!!!

’What the fuck?!’

Aether’s body jolted as a wave of goosebumps rippled across his skin, his spine snapping rigid the instant that unnatural chill seeped deep into his bones... like something unseen had just brushed past his soul.

It felt as if he had unknowingly signed a pact far worse than death itself.

’Must be my imagination,’ he thought, exhaling lightly as he turned his gaze toward Nyx, who lay beneath the quilt, her face flushed a deep, burning red, eyes half-hidden yet fixed on him with quiet intensity.

Aether let out a low chuckle as he slipped into his clothes, his gaze lingering on her.

"What is it? Still not satisfied... or do you want more?"

Nyx instantly pulled the quilt over her head, burying herself completely. "N-No!"

Aether’s chuckle softened as he reached out, gently patting the small rise of her head beneath the quilt, "Then tell me something honestly... who do you love more?"

"..."

"Nyx?"

"I... I am not sure—"

"You little—!!"

Aether’s lips twitched as he suddenly lunged forward, grabbing her through the quilt and mercilessly tickling her.

"Hahaha... S-Stop... ahahaha... P-Please... ahahahah... it hurts—ahahah!"

Her laughter spilled uncontrollably, her body twisting beneath the covers as the bed creaked softly.

After a moment, Aether noticed the strain in her voice, the laughter turning breathless. He immediately stopped, his expression softening as he carefully wrapped his arms around her through the quilt, pulling her closer.

His lips brushed against her forehead through the thin layer of fabric,

"Alright... that’s enough. Get some rest. I still have things to take care of."

Nyx nodded faintly beneath the covers, her fingers clutching the quilt as she peeked out just enough to watch him.

Her gaze lingered on him, tracing every line of his face, every movement of his body.

Even after everything they had done, the roughness, the intensity, the way he had taken her apart and put her back together, just looking at him made her body tremble again, heat coiling low within her.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay still, resisting the overwhelming urge to pull him back and lose herself in him once more.

Aether adjusted his clothing before speaking again, "About Grenthollow... I think we should leave it in this place. We cannot let those souls be destroyed just because of our choices... our ego.

That would be wrong."

This decision felt like losing something, yet it was the only path that made sense.

Those innocent souls had nothing to do with him... or Mary.

Nyx slowly pushed the quilt down,

"You don’t need to worry about that," she said softly, a subtle curve forming at her lips. "I found a way to keep it running... without any complications."

Aether blinked, caught off guard.

"You did? That is... unexpected. How exactly?"

Nyx tilted her head slightly, "That... is a secret."

She gave a small wink, her face still carrying that same stoic calm.

Aether stared for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

How could she do something like that so effortlessly and still look completely unbothered?

There was something undeniably charming about it, especially when she let those small pieces of emotion slip through.

"She really is... unexpectedly adorable when she lets herself be," he murmured under his breath.

He glanced back at her.

"Alright then... one more thing. Is Starla still with you?"

Nyx gave a small nod, her hand lifting slightly as shadows began to gather around her fingers.

The air warped, twisting into a dark, circular tear as a portal slowly opened, its edges flickering like liquid night.

From within it, a heavy presence emerged.

A tall, striking, muscular ghostly woman stepped through, her form partially translucent, yet imposing, her long hair drifting as if underwater. A massive sword rested in her hand, its surface dimly reflecting the faint light in the room.

The temperature dropped slightly as she fully stepped out, the portal closing behind her with a soft, echoing hum.

"Good."

Aether nodded faintly, his gaze lifting toward the sky as it slowly turned a deep, unsettling shade of bloody red.

Without a word, his hand firm yet careful as he laid her back against the bed. He then sat at the edge beside her, silently waiting for her to fall asleep.

Nyx’s eyelids grew heavy, her breathing softening, yet she refused to close her eyes completely.

Her gaze shifted downward, settling on the ring Aether had given her.

"Husband..."

"Hmm?"

"Can I... protect you?"

She wanted to, desperately, yet something deep within whispered that it was impossible. He stood above everyone, moved faster than anyone could follow.

Aether’s expression softened. A small, warm smile formed as he gently ran his fingers through her hair,

"Yes... You can."

That simple answer settled into her like warmth spreading through cold veins.

Her body relaxed, her eyes finally closing as she surrendered to sleep.

Then, slowly, her form began to change.

Her half-body withered... Flesh receded, decaying as if time itself had accelerated upon her. Muscles thinned, organs shrank as though drained of life, until only bone remained beneath what little lingered.

Snnng~

The cracked Pasa rope around her wrist emitted a faint ghostly glow.

Aether watched her in silence as he took in every detail of her altered state.

"You look beautiful... my dear."

He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss against her forehead, right where flesh and bone met.

There was no hesitation in him, no trace of disgust.

To him, she remained the same woman, unchanged in worth, unchanged in beauty.

If anything... even more worthy of love!

For a brief moment, something stirred.

Whether it was his voice or his touch, her form trembled faintly. Both her living and lifeless halves quivered as faint purple particles flickered around her, drifting like dying embers in the air.

Aether straightened, rising to his feet before turning his gaze toward Starla.

She stood frozen, her eyes locked onto him, wide and unblinking, as if she were staring at something far beyond human.

Something terrifying!

"What?"

"N-Nothing, my lord!" Starla quickly averted her gaze, turning her head to the side, her cheeks flushed a deep red as she struggled to compose herself.

Aether let out a quiet hum, a slight frown touching his face, but he chose not to press further.

Instead, his voice turned colder, sharper.

"Listen carefully. If anything gets out of hand... if you sense even the slightest danger, take her and come to me immediately. Do you understand?"

Starla reacted instantly. She drove her sword into the ground with a firm motion.

"It is my duty, my lord!"

Aether gave a small nod and turned to leave.

"M-My lord...!"

Her voice stopped him mid-step.

He paused, glancing back slightly.

"Why don’t you... wear this? At least for now..."

Starla’s hands trembled as she bent down, picking up the skull mask from the ground and holding it out toward him.

Aether’s brows furrowed, a faint edge entering his expression. "Why should I wear it?"

Starla swallowed hard. Her eyes refused to meet his, darting anywhere but toward him.

"I-It’s just... your face..." she struggled, her voice faltering.

"I don’t know how to explain it, but... it was pulling me... in a way I shouldn’t..."

Her blush deepened, spreading across her cheeks as embarrassment overtook her composure.

"...It felt... lustful."

Honestly, she was shocked.

The moment she arrived and saw him, the very first thought that slipped into her mind was... what would it feel like to be held by him?

To be pulled into that quiet warmth, he carried so effortlessly.

Blasphemy!

How could a ghost... a knight sworn to her Queen, bound by duty and pride... even think of sharing a bed with her Queen’s husband?

Even entertaining such a thought felt like betrayal carved into her very soul.

It was wrong.

Completely, utterly wrong!!

Yet somewhere deep within her, buried beneath layers of loyalty and discipline, that very thought sent a strange thrill crawling through her being, doing something slow and shameful behind her Queen—

’What the fuck!!!’

She screamed inwardly, her expression twisting into raw horror as her gaze snapped back to Aether, who stood there, looking at her Queen with such quiet tenderness, such unguarded care, that it only made everything worse.

Starla... a woman who had always taken pride in her discipline, her loyalty, her unshakable will... was thinking something so absurd, so disgraceful, that even she could barely comprehend it.

What in the world was happening to her?

She swallowed hard, forcing her thoughts into order, trying to regain control over her spiraling mind.

’No, No! Something is wrong with him... Even if it were some kind of charm, it should only work on the living.’

Yes, that had been her first conclusion, the only logical explanation she could cling to.

A charm, like those used by Vampires or Succubi... that unnatural allure that twisted desire, blurred reason, and bent will, pulling others in without resistance.

But those abilities only worked on the living.

Souls like hers were immune.

No matter how powerful the being, such influence should never reach her.

Even Mary... had never been able to charm Starla like that.

And yet...

To think that even she had the urge to fu— ahem... to fall into his hands, to surrender even for a fleeting second.

What kind of nightmare had he awakened within her?

’He is neither a Vampire nor an incubus... then why is he radiating this much allure...?’

Her thoughts trembled, and just one glance at his face, one careless moment of eye contact, made her legs feel weak.

That was why she had resorted to this.

If she did not... then who knew how many women would fall for him, drawn in helplessly, one after another... and her Queen...

Her Queen would be hurt, right?

Yes, it’s for her Queen!

Definitely!

"P-Please forgive me, my lord... but it is not about me," Starla said, clearing her throat, forcing her voice into steady, controlled despite the chaos inside her.

"I meant... other women. Disgusting women who might approach you with such... thoughts."

Aether paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face at her words.

"Lustful...?" he repeated softly. His gaze settled on her lowered figure, "Look at me."

"H-Huh? N-No, my lor—"

"I said, look at me."

After a brief moment of hesitation, one that felt far longer than it truly was, Starla slowly lifted her head.

The instant her eyes met his...

Heat surged through her.

Hot?

Her thoughts stuttered violently. Which body was feeling this? She did not even possess a proper physical form... so why—

A deeper, colder horror crept in, wrapping around her consciousness.

Aether’s expression shifted slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes as he watched her face grow redder, her composure visibly cracking.

He raised his hand, slowly, cautiously, intending to touch her, perhaps to confirm what he was seeing... or feeling.

But before he could reach her—

Starla staggered back, retreating nearly ten feet in an instant in panicked steps.

The skull mask slipped from her trembling fingers, falling to the ground with a dull thud.

"..."

"I-I am sorry... I-I just... I... I..." Starla stammered, her voice breaking apart as her flushed face turned even redder, her thoughts tangled beyond control.

It was then that Aether finally understood.

A faint realisation crossed his mind as his gaze sharpened slightly.

’Is it because... of the Primordial Vampire blood?’

Curiosity flickered beneath his frown as he observed her carefully, his attention drifting for a moment toward the progress still lingering before him.

[Mutation Progress: 70%... 72%....]

Aether hummed quietly before bending down, picking up the fallen skull mask. Without much thought, he placed it over his face.

Then, he turned his gaze back toward Starla.

She was hiding behind the closet now, her massive frame awkwardly pressed against it, as if that alone could conceal her presence.

Her posture was stiff, her face still burning, her eyes avoiding him at all costs.

Aether let out a faint, amused breath.

’Look at her... even if she carries herself like a man, she is still very much a woman.’

His gaze drifted downward for a brief second, catching the outline of her chest where the tight strap of her clothing pressed against her form—

"Ahem!"

Aether coughed abruptly, cutting his own thoughts short,

’I am not depraved enough to desire a ghost... am I?’

A flicker of doubt surfaced before he dismissed it with a quiet shrug and turned away, leaving the room without another word.

The door closed softly behind him.

The moment he was gone, Starla let out a long, trembling sigh of relief, her shoulders finally dropping as if she had been holding her breath the entire time.

Slowly, she turned toward the bed where her Queen rested, her expression shifting into something heavy with guilt.

"F-Forgive me, my Queen... for harbouring such impure thoughts toward your King..." her voice wavered as she tightened her grip around the hilt of her weapon.

"This knight... deserves punishment."

Meanwhile, Aether, now wearing the skull mask, returned to the Zephyra Empire.

The night had fully settled. The sky stretched dark and endless... Most of the empire had fallen into a sleep.

Except for one.

Kaelen stood alone in the corridor, his figure stiff with unease as he waited, his eyes fixed on the distance where shadows gathered.

"I hope... nothing bad happens," he muttered under his breath, though his heart told him otherwise.

After all, this was the first time he had seen his father with those cold eyes... heard that voice that did not feel like his father at all.

"Oh? Kaelen... you are still awake?"

A voice echoed from down the corridor.

Kaelen turned quickly.

There, emerging from the dim light, was his father walking toward him with steady steps.

’He... looks normal?’

Expect that skull mask, of course.

Surprise flickered across Kaelen’s face as he observed him.

Everything seemed ordinary, just like always, as if nothing had happened at all.

When Aether stopped in front of him, Kaelen swallowed before speaking,

"F-Father... they are waiting in the training grounds."

The moment the words left his mouth—

"Hehe... of course. I knew I could count on you, my son."

That same unsettling sound slipped from Aether’s lips, identical to before.

A chill ran down Kaelen’s spine, sharp and immediate.

’M-Mommy...!’

He screamed inwardly as he silently begged for his mother to save him.