CHAPTER 511: THE GODDESSES HAVE ARRIVED

Chapter 511 – The Goddesses Have Arrived

Not through the front gates. Not stepping delicately from glowing carriages or descending on clouds like in those mortal romance dramas.

No.

They just appeared.

Inside the house. Past the wards. Beyond the doors.

The entrance shimmered like sunlight hitting water. The space pulsed for half a second, like the air inhaled. Then the distortion folded open—and they were already standing there.

Three of them.

Solara. Selena. Celestaria.

The goddesses didn’t need announcement. They brought their own presence with them.

Solara, radiant and golden, stood tall with her skin kissed by light and her eyes like stars. Heat rippled from her in soft waves. Her dress shimmered in threads of woven daylight.

Selena, beside her, was silver-pale and ghost-glow cool. Draped in midnight silk and starlight. Her hair floated like it was underwater, her gaze half-lidded and sharp like moonlit steel.

And in the center—Celestaria. High goddess. Law incarnate. The one Lux had the longest... history with. Her beauty wasn’t heat or cold. It was clarity. A refined blade. She wore diplomacy like armor, but her eyes always knew more than she said.

Lux took two steps forward, adjusted the cuffs of his white suit, and greeted them with a voice smooth as black coffee.

"Solara. Selena. Celestaria. Welcome to my humble place."

Despite the faint smirk playing on his lips, there was still formality in his tone. Maybe a flicker of respect. Maybe just habit. Whatever closeness they had—it never erased the titles.

Celestaria gave a small nod. "Thank you for your invitation."

Selena, eyes scanning the chandelier, the marble, the infernal-imbued glass, raised an eyebrow. "This place isn’t humble, Lux."

Lux gave a soft laugh. "It is quite humble for me."

That got the faintest smile from Solara. Celestaria just watched him. Always watching.

"Come in," Lux said, motioning gracefully toward the inner hall. "Let me introduce you to... my women. Though I’m sure you already know some."

The goddesses said nothing.

They didn’t need to. They did already know them.

They had watched. Quietly. Through divine scrying pools. Through folded mirrors and moon reflections. Through star-bound whispers when Lux forgot to reinforce his bathhouse veil.

They saw more than they admitted.

More than they probably should have.

It should’ve been shameful. Embarrassing. Wrong.

But it wasn’t.

Not when it was Lux.

Something about him always blurred the lines.

He guided them through the main hall, footsteps echoing softly over polished stone and mana-warmed floors.

The women were already gathered in the lounge. They stood when the goddesses entered.

Tension sparked. Not hostile. Just... dense.

Lux gestured casually. "Naomi, Rava, Mira, Lullaby... and of course, Sira."

Each nodded, bowed slightly, or offered some polite greeting. Except Sira. She didn’t move.

Naomi smiled.

Rava kept her expression calm but her hands subtly tightened behind her back.

Mira gave a nod that was probably considered respectful in mortal nobility.

Lullaby just waved with her bunny plush squished under her arm.

But when Lux got to Sira...

The air dipped.

She stood with one hip cocked, hands folded loosely at her waist. Her expression was blank, too controlled. Not hostile. Not fake. Just... neutral.

Celestaria’s lips twitched. Selena tilted her head. Solara narrowed her eyes slightly.

Yeah.

There was history there.

Lux knew it.

Ideology clashes. Negotiation room tension. Subtle barbed phrases tucked under formal diplomacy. Sira’s pride, divine judgment, celestial hierarchy—it never mixed well.

Still, this was his house.

He gave Sira a sideways glance. "No fighting. Remember?"

She didn’t look at him. "Did I draw my claws?"

"No. But your aura is giving them side-eye."

"My aura is divine," she said flatly. "They can handle it."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "We’re not here for conflict."

Sira finally looked at her. "Neither am I."

The pause after that was too quiet.

Even Lullaby blinked.

Lux stepped in smoothly. "Seating’s already arranged."

Celestaria looked at him knowingly. "Let me guess. Sira placed herself furthest from us."

"She volunteered," Lux said with a hint of dry charm. "I let her."

"It was strategic," Sira added. "I know my tolerance limits."

Selena looked at the distance between Sira’s seat and theirs and muttered, "Accurate."

Lux clapped once. Not too loud. Just enough to reset the room. "Drinks are available. Lullaby insisted on flavored milk. Mira brought exotic tea. Naomi curated wine, non-alcoholic of course. Rava is still considering if we need something stronger. Like juice, maybe."

"I brought snacks," Lullaby said, hugging her bunny tighter. "Mana-puffs."

Solara smiled softly. "Those are hard to find."

"My house made them." Lullaby puffed her cheeks. "From scratch."

The mood shifted. Slightly.

Celestaria nodded once. "Thank you."

Lullaby beamed. "You’re welcome."

Lux exhaled. Small victories.

He glanced around. His women were in place. The goddesses were inside. The tension hadn’t exploded. Yet.

He didn’t expect peace. Not truly.

But tonight was a performance.

A balance.

He just needed to keep the pieces on the board.

For now.

He offered his arm to Celestaria, half-mocking. "Shall we?"

She looked at it. Then took it. Cool fingers. Polished control.

Solara and Selena followed close behind.

As they moved deeper into the lounge, Lux’s eyes flicked toward Sira.

She hadn’t moved.

But her eyes never left the goddesses.

And they never stopped watching her either.

[Social Harmony: 74%]

[Diplomatic Hazard: Low]

[Target Status: Balanced]

Lux exhaled quietly. He didn’t even blink at the system window blinking into the corner of his vision.

That notification only showed up during official negotiations. The high-stakes ones. Celestial-Infernal treaty zones. Royal domain arbitrations. Diplomatic assets with war potential.

So the fact that it showed up now—during a housewarming—told him everything he needed to know.

The system was counting this gathering as a diplomatic negotiation.

And to be fair... it kind of was.

They were all here.

Infernal. Celestial. Mortal.

His lovers. His guests. His contracts.

Three pantheon-level goddesses seated on one side of a lavish dining table, and across from them, his women. His girls. His disasters. His inner circle.

And Lux?

He was the idiot playing peacemaker.