Chapter 166: Coercing Cassandra Into Accepting His Deal

Emerging from the confines of the bedroom, Alaric and Cassandra presented a facade of composure, a carefully constructed veneer designed to mask the tumultuous events of the preceding night. However, subtle indicators betrayed the intensity of their shared experience.

A faint flush lingered on Cassandra’s cheeks, a delicate rose tint that hinted at passions barely contained. In Alaric’s eyes, a spark of amusement danced, a silent testament to the game he was now so expertly playing.

They walked in unison towards the living room, their training attire a deliberate choice, a prearranged narrative woven into the fabric of their deception. These simple garments served as a flimsy shield, attempting to conceal the profound intimacy that now bound them.

Lyra and Fiora awaited them in the living room, their presence a stark reminder of the world outside their clandestine encounter. They were nestled amongst the plush cushions of the sofas, their attention immediately drawn to the pair as they entered.

Lyra’s gaze, ever discerning, met theirs with a mixture of warmth and scrutiny. Fiora, radiating youthful exuberance, greeted them with unrestrained enthusiasm, her energy filling the room.

“There you are!” Fiora exclaimed, her voice ringing with youthful impatience. “Mother, Alaric, we were starting to wonder where you had vanished to this morning!”

Cassandra offered a smile, carefully calibrated to appear slightly breathless, yet convincingly casual. It was a performance, a delicate dance of deception she was now forced to master.

“We were training, daughter,” Cassandra explained, gesturing towards her training dress, the fabricated excuse rolling smoothly off her tongue. “I wished to assess my new capabilities.”

Lyra’s brow arched subtly, a flicker of amusement in her perceptive eyes. Her expression remained neutral, yet Cassandra sensed an unspoken question hanging in the air.

“Training, you say?” Lyra echoed, her tone even, betraying no hint of suspicion, yet Cassandra felt a prickle of unease nonetheless. “And how did your session progress?”

Alaric stepped forward, assuming the role of the affable nephew with effortless grace. His amusement now transformed into a charming smile, perfectly calculated to disarm any lingering doubts.

“Aunt Cassandra is truly formidable, Mother,” Alaric stated, directing his words towards Lyra with respectful deference. “Her mastery of the Master Martialist rank has manifested with remarkable swiftness.”

He turned towards Cassandra, his smile widening into a playful grin, a silent communication passing between them that remained unseen by the others. “Indeed,” he continued, a teasing lilt in his voice, “I must confess, Aunt Cassandra even managed to catch me off guard on several occasions. Her skills are… exceptionally honed.”

Cassandra deftly mirrored his playful tone, nodding with feigned seriousness, determined to maintain the carefully constructed illusion. “Nephew exaggerates my prowess,” she countered, meeting Lyra’s gaze with practiced confidence. “He, of course, prevailed. The Grand Mage possess an inherent advantage, even against a newly ascended Master Martialist.”

She strategically emphasized the phrase ’newly ascended’, subtly guiding the conversation towards her recent rank advancement, a safer topic than the true nature of their morning’s activities.

Fiora, predictably captivated by the mention of martial prowess, reacted with wide-eyed admiration. “Wow, Mother! You truly achieved Master Martialist rank?” she gasped, her youthful face alight with awe. “Just this morning?”

Relief washed over Cassandra as Fiora’s focus shifted precisely as intended. The diversion had worked. The conversation was now safely steered away from dangerous territory.

“Indeed, daughter,” Cassandra confirmed, allowing a genuine smile to grace her lips, the relief palpable in her tone. “It appears the elixir’s potency surpassed my initial estimations. Upon awakening, I experienced an overwhelming surge of energy, the unmistakable manifestation of Battle Aura at the Master Martialist level. And, well,” she continued, gesturing towards Alaric with a grateful nod, “Alaric was gracious enough to assist me in evaluating its effectiveness within the training grounds.”

“’Gracious enough’ is a rather understated description, Mother,” Alaric interjected smoothly, his smile broadening as he addressed Lyra, a mischievous glint flickering in his ruby eyes as he turned his gaze back to Cassandra. “I was nearly overwhelmed by Aunt Cassandra’s… enthusiasm.”

His voice dripped with double entendre, a veiled reference to the night’s events, subtly laced within the innocent context of a sparring match. “For one so recently awakened to their Battle Aura,” he continued, his tone laced with playful mockery, “she certainly engages with… passion.”

Cassandra subtly stiffened, a silent warning flashing in her eyes as she directed a quick, sharp glance at Alaric. She silently pleaded with him to temper his suggestive remarks, even if Lyra and Fiora remained blissfully unaware of the underlying implications. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, she felt a fresh wave of heat rise in her cheeks.

Lyra, however, appeared entirely satisfied with their explanation, her expression relaxed. She nodded thoughtfully, accepting their carefully crafted narrative without question.

“Well, that is genuinely excellent news, Cassandra,” Lyra remarked, her voice radiating warmth and sincerity. “My heartfelt congratulations on your remarkable achievement. It is a truly significant milestone, particularly valuable in these… uncertain times.”

“Thank you, Lyra,” Cassandra responded, offering her sister a grateful smile, genuine relief washing over her. It seemed their carefully constructed facade was holding firm. They had navigated the initial awkwardness, and the conversation had shifted to safer ground.

Shortly after, they transitioned to the dining room for lunch, the atmosphere noticeably lighter, the initial tension easing as they settled into the familiar rhythms of family interaction. Cassandra took her place opposite Alaric at the expansive dining table, Lyra and Fiora positioning themselves on either side of her.

As the meal commenced, polite conversation filled the air, a veneer of normalcy draped over the simmering undercurrents. They discussed mundane matters, the morning’s news, and trivial family affairs, the surface pleasantries masking the complexities beneath.

Unseen by Lyra and Fiora, Alaric initiated a subtle, insidious form of torment. Beneath the polished surface of the table, his leg shifted imperceptibly, his foot making fleeting contact with Cassandra’s thigh, a feather-light brush that sent a jolt of awareness through her.

Cassandra’s body tensed almost imperceptibly, a sudden surge of heat radiating from the point of contact. It was a touch so fleeting, so seemingly accidental, that it could easily be dismissed as unintentional. Yet, the lingering warmth of his touch, the vivid memories of his hands upon her body from the preceding hours, imbued this seemingly innocent contact with a potent, undeniable significance.

’Damn him,’ Cassandra thought, a mixture of irritation and a disconcerting thrill warring within her. ’He is doing this deliberately. The arrogant, manipulative…’

Subtly, she adjusted her leg, attempting to create a physical barrier, a space of separation between them. But Alaric was relentless in his subtle provocation. His foot followed her movement, a touch more insistent this time, pressing against her inner thigh, his toes lightly teasing the delicate fabric of her training dress. It was a maddeningly subtle assault, a feather-light torment that remained imperceptible to any casual observer, yet for Cassandra, it was a blatant, deliberate act of provocation.

Casting a swift, surreptitious glance across the table, Cassandra observed Alaric. He remained the epitome of polite attentiveness, deeply engaged in a discussion with Lyra regarding estate management, his expression serene, composed.

His outward demeanor utterly belied the subtle, sensual assault he was orchestrating beneath the table. However, the telltale smirk, barely discernible, yet undeniably present, played at the corner of his lips.

’He is relishing this,’ Cassandra realized with a surge of indignation. ’He is toying with me. Right here, in plain sight of my sister and daughter. The sheer audacity!’ Explore new worlds at ReadNovelFull.com.Côm

Despite the internal turmoil raging within her, Cassandra maintained her outward composure, forcing herself to participate in the polite exchange, to feign normalcy amidst the escalating tension. It was a precarious balancing act, attempting to project an image of calm while simultaneously battling the distracting, unsettling sensations ignited by Alaric’s clandestine teasing.

His foot shifted once more, escalating the subtle torment, now venturing higher, his toes brushing against the sensitive juncture of her thighs, a deliberate, unmistakable caress. Cassandra inhaled sharply, a tremor rippling through her, her breath catching in her throat. His audacity was reaching alarming levels. He was pushing the boundaries, testing her limits with a dangerous confidence.

’He would not dare,’ Cassandra thought, a frantic internal denial clashing with a growing sense of horrified fascination. ’He would not actually… would he truly risk exposure?’

As if in direct response to her unspoken question, Alaric’s foot pressed with increased pressure, his toes now unmistakably, deliberately, teasing the delicate fabric of her training dress directly at the apex of her thighs. A jolt of pure, raw electricity surged through Cassandra’s body, an involuntary clenching in her core, a wave of heat flooding her lower abdomen.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, desperately suppressing a gasp, her knuckles whitening as she gripped her silverware with excessive force. Her gaze remained rigidly fixed on her plate, her vision blurring slightly, her desperate attempt to ignore the subtle, yet devastating, assault on her senses bordering on futile. She could feel beads of perspiration forming on her brow, her meticulously constructed composure teetering on the precipice of collapse.

Across the table, Alaric continued his seemingly innocuous conversation with Lyra, the discussion now revolving around projected trade routes and anticipated harvest yields. His voice remained calm, measured, his expression serene, utterly belying the subtle torment he was inflicting upon her beneath the veneer of polite society. The stark contrast between his outward composure and his clandestine actions was infuriating, maddening, and, against her will, perversely stimulating.

’He is a monster,’ Cassandra reiterated in her thoughts, a complex cocktail of anger, shame, and an unwelcome, unsettling thrill churning within her. ’A cruel, manipulative, arrogant monster. And… and I am allowing him to do this. I am permitting him to… toy with me in this manner. Right here, in front of our family.’

Just as Cassandra felt herself nearing her breaking point, teetering on the verge of an audible gasp or some equally compromising reaction, Lyra subtly shifted the direction of the conversation, turning her attention towards Cassandra with a thoughtful expression.

“Cassandra,” Lyra began, her voice gentle yet imbued with a note of seriousness, effectively diverting Cassandra’s focus from Alaric’s tormenting foot. “Now that you have attained Master Martialist rank, and with the escalating demonic threat… I have been giving considerable thought to your current living arrangements.”

Cassandra blinked, momentarily disoriented, her mind still struggling to regain equilibrium after Alaric’s subtle assault. “My… living arrangements?” she echoed, her voice betraying a slight tremor as she attempted to refocus on the unfolding conversation.

Lyra nodded in affirmation, her gaze unwavering, reflecting genuine concern.

“Indeed. Given the increasingly precarious situation, remaining isolated within the Galanis House territory is becoming progressively risky. Should demons target your estate,” Lyra explained, her tone measured and pragmatic, “you would be unduly vulnerable. You lack the necessary resources to mount an adequate defense in isolation.”

Cassandra frowned, her brow furrowing as she considered the validity of Lyra’s assessment. She knew her sister’s concerns were well-founded.

Galanis House, while undeniably beautiful, steeped in history, and offering a sense of secluded tranquility, was geographically isolated, situated at a considerable distance from any major Steele Family strongholds, and possessed only a minimal defensive garrison.

In the event of a concerted demonic incursion, they would be dangerously exposed.

“I comprehend your apprehension, Lyra,” Cassandra conceded, her voice regaining a semblance of composure, the looming threat to her family momentarily eclipsing her personal disquiet.

“However,” she continued, a hint of reservation entering her tone, “relocating the entirety of my household to the Steele Family’s primary estate represents a substantial undertaking. Furthermore, the Galanis territory necessitates ongoing, diligent management.”

“Which you can effectively oversee remotely from this location, Cassandra,” Lyra countered, her voice firm yet reassuring, dismissing Cassandra’s logistical concerns with practical ease.

“The administrative responsibilities can be efficiently managed through long-distance communication channels. And Fiora’s martial training can proceed seamlessly here, without disruption. Consider the inherent advantages, Cassandra,” Lyra urged, her tone persuasive.

“Here, within the Steele Family estate, you would be unequivocally safe. You would benefit from the comprehensive protection afforded by our family’s extensive defenses, encompassing both my personal strength and Alaric’s formidable magical capabilities. We could confront any demonic incursion united, as a cohesive family unit.”

Fiora, her youthful countenance illuminated with excitement, interjected with fervent enthusiasm.

“Yes, Mother! Please, agree to relocate! It would be so much safer here, within the main estate! And… and I would be absolutely thrilled to spend more time with Alaric!” she added hastily, catching Lyra’s eye and appending a dutiful, “And with Aunt Lyra, of course,” accompanied by an apologetic smile directed towards her aunt.

Lyra chuckled softly, her expression softening with maternal affection as she gently patted Fiora’s hand.

“Naturally, dear. And I would be utterly delighted to have both of you reside here permanently,” Lyra affirmed, her voice radiating genuine warmth. “It would alleviate my anxieties immeasurably, knowing that you are both secure and in close proximity.”

Cassandra hesitated, her mind weighing the practicalities of Lyra’s proposition. From a purely logical standpoint, her sister’s suggestion was irrefutable.

Relocating to the Steele Family’s central estate offered undeniable advantages: enhanced security, readily available resources, and the combined defensive might of Lyra and Alaric, a formidable bulwark against the encroaching demonic darkness. It was the prudent, sensible, and responsible course of action.

However, a profound unease gnawed at Cassandra’s resolve. The prospect of residing within the same estate as Alaric, under the same roof, after the seismic shift in their relationship, sent a chilling premonition through her.

The relocation, while logically sound, felt like a deliberate step deeper into a labyrinth of potential complications, escalating temptations, and further moral compromises.

And yet… the irresistible allure of power, the tantalizing promise of Grand Martialist rank, the undeniably twisted connection she now shared with Alaric… it was all inextricably intertwined, a complex web drawing her inexorably closer.

’It is safer,’ Cassandra repeated internally, attempting to anchor herself to the rational justifications, desperately trying to suppress the unsettling undercurrent of her own desires, her own burgeoning fears.

’This is the safest option for Fiora. And… and for myself. For my ascension to Grand Martialist rank. For the augmentation of my power. It is the logical conclusion. Logically sound.’

Her gaze involuntarily drifted across the table, locking with Alaric’s ruby eyes. His gaze was fixed upon her, unwavering, that knowing smirk still playing at the corners of his mouth, as if he possessed the ability to plumb the depths of her thoughts, as if he already knew the trajectory of her decision, as if he was already anticipating her inevitable capitulation.

In that precise moment, Cassandra recognized the futility of further resistance. She knew, with a chilling certainty, that she would acquiesce. Not solely due to the compelling logic of Lyra’s arguments, not merely because of the enhanced security and resources offered by the main estate, but also… because of Alaric.

Because of the intoxicating promise of power he dangled before her, because of the unsettlingly intimate bond they had forged in the darkness, because of the dark, undeniable pull he exerted over her, a force that was simultaneously terrifying and, inexplicably, irresistible.

’Damn it,’ Cassandra thought, a silent sigh of resignation escaping her lips, tinged with a nascent, disturbing flicker of anticipation. ’I am succumbing once more, am I not? Knowingly, deliberately, walking directly into his carefully constructed snare. Fully aware of the potential consequences that await me. And… and yet… I seem utterly incapable of altering my course.’

Turning back towards Lyra and Fiora, Cassandra forced a semblance of a reassuring smile, endeavoring to project an air of calm acceptance, despite the tempestuous emotions churning within her.

“Alright, Lyra,” Cassandra stated, her voice regaining its customary steadiness, her tone resolute, effectively masking the internal turmoil that threatened to overwhelm her. “You are correct. Your proposition is logically sound. We will relocate to the Steele Family estate. For the paramount consideration of safety. For the sake of… family unity.”

Lyra’s face illuminated with relief, her expression softening with genuine warmth and gratitude. “Excellent, Cassandra! I am profoundly relieved to hear you concur. We shall initiate the necessary arrangements without delay. You and Fiora will be secure here, I assure you of that.”

Fiora clapped her hands together, her youthful exuberance surging forth once more, her face beaming with unrestrained delight. “Oh, Mother, that is simply wonderful! I am positively thrilled! We are going to reside here, within the main estate, alongside you, Alaric, and Aunt Lyra! It is going to be absolutely magnificent!”