Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1512: My Mother-in-law’s heart belong to me!

After the simple kiss, Maelona fell quiet. Their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling in the small space between them.

Aether watched her closely, the way her eyes refused to meet his and instead lingered on the petals, the way her fingers kept rubbing against each other as though she could knead her confusion away through her skin.

”Do you love me?” Aether asked softly.

Maelona swallowed hard. It felt as though something thick and fragile was stuck in her throat, something desperate to spill but too frightened to take shape. She stayed there, forehead pressed to his, fingers still moving restlessly, focusing on that small motion as if it mattered more than the question echoing between them.

When no answer came, Aether leaned in again and kissed her. It was gentle, brief, almost hesitant, as if he were asking permission with his lips instead of his words.

”Hmm~”

Maelona flinched, her body frozen for a heartbeat before he pulled back, and before she could recover, his voice brushed her again.

”Do you love me?”

This time, he did not wait for her thoughts to catch up. His lips found hers again...

”Hmm~”

”Do you love me?”

”Hmm~”

”Do you love me?”

”Hmm... S-Stop it.” Maelona pushed lightly against his chest, her face flushed, irritation tangled with embarrassment. ”G-give me time. Let me think before you corner me like this.”

Aether smiled, not teasing but knowing. ”But you will not say it out loud, will you?” he said calmly.

”Even though you feel it. Even though I feel it too. You cannot pretend your heart is quiet right now.”

Her ears twitched as she lowered her head again, but he would not let her hide. Aether lifted her chin gently, just enough to make her face him, to see the tremble in her lips and the unsteady shine in her eyes.

”I love you,” he whispered, ”I love you more than I know how to explain. I want you beside me for the rest of my life, walking the same path, choosing me the same way I choose you.” His gaze darkened, ”No matter what it costs, I will not let anyone take you from me.

You are mine.”

Maelona’s breath caught sharply. Her legs pressed together on instinct as warmth pooled low in her body.

[+8000 AP]

”If words are too hard,” Aether murmured, his lips close enough to brush hers, ”then show me another way.”

He kissed her again, this time with more intent. The kiss was still careful, but there was a hunger beneath it, a restrained urgency that made her hands tremble before they finally slid around his back.

Aether felt the change instantly. Her hold was uncertain at first, fingers curling as though testing whether this was real, then tightening with a quiet need, as if she had been holding her breath for years and only now dared to breathe.

”Hmm~”

Their lips met again, slower, deeper, still gentle but no longer hesitant.

This time, she answered him.

Softly... Then deeper!

The first true press of her mouth against his was unsure, searching. Aether did not rush her. He let her guide that small distance, let her choose how close she wanted to be. When her lips parted slightly, just enough to invite him, he followed without force, tilting his head, letting the kiss deepen in a smooth, unbroken rhythm.

”Hmm~”

A soft sound escaped her throat.

He answered her with a low hum of his own, the sound vibrating softly against her lips and sending a shiver through both of them.

Maelona’s fingers dug into the muscles of his back, gripping him as if she were afraid he might slip away if she loosened her hold. She kissed him again, less hesitant now, the fear thinning beneath a growing hunger, as though she were finally allowing herself to pour everything she had been holding back into that single point of contact.

Her emotions... Her love... Her fear... Her longing...

Everything!!

She poured everything into the kiss, and he met her exactly where she stood. He did not rush her or pull her further than she was ready to go, but he did not retreat either, holding the line between them with steady certainty. Their mouths opened a little more, tongues brushing in a shy, tentative greeting before returning again, bolder this time.

The taste of her filled him, warm and familiar, honeyed with salt and something uniquely hers. It settled deep in his chest, aching in a way that made him realise how long he had wanted this without ever daring to name it, without ever allowing himself to hope for it until this very moment.

”Hmmmff~”

His hand rose to cradle the back of her head, fingers threading gently into her silver-white hair. He held her as though she were something fragile and priceless, something he could never afford to lose, grounding her even as the kiss deepened.

Slowly, deliberately, the kiss grew heavier.... The world narrowed until there was nothing left but the slick warmth of their mouths, tongues curling and retreating, lips catching and releasing as soft gasps were stolen between each unbroken press.

”Hmmm~”

Slrupp~

”Hmmff~”

A small, broken sound slipped from Maelona’s throat, and her entire body trembled against his.

He pulled back just enough to let her breathe, their lips barely parting as her breath hitched. Almost immediately, he chased her mouth again, deeper this time, slower, as though he were trying to memorise her.

He learned the plush give of her lower lip, the way her tongue fluttered when he stroked it gently with his own, the faint shiver that ran through her whenever their mouths locked fully again.

”Beautiful,” he breathed against her lips between kisses, ”You look so beautiful when you let go like this. It was not hard at all, was it? Letting it pour out like this.”

Maelona’s cheeks flushed instantly, heat spreading across her face as she weakly punched his shoulder. ”S-Stop teasing me,” she muttered, her voice embarrassed but not truly upset.

Aether grinned, ’Fuck! She was teasing my Ego!!’ he groaned, he was already leaking under the towel, and she was acting so shy and cute, only making the monster inside grow even hungrier as he leaned and kissed her lips again.

”Hmm~”

She flinched faintly, but this time she answered him without retreating. Both hands slid up to cradle his face, her thumbs brushing along his jaw as if she were trying to memorise the shape of him.

Every time she thought the kiss could not possibly deepen, he proved her wrong, angling his head, drawing out each slow stroke until her trembling became so intense that he had to wrap an arm firmly around her waist to keep her steady.

Maelona broke away first, desperate for air, her forehead falling gently against his. She panted softly, breath ghosting over his lips, her body still humming from the closeness.

”Ha~Ha~Aether~ha...” His name slipped from her mouth between breaths, fragile and breathless, carrying more feeling than she could ever have said outright.

He did not speak. Instead, he found her lips again, claiming them with long, lingering kisses that felt less like desire and more like promises pressed gently into her mouth. One hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her flush against his chest so she could feel how violently his heart was pounding, how fiercely it beat for her alone.

She melted into him without resistance, surrendering to the closeness as if her body had already made the choice her mind was still chasing.

Kiss after kiss after kiss, each one deeper than before.

There were no words between them, no urgency pushing them forward.

Only mouths moving together, slower and wetter, breaths tangling as her fingers shook in his hair.

When they finally parted, it felt almost unreal. Maelona’s lips were swollen, trembling, glossy with shared warmth, small trails of moisture clinging to the corners of her mouth. Her breath came unevenly as she stared up at Aether, eyes glassy with emotion, heat coiling deeper inside her chest and... lower.

Her lips parted slowly, the words already trembling on her tongue. ”I... I-I... I lov—” Her voice faltered abruptly when her gaze dropped to his hand.

Aether was holding a small ring.

Maelona snapped out of her love-heated daze and blinked with a confused expression as she pulled back just enough to truly see it.

Aether smiled softly, carefully, as if afraid to startle her. Holding the ring with reverence, he spoke warmly, ”In some traditions,” he said gently, ”giving a ring to the one you love means you wish to marry them.”

Maelona’s eyes widened.

He met her gaze fully, no teasing left in his expression, only sincerity. ”Will you marry me?”

Maelona flinched, the sound that escaped her barely more than a breath. ”H-Huh?” Her heart skipped violently, then began racing faster than she had ever felt before, pounding so hard it almost hurt.

[+9000 AP]

Her cheeks burned crimson as her thoughts collapsed into chaos, tumbling over one another without order.

”W-What? I-I do not know. I was not ready for this. I did not think... I am not sure. Is this okay? Is this allowed? What about Aria? I never saw her wearing something like this. Am I betraying her? What is happening right now?...”

Aether chuckled softly, ”Do not worry about Aria,” he said calmly. ”I know exactly what I am doing, and you are not betraying her. Just... answer me.”

Maelona fell silent... stretching silence that filled the space between them. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ring, her expression torn, conflicted, trembling at the edges. ”I... I am not—”

”Are you going to keep pushing me away?” he asked quietly, his voice carrying a faint crack he could not quite hide.

”I am asking you, Maelona. Not Aria’s mother.”

She flinched at that, ”N-No. I am not ignoring your feelings,” she said quickly, her voice dropping when she noticed the shadow in his eyes.

”It is just...” Her lips twitched, forming a faint pout as frustration bubbled beneath her shyness.

Inwardly, she cursed him, ’I hate him.’

Looking so painful as if she left him... he was playing with her heart now!

Clenching her fist, she finally raised her right hand with trembling resolve. Her cheeks turned nearly purple, her blue skin flushed as if her entire body were reacting to the heat flooding through her. She lowered her eyes, unable to look at him, too overwhelmed to face his expression.

Aether smiled gently, his chest aching at how unbearably shy she looked... As much as he wanted to say the ring belonged on her left hand, he knew better. In her tribe, the right hand symbolised beginnings, greetings, and blessings, while the left was reserved for grief and endings.

Without a word, he slid the ring onto her right ring finger...

When the ring slid onto her finger, Maelona flinched sharply. She immediately covered her face with her left hand, her ears twitching rapidly as her skin burned a deep, unmistakable red that turned purple due to her blue skin. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest, her legs trembling in a strange, unsteady way as a rush of happiness crashed through her all at once, almost too much for her to contain.

”Done,” Aether whispered quietly.

Maelona slowly peeked through her fingers, her breath hitching when she saw it. The ring sat perfectly on her finger, catching the candlelight in a way that made her pulse race.

[+9000 AP]

Her hand moved closer to her face as she examined it again and again, as if afraid it might vanish if she blinked too hard. Her pulse quickened as she stared at the ring, then hesitantly lifted her gaze to Aether, her voice trembling.

”I... I am married now?”

Aether nodded softly, a warmth in his eyes that left no room for doubt. ”My wife.”

[+9000 AP]

The moment she heard that word, her strength seemed to give out. Maelona unconsciously leaned forward, falling into Aether’s embrace as though her body had finally caught up to the reality of it all.

Aether smiled gently as he held her. Maelona’s shoulders shook as she pressed herself against his chest, tears slipping free despite her smile as she whispered, ”I-Is this really okay? A-Am I... am I worth it? A-Aria will be s—”

Before she could finish, Aether lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. He looked straight into her tear-filled eyes,

”Maelona,” he said softly, ”I love you.”

Her lips trembled as she smiled through the tears, nodding slowly. ”M-My Aether...”

”Yeah,” he replied quietly, leaning in to rub his nose against hers, their foreheads resting together.

They stayed like that for several seconds, breathing each other in, until Aether spoke again in a low murmur.

”Do not worry. One day, I will take your hand in front of the entire world.”

Maelona smiled softly through her tears, shaking her head. ”I... this is enough for me. I am already more than happy.”

Aether smiled to himself as he held her. Whether she wanted that future or not, whether she could say it out loud or not, he knew one thing for certain. One day, the world would know exactly who she belonged to.

They remained like that for a while longer, sharing warmth and quiet comfort, until his tone shifted slightly.

”So,” Aether said, lifting her chin with a subtle, playful grin, ”shall we begin the ritual, dear?”

Maelona blinked, confusion flickering across her face. ”What ritual?”

He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. ”What do you mean? We are married now. You know what comes after marriage.”

Her face drained of colour instantly. ”W-Wedding night?”

Aether’s smirk widened before she could even react. In one smooth motion, he pushed her back onto the bed.

”KYYAAA!!!”

Maelona squeaked like a startled animal, caught completely off guard. Aether hovered over her, his gaze intense and unfiltered as he looked down at her, desire burning openly in his eyes.

The towel around his waist loosened and slipped down.

”Euuu!!” Maelona let out a strange, flustered sound as she covered her now-purple face, overwhelmed by embarrassment and heat all at once.