Chapter 275 – Prayer and Revelation
The curtains of the Crimson Court still swayed softly after Alex left.
Queen Ileana remained seated by the edge of the bed, brushing her long silver hair with practiced grace. Mircella lay sprawled across the cushions, arms folded behind her head, legs crossed in the air.
They were both quiet.
But it wasn't an empty silence.
It was filled with what-if.
"…He'll be a good father," Mircella murmured at last.
Ileana gave a small nod. "He already is."
"I just wish…" Mircella turned her head to the side. "...I'd been first."
Ileana set down the brush, her red eyes thoughtful. "We ruled empires. Watched dynasties fall and rise. But none of that prepared me for the ache of not being chosen by life itself."
Mircella rolled onto her side, facing her mother. "Next time."
Ileana looked at her.
Mircella's eyes glinted.
"Next time he holds me like that, I'm not letting go until it happens."
A moment passed.
And then the queen smiled — faint, proud, and just a little dangerous.
"Agreed."
Later – The Vatican
White marble halls.
Echoing silence.
And a soft, sacred hymn floating through the air like incense.
Alex stood quietly in the great nave, leaning against a carved column as he watched Mary — his blue-haired childhood friend, now dressed in her white nun's robe — kneeling at the altar.
Her hands were folded.
Her lips moved in prayer.
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't make a sound.
He waited.
When she finally finished, she opened her eyes… and saw him.
A smile bloomed instantly.
"Alex…"
He gave a nod. "Hey."
She stood up quickly and walked over, brushing her robe as she approached.
"You came to visit."
He nodded again, more slowly this time. "I… have something important to tell you."
Mary paused. Her expression shifted from happiness to calm curiosity.
"Come to my room."
Inside Her Room
It was simple.
Books on the shelf. A small cross above her bed. Two cups of tea already set on the table — as if she'd sensed he'd come.
He sat down.
She sat across from him.
"…What happened?" she asked softly.
Alex met her eyes.
"One of my harem members is pregnant."
Mary froze.
Inside her soul, the presence known as Mira stirred sharply.
"What…?" Mira's voice echoed inside Mary's mind, surprised but alert.
Mary's lips parted slightly. "Truly?"
Alex nodded. "It just happened recently. I wanted you to hear it from me first."
Mary lowered her eyes, then looked up again — and smiled.
"Then… congratulations."
Mira's voice followed right after:
"She must be someone we trust. I hope she is kind."
Alex looked at them both, hesitating only for a moment.
"It's Amaterasu."
The room fell dead silent.
Mary's breath caught.
Mira didn't speak — not at first.
Then both voices overlapped:
"The Amaterasu?"
Alex nodded once. "Yes."
Mary leaned back in her chair, stunned. "That's… more than I expected."
"That woman… is like a sister to us," Mira said quietly in Mary's mind.
Mary smiled slowly. "She once protected me when I was still trying to balance my bloodlines. She never judged me."
"She even taught me how to use my divine half," Mira added. "I owe her more than anyone except you."
Mary met Alex's eyes again — warm, steady.
"Then I'm truly happy… that it's her."
After saying goodbye to Mary — and quietly thanking Mira for her blessing — Alex stepped outside into the sunlit courtyard of the Vatican. For a few moments, he stood still, eyes half-closed, feeling the divine winds shift again.
One more remained.
The most difficult one.
Vira Sunleaf.
Not because she didn't love him.
But because her pride was a wall few could climb.
He raised his hand, forming the teleportation circle silently.
"She deserves to know… before anyone else does."
The wind folded.
Light bent.
And he vanished.
Alfheim – Sunleaf Palace
The forest canopy shimmered like woven crystal. The white spires of the Sunleaf Court rose into the sky like blooming lilies made of moonlight and gold. Elven magic danced on the wind, graceful and ancient, but not hostile.
Alex appeared just beyond the palace garden.
And she was already there.
Vira stood by the balcony rail, her long golden-blonde hair catching the wind like a living banner. She wore a soft formal robe — not a dress of war, but not one of leisure either. Something in between. Something unsettled.
She turned the moment he arrived.
Her expression was composed… but her eyes flickered with something sharper.
"Alex."
He stepped forward. "Vira."
A moment passed.
Then he said, without flinching:
"There's something I need to tell you."
Vira's gaze narrowed slightly.
She tilted her head, not with suspicion — but with restrained anticipation.
"…Come," she said finally. "Tell me in my room."
She turned and walked toward the upper hall without waiting.
Her footsteps were silent on the crystalwood.
Alex followed, heart steady but heavy.
The door to her room opened.
And closed behind them.
Chapter 276 – The Flower That Did Not Bloom First
Her room was quiet.
High elven architecture surrounded them in graceful curves — walls carved of moonstone and vines that shimmered with old magic. But despite its beauty, the space felt… tense.
Vira walked to the far end of the room and stood with her back to him, hands folded behind her as she stared out through the open window into the glowing forest beyond.
Alex remained near the door.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then, softly, he said:
"Vira… I made Amaterasu pregnant."
The words echoed faintly.
Like stones dropped into a still, silver pool.
Vira didn't move.
Not at first.
Her fingers curled slightly behind her back — just once — and then relaxed again.
She turned her head slightly, her voice cool and composed.
"…I see."
But Alex could feel it.
The sharp shift in her aura.
Not anger.
Not sorrow.
But something deeper.
Something rarely spoken of in the proud halls of Alfheim.
Vira walked slowly to her seat and sat down.
She looked at her lap.
Then finally, she sighed.
"High elf birth rates are… notoriously low."
She didn't raise her voice. She didn't accuse.
But the air trembled slightly around her — as if the forest itself understood her pride had been pierced.
"I've never met Amaterasu," she said quietly. "But I know who she is."
"And I know what it means… for a being like her to carry your child."
Her golden eyes finally met his.
"I wanted to be the first."
She didn't cry.
She didn't rage.
She simply admitted it.
For the first time in her life…
Vira Sunleaf, Princess of the Sunleaf Court, the most gifted daughter of Alfheim — admitted defeat.
She looked away again, her voice calm but hollow:
"And I lost without ever getting to fight."
The silence between them deepened.
Vira sat still, her golden eyes turned toward the distant trees — but she wasn't looking at the forest.
She was staring inward.
At the ache she had never allowed herself to name.
At the fear that, despite everything she had accomplished, she was already too late.
And then—
She felt it.
The warmth of a shadow crossing the sunlight.
Alex knelt beside her without a word.
He took one of her hands — elegant, callused from swordwork, trembling faintly now — and held it in both of his.
"Vira," he said quietly.
She didn't look at him yet.
But she didn't pull away either.
"You haven't lost anything," he continued. "Not to her. Not to anyone."
He gently placed a hand over her heart.
"You're still here. With me."
Finally, her gaze shifted — meeting his. Unshielded. Unmasked.
The pain in her eyes wasn't weakness.
It was honesty.
Something rare. Sacred.
He leaned closer, resting his forehead lightly against hers.
"We can try again."
The words fell like sunlight on frost.
Vira blinked once.
Then again.
And then—she smiled.
A soft, almost shy smile that no one in Alfheim had ever seen before.
"…Yes," she whispered.
"Let's try."
No hesitation.
No pride.
Just hope.
And quiet joy.
She leaned into him, her fingers tightening gently around his hand.
For the first time, not as a rival, not as a noble—
But as a woman ready to bloom.
Chapter 277 – The One Who Leads
The bedroom was quiet.
Moonlight filtered through the lattice windows of the Sunleaf Court, painting soft silver over the silk sheets and the carved walls. The lanterns had long since gone out — and yet, there was no darkness.
Because she was glowing.
Vira stood beside the bed, one knee resting on the edge, golden hair flowing behind her like a silken banner.
Alex had only just sat down before she pushed him gently — but firmly — onto his back.
"Vira—"
She leaned over him, her long hair brushing his chest, her eyes sharp with purpose.
"I'm a high elf, Alex," she whispered. "We're proud. We're stubborn. And sometimes—"
She slid a hand down his chest, slowly unfastening his robe.
"—we like to take the lead."
He didn't resist.
Chapter 277 – The One Who Leads (18+)
The bedroom was quiet.
Moonlight filtered through the lattice windows of the Sunleaf Court, painting soft silver over the silk sheets and the carved walls. The lanterns had long since gone out — and yet, there was no darkness.
Because she was glowing.
Vira stood beside the bed, one knee resting on the edge, Emerald green hair flowing behind her like a silken banner.
Alex had only just sat down before she pushed him gently — but firmly — onto his back.
"Vira—"
She leaned over him, her long hair brushing his chest, her eyes sharp with purpose.
"I'm a high elf, Alex," she whispered. "We're proud. We're stubborn. And sometimes—"
She slid a hand down his chest, slowly unfastening his robe.
"—we like to take the lead."
"You will do as I say, Alex," Vira commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And I will ride you until you beg for mercy."
Without waiting for a response, Vira pushed him onto the bed, the softness of the sheets a stark contrast to the hardness of his desire. She climbed on top of him, her slender fingers wrapping around his shaft, guiding him to her entrance. With a sultry moan, she impaled herself onto him, her tight, wet pussy enveloping his dick in a velvet vice.
Vira began to move, her hips undulating with an otherworldly grace, each roll and grind stoking the fire within Alex. He gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh as she rode him with wild abandon. Her breasts bounced with each thrust, her nipples hardened peaks that begged to be touched, to be tasted.
The sound of their flesh meeting, the wet slap of their passion, filled the room, mingling with Vira's cries of pleasure and Alex's ragged gasps. He was close, so close, but he knew better than to finish before his high elf mistress.
"Cum for me, Alex," Vira demanded, her voice thick with lust. "Fill me with your seed."
With a guttural groan, Alex let go, his climax ripping through him like a tidal wave. He felt his hot cum spurting deep inside her, marking her as his, if only for a moment.
Vira didn't stop. She continued to ride him, milking every last drop from his spent cock, her own orgasm building to a crescendo. And then, with a shuddering cry, she found her release, her pussy clenching around him as she surrendered to the ecstasy.
Breathless and sated, Vira collapsed onto Alex's chest, her body still trembling from the aftershocks of her orgasm. But she wasn't done with him yet.
After a moment of recovery, Vira slid down Alex's body, her tongue leaving a wet trail as she descended. She took his softening member into her mouth, her lips forming a seal around the base as she began to suck. Her head bobbed up and down, her tongue swirling around the sensitive tip, coaxing him back to hardness.
Alex watched in awe as Vira worked her magic, her golden eyes locked onto his as she worshipped his cock with her mouth. It didn't take long for him to grow hard again, his dick straining against her tongue, eager for more.
"You're insatiable," Alex murmured, his voice filled with admiration and lust.
Vira released him with a pop, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "And you love it," she retorted, her hand stroking him with practiced ease.
With a sudden movement, Vira straddled Alex's face, her dripping pussy positioned above his mouth. "Now, it's your turn to please me," she ordered, lowering herself onto his waiting tongue.
Alex delved into her folds with fervor, his tongue exploring every inch of her, tasting the mingled essence of their lovemaking. He lapped at her clit, each flick of his tongue sending waves of pleasure through Vira's body.
She ground against his face, her moans growing louder as she chased another orgasm. Alex gripped her ass, pulling her closer, feasting on her like a starving man.
Vira's body tensed, her climax imminent. "Don't stop, Alex," she panted, her fingers tangling in his hair. "Make me cum!"
Alex redoubled his efforts, his tongue and lips working in unison to push her over the edge. With a cry that echoed through the chamber, Vira came, her juices flooding Alex's mouth as she rode out her pleasure on his tongue.
Spent and trembling, Vira rolled off Alex, her body slick with sweat and satisfaction. But the night was still young, and she had one more lesson to teach him.
"On your back, Alex," Vira instructed, her voice a sultry whisper.
Alex complied, his cock standing at attention, eager for whatever Vira had planned next. She retrieved a small bottle from her bedside table, pouring a generous amount of oil into her palm. She rubbed her hands together, the oil warming before she began to massage it onto Alex's chest, her fingers working the muscles with firm, deliberate strokes.
Vira's hands moved lower, her oiled fingers wrapping around his cock, stroking him with long, languid movements. She straddled him once more, but this time, she faced away from him, her ass positioned enticingly above his erection.
With a wicked grin over her shoulder, Vira lowered herself onto his cock, taking him inside her ass. She moved slowly at first, adjusting to his girth, but soon she was riding him with the same wild abandon as before.
The sight of his cock disappearing into her tight, forbidden hole was almost too much for Alex to bear. He reached around, his fingers finding her clit, rubbing it in time with her thrusts.
Vira's cries of pleasure filled the room once more, her body shaking with the force of her impending orgasm. "I'm going to cum again, Alex," she moaned, her ass clenching around his cock. "Cum with me!"
With a final, powerful thrust, Vira came, her orgasm triggering Alex's own release. He exploded inside her, his cum filling her ass as she milked him dry with her spasming muscles.
Collapsing onto the bed, Vira turned to face Alex, her golden eyes shining with satisfaction. "You've pleased me well tonight, Alex," she purred, her hand tracing lazy patterns on his chest.
Alex pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her slender form. "The pleasure was all mine, Vira," he replied, his voice filled with genuine affection.
The Morning After
Vira stirred beneath the soft covers, blinking lazily in the morning light.
Alex was still beside her, half-asleep, an arm wrapped around her waist.
She reached up, brushing her fingers along his jaw, and smiled faintly.
"You're still here."
He opened one eye. "Did you expect me to vanish?"
"No," she said softly. "But I would've chased you if you did."
He chuckled.
She curled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, her palm over her belly.
Then she whispered,
"It'll take time to know if I'm pregnant."
Alex nodded slowly.
"Time we'll wait together."
Vira closed her eyes, letting out a soft, peaceful breath.
"Good. Then let's wait."
Chapter 278 – The Ring of Sunlight
The sky above Takamagahara was calm — no omens, no divine trumpets, no celestial shifts.
Just warmth.
A rare kind of peace.
And in the heart of the palace where the goddess of the sun dwelled, Amaterasu stood by her balcony, gently combing her hair in the late morning light.
She looked different now.
Not because her robes had changed, or because her divine aura had lessened — if anything, it had deepened.
But in her posture, in her eyes, there was a softness only one man had ever drawn out.
When Alex appeared behind her in a quiet flicker of light, she didn't turn.
She simply said,
"You've returned."
"I told the others," he said. "All of them."
She nodded once, her fingers pausing in her hair.
"And?"
"They understand," he said. "Some with surprise. Some with pride. Some with longing."
She turned now — slowly — her golden eyes reflecting the sun above her.
"And now?"
Alex reached into his coat and pulled out a small velvet box, simple but elegant.
He stepped forward and opened it.
Inside was a ring — forged of rare celestial alloys, its surface a smooth blend of radiant gold and sun-fire opal. It shimmered softly, not in harsh brilliance, but in a warm, ever-burning glow.
It felt like her.
"For you," he said.
Amaterasu stared down at it, unmoving.
Then whispered, "A wedding band?"
He nodded.
"I've made one for each of you. Each ring is shaped the same… but the colors are different. Yours—"
He looked into her eyes.
"—is the sun."
Slowly, with reverence, she lifted the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger.
It pulsed once.
A quiet hum of acceptance, as if the universe had acknowledged the bond between them.
She gazed at the glow.
"…You're not just a man," she murmured. "You're something more."
Alex didn't deny it.
Instead, he said:
"There's something else I need to tell you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly — not in suspicion, but in readiness.
He took a breath.
Then said plainly,
"The one who wore the high-tech black armor… the one who built the fortress beyond Earth…"
"That was me."
The air in the room shifted.
The wind paused.
Even the golden threads in the curtains stilled.
Amaterasu didn't speak immediately.
She only stepped closer — slowly — and placed her hand over his chest.
"You…?"
Alex nodded once.
"Every bolt. Every weapon. That fortress was made by my hands."
Another pause.
And then Amaterasu smiled.
A radiant, quiet, sun-drenched smile.
"Then I didn't choose wrong."
She touched the ring again, her fingers trembling just slightly.
"I didn't fall in love with a man hiding from greatness… I fell in love with the one who stands above even gods."
She leaned in and kissed him — slow and soft.
When they pulled apart, her voice was warm.
"The sun is yours."
The silence between them lingered after her kiss.
Not heavy — but sacred.
Alex stood still, his hand resting lightly against hers, the ring now glowing faintly on her finger like a sealed vow.
Then Amaterasu pulled back slightly, eyes narrowed not in suspicion… but in calculation.
"No one else knows?"
"Only a few," Alex replied. "The ones closest to me. Ciel, Morgan… the vampire queen and princess. And now you."
She turned her gaze toward the sky — toward the stars, where the fortress still floated like a myth whispered between worlds.
Then she looked back at him and said, with quiet certainty:
"Then I will keep it a secret."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Even from the other gods?"
She nodded once.
"Especially from the other gods."
She touched the ring again, her voice lower, firm.
"You are no longer a rumor. You are no longer a shadow in the void. But let them continue to guess. Let Olympus argue. Let the Norns pretend they know. Let the high councils cast their lots."
"I am the sun, and I will blind them from the truth."
Alex looked at her for a long moment.
Not with surprise…
…but with gratitude.
"Thank you."
Amaterasu tilted her head with a soft, knowing smile.
"You protected my heart. I will protect your name."
Then she leaned in again, her lips close to his ear.
"When the time comes… let the world learn from your actions. Not your identity."
She stepped back, serene and still radiant, the ring glowing faintly on her hand like a second sun.
"Until then, I will say nothing."
And with that vow…
The most powerful goddess in Japan became the keeper of the world's greatest secret.
Chapter 279 – Heat, Steam, and a Hint of Gold
It was an evening marked on every calendar, mental or magical.
An official harem outing — agreed upon by all parties. No obligations. No emergencies. No world-ending threats. Just one reservation… for one private hot spring… exclusively theirs.
Alex stood outside the entrance to the onsen, hair slightly damp from the rinse station, towel resting around his neck.
Steam curled from the open-air bath just beyond the sliding door.
And behind him—
Laughter.
Footsteps.
Voices.
All familiar.
All beautiful.
All dangerous in their own ways.
Ciel, serene and graceful in her movements, skin almost glowing in the steam.
Hanabi, already talking about racing to the water, tail flicking like a flame in the mist.
Airi, quiet but visibly pink in the cheeks, clutching her towel a little too tightly.
Morgan, icy and proud, striding in as if the heat couldn't touch her unless she willed it.
Mircella and Queen Ileana, entering together with an aura of vampiric elegance.
Reyne, lazy and amused, dragging her towel across the ground like a banner.
Mary, sweet and modest, cheeks burning as she tried to act composed.
Mira, half-asleep but alert when she needed to be.
And finally—
Vira.
The high elf princess walked in last.
Completely bare.
Except—
For two small, glinting pieces of gold-plated ornamentation, perfectly fitted over her nipples.
A hush fell over the springs.
Even the steam seemed to pause.
The women stared.
Alex blinked once.
Then again.
Ciel turned slowly. "Vira…"
Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Are those enchanted?"
Hanabi squinted. "Wait, are they moving?"
Vira, completely calm, sat on the stone ledge at the spring's edge — legs folded gracefully, posture flawless, not even a hint of shame in her eyes.
"High elven craftsmanship," she said casually. "Custom-forged. Gold leaf, mana-responsive. Designed to stimulate… mood."
She looked directly at Alex.
"His mood."
The steam visibly thickened around him.
Airi coughed into her hand. Mary nearly slipped on the tile. Mircella let out a long, low whistle.
"You're not subtle, you know," Reyne muttered.
Vira smiled faintly. "I wasn't trying to be."
Alex cleared his throat. "I… see."
Vira's eyes sparkled.
"Then come sit next to me, Alex. It's a shared bath, after all."
The women sighed, groaned, or laughed in their own ways — but none moved to stop him.
Because tonight wasn't about jealousy.
Tonight was about all of them.
Together.
Steam.
Heat.
And hearts no longer holding back.
The steam curled in lazy trails between the bodies in the water.
Conversations flowed — light, teasing, affectionate.
But then… she stood up.
Vira rose from the edge of the spring like a queen ascending her throne, water trickling down her flawless skin in silver strands. Her long blonde hair, slicked back from the mist, gleamed in the moonlight above.
And she walked directly toward him.
Alex didn't move.
He couldn't.
Her aura — not magical, not divine, but utterly hers — wrapped around him like heat from within the earth itself.
She stopped in front of him, her body close enough for him to feel every drop clinging to her skin.
"Alex," she said softly.
Then she bent forward slightly.
Just enough for the golden clamps on her nipples to gleam in the light.
"Look," she whispered. "Do they please you?"
Alex's throat tightened.
They weren't just decoration.
They shimmered faintly with mana — and as he watched, he realized they responded to him.
The soft hum they emitted pulsed in rhythm with his heart.
His eyes widened slightly as he felt a subtle, directed pressure — almost like a gentle magnetic pull — toward her.
"Are you," Vira whispered near his ear, her breath warm, "horny with me now?"
At that exact moment, the enchanted ornaments vibrated — just once, very gently.
A pulse of teasing magic, finely tuned to his aura.
Alex exhaled slowly, his muscles taut.
They had synced to him.
Vira stepped even closer, barely letting her chest brush his as she smirked softly.
"They respond to your desire," she whispered. "Even before you speak it."
He said nothing.
But his eyes had already answered her.
The shimmer in them.
The way his hand almost — almost — reached for her hip without thinking.
Behind them, a few of the girls exchanged glances.
Mircella nudged Reyne. "He's doomed."
Reyne raised her cup. "He was doomed the moment he walked into this bath."
Vira leaned close again, lips barely grazing his cheek.
"I wore them for you."
The air between them felt heavier than steam.
Vira was close — too close — and she knew it.
Her golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she caught the slight pink rising to Alex's cheeks. He was powerful beyond comprehension… yet in this moment, even he couldn't suppress the heat spreading beneath his skin.
She tilted her head.
"Do you like the clamps I'm wearing?"
Her voice was soft, melodic — but her words struck with surgical precision.
Alex blinked. "I…"
She didn't wait for him to recover.
Vira took another half-step forward, her breasts now level with his face. The golden ornaments, shaped with intricate elven detailing — sun leaves and moon vines, enchanted and radiant — shimmered against her fair skin.
She lifted her hands, brushing her hair aside to give him a full, unobstructed view.
Then leaned in just a little more.
"I asked," she whispered, "do you like it?"
Alex swallowed hard.
Up close, he could feel the faint hum of magic vibrating against his skin, reacting to his breath, his heartbeat, his rising desire.
He didn't answer with words.
His eyes — dark and focused — lingered, trailing across her with reverence and restraint battling in equal measure.
A moment passed.
Then another.
And finally—
"…Yes," he said, voice low.
Vira smiled slowly.
Not with arrogance.
But with victory.
"Good," she said. "Because I wore them only for your eyes."
She gently pulled back, letting the tension settle — letting him breathe again.
But the blush didn't leave his face.
And the image, she knew, would never leave his mind.
Chapter 279 – Heat, Steam, and a Hint of Gold
It was an evening marked on every calendar, mental or magical.
An official harem outing — agreed upon by all parties. No obligations. No emergencies. No world-ending threats. Just one reservation… for one private hot spring… exclusively theirs.
Alex stood outside the entrance to the onsen, hair slightly damp from the rinse station, towel resting around his neck.
Steam curled from the open-air bath just beyond the sliding door.
And behind him—
Laughter.
Footsteps.
Voices.
All familiar.
All beautiful.
All dangerous in their own ways.
Ciel, serene and graceful in her movements, skin almost glowing in the mist.
Hanabi, already talking about racing to the water, tail flicking like a flame.
Airi, quiet but visibly pink in the cheeks, clutching her towel too tightly.
Morgan, icy and composed, striding in like she ruled the mountain.
Mircella and Queen Ileana, entering with that vampiric elegance only they could wear.
Reyne, lazy and amused, dragging her towel like a reluctant warrior's banner.
Mary, red-cheeked and visibly praying not to trip.
Mira, faintly stirring within her soul.
And then—
Vira.
The high elf princess entered last.
Completely bare.
Except—
For two nipple ring clamps — gold and rune-etched, perfectly fitted, gleaming against her flawless skin.
The springs went silent.
Even the air seemed to pause.
Eyes turned.
Morgan raised an eyebrow. "...Seriously?"
Ciel blinked. "Vira…"
Reyne muttered, "That's… direct."
Vira walked confidently toward the water, posture proud, unapologetic. Her long hair shimmered behind her, but no one could look away from her chest — or the enchanted clamps that adorned her.
"High elven craftsmanship," she said smoothly. "Custom-forged. Enchanted. They respond to mana fluctuations—especially his."
She glanced toward Alex.
His entire body tensed as she neared.
"They're not just pretty, you know," she added with a teasing lilt. "They vibrate when he's turned on."
Hanabi nearly choked on her towel.
Mircella leaned forward, fascinated. "No way…"
Airi looked away. Mary looked up — then immediately down again.
Alex opened his mouth to speak—
Too late.
Vira was already in front of him.
She leaned forward.
Close.
Too close.
Her nipples — adorned with the shimmering nipple ring clamps — hovered right at eye level.
"Alex," she said softly, voice like silk dipped in mischief. "Do you like them?"
He turned bright red.
"Y-yeah," he muttered.
"Say it properly," she teased, stepping even closer.
His eyes met hers, and this time, with a steady breath, he said:
"Yes… I like them."
Vira smiled — cool, satisfied, victorious.
"Good. I wore them just for you."
Vira smiled — cool, satisfied, victorious.
Then she tilted her head proudly and said with confidence,
"You answered honestly… so I'll reward you."
Alex blinked. "Reward—?"
"With a kiss," she said, her voice rich with promise. "A passionate one."
She didn't wait for him to process it.
Didn't wait for permission.
She simply stepped in — close — and kissed him.
Fully.
Deeply.
The kind of kiss that left no doubt in anyone's mind: Vira Sunleaf, proud princess of Alfheim, had chosen him not just with words… but with her entire being.
Steam curled around them.
Eyes widened.
Ciel let out a breath through her nose.
Hanabi muttered something under her breath.
Morgan looked unimpressed, but didn't turn away.
And Vira?
She only pulled back after several seconds, her lips still barely brushing his.
"That," she whispered, "was just the beginning."
Then she turned — finally — and walked into the spring, hips swaying ever so slightly with each step.
Alex stood there, dazed, still tasting her kiss on his lips.
No one said a word for a moment.
Not even Mircella.
Because for once…
Vira had stolen the entire spotlight.
Vira slipped back into the steaming water with a soft sigh, the surface rippling gently around her elegant figure. Her Emerald green hair fanned out behind her like liquid silk, her posture as regal as ever even while seated in a bath.
But her eyes… remained locked on Alex.
He still hadn't moved.
Still stood there, stunned, flushed, towel half-forgotten around his neck.
She smiled knowingly.
Then—without a word—she lifted one hand.
Her fingers curled casually around her breast.
And she squeezed it.
Just enough for the water to glide over the curve and the nipple ring clamp to gleam again in the soft mist.
"You're still staring," she said, voice sultry and unbothered. "So why don't you do something about it?"
She leaned back slightly, her tone low, daring.
"If you want to grab it… come and grab it."
She tilted her head, eyes glittering with mischief.
"Or if you'd rather suck it… then suck it."
The other girls didn't interrupt.
Ciel gently covered her mouth, hiding a tiny smirk.
Morgan looked away with a sigh. "She's shameless."
Hanabi was bright red. "I—I didn't know elves could be that bold—!"
Reyne chuckled. "I did. She's just never had an excuse."
Mircella snorted. "What excuse? She'd do this in a diplomatic summit."
But Alex?
He finally moved.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
And Vira's smile widened.
Alex finally moved.
The steam parted as he walked toward her, his expression calm — but the tension in his eyes, the flush along his jaw, revealed the storm beneath.
Vira remained seated in the hot water, Emerald green hair glistening against her bare skin, her eyes fixed on him with expectation and certainty.
He reached her.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
His hand rose slowly… then firmly closed around her breast.
He squeezed — not roughly, but with quiet, sure pressure.
She let out a breath.
Then, without breaking eye contact, he leaned down.
And wrapped his lips around her nipple.
The golden nipple ring clamp warmed between his mouth and her skin, and she gasped — just once, just enough — before her fingers slid through his hair and settled atop his head.
"Good boy," she whispered, voice like velvet, tinged with heat and pride.
She didn't stop him.
Didn't guide him.
She simply held him there — her hand gently stroking his hair, her back arched ever so slightly, breath steady and slow.
The water rippled softly around them.
Behind them, someone whispered, "Should we… do something?"
"Absolutely not," Reyne muttered, floating lazily on the other side of the spring. "Let her have this moment. She's earned it."
Hanabi covered her face with both hands. "I wasn't ready for this…"
Airi looked down, biting her lip.
Ciel just smiled — quiet, approving.
Mircella whispered to Queen Ileana, "I give it a minute before she straddles him."
The Queen only raised an eyebrow.
And in the center of it all…
Vira gently tilted Alex's head back, her golden eyes glowing softly.
"You're learning to obey well," she whispered. "Maybe next time… I'll reward you again."
Vira leaned back slightly in the water, her emerald green hair flowing behind her like rippling silk, glistening in the moonlight and mist. The color shimmered like living jade, a perfect contrast to her pale skin and the golden clamps still adorning her chest.
Alex remained close, his lips still around her nipple, the enchanted ring warm between them.
Her breath caught again — not from pain, but pleasure.
She cupped the back of his head with one hand, fingers threading gently through his hair.
"Mmm… that's right."
Her voice was husky, low, commanding — and yet affectionate.
"If I had milk in these," she whispered near his ear, "I wouldn't let you drink it from a glass."
She gently tugged his hair, drawing his gaze up.
Her eyes burned with playful heat.
"I'd make you drink it straight from my nipple… like this."
She pushed him gently back to her chest.
He obeyed without a word.
Sucked again — deeper.
The way his mouth molded to her flesh sent ripples through her entire body. Her thighs tightened beneath the water. The enchantments on the clamps responded, vibrating faintly in sync with her heartbeat.
And Alex's.
Vira exhaled softly, her other hand slipping down into the water, fingers tracing his side.
"Do you feel that?" she murmured. "This warmth between us?"
He nodded against her skin.
She smiled.
"Good. Because next time—"
She pressed her lips near his ear again, voice even lower now.
"—I'll make sure there's something sweet inside for you."
Chapter 280 – The Taming of Alex
The moon had risen higher over the private mountain spring, casting its silver glow through the mist — but time inside the bath seemed to have stilled.
Vira had not let him go.
Not for long.
Alex sat now against the smooth stone wall, shoulders half-submerged, his black hair slicked from the heat. His chest rose steadily, breath calm but focused.
And Vira?
She sat in his lap.
Naked, wet, glowing with mischief and intent.
Her emerald green hair clung to her shoulders and back like flowing vines, framing her body as she looked down at him with eyes full of challenge.
"You may be strong," she murmured, fingers brushing along his jaw, "but don't think for a moment you're beyond being tamed."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Tamed? That what this is?"
Vira smiled. Slowly. Dangerously.
"This is just the beginning."
Her Efforts Began
First, she gently kissed down his neck, slow and deliberate, her lips pressing into his collarbone, his chest, even his stomach.
Every time he tensed, she whispered, "Relax."
Then she took his hands and guided them to her hips — letting him hold her, steady her — as she leaned in again.
"You always take control," she whispered. "Tonight… you're mine."
Her voice wasn't demanding.
It was certain.
She shifted her weight in his lap, and the ripple of sensation made his jaw tighten. Her nipple ring clamps still vibrated faintly from the ambient magic, adding subtle, teasing sparks to the contact between them.
Alex's breath hitched.
"See?" she said softly. "Even you can't resist."
And then—
She brought his hand to her mouth and kissed each of his fingers, one by one.
Then sucked on the tip of his index finger slowly.
Alex swallowed.
"I'm not a pet," he said quietly.
Vira grinned.
"Then why do you look so ready to obey?"
He didn't answer.
Not with words.
Instead, he let her continue — leaning back just slightly, giving her the space to do as she pleased.
She accepted the unspoken challenge.
"Good," she purred. "Lesson one: You're not untouchable."
The spring's warm mist wrapped around them like a veil — softening the world until only the two of them remained.
Vira sat on his lap, her emerald green hair trailing over his chest, her body gleaming with droplets that caught the moonlight like tiny jewels. Her eyes never left his.
"Lesson two," she whispered, voice low, "you're not allowed to touch… unless I say so."
Alex raised an eyebrow — but obeyed.
His hands released her waist, falling back to his sides beneath the water.
She nodded approvingly.
"Good boy."
Her fingers slid up his chest, down his arms, exploring the power coiled beneath his skin — but with a casual authority that said she owned this moment. She traced the muscles slowly, admiring the strength that could shatter worlds… now willingly still for her.
"You'd never listen like this to the others," she said, half-amused, half-possessive.
Alex gave a faint smirk. "They don't try like this."
Vira leaned closer, her nose brushing his.
"Exactly."
She kissed him again — not the soft, testing kiss from earlier — but a deeper, firmer one that pushed him back just slightly. Her hips rolled in his lap under the water, and he groaned before he could stop himself.
She pulled back with a victorious smile.
"Lesson three: If you want something, beg."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "I don't beg."
Vira tilted her head.
"Yet you're still sitting here… obeying."
He didn't respond.
Not because he was defeated — but because she was right.
He didn't obey easily.
Not gods.
Not demons.
Not even destiny.
But Vira…
She was different.
She was pride, polished into elegance.
She was desire, sharpened into command.
And in that moment — for her — he was willing to bend.
Vira leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose, then his cheek.
"You're learning, my love," she said softly. "And I like that."
Her fingers brushed down again, slower this time — dragging the tension higher.
"Now. Lesson four…"
The water rippled again as Vira shifted — slowly, deliberately — rising just enough to slide her legs around him and straddle him fully.
Her emerald green hair flowed over her shoulders, clinging to her wet skin like a living crown. The faint glow of the enchanted nipple ring clamps shimmered between them, still responding to his rising desire.
Alex's hands gripped the stone behind him.
He didn't resist.
He didn't command.
He followed.
Vira leaned in and whispered against his lips:
"Lesson four… only I can make you submit."
And then she moved.
The kiss that followed was deep, slow, possessive — not a request for affection, but a claim.
She arched into him, hips pressing close beneath the water's surface, heat merging with heat, the spring no longer the source of warmth.
His breathing hitched.
His muscles tensed.
And still, he let her lead.
No magic.
No tricks.
Just Vira.
Vira, who had stripped away every layer of resistance with precision and pride.
She leaned back just enough to see his expression — the flush, the narrowed eyes, the bite of restraint in his jaw.
She smiled.
"They could never make you like this," she whispered aloud.
She didn't say it quietly.
She turned her head slightly — and looked beyond the stones.
Because she knew.
They were watching.
Ciel's soft gasp.
Hanabi's flushed face hidden behind her hands.
Morgan's narrowed gaze — unreadable, unreadably tense.
Airi, frozen.
Mircella biting her lip with surprise and growing jealousy.
Reyne? Laughing softly, but her eyes watching every motion.
Mary looked away, whispering something faint under her breath.
Even Queen Ileana, for once, said nothing.
And Vira?
She held his face, lifted his chin, and kissed him again — openly — while still moving atop him beneath the water.
Then, breathless but proud, she looked over her shoulder one last time and said without shame:
"Only I can."
Vira's hips stilled just enough to let the water settle again — but the fire between them had only grown stronger.
Her eyes, bold and gleaming with satisfaction, turned once more toward the gathered women beyond the mist.
Her voice rang clearly across the water, every syllable wrapped in emerald pride.
"Tonight… in my bedroom… he will take me."
She ran her fingers through Alex's soaked hair, tugging him gently closer.
"And I will make sure he becomes completely tame… with me."
A silence fell.
Not of shock — but of silent acknowledgment.
They knew what was going to happen.
Every single one of them.
And yet—no objections came.
No accusations.
Only one voice rose, gentle and unwavering.
"Then don't hold back," Ciel said softly.
The eldest of them, serene and wise, watched with eyes that shimmered in the lanternlight.
"If he listens to you like this… if your heart calls him that strongly… then answer it. Fully."
Vira blinked.
Just once.
It was the only crack in her otherwise perfect composure.
Ciel smiled faintly — not as a rival, but as something more.
Something older.
Something sisterly.
And Vira's breath caught in her throat.
"Thank you… Onee-sama," she whispered.
It was a title she had never given anyone before.
But Ciel had earned it.
Not through power.
But through quiet strength — and unconditional support.
Vira turned back to Alex, her emerald hair sliding across his chest like living ivy, and whispered in his ear:
"Did you hear that?"
"Even my big sister wants you to obey."
She pressed her forehead to his, eyes wild and burning.
"Tonight… I make you mine."