Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

"but……"

"What should I say when I confess my feelings?"

"I like you, will you be with me?"

"But it seems like we've been together for a long time."

"Then tell me, Rhodes, will you marry me?"

"That's not quite right... I'm the Star God, on the blessing altar of the divine sacrifice, I should at least appear more mature..."

Lilith rubbed her cheeks, her eyes sparkling, and suddenly she didn't know what to do.

Chapter 202 Divine Sacrifice

Divine sacrifice.

A grand event held every three years in the Linlank Empire.

The divine sacrifices originated from the desire for the gods to bestow new talents upon their chosen ones and to allow the people to maintain a state of joy.

On this day, people will display their utmost vitality, allowing the gods to see that believers live amidst a joyful atmosphere.

This is the prerequisite for receiving divine favor.

Using the joy of believers to exchange for divine blessings.

This is something Lilith's master would do. Or rather, even now, Lilith can still remember that guy holding her hand, walking down the street, laughing and saying, "Look, they're all happy because of me."

Lilith looked out the window at the bustling traffic outside, her eyes filled with emotion, and involuntarily, she gently pressed her cheek against the windowpane.

This year, due to unusual divine intervention, the religious festival was held much earlier, even during winter.

Of course, the date is January 17th. Since winter came early this year, the temperature is not too cold right now.

Or rather, she really doesn't feel like it's winter at all right now.

dong dong——

There was a knock on her door.

“Meve… no, Lady Lilith.” Valerie bowed slightly, looking respectful, and spoke from the doorway.

Everyone knows.

She, and the other seven-time ascendants, all knew that the person before them had another true identity besides being the fifth Pope.

[Star God] Lilith.

Yes, it's really ridiculous when you think about it... It's such an obvious thing.

The existence of such a beautiful, star-like figure in this world, and the connection between [Meve] and [Lilith] who suddenly ascended to godhood, makes it easy for people to make some guesses.

All I can say is that the people of the Linlank Empire loved to make up stories, and the history they created has been lost to time.

While Valerie expressed such sentiments, her inner restraint was also genuine.

The thought of how she had questioned Lilith a while back made her feel both itchy and embarrassed.

“Valerie.” Lilith’s voice was calm, her eyes fixed on Valerie, showing no discomfort at Valerie’s restraint.

It's one thing for believers to disrespect a deity without knowing their identity, but it's problematic if they still don't maintain a certain distance after they know.

“Lady Lilith, since you are going to preside over the divine ceremony yourself, you should change into the priest's robes of the High Pope.”

Valerie looked behind her, gestured to the two priests behind her, and raised her robes to her face.

“No need,” Lilith shook her head. “I have something of my own here.”

"That one makes me look too old."

“Ah…yes, is that so?” Valerie paused, then nodded. “Your people understand. And the ceremony will be held at seven o’clock in the evening. Please be on the altar at that time.”

“Hmm.” Lilith was very familiar with the whole process, but she didn’t care that Valerie kept emphasizing it.

It's a good thing that they are careful in their work.

"You can go down."

"Alright, and then... Lord Rhodes also came to the church, it seems he has finished purchasing his items."

"Mmm." Lilith added an extra syllable to her "Mmm."

But the addition of that one "um" gives the whole response a touch of girlish charm;

Even Valerie couldn't help but chuckle.

It is a beautiful thing that the gods love people.

For example, the couple 【機巧神】 (Kikoushin).

One was a mechanical girl, and the other was the host. They fought side by side and moved forward together, and their loving relationship lasted for thousands of years, setting a good example of affection for the world.

Clearly, this even became a romantic belief in their empire, greatly increasing the population.

Not to mention that the Linlank Empire is a nation of "pleasure," so it is perfectly reasonable for them to be immersed in the pleasures of love.

Therefore, it is certainly a good thing for gods to fall in love, especially since Rhodes, like Lilith, carries the identity of a fused demon god.

The problem is that Lilith's subtle girlishness is really a contrast, and her object of affection is Rhodes—the Rhodes who was still a child in her eyes back then.

Who could resist this?

"Then I shall take my leave."

Valerie bowed and stepped back, but did not close the door;

Lilith didn't care about her leaving, but looked at the dress in front of her and gently bit her lip.

The priestly robe is the garment that the pope must wear when presiding over religious ceremonies.

But her clothes, those of the fifth Pope Maeve, were different from those of other popes.

This piece was personally sewn for her by the previous Star God and has been passed down to this day.

The overall outfit departs from the usual blue, instead using blue as the base color, with the remaining colors accented by fabric resembling a deep red sunset.

Like silk as soft as a feather, this garment appears light and airy, yet imbued with a divine quality—while also brimming with the innocent charm of a young girl.

"Childish clothes." Lilith blushed slightly, a little embarrassed. "I didn't realize it before, but looking back now, aren't these clothes that only thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls would wear?"

Feeling shy and embarrassed, she fell silent.

It's not like we hadn't discovered it before.

Rather, it was because she lacked the ability to feel emotions before that she was unable to care.

Her judgment of clothes is always "mediocre"—she will never say "looks good" with a happy face, nor will she say "it's ugly" with a sour face.

"Lilith."

"Well--!"

Lilith trembled slightly when she heard Rhodes' voice from behind her, then turned around furtively, hiding her clothes behind her back.

"Rhodes." Her voice still displayed the gentleness unique to Rhodes.

"We've all finished tidying up and buying things for the mansion. How's your preparation going?"

Today, Rhodes was still wearing that simple aristocratic suit, a black swallowtail coat with gold accents on the sides, his hair like scattered stars, and his eyes sharp.

“That’s good.” Lilith nodded twice. “I rarely forget what I’ve done… The current priests are no different from the priests of the past.”

"Almost, I'll return around dusk to put on my sacrificial robes. I don't usually wear makeup."

"Then, then I kept thinking, if I were to say something on the altar, say... um." Lilith paused awkwardly for half a second, her fingers clenching, before she stammered shyly, "What would be the best way to say something like 'I like you'?"

"...Give me some advice."

I feel bad for Lilith.

If she had said those shameful words before, she would have vanished into thin air and turned into a cookie long ago.

Or rather, they were already speechless, stuck in place, and then fainted.

But... I guess this can be considered growth.

From not wanting to speak, not knowing how to speak, to wanting to speak but not being able to—and finally preparing how to speak.

Rhodes simply chuckled: "It's enough that you have the sentiment. You are a god, and a god of the [Pleasure] Empire at that."

"No one will be bothered by your relationship. After all, isn't it normal for the God of Pleasure to fall in love?"

"The only thing to be careful about is not letting others misunderstand that your disappearance a while ago was because you went to date me."

The last sentence was a joke—but Lilith's ears really burned from the teasing.

"I know, I'll explain things properly." Lilith finally couldn't hold back any longer and walked to Rhodes' side, gently tracing his broad palm with her fingers.

"Let's go. Since we still have some free time, let's stroll around the streets with everyone."

"Ah."

...

...

“Here, here, sir!” Shirley was carrying a large bag of things, but even so she stretched out one hand and waved to Rod.

At this moment, Rhodes led Lilith out of the cathedral, and after walking a short distance, they met the girls who were shopping.

Ivina is completely susceptible to words like "shopping" and "playing around." From the moment they left the mansion until now, her face has been adorned with a strangely sweet smile.

To put it bluntly, it's just mindless laughter.

Because this is the imperial capital.

It was a place she had always wondered what it would be like.

She finally did it, managing to come from the Duke's mansion to the most luxurious area in the empire, and to play here with her loved one—a dream she had never even dared to imagine before.

"Let's go back to the countryside, build a house, and live happily ever after!" This was naturally the purest dream in her mind.

But seeing this scenery and being able to stroll through a bustling area with a lover like a normal person is clearly a dream that she, as a young girl, should naturally have.

This is not contradictory.