RISE OF EROS

Although Andrew knew that Candice had visited him about this issue, he didn't expect her to be so direct and immediately ask about it, so it took him by surprise.

Andrew had a headache, as he had no idea what to say to her, so he tried to deflect the conversation by pretending he didn't know what she was talking about, "Shine? What are you talking about?".

However, Candice didn't buy his lie and putting on an annoyed expression spoke again, "Don't play dumb with me, I know you're involved. Now tell me what was it?"

Seeing that his attempt to play the fool didn't work, he could only sigh resignedly, as he tried to come up with some plan to fool her, but then Fluffy's voice rang in his mind, "Master, you are underestimating your divinity. You won't be able to fool that girl easily. It's not that she thinks the glow had anything to do with you, she's sure of that."

"What do you mean, how can she be so sure?" asked Andrew confused and Fluffy replied, "Divinity is your essence, that's why when you released your first seal, everyone who benefited immediately recognized the causer. Didn't you realize that all your employees knew you were the culprit?".

Hearing Fluffy's words, Andrew had to admit that he was right. The refutable proof of Fluffy's words was that Nadila and Candice, came to the Heavenly Palace to look for him immediately.

Despite knowing that, Andrew did not plan to be truthful. First of all, they would not believe him if he said he was a god candidate and secondly, he could not go around telling his secret to just anyone.

Candice had proven to be a great ally and so far she had only acted with sincerity, but, even so, he didn't have the confidence to trust her with a secret like this.

"Miss Candice, did you come all this way, unprotected and in such a hurry because you wanted to know about a strange glow that you say I caused?" continued Andrew trying to deny his involvement, but that only made Candice more upset.

"Mr. Andrew, if you try to continue to play stupid, I will notify the empire that you are making strange moves," Candice threatened. She really didn't want to do that, but as Fluffy had said, she was sure Andrew was responsible and she wouldn't let him off that easy.

Andrew noticed that Candice really was vacuously threatening, but her annoyance was real and her intensity got the better of him. Andrew let out another sigh of resignation and with a wave of his hand invited Candice to sit down, as since they had arrived at the office they had not done so.

Candice understood that Andrew had finally given up and was going to tell her what she wanted to know, so she sat down. An awkward silence stretched across the office, it only lasted a few seconds, but they felt longer.

"Can I offer Miss Candice something to drink," Andrew asked, but Candice replied curtly, "Mr. Andrew, stop wasting time."

Seeing that Candice did not want to play along, Andrew said, "Well, it is true that the glitter was my fault, however, you do not need to worry, it is nothing harmful." Andrew paused and looked at Candice seriously.

"I really didn't know it would affect you. It is a ritual I performed, to strengthen the health of those close to me, but it was a surprise to me that you also received benefits, as we are not that close," Andrew continued with a serious expression.

Andrew couldn't think of a better excuse and said the same one he used with his employees, but adding his seriousness and fixed gaze on Candice he hoped he could fool her, but Andrew underestimated Candice.

"Mr. Andrew, don't take me for a fool. What I felt was nothing like a health improvement, it was more like...," Candice said with a dark expression without having the courage to finish her sentence.

Andrew didn't understand what Candice might have felt, but instantly heard Fluffy's amused laughter in his mind and furrowing his eyebrows asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"It's funny to see the master trying to lie without understanding," Fluffy replied still laughing, and that annoyed Andrew even more. With a vein peeking out of his temple he asked angrily, "Stop laughing and explain."

Fluffy then stilled his laughter and explained. It turns out that, unlike his employees who received a small benefit, Candice received a larger benefit, so she didn't feel comfortable like his employees when the glow enveloped her, what she felt was excitement.

That's right, excitement. Andrew is an Eros god candidate, so his divinity affects the domain of sex and eroticism, so Candice who received considerable benefit, obviously felt a sexual pleasure.

While her benefit was greater, she did not receive any ability like his wives, but it was enough to identify that the energy that enveloped her was not what Andrew claimed.

When Fluffy explained that, Andrew had another headache, as the situation had become complicated. Candice who looked at Andrew quietly, became increasingly irritated, as she thought Andrew was ignoring her and angrily claimed, "Do you intend to keep ignoring me?".

Candice's angry question pulled Andrew out of his conversation with Fluffy and focused on her, but he still didn't know what to say. Candice assessing Andrew's expression knew he wasn't planning to tell her the truth and that bothered her even more.

Honestly, she wasn't worried about what Andrew might have done to her because somehow she knew that the energy that enveloped her wasn't harmful. She didn't know why she was sure of that, but it was, however, that didn't mean she wouldn't seek answers.

"Mr. Andrew, until you tell me the truth I don't intend to leave, so be honest," Candice said earnestly. Andrew looked at her and her expression told him that she was serious.

Andrew was on the verge of collapse and then Fluffy's voice rang out again, "Master, you should make that woman yours immediately. Once she has the wife seal there will be no problem."

"Shut up!!!", Andrew replied loudly without realizing it, surprising Candice, who indignantly responded coldly, believing Andrew was talking to her, "Is that a threat Mr. Andrew?".

Upon hearing Candice's question, Andrew realized his mistake and quickly apologized in embarrassment, "Excuse me, Miss Candice, I wasn't talking to you. It's just that lately, I have a demon whispering in my ear."

"Hey, what do you mean by a demon? Don't insult me," Fluffy immediately retorted, but Andrew ignored him and continued talking to Candice, "I'll be, honest with you. I can't tell you."

Candice was thrilled when Andrew said he would be honest, but the next sentence caused her expression to freeze, still, she kept her composure and asked, "Why?"

"Because if I tell you, you'll have to become my wife," Andrew replied playing with fire. Andrew's response seemed like a joke, but for some reason, Candice didn't see it that way and it confused her.

In her thoughts, she couldn't stop thinking, "Why do I think what he said is true?", not understanding her own thoughts she was stunned and even Andrew seemed confused, as he didn't understand Candice's quiet reaction.

After a few minutes of silence, Candice spoke again, "I don't understand the reason, but I feel like you're not lying to me and that's even stranger. Still, you're not going to convince me that easily, I guess I'll be living here for a while."

Dark lines appeared on Andrew's face as he listened to her. Inwardly he cried out in despair at Candice's insistence and resignedly compromised, "Let's do something, Miss Candice. Why don't we wait until next week on our date and I'll tell you all about it."

"I see no reason to wait. I want to know now," Candice replied adamantly and when Andrew didn't know what to do, Fluffy spoke again, "Kiss her," to which Andrew replied in exasperation, "Damn you, do you want to die?", but Fluffy didn't flinch at the threat and said, "Do it master, I assure you everything will be fine."

Obviously, Andrew didn't believe him. He would be an idiot if he did, but he still didn't know how to get out of that situation, and at that moment his wives entered the office unannounced.

"Miss Candice, would you like a room of your own or will you be sleeping with us?" said Helena as she entered with a smirk. Candice was taken by surprise by Helena's comment and even blushed at the thought of sharing a bed with them.

Seeing Candice's tender expression, Andrew's heart skipped a beat because at that moment Candice looked incredibly beautiful in his eyes, but he didn't let it go and asked, "Fluffy, what's wrong, did you do something?", but Fluffy responded with a cold snort ignoring his question.

Again the office fell silent, and then Andrew broke the atmosphere by saying, "Well, Miss Candice, don't be intransigent, just wait a few days. It's really nothing bad."

Candice snapped out of her embarrassed state and looked at Andrew coldly, as if searching for any hint of malice in him, but she could find none of that, in fact, she met him with a loving gaze, and that made her blush again.

Seeing that she couldn't get anything out of Andrew, Candice let out a resigned sigh and somewhat exasperated said, "I'll drop the matter for now, but don't think it will stay that way. Since you'll tell me all about it at dinner, there's no need to wait until next week. Tomorrow night we can have dinner, I'll make the reservation, wait for my carrier pigeon."

Candice didn't wait for Andrew to respond and walked out, leaving Andrew and his wives stunned. Andrew could see an aura of distrust around Candice as she left and it was not strange because Andrew in her eyes at this moment did not inspire confidence.