Recap of Chapter 9:
Losty conquered Selena inside the Velvet Rose Chamber. Her vines screamed with desire as she moaned his name until she submitted, sealing her Bond. He unlocked the Rose Charm skill, making her a loyal ally. But outside, the other mommies felt the climax shaking the Palace. Now, jealousy burns hotter than lust.
The great doors of the Velvet Rose Chamber creaked open, their hinges sighing as though exhausted by the moans they had heard within. A rush of perfume drifted out—roses, musk, and Selena's surrender woven into the air.
Losty stepped out first, shirt half-unbuttoned, smirk carved on his lips. Behind him, Selena emerged like a storm after rain: hair tangled, cheeks flushed, her lips still parting in the aftermath of desire. A faint, unwilling moan escaped her throat, "Mmmnhhh… ahhhhnnnn…", before she bit it back.
The hall outside was not empty.
Vivienne lounged against the gilded railing, her diamond-tipped nails tapping a steady rhythm. Her eyes glittered like sharpened glass, voice slicing through the tension. "So… the Rose wilted first."
Cassandra stood with arms crossed, her wild red mane falling in messy waves, fury sparking in her eyes. She spat onto the marble floor. "Tch. I smelled your moans from the other side of the Palace, Selena. Pathetic."
And the Duchess… she did not move, did not speak. But the shadows around her shifted like silk curtains in a wind only she could feel. Her gaze lingered on Losty, unreadable, yet heavy with promises and threats.
Selena hissed, stepping forward, her aura blooming roses at her feet. "Say that again, Cassandra."
But Cassandra was already laughing, deep and husky. "Fine. You want it raw? You broke first. You're nothing but his little rose toy now. I'll never—"
Losty raised a hand. The hall fell silent. Even the torches along the walls flickered lower, shadows stretching toward him.
"Ladies," he said, his voice smooth, dangerous, and soaked in amusement. "Didn't you learn? When you moan my name… you're mine. Doesn't matter if it's roses, fire, or shadows. I'll make each of you scream it."
The System chimed softly in his ear:
[Palace Jealousy +10 → +25 → +40]
[Bonus Acquired: Jealous Lust Aura unlocked.]
[Effect: Jealousy amplifies mommy desire when directed at you.]
The effect was immediate. Vivienne's diamond aura sparked, crackling against the marble like sharp laughter. Cassandra's fists clenched, but her lips trembled—whether with rage or restraint was impossible to tell. The Duchess's shadows thickened, curling around her as if to hide the faintest hitch in her breath.
Selena stepped closer to Losty, draping an arm around his shoulders with a languid sigh. "Mmmnhhh… ahhhhnnnn… Hear that? He chose me first. He heard my moans before yours."
Vivienne's nails scratched the railing, leaving deep diamond gouges. "Don't gloat, flower. You're nothing but the first bite. I'll be the feast."
Cassandra snarled, fire practically steaming from her skin. "The only thing I'll feast on is tearing that smug look off your face."
The Duchess finally spoke, her voice low, smooth, like velvet over a blade. "Enough. Your noise is pitiful. Losty belongs to none of you."
Her eyes cut to him, piercing, shadow-slick. "Yet."
Losty chuckled, spreading his arms wide. "There it is—the jealousy, the hunger, the rage. Beautiful. All of you want me… and none of you can admit it."
Vivienne hissed. "Want you? Don't flatter yourself, boy."
The System interrupted with a cheeky ding:
[Lie Detected: Vivienne's Lust Level at 62%.]
[Condition: Suppressed.]
[Reward: +10 Mommy Points for calling out her bluff.]
Losty tilted his head, grin widening. "Funny… the System says otherwise."
Vivienne's face twitched, color flashing across her cheeks. She snapped her fingers, and shards of crystal burst into the air, sharp and singing. They hovered inches from Losty's throat.
"Mmmnhhh… ahhhhnnnn…" Selena's moan rose again—not in surrender this time, but in excitement. Her roses curled upward, deflecting the shards with lazy grace. "Touch him, and you'll regret it."
Cassandra barked out a laugh. "Ha! Look at you two, already like a married couple. Disgusting."
But the hall itself seemed to pulse now. Moans whispered from the walls, as though the Palace fed on the lust tension. "ahhh… mmmnnnhhh… Lostyyy…"
The System chimed again:
[Palace Lust Resonance Triggered.]
[Jealous Lust Aura spreading: amplifying all mommy desires by +20%.]
Losty leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, letting their fury and lust boil higher. "Fight all you want, but you'll break. Each of you will moan my name. That's not a promise—it's fate."
Vivienne spat, "Over my dead—"
"Ahhhhnnnn…" The sound slipped from her throat unbidden, soft, trembling, stolen by the Aura. Her eyes widened in horror.
Cassandra froze, caught between laughter and shock. Then she too trembled, a faint gasp slipping past her lips. "Mmmnnnhhh…"
The Duchess closed her eyes, shadows coiling tighter around her body. For one fraction of a second, the faintest sigh ghosted from her lips. "…ahhh…"
Selena purred, leaning harder into Losty. "See? They moan too. They just don't want to admit it."
The hall exploded in tension. Vivienne snapped her diamonds back with a scream. Cassandra's fire surged, shadows thickened, roses bloomed. The four women clashed in aura, the Palace shaking, walls moaning, chandeliers dripping sparks.
Losty stood at the center of the storm, smirk never fading, his Jealous Lust Aura feeding on every sound.
The System chimed again:
[Event Triggered: The First Sugar War.]
[Objective: Survive the mommy clash. Manipulate their jealousy to your advantage.]
But before the fight could escalate further, the great doors at the end of the hall slammed open.
A voice purred from the darkness beyond, dripping with seduction sharper than knives.
"Well, well, well… playing with my little kittens already, Losty?"
Every mommy froze. Even the Duchess's shadows stilled. Selena's eyes widened in shock, Vivienne's diamonds cracked, Cassandra's fire dimmed.
Losty turned toward the door, grin spreading as he saw the silhouette.
Tall. Curved. A presence that eclipsed all others.
The System chimed one last time:
[Hidden Mommy Detected.]
[Title: The Forbidden One.]
The Palace moaned as though in fear. "ahhhhnnnn… ohhhhhh…"
End of Chapter 10