Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1651: FOUR. F**KING. TIMES.

”Lia?”

Lia suddenly snapped out of her memories.

Her crimson eyes blinked once before slowly turning toward Aether. A complicated expression lingered across her beautiful face, faintly hidden beneath her usual composure.

Aether noticed it immediately.

The playful atmosphere from earlier quietly faded as silence settled between them. He could almost feel invisible thoughts moving behind her eyes.

Maybe he had pushed too far.

Maybe the topic touched wounds she still refused to open.

Aether didn’t force her.

Instead, he simply smiled faintly and leaned back against the couch. He had more than enough time. There was no need to tear open her heart before she was ready.

And if things truly became complicated... he could always ask her mother directly.

Mary.

”Anyway,” Aether said casually, breaking the silence before it became too heavy, ”since the deal’s done, you should start sending your soldiers to my Empires.”

As he sat upright, Lia slowly slid down from his stomach and settled naturally onto his lap.

Their faces drifted closer for a brief moment.

Warm breath brushed softly against skin.

Yet unlike before, the atmosphere no longer carried dangerous tension.

Lia exhaled quietly and pushed aside whatever thoughts had been troubling her. Then she puffed her cheeks slightly.

”But one time wasn’t enough,” she complained softly. ”Call me mommy again~”

Her arms wrapped around his neck while she leaned closer with shameless affection, almost like a spoiled child demanding attention she believed she deserved.

Aether nearly choked.

Cold sweat formed behind his neck.

’Absolutely not. Never happening again.’

He screamed internally while maintaining a calm expression outside.

Without wasting another second, he instantly changed the subject.

”Also... I’ll be leaving the Empire in two days.”

Lia blinked.

”Leaving?” Her brows furrowed slightly. ”Leaving where exactly?”

The man sitting before her literally controlled four Empires.

Aether smirked faintly as he twirled a strand of her silky hair around his fingers.

”To Terra.”

”What?”

Lia’s eyes widened.

”How?”

This time, genuine shock appeared on her face.

Even she couldn’t enter Terra because of the restrictions surrounding that Empire. If she had possessed the ability, she would have drowned the entire land in rivers of blood long ago instead of wasting time making contracts and negotiations with them.

Yet Aether was calmly claiming he found a way inside.

Aether leaned slightly closer before giving her a sly grin.

”That,” he whispered teasingly, ”is a secret~”

Lia narrowed her eyes immediately.

Then she pouted again.

”Bad boy,” she muttered while lightly pounding against his chest. ”Hiding things from mommy~ You really deserve punishment for this.”

Aether laughed helplessly.

Honestly... if she stopped calling herself ’mommy’ every five seconds, he probably would have kissed her already.

Still, Lia’s curiosity completely overwhelmed her annoyance.

She stared directly into his eyes, voice softer this time.

”No, seriously... tell me.”

Aether sighed softly. The moment he brought up the topic, he already knew Lia would start nagging him, but he had his reasons for asking.

Still, before approaching the real issue, he decided to test the waters carefully.

”But before that...” Aether’s gaze narrowed slightly as he studied her expression. ”Do you know anyone named Amara Rosavere? Or maybe seen any chubby woman staying near your mother?”

Lia tilted her head slightly.

Of course, she knew that woman.

However, her expression remained calm as she answered without hesitation.

”No, I don’t know.”

Aether stared at her for a moment before sighing inwardly again. He couldn’t tell whether she was genuinely unaware or simply avoiding the topic altogether.

”Hmm...”

His fingers tapped lightly against his thigh before he asked another question.

”Then... do you know anything about slaves being sold to the Terra Empire?”

This time, Lia genuinely blinked in confusion.

Real confusion.

”No...” she answered slowly while frowning faintly. ”Selling slaves? We only trade materials and resources...”

Inside her mind, confusion spread rapidly.

What exactly was he talking about?

Aether carefully observed her expression.

Seeing that genuine confusion, he sighed once more.

Maybe Lia truly wasn’t involved in any of this.

Perhaps Mary or Morgana held the actual answers he was searching for.

”Then...” Aether rubbed his temple lightly before continuing, ”Do you know anyone named Epsilon?”

Again, Lia looked completely lost.