The moon had climbed halfway across the sky.
"Goddess Astraea, why must we hide?"
At the rear of the courtyard, Bell had come to a slightly secluded patch of grass.
"They'll be done soon. If Ulanda sees you, she might curse you," Astraea said, casually sitting down on the grass. Though it was a rough, unrefined gesture, the goddess always exuded a natural sense of dignity.
"Why would there be curses in the Astraea Familia...?" Bell muttered, unable to stop himself.
"That child is just a little stubborn. Her nature is fundamentally kind." Whether it was Ryuu or Bell, Ulanda was undoubtedly jealous of both, having occupied a place in the goddess's heart.
Astraea gazed gently at the starry sky. "You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes, Astraea-sama."
Bell had to keep moving forward. Now that the threat to Sword Smithing City Solingen had been resolved, there was no reason for him to stay here. The Labyrinth City was an essential place for his training. Besides, the miracle they had promised each other was still waiting in the unknown Dungeon.
Astraea lowered her head in melancholy, her voice soft. "Just call me by my name. I'll call you Bell too. Since I've responded to your affection, let me at least do this much."
"Hmm..."
Just as Bell was about to speak, Astraea grabbed his shoulders, pulling him onto her lap. The soft, tender sensation spread across his face, and a gentle warmth bloomed on his cheek. The fragrant, calming scent grew clearer in the air.
"Could it be... that Astraea-sama often does this for her Familia members?" Bell tried to turn, but the goddess's delicate arms stopped him. It seemed she didn't want him to see her expression, so she kept him in his side-lying position.
"I only do this for children who work hard, you know. Could it be... you're jealous of the girls?" Astraea suppressed her inner shyness and spoke softly. For the first time, she realized that even with the same lap pillow gesture, the person resting on her lap could cause such a profound change in her feelings.
"Of course I'm jealous... but... somehow, it doesn't matter anymore. I just want to lie here every day." Bell admitted his feelings honestly.
"..."
Faced with such a direct statement, Astraea blushed even more. She had pulled the boy onto her lap without a second thought, and it had clearly been a rash decision. The stern voice inside her seemed to be holding up a sign, protesting this impure action.
But Astraea wanted to make it up to the boy. Her words had been so cruel. It felt like she had been toying with his genuine feelings.
"Bell... you must find my answer hard to accept..."
Astraea spoke slowly. "Using miracles as an excuse is like chasing a mirage—distant and untouchable."
If she were not a Goddess, but simply a woman, there was no doubt that Astraea's response to his confession was profoundly selfish. Her heart had been moved, she had been drawn in by the boy's sense of justice, yet she still gave an answer that tried to have both.
If the boy needed help, Astraea would spare no effort to give him her strength. But their relationship could only remain at that level. Harem or lover—those were just words on the surface, with no possibility of anything deeper. Only by achieving a miracle could Astraea completely accept this overflowing emotion.
Objectively speaking, it was shamefully unfair.
"I don't think Astraea is at fault in any way."
Bell turned to face her, meeting those deep blue eyes filled with guilt. He didn't reach out to touch the goddess's slightly flushed cheeks, only held her gaze.
"I want to see your smile. I want to believe in miracles... to believe in justice."
If everyone who upheld justice cried themselves dry like Ryuu and Astraea, this world would be unbearably cruel. The hero Bell aspired to be would never stand by and do nothing.
"Astraea, I'm actually more grateful to you. Even if it wasn't an oracle, it let me believe in myself and keep moving forward."
Bell had seen far too many sorrowful expressions. Long before the Day of Mourning, grief had already taken root in the hearts of the girls—starting with Ryuu, and spreading ever since.
Even if the possibility was tiny, the idea that past tragedies might be reversed filled Bell with excitement.
"This isn't just your burden. It's my dream too. So, Astraea, you have absolutely no reason to blame yourself. Just being able to lie here in a place that feels like paradise... that alone is enough for me."
Bell spoke from the heart.
"..."
Astraea hadn't expected that. As a Goddess, she felt completely seen by this boy. Guilt, sorrow, self-reproach... every emotion weighing on her chest—Bell had sensed all of it.
And there wasn't a single lie in his words.
"If not for that last bit of smooth-talking, I might've been so happy I'd cry."
Astraea's lips curved into a smile. The compassionate goddess who always embraced others with kindness—having someone she could be spoiled with like this was unbelievable. If the other gods learned about it, they would definitely laugh.
"But—you know 'paradise' isn't an exaggeration, right? It's the honest truth."
Bell insisted earnestly.
"Mm... Why can you say such embarrassing things with such a calm face?"
Astraea had received countless compliments. As the gentle, pure-hearted big-sister figure, she had always been praised as the goddess among goddesses. If someone made a ranking of those whose lap people wanted to rest on, Astraea would undoubtedly be the overwhelming number one.
Because of that, male gods often used words like stars and flowers when approaching her—but Astraea could see through their frivolous hearts instantly. Only this boy was different. No matter how beautiful his words, every one of them came from genuine sincerity.
"Because Astraea is truly beautiful. Your walnut-brown hair flows like the Milky Way, and your deep blue eyes shine like the stars."
Bell spared no praise.
Faced with the boy's fiery gaze, Astraea's cheeks turned bright red for the first time.
"I... we should go back... before someone finds us..."
Her cheeks were burning. Her heart was racing. Overwhelmed by emotions she had never felt before, Astraea instinctively chose to escape. As a pure goddess, she suddenly felt a warning flare in her mind.
If this continued, it would be dangerous.
She had to leave now.
Astraea stood with the boy and hurried toward the mansion, flustered.
"I'll find a chance to visit the Labyrinth City. When the time is right, I'll move there too."
Astraea had left Orario mainly to give Ryuu the freedom to act. Their Familia had always been the target of resentment from the dark factions. After that nightmare, Ryuu was the only one left. If Astraea were attacked and forced back to Tenkai, Ryuu—having lost her Familia Goddess—would lose the grace of Falna and might die.
Considering what had happened, and now that the dark era had passed, Astraea returning to Orario would indeed be far safer.
Night had grown deep.
Astraea parted from the boy and returned to her own room. For some reason, the racing of her heart and the heat on her cheeks lingered, refusing to fade.