"Thank you, Little Sister Aglaea. I love this dress so much~"
Marmoreal Palace, Okhema.
After hugging Aglaea for a while, Lumina reluctantly released her arms and accepted the dress Aglaea had meticulously crafted for her. Her exquisitely beautiful face was covered in surprise and joy, which couldn't help but make Aglaea feel happy as well.
Seeing the joy overflowing on Lumina's face and feeling the residual warmth on her own body, Aglaea took a deep breath, absorbing the lingering fragrance before her nose into her heart.
The anxiety she had felt, worrying that Lumina would not accept this thank-you gift, vanished in the blink of an eye.
After completing this, Aglaea then fixed her gaze on Herta.
Golden Light once again surged from her palm. An outfit with purple as its main color, similar to Lumina's attire, appeared in her hand.
"Big Sister Herta, thank you as well for your help to Okhema and Amphoreus during this time."
Big Sister Herta had also provided a lot of help to Amphoreus and Okhema. Aglaea couldn't simply ignore it.
Therefore, after making Sister Lumina's dress, Aglaea had also made a dress suitable for Big Sister Herta.
Aglaea could see from their interactions that their relationship was very, very good.
So she only needed to treat them equally with her thank-you gifts.
If one person's gift were expensive and the other's cheap, it might cause one or even both of them to form a worse impression of her, Okhema, and Amphoreus.
Aglaea had to avoid this outcome, so using two identical dresses, differing only in color, as thank-you gifts was undoubtedly the best choice.
Even so, Aglaea had not taken any shortcuts or cut any corners in the making of these two dresses.
They were all made to the highest standards.
The best materials, the best craftsmanship, and... the best dressmaker.
Sister Lumina had gladly accepted this thank-you gift, but what about Big Sister Herta?
Aglaea's expression remained calm, but her heart was slightly nervous as she watched Herta.
No matter the time or place, Aglaea could never completely let down her guard against Lumina and Herta, unlike how she did with Castorice and Hyacine.
This guard, if it could be called that, was more like worry.
Even now, Aglaea was still worried, worried that if she did something wrong or made a mistake, she would offend Lumina or Herta.
Ultimately, this could lead them to unleash Divine Punishment upon Okhema and Amphoreus in their fury.
Aglaea could see that they were not such people.
But she... she didn't dare to gamble.
"Hmm, you've certainly put a lot of thought into this." Looking at the dress in Aglaea's hands, then at the one in Lumina's, Herta's eyelashes fluttered, a glint of light flashing through her purple eyes.
On the surface, she calmly accepted the dress from Aglaea and praised her.
Inwardly, however, her heart was blossoming with joy.
Although the colors might be slightly different, wouldn't a deeper purple just look like black?
A black-and-white couple—this is a matching outfit!
Realizing this, Herta's heart danced with delight, feeling utterly pleased. She couldn't wait to put on the dress with Lumina and assert her status as the "main female lead"!
"Hmm?" Lumina's spirit didn't seem as lively as Herta's. After a soft hum, she put the dress in her hand away.
Seeing this, Herta, to prevent any slip-ups that Lumina could seize upon, also pretended not to care much and put the dress away.
With this, Aglaea was also completely relieved.
-
"Although this might be a monumental help for you, for me, it's merely a simple gesture."
After accepting the dress, Lumina did not beat around the bush and spoke quite bluntly.
The situation in Amphoreus was not simple, because it involved a Lord Ravager.
But this had little to do with the matters of Okhema. After all, dealing with the so-called Titans was merely a simple gesture for Lumina, wasn't it?
Although this would make Aglaea and the others feel the gap in their strength, Lumina still had to state this simply.
She wasn't intentionally helping them, just doing it in passing, so they shouldn't imagine her to be too noble.
Hmm... That's what she said, but Lumina definitely intended to help them.
The main purpose of saying this was to build a good relationship with the beautiful girls.
Look, look, although I am very powerful, I am not a perfect person.
As an imperfect person, I must have a weakness.
So, come and cuddle with me, come on, come on.
Closing the distance with beautiful girls is the first step toward a bright future!
If she were too perfect, causing the beautiful girls to be afraid to associate with her, that would be a very terrible thing.
"Whether it was a simple gesture or not, the help you've given us is very real." Aglaea, unaware of the deeper meaning behind Lumina's words, replied with a serious expression and a very sincere tone.
"Pfft..."
Hearing Aglaea's response, Herta couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Lumina's intention was to make Aglaea see her as a "normal person" so she would take the initiative to cuddle.
But Aglaea, who was single-mindedly devoted to Okhema and Amphoreus, seemed to completely misunderstand her meaning. Like a total straight woman, she had given a response that was practically a "rejection."
Aglaea: "?"
Herta's laughter left Aglaea utterly confused. She couldn't understand what had caused it.
The moment her own words fell, Big Sister Herta burst out laughing, which made Aglaea not only confused but also a little worried.
She worried if she had said something to upset her...
But seeing Big Sister Herta's expression... so full of amusement, as if she had seen something delightful, it probably had nothing to do with her.
If Aglaea were to observe this scene from the perspective of a bystander, she would surely let out a gasp of surprise.
Not just Aglaea, but even if others saw this, their jaws would drop to the floor in awe and unparalleled shock.
The majestic [Romance] Demi-God, the leader of Okhema, actually seemed... a little humble before Lumina and Herta.
Although she didn't bow her head, speak in a low voice, or even flatter them, in the eyes of a bystander, she inexplicably seemed very humble...
Everything looked normal, and the two parties seemed to be conversing on equal footing. Yet, judging from the atmosphere on the field, it was completely unrelated to the word "equality."
But if one carefully considered their respective identities, this scene actually seemed extremely normal.
Both Herta and Lumina possessed the power to easily destroy Okhema.
If they were to accidentally upset them and cause Okhema to be ruined, the loss would far outweigh the gain.
No matter how Castorice, Hyacine, and the others got along with Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta, no matter what their views were toward the two, Aglaea would never cross the line in any way.
Maintaining a clear hierarchy was the best choice for Aglaea when interacting with Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta.
She would not dare to long for any further development, nor would she take any actions that crossed the line, maintaining the posture of a leader meeting "masters" far more powerful than herself.
Although doing so was a bit painful for Aglaea...
She had to watch as Tribbie, Castorice, Hyacine, and the others got close to Lumina and found that "big sister" they could rely on in their lives, while Aglaea had to suppress the budding feelings in her heart because of a sliver of respect for Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta as the strong.
Although Aglaea was the leader of Okhema, she was also a young girl at the same time...
How could she not be envious as she watched Castorice, Hyacine, and the others interact intimately with Lumina?
Not to mention... not to mention that Aglaea also harbored a very intense fondness for Lumina.
She was beautiful, and her aura was also very attractive to Aglaea; this was one of the reasons.
Another reason was that she was powerful and had helped her resolve a very serious hidden danger in her body.
"If Sister Lumina hadn't helped, I would probably be arranging my own funeral by now."
Aglaea stood in the Hero's Bath, looking down at the many "commoners" who were actually Senate members in disguise, and couldn't help but wonder in her mind: if she hadn't met Sister Lumina, what state would she be in right now?
"You shall bathe for the last time, in warm and dazzling gold."
Without a doubt, this was following the instructions in the divine decree.
Assassinated by the Senate's cleansers in the Hero's Bath... then pushed off the high platform of the Hero's Bath, falling into the pool below.
Finally, in that pool stained golden by the blood of the Chrysos Heirs, she would take her last bath.
This, she thought, must have been Aglaea's original ending.
"What are you laughing at?" Herta's laughter naturally attracted Lumina's attention, and she turned to look at Herta, slightly frowning.
Why did she feel like Herta was laughing at her?
Although Lumina had no evidence, her intuition was the best evidence of all.
Better to be confident: she was laughing at her.
"I just thought of something funny." Noticing Lumina's attention, Herta's laughter subsided slightly.
Well... just a little.
From 100 to 99.
"Something funny? Why don't you tell us, Madam Herta? Let us all have a good laugh together." Lumina raised an eyebrow, easily picking up the teasing tone in her words.
Oh, Little Herta, I haven't taught you a lesson in a while, and now you're feeling a bit too cocky, aren't you?
Watch me suppress you with one finger! Two fingers!
Three fingers!
"It won't be funny once I say it out loud." Herta didn't flinch, nor was she intimidated by Lumina; she decisively refused to elaborate.
"Hehehe." Lumina laughed coldly, already plotting the best way to toy with, play with, and tease her.
Lumina had it all figured out: this little scheme would make Herta too afraid to even speak to her with her head raised for at least a month.
She wouldn't dare to object to or reject a single word she proposed.
Although it was a bit difficult, as long as she thought about it a bit more, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
After all, this Galaxy was still a Galaxy where the strong were respected.
With her own strength, what was there she couldn't accomplish?
Taking it to the extreme, she could just strip Herta naked, hang her up, and give her a good beating; that would easily accomplish this.
But Lumina obviously wouldn't do such a thing.
It was too violent, and only she would enjoy it, whereas the beautiful girl would instead...
Hmm... if she really did such a thing, would the beautiful girl really not enjoy it?
The answer should be unknown, right?
Ahem.
Realizing she seemed to have entered a realm of her own, Lumina hastily shook her head, bringing her consciousness back to reality.
Looking at Aglaea in front of her, Lumina could understand what she was thinking, and the reason she was always unwilling to get close to her.
Regarding this, Lumina didn't care in the slightest.
Every bit of suppression now was increasing the intensity generated when the outburst occurred in the future.
Perhaps with more time, the explosive power would grow stronger.
When that explosion finally happened, she would directly surpass Castorice and Hyacine.
As for whether Aglaea would still refuse to erupt after Lumina left Amphoreus?
In Lumina's eyes, the possibility of this was almost zero, or rather, it was completely zero, an impossible thing.
After all, as long as a beautiful girl was targeted... no, as long as she was taken a fancy to by Lumina, she would be completely unable to resist Lumina's unique charm.
Castorice was like this, Hyacine was like this, and Aglaea would naturally be like this too.
At the same time, even someone as strong as Madam Herta would naturally be like this.
Even Ruan Mei, with her detached humanity, still could not escape this law.
So in this situation, who could possibly escape this law?
Without a doubt, the answer was absolutely no one.
No one could resist Lumina's charm; she was a walking, human-shaped succubus.
She constantly exuded an aura that tempted beautiful girls, causing them to feel a sense of longing, and ultimately be completely manipulated by Lumina.
If the love of beautiful girls could ascend to godhood, then Lumina would only need to take a stroll through the Galaxy. With the faith of the countless beautiful girls within it, she could ascend to become the Aeon of [Beautiful Girls].
At that time, all beautiful girls would be able to step onto the [Beautiful Girl] Path, and through Lumina's fully open Path power, continuously improve themselves.
Ultimately, they would come to Lumina's side and be "eaten" by her in a single bite!
After being completely "eaten," she would, of course, bestow the power of an [Emanator].
Helping this "eaten" beautiful girl achieve the position of an [Beautiful Girl] Emanator!
"Hmm... becoming the Aeon of [Beautiful Girls], isn't that just like establishing an Empire of Beautiful Girls?"
Thinking of this, Lumina's small eyes shone slightly, as if she was somewhat tempted.
But this feeling of temptation quickly dissipated.
Aeon, Aeon... becoming the "dream lover" of all the beautiful girls in the entire galaxy.
Hmm... forget it, I'd rather cherish the present and properly pamper the beautiful girls of this moment.
After a short while, Lumina completely abandoned this idea.
Since things had already reached this point,
let's cuddle first.