Chapter 1196: Meeting his son again!

Celestia weakly shrugged, her expression unreadable. "I don’t know... but it seems she can handle her boyfriends effortlessly. Like it’s nothing to her."

Aether’s lips twitched slightly. "Whatever..." he muttered under his breath, brushing a hand through his hair. It wasn’t like he really cared how those guys were handling it, but still... the thought nagged at him.

To think...

"Kai, who used to pride himself on being untouchable... Look at him now. How far has he fallen?" Aether let out a soft, bitter chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief before standing up. His movements were slow but deliberate. "Well then, I guess it’s time to go see my idiotic son."

He grabbed the report and spread his hand open. In an instant, Celestia moved toward him, a flicker of white light wrapping her body as she gracefully slipped into a soft white casual T-shirt and pants that shimmered gently.

Aether glanced toward the slumbering Nightfire curled up in the room’s corner. "Sleep well," he whispered, before his gaze shifted back to Celestia.

"Arrange a meeting with that woman. I want to speak to her directly."

Celestia nodded without a word, and in the next second, she vanished into shadow.

Aether stepped out of the room... He looked to his room—empty.

Nyx wasn’t there, as expected.

She was probably out at some grave again, digging through bones and stories as usual.

He’d speak to her later. For now, he let his breath settle, eyes slowly closing as black mist curled around his figure. His body faded into the darkness like smoke dissolving into the night.

*****

Zephyra Empire

Within the palace of the Zephyra Empire, the bright sky blazed high above, casting long shadows through the marble corridors. Kaelen stood on the wide balcony, the wind tugging at his robes as he gritted his teeth, arms crossed tightly against his chest.

His expression was filled with fury, frustration... and heartbreak.

His mother had locked him inside the palace. He was forbidden to step foot outside, no matter how much he begged, pleaded, or cried.

She was adamant.

Not until his father spoke to him.

"Aargh! Just how long am I supposed to rot in here?!" Kaelen shouted, slamming his hand on the railing. "I need to see her—my beloved! I need to explain everything!"

The last thing he remembered was her crying. Her eyes—those soft, glistening eyes, filled with pain.

He had broken her.... Or maybe, others were trying to break what they had.

He couldn’t let his family tear apart the one thing he cherished most.

No matter what his mother said...

Even if his father tried to stop him...

This was his love—and he wasn’t going to let anyone else decide his fate.

"Your beloved?"

The voice that echoed behind him was low and indifferent.

Kaelen flinched and spun around. Standing there, as if materialised from the shadows, was Aether. His father.

Kaelen’s anger faltered slightly. There was a flicker of hope in his eyes. He knew his father had never liked Vesperine. But still... Aether had always been the one who understood him.

The one who listened.

"F-Father..." Kaelen swallowed, his voice cracking. "Please... help me. I love her. I truly do."

Aether didn’t speak right away. He looked at his son quietly. ’Father, huh? Not Dad anymore?’ he thought with a slight bitterness, but said nothing of it aloud.

"You already know what she is, don’t you?" Aether’s voice was low. "She’s been playing with Kai and L—"

"Please don’t insult her with your baseless accusations!" Kaelen snapped, his tone suddenly sharp and defensive. His fists were clenched, eyes glaring.

Aether’s expression darkened. Without a word, he threw the report directly at Kaelen’s chest.

"Then read that," Aether said coldly. "It’s all the information we managed to gather, knowing you wouldn’t believe me otherwise."

Kaelen caught the folder with trembling hands. His eyes darted across the pages in a rush of panic. His hands started shaking as he flipped through the reports... then came the pictures.

Photos.

Clear, undeniable pictures of Vesperine... with Kai. With Leon... with Finnian—intimately close.

"I... It can’t be..." Kaelen’s voice cracked.

His expression contorted in disbelief, in pain. His knees almost buckled.

Aether gave a cold, humourless smirk. "That’s the truth, my son. She’s been playing with your heart from the beginning."

Kaelen stared down at the papers, eyes wide in disbelief. The truth stabbed into him like a thousand blades.

"N-No..." he whispered, shaking his head. "You’re lying... YOU’RE ALL LYING!!"

He dropped the papers, letting them scatter across the balcony like feathers in the wind. The pain was too much to hold in.

In a flash, Kaelen stormed toward Aether, grabbing his collar and screaming,

"HOW DARE YOU LIE ABOUT MY BELOVED WOMAN!!"

His voice was deep, filled with heartbreak and desperation. His eyes were wet, trembling, full of rage and fear.

Aether didn’t fight back. He simply stood there, letting Kaelen scream, clutching his collar like it would bring him answers.

Because Aether understood.

He knew what it felt like... to be betrayed. To be abandoned. To be treated like nothing.

He gently reached up and placed a hand on Kaelen’s shoulder.

"I know your heart doesn’t want to accept it," Aether said softly. "And that’s okay. I’m not asking you to believe it right away... I’m just asking you to take your time. No matter what, your mother and I will be here for you, Kaelen."

Kaelen’s lips trembled. His hands slowly loosened their grip on Aether’s collar, straightening his collar with trembling hands and crying eyes,

"I... I’m sorry... P-Please... I-I need time... I need to talk to her... I... I just..." His voice broke apart like glass, each word shattering.

A small, fragile part of him still hoped—hoped that everything in that report was fake.

A lie. A nightmare he could wake up from.

Tears rolled down his cheeks.

He was crying... Genuinely. And Confused, lost, and hurting in a way that words couldn’t fully express.

Used.

Not by an enemy... but by the one he loved most.

Aether watched him—the strong, proud son who had grown himself stood so tall proudly, now breaking apart in front of him.

As if he was reverting back to his self.

Aether’s fists clenched. Veins throbbed against his temples as he fought the rising fury inside him.

That woman—no, that bitch—was going to pay for this. She would die for what she did to his son.

And just then...

/Aether... I made the arrangements with her./

Celestia’s voice echoed clearly in his mind, timely.

Aether’s expression shifted.

He smirked, the anger behind it simmering like a volcano.

He turned to Kaelen, whose eyes were still red and wet.

"Well then," Aether said calmly. "Let’s go and see your beloved."

"H-Huh?" Kaelen blinked, looking up in confusion.