Chapter 262: Himeko's Eavesdropping
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In today's lower world, aside from the gnomes who had fully integrated into human society, other types of Spirits were already incredibly rare. A 'Great Spirit' possessing immense individual power was practically unheard of.
They were legends that had practically vanished from the lower world, existing only in ancient Heroic Tales.
Given Aiden's cover story, those in the know—like Robin and Tifa—naturally kept the secret, while Daphne Lauros and Cassandra Illion, completely unaware of the truth, quickly accepted this powerfully charismatic and stunningly beautiful red-haired woman as their new companion.
However, while Himeko's identity might fool mortals, it couldn't deceive the other deity present at the table.
When Astrea's eyes, which always carried a gentle smile, fell upon Himeko, they noticeably lingered for a few extra seconds.
A fleeting trace of surprise flashed through the depths of her eyes; then, her gaze shifted to Aiden's right hand, observing the flaming rose stigmata burning on the back of it.
In almost a single instant, the Goddess of Justice had seen through everything.
—A Spirit's contract.
The corners of her lips curled into a far more intrigued smile.
This child, Aiden, was giving her more and more surprises.
Before the current era of the gods, during the age of ancient heroes, Spirits had been sent down to the lower world by the deities to act as aides to the heroes, fighting alongside them against the monsters crawling out from the Dungeon's abyss.
But in this "Age of Gods" defined by adventurers, the emergence of the 'Falna' system meant that mortals could continuously grow stronger through their own efforts, making the aid of Spirits no longer as indispensable as it once was.
Coupled with the fact that Great Spirits were already dwindling in number, those willing to form contracts and accompany humans had become rarer than phoenix feathers, almost entirely extinct.
She hadn't expected that, after so many years, she would witness with her own eyes a mortal gaining the allegiance of a Great Spirit once again.
At a mere Level 4, he had relied on his own comprehension to grasp the ultimate heroic technique, the "Lumina Slash," and now he had a powerful Great Spirit of Fire by his side.
The defining traits of an ancient hero and a modern adventurer were practically all gathered in this one young man.
Astrea picked up her wine glass and took a gentle sip, her gaze profound.
She was becoming increasingly eager to see what Aiden's future held.
After the dinner concluded, Robin thoughtfully arranged a separate, spacious, and comfortable room for Himeko.
Even though, having formed a contract, Himeko could completely transform into the Godslayer: Surtr and reside within the stigmata on Aiden's hand, the reason Robin gave was utterly flawless.
"Living inside a stigmata all the time can't possibly be as comfortable and freeing as having your own private room, right?"
Himeko had no intention of "cohabiting" with Aiden anyway, so she gladly accepted.
However, as she looked into Robin's flawless, smiling lake-green eyes, she sharply caught the subtle, calculating glint hidden in the depths of the other woman's gaze.
This silver-purple-haired diva was far less "uncontested" than she appeared on the surface.
Himeko offered a half-smile, deciding not to point it out, and gracefully moved into her new room with her small luggage in tow.
Watching Himeko's door close, Robin finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief in her heart.
Are you kidding me?!
If Himeko moved into the stigmata on Aiden's hand, how on earth was she supposed to enjoy her private time with her lover at night?
The mere thought of having an invisible "third party" spectating the entire time she was being intimate with her boyfriend made her skin crawl.
The night deepened.
Moonlight poured in like liquid silver through the Palais Mermonia's ornate French windows, spilling onto the soft wool carpet of Himeko's room.
At this moment, Himeko had already traded her aggressive, blood-rose attire for a loose, comfortable, wine-red silk nightgown.
The neckline dipped just perfectly, revealing her delicate collarbones and the three-dimensional blood-red rose embellishment resting below them.
The loose belt was tied haphazardly, tracing the breathtaking curve of her waist and hips, while her snow-white, slender legs peeked out tantalizingly from beneath the hem.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the plush carpet, holding a glass of clear, amber-like strong liquor.
It was a top-tier vintage produced by the Soma Familia, sent over previously by Loki, which had been stored in the underground wine cellar of the Palais Mermonia.
Because the entire Focalors Familia—aside from Aiden, Tifa, and occasionally Robin—hardly drank, the cellar full of treasures had sat completely untouched.
But now, the Palais Mermonia's wine cellar had finally welcomed its true master.
Himeko walked over to the window, leaning against the frame as she gently swirled the wine glass in her hand.
The liquid coated the sides of the glass in elegant streaks, and a rich aroma of malt and fruit wafted through the air.
Yet, right now, an unnatural, captivating flush painted her face.
It wasn't just the alcohol taking effect.
She hadn't told Aiden and Robin that, after forming the contract, she could use the flaming rose stigmata to establish a remote, one-way "sensory link" with him.
In other words, whenever she wished, she could activate this ability—like putting on an invisible earpiece—and clearly hear everything happening on his end.
Thus, the top-tier, absolutely soundproof walls of the Palais Mermonia were completely useless against Himeko.
Driven by curiosity, she had "accidentally" listened in for a bit just now.
And so, sounds from another room that no one else could hear floated with crystal clarity into her ears.
There was Aiden's voice, and also... Robin's.
At first, the sounds were just normal, laughter-laced conversation.
But very quickly, they morphed into suppressed, breathy, blush-inducing pants and murmurs.
Himeko had to admit that Robin truly lived up to her reputation as a diva renowned across the universe.
Her voice, already ethereal like a heavenly melody, seemed to explode with an indescribable magic capable of driving anyone mad once tinted with the hues of lust.
Her tones were sometimes as gentle as a feather's teasing caress, and other times as turbulent as crashing waves; every syllable and every pitch shift felt as though it were lighting a fire in the very depths of one's soul.
Even she, an "outsider," was having trouble maintaining her composure listening to it, let alone Aiden, who was right in the thick of it.
Himeko felt her body flush with uncontrollable, searing heat.
She reflexively pressed her thighs together, the smooth silk of her nightgown rubbing gently against her inner thighs, sending waves of intense, humiliating, and electrifying numbness through her.
On her stunning, mature face, a deep blush had already spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
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