Extra: Yandere Milfs Obsessed with me!-Chapter 45: Temptation

After his training, Kaiser immediately went to the bathroom, eager to relieve his muscle fatigue. With one step, he entered the basin and immersed himself completely.

The silence surrounding him allowed him to put some order into the tumult of his thoughts. He briefly thought of Addams Paragon, still in mourning. For his part, he remained indifferent to Isaak’s death; that story now belonged to the past. For the moment, his only concern was to release the tension knotting his shoulders and back.

Once the bath was finished, he dressed carefully, choosing an elegant but casual outfit. He then headed toward the wing of the estate reserved for meals, hoping to find a light snack there. It was then that a servant approached him and bowed.

"Young master," the man began, his voice low and respectful, "Duchess Irene Frostvine has just arrived at the estate gates. She wished to speak with the count, but since His Excellency is not present, it has been ordered that..."

Kaiser interrupted him. "Have her come in. In my father’s absence, I will receive her."

The servant bowed his head again. "Do you wish for the main salon to be prepared for this meeting, young master?"

"Unnecessary," Kaiser replied. "Escort her directly to my private quarters. And ensure that no one comes to disturb us."

With these instructions, the servant nodded one last time before hurrying off. Kaiser, for his part, stood up and quietly left the room.

...

Kaiser was now in his apartments, more precisely in a spacious room. The walls were adorned with roses whose delicate aroma, both sweet and penetrating, filled the space with a soothing fragrance. Seated in an armchair, he waited. Suddenly, a discreet knock echoed against the massive wooden door.

"Young master," announced a muffled voice from the other side, "Duchess Irene Frostvine is here. With your permission, may I let her in?"

"You have my permission," Kaiser replied in a clear voice.

The door opened, and Irene Frostvine entered the room. Kaiser immediately stood to greet her.

"I greet the presence of the duchess, Lady Irene Frostvine," he declared, bowing courteously.

Irene gave a slight smile before responding to his bow with an equally graceful nod. "The pleasure is all mine, young Paragon." Her gaze then swept the room, lingering on the floral arrangements. "I was unaware that the count’s son was such a lover of roses. The atmosphere is... enchanting."

"I consider it the minimum required to receive a woman of your rank and reputation," Kaiser replied.

"What a smooth talker," murmured Irene, her smile barely deepening.

"Please, take a seat," suggested Kaiser, guiding his guest to a divan facing his armchair.

Once Irene was settled, Kaiser turned away to prepare the tea. On a low ebony table, a fine porcelain teapot and two cups were already waiting. Irene watched his precise gestures, a barely visible smile curling the corner of her lips.

After carefully letting the leaves infuse, Kaiser served the tea and then sat down facing her. A silence settled, disturbed only by the slight clink of porcelain. Several minutes passed like this, until Irene, after one last small sip, delicately set down her cup and broke the calm.

"I wanted, first and foremost, to apologize for not being able to attend your brother’s funeral," she said, her gaze fixed directly on his. "The affairs of the Frostvine Duchy required all my attention at that time."

Kaiser inclined his head slightly. "Given your rank and responsibilities, it is understandable that you are overwhelmed by multiple obligations."

His response was diplomatic, acknowledging the formality of the excuse without giving it real weight. Isaak’s death mattered little to him, in truth. But if the duchess had come in person, it was certainly not for such a trivial reason.

"However, Lady Irene, allow me to doubt that you came all this way solely to evoke the memory of my deceased brother."

She did not respond immediately. Instead, she gave that enigmatic smile again and took another sip of tea, as if to buy time. Then she set down her cup.

"You are right. My initial intention was indeed to discuss certain matters with your father, Count Paragon. Affairs that require... a discussion between peers."

"I see," said Kaiser, nodding slowly. "Unfortunately, my father had to leave the estate just a few hours before your arrival. Circumstances have worked against your visit."

"A shame," she murmured, and a glimmer of disappointment crossed her gaze.

"If the nature of these affairs allows it," Kaiser proposed, leaning forward, "I could relay your words to him."

Irene held his gaze. She seemed to weigh the pros and cons in the silence before finally shaking her head. "I thank you for this proposal, young Kaiser, but the subjects in question are too delicate to be reported by an intermediary, no matter how honorable. They require a direct conversation."

Kaiser showed no annoyance. He simply inclined his head again, accepting her decision. "I respect your judgment, Lady Irene... But your expression tells me there is something troubling you."

A new silence settled. Irene looked slightly toward the window, seeming to search for her words. Then she turned her attention back to him and spoke. "You have, I imagine, heard of my husband?"

"In a way, what I know of him is quite brief," Kaiser continued, his neutral gaze fixed on the amber reflections in his cup.

A dry and joyless laugh escaped Irene’s lips.

"You don’t seem particularly interested in him either," she noted. She paused.

"Everyone knows he is no longer truly interested in our union. We live almost separately... but without proclaiming it openly. This arrangement suits political necessities; it preserves appearances. However, it suits the other aspects of life much less."

"So, you came seeking comfort," said Kaiser, quite directly.

She abruptly raised her head; a wave of blush rose beneath her powder, tinting her cheekbones with a shade of shame. "I am not that kind of woman, Kaiser. You insult a duchess by assuming so."

"I never said you were," he replied unhurriedly, his eyes still fixed on her. "However, it is sometimes necessary to consider actions rather than words. And your behavior since your arrival says precisely something else."

Irene set her cup down with a sharp clink on the porcelain saucer. The sound resonated intensely. She left her hand there for a moment, as if to anchor her anger.

"You have gone too far, Kaiser Paragon," she declared, lifting her chin with a stiffness that betrayed her effort to maintain a facade of dignity.

Kaiser did not sketch a smile. He did not move, simply looking at her, then brought his cup to his lips again for a slow sip of tea.

"I am not seeking to offend, Lady Irene. I am merely stating facts," he finally resumed.

"Let us analyze the situation: you did not come all this way, alone, to the private and rarely frequented wing of the heir son of the house, to talk politics. You had no need to consult an absent man. If your motive was official, you could have waited for my father’s return in a few days. You could have, at most, sent a letter. Yet you chose to come today. And you had no issue with seeing me."

She opened her mouth, a beginning of protest on her lips, but closed it without making a sound. Her fingers clenched on the silk fabric of her dress.

"I... I did indeed have delicate questions to discuss with the count, your father," she finally articulated, avoiding his gaze.

"Subjects so delicate that they required you to be escorted directly to my personal quarters," he continued softly. "In a closed room, isolated, imbued with perfume. Subjects so confidential that you accepted this intimacy without the slightest visible hesitation."

Irene looked away. "You are completely mistaken about my intentions," she murmured, but her voice lacked conviction.

"No," he said, and his voice lowered. "You have been alone for a very long time. Your husband, out of indifference, leaves you free in your evenings, but certainly not in your desires. And today, you came here, to the Paragon estate. Then, through a chain of choices that is anything but coincidental, you found yourself alone with me, in this room..."

She half-rose, a sudden movement of flight. But she did not stand; she sat back down heavily. The blush on her cheeks had deepened.

"You are going much too far, Kaiser," she breathed, her gaze suddenly shining with humiliation she could no longer contain.

Kaiser leaned slightly forward, resting his elbow on his knee. "Then look at me, Lady Irene. Now. Tell me, looking me straight in the eyes, that you came only to discuss alliances, taxes, or lines of succession. Say those words."

A silence fell between them. She tried to speak; her chin trembled when she raised her eyes to his.

"I... I only wanted..." she began, in a voice so weak it was barely audible.

Kaiser did not move. He waited patiently, but Irene, Duchess of Frostvine, remained silent. She refused to verbally accept his words.

Kaiser let out a sigh. "Pfff... It seems you really leave me no choice..."