Chapter 84

"Empress Sandra... Your eyes are so beautiful. Your scent is warm and gentle. Please hold me tightly."

"I will do as you say, Dear~ but before that.... I shall teach you what real pleasure is!!!" The Empress exclaimed dramatically, brandishing a large kitchen knife in her hands with a theatrical flourish.

'Chuk'

'Chuk'

'Chuk'

'Chuk'

She mercilessly stabbed at him with a crazed expression, her eyes ablaze with a mixture of fury and amusement!

"NO!!!!!" Aether's scream echoed through the room as he jolted awake from his not-so-wet dreams, the sudden transition from bliss to horror leaving him gasping for air.

His face was drenched in a cold sweat, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of the chaotic scene before him. "-ha- W-What happened? -ha- Where am I?" he muttered, his voice trembling with confusion and fear as he scanned the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind still foggy from the remnants of his dream.

The room he found himself in bore little resemblance to the one he had entered before, its decor and layout foreign and unsettling. It resembled more closely the chambers allocated to other servants rather than the lavish quarters.

"What just happened?" Aether's frown deepened, his thoughts racing to catch up with reality as he struggled to piece together the fragmented memories that seemed to slip through his grasp like sand through his fingers.

Slowly, the events leading to his nightmarish awakening began to emerge from the depths of his subconscious, each revelation sending a shiver down his spine.

His expression shifted rapidly, a whirlwind of emotions crossing his features in quick succession... confusion, disbelief, shock, and finally settling on a profound sense of horror and disbelief.

Horrified!!!

"OH M--" Aether's exclamation was abruptly cut short as a voice interrupted him.

"You awake?"

"FUCK!!" Aether's startled expletive filled the room as he recoiled from the sudden intrusion, his eyes were wide with alarm and disbelief as he registered the familiar face of the maid standing before him with a small smile.

"The party is about to start," the Maid informed him matter-of-factly, her tone suggesting that she was all too familiar with such bewildering awakenings.

Calming down,

"Hmm? So?" Aether frowned not understanding what she was saying. Sure, Velc and everyone came for the engagement party but as a slave why he needed to attend the party?

The Maid regarded Aether with a mixture of patience and exasperation before sighing softly, "As a slave, shouldn't you be with the Master?"

"Should I?"

"Yes, now hurry up," the Maid urged, her tone leaving no room for further discussion as she efficiently began tidying up the room.

'Sigh. Here goes my paradise,' Aether's inner monologue reflected his resigned acceptance of the unpredictable and often surreal nature of his existence, as he reluctantly rose from the bed and made his way, still half-naked, towards the bathroom.

The Maid's sigh mirrored Aether's sentiments, her thoughts briefly drifting to the cryptic instructions she had received from her Majesty regarding the peculiar events going to unfold within the palace walls.

Entering the bathroom, Aether faced the mirror, his dark blue eyes scanning over his reflection.

"Everything is the same..." he muttered, noting that his physical appearance remained unchanged from his previous life as a teenager. However, he couldn't help but notice the significant increase in muscle mass and the faint traces of definition on his stomach... Packs were on the way!!

His gaze then drifted to his distinctive white hair, a feature he found somewhat unsettling. No matter how he tried to rationalize it, the white hair always served as a reminder that he inhabited another person's vessel.

"ggrrr," he growled in frustration, his displeasure evident in his expression.

"Sigh, Calm down, It's my new second life!" Aether reassured himself, adopting a determined expression as he prepared to take a shower. As he reached for the shampoo, his eyes caught sight of a few bottles of hair dye nestled among his toiletries.

Aether hesitated, contemplating the option of altering his white hair colour. He looked at his reflection one last time and the black dye...

After finishing his bath, Aether emerged from the bathroom to find the Maid waiting for him, holding out a new set of clothes.

"Here," she said simply, handing him the new dress.

'She didn't leave?' Aether wondered but then voiced his uncertainty, "New dress?"

"Yes"

"I'm not sure about wearing this. You know I'm just a slave," Aether remarked awkwardly. As much as he appreciated the idea of donning a new outfit, he was all too aware of Velc's cruel tendencies, especially when it came to imposing his will on Aether's sack dress. Last time it was Delphine who helped him to wear those T-shirts and pants otherwise Velc would have already burned them.

The Maid regarded Aether with a sympathetic gaze before sighing softly. "It's fine. Today is a celebration, and wearing old clothes might be seen as disgraceful."

"..." Aether pondered her words for a moment before conceding. It wasn't as if he had much to lose by trying on the new attire. If Velc objected, he could always switch back to the familiar T-shirts and pants.

"Okay," Aether agreed, taking the costly dress with utmost care. He had never worn such extravagant garments before, and the novelty of it all left him with mixed feelings, wondering whether he should feel grateful for his current situation as a slave under the Duke's roof or a Survival rate-sucking empress.

"Hmm..." Aether glanced at the Maid, expecting her to leave now that he had the clothes.

"What?" she responded, her tone tinged with a hint of impatience.

"Are you not leaving?" Aether asked, slightly taken aback by her continued presence.

"Do you know how to wear it?" the Maid countered.

Aether felt a twinge of offense at the implication but managed a forced smile. "I know," he asserted.

"Then tell me where this piece is supposed to go," the Maid challenged, pointing to a small blue accessory.

"..." Aether stared at the piece, his mind drawing a blank. After a moment of deep contemplation, he admitted, "I don't know," with an awkward smile.

The Maid audibly sighed, her frustration evident. 'Why am I dealing with a child?' she wondered silently.

"I'll help you get ready," she decided, preparing to assist him. However, just as she was about to proceed, Aether's realization struck.

"W-Wait, I didn't wear any innerwear!" Aether exclaimed, hastily retreating into the bathroom to rectify his oversight.

"..." The Maid's face flushed crimson at the unexpected revelation, her embarrassment palpable, "aarrrrhhh" She groaned.

Moments later, Aether emerged from the room, now clad in a slim, dark blue-black tuxedo dress.

"Hmm, not bad," the Maid muttered, nodding in approval at her handiwork.

However,

However, Aether couldn't help but quip, "H-Hey, Miss. Are you sure I'm supposed to wear this dress? It feels like I'm the fiance or something..." He couldn't help but marvel at how a simple change in attire could transform one's appearance so drastically.

"!!" The Maid visibly flinched at Aether's remark before awkwardly responding, "Don't worry, here this dress is considered normal, while fiances and brides wear even grander and costlier attire."

"I see..." Aether nodded, though he couldn't shake off the uneasiness gnawing at him.

"Hmmm... Come to think of it, did you change your hair colour?" the Maid inquired, furrowing her brow in confusion. There was something different about Aether, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Seriously, you're just noticing now?" Aether replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Hehe...." The Maid chuckled nervously, leading Aether toward the grand door adorned with golden words and intricate Marine symbols.

'Everywhere is fish... I wonder why that is?' Aether mused silently, glancing at the Maid who motioned for him to open the door.

Taking a deep breath, Aether braced himself, knowing that his altered appearance would undoubtedly attract attention, especially from the Empress. With a sense of trepidation, he reached out and grasped the doorknob.

!~Ding~!

Survival rate: 0.8%|

'OMG!!!'

Aether's internal scream echoed loudly as he imagined four men shouldering a coffin while dancing inside the room. Despite his inner turmoil, he maintained a calm exterior, concealing his shock and confusion.

Observing his hesitance, the Maid inquired, "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, I really need to take a shit! A big one that might take days or even months!!!" Aether blurted out without a second thought, his desperation evident in his voice as he contemplated fleeing the scene.

However, before he could make his escape, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh, you came at the right time, Aether."

"!!!" Aether flinched, his heart skipping a beat.

"Your Majesty!" The Maid bowed respectfully.