"System, close the shop menu for now," I commanded mentally.
The glowing golden screen dissolved into a flurry of light particles, leaving my vision clear just as a soft, hesitant knock echoed from the heavy oak doors.
"Young Master Kael? May I enter?" a timid voice called out.
"Come in," I replied, adjusting my posture against the plush pillows.
The door creaked open, and a young woman stepped into the room, holding a freshly pressed set of noble robes over her arms.
This was Maya. She had short, neatly trimmed black hair and wore a pair of round, silver-rimmed glasses that framed her soft, nervous eyes.
Her classic black-and-white maid uniform was perfectly ironed, though the fabric across her chest was straining heavily, barely able to contain her incredibly large, generous breasts.
She was not my personal head maid, Chloe, but rather my Third Mother's trusted personal maid.
Because Lady Seraphina, my third step-mother, secretly cared deeply about my well-being, she had deployed Maya to take care of me most of the time, ensuring I was looked after despite my low status in the estate.
The moment Maya looked up and locked eyes with me, she froze entirely. The stack of clothes in her arms nearly slipped from her grip.
Right on cue, the blue interface flashed into existence.
[ Target: Maya (Third Mother's Maid / Assigned Caregiver) ]
[ Age: 19 ]
[ Affection Level: 45 / 100 (Sympathy and Loyalty to Lady Seraphina) ]
[ Arousal Level: 00 / 100 (Completely Neutral) ]
Maya blinked rapidly, her cheeks developing a very faint, subtle pink tint as she stared at my newly upgraded face. She was used to looking at a pale, sickly, and utterly defeated boy.
Now, she was looking at someone with flawless skin, a sharp jawline, and commanding crimson eyes that practically radiated confidence.
"Y-Young Master," Maya stammered, quickly lowering her gaze to the floor.
"You are finally awake. Lady Seraphina just informed me to bring you these clothes. Praise the Gods, we all thought... we thought you would not make it."
"It takes more than a little fall to kill me, Maya," I said, offering her a relaxed, easygoing smile.
"What is the occasion for the formal robes?"
Maya swallowed hard, nervously clutching the robes tighter against her ample chest.
"The Duke has returned to the estate, Young Master. He has just been informed of your awakening."
My eyes narrowed slightly. The Duke. Julian Valerius. My biological father in this world, and the absolute ruler of this high-ranking noble house.
He was a cold-hearted, powerful warlord who only valued strength. To him, the old Kael was a stain on the family lineage, completely ignored and left to the mercy of his abusive stepbrothers.
"And what does my dear father want?" I asked, my tone dipping into casual indifference.
Maya shivered slightly at my tone, clearly surprised by my lack of fear. Usually, just the mention of the Duke would make the old Kael shake like a leaf.
"His Grace has commanded your presence at the family dinner tonight," Maya whispered, her voice filled with genuine worry.
"All the Madams and the young masters will be attending. First Brother Cassius Valerius specifically requested your attendance to celebrate your recovery."
A dark, mocking laugh escaped my lips. Celebrate my recovery? More like he wanted to see why his murder attempt failed.
Cassius Valerius was the golden child of the family. He was a prodigy swordsman, arrogant to a fault, and the exact monster who kicked me off the cliff three days ago.
He expected me to be a corpse rotting at the bottom of a ravine. Walking into that dining hall was going to give him the absolute shock of his life.
"I see," I said smoothly, sliding my legs out from under the silk sheets and standing up.
My physical body felt incredibly light, completely rejuvenated by the System's initial integration. I walked directly toward Maya, stopping just inches away from her.
"Young Master?" Maya gasped softly, her breath catching in her throat as my tall, imposing shadow fell over her.
Electrifying Touch was a passive skill, meaning it was always active. I reached out, my fingers lightly brushing against her trembling hands as I took the noble robes from her grasp.
The moment our skin made contact, a visible jolt went through her small frame.
Her eyes went completely wide behind her glasses, her knees buckling slightly as the sudden, overwhelming wave of euphoric warmth flooded her nervous system.
Ding.
[Target: Maya]
[Age: 19]
[Arousal Level: 15 / 100 (Rising Swiftly)]
[Passive Skill 'Electrifying Touch' has successfully triggered.]
[+5 Taboo Points generated.]
[Current Balance: 55 Taboo Points]
Maya bit her lower lip, her breathing suddenly becoming shallow as she stared up at me with a mixture of confusion and intense, unadulterated pleasure.
She had no idea what was happening to her body, only that being near me suddenly felt like an addictive drug.
"Help me dress, Maya," I murmured, my voice low and smooth. "We cannot keep the Duke waiting."
"Y-Yes, Young Master," she whispered. Her hands were still shaking slightly from the lingering effects of my touch.
She stepped closer and gently untied the strings of my loose recovery gown. As the thin fabric slipped off my shoulders and pooled at my bare feet, Maya completely froze.
The old Kael was sickly, malnourished, and covered in ugly bruises. But the System had entirely reconstructed my genetics. Now, my chest and abdomen were carved with lean, perfectly defined muscle.
But that was definitely not what caught Maya's immediate attention.
Her wide, trembling eyes slowly dragged downward, locking entirely onto the heavy, completely unhidden weapon resting between my thighs.
Maya stopped breathing. Her face turned a shade of red that would make a tomato look pale. She stood there like a beautiful statue, her mind completely short-circuiting at the sight of my massive veiny dick.
Ding.
[ Target: Maya ]
[ Age: 19 ]
[ Arousal Level: 30 / 100 (Visual Overload, Spiking Aggressively) ]
[ Target is experiencing intense physical infatuation. ]
[ +10 Taboo Points generated. ]
[ Current Balance: 65 Taboo Points ]
I let her enjoy the view for another five seconds before deciding to show her some mercy.
"I appreciate the intense admiration, Maya," I said, a playful smirk curling on my lips. "But if you keep staring like that, my father really will send his guards to see what is taking us so long."
Maya violently snapped out of her stupor.
"Ah! I am so sorry! Forgive me, Young Master!" she squeaked, practically jumping backward in pure embarrassment.
She frantically grabbed the crisp white undershirt from the stack, keeping her eyes glued firmly to the ceiling as she practically threw the clothes over my head. Her flustered panic was incredibly entertaining
Once she managed to secure the dark, silver-lined noble robes over my shoulders, I finally looked the part of a high-ranking aristocratic son.
I turned away from the large glass windows and walked past a still blushing Maya.
"Lead the way," I instructed calmly.
I stepped out of my bedroom and into the sprawling corridors of the Valerius estate. The sheer scale of the mansion was staggering.
High vaulted ceilings were lined with glowing crystal chandeliers that cast a warm, golden
light over the perfectly polished marble floors.
Suits of enchanted armor stood silently between massive, intimidating portraits of ancient warlords. Every single detail, from the crimson velvet carpets to the intricate silver carvings on the walls, screamed of absolute wealth and terrifying political power.
This was the viper's nest.
As we descended the grand spiral staircase, the distant clinking of wine glasses and the low hum of conversation reached my ears.
Two heavily armored guards stood at attention outside the dining room. Seeing my approach, they quickly bowed and pushed the massive, intricately carved double doors open.
I stepped inside, instantly feeling the heavy, suffocating atmosphere of the Valerius family's inner circle.
The room was cavernous, dominated by a breathtakingly long mahogany table covered in extravagant silver dishes and glowing crystal centerpieces. Standing silently along the edges of the room were several serving maids.
Among them, I immediately spotted Chloe, my personal head maid. Her beautiful eyes widened in pure shock at the sight of my healthy, imposing figure, her hands tightly gripping the silver pitcher she was holding.
Seated around the grand table was the complete ruling class of the estate.
At the absolute head of the table sat Duke Julian Valerius. He was a massive, heavily scarred man with cold, calculating eyes that practically radiated a lethal, warlord aura.
Flanking him were my three stepmothers. First Mother and Second Mother sat rigidly, both dripping in expensive jewels and radiating haughty arrogance.
Beside them sat Lady Seraphina, my Third Mother, who completely avoided my gaze, her cheeks still sporting a very suspicious shade of pink from our earlier encounter.
Further down the table sat my two older stepbrothers, including Cassius, the arrogant golden child who had literally kicked me off a cliff three days ago.
Seated elegantly next to the brothers were three incredibly beautiful mature women, the high-society wives of my stepbrothers.
And right at the very end of the table sat Elara, my energetic eighteen-year-old stepsister. The moment she saw me enter, her face lit up like a ray of sunshine, her dark eyes sparkling with absolute joy.
The moment my boots clicked against the marble floor, the entire room went completely dead silent. The clinking of silverware stopped. Every single conversation evaporated into thin air.
Cassius froze with a crystal wine glass halfway to his mouth. His smug, confident smile instantly shattered, replaced by an expression of pure, unadulterated horror.
How is he alive? Cassius screamed internally, his knuckles turning pale as he gripped the fragile glass tightly. I kicked him directly into the jagged rocks of the Abyssal Ravine! Even a seasoned aura knight would have shattered every bone in their body! How is he standing there looking perfectly healthy?!
He stared at me exactly like he was looking at a walking ghost.
I offered the silent room a brilliant, devastatingly handsome smile.
Ignoring the heavy silence, I walked right past the frozen serving maids and the bewildered guards. I pulled out the single empty chair at the far end of the grand table and casually took my seat.