Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Sitting inside the café, Nyx remained still, her gaze fixed on her beloved husband.

The faint clatter of cups and low murmurs of strangers drifted through the air, yet none of it reached her.

Even though he still wore the skull mask, the image of his real face flickered again and again within her mind… as if her thoughts refused to let it fade.

It felt as though something had wrapped around her senses, tightening gently yet persistently, pulling her deeper into him without resistance.

’It didn’t happen when we came together, though?’ she wondered, her brows knitting ever so slightly.

When they had been together before, Aether had looked completely normal to her.

But after leaving him alone with Her Majesty, after that moment where he had taken her, something had shifted.

She couldn’t grasp it. His face, his posture, even the way he sat across from her, remained the same, yet something beneath it all had transformed into something that stirred her instincts.

’Fuck!’ she cursed inwardly, irritation prickling beneath her skin as she failed to find any answer.

Her fingers curled slightly on the table as she glanced toward the café servant approaching with their drinks.

“Here…” the woman said, placing the cup a little too firmly on Nyx’s side, the porcelain clinking sharply against the table.

“Here for you, wonderful sir,” she added, her tone softening immediately as she set Aether’s drink down with almost delicate care, her fingers lingering for a fraction too long near his hand.

Nyx’s eyes narrowed, her stare turning cold as steel.

Even with the mask covering his face now, these women had already seen him before he wore it.

They had seen everything, every detail, and now that memory clung to them like hunger.

The maid’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she leaned slightly forward, her breath uneven.

“It’s on the house for a gentleman like you… We love to treat… with anything,” she whispered, her tongue brushing slowly across her lips in a shameless, suggestive motion.

“…” Aether blinked once, then let out a quiet breath. ’Sigh, being handsome really has its advantages,’ he thought, giving a small, almost indifferent shrug before offering a polite nod.

“Thank you. That’s kind of you.”

“Hah… ahh~ Y-yes…”

Aether’s eyes flickered with surprise when he noticed her breathing grow heavier, her face flushed to an almost feverish heat.

’Oh girl… calm down your pussy, I am with my wife here!’ he thought, caught off guard, his expression tightening with disbelief.

He hadn’t expected something like this.

Was this kind of reaction normal here?

’His voice… so deep… so warm… I want to call him daddy~ while he punishes me…’ The maid’s thoughts spiralled further, slipping into dangerous territory without restraint.

“Ahem!”

Nyx’s cough cut through the moment like a horrifying blood blade.

The maid froze instantly, as if pulled back from a dream, her eyes snapping toward Nyx. What met her was not irritation or annoyance, but a cold, suffocating stare that felt like standing before death itself.

The maid flinched hard, her entire body recoiling before she turned and hurried away, almost stumbling in her escape like a startled animal fleeing a predator.

’Fucking bitches! Get your damn man to fuck!!’ Nyx screamed inwardly, her anger simmering beneath the surface as her gaze swept across the café.

Anyone who dared to peek at Aether was met with that same lethal glare, sharp enough to slice through their… pussies!

Their eyes lingered on him like he was something sweet, something to be devoured, their lips slightly parted, their restraint barely holding together.

“Nyx?”

Aether’s voice, calm and gentle, reached her like a hand pulling her back from the edge. His fingers closed around hers.

She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as a deep blush spread across her cheeks.

The anger melted, replaced by warmth as she looked at him.

“Just chasing away some annoying flies,” she said, a playful curve touching her lips as she tilted her head slightly.

Aether’s lips curled into a faint smirk beneath the mask. “Is that so? Then I must be quite fortunate… to have such a devoted wife guarding me so fiercely,” he replied, his tone carrying a subtle tease, his voice raised just enough for the surrounding tables to hear.

The effect was immediate.

A wave of tension rippled through the café as several people stiffened, their expressions twisting with poorly hidden jealousy.

Eyes shifted toward Nyx, deadly envious.

Nyx, who rarely displayed anything to others, lifted her chin slightly, pride blooming openly across her face.

The faint blush remained, soft and radiant, refusing to fade.

She looked almost regal in that moment, as if she had claimed something no one else could ever touch.

Aether let out a quiet chuckle, the sound low and amused as he gestured lightly toward her cup.

Nyx followed his motion, her expression softening as she wrapped her fingers around the warm porcelain, nodding with a small, almost shy smile.

The café continued to buzz around them…

While Aether and Nyx remained wrapped in their quiet moment together, not too far away…

“A-Aunt…”

A soft, hesitant voice drifted out from behind the dressing room curtain, trembling with shyness.

“Yes, dear… come out~”

A sly, amused voice responded from outside, warm yet laced with playful anticipation.

The curtain parted slowly.

A delicate rustle of fabric followed as a petite blonde girl stepped out, her golden hair tied into a gentle ponytail that swayed lightly behind her.

She wore a soft pink gown, its shoulders cut elegantly, with fluffy ribbons lining the fabric and trailing down toward her feet. Tiny ornaments stitched into the hem gave off faint jingling sounds with each careful step she took.

Her cheeks burned a deep crimson as she lifted her gaze, her eyes flickering with embarrassment while she looked toward the woman waiting for her reaction.

“So cute!!!”

The woman practically burst, her voice overflowing with delight as she rushed forward without restraint.

She pulled the girl into a tight embrace, pressing a long, affectionate kiss against her cheek.

“My niece is so cute… I am so glad to have her!!” she declared, her tone brimming with pride and unfiltered joy, her arms wrapped possessively around the girl.

Lia’s blush deepened, her body stiff for a moment before she slowly relaxed into the embrace, her hands hesitantly returning it as she nodded quietly.

“How about you wear this for the entirety of our date?” her aunt asked, her voice dipping into a teasing lilt as she leaned back just enough to admire her again.

Lia’s eyes widened slightly, her face flushing even brighter. “No way! I-I am not wearing this outside…” she protested, her voice small yet firm, fingers clutching the edge of her dress.

“But you like it, right?”

“Uh… Aunt!” Lia pouted, her lips forming a small, helpless curve as she looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

“Sorry, sorry… You are just too cute. I couldn’t help but tease you,” Morgana said, laughing softly as she reached out and pinched Lia’s cheeks between her fingers.

Lia let out a soft snort, though her embarrassment refused to fade. Her fingers nervously twirled her ponytail as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“W-Well… if you want… I… I don’t mind…” she murmured.

Morgana’s lips curled slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. ’She is so easy to read,’ she thought, her gaze softening for a fleeting moment before she turned sharply toward the attendant nearby.

“Good. Pack this, along with the other twenty outfits,” Morgana said casually.

Lia flinched, her head snapping toward her aunt. “The others too?” she asked with disbelief.

“Yup. You look cute in everything,” Morgana replied matter-of-factly, already reaching for another bag without hesitation.

“Aunt! You shouldn’t waste money like this!” Lia said, her brows knitting together as a hint of disappointment slipped into her tone.

Morgana turned her head, her expression shifting into one of effortless, arrogant young mistresses.

“Who cares? If I don’t spend on my niece, then who will? Huh?” she scoffed lightly, waving off the concern as she handed over the payment.

Lia’s face paled the moment she caught sight of the amount.

Her heart clenched as if something precious had just been thrown away. Inside, she was practically in tears.

Spending this much on clothes… who would even do that?

Only complete idiots would waste that kind of money…

Her expression dulled into quiet disappointment.

Her Aunt was an idiot just like her mother!

Just then, Morgana reached out and pinched Lia’s nose gently, her eyes narrowing with playful suspicion.

“You just thought something rude, didn’t you?”

Lia quickly averted her gaze, “Of course not!” she replied, a little too quickly.

Morgana snorted softly. “Tsk… why bother saving money? You are the princess of this Empire. You do know everything here belongs to you, including money,” she said casually… as if stating an obvious truth!

Lia’s expression softened, though sadness lingered in her eyes as she looked back at her aunt.

“But that’s my mother’s… not mine,” she said quietly.

“…” Morgana’s lips twitched faintly, her expression tightening for a brief moment.

If her mother ever heard those words… Morgana was certain Mary would lose herself entirely for allowing her daughter to feel that way.

For Mary, everything that belonged to her was meant to belong to her daughter, without exception, without hesitation.

Morgana let out a soft breath, “Sometimes I wonder how you both are so different, yet share the same face.”

“Aunt?” Lia tilted her head slightly.

“Nothing…” Morgana cleared her throat, brushing the thought aside as if it had never existed. She straightened slightly before adding,

“Since it’s almost night, how about we go out for dinner together?”

Lia’s eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with excitement. The idea tempted her deeply, but just as quickly, hesitation crept in.

The image of her pitiful mother waiting for her at home surfaced in her mind.

“But Mom is—”

“Tsk, don’t worry about her. Just enjoy today. I will speak to her,” Morgana interrupted casually, waving her hand as if dismissing the concern entirely.

“B-But she will be sad—”

“I am not listening!” Morgana declared, covering her ears dramatically as though blocking out the words themselves.

Lia blinked, caught between protest and helplessness.

Before she could gather herself, Morgana had already taken her by the hand and led her out.

The streets outside glowed faintly under the evening lights, and within moments, they arrived at a lavish restaurant, its golden interiors shimmering through tall glass windows.

Inside the private space,

“Oh my god… what are these insane prices?” Lia’s voice dropped into disbelief as she stared at the menu.

Her eyes widened further with each line she read. Even a simple glass of water costs nearly 500 Zenith.

Morgana watched her quietly, a faint chuckle stirring within her as she leaned back in her seat.

Lia had grown up within the palace, surrounded by endless luxury. Anything she desired, Mary would place before her within moments, without question.

A spoiled girl, undeniably so… yet strangely untouched by the value of it all.

She had barely stepped into the outside world. Even when she did, it was only to visit the Naiadae Empire, and even then, Morgana had arranged for her so-called husband to ensure Lia lacked nothing.

As for governance, politics, or the burdens of ruling, Mary had shielded herself entirely.

’I would not let my daughter be corrupted!! She is innocent, and she will remain innocent!’

Morgana could still hear those words clearly, echoing in her memory. Mary had clung to her daughter as if she were the only thing keeping her alive when Morgana tried to teach Lia about the real world.

Shaking her head lightly, Morgana returned to the present.

Across from her, Lia sat stiffly, almost sweating under the weight of the situation, her fingers tightening around the edge of the menu.

Without a hint of hesitation, Morgana picked up her own menu and began ordering as she listed dish after dish.

“A-Aunt, are y—”

Before Lia could finish, Morgana leaned forward and placed a finger gently against Lia’s lips, silencing her.

“Today is my treat~,” she said softly, her voice carrying a teasing warmth as she gave a playful wink.

Lia’s cheeks flushed instantly, her lips pressing into a small pout.

“Aunt, you are so annoying…” she muttered, though her tone lacked any real frustration.

Morgana chuckled as she leaned back into her seat.

Soon, the table was filled with dishes, the rich aroma of food spreading through the air. Plates gleamed under the soft lighting, steam rising gently as they began to eat.

As they settled into the meal, Lia’s earlier tension slowly melted away. Her voice grew livelier as she began speaking about her day at the academy.

“Come to think of it… this reminds me of my friends…” she said, her tone turning thoughtful as she paused between bites.

“Hmm? Tell me about it,” Morgana replied, her interest piqued as she continued eating, her gaze resting on Lia.

Lia nodded, her cheeks slightly puffed as she swallowed a mouthful of the rich, bloody soup filled with tender meat.

“It was around the time when I joined the academy… I was eating with my best friend, Selene… and then a guy tried to hit on us,” she said, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and lingering annoyance.

Morgana’s expression froze, then turned cold, ’Someone hit on her? The fuck… I am going to burn that bastard to ash,’ she thought, a faint killing intent leaking from her body like invisible heat.

Lia, completely unaware, continued without a hint of concern, “But before that guy could do anything, Selene slammed his ugly face onto the table… ahaha… the entire table broke into pieces… ahaha!” She laughed freely, her eyes shining as she recalled the moment.

Morgana blinked once, the killing intent vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. She exhaled softly as she gave a small nod.

“That’s a good friend… ” You should cherish someone like her,” she said, her voice carrying a trace of approval, even a hint of respect toward this Selene.

Lia nodded proudly, her smile widening. “Yup! She was so awesome that even another friend of mine, he was shocked seeing Selene’s actions… haha… You should have seen his face too… just like me, he was completely wide-eyed and shocked—who?”

Her words faltered mid-sentence.

Lia blinked, her expression shifting into confusion. For a moment, she sat still, her thoughts stumbling over themselves.

She clearly remembered that day… it had only been the two of them, right?

Then why…

Why did it feel like there was someone else there?

Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table, her face twitching as unease crept in.

“N-No… there is someone… I…” her voice trembled, losing its earlier brightness. Her complexion turned pale as beads of sweat formed along her forehead.

Fragments of something incomplete pressed against her mind.

She clutched her head, her breathing growing uneven. “No… There is someone… no one… but someone was there… no? Yes?.. argh… someone was with us that day… h-his… his… he—”

Slap!

Lia flinched as Morgana’s hand cupped her cheek firmly, the sting grounding her instantly. Her vision steadied as she looked up, startled, into her aunt’s eyes.

Morgana held her gaze, her voice steady, deliberate.

“Do you remember the day your mother cried because you started sleeping in a separate room?”

Lia blinked.

Then, suddenly, she laughed. “Haha… of course! I would never forget that. That was the first time I saw her cry… my mother… she is… oh my god… she is so… lovely…”

The topic changed instantly.

Morgana watched her for a moment, then looked away slightly, releasing a quiet breath she had been holding.