"Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven!" The vendor looked at Akio with gratitude. He felt that since he earned his living thanks to the Great Sovereign, even gifting the figurines to the Sovereign's wives seemed perfectly reasonable.
Yet, both the Great Sovereign and his wife were so considerate and understanding. This deeply touched him.
Truly, the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven was the most revered deity in Inazuma—so great and magnanimous!
Handing over the Mora to the vendor, Keqing happily stored all the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven figurines in her Vision Space.
After bidding farewell to the vendor, the trio moved along.
As they walked, Ningguang turned to Keqing and said, "Keqing, how about giving me one of darling's figurines?"
"??? You're so rich, why didn't you buy one yourself? Trying to freeload off me again?" Keqing shot Ningguang a wary look. "No way!"
"Seeing how much you loved them, I didn't want to compete with you," Ningguang said with a smile. "Besides, we're all darling's wives—closest of sisters. Surely you wouldn't begrudge us just one of his figurines, would you?"
"Yeah, right. Don't think I don't know—you just don't want to spend your money," Keqing retorted, glaring at Ningguang with utmost scorn.
"Look at Ganyu—she didn't…" Keqing turned toward Ganyu mid-sentence, only to find her staring back with expectant eyes.
It was obvious at a glance that Ganyu desperately wanted one of Akio's figurines too.
"Ganyu, you want one as well?" Keqing asked, stunned.
"Um…" Ganyu lowered her head shyly. "I… I didn't bring any Mora with me. I can't afford to buy one…"
"…" Keqing fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, she sighed in resignation and pulled out two of Akio's figurines.
"Fine, one for each of you. Geez, you're all trying to snatch darling's figurines from me," Keqing grumbled, though she still handed the figurines to the two women.
Keqing was the classic tough-talking softie. Though she might seem cold to her sisters at times, her heart was always warm.
"You three really get along so well," Akio said with a smile, planting a gentle kiss on Keqing's cheek.
"Hmph, I just pity these two silly sisters," Keqing huffed. "What if they started crying and throwing tantrums over not getting darling's figurine? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"
Ningguang: "…"
Ganyu: "…"
Akio: "…"
Good grief. Akio gave Keqing an odd look. How many witty remarks did Keqing have up her sleeve? Had she been spending too much time with Yae Miko lately and picked up her sly fox vibes?
Even Keqing's speech now had a hint of that mischievous kitsune edge!
"Hmph~ I'm not wrong, am I?" Keqing pouted.
"You're not, you're not, my treasure~" Akio said, pulling Keqing into a cozy embrace.
"Darling, we'll be returning to Liyue soon. After this parting, I don't know when we'll see each other again," Keqing said reluctantly.
"Hehe, I've got an easy fix for that," Akio said, producing three Imaginary Anchors from his hand and handing them to the women.
"What are these?" Keqing asked, puzzled. The trio took the Imaginary Anchors, inspecting them curiously.
"These are Imaginary Anchors—treasures that will let us meet anytime," Akio explained with a smile.
"I analyzed Lumine's Serenitea Pot earlier and used my power to create a separate pocket dimension. We can meet there anytime, and these Imaginary Anchors are the keys to enter it," Akio elaborated with a grin.
"Really? Darling, take us there to see it now!" Keqing said excitedly.
"Let's go. Hold tight to the Imaginary Anchors, think about entering, and you'll be there," Akio instructed.
The three nodded, clutching their Imaginary Anchors. A flash of golden light enveloped them, and they vanished instantly.
Akio followed suit, entering the pocket dimension right after them.
As soon as the trio arrived, they were greeted by the sight of a magnificent, awe-inspiring palace.
Akio led them inside.
"Sweethearts, pick a room each. Once you've chosen, your name and portrait will automatically appear on the doorplate," Akio said.
"And where's your room, darling?" Ningguang asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She wanted to be close to Akio.
"Hmph, with so many sweethearts, why would I need to sleep alone? All your rooms are my rooms," Akio said, striking a proud pose.
"Eh?" The three women stared at Akio in shock. Their darling was so… shameless!
"You scoundrel of a husband," Keqing teased, pinching the soft flesh at Akio's waist. With her strength now on par with a god, plus the bonus of being his lover, even Akio felt a twinge of pain.
"Alright, sweethearts, go pick your rooms," Akio said, ruffling Keqing's purple hair.
"Got it!" Keqing hurried to the room next to Lumine's, securing one of the best spots.
Ningguang and Ganyu also found rooms to their liking.
The initial rooms were plain, as the layout and décor were up to them to decide.
Keqing and Ningguang both opted for traditional Liyue-style designs, elegant and steeped in ancient charm.
Ganyu, however, seemed to struggle with the many options available.
"Darling… which one do you like?" Ganyu asked softly, walking up to Akio and holding his hand.
"Choose whatever you like best," Akio said with a smile, gently touching one of Ganyu's horns.
"Darling, I don't have many preferences. What you like is what I like," Ganyu said tenderly.
"Alright, then I'll help you choose," Akio said, waving his hand in the air. A holographic screen appeared, displaying countless design options.
Soon, Akio and Ganyu settled on a décor inspired by ancient China's most beautiful aesthetics.
"This design shares similarities with Liyue's style, yet it's grander and exudes an even more refined elegance," Ganyu said delightedly as she admired the stunning décor.
Watching the lovely young woman, Akio's heart stirred. With a gentle tap on Ganyu, her clothing transformed in an instant.
Atop Ganyu's head was a phoenix crown, her body draped in flowing bridal robes of vibrant red. She looked exceptionally dignified and magnificent.
Her delicate features blended perfectly with the phoenix crown and bridal robes, captivating even Akio with her stunning beauty.
"What gorgeous attire!" Keqing and Ningguang exclaimed as they noticed Ganyu's transformation.
The phoenix crown and bridal robes were exceptional in both ornamentation and overall grandeur. Neither of them had ever seen such breathtaking garments.
"This is a bridal outfit from the world I once came from. On the wedding day, a woman dons the phoenix crown and bridal robes to marry the one she loves most," Akio said with a smile. "It can be said to be the most beautiful attire."
Ganyu gazed at herself in the mirror, marveling at the elaborate and festive outfit. The bright red was festive yet not at all gaudy.
A/N: Enjoying the story? Read 60+ chapters ahead on Patreon! Your support helps: Patreon.com/nneol