Chapter 285: Indulgent feast

Chapter 288: The Sovereign’s Indulgent Feast

The cool, bubbling thermal spring of the Garden Realm radiated a gentle, soothing heat that washed away every residual trace of the morning’s lingering fatigue. Sunlight filtered down through the canopy of crystal-fruit trees, casting sparkling geometric patterns across the surface of the jade-tinted basin. The air was heavy with the rich, intoxicating scent of crushed star-lilies and roasted moon-nuts, wafting from a grand floating banquet tray carved from aromatic cedarwood that drifted lazily between the submerged rocks.

Vince sat relaxed upon a wide, smooth jade ledge beneath the gentle cascade of the white-stone waterfall. The cool, pristine water washed over his broad shoulders and muscular back, running down the defined contours of his chest, where the dark amethyst twilight matrix hummed with a quiet, steady rhythm. His dark hair was slicked back, revealing his sharp, noble features, while his deep amethyst eyes observed his consorts with calm, undivided affection.

To his immediate right, Vetra was unceremoniously devouring a massive, glowing star-berry, her sharp dragon fangs puncturing the translucent skin to let the sweet, sparkling juice drip down her chin and throat. She let out a contented, low purr, her crimson-gold dragon eyes half-closed in sheer bliss as her dragon tail lazily swished beneath the warm water, lightly curling around Vince’s ankle.

"I swear, Sovereign," Vetra muttered around another mouthful, wiping her mouth with the back of her wet forearm and grinning wickedly, "if I knew conquerors got served divine fruits and massaged by high priestesses every afternoon, I would’ve helped you burn down the Council of Echoes six months earlier. This stuff puts the royal rations of the Primordial Firmament to absolute shame."

"The Council’s rations were formulated for cold efficiency, not sensory pleasure," Elena remarked softly from Vince’s left side.

The chief administrator was reclining gracefully against the smooth obsidian bank, her silver hair pinned up loosely with a polished crystal needle. She held a delicate chalice of chilled star-nectar in one hand while using her other hand to select a peeled nectar-melon slice from the floating tray. Her translucent white linen gown clung wetly to her soft curves, highlighting the sleek contours of her body.

Elena leaned in close, bringing the sweet, dripping fruit directly to Vince’s lips. "Unlike our previous foes, the Sovereign understands that absolute dominion requires proper celebration. Eat, my lord. You’ve earned every indulgence this realm has to offer."

Vince accepted the offered fruit smoothly, his lips brushing against Elena’s fingertips, sending a delicate, delicious shiver through the former administrator’s spine. His gaze darkened slightly with dark, magnetic promise, making her golden eyes dilate with sudden, breathless desire.

"Every indulgence, Elena?" Vince murmured, his deep velvet baritone vibrating through the quiet splash of the waterfall. "I intend to hold you to that promise once this feast concludes."

Elena flushed a beautiful, rosy pink, her usual analytical composure completely melting into pure submission as she nodded eagerly, leaning her head against his broad shoulder. "I would expect nothing less, Sovereign."

On the other side of the floating tray, Solaria and Lyrielle sat together upon a submerged bench, sharing a quiet, intimate moment. Solaria’s golden hair shimmered like liquid sunlight in the afternoon glare, her amber eyes soft and glowing with absolute devotion. She used a small silver knife to slice delicate portions of moon-nectar cakes, feeding them to Lyrielle, who accepted them with a serene, graceful smile.

"It still feels unreal sometimes," Solaria whispered softly, her hand coming up to rest gently over the pulsating twilight mark above her heart. "For thousands of years, the Solari high priests preached that true enlightenment required complete detachment from earthly desires—that joy was a distraction from divine order. Yet here, in the arms of the true master of existence, I have found more divine peace in a single morning than ten millennia of fasting ever brought me."

Lyrielle swallowed gently, her violet eyes turning toward Vince with unshakeable adoration. "That is because those ancient priests worshipped cold concepts, Solaria. Vince gave us something real to devote ourselves to. He didn’t just conquer reality; he breathed warmth into it."

"Vince! Vince! Look what I can do!"

Barnaby’s bright, cheerful voice interrupted the quiet conversation. The small lotus-nexus was standing on a flat, sun-warmed boulder at the edge of the spring, balancing a large, glowing star-berry on her nose. Her 100% bloomed Lotus Core radiated a cheerful, golden aura that caused small, fragrant blossoms to instantly sprout along the mossy rocks beneath her bare feet.

With a triumphant squeal, Barnaby tossed her head back, flipping the star-berry into the air and catching it cleanly in her hands before leaping off the boulder into the water with a loud, sparkling splash.

She popped up right in front of Vince, giggling hysterically as she rubbed the water from her eyes and held out the pristine fruit. "I saved the biggest one for you, Vince!"

Vince let out a low, warm laugh, reaching out with his broad hand to pull the small lotus-nexus out of the water and onto his lap. He took the star-berry from her small hands, setting it on the ledge beside him before pulling her close against his chest.

"You’re making a mess of the spring, little lotus," Vince murmured affectionately, lightly tapping the tip of her wet nose.

"It’s a fun mess!" Barnaby chirped, wrapping her slender arms around his neck and resting her head contentedly against his collarbone. "And you like fun messes now!"

Vetra chuckled softly, leaning over to rest her chin on Vince’s broad shoulder, her heavy dragon tail tightening its possessive coil around his leg. "She’s not wrong, Vince. You’ve gotten soft on us... in the best way possible."

"Don’t mistake peace for softness, Vetra," Vince replied smoothly, his dark amethyst eyes flashing with an intoxicating mix of absolute power and fierce possessive warmth.

He wrapped his free arm around Elena’s waist, pulling her flush against his side alongside Barnaby, while Solaria and Lyrielle slipped into the water to join them, pressing themselves tightly against his front.

Vince looked out over the sun-drenched expanse of his custom realm—a quiet, infinite sanctuary created solely for the pleasure of his harem. The multiverses beyond were silent, harmonious, and entirely subject to his unyielding will. There were no deadlines to meet, no ancient gods left to slay, and no empire to defend. There was only the endless, luxurious rhythm of absolute peace, wrapped in the eternal devotion of the queens who ruled alongside him.