The Sinful Young Master

As his thoughts wandered, Cleora moved closer, her soft footsteps echoing faintly on the wooden floor.

Nytheria, seated casually on the arm of a nearby chair, watched the unfolding scene with a gleam of amusement in her eyes, her sharp features betraying nothing but interest.
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Cleora stopped mere inches from Jolthar, the space between them charged with an unfamiliar tension. He could feel her presence, her soft breath grazing his skin, her heartbeat steady yet palpable in the quiet of the room. Her subtle, floral scent wrapped around him, intoxicating and disarming. His face flushed a deep shade of red, a reaction he hadn't anticipated nor could control.

Nytheria tilted her head, her ruby eyes flicking between the two of them, her lips quirking in a smirk. She said nothing, letting the scene unfold as though it were a private performance for her amusement.

Cleora reached up, her hand gentle and deliberate as she caressed Jolthar's face. Her touch was warm, her fingers soft yet commanding, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

Jolthar's heartbeat quickened, his breath catching in his throat as he struggled to maintain composure.

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Who is that lady with you?" she asked, her eyes searching his with a curious, almost playful glint.

Jolthar stammered, his usual composure faltering under her gaze. "Sh-she's a friend of mine," he managed to say, though his voice lacked the usual confidence.

Cleora smiled, her lips curving into a knowing expression as she took his hand in hers, her grip firm yet delicate. "So, are you okay with an old lady like me?" she asked, her tone light and teasing, though there was a deeper note of sincerity beneath her words.

Jolthar's face burned even brighter, his thoughts scattering like leaves in a storm. "Y-you—you're not old, my lady," he stuttered, his voice trembling slightly.

"You are still beautiful and young."

Cleora's smile deepened, her eyes narrowing in a way that made Jolthar's pulse race even faster. "Such a charmer," she said, her voice low and almost purring.

"I know I have chosen correctly."

Her words caught him off guard, and before he could respond, she leaned in closer, her hands rising to cup his face. Her touch was deliberate, her intentions clear as she tilted his face toward hers.

Jolthar barely had time to react before her lips met his, a deep, deliberate kiss that left him utterly stunned.

The sensation was overwhelming—the warmth of her lips, the softness of her touch, the sheer confidence with which she claimed the moment. Jolthar's mind went blank, his body frozen as he struggled to process what was happening.

Nytheria, still seated nearby, raised an eyebrow in surprise, though her smirk never wavered. "Well, this just got interesting," she muttered to herself, clearly entertained by the unexpected turn of events.

Cleora pulled back after a moment, her hands lingering on Jolthar's face as she looked into his eyes. His dazed expression made her smile, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "You'll do just fine," she said softly, her voice laced with amusement and satisfaction.

Jolthar stood there, his mind still reeling from the kiss, his lips tingling from the unexpected gesture. Before he could gather his thoughts, the door swung open, and Nora stepped back into the room. She saw both of them standing close.

"Mother!" Nora's voice was sharp, her tone a mix of disbelief and frustration. Her eyes darted between Cleora and Jolthar, her expression one of pure outrage.

Cleora turned to her daughter with a calm, unbothered smile, her poise unshaken. "Yes, dear?" she asked sweetly, as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Nora stared at them for a moment, her face flushed with anger.

Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room once more, the sound of her footsteps fading quickly down the hallway.

Cleora chuckled softly, clearly amused by her daughter's reaction. She turned back to Jolthar, leaning in close enough that her lips brushed against his ear as she whispered, "I will come and seal the deal later, so wait for me. Until then, remember me by this kiss."

With that, she stepped back, her expression serene and confident.

She offered Nytheria a polite nod before gliding out of the room, leaving Jolthar standing there, still dazed and trying to make sense of what had just transpired.

-

The room seemed to hum with an air of tension and intrigue as Jolthar stood rooted in place, still trying to process what had just occurred. Cleora's kiss lingered not just on his lips but in his mind, like an intoxicating spell he couldn't quite shake. His fingers brushed against his lips as though verifying the sensation was real.

Nytheria, ever the keen observer, lounged casually nearby, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. She tilted her head, one corner of her lips quirking into a sly smile.

"Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with mischief, "what an amusing lady indeed. I think I made the right choice by coming with you."

Jolthar snapped out of his daze, his face still tinged with red. He glanced at Nytheria, trying to muster some semblance of composure, but her knowing look only deepened his embarrassment. "I... wasn't expecting that," he admitted, his voice low.

Nytheria chuckled, the sound light and teasing. "Oh, I could tell. The great Jolthar, brought to his knees by a single kiss from a baroness." She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm.

"She's bold, I'll give her that. But you? You're a mystery. What's running through that scheming mind of yours now?"

Jolthar's expression shifted, the initial shock fading into a thoughtful grin. "She's... intriguing," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "More than I expected. Marrying her would give me a legitimate claim to the barony, and her trust could open doors I hadn't considered before. Perhaps..." His grin widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Perhaps this is the right path after all."

Nytheria raised an eyebrow, her amusement unwavering. "Oh, so now you're embracing the role of doting husband? I wonder how Nora will take that."

At the mention of Nora, Jolthar's grin faltered slightly. He could still hear the frustration in her voice when she had stormed out of the room earlier. "Nora will come around," he said, though his tone was less certain. "She'll see the benefits eventually."

Nytheria smirked. "Benefits for who, exactly? You or her mother?"

Before Jolthar could respond, his thoughts drifted back to Cleora. Her confidence, her elegance, and the way she had so easily taken control of the moment—it all left him feeling both captivated and slightly unnerved. Her whispered words echoed in his ears: 'I will come and seal the deal later, so wait for me. Until then, remember me by this kiss.'

He shook his head, trying to refocus. "Cleora's not just a beauty; she's clever. She knows exactly what she's doing."

Nytheria nodded, her expression turning more serious. "And so do you, I hope. Playing with a woman like her—and with the barony involved—could get messy. But then, you've always thrived in chaos, haven't you?"

Jolthar smiled faintly. "It's where I'm most at home."

The two fell into a brief silence, the room still faintly scented with Cleora's perfume. Jolthar couldn't help but replay the kiss in his mind, the warmth of her lips, the confidence in her touch. He clenched his fists, steeling himself. This wasn't just about a moment of passion; it was a move in a much larger game.

But then, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound—the faint echo of footsteps outside the room.

Jolthar turned toward the door, half-expecting Nora to barge in again, her temper flaring.

Instead, the door remained closed.

Nytheria tilted her head. "She's probably sulking somewhere. Or plotting."

Jolthar sighed. "Either way, I'll have to deal with her eventually. For now..." He trailed off, his gaze shifting to the window.

Outside, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the barony in the soft glow of twilight. The lights from the town twinkled in the distance, a reminder of the responsibilities—and opportunities—that awaited him.

Nytheria rose gracefully from her seat, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, this has been entertaining," she said with a smirk. "But I think I'll leave you to your thoughts, oh future baron."

Jolthar shot her a look, but there was no malice in it. "You enjoy this too much."

Nytheria's laughter was light and melodic as she walked toward the door. "Someone has to keep you grounded," she teased.

With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving Jolthar alone.

He turned back to the window, his mind a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. Cleora's actions had taken him by surprise, but he wasn't about to let that derail him. And the presence of Nytheria, she seem to know about him, much more than he expected.

He needs to find answers about her origins and the darkness creature which attacked him.

He sighed heavily as he thought things would get even more complicated than he had anticipated.