"Kara," he called out softly, his voice smooth but laced with that childish innocence he had perfected.
Kara looked up from her task, smiling warmly at him. "Yes, Alaric?"
"Come here for a second," he said, motioning her over with his small hand. "I want to ask you something."
She approached him, her expression curious but patient. "What is it?"
Alaric gestured to the bed. "Can you lie down with me for a bit? I just want to be close to you."
At the request, Kara's expression changed, and it was obvious that she was moved by the kind of feeling that was behind it. She had been accustomed to Alaric's naive need for affection over the course of a lengthy period of time, and she had never suspected that his ambitions went far deeper than she could have imagined.
"Of course," she said gently, sitting down on the edge of the bed before lying back next to him. "I'm here."
Putting his head on her gentle chest, Alaric grinned as he sat down next to her and snuggled up to her. The rise and fall of her chest was something that he could feel, as well as the warmth of her body. Although it was an ideal occasion for him to put his recently improved Wink of Flirtation to the test, but...for the time being, he was satisfied to simply take pleasure in the private moment before him.
"You're so comfortable, Kara," he murmured, his voice quiet as he let himself relax against her.
Kara chuckled softly, stroking his hair with one hand. "I'm glad you think so, Alaric. You've always been such a sweet boy."
While gently caressing his hair with one hand, Kara let out a quiet giggle. I am appreciative of your opinion, Alaric. You've always been such a kind and gentle young man.
The words that she had spoken caused Alaric to experience a flush of pride because he was aware of how precisely he had built this image of purity in her mind.
She had no inkling of any suspicions. In her eyes, he was nothing more than a child—a child who was full of love and devotion and who yearned for her attention and care. It was just too simple to be true.
They remained in that position for some time, Kara's soft touch providing a sense of comfort as Alaric planned his next move.
For the time being, the system did not bestow upon him any significant new capabilities; nonetheless, the consistent accumulation of experience points that resulted from these encounters was more than sufficient to keep him engaged.
Aside from that, there was a certain joy in pushing these boundaries, in seeing just how far he could keep this up while still keeping the appearance of innocence.
After some time, Kara stirred, gently shifting to sit up. "I should get back to my duties," she said, her tone apologetic. "There's still so much to do around the house."
Alaric, not ready for the moment to end, quickly grabbed her hand, holding her back. "Wait, Kara. Can't you stay just a little longer?"
Kara hesitated, clearly torn between her responsibilities and her growing affection for Alaric. Finally, she sighed and smiled down at him. "Alright, just a little longer. But I really need to get back to work soon."
An expression of contentment could be seen in Alaric's eyes as she repositioned herself next to him.
Once again, he cradled himself against her side, this time resting his head softly on her waist.
Kara didn't appear to be bothered by the situation, as she continued to satisfy his naive desire for proximity while maintaining her warmth and patience.
During the time that they were lying there together, the only thing that could be heard was the odd sound of the mansion finally quieting down.
It was encouraging to Alaric to feel Kara's heartbeat against his cheek, which was steady and consistent. In a manner that he had not anticipated, it was reassuring to him.
He finally broke the stillness by murmuring, "Kara," after a while had passed.
"Yes, Alaric?" Her voice was soft, a gentle breeze in the tranquility of the moment.
"I like spending time with you," he confessed, his tone earnest. "You're the nicest person I know."
Kara's hand paused in its soothing strokes through his hair. "Oh, Alaric," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "You're such a sweet boy. I enjoy our time together too."
Even though he was aware that his comments had the desired impact, Alaric grinned to himself. He continued to lie there, taking pleasure in the proximity, the warmth of Kara's presence surrounding him while he remained in that position.
Despite this, his mind was already working out the next moves that he needed to take in his game.
It was necessary for him to preserve this delicate equilibrium of innocence and closeness while also maximizing the benefits he received from the Harem God System.
The weight of Alaric's eyelids increased as the minutes turned into what seemed like hours instead of minutes.
He fell into a state of tranquility as a result of the warming sensations emanating from Kara's body and the soothing rhythm of her breathing.
With a satisfied smile playing on his lips, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off into bed on the verge of falling asleep.
"Alaric," Kara's voice interrupted his drifting thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
He blinked his eyes open, looking up at her with sleepy affection. "Yes, Kara?"
"I think it's time for you to get some rest," she said gently, her hand still resting lightly on his back. "It's getting late."
Alaric pouted playfully, not quite ready to let go of this moment. "Can't you stay a little longer?"
Kara chuckled softly, her eyes warm with fondness. "You're a little troublemaker, you know that?" She ruffled his hair affectionately, making him giggle.
"But alright," she relented, her smile widening. "Just a little longer."
Alaric grinned up at her, experiencing a surge of triumph as he did so. He had perfected the skill of exploiting Kara's devotion, finding ways to take advantage of her genuine concern for him in order to further his own objectives.
With each contact, the system was providing him with huge rewards, and he could sense that he was getting closer and closer to being able to unlock new powers.
~~
Over the course of a week, Alaric had been spending an increasing amount of time with Kara, during which he had been quietly pushing the boundaries of their closeness while seeming to be affectionate.
His development inside the Harem God System was proceeding in a satisfactory manner.
Despite the fact that he was still trapped at level 2, he had managed to fill up half of the experience bar, which meant that he was already halfway to level 3.
Kara, on the other hand, had become accustomed to the way in which Alaric admired her voluptuous body, particularly her plentiful chest. Without ever suspecting a thing, she only attributed it to his pure affection.
"Alaric," Kara said, her tone playful as she leaned down to adjust her apron. "You've been clinging to me an awful lot lately. Are you sure you're not too big for this?" She chuckled, rubbing his hair affectionately.
A grin appeared on Alaric's face as he performed the role of a seven-year-old to perfection. "You're just too soft and warm, Kara. You feel nice." His small hands trailed down to her waist, pressing against her curves as he leaned against her.
Kara chuckled again, finding his words adorable. "You're a handful, you know that?"
Just as Alaric was going to scoot closer, the door to his chamber slammed open with a loud crash. Fiora, his cousin, made a sudden entrance, and her face lit up with excitement as soon as she saw him. However, her attention was drawn to the image of him snuggling up against Kara. The happy grin that had been on Fiora's face faded, and it was replaced with a look that was a combination of astonishment and envy.
"Alaric!" With a grimace on her face, Fiora yelled as she marched on. Her footsteps were exactly as rapid as her voice, and her way of speaking was harsh. "What are you doing?"
Alaric looked up innocently, blinking at Fiora with wide, curious eyes. "I was just sitting with Kara. Is something wrong?"
Without wasting any time, Fiora grabbed his arm and yanked him away from Kara. She then positioned herself between them in order to provide a protective barrier. "Of course something's wrong! She's—she's too close to you!"
The theatrical response that Fiora gave prompted Kara to raise an eyebrow in amusement. She got out of bed and stretched her back in a casual manner when she stood up. "Relax, Fiora. Alaric just likes to cuddle, that's all." Her voice was teasing, playful, as if this was all a joke.
In a jealous gaze, Fiora scowled at Kara, her eyes flashing with rage. "He doesn't need to cuddle with you! He has me!" She wrapped her arms around Alaric's shoulders, pulling him close to her in a possessive hug.
Kara simply laughed her head off, fully unfazed by the girl's possessiveness. The fact that Fiora had a slight crush on her cousin was completely evident to her, and the fact that it was so obvious amused her more than anything else. "You're cute, Fiora," Kara said, a sly smile on her lips. "But don't worry, I'm not trying to take your precious Alaric away from you."
Fiora's glare intensified, but Alaric just smiled between the two. He patted Fiora's arm as if comforting her, though he was silently enjoying the tension. "It's okay, Fiora. Kara's just being nice."
Fiora wasn't having any of it. She tightened her grip on Alaric and scowled at Kara. "I don't care if she's nice! You're my cousin. You don't need her." She sounded more defensive than ever, and Alaric could practically feel the jealousy radiating off her.
Kara shrugged, clearly amused by Fiora's fiery reaction. "Alright, alright, I'll back off." She winked at Alaric before walking toward the door. "But you know where to find me if you want to cuddle again, Alaric." Her words were deliberately playful, knowing full well that they would rile up Fiora even more.
Fiora's brows furrowed as she saw Kara leave the room without letting go of Alaric, and she continued to maintain her strong hold on him.
After Kara had disappeared from view, she shifted her attention to Alaric and her voice became softer. "You shouldn't let her get so close to you, Alaric. I don't trust her."
In an attempt to mimic the worried expression that was on her face, Alaric cocked his head to the side. "But Kara's nice. She's been really helpful, Fiora."
Fiora didn't seem convinced, and she wasn't about to let the issue drop. "She's just a maid. You're a Steele. You shouldn't get so attached to someone like her."
Alaric sighed inwardly but kept his smile. Fiora's protectiveness, though slightly annoying, was something he could work with. And the best part? Her jealousy would only help him further in his plan. But for now, he let Fiora believe she had won this little battle.
"Okay, Fiora," he said, nodding. "I'll be more careful."
Fiora beamed, clearly pleased with his response. She clung to his arm tightly and dragged him out of the room. "Come on, let's go outside. We need some fresh air."
From that point on, the remainder of the day seemed to pass in a blur as Fiora remained glued to Alaric like glue.
At all times, she was present, whether she was holding his hand, encircling him with her arms, or simply lingering by his side.
She was always there for him.
Every time Kara walked by, Fiora would become irritated and hold to Alaric even more tightly, while simultaneously giving the maid a distant look.
On the other side, Kara thought it was really hilarious. Her taunting smile was directed toward Fiora, and it was obvious that she was enjoying the girl's possessive conduct.
At one point, Kara even winked at Fiora, saying, "I'll leave him to you for now, but don't get too comfortable."
Kara was able to easily press his cousin's buttons, and Alaric had to resist a giggle at how easy she could do it.
Fiora had nearly erupted with wrath during this exchange. Despite the fact that he was aware that the dynamic between the two ladies was just serving to enhance his experience within the Harem God System, he was loving it.
Later that evening, during dinner, both their mothers—Cassandra and Lyra—noticed the children's behavior.
Lyra chuckled softly as she watched Fiora hover over Alaric, her protective instincts still in full swing. "It looks like Fiora's not letting anyone near you today, darling," Lyra teased, giving her son a knowing smile.
Cassandra smirked from across the table. "She's always been a little possessive of him, hasn't she?"
Lyra laughed, nodding in agreement. "Well, they've always been close. But Fiora's being more protective than usual."
Alaric smiled up at his mother, his face the perfect picture of innocence. "Fiora's just worried about me," he said, as if he didn't fully understand the situation. He played the part of the naïve boy flawlessly.
"Of course she is," Cassandra said, her voice affectionate. "She adores you."
Even though Fiora's face lighted up with pride at her mother's comments, she nevertheless cast a suspicious glance in Kara's direction, who was helping clear the table after dinner. Kara was now helping clean the table.
The moment Kara got Fiora's attention, she grinned in a teasing manner, which caused Fiora to frown once again.
Fiora remained in close proximity to Alaric throughout the evening, even going so far as to accompany him back to his room when it was time for him to retire for the night.
It didn't bother Alaric at all; in fact, he was delighted by the attention. In the end, the more time he spent with Fiora, the more experience he received from the relationship.
By the time they were settling into bed, the familiar sound of a [Ding!] echoed in Alaric's mind.
[Progress towards Level 3: 60%]
A smirk appeared on Alaric's face as he reflected on the achievements he had accomplished. The combination of Fiora's jealousy, Kara's playful taunting, and his own cautious manipulation was beginning to bear fruit. Shortly after that, he would reach Level 3, at which point he would be able to access even more powers.
As Fiora snuggled up next to him, still clutching securely to his arm, Alaric closed his eyes and smiled contentedly.
Fiora was still clinging to his arm.
His road to become the ultimate Harem God was well on its way, and the dynamics of his family were playing out just as he had imagined they would.
He was well aware that the real fun was right around the corner.