Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

The news about marriage was spreading like wildfire. The maids, the elders, the High Priests, and the followers' words echoed in every inch of every empire.

The maids spread it like the Zephyra Group, acting like a wicked poison, even using the Emperor's mother as leverage to take their innocent Aether, leaving no choice other than for the Empress herself to give herself as a sacrifice.

"Did you hear?" one maid would murmur, eyes wide with secretive excitement.

"They say the Empress offered herself willingly, for our sake, as if to shield us from danger." The rumour tangled itself with awe and fear, and even the youngest servant spoke as though the fate of empires rested on Aether's shoulders.

Though it was only in name... not the real marriage like everyone thought, just in name, even if it was weird and all, people and rumours spread, like how dangerous Zephyra was in cornering their empire and how the Empress barely got Aether for them.

"It's a dangerous game, this alliance," a drunken man whispered in a bar, "Not even a true wedding. Just a game for many that our Empress and that innocent Aether, who didn't even know how babies form, got involved, haha...."

Others nodded, though smiling, but dread shadowed their words.

It was a devastating game!!

Meanwhile, the elders were spreading it like the Naiadae's Empress was wicked and trying to take advantage of innocent Aether. They barely even got him, and even Liora offered herself to keep up with their silly game to get Aether to their side.

"The Naiadae Empress is cunning," one elder grumbled to other elders, "She circles Aether, hoping to claim him with trickery. But we see through it. If playing their game brings Aether to our cause, then we are not below them!! We will prove we can go any further to get Lord Aether, for the sake of the Empire."

It wasn't easy for them to believe, but the words were clear, and the elders themselves got into the group and tried to explain the situation… how much they needed Aether to begin with.

"We have no choice," another elder insisted, "Without Aether, our hopes wither. We need him as the river needs the rain."

The Naiadae Empire was the wicked one, and if they left Aether to their side, it was certain they were going to lose him forever.

"If we let him slip away," the eldest woman whispered, "Naiadae will swallow him whole. And we... all of us, will lose not just Aether, but everything we fought to protect."

They spread the great story of how Liora and Aria gave themselves to protect their empire.

"Remember," a council member told the gathered crowd, "Liora and Aria stood before the storm, offering their very souls to shield us. That kind of devotion is the strength of our empire."

Meanwhile, the High Priests and the followers calmly and slowly told the people, like a story, of how they barely managed to escape from the monsters outside of the empire.

Those monsters were wicked and disgusting ones… even using any kind of underhanded technique to get what they wanted!

So disgusting, they didn't have any other choice than for the Archpriestess herself to sacrifice for the greater good.

"Listen well," the High Priest's voice rang out in the sacred square, drawing all eyes. "We faced horrors at the border—monsters without faces, fiends that twist the very air.

They would take what they covet, no matter the price. Even offering their mothers and daughters like a pig!! And so our Archpriestess, wise and unyielding, offered herself for the sake of all.

Such is the sacrifice of true faith."

They boldly announced how great their Archpriestess and Saintess were, willing to go to any length for their empire… truly the greatest among the great!

"Be proud, our leaders do not flinch from darkness. For Empire, for all, they risk everything. They are the greatest among us!"

So… these are the things going on in the empires, spreading and slowly leading people to accept Aether's strange marriage into the empire… After all, they knew their rulers sacrificed many things to get Aether.

In every street, talk grew softer but more accepting. "Strange, this marriage," a woman sighed, "but if it saves us, so be it. Our rulers give all, even their hearts, for the Empire's hope."

They couldn't help but feel proud of their rulers who did it for their people.

Everywhere, pride flickered in the eyes of the old and the young alike... a hard-earned pride that tasted of fear and resolve.

Yup… All for the people, right?

Anyway, back on the balcony of the Naiadae Palace,

"Hmm… Looks like someone's pouting~" Aether said while hugging Celestia from behind, who was obviously pouting that she didn't get the chance!!

Celestia snorted with an annoyed expression, "What about me? You did all for them, what about me? I am so lonely~" she muttered with a defeated and sly tone.

Aether sighed softly before saying, "You know this is just the beginning… and we just announced the engagement, not literally a marriage, you know? When I marry, I will marry you all, okay~"

Celestia twisted in his arms, half-smiling through her sulk, voice dropping to a teasing whisper, "Promises, promises… You say 'all,' but do you know how many hearts you've tangled up now, my little Emperor?"

Aether grinned, brushing his lips against her ear. "I know. And I'll untangle them one by one, if it means keeping you close and all. But for now… let them talk, let the world burn with gossip."

Celestia obviously knew this, but still pouted, "Still, you could have taken me instead of that old hag—"

"And who is that old hag you're talking about?"

Celestia flinched, glancing back as they saw Sandra with her usual sly expression and Aqualina giggling as they walked toward them.

Aether smiled, "Did everyone leave?"

Sandra nodded, "Yeah, they left. Once they announce the official engagement date, you can visit them at that time... officially."

Aether nodded as he glanced at Aqualina, "What about the rumours?"

Aqualina giggled with a sly expression, "The maids are spreading it faster than we even thought possible."

Aether nodded with satisfaction, "That's good."

Sandra suddenly asked as she stood beside him, "I didn't expect you to go to such lengths to include us too…"

Aether weakly smiled, "Well, I know most of you would be pissed off and even hate the others for it… so better safe than sorry," he shrugged with a small, sly expression as he pinched her nose,

"Also, I couldn't bear to see my lovely Empress getting lonely all the time."

Sandra stared at him… she knew he was teasing her but… damn it! His words always tasted as sweet as nectar, and she blushed slightly, turning her head away.

Celestia, who was still in his arms, pouted even more, "What about me?"

Aether snuggled into her nape and whispered, "You too, darling~ Don't worry, everything will work out~"

Celestia smiled softly but still snorted.

Sandra glanced at her daughter, "So she had been in this plan too?"

Aqualina smirked, "Well, because I'm so important, he told me everything… As much as I wanted to claim him first, he said it would be the perfect way to lay the foundation without harming any of us."

Aether nodded, "If you guys were just random ones, I would not have cared for the Empire or what others thought, but… You guys are obviously not random ones, are you?

And I don't want anyone talking badly about my wives behind my back, so…" he winked at Sandra,

"My beautiful Empress sacrificed for her Empire, even though she's a little tyrant~"

Sandra stared at him blankly before shaking her head, "You…" Yet her lips curled up gently as she looked up, "So… marriage, huh?"

Sandra honestly never thought she would be marrying in her life.

Even when Aether appeared, she never thought her love would come to light with everyone agreeing—not that she cared about their approval, but still, she thought her love would never come to life, always hiding behind walls… yet…

Her lips smiled as she glanced at Aether, who was teasing and calming down Celestia, and at Aqualina, who was getting annoyed that he was focusing only on her.

Aether really wore a troubled expression, dealing with just two women… She wondered what was going to happen when everyone gathered together. Honestly, she would love to see that look on his face.

"Say…" Sandra parted her lips.

"Hmm?" Aether looked at her.

Sandra's face turned thoughtful, "Do you still think... even after all this, that they would accept it? A mother and daughter marrying the same man?"

Aether smiled, shaking his head, "You're mistaken… It's not a mother and daughter marrying the same man. Rather, a mother sacrificed herself to the man for her daughter... and for her people."

Sandra tilted her head, "No matter how you try to frame the words, it's obvious… Even so, that's a different meaning. But still, it's not like I had any other options, right? How about giving you a noblewoman? To keep up with the others?"

Aether nodded, "I understand what you're thinking. But believe me… I know every loophole. Yes, you could have done that, but… didn't those same nobles betray you? So how could you trust them again and put me there? That's what you should think about, right?"

Hearing that, Sandra nodded with a thoughtful expression, "Yeah… But still, people wouldn't think that much—"

Aether interrupted, "Yes, they wouldn't! That's where your beloved husband comes in~" he said, his lips twitching as he sensed his puppets spreading through the Empires, dealing with those trying to find loopholes and blame the rulers.

His puppets were already busy, weaving new rumours and sealing cracks before they could widen.

Aether's eyes glinted as he smirked, "Leave everything to your husband… Your name is going to echo throughout the lands,

known for your sacrifice."

Sandra raised her eyebrows; she wasn't sure what this man of hers was doing behind her back, but it was definitely interesting.

She smiled warmly, feeling both curiosity and pride.

However, Aether flinched before a wicked smile appeared, "Looks like someone is horny~"

Sandra's cheeks turned red, and both Celestia and Aqualina slowly turned toward Sandra with shocked expressions.

"Fuck! I really hate this cursed tattoo!!" Sandra said, her face burning deep red as she turned and walked away... more like ran away.

However, Aether caught her hand, pulled her to his side, grabbed her ass tightly, and whispered into her ear, "It's been a long time since we had some fun~"

Sandra's face turned even redder as her eyes met her daughter and her sister staring at her with amused expressions.

"Y-YOU!!" Sandra pushed him off before running with a furious expression, "I will cut your dick off next time!!" she yelled, yet Aether only grinned, sensing her horny just increased even more.

He wrapped his hands over Celesita and Aqualina, "Let's go, guys… Let's have some foursome~"

"EYYYYIUUU!!!"

The reaction was immediate as everyone stepped back from him... even Sandra, who had been running away, halted in her tracks and gave exactly the same reaction as the others.

The entire family had… just the exact same face... disgust?

Even Sandra, who had been turned on just a few seconds ago, was now… deeply put off!!

Aether's lips twitched, "Come on, guys, we need to strengthen the family bond—" but before he could finish, they all disappeared.

Aether blinked, staring at the empty spot where they'd stood moments before.

He sighed, "At this rate… do I ever get some~some in my life?" he wondered aloud.

Shaking his head, half smiling and half on the verge of tears… He was not crying… definitely not!!

Believe him!!!

One day… definitely one day, he would get it… His entire body is going to be covered by nothing but ladies!!

That day would come, and… he was waiting for it!!

He looked up at the sky and saw… the golden shimmering letters were still the same. There was something he needed to understand about the new cards everyone had received.