The Third Prince Of Darkness

When I came again, gasping for breath, Luciana put her arms around my neck and kissed me on the lips. We had spent an intense, sensual night. After the kiss, I pulled out my penis and lay down on her right side. I adjusted the duvet to cover us both before cuddling against her naked, soft skin. We had both cum many times and Luciana's eyes were closing from exhaustion, so I thought it was time to sleep.

"You were right... I feel so happy."

Luciana's whisper reached my ears, and I turned to gently caress her cheek. I softly held her by the waist, pulling her closer to press her body against mine. A tired yet sweet smile graced her face. At first, I thought it would take her much longer to adjust to this relationship, but perhaps the lack of a strong taboo surrounding incest in this world helped her embrace it more quickly. In any case, tonight, she admitted that she had always admired me as a man. I guess the tension between us wasn't as one-sided as I had assumed.

After stroking Luciana's white hair, I wrapped my arms around her delicate, sensual, yet soft body. It was such a pleasant sensation. Breathing in her strawberry-like aroma, it didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep.

---

When I felt a small hand nudging me from below, I looked down at the breakfast table. There, a pair of blue eyes resembling mine gazed at me with a teary, yet adorable, expression.

"What's wrong, Lyra?" I asked my little daughter.

Though I was still getting used to being a father, this sweet little rascal made me sure I'd adapt quickly. Lyra opened her arms and looked at me with puppy-dog eyes.

"I want to eat cookies, but Mommy won't let me..." The pleading in her eyes was utterly adorable.

When I glanced at Avanne, I saw she was chatting with Roxanne. I quickly grabbed a cookie, handed it to Lyra, and patted her head.

Lyra's face lit up instantly, her sadness replaced by sparkling joy. With her tiny hands, she grabbed the cookie, kissed my cheek, and thanked me.

"Thank you, Daddy! You're the best in the world!" she said before dashing away from under the table.

Luciana observed the scene with a quiet smile. Her eyes, as always, were full of love. I looked at her and shook my head slightly.

"This little devil seems to have already learned how to manipulate you," she said with a light laugh.

I smiled and shrugged. "Isn't giving in during moments like this one of the rules of being a father?" I replied.

Luciana raised her eyebrows as if ready to argue, but then leaned in with a conspiratorial grin and whispered, "If you're too lenient, your daughter will have you wrapped around her finger. Be careful."

Her warning made me think, but I couldn't help brushing it off when Lyra's innocent face came to mind.

When I turned my attention back to the others at the table, I saw Evangeline chatting with Isabella, Catherine with Ellera, and Roxanne with Avanne. Kayle, unusually, was eating quietly. The dining table was lively and noisy, but to me, the noise sounded like a pleasant melody. It was especially nice to see my women talking instead of fighting.

Of course, it was obvious that some of the women didn't particularly like each other, but tolerated one another for my sake. Catherine and Evangeline, in particular, weren't fond of each other. I could understand their behavior. However, Kayle seemed to dislike Avanne for reasons I couldn't quite grasp. Though she didn't show it overtly, I noticed it in subtle details. Discover hidden content at empire

I suspected Kayle still harbored resentment because Avanne had left me to protect our child. Thankfully, Kayle seemed to adore Lyra, which was a good thing. I didn't think there would be an issue for now, but perhaps I should talk to her about it when we were alone tonight.

Another thing I noticed today was how Luciana and Isabella had naturally assumed the roles of "harem leaders." Luciana's gentle, nurturing presence kept everyone united, while Isabella's disciplined and strategic approach balanced things out. They complemented each other perfectly.

After breakfast, Isabella approached me with her usual mix of formality and warmth. "Do you have a busy schedule today?" she asked. I understood her meaning—she was subtly hinting that I needed to spend more time maintaining harmony in the harem.

I smiled and shook my head. "It's a busy day, but we can make plans for the evening. What do you have in mind?"

She thought for a moment before responding with a light smile, "How about we all spend some time together after dinner? It's important in a household this big."

Luciana, who seemed to have overheard our conversation, approached and added, "Isabella's right. Also, Lyra could use some extra attention from her daddy." There was a playful glint in her eyes as she said this.

---

The day was hectic, but by evening, I made sure to gather everyone, as Luciana and Isabella suggested. In the large living room, we arranged a cozy seating area. The evening was filled with games, conversations, and shared laughter.

Lyra sat on my lap, playing with a toy rabbit, while Luciana told her a story. Meanwhile, Catherine smiled sweetly at Evangeline, as if they'd never had any disagreements. Seeing them get along eased my worries.

Kayle, however, sat quietly in a corner, her gaze drifting between Avanne and Lyra. Her distant demeanor caught my attention, and I promised myself I would speak with her tonight.

The atmosphere was both chaotic and serene. The women in my harem were gradually establishing a balance, likely thanks to Luciana and Isabella's leadership. Yet, it was also my responsibility to maintain this harmony. After all, they were individuals with emotions—sometimes hurt, sometimes smiling, sometimes jealous, but always human.

As the night wore on, everyone gradually dispersed. The children retired to their rooms, and the women headed to their quarters. Kayle, however, remained seated in the corner, her eyes cast downward in thought. It seemed like the perfect moment to approach her.

I walked over and gently touched her shoulder. She looked up, her eyes reflecting fatigue yet attentiveness.

"Can we talk for a bit?" She nodded silently and stood up.

I led her to my study—a quiet place away from everyone. The large window let in the glow of the full moon, casting a soft light across the room. Kayle stood by the window for a while before taking a deep breath.

"Why are you so uneasy around Avanne?" I asked directly. There was no need to beat around the bush; being straightforward seemed the best approach.

Kayle paused for a moment, her gaze still fixed on the window. "I'm not uneasy," she said quietly, though her tone lacked any conviction.

"Kayle," I said, stepping closer to her, "you don't have to hide these things from me. I know you. It's obvious that something is bothering you."

She finally turned to me, her eyes holding a mix of frustration and sadness. "Alright, then I'll be honest. Avanne… when she left you, it created a deep wound in you. I learned that from my mother. But what bothers me even more is that when she came back to raise Lyra, she expected everything to be forgotten, just like that. That's what uneasy me."

Hearing those words, I began to understand Kayle's perspective more clearly. From the expression on her face, I could see how much this situation had been weighing on her.

"Avanne made a choice. Maybe at the time, she thought it was the right one. But now she's here. She's doing her best to make up for it. And Lyra… she needs a father, a family."

Kayle took a deep breath, tilting her head forward slightly, letting her hair fall into her face. I could see the conflicted emotions in her eyes more clearly.

"Maybe you're right. But still… forgiving her so easily doesn't feel right to me. Someone like you, after all the pain you've endured, deserves more. You deserve to be treated with more care, to be valued more…"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I reached out, wrapping my arms around Kayle, and pulled her close, pressing my lips to hers. For a moment, Kayle froze, but then she hesitantly returned the kiss. The softness of her lips and the warmth of her skin seemed to calm the emotional storm inside her, even if just for a moment. When our kiss ended, there was a mix of surprise and a hint of relief in her eyes.

"Thank you. Just knowing you care is enough for me."

After those words, I took her hand in mine, and under the gaze of her smoldering eyes, I led her toward my bedroom.

There was a brief look of surprise in Kayle's eyes, but a look of dark passion quickly replaced it. Her fingers tightened a little too much as she took my hand, slowing my pace. A slight smile appeared on her face, but there was something hidden beneath that smile; she looked like someone who wanted to take control.