Chapter 194: The Seventh Lady Returns
A few hours after leaving the White Wing, Lira appeared in Kael’s study with a thin folder in her hands.
"Garrett De Vorn." She set the folder on his desk. "As requested, my lord."
Kael opened it and began reading.
Garrett De Vorn
Realm: Late Mana Heart, Rank 7
Rank: 5th among the Shadows
Talent: Blue (Rare)
Title: The Old Wolf
Branch: Seventh Vorn Territory, Planet Valdren (outside the Thirteen Worlds)
Abilities: Wind Manipulation (Expert III), Shadow Blade Mastery (Advanced)
Background: Son of Senior Branch Elder Gregor De Vorn. Commands two Flagbearer squads — twelve soldiers each. Rising star among branch family children. Known for patience, tactical thinking, and completing missions without unnecessary casualties. Has declined three promotion offers to remain field-active.
Lira remained standing beside the desk. "There is an additional detail, my lord."
"You may speak."
"Lady Ursula seems to want both of you eliminated on this mission. The Zenthoria assignment is difficult enough for a single late-rank Mana Heart cultivator. Adding a Shadow from the branch families — one who has no connection to you, who answers to Ursula’s office — creates a situation where plausible deniability is trivial." Lira’s voice remained perfectly neutral. "Furthermore, Lady Ursula is known to harbor significant hostility toward branch family children, particularly those who achieve Shadow or Sword rank. Garrett De Vorn’s position as fifth among the Shadows makes him a target independent of his association with you."
Kael finished reading and closed the folder.
Garrett’s profile painted a picture of competence without ambition — a man who did his job well and avoided politics.
I’ll need to find what he desires. Everyone wants something.
"Lira."
"My lord?"
"Shall I inform Lady Cassandra?"
Kael raised a hand. "No need. I will handle this matter on my own. Besides, I can consider this mission as a way to temper myself. Zenthoria is dangerous, but danger is just another form of training."
Lira bowed. "Understood."
A knock came at the door. Gerard entered with a tea set on a silver tray.
"Your tea, my lord."
Kael accepted the cup.
"The Seventh Lady has returned," Gerard added, setting the tray down. "She arrived at the inner gardens an hour ago."
Kael’s grip on the cup paused.
"Thank you, Gerard."
The butler bowed and withdrew. Lira followed moments later, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts and a cooling cup of tea.
*****************
Sophie’s inner gardens were the most peaceful corner of the Vorn estate.
Unlike the rigid architecture of the main compound, her residence breathed with softness — flowering vines climbing white stone walls, willow trees draping over manicured paths, a small pond where silver fish darted beneath lily pads. The air smelled of jasmine and old books.
Sophie sat on a bench beneath a willow with Elena and Nora. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders, and she wore a simple green dress.
"—and he just gave them to us?" Elena was saying, her voice carrying the particular excitement of someone retelling a favorite story for the third time.
"Brother Kael even gave us body cultivation techniques,"
Sophie looked at them with a soft smile. "Is that so?"
Nora bounced on her heels. "Mine is going really well! I’m already at mid Tier 1!"
"Don’t brag, little owl." Elena ruffled Nora’s silver hair. "I’m at late Tier 1. You’re behind."
"Only because you’re older!"
"By three years!"
Sophie watched them bicker with the quiet contentment of a mother who had missed her children dearly.
The Mann family had never been powerful in the traditional sense. World Eleven was known for knowledge, not warfare. Their information network spanned the Vorn territories like an invisible web, and their scholars were sought after as advisors and strategists. But in terms of combat capability, political influence, and military strength, they ranked lowest among the main families of the Thirteen Worlds.
That was why Sophie had been married off to the Family Head — a political union that cost the Mann family nothing and gave the Vorns an information conduit. And it was why Sophie’s abilities, like those of most Mann family members, were non-combatant.
Truth and Judgement. She could detect lies and assess guilt. Invaluable for intelligence work.
Elena had inherited Precognition. Nora had inherited Soul Sight. Both extraordinary abilities. Both fundamentally unsuited for direct combat.
Until Kael had given them the Vernal Blossom Body Art.
"Oh, it seems he cared to come visit me this time," Sophie murmured. A blush crept across her cheeks as she said it looking in the direction of the outside residence.
"Mommy’s blushing," Nora announced.
"I am not."
"You definitely are."
"Children." Sophie’s voice carried gentle authority. "Don’t—"
"Hello, Sophie. Hello, little sisters."
Kael stepped onto the path with a smile that made Sophie’s blush deepen and Nora grin knowingly.
"It seems I interrupted something," Kael said.
"Not at all!" Nora chirped. "Mommy was just talking about how much she misses—"
"Nora." Sophie’s voice sharpened. "Why don’t you and Elena continue your training? I believe you were working on the third layer today."
Elena, far more perceptive than her younger sister, caught the dismissal for what it was and stood immediately. "Right. Third layer. Very important. Let’s go, Nora."
"But I want to—"
"Now, Nora."
Nora pouted but followed her sister down the path, casting one last curious glance over her shoulder before disappearing around the willow.
Silence settled over the garden.
Sophie stood. Her hands found his collar, pulling him down to her height, and her lips moved as she kissed him passsionately.
Kael kissed her back.
When she finally pulled away, both of them were breathing hard.
"I missed you so much," he said.
Sophie smiled — that soft, vulnerable expression she only showed him. "Me t—"
Kael’s hand moved.
He pinched her nipple through the thin fabric of her dress.
"Ahnn—"
Sophie’s knees buckled slightly. The sound that escaped her lips was soft but unmistakable, and her hands gripped his arms for support.
"Especially these," Kael murmured, his other hand joining the first. "These huge breasts of yours."
He leaned down and pressed his mouth to the fabric over her breast. Sophie’s back arched as he sucked through the material, her fingers tangling in his hair. Her breathing quickened — short, shallow gasps that she couldn’t quite suppress.
"Kael... someone might see..."
"The gardens are private. Your maids know better than to interrupt."
He pulled the fabric aside. Her breast spilled free — her nipples already hard and flushed pink. Kael’s mouth found it immediately.
"Ahnn... Kael..."
Sophie’s head fell back. Her fingers tightened in his hair as he sucked, his tongue circling the sensitive flesh, drawing soft moans from her lips with each movement.
Then milk came.
A thin, warm trickle that touched his tongue and made Sophie gasp — not from pleasure alone, but from the intimate vulnerability of the moment.
Kael didn’t stop. If anything, he drew deeper, and more milk followed — slow, warm drips that he swallowed without comment.
"Kael..." Sophie’s voice was barely a whisper. Her cheeks burned crimson. "That’s... that’s embarrassing..."
He switched to the other breast. Her body trembled against him, caught between shame and the pleasure she couldn’t deny herself.