I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 697: The game of calculation

She held herself like someone who had spent years being stared at in important rooms and had learned exactly how to meet those stares without ever looking smaller.

Her face was stunning with a naturally red lips that looked like it was made for wicked smiles. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, the kind that saw everything and gave away almost nothing.

But it was her body that truly commanded attention.

Her deep green dress clung to her like a second skin. The bodice was tightly fitted, pushing her mature breasts upward until they threatened to spill over with every breath. The fabric hugged the dramatic curve of her waist before flaring out over wide hips and a round, generous ass that the dress traced shamelessly.

She descended carefully, one hand lightly lifting the front of her skirt just enough to reveal a flash of smooth, toned calf and the delicate heel of her shoe. Then she looked up and took in the entire courtyard.

Her eyes met Julian’s briefly.

She held the contact for one neutral second and then moved her attention forward.

The third person to emerge was younger.

Marcus was eighteen, perhaps nineteen, and already carried the height he had clearly inherited from his father. He was good-looking in a straightforward way, but there was a slight awkwardness to his posture—like someone still adjusting to playing political games.

He descended and stood beside his mother and looked at the courtyard.

Then finally Liam walked forward.

He stepped toward the Duke with a smile already in place and bowed slightly.

"Brother," he said. "I greet you."

His voice carried the same quality as everything else about him — calm, unhurried and friendly in a way that gave nothing away.

If Julian had known nothing about the blackmail, split of military and all the planning and backstabbing, he would have looked at this arrival and seen nothing more than two brothers greeting each other on a clear morning.

The Duke smiled back but it took visible effort. Anyone paying attention could see the difference between the two men’s versions of the same expression.

"Liam," the Duke said. "You are here."

"The King’s visit seemed a good occasion," Liam said pleasantly. "The family should be together for something like this."

Then his eyes moved to Julian.

The smile stayed exactly where it was. But the eyes behind it sharpened with a scrutiny that the smile was doing its best to hide.

Julian held his gaze without expression.

"Kraven," Liam said. The smile warmed by a certain degree. "My nephew."

Julian returned the smile with equal warmth and considerably more ease.

"Uncle Liam," he said. "It has been a long time since I last saw you."

"It has," Liam agreed, nodding slowly. He let a brief pause sit before he added: "I haven’t seen you since my brother exiled you. Or something of that nature."

The courtyard went quiet.

The Duke’s jaw tightened for a brief moment, a small, controlled reaction that appeared and was brought back under control almost immediately. Aldric, standing to his right, went very still, as if he was holding himself in place to keep his face from showing what he really felt.

Liam’s smile didn’t move.

Julian looked at his uncle for a half second.

Then he laughed.

It was a warm, genuine sound that surprised everyone present.

"Yes, uncle," Julian said, when the laugh had settled. "Things happened that way." He said it simply, without defensiveness or trying to change the topic. "But I have learned my lesson and returned."

He paused.

"And it seems," he continued, his tone remaining warm and entirely conversational, "that the duchy has changed considerably since I left. I hope we find time to talk about that. There is much I would like to understand."

The silence that followed was a different kind of silence from the one Liam’s comment had produced.

The Duke looked at Julian, then shifted his gaze to Aldric.

Aldric met the look, equally confused. Both were unsure what this would lead to.

Liam raised a brow.

It was a small movement but it was the first thing he had produced that hadn’t been entirely prepared in advance.

"Of course, nephew," he said. "We will have plenty of time."

Julian nodded.

Then he looked past Liam entirely.

Lady Louisa stood a half step behind her husband. Her eyes moved quietly between the men, taking in each reaction without interruption she was carefully noting every detail.

"Aunty," Julian said, with a slight bow directed at her. "You look prettier than ever."

Louisa raised a brow.

Her composure held firm, but something shifted underneath it. She clearly hadn’t expected him to address her so directly, let alone with such familiar warmth. But the mask slid back into place instantly.

She returned his bow with one of her own.

"You are looking very handsome as well, Kraven," she replied. Her voice was soft, warm, and perfectly measured. "It seems you have grown considerably since we last saw each other."

"Ezakael was kind to me," Julian said pleasantly.

"Clearly," she said. Her dark eyes had changed.

She was studying him like a chess piece she suddenly needed to re-evaluate.

"I hope the journey wasn’t too demanding," Julian continued. "The road from the eastern estate is usually fine, but that last section before the duchy gate has been rough for years. Father keeps saying he’ll fix it."

Louisa glanced briefly at her husband, then back at Julian. A faint, amused smile touched her lips.

"The journey was perfectly comfortable," she replied. "Thank you for asking, Kraven."

Liam was watching this exchange in silence.

Julian turned from Louisa and looked at Marcus.

The young man had been standing stiffly, clearly aware of how much this conversation mattered. He was watching Julian with the grey eyes he had inherited from his father, and in them was both curiosity and awareness, as if he was trying to understand more than he was being told.

"Marcus," Julian said, with a nod that contained genuine warmth. "You have grown."