While Aether was being tested and horrified by Xara's involvement with blood… meanwhile, in one of the rooms in the palace, Nyx blankly stared at the women who sat before her on the bed with a haughty expression.

The room felt colder than it should, as if the walls themselves waited to see what judgment would fall on her.

Nyx wasn't sure why they were acting like this, but as soon as they helped her settle down, they had been staring at her with curious and judging eyes.

Nyx glanced at Nightfire… who, too, was standing by her side, tense, staring back at those girls as if waiting for a blow to land.

'Are they going to bully me?' Nightfire thought with a trembling expression, 'Is this what they call bullying of the new wives? Trying to mark new territory? Are they trying to strip us down and measure us… to show who stands higher in this strange gathering?' Her mind reeled with countless thoughts and questions as her legs nervously rubbed against the ground.

Selene, Raven, Thalia… even Emberlyn was staring at the two women, their eyes sharp, calculating. Lyirrs was there too, though she stood a little over by the door, pretending to watch the hallway, making sure to warn them just in case Victor appeared.

But even so, Lyirrs could not resist glancing back, her eyes flicking over the newcomers with curiosity, wondering what role these two were meant to play… and whether they would survive the storm of eyes burning into them.

After the heavy silence, Thalia was the first one to break it, "Who is the pervert?!"

Selene and Raven blinked at Thalia… even Nyx and Nightfire blinked, unsure if they had heard correctly.

"What the heck are you asking?" Selene asked with a frown.

Thalia only nodded, certain, leaning forward as if to corner them further, "I know…" Her gaze narrowed, gleaming with challenge as she turned to Nyx and Nightfire, repeating, "Who is the pervert?"

Nyx and Nightfire exchanged a glance, their hearts twisting with unease.

What the hell was she talking about?

Pervert?

Why that word?

What hidden game was she playing?

Who could it be?

Nyx, like an obedient woman, answered quietly, "I don't know," her voice soft, careful, as if she were trying to stay low for the time being.

Meanwhile, Nightfire clenched her fist, rage crawling under her skin. 'Are they concerning me? Because I am a succubus?' she thought bitterly, gritting her teeth so hard her jaw ached.

No! She could not allow them to bully her!

Otherwise, her sister would too suffer from these bitches!!

She needed to step up her game!

Otherwise, she would be lost here, swallowed whole by their mocking gazes!

Nightfire lifted her chin, eyes blazing, and said with a proud expression that dared them to laugh, "Though I am a half-succubus, if anything here is perverted then… It's absolutely that bastard!!"

She was so proud of her answer. After all, if she called Aether a pervert before others, it would show them just how close they were, how she alone could speak of him that way. It would prove the bond they shared… and more than that, it would show the hidden power she had over Aether.

Looking at Thalia's shocked expression, Nightfire smirked. Her idea was working. Grinning, she added, "Even if I call him, he would accept it… That's how close we are~"

Her assertion of dominance had begun, and soon, in this harem, she was going to be the Queen.

She would control every rival woman and take Aether's cock for herself alone!!

Hahahaha!!! HAHAHA!!

HMPH!

Thalia blinked before pointing her fingers, lips curling into an amused grin. "I like this one… I think we could be friends."

"…Pardon?" Nightfire blinked, utterly lost.

Meanwhile, Raven's sharp eyes slid toward Nyx. Something about this quiet girl made Raven curious. Nyx was there, silent, almost invisible… but the weight of her presence pressed heavily. Raven could feel it—Nyx was definitely cursing them in her heart, thinking all kinds of venomous things without letting them slip from her lips.

Selene glanced between them, realising the atmosphere was turning stranger by the minute. If this kept going, they would all sink into an awkward silence that would strangle the fragile thread holding them together. So she decided to step forward, when—

"I heard… the Emperor loves his wives equally. Haha…"

A sudden, forced laugh rang out. Everyone flinched and turned to Emberlyn, who sat with a stiff, awkward smile carved on her face.

Seeing everyone staring at her in disbelief, Emberlyn's cheeks turned beet red. She only wanted to help her daughters grow closer with the other women instead of fighting—fighting that might anger the Dragon Emperor himself.

She definitely didn't want that... But her attempt at easing tension collapsed instantly, leaving her drowning in embarrassment.

"Hah… Haha… Ha… sorry," she muttered with a crimson face before quickly turning and running away, 'Please don't look at me!!'

Lyirrs blinked, startled, then hurried after her.

Everyone was left staring, and then a soft chuckle rippled among them.

They looked at one another, the tension loosening for a moment, and laughed even more. Nyx smiled gently, seeing it.

Honestly, it was natural—things might take time. Not everyone could be familiar or comfortable the first time they gathered.

Considering Nyx, who barely even got understood by Aether... these ladies would take some time.

Maybe Nyx might not get together with others... too!

Many possibilities considering her personality.

Selene smiled gently, finally stepping into the role she always claimed. "My name is Selene… I am Aether's first wi—"

"The fuck you first, bitch?!!!"

The room exploded. Everyone shouted at the same time… even Nyx's face twisted into fury, her composure cracking.

"…" Selene smirked, her eyes gleaming as she realised she had struck the right chord. Everyone was finally on the same page.

"Well then… shall we talk and get friendly first?"

While Selene was doing her best to secure her place and please Aether so she could earn more of his reward in her belly, meanwhile,

In the Void Empire—

"Sis? Is she sleeping now?" Morgana asked with a concerned expression as she looked at Mary, who had just walked out of the chamber after putting her daughter to rest.

Mary hummed.

"What about the energies?" Morgana pressed.

Mary shook her head slightly. "She doesn't seem to be reacting to anything. Her blood looks normal, as usual… she's just been feeling tired, that's all."

Morgana frowned deeply, "Should we contact Xara?"

Mary shook her head, "No need… Even if she comes back, I don't think there's anything she could do for her." She hummed faintly before walking along the corridor, her steps slow, measured.

Morgana followed at her side.

Mary spoke while walking, "Most of the preparations are ready for the trading… it's just that, I don't see any changes till now." Her sharp eyes slid to the corner, glancing at Morgana.

"Don't worry," Morgana replied firmly. "Everything will go on without delay."

"Hmmm," Mary hummed softly, before muttering in a low voice, "The Grace… Grenthollow… Nyx Shadowfall… every key element has disappeared from this Empire. Do you think this will truly benefit us?"

Morgana's face turned serious as they arrived at the balcony, the night wind tugging at their hair. "I don't know what exactly happened to the Grace… but for Grenthollow and Nyx, I think as long as those things remain in our Empire, we'll be dragged into war. Better to let him handle it while we reap the fruit." She smirked faintly.

Mary smirked under her blurriness, nodding with a small sigh. "My daughter has forgotten Aether… and now she even hates him to the core. After he forced that kiss on her… things are going better than I expected."

Morgana nodded with a satisfied expression, as if she too savoured the outcome.

Mary asked suddenly, "What about the spies we sent?"

"They've safely settled in each of the empires," Morgana answered, "but Aurora and Pyra are… difficult. Aurora's pure energy was unbearable for us, so we charmed a human to handle the matter. Reports from there won't come as quickly as the others. As for Pyra, they are strict— So far, only one spy managed to cross their border."

Mary hummed, her voice low, "It's fine, as long as we keep receiving information… about them. Any news about the Hunter's next move?"

Morgana shrugged. "I don't know… that figure makes no sense at all. It appeared out of nowhere, showed us the monster it hides, and vanished. No news since then."

Mary frowned, "Hunter… it makes me wonder."

Morgana suddenly asked with a curious tone that she had wanted to ask, "I forgot to ask you this. You said you knew Victor was Aether before I did. When?"

Mary blinked, then smirked as her gaze slid to Morgana out of the corner of her eye. "I knew… I knew the moment I saw him."

"How?"

Mary's eyes glowed. Her vision shifted, flickering until everything turned a bloody red.

The red world!

She saw through Morgana.... the pulse of her heart, the lines of her internal organs, every hidden part of her.

Her gaze pierced flesh and bone.

"Because I can see more than what the naked eye can see."

"You mean…?" Morgana frowned, a shiver running down her spine as she felt exposed under that gaze.

Mary nodded softly,

"That thing… is not what you think it is.

He is a H—"

****

Back to Xara's Lab. After Aether managed to escape from her blood-sucking syringe, Xara shifted to physical tests, forcing him onto the next phase.

Aether lay restrained on a wired scanning machine, his body tense, while Xara stood over the display.

Her face went pale, horrified, taken aback as the readings flashed.

"Xara?" Aether's voice broke the silence. His head tilted toward her, wondering why she had turned silent all of a sudden.

But Xara didn't answer right away. Her body stiffened, her lips parted. Slowly, she turned toward him, with a hollow voice, she muttered,

"…Hollow."

"Huh?" Aether frowned, confused by her expression and... her tone too.

What happened to h-

!~Ding~!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.