"All because of you!! Because you were born to me!! If only you weren't defective... I wouldn't have suffered like this... Why can't you just die!!"
"Hmm.." Aqualina's eyes fluttered open, the haunting words still echoing in her mind. Her vision adjusted, and she blinked, slowly realizing where she was. Beside her, Aether lay sleeping peacefully.
"Hehe... look at his cute sleeping face," she murmured, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. She stretched her limbs with a yawn. "Hmm... where am I?" Her eyes scanned the room until reality hit her.
"W-We're in the palace?" Her heart pounded, and her gaze snapped to Aether. "M-Mother is going to kill him!!" Panic surged as she shook him urgently. "Wake up, Aether! You need to leave before my mother finds out about us! She'll kill you if she knows what happened between us!"
