Azrael, concealed within the crowd, paused as an intriguing yet irksome scene unfolded in the center. Princes and geniuses attempted conversation with Cecilia, only to be blatantly ignored. A subtle internal chuckle escaped him. However, as Desmond persisted, Azrael's demeanor shifted. His eyebrow raised, and a glint of cruelty flickered in his eyes momentarily before returning to a calm state.
After a while, he sighed as he observed Cecilia scanning the crowd, evidently searching for someone. "She's definitely looking for her sisters. Well, I believe Bianca intentionally hid her presence from Cecilia, and she must have informed Adelle too. Those two really enjoy making my Cecilia tense." As Azrael glanced at Cecilia's face, memories flashed in his mind—of their time in the dream world.
Snapped back to the present, Azrael decided to dispel his concealment, allowing Cecilia to feel his presence. Suddenly, Cecilia's shocked expression turned towards him, and she dashed in his direction.
***
Unfortunately for the prince and Desmond, even as they tried to engage in conversation with Cecilia, her thoughts were far removed from their presence.
Cecilia scanned the crowds around her, attempting to discern Bianca's and Adelle's presence. Thoughts raced through her mind. 'Where are they? Why are they trying to conceal their presence? Even the mark our husband did to make it easier for us to detect each other seems affected by their concealment. Well, what are they planning?'
Azrael's "marking" served as a passive connection rather than an aggressive imposition. It was crafted to instill ease among his wives, aiding them in feeling each other more easily and ensuring a smooth reincarnation. Azrael had confidence in his wives' ability to conceal their presence completely if they wished. He respected their privacy deeply and trusted them implicitly. Surprisingly, none of his wives had attempted to prevent detection from other wives or remove the markings Azrael had placed.
Cecilia was confident that Bianca and Adelle hadn't removed the markings but merely overridden them with concealment. She could still sense the markings of the two but not their exact locations.
This was the first time one or two of his wives had actively sought to prevent others from locating their position, leaving Cecilia utterly perplexed.
With patience, Cecilia scanned the bustling surroundings, her eyes darting across the crowd. Suddenly, a profound shock painted her face as her gaze settled on a particular direction—on a man. This man possessed a captivating presence, an aura both domineering and calm, untainted by the mortal world. His face, perfectly sculpted, held a warmth that seemed to transcend ordinary experiences.
Dark, flowing hair cascaded gracefully down his back, complementing sharp and defined eyebrows. His lips formed a familiar, comforting smile that invited a sense of recognition. In the midst of the crowd, this ethereal man stood out, a figure of strength, elegance, and a deep connection.
This man wasn't just a passing acquaintance; he was her savior, her friend, her husband.
Cecilia's face transformed from shock to the warmest smile witnessed by anyone that day. Even her maids were taken aback by the profound expression she displayed. A hint of tears formed at the corners of her eyes as she swiftly dashed towards the man, finding solace in his embrace.
"Sob, sob," she silently sobbed into his chest as Azrael warmly consoled her. Cecilia then looked at his face, warm and happy tears cascading down her cheeks.
"A-are you really real?" she asked.
Azrael couldn't help but chuckle, warmly smiling. He reached towards her cheek and wiped away the tears.
"Of course, do you think anyone is capable of impersonating my charm?"
Cecilia sweetly smiled.
This familiar warm presence, familiar confidence, the warmth that saved her in the past. She owed her life to him, yet he didn't use it to his advantage. He helped her with her problems and avenged her broken heart.
This man was none other than her husband.
"B-but how? How did you find me?"
"With my method, finding you girls is an easy task. But even without my method, Bianca actually snitched on your plan."
At the mention of Bianca, Cecilia pouted. She internally thought she beat her sisters in their game, but she was completely wrong. Now that it all made sense, Bianca and Adelle definitely knew about Azrael's awakening, but they deliberately kept this hidden from her, even concealing their presence.
Seeing her state, Azrael hugged her tightly, bringing his lips to her ears and speaking quietly.
"Don't think silly, there's no first or last with you girls. All of you are my number 1."
Cecilia's ears blushed as Azrael's voice tickled her.
"That's not convincing yet convincing at the same time," Cecilia muttered.
***
A stunned hush fell over the surroundings, a silence so profound that it seemed to echo through the vast space. The once cold and unyielding Princess Cecilia, who had blatantly ignored geniuses, princes, and even Desmond, was now locked in an embrace with a man. The air was thick with shock, and every onlooker felt as if they had stumbled upon an inconceivable spectacle. The silence stretched, exaggerating the astonishment that hung in the air, emphasizing the stark contrast of the "icy" princess now willingly initiating an intimate act.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the onlookers, each person expressing their own amazement and confusion.
"Who is that man?" hushed whispers echoed.
"He looks stunning."
"Man, you're a dude! Don't be confused!"
"I didn't mean it that way!"
Similar conversations buzzed in different corners.
"How charming and beautiful, they look like an immortal couple," a dreamy female cultivator passionately commented.
"I'm supposed to be confused about this, but I can't help but feel jealous of Princess Cecilia," one of Cecilia's maids remarked.
No one could blame them, for if Azrael hadn't held back his presence and charm, everyone would indeed think he was beautiful and handsome, the embodiment of perfection. That's why he often concealed his presence and lessened his charm and beauty; he didn't want men to be affected by it. Just the thought of it made him shudder internally.
This was no exaggeration. His wives were witnesses to it, as in the dream world, even the very Great Dao of Charm and Beauty themselves were captivated by Azrael when he stopped restricting himself for fun to impress his wives. The entire cosmos was thrown into chaos; the Great Dao of Charm and Beauty affected the whole cosmos. Instantly, all sentient and non-sentient beings fell in love with him, even if they had never met him. Fortunately, he was strong enough at that time to reverse that apocalyptic event.
Returning to the present, Azrael and Cecilia stood embraced, an island of warmth in the sea of shocked onlookers. The silence persisted, with whispers continuing among the crowd.
"Who is that man? He's captivating."
"He must be someone extraordinary to have the princess embrace him."
"Man or not, you can't deny he's stunning."
Azrael gazed into Cecilia's eyes, a profound love emanating from his gaze. Slowly, the gap between them closed until there was none.
Simultaneously, the onlookers were taken aback when they involuntarily lost control of their bodies, each turning their heads and closing their eyes.
Azrael and Cecilia engaged in a passionate exchange of tongues for a few minutes. When they finally broke apart, a thin bridge of saliva connected them. "I missed you," Azrael confessed.
"I missed you too," Cecilia replied, her voice carrying the warmth of genuine affection.