Chapter 445: The Beginning Of The End [CVII]

At his words, Vivian smiled wryly, swirling her wine once before taking a slow sip.

Isabella only shook her head, though the corner of her lips lifted faintly. She reached out and rested her hand on his arm, her fingers slowly brushing against the black fabric of his sleeve.

“You enjoy keeping secrets until the right moment,” she said.

Aestrea glanced down at her hand, then at her face.

“Only when the moment matters.”

Vivian leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Speaking of secrets… the Divine Realm.”

The playful tone she carried earlier faded slightly.

“You’ve mentioned it before. We know it exists. We know you came from there.” Isabella’s emerald eyes sharpened.

“But not much else,” Vivian finished quietly.

The music from the balcony above softened into a slow instrumental hum.

Aestrea rested his glass down.

“The Divine Realm isn’t like this world,” he began. “The scale of power there is different. Wars are not fought over land or titles, but simply to prove who is stronger.”

Vivian’s black pupil narrowed slightly, listening without interruption.

“I built something there,” he continued. “An organization. A foundation strong enough to stand even when I’m not present.”

“You already prepared a place?” Isabella’s fingers tightened subtly against his sleeve.

“Yes.”

“For us?” Vivian asked, her voice lower now.

“For all of you.”

The candle flickered between them.

“When we return,” Aestrea said, “you, Isabella, Vivian… the others as well. You’ll stay within that organization. You’ll be able to train and grow stronger without anyone interrupting you.

Then, you’ll learn what the Divine Realm truly is.”

“And you?” Isabella’s gaze did not waver.

He paused slighly at her words.

“I have plenty of enemies in there, it’s safe to say that if my identity is revealed, everyone will want to kill me?”

“Why?” Isabella asked curiously, while Vivian frowned as she remembered a faint memory.

“It’s because of your race, isn’t it?” she asked, after thinking about it.

Aestrea nodded slighly.

“But don’t worry about it. I’m pretty damn strong, so I can survive.”

“Alone?” Vivian leaned forward slightly.

“For now…”

Isabella’s expression hardened in quiet disapproval.

“You speak as if we’re fragile.”

“I speak as if I know the difference in strength,” he replied calmly. “The enemies there are not things I want you facing unprepared.”

Silence lingered for a few seconds.

Vivian tapped her finger lightly against the glass. “So you plan to throw yourself into danger while we sit and train.”

Aestrea’s lips curved faintly.

“I plan to won every single one of those battles.”

Isabella’s eyes searched his face, reading the space between his words.

“You’re not telling us everything,” she said softly.

At that moment, he deeply looked at Isabella since she was actually right.

There was a possibility that the Primordial Court was waiting for you return, and id they send their strong warriors, he might need to actually use his race’s power.

But he did not want to see sorrow replace the fire in Vivian’s eyes or the strength in Isabella’s posture.

So he smiled instead.

“There’s nothing you need to worry about,” he said evenly.

Vivian watched him for a long moment and then stood up:

“If you think we’ll quietly grow stronger and not catch up to you,” she said, stepping around the table toward him, “you underestimate us.”

Isabella rose as well, moving to his other side.

“We will train,” Isabella said.

“We will grow stronger…”

Vivian’s hand slid over his shoulder, her voice soft near his ear. “And when you walk into those battles…”

Isabella’s hand rested over his chest.

“…you won’t be alone for long.”

The city lights shimmered below the balcony.

Aestrea looked at the two women beside him and wanted to agree with them, but he knew that if they took nine years to reach the Semi-God realm, it would take at least 100 years or more to truly step into the True God realm.

But he didn’t care; even if their talent wasn’t strong enough, he would give them enough resources to make even the strongest organizations feel envy of them.

…And if they needed more resources, he would start wars for them.

After a while of them staring at Aestrea eith confidence, Vivian was the first to step back, her lips curving slowly as distant music swelled from within the grand hall beneath the balcony.

A deeper rhythm replaced the soft dinner melody.

The low murmur of a gathered crowd.

“…That sounds like the main ballroom.” Isabella turned her head slightly

A passing attendant paused near their table and bowed.

“The Midnight Winter Ball has begun, my ladies.”

Aestrea blinked once.

“The what now?”

Vivian’s eyes lit up instantly.

Isabella looked at him, then at the staircase leading down into the grand hall below.

Neither of them warned him.

They both grabbed him on instinct alone.

Vivian caught his hand first while Isabella took his other arm.

Before he could question further, they were already guiding him down the wide staircase overlooking the central ballroom.

Below, the scene opened wide.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the hall in golden light.

Marble floors shone like mirrors beneath swirling gowns and tailored suits. Nobles and elites moved in slow circles to the elegant rise and fall of orchestral music.

Midnight.

A formal ball, and he had not known.

Vivian glanced at him sideways, her lips curving into a wide smile.

“You brought us to the fanciest restaurant in the city.”

Isabella finished smoothly, “You should have expected something like this.”

“I did not approve this part of the plan,” he replied dryly.

But they were already leading him onto the floor.

Music swelled.

The crowd shifted to allow space.

Vivian stepped in first without hesitation.

Her hand slid into his, fingers interlacing naturally. Her other hand rested against his shoulder as she moved closer, her body aligning with his in one smooth motion.

“Lead,” she whispered.

He did.

His palm settled at her waist, and he slowly took the first step.

Soft glide of polished shoes across marble.

One turn.

The fabric of her black dress shifted with the motion, brushing against his leg. The silver chains at her hips gave a faint clink… chime… as they caught light.

Vivian followed flawlessly.

Her horns cast elegant curves against the chandelier glow as she leaned in slightly, her chest brushing faintly against his torso during a close spin.

“You dance well,” she murmured.

“You’re easy to guide.”

“Mhm… I’m glad!”

He turned her under his arm.

The motion caused her dress to tighten briefly across her curves before settling again. A few nearby guests glanced their way.

She leaned in as he drew her back, her lips grazing the edge of his jaw.

A faint kiss.

“You’ll regret looking this good in public,” she breathed.

He tightened his hold just slightly, spinning her once more.

“I haven’t yet.”

She laughed softly before planting another kiss as if showing her ownership over him.

The song reached a soft crescendo before fading into the next arrangement.

And before Vivian could pull him into another close step, Isabella smoothly cut in.

Her hand replaced Vivian’s without conflict, the transition seamless as trained dancers circled around them.

Isabella stood just far enough to maintain poise, but near enough for intimacy.

“You look surprised,” she observed.

“I was ambushed.”

“Good.”

Her hand slid up his arm until their fingers locked properly.

She placed his palm at her waist herself, guiding it there with intention.

The new music carried a slower rhythm.

She moved differently from Vivian, as while Vivian had a more playful way, she was more refined.

Truly fit for a Queen.

Her silver hair swept lightly across his shoulder as he guided her into a gentle dip. The slit in her dress revealed a graceful line of thigh before fabric fell back into place.

Her emerald eyes lifted to meet his.

“You were speaking seriously earlier,” she said quietly.

“About leaving us in the Divine Realm.”

“Mm.”

“You must understand something.”

He turned her once, then drew her closer again.

A small pivot.

Their bodies aligned.

“I do not intend to stay behind forever.”

Her fingers tightened slightly against his shoulder.

“If you walk into war, I will walk there too. Even if you tell me not to,” she muttered in a loving tone.

The music softened further.

He slowed their movement.

“Isabella.”

“Yes?”

“You’re strong.”

A pause.

“But you need to grow stronger.”

“So you admit I’m not strong enough yet.”

“I admit I want you to be untouchable.”

The faintest flush warmed her cheeks.

She recovered quickly.

“You speak dangerously smooth.”

She rose slightly on her heels and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips. Then she stepped back as the music shifted again, and Vivian returned.

She reclaimed him with a spin, sliding between him and Isabella with effortless confidence.

“You’re being too gentle,” Vivian teased lightly.

“This is a ball~.”

“And?”

Her smile widened as she pulled him closer to her.

Much closer.

Her hand slid from his shoulder up to the back of his neck, her nails grazing lightly against his skin.

The tempo increased slightly.

More dramatic turns.

He guided her through a sharp spin, but she leaned back deeper this time, trusting him to hold her.

Her hair brushed the marble floor for a split second before he lifted her smoothly back upright.

Gasps from a few watching couples.

Vivian laughed softly.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“The look.”

She leaned in, her lips ghosting near his ear.

“You enjoy this.”

His hand pressed at her waist-

“I enjoy watching you try to outdo each other.”

“Oh?” Her pupil narrowed.

“Then perhaps I should escalate.”

Before he could respond, she kissed him fully.

“Chuu♡!”

A few murmurs rose from the crowd.

When she pulled back, her lips curved in satisfaction.

Isabella approached once more as the song began its final swell, but instead of replacing Vivian, she stepped to his other side.

The orchestra shifted into a synchronized closing rhythm.

Without discussion, somehow, the three of them moved together.

Aestrea at the center.

Vivian on one side.

Isabella at the other.

A coordinated step.

Turn.

Shift.

Their dresses moved in opposite arcs, black and white contrasting as they spun around him.

Rustle…

Vivian’s hand brushed along his chest during a spin.

Isabella’s fingers trailed briefly down his arm.

And finally, as the music reached its final crescendo, he suddenly pulled them both inward at once.

One arm around Vivian’s waist.

The other around Isabella’s back.

The orchestra ended with a sharp, unified note.

Daaaan.

The room fell silent before a huge round of applause followed.

“Phew~” Vivian exhaled softly, forehead resting briefly against his shoulder.

Isabella’s hand remained over his heart, feeling the steady beating beneath the suit.

“You were unprepared,” Vivian whispered.

“And still kept up.”

He looked down at them both.

“I adapt quickly.”

Isabella smiled faintly.

Vivian lifted her head, her eyes bright with thrill.

“Midnight isn’t over yet.”

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