Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1028 1028: Archpriestess/Stella: Part-3

”W-What are you talking about?” the Archpriestess stammered, her voice rising with panic. Her chest tightened with a growing dread—she absolutely didnʼt want him to find out the truth.

Not now... Not until he loved her more.

More than Stella!!

If he knew now... heʼd realise how she had manipulated his feelings, and she was certain he would hate her—hate her from the very depths of his heart.

And she couldnʼt bear that. She didnʼt want that to ever happen!

Aether leaned closer to her, his frown deepening as his eyes narrowed, ”Iʼm saying... why is it that you and Stella never show up together? Not even once. Doesnʼt that strike you as strange?” His voice was calm, but edged with suspicion, his gaze fixed sharply on her.

The Archpriestessʼs eyes began to tremble, her lips parting as her breath quickened. Fear flickered behind her gaze. Her mind scrambled for something—anything—to say. But she found no excuse.

Not one!

At first, she thought Aether wouldnʼt notice. She thought heʼd be too lost in his own thoughts to connect the dots.

But she underestimated him.

He was sharp. Too sharp. And now... she wasnʼt even sure if she should be proud of that fact.

”Tell me... what are you hiding from me?” Aether asked again, his tone firmer now, deeper, carrying weight. ”This is your chance,” he added, hinting—offering something unspoken, as if he were giving her a path forward, one last opening.

She gulped hard, her eyes twitching. She wasnʼt sure what exactly he meant, but something inside her—maybe her guilt, maybe her love—urged her to speak, to come clean. And yet... fear whispered otherwise.

What if he hated her for what she did?

For the lie she lived?

The weight of it all bore down on her until she crumbled inside. Her heart pulled in two directions—confess or run... And so, she chose the only path that didnʼt terrify her completely.

”I-Itʼs almost midnight...” she murmured, looking down, her voice shaky but trying to sound normal. ”Letʼs... rest for the day,” she added softly, hoping—begging—that he would drop it.

Aether didnʼt respond immediately. He just stared at her, blank and unreadable, before slowly leaning even closer.

If it were any other moment—if she werenʼt drowning in fear and regret—she might have kissed him right then. She would have pulled him into her arms and kissed him like her life depended on it.

But right now? All she could think about was escaping his gaze, avoiding the truth, avoiding the pain.

Aether studied her nervous face for a second, and his eyes glinted with something—understanding, maybe a hint of pity, or curiosity. ʼShe still wants to keep playing this game... huh,ʼ he thought silently.

He smiled softly and said, ”Well then... I suppose I should go bring Stella too. Itʼs almost midnight, right? We should all rest together.”

He turned to leave, feigning cheerfulness, when—

”Hmm?”

Her hand grabbed his wrist tightly, her fingers trembling.

Aether looked down at her hand, then back at her face. ”What are you doing?” he asked with a calm frown, though inside he smirked—curious to see just how far she would go.

The Archpriestess kept her head low, eyes shadowed by guilt and sorrow. Then, with a trembling voice, she whispered, ”D-Do you really love me...?”

Aether blinked. His brows knitted for a second before he nodded, slowly. ”...Yeah.”

”Do you love my sister?”

”Yeah,” he replied again, this time without a momentʼs hesitation—unlike the pause heʼd given her.

The Archpriestess bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. Her heart twisted painfully. ”M-More than me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, quivering with fear.

Aether didnʼt answer.

And that silence... it crushed her.

The Archpriestess felt her entire world cracking apart. She slowly turned her head to face him, her eyes already glazed with tears.

Aetherʼs expression faltered when he saw her face—tear-streaked, vulnerable, utterly broken.

His heart skipped a beat.

Shit!

She was crying.

”W-Why are you doing this to me?” she choked out, voice raw and full of pain. ”I... I really love you, you know? I didnʼt mean for things to turn out like this... I didnʼt want to lie, I didnʼt want to hurt you... sniff... so why? Why are you acting like this...?”

Before she could crumble any further, Aether suddenly stepped forward and pulled her into a firm, warm embrace.

The moment his arms wrapped around her, her entire body tensed—then melted. Her teary eyes widened in shock, and then the dam truly broke. She cried harder, sobbing against his chest as her tears and sniffles came pouring out like a child who had finally been comforted after hours of silent torment.

”I... I really love you... I really, really do... yet you...” she hiccupped, voice strained, ”you donʼt trust me...? Me... why...? What did I do to deserve that? Sniff...”

She tried to push him away with shaking hands, but her arms had no strength. It was a half-hearted push—like she wanted to run, but needed him more than ever. Two emotions fought inside her, crashing and bleeding together.

Aether didnʼt let go.

And in that moment, the lies, the fear, the guilt—all of it—faded into the background. All that remained... was her trembling voice, and the sound of her heart breaking in his arms.

Aether awkwardly smiled, his expression shifting into worry.

ʼMaybe... I pushed too hard,ʼ he thought, biting the inside of his cheek.

He never meant for it to go this far. All he wanted—all he ever wanted—was for her to be honest with him.

Thatʼs all.

Just the truth.

From her own lips.

The Archpriestess clung tightly to his clothes, burying her face into his chest. She couldnʼt bring herself to pull away. She didnʼt want to let go—because deep down, she feared the moment she did, he might vanish. And worse, she was terrified heʼd now seen her real face—the part she worked so hard to hide—the ugly, manipulative truth.

”I... Iʼm sorry... okay? Sniff... Iʼm really sorry...” she whimpered, her voice shaking. ”...But... I shouldnʼt have questioned your love. I shouldnʼt have played with your feelings... shouldnʼt have manipulated you. I... sniff...” Her voice cracked even more as she slowly lifted her head from his shoulder, her face drenched in tears and desperation.

”I... I really love you. P-Please... donʼt leave me. P-Please love me more... Please... Please...” she cried, begging in a broken, pleading voice that sounded like her whole soul was unravelling.

Aetherʼs heart sank.

Yeah... he really fucked up this time.

He wanted to say he was joking, just teasing her to coax the truth—but now?

ʼFuck!ʼ he cursed inwardly, feeling the weight of what just happened. He hadnʼt expected her to break like this.

He let out a deep sigh, then gently reached up to wipe her tears, his fingers soft against her trembling skin.

”I... I love you too,” he said, softly. He leaned forward and kissed her teary eyes with care. ”I never meant to hurt you...” he whispered, voice heavy with guilt and sincerity.

Then, without another word, he gently swept her up into his arms—lifting her like a princess.

”Ahh!!” the Archpriestess let out a soft cry, startled, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. Her fingers clutched him like she was afraid of falling—afraid of being dropped, both physically and emotionally.

Her tear-streaked face pressed against his chest, refusing to move even now.

”Whereʼs your bedroom?” Aether asked, his voice soft but steady.

She didnʼt answer, only pointed toward a door with a trembling hand, still hugging him tightly.

Aether smiled and quietly walked toward it.

The bedroom wasnʼt anything grand—it was surprisingly simple. A small, homely room with a modest bed, just big enough for two people. No gold, no divine ornaments—just warmth and quiet.

Aether gently tried to lower her onto the bed... but she refused to let go.

With a slight laugh under his breath, he let himself fall with her—landing softly on the bed, both of them tangled together. Her arms still clutched him with silent fear, her fingers trembling against his back.

Aether chuckled softly.

This bed... it wasnʼt great, honestly. The mattress was hard and lumpy, definitely not something anyone would call comfortable. But somehow... it reminded him of his past.

His eyes softened.

He remembered those nights when he couldnʼt afford even a bed, when falling asleep meant fighting cold floors and emptiness. It made him smile, bittersweet and faint.

Even after everything... these simple moments brought back old emotions.

The pain. The struggle. The loneliness.

And the reminder of how far heʼd come.

Aether sighed and looked down at the girl in his arms. ʼIf sheʼs not going to say it... then maybe I should—ʼ he thought, before speaking.

”I know who you are... Archpriestess. Or should I call you Stell—”

Zzzzzzz!

He blinked.

His mouth froze mid-word as he realised... she was asleep.

Seriously?

Aether blinked again, wide-eyed.

She actually fell asleep?

He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head slowly, ʼSheʼs exactly like a child...ʼ he thought.

A soft smile curled at his lips.

He pulled her close again, hugging her tighter. His hand gently ran through her hair, ruffling it in a soothing, affectionate motion.

After what felt like an eternity wrapped in silence and warmth—

”Mmm...” the Archpriestess hummed sleepily, a soft smile gracing her lips.

It had been so long since she felt like this...Sleeping after crying. She hadnʼt done that for a long time.

But her peace didnʼt last long.

Her smile slowly faded into a frown. Her hands moved instinctively—searching. Feeling around the sheets, her fingers desperate for something... someone. Her arms felt too light, too empty.

And then her eyes shot open. Wide and grey, shimmering with panic.

”A-Aether?” she whispered, voice filled with sudden dread.

She looked around.

The bed... was empty.

He was gone.

Her heart stopped.

Her skin went cold.

Drip...

A tear fell.

”Nooooo!!” she cried out, her voice shattered and cracked.

Her body curled inward as more tears burst out.

He left.

He actually left her...

It was more heartbreaking than anything she had ever felt.

More than her guilt.

More than the fear of rejection.

Because this—This felt like being abandoned when she finally let someone see the real her.