Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1176: She had just caught her husband cheating.

“Haha… take this!”

Splash!

“You!!!”

Splash!!

Water sprayed into the air, laughter echoing across the quiet riverbank. Aether and Lia were completely drenched, their giggles and playful shrieks blending into the rustling breeze, as if the world around them had vanished and only this moment remained.

Nyx and Nightfire stood silently on the edge, watching.

Nyx’s eyes narrowed slowly, her gaze fixed on Lia.

That smile… the one stretching across Lia’s face so naturally—it wasn’t fake.

It wasn’t practiced. It was just… joy. Pure, carefree joy. She wasn’t putting on a show. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone…. She was simply having fun.

Nyx had never seen that expression on her before.

It struck her, hard.

She folded her arms without realizing it, fingers curling tightly into her skin.

What was so special about splashing water and getting soaked like kids?

Who the hell gets so happy playing with water?

’Is she insane or something?’

Yet her own gaze shifted again… this time toward Aether.

He was laughing.

Not smirking, not teasing, not that fake politeness he wore when talking to people he didn’t care about.

No—this was real.

His smile stretched wide, his eyes softened, and his entire body relaxed in a way Nyx had never seen before.

He looked free.

Almost like… like he was finally allowed to breathe.

Nyx’s chest tightened.

No, it constricted. As if invisible vines were wrapping around her ribs and squeezing. Her breath hitched. Her vision fluttered. And something… something stung right in the center of her chest. A strange, deep pulse.

Not pain like getting punched or burned, but a different kind—like something was being torn quietly inside her, without anyone noticing.

She looked down, her eyes trembling. Her hand slowly lifted to her chest, pressing against it, confused, scared, unsure what was happening.

’A pain?’

She couldn’t understand it.

The more she watched him, the heavier her body felt, her knees suddenly weak, wobbling as if the earth had shifted under her. Her mouth parted, gasping for air that didn’t feel like it was reaching her lungs. Her heart pounded, not from fear, not from anger—but something else.

Something she didn’t know how to name.

Why did it hurt?

Why now?

Why was this bothering her?

He had been with women before. He had kissed, touched, fucked without even blinking. And yet… she had never felt this.

Never once.

So why now?

She stumbled back a step, then another, eyes still locked on Aether, then finally, she turned around—silently—and walked away, one slow, dragging step at a time.

Nightfire’s ears flicked.

She noticed.

“Master…” she whispered, her voice low and filled with hesitation, but she didn’t follow. She didn’t reach out.

Because she felt it too.

A dull ache blooming inside her chest, right where her heart should have been. She lowered her head, watching Nyx’s fading figure disappear between the trees, and her own arms hugged her waist unconsciously, trying to hold herself together.

What the hell was this feeling?

She wasn’t supposed to feel this.

She never felt this.

He had been with so many others. Rough, wild, tender, cruel—it didn’t matter. She had seen it all. Heard him fuck other women… Heard the moans, the sounds of bodies colliding and pleasures echoing off the walls.

She never flinched.

But this…

This gentle laughter, this childish game in the water, this soft smile on his face as he looked at Lia—it stabbed her in places she didn’t know existed.

Why did it hurt so much?

’Is it because she’s not a succubus?’

The thought curled through her mind like poison.

Her brow furrowed, her lips trembling as she stared at the river, eyes beginning to burn.

“I… I thought he was seducing me,” she murmured quietly, barely hearing herself.

“I thought he wanted me. I thought I mattered. Maybe he just sees me as… just a pussy to play with. A thing.”

Her voice cracked.

Her wings drooped.

Her tail fell limp.

She wasn’t even a side chick. No… Even side chicks got attention. Got fucked. Got affection—even if it was fake.

But her?

He didn’t touch her.

It felt like he was mocking her—just keeping her around to remind her of how unneeded she was.

“H-Hah… O-Of course he does… I mean…” her voice broke again. “Yeah… who would ever love… a succubus?”

And just like Nyx, she turned away—walking slowly, dragging her heavy tail behind her as it swayed low against the earth.

Meanwhile—

Aether and Lia were still playing in the river, soaked from head to toe, lost in their own little world.

Their laughter carried through the trees like a soft melody, completely unaware of the two broken hearts.

Water clung to their skin, their clothes now transparent and hugging their bodies. Aether blinked, staring for a moment—he could clearly see her figure underneath now. The outline of her curves, the softness of her chest, the delicate shape of her waist… it was all there.

Noticing his gaze, Lia turned her head sharply, cheeks blazing red. She splashed water right at his face with both hands.

“W-Where are you looking at!?”

Aether let out a surprised chuckle, wiping the water from his eyes. He didn’t even try to deny it.

“Obviously at those curves… You’re looking kind of hot right now~”

Lia froze.

Her eyes widened slightly.

She didn’t expect him to say it so bluntly. No hesitation. No shame. No playful grin. Just those words, casually tossed out like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Y-You—!” She stared at him, mouth half-open, words fumbling on her tongue.

How could he just say that like that?!

Even if they were lovers… still! That was way too wrong!

He had never done that before…

Not with her.

Lia’s thoughts swirled in a hot, dizzying mess as she blinked up at Aether. Did that mean… he was finally seeing her as a proper woman?

Not just a friend.

Not just some cute little sister.

But a woman.

Her eyes dropped for a second, unintentionally trailing down his body.

His shirt clung to his chest, outlining every line of muscle—his defined abs, the carved muscles around his hips, the way the veins ran up his arms and the water slid down his sharp collarbone and neck.

Lia’s lips parted slightly.

Her tongue brushed along her lower lip.

Her fangs slowly slid out.

A heat pulsed inside her chest as she stared at him with an intensity she hadn’t meant to reveal.

She wasn’t just embarrassed anymore.

She was… hungry.

“Oi… where are you looking at?” Aether raised a brow, genuinely caught off guard by the way her gaze roamed his body.

He didn’t expect her to stare back at him like that… like she wanted to eat him.

Literally.

Lia’s lips curled into a sly smirk. A drop of water trickled down her cheek, and with a sensual grace, she leaned forward slightly and licked her lips—slow, deliberate, and dripping with unspoken intent.

“Of course those curves…” she purred in a low, teasing voice, “You look… freaking hot now~”

Even as her cheeks flushed with a wave of red, she still managed to keep her composure—barely.

Aether raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise at her boldness. But instead of backing off, he chuckled and shook his head slowly, as if accepting the inevitable.

“Okay, my cute little vampire… Don’t stroke my ego too much,” he said with a wicked grin, his voice smooth and rich. “I’m pretty sure I won’t hold back next time~”

His eyes dropped without shame, trailing down toward her soaked lower half.

And then—he stared.

Right at her crotch.

Not for a second, not by accident—he looked with burning hunger, his gaze intense, raw, unfiltered.

Lia’s entire body stiffened. Her eyes flew wide open in horror.

“A-Ah! Y-You—P-Pervert!” she squeaked, scrambling as her hands shot down instinctively, covering her crotch as her blush deepened.

“I-I can’t believe you!”

Aether laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying her reaction.

“Oh dear… you really don’t know how much of a pervert I am, huh?” he said, voice dipping into something darker, more teasing. “After all… you’re a pervert too, right?”

As he spoke, he casually flicked his damp neck, brushing aside some of the wet strands of hair that clung to it.

Lia’s eyes, without meaning to, followed the motion.

His neck was exposed now—so close, so warm. The droplets sliding down, those prominent veins lightly throbbing just beneath his pale skin…

Gods.

She wanted to bite him.

No, not just bite—devour him.

Her fangs ached in her gums as they extended instinctively, and her lips parted in desire, breath growing shallow.

She hadn’t tasted his blood since that very first drop.

Even during the wedding… when he bled a little… just a few drops… the scent alone had nearly broken her. Her mother had to physically restrain her from sinking her teeth into his neck right there and then.

Aether saw the way she was looking at him and grinned.

“Pervert~”

Lia snapped out of it with a loud gasp, her face burning.

“O-Oi!! T-That’s cheating!!”

In a mix of fury and overwhelming embarrassment, she raised both hands and splashed water at him wildly, flailing in frustration.

“Don’t look at me like that, idiot! I don’t want you to see me like this!!”

Aether only raised his hands to shield himself, laughing under the downpour of her furious splashing.

But as the water settled, so did the energy between them.

The time had come… she needed to leave now…

Lia lowered her arms slowly.

Her eyes wandered back to him.

She didn’t want to go.

But she had to.

Her expression turned reluctant, her shoulders drooping a little as she stood still, water dripping from her hair and fingertips.

“…Okay,” she said quietly, not looking him in the eye. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She began to turn, her bare feet splashing lightly against the water as her figure started fading into faint red light.

But before she could vanish completely, Aether stepped forward and gently grabbed her wrist.

She paused.

Then his hand slid up, and he leaned in close… pressing a tender kiss against her forehead.

Lia froze.

Her eyes widened… then softened.

“I really missed you,” he whispered against her skin. “And don’t worry… I’ll ask your mother.”

Lia stood there silently for a heartbeat.

Then she slowly leaned forward.

And kissed him.

Just… warm. A brief, heartfelt touch of her lips against his.

When she pulled back, her voice came out soft, vulnerable, trembling at the edges.

“I’m waiting, then…”

And with that, her body shimmered, dissolving into glowing red particles, her form morphing into a bat that soared gracefully into the sky.

Aether watched her fly off until she disappeared into the clouds.

“…Sigh,” he exhaled, rubbing his forehead.

“How the hell am I supposed to deal with that bitch now?” he groaned under his breath, referring to the obstacle he had been avoiding—Mary.

He hadn’t even made a plan for her.

He wanted to separate them—like he had with Xara and Kai—but the bond between Lia and her mother was far stronger than he had imagined.

That family tie… was going to be a problem.

With a reluctant groan, he finally sighed and slipped the ring back onto his finger. His hair instantly shifted back to jet black, and with a casual wave, steam hissed around him as the remaining water evaporated off his skin, leaving his body dry and faintly warm.

A faint pulse of energy rippled through the air—and he vanished.

Aether reappeared back in the house.

He glanced around and noticed Nyx.

She was lying on the bed, her back turned to him.

Quiet.

Still.

Peaceful?

He didn’t say anything. Just moved beside her quietly and lay down, settling against the bed.

But—

What he didn’t see…

What he couldn’t see…

Was her face.

Her eyes were wide open—staring at nothing.

And her hands were clenched tight into fists, again and again, knuckles white and trembling slightly, as if she were holding something in… barely.

As if she had just caught her husband cheating.

But couldn’t scream.

Couldn’t cry.

Couldn’t say a single word.