The following morning, the home was filled with a quiet anxiety as Fiora and her mother prepared to depart.
On the other hand, Fiora was not making things simple. A mixture of hesitation and displeasure could be seen on her face as she stood near the front entrance with her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on Alaric.
"Do we really have to go?" Fiora asked for what felt like the hundredth time while dragging her feet. Her eyes briefly shifted to her mother, and then they returned to Alaric, as if anticipating a miracle that would keep her here.
A sigh came from Cassandra, who was already standing outside. "Yes, Fiora. We've overstayed as it is. Your father is expecting us back. Stop delaying and let's go."
At the same time, Fiora shifted her attention to Alaric. Her eyes sparkled with a malicious gleam as she drew closer to him. "I guess I'll have to say goodbye, then." She encircled him in a bear hug, crushing her body against his in a manner that was somewhat more forceful than it should have been.
[+30 Experience gained for physical affection.]
With a smile on his face, Alaric was taking pleasure in this particular period of time. The embrace was returned, and he stated in a casual manner, "You'll be back before you know it." He maintained a light tone throughout the exchange.
Immediately prior to taking a step back, Fiora gave a little squeeze. "I just want to make sure that you don't forget about me while I'm away," she joked, casting a sideways glance at Kara, who was cleaning up in the vicinity.
A smile came on Alaric's face, but he did not answer as he saw Fiora eventually make her way out of the house. Her mother gave her a final wave before they went down the road. Alaric found the house's return to a more tranquil rhythm to be strangely soothing. The house had returned to its previous state of silence.
~~
Later on that day, just after noon, the corridors were filled with the sound of heavy footfall, which served as an announcement that Victor Steele, Alaric's father, had returned from one of his lengthy business travels.
Victor entered the room with his customary harsh manner and towering stance. Upon entering, he instantly came across Kara, and his brow furrowed slightly in recognition of her presence. "A new maid?" he muttered, not expecting to see a fresh face in the household.
"Yeah, her name's Kara. She's been helping around for a bit now," Alaric said, leaning casually against the banister as he watched his father closely.
The only reaction that Victor provided was a grunt, indicating that he was obviously uninterested in the specifics of household administration, which was a task that he had long since delegated to Lyra.
Victor started walking straight up to his room, and his fatigue was clear in every step he made. He did not even bother to give his wife a second glance, even though she had come to welcome him at the bottom of the stairs.
As Lyra watched her husband leave upstairs without uttering a single word, she remained there for a fraction of a second, her grin beginning to waver.
Within her eyes, there was a fleeting glimpse of dissatisfaction, a glimpse that was so fleeting that only Alaric detected it. While he was doing this, a sinister grin began to form on his lips, and a terrible notion began to whirl about in his head.
[+50 Experience gained for noticing an emotional vulnerability.]
'Don't worry, Mother,' he thought to himself, his eyes glinting with amusement. 'I'll make sure you never feel neglected again. Soon, you won't even remember he exists.'
His mind toyed with the idea of one day making her his—but that would have to wait. He was still too young, but soon, very soon, he would start weaving that web.
The days began to blur into a routine, but Alaric found himself growing bolder as the system continued to shape his interactions.
It became somewhat of a routine for him to accompany Kara on their excursions to the market, which he did on a regular basis.
Kara would lead the way through the crowded streets, but Alaric was always nearby, his actions becoming more deliberate and his confidence rising.
It was a bright and beautiful afternoon while they were strolling around the market, and Alaric couldn't help but give in. As they stopped by a fruit seller, he softly placed his hand on Kara's lower back, and the sensation of the contact lingered for a while.
[+70 Experience gained for bold physical contact.]
Kara cocked her head to the side and grinned softly as she looked down at him. She twisted her head slightly. "You're getting very handsy today, aren't you?" she teased, yet there was no indication that she was uncomfortable in her tone of voice.
Alaric flashed her a grin. "I just like being near you. You don't mind, do you?" His hand slipped a little lower, grazing her hip in a way that felt intentional but still light enough to be brushed off.
Kara let out a tender giggle while shaking her head. Even though she was muttering, "You're impossible," her eyes gleamed with a warmth that conveyed to him that she appreciated the attention she was receiving.
[+80 Experience gained for sustained physical contact.]
At the moment that the notice appeared in Alaric's consciousness, he experienced a surge of exhilaration.
This was something that he was becoming better at, both in terms of reading her emotions and in terms of pushing the boundaries without going over the line.
Before making use of his ability, he made sure that no one was seeing him by doing a quick scan around.
[Wink of Flirtation has been activated.]
He gave Kara a brief wink that was mischievous, and he watched as her cheeks flushed slightly, a reaction that she was unable to completely conceal.
[+60 Experience gained. Kara's affection towards you has increased.]
As they resumed their stroll around the market, Alaric continued to engage in his flirty gestures. He would lightly brush his hands against Kara's waist, and he would occasionally even graze her beautiful hips or give her a playful squeeze when no one was watching.
The system continued to reward him, and it appeared that each touch she received seemed to increase her desire to him.
It was by the time they arrived back to the estate that Alaric had acquired a considerable amount of experience.
Alaric saw that Kara's mood had changed, despite the fact that she was walking a few steps ahead of him with a calm expression on her face.
There was a brief moment when Kara caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye as they passed the threshold of the home. Her lips curled into a little grin.
When Alaric received yet another notification from the system, his heart began to beat.
[+70 Experience gained for sustained flirtatious behavior.]
On the other hand, something was different this time. Almost immediately after that, a fresh notice arrived.
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 3.]
And Alaric's heartbeat accelerated. The level-up did not result in new skills, but the system did increase his Wink of Flirtation once again.
[Wink of Flirtation has strengthened. Charm effectiveness increased.]
He let out a grin to himself, delighted with the progress he had made. The conversations he had with Kara were developing, and he could see that she was getting more at ease, and maybe even thrilled, as a result of their increased proximity to one another.
As time went on, Alaric continued to test his limits. The frequency of his excursions with Kara increased, and he got more daring with each excursion that he took.
It didn't matter if it was a simple brush of his hand or a lengthy caress that drove his system into a frenzy; he always found another way to touch her and play with her gorgeous body whenever they were alone.
At one point in the day, when they were alone in one of the mansion's more peaceful passageways, Alaric went closer to Kara. He slipped his hand up her side and then came to rest on her waist.
Under his fingertips, he was able to feel the gentle fabric of her clothing, as well as the warmth of her skin immediately underneath it.
Kara looked down at him, her smile affectionate but tinged with something deeper now. "You're becoming quite bold, Alaric," she said, her voice soft but laced with amusement.
With a smirk on his face, Alaric moved his hand slightly lower, brushing across her seductive buttocks. "I'm just comfortable around you," he replied innocently, though the playful gleam in his eyes gave him away.
[+90 Experience gained for bold physical contact.]
Kara's breath caught in her throat, yet she did not pull away from the situation.
Instead, she moved in close to him, placing her hand lightly on his shoulder during the interaction. "You're a troublemaker," she murmured, though there was no real reprimand in her tone.
When Alaric was rewarded once more by the system, his heart began to race.
[+70 Experience gained. Kara's affection towards you has increased.]
Now, he was unable to go back. In a humorous manner, he offered her a brief wink.
[Wink of Flirtation activated.]
Kara had a severe flush and bit her lip as she turned aside for a little minute, attempting to regain her composure.
[+80 Experience gained. Kara's affection towards you has increased.]
Every day, Alaric was becoming more self-assured, and Kara's responses didn't do anything except encourage him to be more courageous.
On the other hand, despite the fact that he was pushing the limits, Kara's eyes still contained something that had never been there before: a sense of wonder and a warmth.
As time went on, Kara started to come to the realization that Alaric was not as innocent as she had once believed him to be.
However, despite the fact that she had suspicions about his motives, she did not put in any distance. In point of fact, she had a peculiar excitement whenever he was close by, a rush that she was unable to adequately describe.
Something had changed between them, something that went beyond simple affectionate play. It was as if something had shifted.
Kara discovered that she was pulled to Alaric in ways that she had not anticipated, and despite the questions that continued to remain in her thoughts, she could not reject the attraction.
She, on the other hand, accepted it.
And Alaric, with the assistance of his Harem God System, was well aware of the means by which he could ensure that this link continued to grow stronger with each passing day.