Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world

The steady hum of the private jet filled the cabin, and the night sky beyond the small oval windows shimmered with scattered stars.

Ravene who was sitting on her seat sighed quietly ’Three more Empyreans to go... till now, no one matched with the signature Astrid felt.’

Astrid sat upright beside Ravene and she had a book on her lap named ’Applied Etheric Convergence and Structural Reformation’ written by none other than Ravene Morcelle herself.

Her slender fingers flipped a page carefully as she read through it.

Ravene, seated beside her with one leg crossed over the other, had been quiet for much of the flight with her gaze turned toward the window.

But eventually, her eyes shifted to the young woman beside her and muttered ”It seems like as they said, you are quite passionate about ether science.”

Astrid jolted, nearly dropping the book before hugging it tightly to her chest ”Yes- yes, Madam Ravene, I am! I’ve been studying your work for years! Your publications on convergence models, your theories on mutable formations-” she cut herself short, realizing she was beginning to gush, and quickly ducked her head in embarrassment.

”Forgive me. I am getting ahead of myself as usual. I just... respect your work deeply.”

Ravene tilted her head slightly, ”Then tell me... what fascinates you most? Of all the things you’ve read of mine?”

Astrid’s eyes lit up instantly and she opened another book on her lap, flipping rapidly through the pages until she found a particular section.

Pointing to the intricate diagram of a half-dismantled ether formation, she looked at Ravene with shining eyes.

”This. Here. You wrote about structural reprogramming of stabilized ether constructs. I stayed up for weeks after first reading that paper, trying to imagine the possibilities if we could apply it more broadly.”

Her voice quivered with excitement as she gestured with both hands. ”If constructs aren’t fixed, then everything we’ve ever believed about artifact permanence changes. Every barrier, every weapon, every seal, if we can learn to restructure them, that means nothing is truly immutable. That concept alone... it changed the way I look at the world.”

Ravene listened without interruption and gave a nod ”You’re perceptive. When I first proposed that theory, I was ridiculed. ’Reprogramming ether is impossible,’ they said. ’Once stabilized, a construct is unyielding.’”

Her lips curled faintly ”But impossibility is a word used by those too lazy to try.”

Astrid leaned forward unconsciously, ”Then... when you developed the prototype method for destabilizing etheric lattices...”

Ravene nodded slowly ”It was born of necessity. A field experiment gone wrong. I discovered that under pressure, even a stabilized construct can be forced into a state of flux. A dangerous discovery, but... a useful one.”

Her gaze turned back to Astrid, ”Do you know the risk?”

Astrid straightened, answering quickly ”Yes! If the destabilization fails, the construct collapses completely, or worse, detonates. Reprogramming requires absolute precision, and even the smallest miscalculation can corrupt the entire ether matrix.”

Ravene’s eyes softened, ”Good. You’ve read carefully.”

Letting out a quiet laugh, she continued ”You remind me of myself when I was younger. Really excited to learn more things...”

”While everyone pursued strength, I pursued knowledge.”

Astrid’s heart thudded, and she smiled nervously but with deep warmth. ”...If I could even become half of what you are, Madam Ravene, I’d consider my life meaningful.”

Ravene’s gaze lingered on her, strangely gentle for once ”...Then aim higher. Half is too little.”

”Y-Yes, Madam Ravene.”

---

*knock* *knock*

Hearing a knock, Brandon paused halfway down the stairs and frowned as the sound echoed through the house.

It was late in the afternoon, and he wasn’t expecting anyone.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he jogged down, brushing his hair back as he leaned toward the peephole in the door.

The moment he caught sight of who it was, his eyes widened.

”...Big Sis...” he muttered under his breath before quickly unlocking and swinging the door open.

Charlotte’s sharp eyes softened when saw him, and the corners of her lips lifted into a faint smile.

”Kael,”

Brandon pulled her into his arms. His grip was firm, almost desperate, his cheek brushing against her shoulder as if to confirm she was really there.

”Big Sis...” he whispered again, almost childlike in the way he clung to her.

Charlotte’s body stiffened from the sudden hug.

She wasn’t someone who was easily touched, but whenever she is with Brandon, she likes to get hugged by him.

She gently raised her hand and hugged him back.

His warmth pressed against her and she let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

”It’s been a while...” Brandon murmured, his breath brushing against her collarbone as he slowly pulled back.

Charlotte gave a faint nod, ”Hm.”

A grin spread across his lips as he reached down and caught her hand.

Their fingers intertwined naturally and Brandon pulled her. ”Come on... I’ll show you around the house first. You’ll like it.”

Charlotte glanced down at their hands and a soft blush touched her cheeks when she looked at their intertwined fingers.

She let him lead her, allowing herself to be pulled along through the doorway and into the living room.

Sunlight filtered through the wide windows, casting a golden glow on the polished floorboards and bookshelves lined neatly against the walls.

Brandon guided her from room to room, pointing out little details, Elize’s favorite reading corner, the kitchen and the balcony that overlooked the city lights at night.

Looking at the excitement and joy in his face, Charlotte heart was overwhelmed with happiness ’I will protect that smile... Kael.’

No matter the enemies, the politics, or the weight of the world pressing down on them, she couldn’t bear to see that light in him dim.

”It feels... nice,” Charlotte muttered after a while as her eyes swept across the cozy space.

Brandon turned to her with a smile ”Exactly!”

Again seeing his bright smile, his childhood face flashed in his mind... the same big smile plastered on his face.

She looked away, unwilling to let him see the shift in her expression.

”Mm,” she hummed faintly, as if agreeing, though her voice was lower.

Brandon noticed the faint drop in her tone, the way she turned her head slightly and the flicker of distance in her green eyes.

His bright energy dimmed, and his gaze dropped to their joined hands.

Guilt touched his face as he loosened his grip on her fingers.

”...Sorry,” he muttered quietly, rubbing his neck. ”I think I’m pushing you too much. I just wanted to show the new house, but maybe I got carried away.”

The slight tremble in his voice struck her harder than she expected.

For a moment, Charlotte felt her heart twist sharply. ’Why does he look like the little boy again, the one who always worried about being a burden, even when he had been her light?’

H-Huh? Her chest tightened and she blinked.

”No, Kael-” Her voice came out sharper than she intended, almost desperate to cut off his apology.

Without thinking, she tightened her hold on his hand and her fingers curled firmly around his fingers, refusing to let him pull away.

He looked up at her in surprise and their eyes met.

Charlotte’s cheeks warmed faintly and a soft pink colored the tips of her ears as she quickly lowered her gaze. ”...You’re not pushing me,”

Brandon blinked, a little taken aback by the sudden firmness in her words.

”...Big Sis...”

Charlotte pressed her lips together and gave a small nod, still clutching his hand ”Show me the rest, Kael. I want to see it.”

Brandon’s smile returned, brighter and softer, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze before guiding her forward again.

---

They eventually stopped by the glass doors leading to the backyard.

Brandon leaned on the doorframe casually before she asked, ”Where is Sister Elize?”

He glanced at her over his shoulder, ”Aunt Elize, Dhayun, and Sister Yve went shopping. Eira should still be out in the pool.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed and her green eyes rippled faintly ”...Dhayun? Yve?” she murmured under her breath.