Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1605: Y-You’re so cruel… Mr. Lackey…

Back in Lackey’s house,

”Hmm...”

A faint groan slipped past Penelope’s lips as her heavy eyelids slowly lifted.

After nearly a whole day and a half of uninterrupted sleep, her body finally gave in to wakefulness. For a few seconds, her vision remained blurred, her mind sluggish, as though it refused to fully return just yet.

She raised a hand, rubbing her eyes weakly, trying to clear the haze.

The ceiling above her felt unfamiliar.

The walls, the faint scent in the air, even the silence... none of it belonged to her.

”H-Huh...? Where... am I...?”

Her voice came out soft, fragile, laced with confusion.

Then—

Everything crashed back.

Her eyes snapped open.

Her pupils trembled.

”Oh... my... God!!”

She shot upright.

The scene from the restaurant replayed vividly... every second, every movement, every reckless moment she had almost crossed.

Her face burned instantly, heat rushing to her cheeks as she pulled her knees tightly to her chest, curling into herself.

”H-How did it... go so wrong...?!”

Her fingers clenched into her hair as she lowered her head, her entire body tensing with embarrassment and disbelief.

”At that moment... I wasn’t even thinking... what was I doing...?” she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling.

Her mind had been a mess back then.

Exhaustion, stress, hunger... everything had piled up until her thoughts blurred into something unstable.

She had been pushing herself endlessly, running on nothing but fragments of will.

And whatever she had done that day...

She had done it without thinking.

But now—

After real rest, after her body had finally slowed and recovered, everything returned with painful clarity. Like a storm that had passed, leaving behind the full extent of the destruction it caused.

”...Why am I like this...?” she whispered faintly.

For nearly half an hour, she didn’t move.

She remained there, sitting on the bed, her face flushed deep red, her thoughts spiraling, her body frozen in place as if even the smallest movement might bring the memories rushing back again.

”...Wait.”

Her eyes widened slightly as another realisation surfaced.

”This house... this isn’t mine...”

”...It belongs to Mr. Lackey... that means...”

She immediately looked down at herself, her hands moving quickly, checking in a rush.

A long breath left her lips.

”...Okay... okay...”

Her clothes were still on.

Wrinkled from sleep, slightly dishevelled... but untouched.

Relief washed over her, though it didn’t fully calm her racing heart.

”Mr. Lackey?”

She called out cautiously as she slid off the bed, her feet touching the cool floor.

”Mr. Lackey... are you here?”

Her voice echoed faintly through the quiet house as she stepped forward, glancing around. She called again, a little louder this time.

”Hello...?”

Only the soft whisper of wind drifting through the house replied.

”...He’s not here...?” she murmured, her brows knitting slightly.

She walked toward the kitchen, her steps slow, still carrying traces of hesitation.

As she entered, something immediately caught her attention.

A neatly placed note rested on the table.

”...A note?”

Curiosity pushed aside her unease for a moment as she reached for it.

Her fingers unfolded the paper carefully, and she began to read.

[Dear Penelope,

I have business to take care of, and if you woke up and got hungry, I left a dish in the cooler. Please eat. You haven’t eaten since yesterday’s lunch, and no need to worry about pleasantries. Just consider this your home and treat yourself, and most of all... please rest well and regain your health, or else... 😡]

For a second, she stared at the last part.

Then—

”Pff... haha...”

A small laugh slipped out before she could stop it.

She covered her mouth slightly, her shoulders trembling faintly.

”What’s with this angry face...?” she muttered softly, her voice lightening. ”It’s... kind of cute...”

A gentle smile formed on her lips, almost unfamiliar to her own face after a long time.

”...He really wrote all this for me...”

The thought lingered quietly.

She turned toward the cooler and slowly opened it.

The moment the lid lifted—

She froze.

Inside, placed carefully as if it held importance, was a beautifully made chocolate cake.

Its surface was smooth and rich, the texture almost glossy under the light. A faint, sweet aroma rose gently, wrapping around her senses.

”...This is...”

Her voice trailed off, barely audible.

Beside it lay a smaller note.

Her fingers moved almost instinctively, picking it up.

[I will try to be your favourite... so please stay here.]

She didn’t need to think to understand.

It wasn’t about staying in the house.

”...Stay... here...” she whispered.

It meant staying alive.

Staying in this world.

Her vision blurred instantly as tears welled up in her eyes.

”...You’re really...”

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the cake, gently breaking off a small piece.

She hesitated for a second.

Then brought it to her lips.

The moment it touched her tongue, the sweetness spread softly, rich and warm, melting slowly.

It wasn’t just the taste... it carried something deeper, something that reached straight into her chest.

”S-So sweet...”

Her voice shook.

”So... tasty...”

Tears spilled over before she could stop them, sliding down her cheeks freely.

”I... I miss them...”

Her shoulders trembled as the emotions she had buried for so long surfaced all at once.

”M-Mom... Dad... sniff...”

She rubbed her eyes desperately, but the tears kept coming, refusing to be held back.

”I wanted to tell you so many things...” she whispered between uneven breaths. ”I wanted you to see me... just once more...”

Her grip tightened slightly as she held the piece of cake.

”Y-You’re so cruel... Mr. Lackey...”

Her voice wavered, fragile, yet carrying a strange warmth beneath the pain.

”Doing something like this... for someone like me... A nobody.... it’s t-too cruel... sniff...”

Her tears fell freely, yet her lips curved faintly, caught between sorrow and something softer... something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

***

Pyra Empire

Aether flinched the moment the notification flickered before his eyes, his gaze narrowing slightly as he slowed his steps near the palace gates.

”Who?.... Hmm... Did she wake up?” he murmured under his breath.

The massive gates parted, and he stepped inside.

The palace, usually alive with soft laughter, distant chatter, and the gentle rhythm of movement... felt strangely hollow.

The corridor stretched long and silent.

He exhaled quietly, touched with disappointment. He understood, of course. His wives had their own duties, their own worlds to tend.

’Anyway, with Kaelith, everything went smoother than I expected...’ Aether thought, the corner of his lips lifting into a faint smile.

When he had arrived at the Elder’s house... The Elder was furious about the death of his granddaughter and her husband, his aged hands trembling as he stood beneath the dim, flickering lamplight.

Not about the torture and horrifying death, just said... Aether killed them for misconduct against his Empire.

Yup, against the Empire!

Even then, the Elder’s fury had not lessened.

His voice rose, declaring that such matters should have been handled within the Elven court.

That Aether had no right to act directly, to take matters into his own hands without their law.

Aether had listened.

Honestly, he didn’t care.

The only reason he had even gone there was to ensure his son would not be forced to clean up his mess.

He was responsible for his actions and for a second... really for a second, Aether thought of eradicating the entire Tribe.

Just for a second.

Really!!

Only a second, before reason quietly settled back into place.

But thank goodness, Kaelith was there and soothed the Elder with just a few words... ’Raise his Tribe Rank a few above!’

Those words alone had been enough.

The Elder’s rage dissolved almost instantly, replaced by something disturbingly indifferent. As if the death of his own blood no longer held weight.

As if the loss had already been discarded. Instead, he praised Aether, his tone almost approving, calling it a necessary act to remove useless elements from the tribe.

Indeed, it seemed like five of them had caused chaos within the tribe. Stirring trouble, provoking conflicts with other tribes, dragging their Ranks down to the very bottom.

Their presence had become a stain the Elder had already intended to erase.

He had been planning exile. The granddaughter, her husband, and the companions who had entered the tribe under their influence were all marked to be cast out.

Their fate was already sealed long before Aether intervened.

”Seriously, next time if you decide to mess things up, contact me first!!”

Kaelith’s voice echoed clearly in Aether’s memory.

Those were the words of Kaelith before parting him away... urgently, his expression shifting as if something far more important was waiting within the house.

’Heck, he even pushed me away before I could reach his mansion, saying they were still in their honeymoon phase... ahaha... and didn’t want me to ruin their fun.’ Aether thought, a soft chuckle forming silently within him, his expression loosening for a brief moment.

He really wanted to tease his Father-in-law, to poke at that rare, unguarded side... after all, his wife did ask him to come back, too.

Kaelith... he was truly an amusing Father-in-law, unpredictable in a way that made him strangely enjoyable.

’So I can mess around with his permission... ah.’

A dangerous glint slipped into Aether’s eyes.

His gaze drifted across the corridor, settling on a particular door.

Mira’s room.

He had not received any unusual reports about her.

No strange movements. Only the same routine.

Staying inside and Training on the grounds.

Nothing more.

Even his ’little spy’ had not informed a word.

’Am I thinking too much?’ he wondered, his brows drawing together faintly before he shook his head, dismissing the thought as he stepped into his own room.

Crack.. Crack...

The sharp sounds echoed softly as he rolled his neck.

He wanted to lie down, to let his body sink into rest, to escape even for a moment... honestly, he had been working for the past few days without pause, and the pain, the pain of using Sacred Flames still lingered deep within his body.

He didn’t show it outside, not even a flicker of discomfort slipping through his composed expression, but his body hurt like hell, as if pierced by a thousand needles every second.

But what could he do... he didn’t have a choice, and... for some reason, he couldn’t sleep for the past few days since the incident—

”Oh? Aether? I thought I saw someone entering your room...”

A gentle, lovely voice drifted from behind him.