The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

Chapter 150 Aeric's Dilemma

"did you say something?"

before melina knew it, aeric had turned to her and asked that question. she saw his red sharp eyes locking onto her, waiting for her to answer.

"eyyy?!" caught off guard, her eyes widened slightly. "no! no, i didn't!" her response came too quickly, hands stretched out too defensively.

"what would i even say? no, i didn't say anything!" she fidgeted, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

aeric's looked at her for a moment longer, noting her flushed face. "mhm. thought i heard something."

"hehe." melina scratched the back of her head.

saying nothing else, aeric turned to phoebe and celestia, his tone shifting to one of composed leadership. "so, before anything else, i really want to thank you both for agreeing to join me. we'll discuss the details of the fight tomorrow, but for now, i need to speak with melina about something."

celestia's brow furrowed. 'what's he doing? he spent the whole day with her, and now he still wants to spend more time?'

she took a breath of readiness and decided to voice her concern. "aeric. i was hoping that we could..."

"talk. i know," he cut her off with a nod. "but my mind is elsewhere right now. i'm not in the right place to talk about what happened yesterday."

then he gave her a reassuring smile. "i promise we will, though. soon."

celestia's lips parted as if to protest, but then she saw the sincerity in his expression. her shoulders relaxed, and she responded with her own smile.

"okay," she said softly, before gesturing to phoebe to come along with her as they walked away. phoebe turned back to wave at aeric, who nodded at her.

then, it was just the two of them again.

aeric turned fully to face her, adjusting his cape fluidly before sinking his hands into his pockets. his aura around her was something else, he was cool and composed, assured in his authority as he stared down at melina, who looked up at him nervously.

she gulped audibly.

melina's mind was in turmoil. it wasn't easy for her to understand what she was feeling as she was unsure if it was the crest of obedience compelling her to feel this way or if it was just the way aeric carried himself, the aura of a young but formidable physical divinity manipulator.

or maybe, it was this his reputation for dominating divine quests and games with unerring tactical precision that no one had seen in the royal institution, especially for a novice.

aeric stared at her, not believing it. was this truly her feelings? and if it was, wouldn't that make it difficult for her as a moonlight daughter? the rest of her family hated him and she would be admonished if she told them that she willingly wanted to be branded with the crest again.

yet, she was willing.

no. this had to be an elaborate ploy. this was melina he was dealing with, after all.

after a moment of thinking, he spoke, "bright and early tomorrow morning."

then he turned to leave, his cape billowing slightly with the motion. but, melina grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

a gasp came from the far side of the corridor where several other daughters had been watching, their faces filled with shock.

even luna, spying from a distance, above the stairs, narrowed her eyes.

melina's voice was hesitant when she asked. "those questions about my region... why did you ask them? do you plan to attack us? are you truly bringing an evil army to take our kingdom?"

aeric turned slowly to face her, his expression unchanging. after a while, he asked, "you're scared of me? shouldn't i be more scared of your mother? the woman who could haunt my dreams and alter my memories." he paused, his gaze sharpening.

"but somehow a simple display of physical divinity has changed everyone's perspective of me in this damned school."

melina looked at him nervily.

"i'm just preparing," aeric continued. "preparing for the day your mother finally decides to attack starlight. the information you've given me could be very useful."

melina's paled slightly. she had not just told him the number of knights and knightguards, but she had also revealed the secret passageways, the blind spots, and even the escape routes within the castle.

more so, aeric had also commanded her not to tell anyone that she had told him this. that way they could never change it.

"but," he continued, his tone softening slightly, "as long as moonlight never attacks starlight, the information will remain unused. think of it as... insurance."

melina hesitated, then said quietly, "aeric, my mother and yours might have their differences, but she knows to keep the peace and respect the divinity. she would never attack starlight."

aeric looked at her, unexpressively. "i'll see you tomorrow, bondservant." his voice carried a faint edge of finality as he pulled his hand free and turned away.

melina watched him as he strode out of the institution with a confident saunter, his cape flowing behind him.

high on the staircase, luna of moonlight's eyes also followed aeric's retreating figure, eyes that were narrowed with anger.