Chapter 230: Meeting with Aunt 3

At first.

She was just curious...

Curious to all his secrets.

Knowing Adrian as she did, she was confident that he wouldn't willingly venture into perilous territory.

Yet, the location to which he had been teleported seemed uncomfortably distant for her liking.

Despite his hero status, the world still held unknown dangers, and even those blessed by the goddess weren't immune to them.

No matter how revered or honored one might be, safety was never guaranteed.

Her staff's indications reassured her that Adrian wasn't in immediate danger, but the persistent curiosity gnawed at her consciousness.

While she understood Adrian's inclination towards privacy, his prolonged secrecy raised suspicions.

It was natural to have some reservations, but his evasiveness hinted at something more significant being concealed.

If Adrian was indeed harboring something dangerous, she resolved to confront him about it.

He was a bit too secretive for her taste.

Furthermore, despite the passage of months, he had yet to address the unsettling events of their last encounter in the mansion – the lurking monsters, the mysteries shrouding his identity – all remained unresolved.

It was a lingering discomfort, a pressing matter that demanded clarification and resolution.

Aria wasn't a fool; she quickly discerned that the person inside Adrian wasn't actually Adrian himself.

The reason? It was quite simple.

Despite the irony of her being the most hated person for Adrian during that time yet at the same time the closest to him, she couldn't overlook the truth.

The memories of her childhood, filled with relentless bullying towards Adrian, were too vivid to dismiss.

The countless hours spent tormenting him overshadowed even the care given by Analise and Lilliana.

Her intimate knowledge of Adrian's character was such that she could sense the discrepancy, even back at Estelle Academy, when she called him out and witnessed his surprised reaction.

Yet, despite her certainty, doubts lingered within her.

The emotional upheaval she witnessed during the confrontation with the duke stirred conflicting emotions within her.

The sight of him in tears that day invoked memories of the past Adrian she once knew, clouding her judgment and sowing seeds of uncertainty.

The question persisted in her heart, despite the guilt that accompanied it.

"Is he Adrian or not?" It was a troubling inquiry, one that she knew she shouldn't entertain, especially considering her affection for him.

Yet, the nagging doubt refused to be silenced, casting a shadow over her feelings and leaving her torn between what she knew and what she felt.

As the disorienting effects of her teleportation began to subside, Aria's mind raced to find a plausible explanation for her sudden appearance near Adrian.

'I love Adrian' The words echoed in Aria's mind with unwavering conviction.

It was a truth she held dear, a truth she refused to compromise on.

Regardless of any doubts or uncertainties, one thing remained steadfast: her love for Adrian.

She understood that love transcended labels or identities.

Adrian was Adrian, the person she had fallen for, the person who had captured her heart. In him, she found solace, companionship, and an unwavering connection that defied explanation.

No matter the challenges they faced, no matter the secrets he might harbor, Aria's love for Adrian remained unwavering.

He was the one she had chosen, the one she would continue to choose, for the rest of her days.

But even still she needed to address things now...

As the teleportation spell she used brightened any second now she would by his side instantaneously.

She knew she needed an excuse; she couldn't bear the thought of him being upset with her for intruding on his privacy.

For someone like Aria, who hadn't yet experienced being blessed with any form of divinity or getting used to the presence of one, being near them alone might break her mind and soul, just like what happened last time when Dad suddenly decided to descend.

"Oyayaya~ isn't she one of your lovers?" Loki's voice chimed in, his playful tone contrasting sharply with the seriousness of the situation as he floated near us, watching Aria intently.

"Don't look..." I instructed him firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

He grumbled but eventually complied, turning his gaze away from her.

"So she's your beloved, Ian?" Aunt's voice carried curiosity as she spoke, but her words seemed to strike Aria's soul like a hammer, causing her to visibly struggle under the intense pressure.

The weight of the situation was too much for her mere mortal body to bear.

Reacting swiftly, I enveloped Aria in my protective aura and pulled her into a tight embrace, shielding her from Aunt's gaze.

Whatever the reason, Aria must never look directly at Aunt. While Loki might be manageable, Aunt was another matter altogether.

"Cover your ears," I instructed Aria, a precaution in case she heard another voice that could harm her. Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, I ensured that my aura seeped into her soul, offering her some measure of protection.

Fortunately, it seemed that her soul wasn't significantly harmed. Sighing in relief, I turned my attention to Aunt, who seemed to have realized her misstep.

She coughed awkwardly, her expression apologetic.

"Sorry..." she murmured, acknowledging her error. I couldn't exactly blame her; she was probably just excited to meet Aria, especially since we were about to be married.

But I hadn't expected our family gathering to take such a troublesome turn.

This situation was quickly becoming more complicated than I had anticipated.

"He's beloved...?" I heard Elowyn murmur to the side, her gaze flickering with a mix of curiosity and various emotions as she observed Aria. Even Schwi seemed slightly taken aback by Aria's sudden appearance but opted to remain silent.

Feeling increasingly concerned for Aria's well-being, I spoke up, addressing Aunt directly. "Aunt, can you please get far away from here for now?" My worry for Aria was mounting, and I needed to ensure her safety above all else.

Aunt nodded in understanding and turned to Elowyn and Schwi, who both nodded in return before initiating their own teleportation spells. In a matter of moments, they vanished from sight, leaving Aria and me alone.

"Loki, you as well..." I called out to the mischievous kid who had been lurking nearby.

"Tsk... how boring," Loki grumbled in annoyance before disappearing in a glimmer of golden smoke, leaving us in solitude.

With everyone gone, I slowly released my grip on Aria, allowing her some space. She looked around nervously, her eyes searching for answers.

Finally, she turned to me, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"A-Adrian, what's going on?" she asked, her gaze pleading for clarity amidst the confusion.

'that's what I would like to ask as well' I really wanted to say to her but I chose to remain quiet for now, her mind was probably still in the process of understanding her situation.

She looked so afraid and disoriented that it reminded me of the time back in the academy when Dad's presence had traumatized her to the point where she initially tried to harm me.

Although a positive outcome had come from that ordeal, seeing her in pain like this wasn't something I could tolerate.

In the past, I might have laughed it off, but now that I had fallen for this woman, the sight of her suffering annoyed me more than anything else in the world.

Sighing heavily, I rubbed my face, trying to release the anger bubbling within me. Talking to her while I was upset would only lead to disaster.

"Aria, why are you here? No... how did you even come here?" I asked, striving to maintain a gentle tone, despite the turmoil swirling inside me.

However, my attempt at gentleness seemed to backfire as she looked at me with even more nervousness, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

'Shit...' I cursed inwardly, realizing that my question had only intensified her distress.

"I was just—" she began, her voice faltering as she struggled to find the right words.

Without hesitation, I pulled her into another comforting embrace, feeling her tears dampen my shoulder.

There was no need for her to explain right now; what mattered most was comforting her in this moment of vulnerability.

"Sorry... I guess everything was a bit too much for you right now," I murmured softly, offering reassurance to Aria. She probably thought I was mad at her...haah...

As she cried in my embrace, I couldn't help but wonder how complicated things would become with the other girls once Mom came into play.

But for now, I needed to let Aria calm down before asking any questions.

Stroking her back gently, I held her closer than I ever imagined.