Chapter 57

"What I said earlier was a lie," Stella began, her voice trembling with emotion as she opened up to Aether.

"I didn't get separated from my friends," she confessed, her gaze fixed on the ground as she recounted the events that had led her here, "It was a 2-Copper Star Goblin that attacked us, trapping us in its clutches. We were defenceless against its ferocity, and as the situation grew dire, desperation set in."

Her voice wavered as she continued, the memories still fresh in her mind, "I-It... was then that they decided one of us had to be s-sacrificed as bait to distract the goblin while the others escaped seeking help..... And in their eyes, it seemed logical to choose m-me, the so-called 'Useless Healer' for the task."

"E-Even more.. They didn't even ask for my consent," Stella continued, her voice tinged with bitterness, "They just assumed I would comply, that I would willingly offer myself up for their survival and..... foolishly, I did. I played my part, drawing the attention of the goblins as they fled into the night, leaving me behind... with a little hope at least they call for help"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she recounted the loneliness and fear she had experienced in those moments of abandonment, "Yet, those little hopes were shattered when the night came.... I ran until I couldn't anymore until my legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed, defenseless against the horrors lurking in the darkness. I-I thought it was the end for me, but then...

then the landslide happened, and... you know the rest" Her voice trailed off as she clutched to his sack dress tightly.

"I see," Aether murmured, his hand still gently patting Stella's back as he absorbed the weight of her story. He struggled to find the right words to say, his heart heavy with sympathy for her plight. Despite feeling a pang of sadness at her naivety.... just hearing her story he could already guess what kind of girl she was.

"Even in the situation you're going around and helping others...?" Aether muttered, his thoughts drifting back to the moment when Stella had bravely stood up to danger despite just having suffered herself.... He couldn't forget the image of Stella bravely standing up and walking towards danger, her fear masked behind a facade of determination.

"T-That's what a healer should do.... " Stella replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Indeed, she was naive and perhaps even a bit foolish, but to Aether, she was also a beacon of hope and innocence in a wretched world.

She was one of the rare souls who remained untainted by the cruelty of their surroundings, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.... These kinds of people, he thought, were what made life worth living. Their unwavering belief in the goodness of others, their willingness to help those in need without hesitation...

It was something he could never quite understand, and yet, Aether, who had endured his fair share of suffering in life, couldn't bring himself to live like them. To him, their altruism and selflessness were nothing more than additional burdens to carry in an already heavy heart.

He had learned the hard way that trusting others and opening oneself up to vulnerability only led to pain and disappointment.

Though he may never fully understand their perspective, Aether couldn't deny the impact that people like Stella had on the world around them. Their presence was like a ray of sunshine cutting through the darkness, offering hope and solace to those in need.

Everyone was selfish in a way.

As Aether gazed into Stella's ash-coloured eyes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and connection. Her eyes seemed to draw him in, like wormholes into another world. They held a depth and beauty that captivated him, and he found himself unable to look away.

"Your eyes are really beautiful, Little Lady," he muttered softly, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Stella's teary eyes widened in surprise at his words. She had been so lost in her own thoughts and emotions that she hadn't noticed his face... A face that finally revealed from the degenerate, as she looked at him more closely, she couldn't help but be struck by his handsome features.... the perfect symmetry of his face, the chiselled jawline, the small nose.

His crystal blue eyes sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight, and she found herself unable to look away.

It was truly captivating!!

+100 Affection

As Aether noticed the new triple-digit affection points for the first time, a frown creased his brow. His attention momentarily shifted away from Stella's face as he processed the unexpected development.

Meanwhile, Stella's thoughts were in a whirlwind as she realized her position... sitting on Aether's lap, her face flushed with embarrassment. She was about to move away when Aether gently held her in his arms, pulling her closer to him.

Her heart raced as she felt the warmth of his embrace, her cheeks burning with embarrassment at their close proximity.

After narrowly escaping death and finding himself enveloped in Stella's embrace, Aether found it difficult to remain still for long. With gentle care, he leaned down, still holding her in his arms, and carefully settled her onto his lap.

Her face immediately flushed crimson, her embarrassment evident as she shifted uncomfortably. But before she could make a move,

"Yes, I had the option to escape by leaving you," Aether muttered, his gaze fixed on the black screen of his mission panel. The blinking green light of the "save and seduce Stella" mission caught his attention, but he couldn't discern what it meant. His system log seemed utterly useless in explaining anything.

Finally tearing his gaze away from the screen, Aether looked directly at Stella's face. "Yes, I truly thought for a moment to escape by leaving you with them," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. as he truly thought about leaving her in a spur moment.

Don't get him wrong, as much as he likes to save others... He never wanted to be a hero. He was a normal man with the useless system that screwed him over every time.

Everyone is selfish, and he wanted to save his own life... There was nothing wrong with it.

However, no matter what, he wasn't that heartless to leave a girl who was obviously in danger, with a middle-aged man leering at her like a pervert.

So, at that moment, he decided to take her, no matter what the end result would be... If death was his fate, he would gladly accept it because at least he saved a girl and chose his own destiny instead of letting others control his life.

Hearing Aether's words, Stella found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected confession. Disappointment clouded her eyes, a silent acknowledgement of the shattered expectations she had held.

Aether seemed to sense her disappointment, his chuckle cutting through the tension. "Haha... You must have thought I was some kind of knight who descended to save the princess, right? And now truly disappointed that I am not, right?" he remarked, his tone lighthearted despite the weight of his words.

Stella managed an awkward smile, caught off guard by Aether's insight. She couldn't deny that a part of her had secretly wished something like 'I saved you because you are important to me!'.

Just remembering it made a crimson flush that tinged her cheeks. Before she could respond, however, Aether's solemn voice pierced the air.

"Sometimes even a Knight needs a princess to save him," he murmured, his words tinged with longing and pain.

She wondered why his pain stinging her heart.

Then, in a moment that sent shock rippling through her, Aether caught her shoulder and revealed his true identity,

"My name is Aether, An Eternal Slave in Frostblade Duke House," he declared.

Stella's initial surprise quickly gave way to shock, her features contorting with disbelief before settling into a mask of fear. Aether observed her reaction with a knowing smile, his anticipation of her response confirming his expectations.

"Anyhow, we need to move away from here. Come on, let's go before those bastards figure out our whereabouts and come this way," Aether urged, his voice low and urgent as he gently tapped her back to prompt her to move. Stella complied without much reaction, her mind undoubtedly reeling from the revelation.

As they hurried away from the scene, Aether couldn't help but ponder Stella's subdued demeanour, "She must be too shocked," he mused inwardly.