CHAPTER 61: SMOOTH TALKER!

For the first time that day, Seraphina’s gaze softened. She bent down slightly, resting a gentle hand on the child’s shoulder.

"Do not cry," she said, her tone calm yet steady. "Your father will not be cast aside forever. He will be judged justly by the Church of the Moon. And depending on their sentence, he may return sooner than you think."

The wife looked up, trembling. "Truly...?"

Seraphina nodded. "Truly. Justice is not cruelty. Justice ensures that the innocent — you, his family — will not be left to suffer for his sins."

The words carried a soothing weight, and though tears still streamed down their faces, a sliver of relief flickered in their eyes.

With that, Seraphina gestured toward the harvest. "All of it shall be confiscated for the good of the people and the blessing of the Moon Goddess. But..." Her hand flicked lightly, and servants immediately separated several bags from the mountain of grain. "...these will remain with your family. Enough to last years if misfortune strikes again. You will not starve."

Albert’s lips quivered as he watched. For the first time, shame pierced through his fear — shame that his family’s dignity was preserved not by his efforts, but by the mercy of the very one he had betrayed.

Outside, the lands were proclaimed free. "Open now," Seraphina announced, "for any farmer sincere and willing to work faithfully. The soil will no longer rot under deception."

The proclamation spread like wildfire through the village, whispers of awe and fear carried on every breath.

At last, Albert was taken by Xavier’s firm grip, guided toward another chamber of the Valemont carriage. His hands were bound, his head hung low. The confiscated grain was loaded by the riders of House Valemont, their armor glinting faintly under the late afternoon sun.

The wagons of wheat would be delivered as an offering to the Church of the Moon Goddess — a gift of restitution, and a plea for blessings over the land.

Seraphina stood silently as the last bag was secured, her expression unreadable. Justice had been done, and yet the weight of her authority lingered in the hearts of all who had witnessed it.

After all the dramatic scenes with Albert, Seraphina continued her inspection across the lands under her jurisdiction. Some farmers were no different from him — fake, greedy bastards who wanted almost everything for themselves despite the grace bestowed upon them by the Monarch Emperor, the Empress, and the Goddess of the Moon. Yet others proved honest, handing over their dues exactly as agreed upon with the empire, showing both loyalty and gratitude for the farmland entrusted to them.

By evening, the freed-up lands had already found new owners — hardworking men and women eager to prove themselves. Their efforts and loyalty to the empire would be tested in the seasons to come, their first trial beginning with this very inspection.

This wave of inspections was not limited to Seraphina’s domain alone. As decreed in their last noble assembly, the same was happening across every jurisdiction of the empire. The entire realm stirred. Farmers whispered nervously, nobles took note, and even the Emperor himself was moved by the decisive measures. The empire’s workers now knew beyond doubt that the eyes of the Emperor and Empress were truly upon them, and their every action would be measured henceforth.

Tomorrow — Tuesday — Seraphina would personally deliver all the caught farmers to the Church of the Moon to stand trial for their deceit. Their punishment would not be hers to decree, but would be weighed and decided by the court of the Goddess herself. Some might return to their families humbled, while others would face far harsher fates.

Now, as twilight bled into night, Seraphina sat within her carriage, the wheels rattling along the stone road. It had been a long, grueling day — her first major inspection as Viscount, and Xavier’s first day acting as her guard. He had done his duty splendidly, proving not only his strength but his unwavering loyalty at her side.

The season of inspections had begun, and with it, a new wave of fear, vigilance, and order spread across the empire.

The carriage rumbled softly as the magical horses carried it forward, their gait so smooth that the world outside seemed far away, muffled.

Inside, Seraphina’s quill danced lightly across parchment as she summarized the events of the day — all to be signed later and sent before the council, and then the Emperor. Duty held her hand, but her mind was not entirely on the report.

Because sitting close to her, Xavier’s gaze never left her.

Not once.

He watched her with an intensity that burned — like a flame licking at the edges of her composure. And though she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t help herself; every so often, her eyes flicked to him in a quick, stolen glance before darting back to the papers.

A faint blush crept along her cheeks.

Xavier caught it, and a knowing smile curved his lips. "Has anyone ever told you you’re beautiful, Seraphina?"

Her blush deepened instantly, her quill pausing for a fraction of a second before she pretended to ignore him.

"Hehe... cute." Xavier’s laugh was low, teasing, savoring her reaction.

Silence fell again, warm and charged, the only sound the faint creak of the carriage wheels. The ride was so smooth it felt less like a carriage and more like a luxury. The temperature was pleasantly warm, the air heavy with an intimate stillness.

Seraphina stopped writing, her head tilting ever so slightly as she caught him again. This time, she didn’t look away.

"You’re staring at me again..." she teased, her lips curling into a sly little smile as she leaned just slightly closer.

"Can you blame me?" Xavier’s voice was steady, velvet-smooth. "You make it hard to focus on anything else."

Her lashes lowered, and she tilted her head playfully, feigning coyness though the amusement in her eyes betrayed her. "Smooth talker. You really think flattery’s going to get you anywhere?"

Xavier’s tone dropped lower, more deliberate now, the kind of voice that caressed as much as it spoke. "It’s not flattery if it’s true... and I’d rather show you than just say it."

Her brow arched faintly, curiosity sparking at the promise in his words. "Show me, huh? And how exactly are you planning to do that?"

His smirk deepened, eyes glinting with hunger as he leaned back slightly. He spread his legs just a little, patting his thigh with deliberate invitation.

"Come here. Sit on my lap... then you’ll see."

Seraphina blinked at him, half-expecting him to be teasing. She thought for a moment he was joking, that he’d laugh it off when she refused.

But then... to his surprise — and his delight — she rose gracefully.

Xavier’s eyes followed her every step as she walked to him, her body swaying with a natural elegance that was almost cruel in its allure. The way her dress hugged her figure, the way her hips moved with controlled grace, every detail seemed crafted to torment him.

And when she reached him, Seraphina didn’t hesitate. She turned lightly, lowering herself onto his lap with unhurried confidence. The warmth of her body settled against him, her back brushing his chest, her weight pressing into his thighs.

Xavier’s breath hitched softly. His hands hovered for a heartbeat before resting on her hips, claiming her presence there as though she belonged nowhere else.

The faint scent of her hair drifted into his senses, delicate yet intoxicating.

Seraphina leaned back just slightly, her voice smooth as silk. "Well? I’m waiting... Show me."

Her words dripped with teasing challenge, but her blush betrayed her — a streak of crimson burning across her pale cheeks.

Xavier’s lips curved in a slow smile. So she wants to play...

"Oh? Really, you want me to show you?" he murmured, voice low, almost like a purr. His hand slid upward, fingers brushing along her side before finding their way to her breast.

Even through the thin fabric of her dress, the heat of her body pulsed against his palm. His fingers closed around the soft mound, testing her shape, and he gave a slow squeeze.

Her breasts felt unreal beneath his touch — yielding like the softest silk cushions, warm and pliant, as if they had been made to fit perfectly in his hand. The sensation sent a shiver up his arm; every little squeeze made him want to sink his fingers deeper, to never let go.

"Ahn~"

The sound escaped her lips unbidden, soft and feminine. Seraphina arched her neck back in response, her body instinctively pressing against him, grinding her back gently into his chest.

Xavier chuckled, lips close to her ear. "So... you were already finished."

Seraphina’s eyes widened faintly. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew," he replied smoothly, giving her breast another gentle squeeze that made her breath catch. "I was watching the entire time. You finished the report, but pretended to still be writing... Did you plan to keep pretending until I invited you over myself?"

Seraphina’s blush deepened furiously, shame coloring her face as she realized her petty little plan had been seen through. She bit her lip, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Are you shy?" Xavier teased, his tone dripping with amusement. His free hand slid up to her hair, fingers threading through her silken locks, stroking it gently as though she were something precious. He leaned closer, whispering against her ear, "My little shy princess~"

Her blush only deepened, her body tensing in his lap even as she leaned more into his touch.

Xavier laughed quietly, thoroughly charmed by how adorable she looked, squirming yet not moving away from him. Her shyness was only fueling his desire to keep teasing her.

And then she said softly, almost in a whisper, "Xavier... you did well today. Thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you."