Edda placed the last bowl on the table like her hands might catch fire if she got too close to Aiden again.
The food was simple—stead herb-grain, roasted root slivers, and a thick pot of at-mash stew seasoned with cracked forest pepper.
Warm. Filling. Nothing fancy... except the way Edda kept stealing looks at Aiden like she was rembering exactly how his mouth felt on hers.
Liri, Leona, and Ivy sat on one side.
Aiden and Edda sat at opposite heads of the long table.
Liri’s eyes flicked between her mom and Aiden. Then she narrowed them.
"Mamma’s staring weird," She whispered loudly.
Edda jerked like she’d been stabbed. "L-Liri! Eat!"
Aiden smirked at her shalessly.
Edda instantly looked away, face on fire.
"Eat up..." She muttered, voice tiny.
Aiden grabbed his spoon. Ivy copied him. Liri did too. All three took a bite.
Edda held her breath.
Aiden swallowed and leaned back lazily. "Damn. If I knew the chef was this pretty, I’d have co sooner."
Edda nearly dropped her bowl. "Y-Young Heart, stop— eat properly!"
Liri raised her hand. "Mamma’s cooking is the best in the world."
Ivy purred in agreent, tail flicking.
Leona... just stared at her bowl like it was a battlefield.
Liri leaned toward her. "What? Can’t eat on your own?"
Leona growled—very softly, very cutely—and snatched her spoon like it was a weapon of honor.
With maximum effort... she scooped one spoonful. Shook. Then shoved it in her mouth.
"See?" she said proudly. "I can eat on my own!"
Liri giggled and patted her head.
Aiden chuckled. "Careful, Leona. Food fights back sotis."
Leona puffed her cheeks. "No it doesn’t! I beat it!"
Aiden ruffled her hair. She glared, then giggled anyway.
Edda watched them, smiling faintly—then rembering she’d been kissed twice not an hour ago, and imdiately turned crimson again.
She hesitantly cleared her throat. "Um... Young Heart... your wives. What... what are they like?"
Aiden set his spoon down. "Alright. Starting with Luna."
Edda straightened.
"Luna’s basically a kid," Aiden said. "Needs cuddles twenty-four seven. Can’t stay away from . She’s probably sulking right now."
Edda blinked. "She’s... very attached, huh?"
"And pregnant," Aiden added.
Edda’s jaw dropped. "P-Pregnant?"
"Yeah. Our first kid."
Edda nodded slowly. "I... see..."
Aiden continued. "Then there’s Ly. Princess Lysandra. Grimclaw royalty."
Edda tilted her head. "The Goblin Kingdom?"
"Yep. She’s a bit scary when she gets pissed. Right now? Probably dealing with Luna’s nagging. Also probably furious I left with Leona and Ivy without telling her."
"Ah..." Edda murmured. "That sounds... complicated."
"And she’s pregnant too. Twins."
Edda nearly choked on her stew. "T-Twins?! Young Heart—!"
He grinned. "What? I’m healthy."
She covered her face.
He went on. "Next is Arisha. Sword general of Grimclaw. Disciplined. Cold to everyone—except and the girls."
"So she’s... soft on the inside?" Edda asked gently.
"Yeah. She’ll be soft with you too. Bet on it."
Edda’s ears turned pink. "You... you really think so...?"
"Absolutely."
He moved on. "Then there’s Thristle. Chugh princess.
Edda tilted her head. "The Goblin Kingdom?"
Aiden nodded, "Ly’s childhood friend. She’s... uh..."
Aiden glanced at the kids.
Edda squinted. "Young Heart?"
"She’s... very enthusiastic," he said carefully.
Edda blinked once. Then twice. Then her face exploded into red.
"O-Oh. That kind of enthusiastic?"
Aiden smirked. "Exactly that kind."
"And right now," Aiden added, "she’s probably teasing Ly saying Leona might have gotten a new Mummy."
Edda covered her mouth. "Young Heart... don’t say that—"
Edda squeaked and looked away.
Liri suddenly turned to her. "So are you getting married?"
"M-?!" Edda panicked. "L-Liri—"
Aiden answered smoothly. "Sure looks like it."
Edda slapped his arm. "Young Heart!"
Liri’s eyes grew shiny. "Mamma will finally be happy..."
Edda froze. Then softened. "Oh, baby... Mamma is already happy. Because you’re with ."
Aiden smiled and kept going.
Aiden smiled softly. "Then there’s Nyxion. Black beauty. Mischievous. Clingy. I love her."
"She sounds lovely," Edda whispered.
"She is. You’ll like her."
"Then Vegia. Chugh’s magic general. Thristle’s best friend. We married recently. She can’t speak her heart at all. Shy as hell."
Edda smiled shyly. "I... kind of relate."
"I know."
"Then there’s Zerra. Goblin citizen. My driver at first. Sohow turned into more."
Edda laughed lightly. "You really are sothing, Young Heart..."
He winked. "Wait, I’m not done."
Edda blinked. "Th-There’s more?"
"Serica and Varra. This kingdom’s generals. You sorta know them already. No need to say much."
Edda stared at him. "...You married them too?"
Aiden shrugged. "Yep."
She looked like she might pass out.
"And then two mber of the Pale Hands. Selvara and Venya."
"H-HUH!"
Edda froze. "D-Demons? You... married demons?"
Aiden shrugged. "Yeah. Why? You hate demons too?"
Edda shook her head imdiately. "No. People hate them. Not ."
Aiden smiled warmly. "Good. Then you’ll like them."
"And then Xylendra and Valeforia. Demon twins I bought as slaves. Xylendra’s shy. Valeforia’s... absolutely not."
Edda turned red again. "O-Oh..."
"And Aethoniel. One of the ant girls. Bought her with the twins. She’s... both shy and outspoken at the sa ti."
Edda nodded, overwheld. "Young Heart... how do you even—"
"I love them," He said simply. Then he looked straight at her. "And now I love you too."
Edda went scarlet, hands shaking around her spoon.
Before she could speak, Leona pouted, porridge splattered everywhere. "Daddy! You love ?"
Aiden smiled toward her. "I love you the most. My sweet little dragon."
Leona giggled.
Edda watched them, warmth blooming in her chest she hadn’t felt in years.
Aiden t her eyes. Smirked.
"Stop staring at like that, Edda. I’ll drag you back to the kitchen."
"Y-Young Heart! Eat!"
He kept teasing her until every bowl was empty.
The kids rushed to Liri’s room after dinner, leaving Aiden and Edda alone.
---
The mont the kids ran off to Liri’s room, the whole house finally went quiet.
Edda barely managed to sit on the sofa before Aiden dropped down beside her—way too close, way too casual, way too dangerous.
She froze.
He smirked.
"Relax," He murmured, leaning back like he owned the place. "I’m not gonna bite."
"You already did," She whispered before realizing what she said.
Aiden choked on air. "Edda?"
She slapped her hands over her mouth. "I DIDN’T AN THAT—"
He leaned in. "Say it again."
"No!"
He grinned. "Why not?"
"Because you twist everything!"
"I only twist you."
"YOUNG HEART!"
He laughed, low and smug, and she wanted to vanish into the sofa.
"So," He said, tapping her arm lightly, "you ate well?"
"I—I tried..."
"You barely swallowed anything."
"Because you kept LOOKING at —"
"I like looking at you."
She groaned. "Young Heart, stop..."
"Why?" He nudged her knee playfully. "You’re cute when you’re flustered."
"Don’t say cute... I’m too old to be cute..."
"And I’m telling you you’re cute."
"Young Heart..."
He shifted closer again, shoulder brushing hers. Her breath hitched.
"Young Heart..." She whispered.
"Yeah?"
"You’re... doing it again..."
"Doing what?"
"Being... like this."
"Flirty?"
"Yes!"
He put a hand on the back of the sofa behind her. "Get used to it."
"You can’t just—"
"You’re mine now. Of course I’m gonna flirt."
Edda buried her face in her hands. "I can’t handle you..."
"You handled fine in the kitchen."
Her entire soul left her body. "AIDEN NIGHTSHADE!!"
He bead. "There it is. Full na. That ans I won."
"I’m going to faint—"
He gently tugged her hands away from her face. "Don’t faint yet. I still need you for sothing."
She gulped. "W-What...?"
"After we finish here... I’m taking you to et my wives."
Edda’s face lted into bright red. "I-I will... I promise..."
"Good girl." Aiden smirked.
Edda swallowed. "Young Heart... what if they think I’m... stealing you?"
"They won’t." He smiled slowly. "They know I chose you."
"Chosen?" Her voice cracked like she couldn’t believe it.
"You think I kiss people I don’t choose?" Aiden asked.
Her face went crimson. "Don’t talk about the kiss..."
"Which one?" He leaned closer. "First one or second one?"
"YOUNG HEART!"
"You started it."
"NO I DIDN’T—"
He laughed softly. "Then I’ll remind you."
"Young Heart—"
He didn’t let her finish.
He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her straight into him. Her breath vanished.
"Y-Young Heart—"
"Mm?"
"Don’t— pull like that—"
"Why not?"
"B-Because—"
He lowered his voice. "You like it."
"I DO NOT—"
"Then push away."
She didn’t move.
He smirked. "Thought so."
"Young Heart... I swear..."
He tugged her even closer.
Her hands landed on his chest without thinking. She froze, realizing she was clutching him.
"Edda," He murmured, eyes locked on her lips, "you’re shaking again."
"T-That’s because—" Edda’s voice trembled.
"Because of ." Aiden whispered.
She squeezed her eyes shut. "You’re impossible—"
"Look at ."
"I can’t—"
"You can."
He tilted her face up slightly. Her eyes opened, trembling.
"There you go," He whispered. "Perfect."
"Y-Young Heart..."
He brushed his thumb lightly against her waist. She gasped.
"Stop doing that..." She whispered.
"No." Aiden dismissed her.
"Why—" Edda asked shyly.
"Because you lt every ti."
"I DO NOT LT—"
"You’re lting right now."
She tried to glare. Failed.
"Young Heart..." She breathed weakly. "Don’t tease so much..."
"I’m barely beginning." He leaned in, inches from her lips. "And you look like you want to continue."
"I— I don’t—"
"Liar."
"Young Heart—"
He kissed her.
She didn’t even get a second to breathe.
Her hands grabbed his shirt, clinging tight.
A small, helpless sound escaped her throat—she hated it, he loved it.
He deepened the kiss, slow, teasing, too confident for her sanity.
When he finally pulled away, she was panting lightly against him, forehead resting on his shoulder.
"Y-Young Heart... why... why do you kiss like that...?"
"Like what?"
"Like you’re... trying to break ..." She replied, still breathing heavily.
"I’m trying to wake you up." Aiden teased.
"W-Wake —?" Edda said, blishing furiously.
"From all that loneliness you pretend you’re fine with."
Her grip tightened on his shirt.
He whispered, "I’m not leaving you. And they’ll accept you. All of them. You’ll see."
Edda trembled. "Young Heart... I’m scared..."
He kissed her again, softer this ti. "You won’t be."
She pressed her face into his chest, trying not to cry. "I don’t deserve this..."
"You deserve everything."
"Stop saying things like that..."
"No."
"Young Heart... please..."
"No."
"Why...?"
"Because I’m telling the truth."
She breathed shakily. "You’re too much for ..."
"You’ll get used to ."
"I doubt that..."
"I’ll make sure you do."
He kissed her once more—short, playful, just enough to ruin her composure completely.
"Young Heart... stop kissing ..."
"No."
"Young Heart...!"
He finally pulled away, teasingly slow, smirking the whole ti.
"Alright," He said lightly, standing up, "I’ll behave."
"You— you call THAT behaving?!"
He stretched. "I said after eating I’d wait for the food to settle." He winked. "I’m waiting."
"EHH— Y-Young Heart stop teasing !!"
He laughed all the way to the doorway.
"I’ll be in the hall," He said, pointing at her. "Don’t take too long. You’re eting the others tonight."
Edda sat there, clutching her chest like her heart was going to explode.
He left.
The door clicked.
Only then did she breathe again—long, shaky, overwheld.
Her voice trembled as she whispered to the empty room, "Husband... forgive ... I... I want to start a new life..."
Her cheeks burned hot.
"With him."
---
END OF Chapter : 157 : HAPPY DINNER!
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