“It looks beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Hmm….”
“…”
“Sigh, why are you staring at me like that?” Sandra asked, her voice laced with both annoyance and embarrassment as a faint blush coloured her cheeks. She glared at Aether, who, despite her protest, continued to stare at her as if she were some kind of divine being—an angel that had descended right before him.
After a long, passionate kiss… neither of them had taken another step forward.
Yep, though they both wanted it, they hadn’t gone any further, and yet… it felt oddly more satisfying, more intimate, and even more romantic than if they had.
Aether never asked why she had cried like that… He wasn’t the type to push when he knew silence was more valuable than words… He was no senseless fool.
She was an Empress… The mere fact that she had allowed herself to break down before him was already shocking—an unthinkable act that spoke volumes about the depth of her emotions.
It meant she had been willing if only for a moment, to expose her vulnerability to him… But even so, Aether understood Sandra too well. She had a reputation to maintain, an image she refused to let shatter completely.
That’s why he didn’t press her for an explanation.
Now, they stood together outside on the grand balcony, their gazes fixed on the ominous sight before them—their two great Empires inching closer and closer.
The collision was no longer a question of if but when!
Aether, who had been silently watching her all this time, finally spoke, “It’s just… I’d rather keep my eyes on you than on that so-called ‘beautiful’ disaster.”
He meant every word.
Yes, the view was breathtaking, undeniably mesmerizing.
From their vantage point, it felt as if the neighbouring Empire was merely an arm’s length away. The sight was almost surreal—a world of blazing volcanoes, cascading lights, and deep, endless valleys. A view that could captivate anyone, and make them forget… the impending doom!
If anyone from either Empire stood here, looking upon this scene, they would be momentarily enchanted… until the realization of what was to come set in!!
Sandra let out a small sigh and shook her head, but before she could say anything, Aether suddenly pulled her closer. His hands tightened around her waist, gripping her hips possessively.
She flinched, but… she didn’t push him away.
After all, they had just shared a kiss that had shaken her very core, a kiss that had nearly made her lose herself…. Compared to that, this was nothing.
A small pause lingered between them before Sandra leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. She watched the ominous sight before them and finally murmured, “That thing… it might hit us in a day or two.”
“Hmm…” Aether nodded, his expression unreadable.
Sandra’s gaze remained fixed on the Pyra Empire.
Deep down, she knew her…. Death was inevitable. But even if she had accepted it, she couldn’t afford to let her daughter bear this burden just yet. She had never been one to care much for this Empire, but that didn’t change the fact that she was its ruler.
She was the Empress.
She had taken this throne with her own hands, seized it from her father, and now…
Now, she had a duty to fulfill before her time ran out.
Aether remained calm, almost too calm, and that caught Sandra’s attention. She glanced up at him, her voice laced with curiosity. “What? Are you not worried about your Empire at all?”
Aether was still staring blankly at his own Empire. A long moment passed before he finally spoke. “Worried? Oh, I have plenty of things to worry about… but my Empire?” He exhaled slowly, “That is the least of my concerns right now.”
Sandra raised a brow, her lips curling into a sly smile, “So… your plan with the thrusters is already complete?”
Aether nodded without hesitation, “Indeed. And… I’ll need your help as well.”
Sandra didn’t even think twice before nodding in agreement. Of course, she would help… after her empire was too needed the help!
Aether gave a small, approving smile. “Tomorrow morning, Delphine will explain everything to you.”
“Hmm…” Sandra hummed, her body unconsciously shifting closer to him. It was subtle, but Aether could tell—she was reluctant to let go as if she knew he wouldn’t stay for long.
Aether’s expression softened. He turned toward her, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace, holding her close as he gazed into her misty eyes.
His voice was firm, unwavering as he whispered,
“I may not know everything about you… I may not understand you completely…
But no matter how much you try to push me away,
no matter how much you hate me or even try to kill me…” He reached out, tapping the centre of her chest, right where her heart was. His voice dropped to a near whisper, yet it carried an undeniable weight.
“This man loves you…. And I will do whatever it takes to protect you.”
His fingers pressed against her chest, his words echoing between them like a vow. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire
“Never. Forget. That.”
Sandra stood frozen, staring at him in silence.
His eyes were glowing, shimmering with the intensity of his resolve—silent proof of the truth behind every word he had just spoken.
Sandra blinked as she nodded, “I see…” before teasingly adding, “Even though you took my daughter and corrupted my maid?”
Aether immediately averted his eyes. “Let’s… not delve into that… And for the record, I’m pretty sure they were the ones who fell for me.
Not the other way around. Okay?” He spoke with firm conviction as if trying to convince himself as much as her. “Believe me, they just fell for me—I didn’t even lift a finger…”
Only he knew how fucking hard he had worked, how much effort and patience it had taken, but still, he needed to keep his cool together, right?
“Tsk, tsk… Being handsome and knowledgeable is definitely a dangerous thing,” Aether muttered in a sarcastic tone, shaking his head dramatically.
However, to his surprise, instead of defaming him as he half expected…
“Yeah, maybe you’re right…” Sandra said with a small, almost soft and gentle smile.
Aether’s heart skipped a beat.
She seemed… different. More—something.
‘Fuck! I need to leave before I do something to her!’ Aether thought seriously. It wasn’t like he was running away from the possibility of getting laid, but… his hands were already full with everything else, and that damn law of nature—whatever that shit was—was pushing him toward something urgent.
He really didn’t have time to indulge in distractions, not when everything was on the line.
And by the way things looked, Aether knew if they started now, he wouldn’t be able to stop… not even after a whole day. That’s how badly he wanted to pour every ounce of his love into her, to claim her, to make her his in every possible way.
Just imagine—two rulers of two massive Empires locked in passionate, uncontrollable lovemaking while their people screamed in terror, their worlds colliding, innocent lives perishing in chaos—while their rulers screamed for entirely different reasons.
That was utterly disturbing!
Aether gave Sandra one last peck on the lips before quickly pulling away, leaving in a rush—because, well… he had literally gotten a boner!
[Good way to ruin the moment!]
Log couldn’t help but comment!
Aether sneered. ‘Shut up… She suddenly went too cute! I’ve never seen that side of her before… It’s too damn hot not to stop that!!’
Sandra blankly stared at the place where Aether had just vanished. Her lips trembled before curving into a gentle smile, but then, as if something broke inside her, she bit down on her lower lip, her shoulders shaking as tears started rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably.
“S-So… h-he came… He came back for… m-me?” She stammered, her voice breaking as even more tears streamed down her face, her expression completely crumbling as she struggled to hold herself together.
“He returned back in time!” Sandra whispered, her eyes widening as fresh tears welled up in them, threatening to spill over again.
That’s why Aether had been acting so strangely.
How did she know?
Because she had already seen it… hadn’t she?
During the Previous iteration, When Aether returned, her death spell had activated. At that moment, she had glimpsed the final moments of a nightmare—an unspeakable horror that had seared itself into her mind. Though she hadn’t been certain of time travel back then, that thing—that nightmare—had been very real, as real as the air she was breathing. And after that, Aether had started behaving differently… unnervingly different. He had even killed the Dragon Emperor as if it meant nothing.
That solidified it!
He had time-travelled!!
Even just a few moments ago, in her plan, she had counted on Aether saving them. She had only prepared herself for her ultimate decision, her final role in this grand game. And… whether by pure luck or coincidence, she had considered the possibility of Aether using time travel.
But she had brushed it off as nothing more than a fleeting thought.
After all, while he claimed to love her, he was always teasing, always playing around, always hiding behind that cocky grin of his. He had never seemed serious enough to actually do something so reckless, so dangerous, so… desperate.
That’s what she had believed.
Until the moment he appeared in her palace, all of a sudden, acting strange—acting clingy… looking at her like she was the most precious thing in his entire world.
She knew now.
He had travelled back in time to save her!
“Why? Why, you idiot?!” Sandra choked out, covering her mouth as more tears fell freely. “Why did you come back for me? D-Do you love me that much?”
Her entire body trembled as she clenched her fists, struggling to steady her emotions, “I… I hurt you so many times, and yet… and yet…”
Her voice cracked, but beneath the pain, there was something else.
Happiness.
Pure, undeniable happiness!
The kind that came from knowing—truly knowing—that he had risked everything for her. That his love had meant something. That it had been real enough to make him go against time itself to reach her, to change fate for her sake.
However…
Sandra’s expression suddenly turned cold and calculating. The warmth in her eyes dimmed as a new determination settled in.
“I’m… sorry.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“This needs to be done…”
“M-My death is inevitable, A-Aether.” She bit her trembling lips, shaking at the mere thought of what he must have gone through.
She had seen it—the way he looked at her, the silent pain in his eyes.
She could only imagine how much he had suffered because of her death.
“Y-You’re strong… The strongest man I’ve ever seen in my life,” she murmured, almost as if she were speaking to him directly, knowing he wouldn’t hear.
She wiped her tears away, inhaling sharply as she turned and walked back inside, her steps steady despite the emotions swirling within her.
Once again… she was recreating her plan for her death.
Aether, whether he realized it or not, had caused a butterfly effect!
Just because he had let his emotions control him—whether knowingly or unknowingly—he had changed everything.
And just like Iteration No. 27 had warned…
Too much knowledge was never a good thing.
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