Aurora was momentarily stunned by Vexion's declaration. It stirred something deep within her—memories of old times. A soft smile graced her lips as she gently caressed Vexion's face, her fingers warm against the half-elf's damp skin.
"You remind me of myself,", her voice carrying a nostalgic warmth. "When I was young, I, too, made a declaration like yours—to follow the man I loved, no matter what stood in my way."
She chuckled lightly before continuing. "I was fifteen when I met him—a young man unlike any other. Handsome beyond words, with white shiny hair and fiery orange eyes that burned with unshakable determination. He was the crown prince of the empire, and now, he is its emperor." Vexion listened intently, her heart beating in quiet anticipation.
"At that time, I was just a commoner, born with nothing but my own talent. To the world, I could never be anything more than a maid at best—a personal combatant at worst. But fate is a strange thing. When my legendary skill and two epic-tier skills were discovered, I was assigned to his personal squad as a royal guardian. My duty was to protect him. But to me… it became so much more."
Aurora's eyes softened as she recalled the past. "He made me feel special. Not as a warrior, not as a tool, but as a person. While others only saw my strength, he saw me. And because of that… I fell for him, deeper and deeper."
A sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of fondness and quiet sorrow. "But love alone wasn't enough. Customs, traditions—those chains that bind empires—stood in our way. An empress had to be of noble birth, and I was not. No matter my strength, no matter my talent, I could never sit beside him as his queen."
Vexion's brows furrowed slightly, her lips parting as if to protest, but Aurora simply smiled.
"My best friend, Olive, was in love with him too. Unlike me, she was born a noble. And more than that, she understood reality. The emperor needed concubines—not merely for pleasure, but for the future of the empire. You see, elves struggle to bear children. A fortunate elf may give birth twice in a about 4-5 years, but more often than not, a child is born only once every few years. In order to secure a lineage of powerful heirs, the emperor must have concubines with at least legendary-tier skills."
Aurora exhaled, her fingers idly tracing patterns on Vexion's shoulder. "I had a legendary skill, but that alone wasn't enough. If I wanted to be more than just another concubine—if I wanted to stand as his equal—I needed more. The Empress at the time, alongside Oliver, told me what had to be done. I had to prove my worth. I had to either push my legendary skill past level 50… or obtain a mythical skill. Some other way"
A warm breeze enveloped them as Aurora called upon her nature magic. The soft wind lifted Vexion from the water, wrapping her in its embrace as it dried her skin with gentle heat. Vexion stood still, watching Aurora with wide, uncertain eyes. There was confusion there, but also something else—expectation.
Aurora chuckled at her expression before helping her slip into a fresh robe. Then, taking Vexion's hand, she guided her to the bed, sitting beside her before continuing.
"It was grueling," Aurora admitted. "A trial that tested everything I had—body, mind, and soul. Evolving my legendary skill to mythical status nearly broke me. It was a battle against my own limits, against doubt, against despair. And while I struggled, Justin—my fool of a lover—fought his own battles. He was furious when he learned we couldn't be together. That reckless idiot even fought his father over it. Many times, in fact."
Vexion's lips twitched at the thought of a younger Justin throwing himself at an emperor, fists raised in defiance.
"He lost every single time," Aurora said, smirking slightly. "But he never gave up. Every time he left to train, every time he traveled to other empires and distant continents, he took me with him. We faced hardships together, we fought battles together… and yes, we even indulged in our own mischief when we could." Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. "But never once did we forget our goal. He would become emperor, and I would rise alongside him—not just as a concubine, but as his woman, his equal." Her voice grew softer as she added, "He wanted me to know that he saw my struggles. That my efforts weren't in vain. And in the end, I succeeded. I surpassed the Empress's and the King's expectations. I became a mythical being."
Aurora leaned back slightly, resting her weight on one arm. "But even that wasn't enough for me to become Empress. After all, Oliver had been born with a mythical skill. A mere commoner—even a mythical one—could not take the throne."
Vexion frowned slightly, but Aurora only smiled. "Yet power is power. Even nobles cannot ignore it. And so, to ensure I remained by his side, they created a new position for me—Grand Concubine."
She tilted her head, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It was more than just a title. It meant that after the Emperor and Empress, I held equal authority. It meant that I was acknowledged not as a mere concubine, but as his lover—his partner."
A gentle silence settled between them as Aurora gazed at Vexion, her expression unreadable. "So, you see… I understand your loyalty, your devotion. I've been there before."
Vexion tightened her grip on the sheets, her chest rising and falling in steady breaths. There was something unspoken between them now—an understanding that needed no further words.
Aurora smiled, leaning forward to press a light kiss to Vexion's forehead. "If you truly wish to stand by my son's side… then be prepared, little one. That road is not easy." And with that, she let the silence speak for itself.
. "
Vexion stared at Aurora with wide-eyed amazement, unable to fully process the weight of her words. The revelation stirred something deep within her—a torrent of emotions that made her feel like a child again, overwhelmed yet enraptured.
Aurora chuckled softly, reaching out to caress Vexion's head. To her, the girl looked adorable in her stunned expression. Though Aurora was naturally alluring, she viewed Vexion through the eyes of a mother—someone still young, still learning.
"The reason I'm telling you this," Aurora began, her voice warm yet firm, "is because I can tell you're not lying. When you and Dante were in the hallway, I overheard him mention his mythical skill and how we are a hundred times stronger than him. And when you lost your composure—when you swore to never lose it again, even against gods—it reminded me of myself and Justin."
Her gaze softened as memories flickered in her eyes. "Justin is monstrously strong. But he pursued that strength not for vanity or personal glory. He did it so this empire would never have to bow before another, so war would never a fear for us. He didn't just want power as a deterrent—he wanted the kind of power that would obliterate anyone who threatened his children.
"And you… you kept your promise to him," Aurora mused. "Even when you were desperate, you didn't bend the knee before me. Instead, you sought a middle ground— you offered a bow, not submission." A smirk crossed her lips as she tilted her head playfully. "But tell me, you're not planning on making moves on my son when he's only 13 years old, are you?"
The sudden change in conversation hit Vexion like a bolt of lightning. She turned beet red, hiding her face in her hands as embarrassment overwhelmed her. "M-Madam! It's not like that!, I would never make moves on the young master at this age!"
Aurora raised an amused brow, thoroughly enjoying Vexion's reaction. "Oh? So you admit to liking my dear son?"
Vexion's blush deepened, but this time, she didn't hide her face. Instead, she gathered her courage and spoke, though her voice trembled. "Th-The young master is… quite adorable. And I believe that in the future, he will have the opportunity to choose any woman he desires. Even if my love for Master is true… I don't think the young master will see me as anything more than a loyal subordinate."
Her voice faltered slightly before she continued, "Moreover… I'm a half-elf. Even if most people never find out, it wouldn't be a good look for the young master."
Aurora's amusement slowly faded, replaced by a more serious expression. She studied the girl before her. Vexion wore the face of someone who had already resigned herself to an unreachable love, her expression bitter yet filled with quiet acceptance.
Just as Aurora was about to offer words of comfort, she noticed Vexion clench her hands into fists.
"However…" Vexion took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I still want to stay by his side. As a subordinate… and perhaps, one day… as a—"
She hesitated, her face growing impossibly red before she forced herself to say it. "A lover."
The weight of those words made her heart pound, but she didn't stop. "When the young master turns eighteen, I want to be strong enough that—even as a half-elf—I can triumph over his other suitors. Then I'll bury their bodies after slicing them to pieces." Aurora blinked.
Vexion, now fully realizing that she had let a bit of her inner madness slip out, immediately paled. She opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could, Aurora pulled her into a tight embrace.
The warmth, the sincerity—it caught Vexion off guard.
Aurora's voice trembled slightly, filled with an emotion Vexion had never expected. "The world is cruel… far harsher than he realizes. Even Sovereigns die. Even mythical beings aren't untouchable. So please… take care of him. Kill his enemies. Bring their heads—if not to him, then to me."
Her arms tightened around Vexion, and though her voice remained warm, a playful yet deadly smile curled her lips. "Even if you never become his only woman… win his heart.
And if any other woman dares to take him from you, make sure she dies by your hands. Then remain as his number one, okay?"
Vexion's mind reeled. Aurora's words echoed like a battle cry, igniting something deep within her—a burning determination. She recalled the ache she had felt when she saw her master flirt with Lexa, the fear that she wasn't desirable in his eyes.
Her hands clenched again, but this time, it wasn't out of despair.
And she would make sure he saw her.
Vexion nodded, looking at Aurora with newfound respect.
A smile crept onto her lips as she thought about how fitting it was that her master's mother was such a remarkable woman. Despite her beauty and strength, what truly made her worthy of being Dante's mother was her deep love and care for him. That alone was enough for Vexion to decide—Aurora was someone worth keeping in her master's life.
She was about to ask where she could sleep when Aurora suddenly sighed, her voice shifting into a tone of mild exasperation.
"You idiot. Could you not have waited until tomorrow?" she muttered aloud, as if speaking to someone unseen. "The more I'm around you, the more I fail to understand how a Sovereign is actually supposed to behave. If someone like you can be a Sovereign, then truly, anyone could. Couldn't you have at least waited until I was done speaking to her? And aren't you supposed to hear everything within the palace territory?"
Vexion blinked in confusion, unsure who Aurora was addressing. But the moment the doors burst open, realization struck.