’...Weird.’

Aestrea frowned slighly.

He recalled a scene from long ago, when they actually found the Lost Battlefield of the Demon & Gods.

Back then, Tyrian had been oddly fixated on an ancient demonic formation hidden deep within the ruins.

It was a complex, multi-layered array that even Aestrea hadn’t fully understood at the time. Yet Tyrian had approached it with strange familiarity, almost as if he already knew its secrets.

At the time, Aestrea had brushed it off as curiosity.

Now... he wasn’t so sure.

He slowly picked up a glass of wine and took a sip, masking his thoughts. Around him, the girls continued chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the change in his mood.

"You sure you’re okay? You look like you’re thinking about something serious." Christina nuzzled closer to his shoulder.

Aestrea gently placed a hand on top of her head and stroked her golden hair.

"I’m fine," he said softly.

"Just old memories."

Vivian, who had been quietly observing him from across the table, tilted her head slightly.

Her entirely black eyes seemed to pierce through his calm facade for a brief moment, but she didn’t press the issue.

She simply smiled and changed the subject.

"Should we order dessert? Lumi has been staring at the menu for the last ten minutes."

"The triple-layered starlight cake! With extra cream!" Lumi’s head instantly snapped up with a giddy smile.

The table quickly erupted into agreement as everyone wanted dessert.

When the waiters brought out the massive platters, the table became a battlefield of sweets.

The starlight cake was enormous, with three glowing layers of sparkling cream and edible star fragments that floated gently above it.

Lumi immediately claimed the biggest piece, her eyes sparkling as she took a huge bite.

"Mmmhhh~! It tastes like happiness!"

Christina scooped a spoonful and brought it straight to Aestrea’s mouth.

"Here, try this."

"It’s good." He accepted it, nodding in approval.

Mia, not wanting to be left out, cut a large piece and held it up.

"My turn. Open wide~"

Aestrea indulged them, letting each girl feed him bites while occasionally feeding them back.

The atmosphere was warm and playful.

Zeva and Yara were competing again over who could eat the most cake, while Rose and Violet shared a smaller portion quietly, giggling whenever one of them got cream on her nose.

Maria delicately ate her slice, occasionally glancing at Aestrea with a soft smile.

Alaine remained ever attentive, wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin whenever a crumb appeared.

Lilith fed him a piece seductively, licking her own lips afterward with a wink.

Even Chaerin, sitting close on his right, shyly offered him a small forkful.

"Papa... this part has extra berries."

Aestrea accepted it with a gentle smile and patted her head.

After nearly half an hour of dessert and light-hearted chaos, Vivian finally spoke up, dabbing her lips elegantly with a napkin.

"Shall we move on?" she suggested.

"I believe Aestrea has something special prepared for us."

All eyes turned to him.

"Yes. We’re going to the Sky Pavilion. It’s been reserved just for us tonight." Aestrea stood up and nodded.

Curious and excited murmurs spread through the group as they followed him out of the restaurant pavilion.

They walked along a winding, lantern-lit path that gradually ascended a gentle hill on the outskirts of the festival grounds.

When they finally reached the top, the girls let out collective gasps of awe.

The Sky Pavilion was breathtaking.

It was a large, open-air platform floating high above the city, supported by powerful magic. Soft, glowing flowers and hanging lanterns decorated the entire space.

In the center was a massive, comfortable seating area with pillows and blankets arranged in a circle around a beautiful floating bonfire that gave off gentle warmth without smoke.

The view was spectacular... the entire divine city was sprawled beneath them, glittering with lights, while thousands of magical lanterns drifted through the night sky like living stars. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Aestrea had arranged for soft music to play in the background and a table filled with drinks and light snacks already waiting for them.

"Wow..." Christina breathed, her eyes widening in complete surprise.

"This is beautiful."

"It feels like we’re floating in the stars!" Lumi spun around happily.

"Not bad. Not bad at all..." Zeva whistled.

Aestrea simply gestured toward the comfortable seating area.

"Sit wherever you want. Tonight is for all of you."

The girls quickly claimed spots around the circle, naturally arranging themselves so Aestrea was in the center.

And just as they sat, beautiful music started playing in the background.

Taking the opportunity, Aestrea slowly rose to his feet.

The glow of the bonfire danced across his face, highlighting the rare softness in his glowing red eyes.

All fifteen women fell silent as they stared at him, as they could notice that he probably had something important to say.

"I’ve faced death more times than I can count," he slowly began talking.

"I’ve lost everything, rebuilt myself from nothing, and walked through hells most people couldn’t even imagine. But none of that... none of it compares to what I feel when I look at all of you."

He took a slow, deep breath.

"I don’t want any of you to remain just my lovers, my companions, or my devoted followers anymore. I want you to be my wives. Officially... completely and forever."

A heavy, stunned silence fell over the pavilion.

Then Aestrea began speaking to each of them personally, his voice filled with genuine emotion.

"Vivian," he said, looking at the mature red-haired woman.

"You’ve been my rock since the very beginning. Your wisdom, your patience, the way you always understand me even when I don’t speak... I love your strength, your elegance, and the quiet way you love me with your entire soul. Will you marry me?"

Vivian’s entirely black eyes filled with tears instantly.

She pressed both hands over her mouth as her shoulders trembled. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gave him the most beautiful, emotional smile he had ever seen.

"...Yes," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"A thousand times, yes. I’ve waited lifetimes for you to say that!"

"Christina," Aestrea continued, turning to the golden-haired girl.

"You loved me when I was at my worst. Your light, your faith, the way you always came back to me, no matter how many times I pushed you away... I love your warmth, your purity, and your unbreakable heart. Will you be my wife?"

Christina immediately burst into loud, happy sobs. Tears poured down her face as she nodded frantically.

"Yes...! Yes, yes, yes!" she cried, voice thick with emotion.

"I’ve dreamed of this every single day... I love you so much...!"

"Zeva," he said, looking at the wild swordswoman.

"Your fire, your courage, the way you fight with everything you have... You never run, never break. I love your wild spirit and your loyal heart. Will you marry me?"

"You damn idiot... Of course I will! I’m yours, forever!" Zeva laughed shakily, tears glistening in her eyes as she wiped them away roughly.

"Yara," Aestrea said, smiling faintly at the scarred warrior.

"Your strength, your stubbornness, and that unbreakable will of yours... I love how fiercely you love. Will you be my wife?"

Yara tried to hold back her tears but failed miserably.

"Tch...! Fine! I’ll marry you, you bastard!" she said, laughing through her tears.

He continued like this with every single one of them, speaking from the heart, telling them exactly what he loved about them.

"Violet... your quiet courage and gentle soul. Rose... your kindness and hidden strength. Alaine... your unmatched devotion and loyalty. Mia... your bold passion and unfiltered joy. Maria... your pure heart and selfless love. Isabella... your elegance and quiet wisdom. Lilith... your passionate soul and the way you chose real love over everything else."

By the time he finished, almost every woman was crying.

Violet was sobbing quietly in Rose’s arms.

Alaine had dropped to her knees again, tears streaming down her face as she whispered repeated thanks. Mia was laughing and crying at the same time. Maria covered her face, crying softly with the brightest smile.

Isabella dabbed at her eyes elegantly while smiling beautifully. Lilith had actual tears running down her cheeks, something extremely rare for the succubus queen.

Aestrea looked at all of them, his voice soft but full of conviction.

"So... will you all marry me?"

The answer came almost like a wave.

"YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!"

Christina threw herself into his arms, sobbing happily against his chest.

Vivian stepped forward and hugged him tightly, tears flowing freely as she whispered:

"I’m so happy..."

Zeva and Yara both tackled him in a bear hug, laughing and crying. Violet and Rose clung to him tightly, weeping with joy.

Alaine remained on her knees, crying tears of pure devotion.

Mia cheered loudly while wiping her eyes, Maria cried softly, but radiantly, while Isabella smiled through her tears.

"Chuu!!!"

Lilith didn’t waste any time and kissed him deeply, her own tears mixing with the moment.

Even those who weren’t proposed to reacted with pure happiness.

Lumi cheered loudly and hugged his leg, Chaerin smiled warmly with misty eyes, and Ruli and Leaf clapped excitedly for their teacher.

Aestrea smiled happily, closing his eyes in complete relief.

But just as he reopened them...

"...Girls?"

Everything around him had turned pitch black.