Chapter - 18
When Leo heard the sound, he frowned. The knock was soft. Too soft.
Leo walked towards the table to get his sword. This wasn't how guards would knock. Guards usually banged. Meanwhile the servants would call out after the knock.
And the assassins, they didn't knock at all. They would slip into the room, slit his throat in silence and leave the same way they came.
So whoever it was, it was someone new.
He moved slowly towards the door, and his Shadowweave Tunic muting every excessive sound that he might make. Reaching the door, he pressed his ear against the wood, holding his breath.
But he heard nothing. Finally surrendering to his luck, he decided to just face it. And he slowly opened the door, just a small crack.
But just as the door opened and he looked outside, he forgot to breathe.
Standing outside his room, there in the dim hallway was a woman who looked like a sin wrapped in silk. Her presence didn't just light up the corridor, it could practically turn every gaze towards her.
She had blonde hair tied neatly in a bun. Her eyes were a deep amber that could melt steel, and her smile was warm enough to make priests reconsider their vows, and made you forget what you were saying.
Her gown was a deep emerald silk that managed to look both classy and tempting at the same time. Her dress hugged her figure tightly in the right places, as if it had been personally made for her by a tailor who had made it their life's mission. A faint scent drifted off her. Leo could not tell what the smell was, but it was intoxicating.
"Good evening," While Leo was lost in the sight in front of him, the woman finally spoke up, "You must be the young man who saved my daughter."
My Daughter?
The woman in front of him was actually the famous busty Lady Seraphine Dargan.
If Aliana was a raging storm, loud, ruthless yet beautiful, and full of unnecessary drama, the lady in front of him was like the calm after that storm.
Lady Seraphine was mature and graceful without any effort, looking at Leo with the sweetest smile possible.
On the other hand, Leo's brain was already short-circuited. He managed to blink and mutter something vaguely human-sounding from whatever his brain could instinctively understand.
She smiled, "I am Seraphine Dargan," Her lips curved into a soft, teasing grin, "Isn't the Hero going to invite a lady in, or do you plan to interrogate me through the door?"
"Oh, I am sorry," Leo finally snapped out of his virgin boy reaction and stepped aside, opening the door wide for her, "Please come inside Lady Dargan."
"Thank you," Lady Seraphine stepped inside the room, and the air in the room suddenly felt fresher and warm.
"Wait outside, girls," she said over her shoulder. Two maids were lingering by the hall, heads bowed, "It won't be long."
The maids bowed to their lady's command and stepped back, leaving Leo alone with her.
"I hope I did not startle you, Hero," Seraphine turned back to him, all polite and warm, "But I could not wait till the morning. I had to thank you now, and thank you personally."
"What my husband and daughter show in that hall, it's all politics and pride. But a mother is different, a mother's heart is different. She doesn't play those games."
Saying so, Lady Seraphine stepped closer. Her smell hit him again, sweet and warm, making his head light. Then she took his hand between both of hers. Her touch was soft, so soft that it didn't feel fair.
"I cannot thank you enough for bringing my Aliana back," she said sincerely, looking up at him with those golden eyes that could probably make a dragon bow in front of her.
Leo opened his mouth to say something chivalrous, something like "Just doing my job", "It's my duty," blah blah blah. But his brain had switched focus entirely.
As she took his hand in hers and looked at him with those grateful eyes, her gown's neckline was… making him gulp. That old geezer Grendel might have over exaggerated the town to him, but he was quite conservative describing Lady Dargan.
Her big inviting breasts, her long smooth legs, her tempting smile, that sexy nape, those alluring eyes, that beautiful face… Fuck! She was the kind of woman that made every man in the vicinity question his moral compass.
And it was the same for Leo. He might have transmigrated to a new world, killed a few guys and saved a beauty. But he was still a fucking virgin. And like any other virgin, his instinctive reaction was not to look. Really, not to look, but steal a few glances. But there are forces in this world that even the strongest willpower cannot resist.
[Passive Skill Activated: Keen Observation]
Oh, perfect. Just what he needed, high-definition emotional detection while ogling the lord's wife. Everyone wants his head off his shoulder.
But he was still fed the information in his head. Her heart rate was calm. Her eyes were steady. She was completely in control. Leo, on the other hand, felt like someone had turned up the temperature and muted his logic. And the little Leo was slowly starting to rise its head.
He cleared his throat. "Just… part of the job, my lady. Couldn't let the bandits have all the fun."
Her lips curled up in a smile in amusement and admiration, "You are modest, Hero. That's rare."
Leo wasn't sure if she meant it as a compliment or a test. The way her eyes lingered on him, however, suggested she enjoyed watching him squirm.
For a second, he wondered if this was still a "thank-you visit" or the start of some political trap wrapped in silk and perfume.
Still, if he was going to die in this mansion, there were worse ways to go.
Meanwhile, the Amulet of Keen Observation was doing overtime. Data continued to pour in:
Heart rate: Calm.
Breathing: Steady.
Pupil dilation: Normal.
Scent of deception: Can't guess.
Basically, Lady Seraphine was either as pure as a nun or as cool as an assassin. Too pure. Too calm.
Leo frowned slightly. He could not help but wonder if the Lady was actually so innocent, or just a very good manipulator who could sell snow to a frost mage.
He could not guess anything from her smiling face.
Lady Seraphine also seemed to notice the flicker of suspicion in his eyes, because her lips curved into a sly, knowing grin. Then, with a soft sigh that somehow made her gown put on a better show, she said, "Those horrid bandits… and Caelum. Where do I even begin?"
The way she said her husband's name made it sound like a curse and a complaint rolled into one.
"He thinks only of his power, his pride, and his face" she continued, shaking her head, golden hair swaying. "He forgets to think like a father"
"A husband"
"Well, I will be having words with him for sure… Especially about that pathetic reward he offered you. Ten gold coins?" She scoffed delicately, "Seriously! That's an insult, not gratitude."
Leo almost laughed. She was good. In just two sentences, she had managed to make him feel like she was on his side.
She leaned a little closer, whispering in his ears, "Please don't think for a moment that his actions reflect the gratitude of our family."
"Anyway," she pulled back, adjusting her gown with a soft rustle, "I hear you will be helping my husband find the person responsible for this mess. I do hope you succeed, Sir Leo. This house needs cleansing."
Leo smiled towards her. "It's my duty to help, my Lady. No sweat."
But inside his head he was feeling dizzy, 'I have no idea if you are trying to manipulate me or flirt with me, but I am going to pretend I know it all.'
She gave a soft sigh, the kind that could melt armor, "It's getting late, young hero. I shouldn't keep you from resting."
She started to pull her hand away from his, then paused. And then suddenly she leaned in. Close. Too close.
Her scent hit him again, and before he could react in any way, her lips brushed his cheek. She kissed him.
And it wasn't a quick, polite kiss. It was soft, lingering, long enough to fry his circuits type of kiss.
"This is for saving my daughter, brave hero," she whispered, her warm breath missing his skin.
Then she pulled back, eyes glittering with amusement. She turned toward the door, and without looking back, walked out of the room without stopping.
And just like that, within a couple of breaths, she was gone like a breeze, leaving behind only that beautiful fragrance of hers.
Leo stood there, frozen. His cheek still tingled where her lips had been. His brain was supposed to be filled with plans about his next move. But watching Lady Seraphine leave, all he could think about was that perky ass and how it would feel in his hands..
What the hell was he supposed to do? But good thing the system was there with the answer.
DING!
The text glowed bright pink—never a good sign.
[New Quest Available: Cuckold the Lord]
[Objective: Seduce and conquer the heart and body of the alluring and enigmatic Lady Seraphine Dargan.]
[Rewards: +1000 EXP; +5000 Gold Coins; 1 Random Spin; Penis size: +1 inch]
[Quest Time Duration: 7 Days]
Do you accept the quest?]
[Y/N]
Leo stared at the screen and blinked. Then blinked again.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," he muttered, rubbing his cheeks, and the confusion on his face slowly faded, replaced by a slow, wolfish grin.
"Alright, Lady Seraphine… let's see what kind of game you are playing."
The hunt was officially on.
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Author's Note:
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