"I can only hope the love you've shown your wives and concubines is genuine. But if I'm wrong and that day ever cos, I'll accept that I made a mistake and choose wisely in my next lifeti. But despite our differences, I doubt my counterpart would let go through the sa experience again. So, you'll have to deal with her too, and that won't be easy."
Her voice softened with emotion as she finished speaking.
"Are you confessing your feelings, or are you threatening ?" Orion asked sternly. Yet he didn't withdraw his hand as Ilse held it firmly in place.
"Can't I do both? Love and fear are two of the greatest emotions known to all. If I fail to capture your heart, then at least I'll know I tried my best," Ilse responded. "Are you sure about this, Goddess Ilse? Even if the benefits of becoming my partner are tempting, you should think about this carefully because once you accept, it will be for eternity," Orion responded. "There'll be no going back on your word; it will be too late. Attempting to do so would an earning the ire of the entire household."
Ilse remained undeterred. "Does that an that even if I were consud by the Vylkr energy once more, you wouldn't abandon ?" she asked, smiling.
"Yes. I will never abandon you, no matter what condition you are in. Even if you're gone, no one will take your place in my life and your position in the household, not even in the next life," Orion replied, his tone and expression solemn.
"That's good. That's all I needed to hear. As promised, you've successfully claid my heart," Ilse said, gently releasing Orion's hand, and walking towards him, embracing him for a hug.
She rested her head on his shoulder, her scent softly drifting to his nose.
After a brief contemplation, Orion asked for the second ti, "Are you certain?" He had already accepted Ilse's proposal, but knowing the nature of an ancient goddess like Ilse, he wanted to be sure of everything that might transpire in the future.
"Yes, I am. And don't ask that question a third ti," Ilse responded before pulling back her head. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
Orion felt their lips ld together as their tongues danced, exchanging their bodily fluids intimately.
After several monts, Ilse pulled away, her clear gaze eting Orion's. "So, is that a yes?" she asked, her breathing was soft.
Orion nodded.
Ilse's smile widened, and she winked at him. "Since we've reached this point, why don't we commorate the event?" she suggested, wrapping her arms around his waist. Being divine beings, they didn't need a grand celebration—just a word was enough to announce their new relationship status.
"We will commorate the event once Aerialia erges with her new body," Orion replied, smiling as he saw Ilse's smile vanish and a slight frown form.
Before Ilse could respond, Orion added, "I don't favour one wife over another. However, Aerialia and I had made our relationship known before this. If it had been anyone else, it wouldn't be a problem. But, with both you and Aerialia being ancient goddesses, it would be disrespectful to her if we celebrated our union before she returned."
Had she been a mortal like Evaline, Orion might have chosen to commorate their relationship sooner. He planned the sa for Zera, Avarielle, and Margona. Considering Aerialia's longer history with the household, even his wives might show their displeasure if he moved too quickly. The best course of action was to wait for Aerialia's return.
Orion was aware that Ilse, one of the reasons, wanted to swiftly commorate their relationship to see if she might receive a Divine Mandate from the new Mysteries. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort had happened when he had been intimate with Aurora. She had only received hers due to the ongoing competition between the New Mysteries and the Divine Mysteries.
Despite this, Orion was uncertain whether Ilse would obtain another Divine Mandate. If she couldn't, it wouldn't change anything, as she had now beco part of the household. He pushed the matter to the back of his mind.
"Tsk! I don't know whether to feel annoyed, jealous or impressed that you think so highly of that battle-headed bird brain," Ilse said, clicking her tongue in irritation.
Orion flicked her forehead with his finger. "I'll inform the others about our current relationship. Then, you'll be taught the rules and learn how to address your fellow sisters," he said firmly. He never allowed his partners to belittle one another, not even ancient goddesses. Favouring one over the other would be a sign of weakness in the household. Now that they were all under the guidance of the New Mysteries, the Eternal Heart Covenant, a technique in which his partners swore an oath in the na of the Divine Mysteries, vowing their fidelity to him, was less effective. The punishnt they'd face for breaking their promise to him had beco so negligible under the New Mysteries that they could endure or recover from it without much effort. The New Mysteries wouldn't allow the Divine Mysteries to harm its own people.
They discovered this information only when Evaline was about to take the Eternal Heart Covenant. Because of this, in addition to learning how to utilize their Divine Mandates, the won also began to explore ways to enhance the technique's effectiveness without relying on the Divine Mysteries.
Although Orion's playful finger flick didn't harm Ilse, his sudden change in behaviour still elicited a reaction. She had only seen him act this way around his wives or loved ones, and now, being on the receiving end of it stirred so uncomfortable and unpleasant mories.
"What is it?" Orion asked, noticing Ilse's displeased expression. He wondered if he had done sothing wrong.
"It's nothing. I just had an unpleasant mory," Ilse replied.
Orion quickly realized what the mory might have been. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms, lifting her into a princess carry. Ilse yelped at his sudden action, but once she understood what Orion was trying to do, she cald down.
The Throne of Infinite Edict materialized behind him, and he sat down on it. Orion sat on the throne, holding Ilse sideways in his arms.
"I find it rude that you're still thinking about your past relationship at a ti like this," Orion said, glancing at her with a smile. "But given your previous experience, it's understandable. So, to make you feel better, I'll grant you the privilege of flying with on my throne. No one else has had this honour; you're the first. It will be our little secret."
Ilse's eyes widened at his words, her heart skipping a beat as she felt the warmth of his embrace. A goddess of her stature wouldn't usually be affected by such words, but since her heart was open to Orion, his care for her at that mont struck her deeply. Before she knew it, her heart began to race.
"Cute!" Ilse chuckled, "I never thought you'd go to such lengths to cheer up and that I'd react this way." She stretched out her hand, cupping Orion's cheek, then leaned in and kissed him passionately.
When she pulled back, she rested her head against his chest, her right hand holding his. Her right leg rested on the armrest of the throne, while the other hung over Orion's legs below the seat, getting comfortable in his arms. "So, where are we going? You can't just be planning to take around Paradise, right?" Ilse asked.
"I was planning to check for the Spiritual Link Points that have opened within our realm," Orion replied.
"Why?" Ilse asked, frowning. She was curious why Orion was seeking Spiritual Link Points to the Spirit Realm within a newly built realm. But she knew Orion wouldn't do sothing like this without reason, so she waited for an explanation.
"We'll discuss it on the way," Orion replied. Instantly, the throne vanished, reappearing within the enormous ethereal tree that stretched downward, holding the cosmic expanse of Paradise's realm.
As they travelled downward toward the nearest universe, Orion repeated his earlier conversation with Ilse about his interaction with the Divine Corps, the predicant of his and so of his wives' ascension to true divinity, and the Will of the Divine Mysteries attempting to break into their realm/
….…..
Soon, they arrived on one of the planets. It was a bright blue planet, much like Earth, but more than twenty tis its size, with vastly different continents, giving it a distinct appearance.
Before them lay a lush grassy plain, with a massive forest in the distance, abundant with fruit-bearing trees. However, the land was eerily devoid of life. The only sounds were the rustling of grass swaying in the breeze and the faint hum of the halo around Orion's throne as it descended onto the grassy plain.
Orion and Ilse stepped down from the throne, their feet hovering just above the ground.
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