The morning Sun had already climbed the horizon, its golden light pouring through the tall windows, bathing the Darkhart Dukedom in a warm, ethereal glow.
The once dimly lit space was now alive with the soft hues of dawn, as the golden rays filtered through the drapes, casting intricate shadows that danced across the stone floor.
The lavish décor gleamed under the warm light — the tapestries, the crystal chandeliers, and the carved wooden table all shimmering in the morning haze, giving the room an air of almost unreal splendor.
A handsome young man sat cross-legged on the bed in the middle of the room, his long, flowing white hair cascading over his shoulders like strands of waterfall.
His bare chest, sculpted and smooth, gleamed under the soft sunlight that filtered through the window, highlighting the contours of his lean muscles.
The absence of any upper garment only added to his striking presence, as his blood-red eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity as they remained fixed on the small spirit stone in his palm, as though it held the secrets of the world.
Who could it be, if not Lucian?
The stone, a radiant thing of almost translucent beauty, pulsed with a soft, rhythmic glow.
Each ‘pulse’ sent waves of energy coursing through Lucian, flowing through invisible channels and permeating his body, merging with his skin and fortifying him from the inside out.
The night had been long, yet Lucian had not moved from his position.
The hours had passed in near silence, broken only by the faint humming of the stone as he drew in its essence, allowing its raw power to nourish him.
Now, as the Sun heralded the beginning of a new day, Lucian felt a shift within himself — a subtle but unmistakable transformation.
Lucian could feel that he had reached a ‘ceiling’ in his cultivation, a barrier just within reach, waiting to be shattered!
With just a bit more energy, he knew he could force his way through and ascend to the next realm.
The temptation was strong — his body craved the surge, the power within him coiling like a spring, eager to be released.
But even as that desire swelled, a deeper instinct held him back.
Though the spirit stone in his hand had dimmed and was on the verge of crumbling, Lucian knew it was not the right time to push forward.
His body had already undergone significant changes, strengthened from the inside out by the raw energy he had absorbed.
He could feel his muscles slowly hardening, but there was a limit to how much his body could handle in one go.
His heightened senses screamed a warning — rushing the breakthrough might end in disaster, leaving him vulnerable and unable to control the sudden influx of power.
Patience, he reminded himself.
After killing those Body Strengthening Realm cultivators, that night he had already consumed one spirit stone to break into the first layer of the Body Strengthening stage, and now with the dimming of this stone, Lucian found himself left with only eight spirit stones.
The dimming glow of the stone indicated that its essence was nearly depleted, but Lucian knew he could still harness its residual energy for another hour of absorption.
While he lacked proper knowledge of cultivation, instinct told him that forcing another breakthrough now would be reckless.
Instead, he chose to halt his absorption and reflect on his current circumstances.
His current body needed time to adjust to this newfound strength.
Like a man desperately drinking to quench his thirst, he had been absorbing the stones’ energy without understanding the deeper intricacies of the process.
Without a proper cultivation technique, he was strengthening himself blindly, relying only on his natural drive for power.
For now, patience would be his greatest weapon.
Knock! Knock!
“Your Highness, may I come in?”
A melodic, yet mature voice suddenly cut through the stillness of the room, soft yet rich with a hidden allure, tugging Lucian from the depths of his meditative focus.
The words, like a gentle whisper of silk, wrapped around him, coaxing him back to reality with their delicate charm.
His enhanced senses had already detected the only presence outside the door.
In addition, he could already smell the rich, seductive aroma of sandalwood and jasmine lingering in the air, awakening something deep and instinctive in him.
It was unmistakably the scent of a woman, and Lucian knew exactly who it was.
With practiced precision, Lucian’s hand swiftly concealed the now faintly glowing spirit stone, tucking it beneath the covers where it would remain hidden.
His mind worked quickly, slipping into a different role as he adjusted his posture, also sliding out of his pants beneath the blanket.
He let the cool air brush over his bare skin as he lay back against the soft bed.
His body, lean and muscular from relentless cultivation, now rested in a position of feigned weakness, the sharp edges of his strength carefully masked behind a pained, weary expression.
“Who is it?” His voice, though tinged with the proper amount of exhaustion, carried a sharp undertone of ‘alertness’.
If he intended to savor this sudden opportunity, his performance would need to be flawless.
“Your Highness, It’s me, Duchess Evelina. The Duke asked me to come,” came the reply, her voice sultry and smooth, gliding over each word like velvet.
The warmth of her tone held a subtle invitation, a rich, enticing promise woven within the delicate cadence of her words.
Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly in a perfect imitation of confusion and surprise, “Oh! Please, enter, Duchess.”
The door creaked open, its slow, deliberate pace signaling the arrival of Duchess Evelina.
The moment she stepped inside, Lucian’s gaze locked onto her, watching with intent precision.
Feigning vulnerability, Lucian allowed a tremor to enter his voice as he stammered, “Duchess, could… could you close the door, please?”
The hesitation in his tone was just enough to hint at fear, a carefully crafted illusion of lingering trauma from the recent ‘assassination attempt’.
Before leaving the Duke had already informed her earlier of the delicate situation at hand.
Duchess Evelina only offered him a sympathetic nod, her movements fluid and deliberate.
The door closed with a soft, reassuring click, sealing them within the room together.
As she approached, her steps were measured, each one filled with a natural grace that was as captivating as it was deliberate.
Lucian’s eyes followed her every movement, drinking in the details of her presence with vigour.
The Duchess was a vision of mature beauty and sensuality.
Her auburn hair fell in luxurious waves down her back, catching the low light of the room with every slight motion, shimmering with a soft radiance that only enhanced her allure.
Her face, framed by that cascade of hair, was striking — a picture of elegance with high cheekbones and full, inviting lips that curved into a faint smile.
Time had only refined her features, sharpening her beauty into something more profound, more commanding.
Her scent — the heady, floral notes of jasmine mixed with the deeper, earthy tones of sandalwood — clung to the air around her, an invisible aura that seemed to wrap around Lucian as she moved closer.
The fragrance was intoxicating, overwhelming his senses with its richness and luring him into a state of heightened awareness.
She was dressed in an emerald-green gown that seemed to have been tailored specifically for her.
The fabric clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating every seductive curve.
The gown dipped slightly at the neckline, revealing just enough of her ample, perfectly shaped breasts to tempt the eye.
With each step, those full, inviting mounds jiggled subtly, a tantalizing movement that drew Lucian’s gaze and quickened his breath.
The fitted bodice hugged her slim waist, emphasizing the dramatic contrast between her narrow midsection and the generous curve of her hips, creating an intoxicating silhouette.
As she walked, the gown shimmered faintly in the light, the soft fabric flowing effortlessly over her long, toned legs, which peeked teasingly from beneath the hem.
Her wide hips swayed with just enough allure to command attention, yet her movements were so subtle, so poised, that she exuded confidence without seeming overt.
Every step was a carefully executed display of power wrapped in elegance, her control over her own sensuality undeniable.
Lucian’s sharp eyes absorbed every detail of her entrance, from the confident sway of her hips to the playful gleam in her deep brown eyes.
There was something dangerous in her gaze, an underlying fire that danced just beneath the surface, a playful mischief that hinted at hidden depths.
It was clear that the Duchess was no ordinary woman — she was a master of her own allure, wielding her beauty and charm like weapons.
As she drew closer, her smile deepened, the faint curve of her lips betraying the slightest hint of amusement.
“Forgive my intrusion, Your Highness,” she purred, her voice smooth and sultry, like the soft caress of a warm breeze against his skin, “I thought you might like some ‘company’.”
Her words hung in the air between them, laden with suggestion.
Lucian’s heated gaze lingered on her, his mind already scheming, as the ‘free meal’ had walked right into his grasp.
Or, has she!?