Chapter 208: Chapter : 208 : Homebound!

The system prompt lingered in the air, glowing softly between them.

—

[SYSTEM PROMPT]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTER THE NEXT FLOOR?]

→ YES | NO

—

Aiden stared at it for half a second.

Then his shoulders slumped.

“No way,” He said immediately, voice full of dramatic exhaustion. “I am dying for Edda’s handmade dinner.”

The reaction was instant.

“Oh thank the gods,” Serica said, rolling her neck.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Vegia added with relief.

Vaara nodded so hard her hair bounced. “Food. Real food. Warm food.”

Selvara crossed her arms. “Finally, a sensible decision.”

Thristle grinned widely. “My King speaks wisdom.”

Even Nyxion smirked. “If Edda’s cooking is involved, survival instincts take priority.”

Luna squeezed Aiden’s arm tighter, her tail flicking happily. “Master deserves rest.”

Aethoniel nodded shyly. “Y-Yes… dinner sounds nice.”

Aiden lifted his hand decisively. “System. No.”

—

[COMMAND ACCEPTED]

—

The glowing prompt faded, the chamber hum softening as the pressure of progression lifted.

A breath of relief passed through the entire group.

Then—

Then Nayla tilted her head, midnight hair sliding like silk over one bare shoulder, the new ivory-and-gold gown clinging scandalously to every impossible curve the ascension had gifted her.

“Who is Edda?” She asked, voice rich with genuine curiosity.

Aiden turned to her, eyes softening.

“Edda is another one of my wives.”

Nayla blinked once. Slowly. “…Another.”

She swept her crimson gaze across the gathered women—ten of them, each one radiating different shades of beauty, power, danger, affection—and then back to Aiden.

Her full lips curved into a slow, amused smile. “You truly do collect the most… impressive company, Heart Lord.”

She paused, then asked the far more important question. “And she is a good cook?”

The silence that followed was almost reverent.

Luna straightened proudly, tail swishing.

“She’s amazing.”

“She’s dangerous,” Thristle said seriously, eyes wide.

“She could start wars with that food,” Serica added, deadpan.

“I still don’t know how she does it,” Vaara admitted, almost mournfully.

“Edda’s meals restore morale better than any healing spell I’ve ever cast,” Vegia said thoughtfully, hand on her heart.

Nyxion gave a single, decisive nod. “She is the best.”

Aethoniel spoke quietly but earnestly. “E-Edda’s food… feels warm.”

Nayla laughed softly. “Oh? Now I’m intrigued.”

She pressed a finger to her lips, eyes drifting as if recalling something distant.

“It has been ages since I truly ate,” she murmured. “This place… it never let me feel hunger.”

Her tongue brushed her lower lip absentmindedly. “I have forgotten the sensation.”

Aiden smiled. “Then you’re in for a treat.”

He gestured lightly as he spoke. “You’ll meet my other wives too. Lysandra. Zerra. Xylendra. Valeforia.”

Nayla listened attentively.

“And my daughters,” Aiden continued, warmth softening his voice. “Leona, Liri and Noir. And my younger sister, Ivy.”

Nayla’s eyes widened slightly. “A family that large…”

She smiled. “I am excited to meet them.”

Luna, who had been holding onto Aiden’s arm possessively the entire time, suddenly lifted her chin.

“Just so you know,” She said proudly, tail swishing, “Lysandra and I are carrying Master’s baby.”

She stuck her tongue out playfully at Nayla and clutched Aiden’s arm even tighter.

Aiden chuckled and gently petted Luna’s head.

She immediately leaned into his palm, eyes half-lidded, humming contentedly.

Nayla watched the interaction closely.

“Hm…”

She stepped forward.

Luna stiffened instantly.

Nayla was taller than her—though not taller than Aiden—and she moved with an easy confidence that made Luna’s ears twitch.

She leaned down slightly, bringing herself level with Luna’s face.

“What?” Luna asked suspiciously, hugging Aiden’s arm tighter. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Nayla smiled gently. “Let me check.”

Before Luna could react, Nayla placed her hand lightly over Luna’s belly.

Luna yelped. “H-Hey!”

“Easy,” Aiden said immediately. “Luna, calm down.”

Nayla closed her eyes.

The space around her fingers warmed faintly.

She felt it.

A small, steady presence. A quiet pulse of life.

Her expression softened.

“…Hmm,” Nayla murmured, opening her eyes. “The baby feels healthy. Strong. You take good care of yourself.”

Luna froze.

Then her cheeks turned bright red.

“O-Obviously!” She said quickly, looking up at Aiden with glossy eyes. “It’s our baby. Our miracle.”

Something inside Aiden’s chest bloomed.

He pulled Luna closer without thinking.

“Luna…” He said softly. “Thank you. Thank you for taking such good care of yourself—and our child.”

Luna flushed even harder and buried her face against his arm.

“I try,” she whispered. “For us.”

Nayla straightened slowly.

Then she spoke, casually.

“I could accelerate the growth.”

Silence slammed down.

Everyone froze.

“…What?” Serica said flatly.

Aiden turned sharply. “You can do that?”

Nayla shrugged lightly. “I’m a jin. Of course I can.”

She smiled mischievously and looked back at Luna.

“You wouldn’t have to wait months,” she said gently. “You could see your baby immediately.”

Luna’s eyes widened.

Then—

“No way!”

Nayla blinked, genuinely surprised. “Why?”

Luna hugged Aiden’s arm tighter.

“Why?” She repeated incredulously. “If you do that, I won’t be able to feel it.”

Her voice trembled—not fear, but conviction.

“I want to feel how my baby grows. I want to feel my belly change. I want to wake up every day knowing our baby is growing inside me. One day, I’ll give birth to our baby.”

Her eyes shone.

“That joy… don’t take it away.”

Aiden smiled and stroked her hair. “You heard her.”

Nayla stared at Luna for a long moment.

Then she bowed her head slightly.

“…I apologize. I should not have asked.”

Thristle suddenly clutched her stomach dramatically.

“My King,” She announced loudly, “I am starving. Let’s go home.”

That broke the tension instantly.

Aiden laughed. “Yeah. Good point.”

He lifted his hand. “System. Open the portal.”

Light gathered before them.

A familiar gateway began to form.

Warm. Welcoming.

Homebound.

Aiden glanced around at everyone—at Luna leaning into him, at Nayla standing thoughtfully, at his wives who had fought, feared, endured, and chosen him again.

“Alright,” He said softly. “Let’s eat.”

—

The dining room was warm.

Not just from the fire crackling softly in the hearth, but from the life inside it—the quiet anticipation, the layered scents of food, the soft clatter of plates and cutlery.

Edda moved back and forth between the long table and the kitchen with practiced ease, her sleeves rolled up, hair tied back, apron already dusted with flour and sauce.

She placed another plate down with a satisfied nod.

“Alright… that one goes there,” She muttered to herself. “And this one—no, no, this stays hot.”

Steam rose from the dishes in lazy curls.

There was a lot of food.

Too much, by normal standards.

Platters of roasted meat glazed with herbs and honey. Bowls of thick stew that shimmered with rich broth. Fresh bread stacked high in woven baskets. Grilled vegetables, spiced rice, sauces of every kind, desserts covered carefully with cloth so they would stay warm but not melt.

Edda glanced over the table, counting under her breath.

“One… two… three… mm… yeah. Still not enough.”

She turned back toward the kitchen with renewed determination.

“I said they’d eat when they came back,” She said firmly. “And they will.”

At the far end of the table, Lysandra sat with Leona perched comfortably on her lap.

Leona giggled as Lysandra gently braided a small section of her hair, fingers careful and patient.

“Mummy, you’re doing it wrong,” Leona said seriously.

Lysandra smiled softly. “Oh? And how should I do it, my little dragon?”

Leona puffed her cheeks. “Like this.”

She reached up and clumsily demonstrated, tangling the braid immediately, though absolutely wrong.

Lysandra laughed quietly. “Ah. I see. A very advanced technique.”

Leona beamed. “Daddy says I’m very advanced.”

“I’m sure he does,” Lysandra replied, kissing the top of her head.

Her eyes drifted toward the doorway for just a moment.

Still nothing.

At a smaller side table nearby, Liri sat with Ivy and Noir, the three of them huddled close together.

Ivy was swinging her legs back and forth, chin propped on her hands. “Do you think Onii-Chan is already done?”

Liri nooded her head quickly. “Yes, yes. I just know he is coming back. Don’t worry.”

Noir nodded, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “He said he’d come back.”

“I know,” Ivy said brightly. “I just miss him.”

Liri smiled at that, then leaned closer to Noir. “When Daddy comes back, you should sit next to him.”

Noir’s eyes widened. “R-Really?”

“Mm-hm,” Liri said seriously. “That’s where family sits.”

Noir swallowed, then nodded. “O-Okay.”

Across the room, Xylendra stood near the window, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She wasn’t looking outside.

She was staring at the air where the portal might appear.

Valeforia stood beside her, fingers interlaced, expression calm but eyes tense.

Zerra paced slowly before them, boots tapping softly against the floor.

“It’s taking too long,” Zerra muttered.

“They’ve been through worse,” Valeforia replied gently, though her voice lacked its usual certainty.

Xylendra exhaled sharply. “That doesn’t make waiting easier.”

Zerra stopped pacing. “No. It doesn’t.”

Her gaze flicked toward the table, toward the food, then back to the empty space in the room.

“I just want to see him walk through that door,” She said quietly. “Then I’ll breathe again.”

Edda returned with another tray, setting it down with a soft thump.

“Stop looking like that,” She said without turning around.

The three of them blinked.

“Like what?” Xylendra asked.

“Like you’re about to snap the room in half with worry,” Edda replied calmly. “They’ll be back.”

Zerra frowned. “You’re very confident.”

Edda straightened and wiped her hands on her apron.

“I’m not confident,” She said. “I’m certain.”

Valeforia tilted her head. “Because?”

Edda glanced at the table, then toward the doorway, then back at them.

“Because he promised,” She said simply. “And because he’s stubborn.”

That earned a small, reluctant smile from Xylendra.

Lysandra shifted Leona slightly on her lap.

“Out husband always keeps his word,” She said softly, more to herself than anyone else.

Leona nodded firmly. “Daddy always comes back.”

Ivy hopped off her chair suddenly. “I’m going to help!”

She ran over to Edda, grabbing a cloth much too big for her. “What can I do?”

Edda chuckled. “You can make sure the cups are lined up straight.”

“I can do that!” Ivy said proudly.

Liri followed more slowly, peeking over the table. “C-Can I help too?”

“Of course,” Edda said. “You can put the spoons next to the bowls.”

Liri smiled, shoulders relaxing as she got to work.

Noir hesitated, then stepped forward as well. “I… I can help carry something.”

Edda looked at her for a moment, then nodded. “You can help me with the bread.”

Noir’s face lit up just a little. “O-Okay.”

As they worked, the room slowly filled with motion again. Small sounds. Soft laughter. The scrape of chairs being adjusted.

But beneath it all, the waiting remained.

Zerra stopped pacing again.

“Do you feel that?” She asked suddenly.

Xylendra stiffened. “Feel what?”

Valeforia closed her eyes briefly.

Then—

A faint pressure brushed against the room.

Not forceful.

Familiar.

Lysandra’s head snapped up. “…They’re close.”

Leona gasped. “Daddy?”

The air shimmered.

Ivy dropped the cloth. “Onii-Chan!”

Edda straightened, heart thudding once, then smiled despite herself.

“About time,” She murmured.

Everyone turned toward the center of the room, breath held, food forgotten for a single, precious moment.

Then-

A portal opened in the room.

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END OF Chapter : 208 : HOMEBOUND!

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