Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

As the important trio sat together in the ceremonial chair, the general who stood announced a few things about each individual, how great they were and what they had done for the people.

Just a normal way to boast about those individuals before the people… just like any politicians. Yet the general's tone carried a rehearsed texture, the kind that turned admiration into spectacle, a performance crafted to please the crowd.

While the general was saying things about Aether, how great he was and what he had done for his people so far, how he came from the ground and reached this point… it was slightly dramatic, as if someone really made him memorise it.

Meanwhile, the brides were kind of avoiding looking at the groom. Their gazes lingered anywhere but on him... on the banners, the altar, the gold-threaded curtains—yet both of them were painfully aware of the heat his eyes carried.

And the groom was blankly staring at them as if he was totally mesmerised by their beauty, which made him forget anything other than them. He looked almost dazed, overwhelmed, as though the world itself had blurred into silence and only the two women existed.

Aqualina's lips could barely contain the happiness, while Sandra awkwardly looked away… not that she didn't mind enjoying his stare, rather… shouldn't they be forced to not be deeply in love?

A wedding meant to appear arranged, strategic, political!

People were going to find out if he kept acting like this.

Sandra warned him through their connection,

/Y-You need to stop staring at me. We cannot show it—/

/You look so fucking gorgeous, dear… If you tell me this is really a marriage, then… I would fucking love to marry you right now./

The words hit her like a warm shock. His sincerity, his hunger, his affection—all flooding through the connection.

Sandra's cheeks turned beet red as she flinched, almost trembling, feeling his intense urge for love and longing… and fuck, that lust too.

His emotions pressed into her like a storm she wasn't prepared to weather.

He was almost on the verge; she could feel it… heck, it was even affecting her body too. Her pulse quickened, her breath grew shallow, her thighs tightened beneath her ceremonial gown as echoes of his desire threaded through her.

She covered her face like she was fanning herself, trying to avoid the rising feeling in her chest. Her fingers trembled, brushing against skin that suddenly felt too warm, too aware every inch.

Then his focus turned to Aqualina, who was blushing under his deep stare. She could barely contain her lips curling up as she kept glancing at him, like she was stealing glances at her crush or something… Her purple eyes shimmered each time they met his, like ripples touched by moonlight.

/W-What are you staring at? Am I that beautiful?/

Her voice wavered, playful yet vulnerable, the kind of question one asks while secretly craving the answer.

Already knowing what his answer was going to be, but Aether said something else,

/I could stare at you for eternity, dear… Beautiful? There are no words that could describe how you look right now./

He didn't sound like someone trying to flatter her; he sounded like someone speaking a truth he couldn't hold back.

Her body flinched when she felt the intense love that came with happiness and pride and, of course… lust too. The mix of emotions hit her like warm waves crashing over her skin, sinking deep into her chest.

Aqualina couldn't help but lower her head with slightly heated cheeks as her fingers curled up in shyness and happiness. Her breathing softened, her smile trembled, and the tips of her ears glowed pink under the crystal lights.

"Princess Aqualina?"

Aqualina flinched as she looked up and saw the general staring at her. "W-What?" For a second, she was flabbergasted and wondered if she was caught, but then,

"People are waiting for your words."

"Oh? Right… right." She sighed in relief before glaring at Aether, who was smiling gently as she walked to the amplifier mic, and with a calm expression said,

"People of Aquaris Naiadae, I offer my gratitude for gathering here during such tense days. Your presence means more than you imagine, and from the depth of my heart, I thank you."

She pauses, allowing the crowd to steady.

"We have endured trials, storms, and uncertainty. And the truth is… none of us can say what waits beyond tomorrow. Yet even so, we stand here. We remain together."

She breathes gently, voice soft but firm.

"So I ask you—protect your families, safeguard your neighbours, and avoid needless conflict. Let unity be our shield... Let compassion guide every choice you make."

Her gaze sweeps across the emotional crowd. Faces shimmered with tears, soldiers gripped their weapons with trembling loyalty, children clung to their parents while elders bowed their heads in reverence.

"As long as you stand with each other, I shall stand with you. I, Princess Aqualina Naiadae… your next Empress, will protect my people from this new trial by the gods!"

The crowd turned teary as they sniffed their noses and nodded furiously, as they shouted,

"We don't!"

"We realised our mistakes!"

She nodded softly as she looked at them with a small smile before saying, "Good. Then let us begin the engagement ceremony... according to our ancient ritual."

Aether raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. 'They have an ancient ritual?' He didn't hear or see it before, though. He glanced at Sandra, who nodded with a serious face.

Aether weakly smiled, 'Damn!' as he turned his head to the side and saw an old man wearing a bluish flowing water gown that felt alive. Aether raised his eyebrows. The old man's gown flowed like a river caught in moonlight, gentle waves rippling across the fabric as if the ocean itself breathed through him.

Oh… right, even if they looked human, they were aquatic races. They could control the water even without energy. It was their bloodline ability, like dragons.

'Wait… wasn't that the Royal Healer?' Aether thought as he looked at the old man whom he had seen before.

The old man stepped forward with a slow, deliberate grace that carried the weight of centuries.

In his hands, he held an ancient ceremonial bowl crafted from deep-sea crystal. Inside it, a thin layer of water flowed in a perfect circle, never spilling over the rim, moving with its own gentle rhythm. The water shimmered softly, glowing from within like a living spirit.

He lifted his voice, deep and steady.

"By decree of the Primordial Waters, I, Royal Magician and Royal Healer Mareth of the First Tide, call forth the Binding of Union. Let the chosen three step forward, that their fates may join and the land may flourish under their shared destiny."

Aether raised his eyebrows when he heard the title, so the old man was also… the one who created his masks, too?

Interesting… He nodded and stood up with a calm expression.

Aqualina rose beside him, calm yet glowing with quiet excitement.

Sandra followed, her breath uneven but her steps steady; she was excited and… slightly felt awkward doing it along with her daughter.

The crowd watched in absolute silence.

Mareth extended the crystal bowl before them.

"Offer your blood to the Waters of Oath."

Aether pressed his thumb against the crystalline edge. A single drop of glowing red fell into the flowing ribbon of water.

His blood hit the surface with a soft ripple.

The water reacted instantly when the blood touched it. One-third of the water turned into a black and white liquid for a fraction of a second… and began swirling faster, the colours twisting like twin shadows fighting for dominance.

Aqualina's turn. Her blood drop turned the one-third water a sapphire spark. The vivid blue flashed outward, illuminating the bowl like a heartbeat.

The water pulsed.

Sandra followed last, her blood turning the remaining part of the water into a soft purple flicker.

It bloomed gently, like a violet flame melting into the rest.

The water coiled inward, folding all three colours as one.

Then the bowl began to vibrate… as the colours disappeared, leaving only transparent pure water that swirled and trembled violently.

Ssssshnnnnnn!

As the sky darkened, the ribbon of water rose, twisting upward, spiralling in an elegant helix. Like three ropes tangling together with their own force. It climbed higher with every heartbeat, its shape guided by the oath it had consumed.

Aether stared at the water with a slightly curious expression, surprised by the movement of the water.

Gasps spread through the crowd as they watched the water rising slowly from the bowl, and the water shot toward the sky, soaring higher and higher until it pierced the darkening clouds.

BUUFFFFFFF!!!

A burst of blue erupted above them, a silent explosion of waterlight that painted the heavens in shimmering hues. Threads of glowing droplets rained down like gentle stars, blessing the empire itself.

Each droplet carried a faint luminescence, dissolving into warmth when it touched skin.

The crowd stood in awe, witnessing a blessing their ancestors had only spoken about in legend.

Mareth raised his arms.

"Behold. Three hearts... One oath. Under this union, Aquaris Naiadae shall flourish. Let the seas rise in strength, let the storms soften, let prosperity flow to our people. This is the promise carved by your blood."

His voice resonated through the capital.

He lowered his arms, revealing a chalice forged from living coral and deep-sea pearl, its rim glowing faintly with the afterlight of the sky's blessing. The cup looked alive, as though the coral still breathed and the pearl still remembered the tides that shaped it.

"Drink in turn. Let the Waters of Oath complete your bond."

Aether stepped forward first. He took a careful sip. The water tasted weird in my mouth like… tasteless yet unforgettable.

Aqualina followed. Her lips touched the chalice lightly, and a soft glow pulsed across the coral surface. The pearl shimmered beneath her touch, as if greeting its future Empress.

Sandra drank last, eyes calm though her heart raced beneath her breath. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly around the chalice, steady but aware of the weight of what this union meant.

When she lowered the chalice, the glow deepened, settling into a warm blue that radiated through the air. It spread outward like a gentle wave, brushing across the crowd in a soothing whisper of light.

Mareth bowed his head.

"By the law of the First Tide and the Will of the Primordial Waters, your flesh and soul are sealed together, forming a bond that cannot be broken by anything but Primordial Water that witnessed your bond!

From this moment, your fates are bound."

The crowd roared in joy as they chanted everyone's name.

Aqualina hid her trembling smile.

Sandra glanced away to hide the heat rising in her chest.

And Aether stared at his log,

!~Ding~!

[New Title Acquired: The Mermaids' Last King]

!~Ding~!

[New Title Acquired: The Aquilon Nairen Sovereign]

Mareth asked calmly towards Aether, "Your Majesty, if you may…" pointing towards the people, "They are waiting for your words."

Aether snapped out of his gaze before glancing at the crowd and taking a breath before walking towards the mic.