Chapter 263: *Astrea Against The World (XL)*

Aestrea had been winning most rounds without even trying, taking the blocks with ease, much to the frustration of James and Derek, who had clearly planned something from the start.

Until suddenly…

It was Aestrea’s turn again, and his fingers brushed over a strange-looking block wedged near the center.

It was slightly different, painted with faint golden runes. The moment he slid it out, James and Derek’s eyes widened in mock surprise.

“Oho~!” James leaned back dramatically.

“Well, well… look who got the special wildcard.”

Derek smirked, glancing at Mia and Maria, who immediately exchanged glances of their own, their lips curling in anticipation.

“You know what this means, right?”

“I’m guessing it’s not ‘skip a turn.’” Aestrea raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, no,” James chuckled.

“This one says… ‘You will become very, very drunk.’”

Derek wiggled his fingers theatrically, and suddenly, a subtle wave of strange mana coiled through the air like invisible smoke, slipping into Aestrea’s body.

The sensation was warm and heavy, like someone pouring molten honey into his veins.

He let it happen, curious.

“…Huh.”

A faint flush crept across his cheeks, and his usually sharp gaze softened slightly.

“My god… even that wasn’t enough to make you fully drunk?!” James slapped the table.

Derek shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s like trying to get a dragon tipsy. Impossible.”

The girls giggled quietly, but the game continued.

Round after round passed, the tower swaying more with every move.

James had started sabotaging on purpose, hoping the chaos would push the game toward another “special” block.

And then… it happened.

Aestrea reached for a piece near the top and paused. His eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in a vague, sluggish recognition of what he was holding.

Another golden block.

“Oh… oh hohoho—you’re in for it now.” James’s eyes lit up, and Derek nearly choked on his drink.

Maria pressed her hand to her lips, suppressing a laugh.

“That one’s… worse.” Mia’s smile, however, was far more wicked.

“Ten times worse,” James confirmed with a grin sharp enough to be suspicious.

Before Aestrea could ask, the twins were already pushing mana toward the block in his hand.

The golden runes flared, and the moment they activated, an intense surge rushed through him, much heavier, warmer than the one from before, drowning him in a dizzy, intoxicating wave.

His head swayed slightly, and for the first time all night, his grip on the table tightened for balance.

“…Tsk…ah…”

His words slurred faintly as he leaned back into his chair, his usual cold and collected air dissolving into something almost… defenseless.

“Oh… that’s… different…”

James and Derek exchanged a look that needed no words, a smirk curling on both their lips.

“Now,” James murmured under his breath.

The change in atmosphere was immediate.

Mia’s back straightened, her eyes darkening with a flicker of excitement. Maria’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

“Well…” Mia’s voice dripped with false innocence as she rose from her seat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear in an almost too-perfect gesture.

“Looks like someone’s finally… loosened up.”

Maria stepped closer, her smirk widening.

“We should probably… help him relax a little more.” Her tone was playful, but her eyes never left his face.

“Oh, sure… take very good care of him. You don’t have to worry about us,” James said with a lazy grin.

“Room upstairs. Already set up.” Derek chuckled, pulling a sleek black VIP card from his pocket and flicking it toward Mia.

But before Aestrea could even process their words, Mia had taken one of his arms, and Maria the other.

The heat from his skin was noticeable, his normally sharp eyes hazy and unfocused.

The group moved toward the stairs, Aestrea caught between them, his head tilting slightly as if trying to figure out what exactly they were up to.

And when they reached the door, Mia slid the VIP card through the lock.

Click, swing…

The door clicked, and Maria leaned in closer to him, whispering in a tone that made his heart stir even through the fog in his mind:

“Let’s get you comfortable… Aestrea.”

The door swung open, and the warm, dim light of the room spilled out, welcoming them in.

And just immediately, they led Aestrea to a couch before sitting him down.

“Ah…”

Then, both of them reached out to Aestrea…

Rustle~

Maria’s hands trembled just a little as she reached for the buttons of Aestrea’s shirt, glancing once at Mia as if asking silently if she should really be doing this.

But Mia didn’t hesitate at all as she was already at his other side, her fingers sliding against the fabric with smoothness, tugging it loose from his body.

Aestrea’s head leaned forward slightly.

“…mmh… what… are you two… doing…?” he mumbled, the words half-lost in his slow, uneven breathing.

Mia smiled as if she hadn’t heard the question at all.

“Helping you… relax.”

“Y-yes… that’s all… we’re… helping…” Maria swallowed softly, biting her lip.

The shirt came undone quickly, Mia giving the final tug that slid it from his shoulders.

Aestrea blinked slowly, his eyes narrowing a fraction as his mind caught up to the scene.

“…I see…”

He didn’t push them away or pull back.

Instead, he leaned into the couch and let them continue, his expression calm, but his gaze sharp enough to show he understood exactly what was going on.

Mia’s lips curled into a more daring smile, and she wasted no time.

She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his shirt’s hem and slid it completely off, tossing it carelessly to the side.

Maria hesitated for half a second before her shyness broke enough for her to join in, running her hands softly along his arms as if feeling every line of muscle.

Her cheeks were warm, her breath slightly uneven.

When they had him in only his shorts, Mia was the first to lean in.

Her lips pressed softly against his chest.

“Mmhh… ♡”

Her breath spilled against his skin between each kiss, her hands sliding up from his stomach, tracing the lines of muscle with her fingertips before resting just under his ribs.

Maria moved quietly, almost shyly, until she was behind him.

Her arms came around his waist, her cheek brushing against his shoulder before her lips found his jaw.

She kissed lightly, again and again, as if testing him.

“…nn… ♡”

Her warm breath tickled his ear.

Mia’s lips moved lower, kissing over his sternum, each one wetter than the last.

“Chu… chuu… ♡”

Her hands smoothed over his sides, feeling every contour. The heat from her palms made his skin prickle.

Maria tightened her hold around him, pressing her chest against his back.

Her fingers stroked slowly up his arms before sliding back down to his wrists, holding him gently in place as she kissed the side of his neck.

“Haah… mmhh… ♡”

Her lips dragged just slightly with each kiss, leaving faint traces of moisture on his skin.

Mia’s head tilted up, her mouth brushing across one of his nipples, kissing once before taking it between her lips.

“…ah… ♡”

She sucked softly, her tongue circling lazily, while her other hand trailed lower to rest just above his shorts.

Maria shifted closer, her knees brushing against his sides, her lips finding his cheek now, small, slow kisses, her breath mixing with his.

“Mmhh… chu… chu… ♡”

But just as she began kissing his cheek… she gradually became… bolder.

Her lips pressed against his cheek, then lower, brushing the edge of his jaw.

Her arms squeezed a little tighter around him, her chest pressing more firmly to his back.

“Haah… mmhh… ♡”

Her breath trembled each time, but she didn’t pull away.

Mia’s lips left his chest with a faint pop before she kissed higher, her mouth trailing along his collarbone, warm and wet.

“Chu… mhh… chu… ♡”

Her fingers slid up his thigh, stroking slowly, then brushing back toward his hip. The fabric of his shorts shifted under her touch.

Maria hesitated for only a second before her lips finally found the side of his neck.

She kissed softly at first, then again, slower… wetter.

“…nnnh… ♡”

Her breath came heavier now, her lips opening just a little to let her tongue taste his skin between kisses.

Mia smirked faintly without looking up, her hand resting on his stomach, tracing small circles with her fingertips.

Maria’s arms moved from his waist to his chest, her hands smoothing up to touch him directly, her palms feeling the steady warmth of his skin.

She kissed his neck again, firmer this time, letting the sound slip out between breaths.

“Chuu… haah… mmhh… ♡”

Mia’s mouth moved closer to his ear now, her lips grazing the shell before she gave it a soft bite.

“…haaah… ♡”

Her free hand brushed over the top edge of his shorts, her thumb teasing at the skin just above.

Then, she glanced up at him, meeting his mesmerizing yet hazy eyes as her grin curled slowly, almost teasingly.

“…You’re warm here too… ♡” she whispered, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

Her fingers hooked into the fabric, tugging lightly. She felt the faint, hard shape beneath, pent-up and waiting, and her grin widened.

“Mmhh… someone’s been holding back…” ♡

Maria’s lips froze against his neck for a moment, her cheeks heating as she realized exactly what Mia was feeling.

But instead of pulling away, she hugged him tighter from behind, her face pressing to his shoulder as if to hide her blush.

Mia leaned in closer, kissing just under his ear while her hands worked at his shorts, sliding them lower bit by bit.

“Chu… mhh… chu… ♡”

The fabric loosened around his hips, the warmth beneath escaping little by little.

Mia kept her movements slow on purpose, letting the tension grow, her thumbs brushing the lines of his hips.

Maria’s breath quickened against his skin, her hands stroking softly along his chest as she shifted her legs to press closer to him.

Finally, Mia pulled the shorts down completely, letting them fall to the floor with a soft rustle.

Her eyes lingered, her grin turning almost proud as she saw the massive pole standing just next to her hand.

“…There we go… ♡”

She reached out with one hand, brushing her fingers lightly over his thigh, then higher, slowly, her nails grazing just enough to make him tense.

Maria bit her lip, her hands moving lower from his chest to rest on his stomach, her fingers twitching like she wanted to touch more but didn’t dare just yet.

Mia chuckled low, leaning toward Maria without taking her eyes off him.

“Go on… you want to… don’t you?”

Maria hesitated only a moment before her hand slid lower, her touch feather-light at first, her breath catching against his neck.

“Ahn… warm.”

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