted this outcome all along.

But then, her eyes darkened, her voice heavy with despair, "But that doesn't change the reality of the situation, Aether. The gods will take her back… Her time is already running out!"

Aether gritted his teeth, a mixture of frustration and helplessness tightening his chest.

Why? Why was she refusing to believe in him?

Was it the gods? Did she truly think they couldn't be stopped?

Damn it!

Aether racked his brain, trying to find a way—any way—to make her accept his help, but then…

"You love her, right?" Sandra suddenly asked, her voice hesitant, almost afraid of the answer.

Aether didn't hesitate. He didn't look away, didn't waver. He simply met her gaze head-on and answered, "Yeah. I love her."

No more hiding!

Sandra's fingers twitched... Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but then—

"I-It would only be right to choose—"

Before she could finish, Aether pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her, firm and unyielding, as he whispered against her ear, his voice raw with emotion,

"Maybe I'm a jerk, a bastard, a rotten excuse for a man—whatever you want to call me. You have every right to curse me, hate me, punish me." His grip around her tightened as if afraid she would slip away. His warmth seeped into her skin, his heartbeat steady against her,

"But please… never leave me. No matter what happens, no matter how many women come into my life… I love you, Sandra. Now and forever, I love you, and I will keep saying it until you believe it."

Sandra's fingers twitched before she clenched onto his shirt, her forehead resting against his shoulder.

"I am a royal…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Someone who was supposed to be sold off like a mere pawn, Aether. Having multiple women isn't the problem."

'Oh? Really!!' Aether was almost about to shout in happiness but he controlled his damn mind and let her finish.

Her fingers tightened against him, nails digging into his back slightly as her emotions overflowed as she remembered how her mother was being treated and how others treated her as nothing even though both were royals, "But being treated as if I'm nothing… as if I'm worthless just because of marriage… I… I…"

Aether didn't let her finish. He pulled back slightly, just enough to cup her face and meet her eyes.

"If there ever comes a day when I forget you, I'll give you every right to take my life."

Her breath hitched.

Sandra's eyes widened in shock before they turned misty with unshed tears. A shaky chuckle escaped her lips, her voice trembling with emotions she couldn't contain.

"B-But for that… I need to be alive, right?"

Aether bit his lip, his jaw tightening as he trembled,

"It'll be fine, Sandra," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from her face,

"Nothing is inevitable..."

Then, he leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his lips warm against her skin.

Sandra hummed softly, her eyes closing for a brief moment as she soaked in his warmth.

It wasn't that she doubted him. It wasn't that she thought he was weak... especially after seeing that shitty skills and titles that she never heard of!

But some things were simply… impossible.

Going against the gods... was Impossible!

Even though she created an impossible possible, she refused to accept this one!

Yet, Aether refused to believe that... Refused to accept it!

What was she supposed to do?

Just sit back and wait for him to perform a miracle?

Her mother's life was already slipping away. Even now, she could feel the looming presence of death creeping closer, suffocating her.

As her thoughts spiralled into deeper turmoil, Aether suddenly spoke again, his voice hesitant, almost nervous.

"You said… it's not wrong to have many women, right?"

Sandra's lips twitched.

'Here it comes!!' she thought bitterly before fixing him with a slightly annoyed glare.

"What? It's not like I accept it or anything!" she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let me be clear, I'll always be first! Second is my mother as for that we need to talk about it, and then—" Her expression darkened instantly, "Lastly that fucking dragon woman!"

She still clearly held a grudge against that woman.

Aether, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled in relief... A triumphant grin formed on his lips.

He had just received the okay signal.

A smirk tugged at his lips. Of course, Sandra had been raised in a royal family. Unlike commoners, she wasn't completely opposed to the idea of multiple wives or concubines. It was a norm in noble circles. She had accepted it—though begrudgingly. 

But…

"Can I add a few more names to that list?" he asked shamelessly.

Sandra blinked, "Huh? F-Few more? What do you mean—"

"Aria Zephyr."

Sandra blinked. "H-Huh?"

"Helena Sunfire."

Her left eye twitched. "Wha—"

"Thalia Crimsonclaw."

Her lips parted slightly in disbelief.

"Nightfire, then...." as he continued to list her.

"…"

Silence.

A cold, suffocating silence.

Sandra's face drained of all colour, going pale as a sheet. Her eyes widened, pupils shrinking as if her soul had momentarily left her body. Then—within the next heartbeat—the horror set in.

"YOU FUCKING ROTTEN, UGLY BASTARD!!!"

SSSSSHHHHHHHSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHCCCCCHHHH!!!

Everything—everything—froze.

The floor. The walls. The ceiling. The furniture. Even the air itself felt suspended in ice, a chilling frost spreading outward.

The entire room had transformed into a frozen wasteland in mere seconds, glistening with razor-sharp icicles and thick layers of frost.