Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world Chapter 611: The past that lingers [6]

The sky had already begun to darken, and the light evening breeze moved through the grass, carrying the faint scent of the garden with it.

Charlotte sat alone on the wooden bench near the far edge of the lawn, with one leg crossed over the other.

Between her fingers, a cigarette burned slowly.

She took a quiet drag, exhaling the smoke upward as she stared out toward the distant trees.

The sound of footsteps on the grass made her glance sideways.

The moment she saw Brandon approaching, her eyes widened slightly.

In a quick motion, she lowered the cigarette and tried to angle her hand behind the bench.

The faint trail of smoke still rising above her made the attempt mostly useless.

Brandon walked the remaining distance without hurry and sat down beside her on the bench.

Before she could say anything, he casually wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her lightly against his side.

Charlotte exhaled through her nose in mild defeat.

"...Did you see it."

"I did."

Charlotte hesitated, then slowly brought the cigarette back into view.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and took another slow drag, tipping her chin up as she released the smoke into the evening air.

"You know... Big Sis also used to smoke in the past, but she dropped that to raise you."

She took another short drag, then let out a chuckle "Well... she did take a cigarette that one time. Haha."

A small smile touched Brandon’s lips "That sounds just like her..."

Charlotte tilted her head slightly, glancing up at him from where she rested against his shoulder.

Brandon leaned in without hurry and pressed a quiet kiss against her lips, and the taste of smoke lingered faintly between them as he pulled back just enough to speak.

"Let’s go back inside," he murmured against her lips. "There are things I need to tell everyone."

Charlotte gave a small nod "Mhm."

She took one last drag from the cigarette, then leaned forward and carefully stubbed it out against the edge of the bench. The ember died with a soft hiss.

"...Alright," she said quietly.

She stood first, brushing a bit of ash from her fingers before looking back at him.

Brandon stood up as well, and his arm briefly settled around her waist as they turned toward the mansion.

---

Brandon and Charlotte stepped back into the house together.

The warmer indoor light washed over them as they entered the living room, where the others had already gathered.

Florence sat on the main sofa with Eira beside her, while Dhayun and Jiyeon occupied the adjacent seats.

Yverine sat a little farther down with Ravene and Elize beside her.

Florence spoke in a gentle voice. "You asked everyone to gather... what’s going on, Husband?"

Eira leaned forward slightly "Yeah. Is it something important?"

Dhayun glanced between Brandon and Charlotte, "Is this about what happened during that week in the tower? You’ve been quiet about a lot of it."

At those words, Elize’s gaze lowered.

She let out a deep breath, as she knew how hard the upcoming conversation was going to be.

Charlotte took a seat beside Elize on the couch.

Standing before them, Brandon gave a slow nod "...It’s related. But it’s not only about the tower."

"I... want you to meet some people first."

As he spoke, the air beside him distorted.

A thin, vertical crack in space opened with a soft *swoosh*, and from that rift, a woman stepped out.

She was tall and graceful, with long white hair and blue eyes as gentle as the sea.

The entire living room froze.

Florence’s eyes widened, while Eira straightened slightly in her seat.

Dhayun’s usual sharp expression faltered into open shock while Jiyeon unconsciously gripped the edge of the sofa.

Yverine’s lips parted slightly, and even Elize, who rarely looked genuinely surprised, stared without speaking.

Charlotte’s golden eyes narrowed slightly in pure astonishment.

Ravene just stared at the woman in confusion ’...huh?’

It wasn’t only the woman’s beauty. Beauty alone would not have silenced the room like this.

It was the aura surrounding her... the divine radiance that made every instinct whisper that the person standing before them was not ordinary.

Not even by Empyrean standards.

Rheanne glanced at the gathered household curiously ’It’s good to finally see them all.’

Brandon moved closer to her and whispered "Dear, where are the others?"

She turned her head toward him, and a small sheepish smile crossed her otherwise elegant face as she whispered back,

"Eh? You want everyone at once? But Husband, I thought I should give a grand entrance first and invite them later."

Brandon shook his head helplessly, hearing her words.

The whole room froze in silence... because they heard that one word amidst the whisper.

’Husband?’

Charlotte’s eyes sharpened instantly, and Ravene raised an eyebrow.

Florence blinked once, slowly, while Eira’s mouth opened slightly, then closed again. Dhayun and Jiyeon exchanged a quick, wide-eyed glance.

Yverine stared harder ’Don’t tell me this guy... wooed that woman in just a week within that tower?’

Turning to them, Brandon spoke "This is... Rheanne Himelle."

Upon hearing the name, everyone’s eyes shrank in absolute shock.

Elize shot up from the couch so quickly that the cushions shifted behind her "...What? R-Rheanne... you mean the Goddess Rheanne?"

She stared at the white-haired woman as if she were looking at a living myth.

"This is her?" Ravene muttered as she stared at her without blinking.

"Whattttttt?!" Eira’s voice finally broke free in a high, cracking shout as she half-rose from her seat.

"The actual Goddess?! The one from the legends?!"

"How did you even..." Dhayun started, then trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Jiyeon simply stared with her mouth slightly open, looking back and forth between Brandon and the radiant woman beside him as if waiting for someone to say it was a joke.

"The fuck?" Charlotte muttered under her breath.

Rheanne was puzzled, seeing their intense reactions ’Well, that’s expected... I guess.’

Elize took a shaky step forward, "Goddess Rheanne... the first awakener..."

"You’re saying this is her? In the flesh? Standing in our living room?"

Charlotte glanced at Brandon "You brought the Goddess herself here?"

Ravene let out a short, disbelieving breath that was almost a laugh "I leave you alone for one week in a tower, and you come back married to a divinity. Only you, Kael."

Eira was still half-standing with her hands gripping the edge of the sofa "Is this real? Are we actually looking at the Goddess right now? The actual one from history books?!"

Florence finally found her voice, "... Husband. Explain. Right now."