Chapter 371: The Beginning Of The End [XXXIII]

Their hands remained intertwined on the table when the waiter returned, placing down the first dish, an elegantly shaped crystal bowl filled with luminous broth that seemed to swirl with constellations.

Aestrea stared at it.

“…This soup alone is worth half a Perfect-Grade Crystal, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Lunara replied, completely unbothered by how expensive it actually was.

He wanted to sob.

But when he looked at Lunara, at the little tilt of excitement in her eyebrows, at the small proud smile she tried so hard to hide, at the way she kept glancing at him as if afraid he would disappear.

‘…Hah…’

He stared at the soup in contemplation, not knowing if this indeed was worth half a Perfect-Grade Divine Crystal…

Then, he lifted the crystalline spoon, half-expecting to taste disappointment… or maybe the flavor of financial ruin.

The broth shimmered like melted starlight, soft constellations swirling lazily inside.

He hesitated, but then took a sip.

The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his entire body jolted.

In an instant, a soothing warmth spread through his chest, down his spine, and out through his fingertips.

The flavor was rich yet gentle, sweet yet slightly cool, like drinking the night sky itself.

His eyes shot open so fast Lunara actually blinked.

“Lunara, what IS this?!” he exclaimed.

“It tastes like a dream, and a miracle had a child!”

A small, bashful smile tugged at her lips.

“It’s called Stellar Essence Broth. Supposed to be relaxing.”

“Relaxing?!” Aestrea lowered his spoon, pointing dramatically at the bowl. “This is a breakthrough in liquid form! My soul almost leveled up!”

She chuckled softly and leaned her chin on her hand.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? Lunara, I feel like I could write poetry about this soup. I feel like this soup forgave my past sins. I feel like I could ascend if I finish the bowl!”

Aestrea said excitedly!

He normally was quite cold and calm, but this soup simply let out his inner child come out to play!

That’s how fucking good it actually was.

At his reaction, her shoulders were practically shaking with laughter.

“Then drink slowly. I don’t want you exploding.”

He took another sip and let out a long, almost trembling exhale.

“Ahh… Lunara, if the rest of the meal is like this, I’m not going to survive…”

“We’re here together, so that’s fine.”

They chatted quietly, exchanging comments about the flavors, the way the stars inside the soup shifted into different symbols, how each sip felt like breathing fresh air on a mountain peak.

At one point, Aestrea leaned back, wiping his mouth.

“This is insane… You actually come here daily?”

Lunara nodded casually.

Aestrea stared.

Then stared harder.

“…Daily,” he repeated, emphasizing every letter like a man trying to understand quantum magic.

“Yes. It’s convenient.”

“Convenient,” he echoed, hollow inside.

She tilted her head.

“Is something wrong?”

He leaned forward across the table, lowering his voice.

“Lunara… exactly how much money do you have?”

She blinked, eyes drifting upward as if doing a quick mental count.

“Well… in liquid assets? Around thirty thousand Perfect-Grade Divine Crystals, but my daily income should be around fifty Perfect-Grade Divine Crystals.”

Aestrea’s entire soul left his body.

She continued calmly, unaware she had just shattered his worldview.

“And in investments? About eighty to ninety thousand more. Plus some artifacts. And a few vaults of high-grade essences.”

Aestrea gripped the table.

“I’m dating a financial calamity,” he whispered to himself.

“Is that… bad?”Lunara frowned slightly.

He looked at her and, seeing her earnest eyes, the slight nervous tilt of her lips… he sighed deeply, furrowing his eyebrows.

“No. No, Lunara. It’s just… I’m starting to understand why you don’t care about Perfect-Grade prices.”

She blinked again. “Most of my income is from divine work… but I also manage some interplanar businesses.”

Of course she did.

“But,” she added quietly, “I prefer spending it on things that matter. Like today.”

His irritation melted instantly.

“…You mean this whole date?”

“Yes.” She offered a soft smile.

“I wanted our first one to be special.”

Aestrea stared at her for a long moment, then he reached across the table and gently brushed her fingers.

“Lunara… thanks.”

She squeezed his hand back.

“Then eat more,” she said softly.

“I want you to enjoy everything.”

The dishes kept coming out one after another, each more absurd than the last.

A floating platter of moon-kissed vegetables, softly glowing with gentle lunar essence.

A plate of phoenix-feather pasta that steamed with a faint golden aura.

A delicate vine of celestial grapes, each one humming like it held a miniature universe inside.

Aestrea ate everything… no… it would be better to say that he devoured them like a starving soldier.

“Eat slowly,” she gently reminded him, though her eyes shone with amusement.

“How?” He dramatically held up a shimmering slice of phoenix pasta. “This food is trying to seduce me.”

At one point, he was acting like James, but the food was so damn good that he simply couldn’t stop complimenting it.

Lunara’s lips twitched.

“Then resist.”

“I can’t.”

The more he ate, the more energy overflowed inside him. At one point, a soft aura of white light flickered behind his back.

“…Aestrea,” Lunara murmured, “your cultivation just rose by half a tier.”

“This food is indeed miraculous!”

And after a while…

The final door of the evening slid open.

The waiter floated in again, but this time pushing a silver cart draped with star-patterned cloth.

The moment he uncovered it, a brilliant pink-gold glow filled the room.

“The Couple’s Celestial Special has arrived,” the waiter announced gracefully.

Aestrea was stunned on the spot.

Lunara straightened, posture perfect.

The food looked like something painted by gods with soft petals, glowing desserts, and a shared bowl swirling with heart-shaped constellations.

And then, the waiter looked at them.

Really looked.

And his eyes went wide.

“Ah… apologies, but may I say something?”

“Of course.” Lunara nodded politely.

The waiter clasped his hands, struggling not to gush.

“You two… even by divine standards… are beautiful together.”

Aestrea coughed on air.

Lunara blinked once, cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink.

The waiter continued, stepping closer with an excited grin.

“Actually… today we are compiling a gallery for the restaurant. Couples who order the Celestial Special are sometimes selected for a feature display. May I… take a photo of you two enjoying the meal?”

Aestrea hesitated.

Lunara did not.

“Acceptable. We will cooperate.”

“You… already planned this, didn’t you?” Aestrea turned to her slowly.

She gave an almost smug nod.

“Possibly.”

He sighed in defeat, but smiled while doing so.

“Alright… let’s do it.”

The waiter lit up brighter than the dishes. “Perfect! If you could just…. ah yes, sit closer, and perhaps hold the shared spoon together?”

Lunara immediately scooted toward Aestrea, their shoulders brushing.

The waiter positioned the crystal camera, floating it in midair.

“Wonderful! Now, if the Lady could offer him a bite?”

She turned to Aestrea, her eyes flickering lightly.

“Open your mouth.”

“Wha—Lunara, wait!”

She lifted the glowing spoon, gently guiding it toward him. Aestrea reluctantly opened his mouth as she fed him the shimmering soup.

The moment it touched his tongue, he nearly passed out.

“…Fucking delicious.”

“Lovely! Wonderful expression!” the waiter applauded as the camera clicked repeatedly.

“And now,” the waiter continued happily, “Young Master, perhaps you could feed Lady Lunara?”

Aestrea blinked, heat rushing to his cheeks.

“Ah… sure.”

He carefully scooped a bit of the celestial dish, but unlike Lunara, his hands weren’t trembling at all as he gently smiled at her.

Then, she leaned forward, her lips parting slightly, awaiting him to feed her.

He fed her.

She closed her eyes as the food touched her tongue, a faint smile forming.

“…Good,” she whispered softly.

The waiter nearly squealed.

“Perfect, absolutely perfect! This will be the highlight of our gallery!”

After several more shots with Lunara resting her head on Aestrea’s shoulder, and some with Aestrea holding her hand across the table, both of them smiling softly, the waiter finally bowed.

“Thank you both. Truly. You look like a blessed pair crafted by the heavens.”

When he left, Aestrea slumped forward with a groan.

“That was… quite a surprise.”

“I liked it… It will remain as one of our memories together.” Lunara looked at him with a faint blush.

Aestrea nodded with a faint smile as his calm demeanour had been recovered successfully. He looked at the sun, and his eyes widened at how late it already was.

It was strange to think that the Divine Realm had a day/night cycle, but it was probably something useful for them to keep track of their tasks.

Before he could think further, Lunara suddenly stood.

“Now…” she said, her tone brimming with faint excitement, “it’s time for our final destination.”

Aestrea blinked.

“Final…?”

Instead of replying, she took his hand and led him out of the restaurant, down a softly glowing path lined with floating lanterns.

The sky above shimmered with stars, each burning a little brighter than usual.

Soon, they stopped before a tall, elegant building of divine marble, its windows glowing with gentle pink-gold light, its entrance framed with blooming celestial flowers.

A divine hotel.

Aestrea stared.

Then slowly turned his head toward Lunara.

She was standing straight, posture firm, face resolute… maybe a little too determined.

“You…” he said slowly, his lips twitching, “don’t tell me… isn’t this too soon?”

Lunara shook her head without hesitation.

“It’s better to do it early,” she replied with perfect seriousness.

“That way, I can mark you.”

Aestrea twitched.

Of course, she’d say something like that.

Truthfully… he didn’t hate the idea. Not at all, after all, Lunara was beautiful, affectionate in her own strange way, and she had been trying hard today.

But unfortunately, Aestrea had promised that he would spend the rest of the night helping Christina with the army.

He inhaled and offered Lunara a soft, apologetic smile.

“Lunara… I actually made plans to help a friend tonight. I really can’t… do that with you today.”

For a second, the world held its breath.

Lunara’s eyes, which just moments earlier had been glowing warmly, suddenly cooled, turning sharp and cold, as if a thin layer of frost covered them.

She stepped closer, her voice dangerously direct.

“Is your friend a woman?”

The air turned three shades colder.

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