Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1322: A small talk between Mother-in-law and Son-in-law: Part-1

”Why are you sleeping here?” Aether asked curiously as he walked over to the dining table that was covered with dishes.

Emberlyn awkwardly smiled. ”I had been waiting for Your Majesty,” she said softly, rubbing her eyes, as if trying to shake off a dream. She stood up, her silken robe brushing the floor, and motioned him gently to sit.

Aether raised his eyebrows, ”You could have just left it all here. I don’t mind eating alone,” he replied, sinking into the chair.

Emberlyn opened the lids of every dish,

”You rarely come nowadays, Majesty.” Her tone carried a gentle accusation.

Aether smiled weakly, glancing at the painted ceiling as if the answer lingered there.

What was he supposed to say?

He had family in every Empire... what do you expect him to do?

Aether smiled softly. ”Don’t worry. Once everything is over... once I believe I am fine, we will all stay together. No need to worry about anything else... so until that time, please,” he said, voice gentle.

Emberlyn stared at Aether before nodding with a small smile.

Aether took a piece of the dish, something golden and rich. He raised his eyebrows... ”Even if it’s cold, it surely tastes good,” he muttered, giving her a grateful nod as he chewed, savouring it.

Emberlyn flinched, ”Wait, I will heat it for you!” she said with worry. She hadn’t known how long she’d waited here, drifting in and out of sleep, so she couldn’t be sure if the dishes had grown cold.

Aether, however, shook his head, smiling in spite of himself. ”No need for that... as I said before, it surely tastes good even if it is cold,” he reassured her, scooping another bite.

Emberlyn’s cooking was really good.

Emberlyn smiled softly as she stood beside him. Aether, who was eating, glanced at her and gestured for her to sit down. Emberlyn hesitated at first but finally sat beside him, her expression awkward and uncertain.

Not sure where to look or what to say... it was a strange and awkward position she found herself in.

If her daughters were here, they would be talking to him and making fun, filling the room with laughter and energy. It would have felt natural, but alone?

Just the two of them at this table?

Nah!

Aether, just eating and observing, noticed her awkward position. He chuckled softly, ”Did everyone eat?” he asked gently, trying to ease the tension and start a conversation.

Emberlyn nodded with a small smile. ”Yes... Actually, they didn’t eat at first. They were waiting for you, but as time passed and because of Nyx, they finally gave in and ate.”

Aether raised his eyebrows.... not that he was truly surprised by their actions. Well, maybe a little. After all, all of them waited for him, always, no matter how long it took.

Even though he told them to eat, they would never touch the food until he arrived, as if they were stubborn wives waiting for their husband to come home and eat together.

Even though it was sweet and all... he didn’t like how they kept starving themselves. That was something he never wanted for others, least of all for his beloveds.

No!

Yet, they waited!

It annoyed him, yet it also made him desperate to come home sooner each day.

So he was slightly surprised by their decision this time, but more importantly, ”Why Nyx?” he asked curiously.

Emberlyn took a deep breath, leaning on the table with a tired expression, her voice soft as she answered. ”What can I say... Nyx really changed them all.”

Aether leaned closer.

Emberlyn began,

”You know how rowdy they used to be, right? Even after Selene and Xara arrived, nothing really changed. They kept doing whatever they wanted, eating whenever they felt like it. It was as if they didn’t care if the food got cold or not... I always worried about how they would take care of their own children if they kept acting like children themselves.

I was truly worried.

Even Selene, jumping around without a care, teaching children some strange words that focus on one man... or lying on the bed and reading all day”

”Raven runs to her duty, barely eating anything, always rushing.

Thalia... I honestly wondered if she ever changed at all. She’s even rowdier than her big sister!”

”Dealing with them... sigh... they couldn’t even eat on time... It’s really frustrating to see them all behave like that!”

Aether blinked, slightly surprised to see Emberlyn pouring all of this out. ’Looks like she’s having a hard time, too,’ he thought with a wry expression, listening quietly as he continued eating.