"Where have you been?" Taylor asked with a raised eyebrow as she saw Aether entering the room, her tone a mix of curiosity and subtle annoyance.
"Kind of busy with the Princess," Aether replied casually, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. Without further explanation, he immediately picked up his night clothes and disappeared into the bathroom to change.
When Aether emerged, he sat down on the chair with a heavy sigh, his posture relaxed.
"...."
"...."
An awkward silence descended upon the room, thick and palpable.
Both of them wanted to break the tension, to bridge the gap that had formed, but neither knew how to start. They were both conscious of each other's presence.
'Sigh, what are we? husband and wife?'
Aether sighed, deciding to act like nothing happened, "Where have you been? I didn't see you after arriving at the classes."
Taylor smiled, appreciating his attempt to change the subject, "Since Ms. Selene didn't want me with her, I roamed around freely," she said with a casual shrug.
"I see..." Aether nodded, another silence threatening to take over. But this time, Taylor was determined to keep the conversation flowing.
"So, what have you planned for the contest?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and a spark of excitement.
Aether looked surprised.
"Oh! Come on now, Ms. Delphine is the representative of our Empire, and she needs to report to Her Majesty. As Her Majesty's right hand, I know everything in and out!" Taylor said with a prideful grin, a playful glint in her eyes.
"I see..." Aether nodded in understanding, picking up a black mask. "I already have an idea for my disguise. I just need to change my voice because I believe..."
"Selene would find out, right?" Taylor finished his sentence, a knowing look in her eyes.
"Yeah..." Aether nodded, thinking, 'She must have figured out something is going on between Selene and me.'
Taylor nodded, taking the full mask from his hand and scrutinizing it, "It seems the Principal didn't add another voice function."
"Hmm? Functions?" Aether was surprised.
"Yes... Give me a few days, and I'll make it perfect for you!" Taylor said with a professional smile, her confidence shining through.
"Super! Then could you ensure the mask doesn't fall off in any situation, changes my voice to sound haughty and manly, and... most importantly, has a function that makes it appear out of nowhere?" Aether's eyes sparkled with excitement as he described his vision, his hands gesturing animatedly.
"Appear out of nowhere?" Taylor frowned, not quite understanding what he meant.
Aether slowly explained all the functions he needed for his future plans, and the awkwardness between them finally settled. They sat closer together, their shoulders almost touching. Taylor's focus on the mask was intense, and Aether couldn't help but admire her dedication and the subtle elegance she exuded.
After explaining everything, Taylor pondered. "Everything is possible except for that morphing function you mentioned... I don't quite understand."
Aether wanted the mask to appear and disappear at will, to avoid carrying it around all the time, especially in tight situations. He described a magical mask that would appear when he waved his hand before his face and disappear the same way.
'It would be cool!' Aether thought, looking at Taylor with anticipation.
"...." Taylor pondered what Aether was asking for. She had never heard of such a thing. She decided to consult with the Empress, "I'm not sure about this, so don't get your hopes up, okay?"
Aether nodded with a smile. He wasn't going to act like a child. As long as the mask was good, he was fine. He just asked if it was possible.
Those weren't his childhood dreams. Really, they weren't.
Believe him!! Those are not his childhood dreams!!
"Then..." Suddenly, Taylor extended her hand with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"OH!" Aether exclaimed, surprised, before shaking her hand for forming a co-operation!
"Tsk," Taylor clicked her tongue and swatted his hand,
"Money."
"... Money?"
"Yes," Taylor frowned. "Did you think I would work for free?!" Her eyes were full of disbelief.
"...." Aether was stunned, feeling as if he had eaten something bitter. She had approached him first, so he thought she was helping him out of goodwill.
Anyone in his position would think the same, so there was nothing wrong with him thinking that!
Seeing his stunned expression, Taylor couldn't help but laugh, "Pfftt... hahahaha... Look at your face! Hahaha... as if you ate something disgusting!"
Aether was annoyed by her laughter, "You little...!"
Before Aether could catch her, Taylor moved quickly to the bed, trying to escape. Her laughter echoed in the room, infectious and lively, before she escaped to the upper berth.
Aether caught her by the hip, his fingers digging into her soft skin and,
"Hahaha... S-Sto...hahahahaha...."
He tickled her non-stop, "Take that, you little thief!"
"Hahaha... I-I am...ahahaha...sssorrrrryyyyyy...ahahahaha"
Taylor's hands went numb as she let go of the climb and fell onto Aether,
'Thud'
He instinctively pushed her to the side so she wouldn't fall to the ground, their bodies tangled together.
"-ha-"
"-ha-"
Taylor panted heavily, her eyes staring at Aether through her disoriented glasses. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair slightly messy, making her look even more endearing.
"..."
.
"..."
The atmosphere turned silent, the only sound being Taylor's heavy breathing echoing in the room.
Aether, who was now on top of Taylor, couldn't help but stare at her panting face. It felt strangely erotic. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes wide and glistening with a mix of surprise and something more.
His hands trembled, yet he didn't move. He hoped Taylor would push him off, but she only stared at him through her disoriented glasses, her gaze intense and unwavering.
Both of them stared at each other, their breaths slowly synchronizing. Aether leaned down, hoping Taylor would push him off.... Yet again, she only stared at him.
There was only an inch between their faces. Taylor glanced at his lips and then back at his eyes, while Aether did the same. The air between them felt charged, alive with unspoken words.
Aether slowly parted his lips, and seeing that, Taylor also parted hers. Her breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut and...
"~Hmm~"
They didn't know if it was just lust or something else blooming between them. But in that moment, it didn't matter.
But neither of them rejected the other. Their lips locked, and a certain sense of fulfilment blossomed in each other's minds.