Chapter 228: Goddess of Fate Taking Blame

Mira's sharp eyes locked onto the token, her voice faltering. "What… is that?"

Adrian held it out to her, the faint glow of its divinity casting a gentle light across their faces. "Take a closer look, Countess Mira," he said calmly, his voice steady but laced with subtle gravity.

Mira hesitated, her sharp instincts warning her that what she was about to touch was no ordinary artifact.

Still, her curiosity won out. As her fingers brushed against the token, a jolt of energy shot through her hand, causing her to flinch. She gasped audibly, her usually composed demeanor cracking.

"What is this… this sensation?" she whispered, her eyes wide as she inspected the token more closely.

As she turned the token in her hands, the intricate designs began to reveal themselves under the soft, otherworldly glow.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, unlike anything she had ever seen, with patterns that seemed to shift and dance as if alive.

Her heart pounded as a realization began to form in her mind. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "This… this can't be…"

She brought the token closer to her face, scrutinizing every line and curve.

Though the design deviated slightly from the traditional imagery associated with the Goddess of Fate, the unmistakable aura of divinity flowing from it left no room for doubt.

Mira's breathing quickened. She clutched the token tighter, as if it might vanish if she let go. Her voice shook as she continued, "This… is a token of the Goddess of Fate."

Her declaration caused Lira to gasp audibly, her gaze darting between Mira and Adrian. "The Goddess of Fate? Are you sure, Sister?"

Mira nodded slowly, her expression still one of stunned disbelief.

"Even among the higher-ranking members of her church, tokens like these are unheard of. Only those who hold extraordinary favor with the goddess herself would ever possess such an artifact."

She turned her wide eyes to Adrian, her tone demanding. "Where did you get this? How did you come to possess something so… divine?"

Adrian remained calm, his red eyes steady as he retrieved the token from Mira's trembling hands and tucked it back into his coat.

"As I said, Countess Mira, I have the backing of the Goddess of Fate. This token is proof of her favor."

"How is this even possible?," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "The Goddess of Fate's tokens are the stuff of myths. Only the pope and the currently appointed saintess are the two people known to possess the token. And yet… the divinity flowing through it… there's no denying it's real."

Adrian's lips curled into a faint smile, his tone calm but resolute. "Impossible? Perhaps. But here it is, Mira. You've seen it with your own eyes, felt its power with your own hands.Besides if I had ability to fake divine power, I won't even be needing alliance with you or anyone in this world."

Mira shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling. "If what you say is true… then you're not just a baron. With the favor of the Goddess of Fate, you stand on a level far beyond that of any noble I've ever met. You…"

Her voice trailed off as her gaze shifted to Lira, who was staring at Adrian with wide, awe-filled eyes. Lira's hands clenched at her sides as she struggled to process what she'd just witnessed.

Adrian broke the silence, his voice steady but gentle. "The teleportation, the abilities I've mentioned earlier, they're all made possible because of her favor."

Lira's voice wavered as she finally found the courage to speak. "Teleportation magic… divine backing… Adrian, this...you are beyond ordinary noble."

Mira took a deep breath, her composure slowly returning as she processed the enormity of what Adrian had revealed. Finally, she spoke again, her voice carrying a weight of sincerity.

"Adrian, this changes everything. With the favor of the Goddess of Fate, your potential is limitless. This alliance… I'm even more convinced now that it was the right decision to join forces with you."

Lira nodded quietly, her chest swelling with pride as she looked at Adrian." Adrian… my future husband," she thought, her heart fluttering." He's far more capable than I ever imagined."

Mira stepped closer to Adrian, her sharp features softening into something more playful yet mysterious.

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in, her breath brushing against his ear.

"Adrian," she murmured, "if you keep surprising me like this, I might not even ask you to fulfill our earlier condition of letting me watch you with one of your partners. I might just skip that and warm your bed directly."

Adrian's eyes widened in shock, his cheeks reddening slightly as he opened his mouth to respond.

But before he could speak, Mira placed a finger on his lips, her eyes glinting mischievously as she winked.

"Relax," she said with a soft laugh, her voice teasing. "I'm just joking… or am I?"

Lira watched the exchange, her brow furrowing in confusion before a small pout formed on her lips. She didn't fully understand what was happening, but she didn't like seeing Mira's finger on Adrian's lips.

Adrian sighed internally, deciding it was best not to overthink the moment. "Shall we continue?" he said, gesturing for them to follow.

After finishing their tour of the estate, the group returned to their respective rooms to rest and prepare for the celebratory banquet.

As Adrian escorted Lira to her room, he paused just before she entered. Taking her hand gently in his, he smiled.

"Lira, I know this has been a lot for you to take in. We haven't known each other for that long and we will be married eventually. But know this, I won't treat you any less than my other women. You will become part of my family like them."

Lira's cheeks flushed as she nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you, Adrian. I am very grateful to you."

Adrian smiled warmly before as he bid goodbye to her. But just as he was about to leave, she held his hand to stop him.

Adrian turned back to face Lira, and as he did that, Lira tiptoed and planted a soft peck on his cheeks.

Feeling embarrassed, she shut the door loudly and ran back to the guest room she had been staying.

Adrian smirked as he touched the spot Lira had just kissed and made his way to his room.

As Adrian entered his room, a strange sensation prickled at the back of his neck. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a lump on his bed, hidden beneath the quilt.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips. An intruder?

He approached cautiously and pulled back the quilt. Before he could react further, he was suddenly pounced on by a naked figure.

"Sophia?!" Adrian exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of shock and exasperation.

Sophia grinned mischievously, her red eyes gleaming with playful intent. "Miss me, little brother?" she teased, straddling him as she leaned in close.

"Sophia, what are you doing?" Adrian asked, his tone a mix of amusement and exasperation as he tried to gently push her off.

Sophia's grin widened as she placed her hands on his chest, pinning him in place. "Finishing what I couldn't earlier," she purred.

"Didn't I tell you I had a surprise for you? I'm now going to give it to you. And I've added another one for after we're done."