A world of thoughts seemed to swirl behind Daeron's eyes. He glanced warily at Lyria, then looked back to his son.
"With her?"
Stiletto nodded resolutely.
"Yes."
The baron paused, considering, before asking with clear curiosity:
"Why?"
"Oh, well, as you now know, Father, it's because I lov—"
"No. Forget about her."
Daeron glanced at Lyria once more, offering a slight bow—a lazy attempt at an apology, before returning his gaze to Stiletto.
"Why do you want to attend a spirit academy all of a sudden? What do you personally hope to gain?"
It seemed his father was less concerned with the academy being a convenient excuse to keep "his girl" close and more interested in Stiletto's personal motivations. In fact, Daeron appeared oddly pleased in that regard—the idea that his timid son had managed to win over such a beautiful girl was, honestly, something of a miracle.
Lately, he'd even found himself growing more and more proud of his son.
In any case, Stiletto had expected his father's question and answered simply:
"Power..."
He paused briefly.
"I want to get stronger, Father. Like you and Neil."
Neil was the eldest son of the family, a Stage 3 Earth mage. Both he and the second eldest, Samuel, had been away. Neil was serving in the nation's army. Samuel, on the other hand…
Was teaching.
Samuel was something of a genius. Like both the old and new Stiletto, he was a bookworm—but rather than losing himself in novels, he cultivated a deep mastery of magic theory and combat technique that surpassed anyone in the du Life fief. His brilliance exceeded even the most gifted individuals in Acerbus, which, within the nation of Vesteia, was quite a large city—though far from the strongest or most powerful.
Nonetheless, it was certainly an impressive feat. However, that wasn't what made Samuel extraordinary…
It was the fact that he was only a Stage 1 Mortal.
He possessed all the knowledge and theory in the world, yet lacked the ability to put it into practice.
Samuel du Life was like a fat basketball coach—someone who lived and breathed the game, but was utterly terrible at actually playing it.
Still, he was deeply respected, enough to earn a teaching position at one of the greatest spirit academies in the world: Valora Institute. The academy stood in the capital city of Valora, a city that also bore the name of the royal lineage ruling Vesteia.
In Daeron's eyes, his eldest sons were his pride and joy—sons he could genuinely be proud of. Potential heirs who showcased the might of the du Life family, despite their meager upbringing and background.
For the longest time, the royal families had ignored them entirely, regarding Daeron and Valerie with open arrogance and dismissing them as nothing more than trash. Now, with how things currently stood, it was somewhat better—though still far from perfect.
Above all else, the baron craved power, not just for the du Life family, but for himself. His sons, in his eyes, were simply extensions of that desire.
With that in mind, his response felt like the only logical conclusion as he nodded in approval.
"You leave next week. Begin packing your bags."
Stiletto couldn't hide the look of shock on his face.
'What the fuck… that was way too easy.'
He quickly snapped out of it and asked:
"Where to?"
Daeron only grinned, pride clear on his face at the steps his son had taken recently.
"Where else? Valora. I'll have Samuel write a letter of recommendation. I'll write one as well."
His heart pounded rapidly in his chest, as if ready to burst free. He'd expected to get what he wanted—but Valora…
That was a different story. As weak as he currently was, he wasn't sure he could hold his own.
Stiletto was pulled from his thoughts as Daeron gestured toward Lyria once more.
"I don't mind if the young lady goes with you… but she's a Stage 1 Mortal, Stiletto. You know she wouldn't be allowed to join you, right?"
Of course, with no skills, it was obvious she would be rejected by the spirit academy. This, too, was something Stiletto had prepared for.
"That's true… unless she comes with me as my slave."
It was fairly common—especially in academies that catered to students of high status—for individuals to be accompanied by a slave or personal attendant. In fact, it had been made law, allowing exactly one slave to attend school alongside their master. The regulation came into effect following the war between Vesteia and the Kalagmon Empire, officially designated the Superior War—a name that reflected its clear racial basis.
Hearing his son's response, it was now Daeron's turn to fail at hiding his shock. Seeing that Stiletto was serious, his grin only widened.
"That's my boy! Now you're thinking right!"
He laughed, throwing his head back.
Stiletto cringed, a forcibly suppressed fire slowly growing inside him. He hated the way Daeron called him his boy. He'd be damned if he let himself be called "son" by a man who could so easily abandon his wife. It hurt all the more because of the affection he felt for her.
Oblivious to the subtle change in his son's expression, Daeron turned to Lyria as his laughter tapered off.
"And you don't mind?"
Lyria shot Stiletto a look, making it clear she intended to refuse and derail his plan. Being stuck beside him was the last thing she wanted. But the look in his eyes when he met her gaze—cold and intent—sent a shiver down her spine.
And, weirdly enough, she felt it all the way through her pussy.
It was the same look he gave her every night before cruelly teasing her.
Was she seriously getting worked up? What was wrong with her?
Suddenly flustered, she answered without thinking.
"Yes..."
The baron nodded once more as he turned back to Stiletto.
"Then it's settled. Make sure to let your mother know as well."
Stiletto hated how casually he mentioned Valerie. He couldn't hold back his disdain any longer, firing back with a subtle yet pointed jab.
"Why don't you tell her for me?"
Truthfully, Stiletto wasn't even sure Daeron had visited Valerie once since she'd fallen into critical condition.
His father froze, his towering presence suddenly more intimidating as the tension in the air bore down on Lyria and Stiletto. Stiletto's instincts flared, his body automatically slipping into fight-or-flight.
Just as Daeron was about to speak, his expression darkening, Olson appeared from around the corner and summoned him for something urgent.
Thankfully, that was the end of it.
'I need to be more careful... He's still way too strong for me to provoke.'
He desperately wanted to grow stronger and enact his revenge, whether through Syril or by other means.
'All in due time...'
+++
"What?!"
Mya was resting Stiletto's head on her soft thighs on the couch, the two alone—Lyria having been ordered back to her room for the time being. The position had become a habit over the past month, a calm way for them to unwind and enjoy each other's company.
Nonetheless, the situation became anything but calm when Stiletto informed her he would be leaving in a week.
Moving his head to the side, she sprang off the couch, her large breasts bouncing with force in her tight-fitting maid outfit. The shock in her expression was evident.
"Valora?! Stiletto, that's a two-and-a-half-week carriage ride!"
She stopped, her breath trembling as she tried to continue:
"What—what am I..."
Another pause.
"What can I—"
A single tear slid down her cheek.
"Why..."
And suddenly, she lost it, breaking into tears.
"Why are you leaving me?"
Stiletto's heart nearly stopped. He stood at once, wrapping her in his arms.
"No, no, no—that's not the case at all, Mya!"
He knew this would be the hardest part, and truthfully, he didn't have a solution. He racked his brain for some kind of answer, but every path seemed to end in failure. Her situation was different—not only was she married and a grown woman, but she was also tied to this place through work. Sure, Stiletto was technically her "main work," but still.
All he could do was hold her as she cried, letting it all out until she gradually calmed. After several minutes of kissing her forehead and quietly reassuring her, she finally eased up.
Then, to his surprise, the maid asked a question he never expected.
"Can I come with you?"
His heart ached again as he told her the truth.
"I already have a servant coming with me—Lyria. You wouldn't be allowed on campus."
Her hands rested on his chest, her body pressed close as Mya looked up at him, desperation and resolve burning in her eyes.
"Then let me rent a place near the academy. The three of us can live together. If I can't be with you at school, then let me at least be the one who welcomes you home and looks after you."
Stiletto's eyes widened.
"You don't mean that. With what money?"
Mya held his gaze, unwavering, searching his eyes with quiet resolve.
"I'll use whatever I have to."
"…Then what about your husband?"
The question startled her. She averted her eyes, color rising to her cheeks as she stumbled over her words.
"I—I… I can talk to James. He knows how much I value you. I'm sure he'll agree… after enough convincing."
Stiletto blinked.
'Not if he knew what we did all day.'
Still, feeling that Mya was putting far more thought and effort into this than he was, he made a proposal:
"Let me come to your apartment in Acerbus."
Mya's knees nearly gave out as he continued:
"I'll also help convince him."
Swept up in the moment, she asked breathlessly:
"Will you?!"
But then she averted her gaze, still in his arms, uncertainty setting in.
"Oh… but, I'm n—not sure that's the best ide—"
Stiletto lifted her chin, forcing her silver eyes to meet his red ones as he interrupted softly:
"Let me, Mya."
She searched his eyes again, her thoughts spinning. But when she saw his resolve, the tension finally left her body. She looked up at him, a radiant smile forming as fresh tears gathered in her eyes.
"Thank you."
In response, he simply brushed the tear away before leaning down and pulling her into a deep kiss, before pulling back with a grin.
"My maid is such a little cry-baby~"
She laughed—and then gasped as he lifted her effortlessly. In the next moment, her back was against Stiletto's mattress as their tongues intertwined.
Mya elicited a deep, throaty chuckle between kisses, her fingers already tightening in his clothes.
"Then don't stop. Make this emotional maid of yours melt completely... don't hold back."
Then—feeling at peace—the daring maid began to slowly stroke his throbbing cock, her own pussy becoming unbearably wet.
"Take me now, big boy~"