Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

Madeline, in contrast, seemed relaxed, bonding effortlessly with the other women. She leaned closer to Aurelia, whispering something that made both of them laugh. Alexa caught the moment and smiled faintly, her heart lightened by the camaraderie between her sisters.

The drama series on the TV shifted the room's focus, though. It was Julienne's latest project, where she played the role of a quiet, timid girl secretly in love with the male lead.

"Wow," Alera said, crossing her arms as she smirked. "You play this part so well, Julienne. You're practically living it." The teasing earned a round of laughter from the women, even from Anastasia, who rarely indulged in such banter.@@novelbin@@

Julienne's cheeks turned a soft pink, and she waved a hand dismissively. "It's just acting. Nothing more. I am that talented"

"Acting?" Emilia leaned forward with a playful glint in her eye. "You're so convincing it feels like you're pulling it straight from real life. I still remember at the scene when shooting you never made a single mistake, everything flowed naturally."

The teasing didn't let up. Aurelia added, "It's like we're watching your autobiography."

Julienne gave an embarrassed laugh, trying to hold her ground. "Stop it, you guys. It's just a role."

But Alexa, seated on the armrest of a couch, observed her quietly. A knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips. If only they knew. Julienne wasn't just a talented actress; she had poured her real emotions into this role.

Her on-screen unspoken love mirrored her reality—a life where her feelings for Pyris remained carefully locked away, too fragile to reveal.

Across the room, Jasper and Zaranrel exchanged a glance. They both knew the truth too, but neither said anything. It wasn't their place to meddle, and they respected the seriousness of their friend's feelings.

As the scene on TV intensified, the room grew quieter, but the light teasing continued here and there.

"You know, Jules," Alera said with a smirk, "you might want to take some inspiration from your character and be a little braver."

Madeline chuckled. "Yeah, who knows? Maybe real life can have a happy ending too."

Julienne gave a soft laugh, her cheeks still warm. She didn't respond directly but focused on the screen, hoping the drama would distract them from prying any further.

Alexa leaned back, her eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. Deep down, she wished for her friend's happiness but knew that wasn't something she could guarantee. For now, though, the lighthearted teasing seemed to bring everyone closer, and that was enough.

Arabella was no better, though she masked it with an air of cool professionalism, pretending to analyze something on her tablet. The truth was, her thoughts were just as scattered, and her occasional glances toward the door betrayed her calm demeanor.

______

After stepping out of the forge room, Pyris adjusted Elsa in his arms, the young elf snuggling against him, clearly worn out from the long hours. His teacher followed behind, her pace brisk and composed, though the sheen of sweat on her forehead betrayed the effort they'd just expended.

The hallway was quiet, save for their soft footsteps echoing against the polished floors.

Pyris paused at Esmeralda's office door and knocked firmly before pushing it open. Inside, the vampire Vice CEO sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of papers, her focus sharp as she went through preparations for the big day ahead. The faint scent of freshly inked documents hung in the air.

"Evening, Esmeralda," Pyris greeted with a smile, stepping inside.

Esmeralda looked up, her ruby-red eyes narrowing slightly as she caught a whiff of him. "You reek of the forge," she said flatly, squeezing the bridge of her nose as if to ward off the offensive smell.

Pyris laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, that's on me. Been busy down there. How's everything going on your end?"

"Final touches," she replied, gesturing to the papers in front of her. "Nothing major left, but it needs precision."

Pyris nodded, glancing around the room. His eyes fell on a set of takeout containers stacked neatly in the corner. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Esmeralda, assign this to someone else for tonight. Come home with me instead. You deserve a proper family meal, not whatever's in those boxes."

Esmeralda's sharp eyes softened slightly as she considered it. After a moment, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. But only because you're right—I do need to step away for a bit."

"Good choice." Pyris flashed a grin and stepped out, heading toward his own office.

By the time he arrived, his teacher had already reached the elevator, descending without waiting. Pyris opened the door to his office and found Suzie and Lizzie still seated, their eyes fixed on their screens even this late into the night. The atmosphere between them seemed relaxed, a relief to Pyris after recent tensions.

"Hey, you two," he greeted warmly.

They looked up, surprised, then offered small smiles. Pyris continued, "You've been working hard all night. Wrap it up and come with me. We're heading home."

Lizzie exchanged surprised glances with Suzie before they both nodded.

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Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

Outside the towering Obsidian Tech building, two sleek cars awaited. In the first limo, Pyris's teacher was already seated with Esmeralda inside with her. Lizzie joined them, settling into her seat with a sigh.

Pyris carried Elsa to the second car, where Mira was already waiting. He placed the young elf gently beside him, ensuring she was comfortable, while Suzie climbed in on the opposite side. Once everyone was settled, the vehicles started their quiet journey toward the Obsidian estate.

As the cars glided through the city streets, Pyris leaned back into his seat, letting the hum of the engine and the faint glow of passing lights lull him into a rare moment of relaxation. After the intensity of the forge, the ride home felt like a much-needed reprieve.

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The soft hum of the car engines silenced as the convoy pulled up to the grand Obsidian estate. The towering gates, adorned with glowing lights, parted soundlessly, allowing the vehicles to glide into the sprawling courtyard. The mansion loomed ahead, its ancient architecture illuminated by the soft glow of magic-infused lanterns, casting a warm and inviting aura over the scene.

Inside the estate, anticipation buzzed in the air. Almost everyone was gathered in the living room, engaged in light chatter, though their focus kept drifting toward the door.

They were waiting for him.

As the cars came to a halt, the doors opened. Pyris stepped out first, adjusting his jacket and glancing around with a relaxed smile. Elsa, snug in his arms, blinked sleepily, her small hands clutching his shirt. Infront of him, his teacher emerged gracefully, her presence commanding.

She barely acknowledged the stares, striding straight into the mansion with an air of casual authority.

Emberly, Astrid, and Zara exchanged knowing glances, their lips twitching into faint smiles at the sight of her. They were familiar with the enigmatic woman and her brusque ways. Emberly offered her a small wave, to which she responded with the barest nod before disappearing inside the house like she knew exactly where she needed to be.

Esmeralda stepped out next, her crimson eyes scanning the gathered crowd. Emberly's expression softened as she caught sight of her old friend, and the two exchanged a brief smile.

Then Lizzie and Suzie stepped out of the car. Their wide-eyed gazes swept over the estate, their awe barely concealed. These were new faces, and the subtle curiosity among the gathered family was palpable.

Inside the mansion, Anastasia immediately moved toward Pyris. Her sharp eyes landed on Elsa, and she reached out without hesitation, gently taking the young elf from his arms. "Come on, little one," she said softly, her tone far gentler than usual. Elsa didn't protest, leaning into Anastasia's arms as she was carried away.

Pyris turned back toward the living room, but before he could even greet anyone, he was surrounded. Alera, Aurelia, Emilia, Alexa, and Madeline were there in an instant, their eyes bright with excitement and relief.

"You're late," Aurelia teased, folding her arms, though the smile on her face betrayed her words.

"I was busy," Pyris replied with a chuckle, but the women barely gave him a chance to say more.

"Busy or not, you're ours now," Alera declared, grabbing his arm.

"Exactly," Emilia chimed in, taking his other side.

The women laughed, their voices overlapping as they guided him deeper into the estate. Pyris glanced back over his shoulder, but it was clear he wouldn't have the chance to greet anyone else—not yet.

Emberly, watching from her seat with a smirk, shook her head. "Poor boy doesn't stand a chance," she murmured, earning a chuckle from Astrid and Zara. Meanwhile, Lizzie and Suzie stood awkwardly to the side, exchanging bewildered glances at the sudden whirlwind of activity.

As the group disappeared deeper into the house, the remaining onlookers exchanged amused smiles. It was just another typical evening in the Obsidian household.

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