Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 639: Count William [Part-3]

Count William [Part-3]

The sound of footsteps going down the stairs kept going it was slow and steady. It sounded like someone had practiced it. Every step echoed off the walls of the room it was like a loud heartbeat because of all the marble and the quiet. Nobody said a word. Nobody even moved. The whole house, which is usually a place where rich people talk and flirt and pretend to be interested, in each other just seemed to wait and see what would happen next and everyone was listening to the sound of those footsteps.

The sound of the golden clock up on the wall started to go along, with the rhythm. This made a weird and spooky sound. The clock and the rhythm together created a harmony that was kind of haunting. The massive golden clock was still ticking away. Now it was like it was part of the music.

Tick... step... tick... step...

Each one a warning. Each one a promise.

You could feel the tension in the room with all the nobles. Peoples shoulders got really tight. Everyone held their breath for a bit too long. The nobles did not need to be told what was going to happen. The sound of it was enough, for the nobles.

On the landing the shadows started moving around before the person came into view. The person slowly appeared from the shadows on the landing.

The torchlight first touched the leather of his boots. They were black as the night. They looked really sharp. The light moved up. It caught all the perfect lines and details of his boots. It was like the darkness did not want to let go of him. The torchlight showed every thing, about his boots and it made them look really good. The darkness seemed to be holding on to him. The torchlight was stronger.

The hem of a coat came into view and you could tell it was made by someone who really knew what they were doing. This was the kind of coat that men, with a lot of money and not a lot of heart would wear. It fit him perfectly showing off his body and strong shoulders. The coat got narrower at the waist, which made him look a little intimidating. The long coat and the way it was cut made him look like someone you would not want to mess with. The coat was a part of what made him look so commanding and it was clear that it was made to make a statement. The long fitted coat was a deal and it was easy to see why.

He did not hurry. He did not need to.

Every step he took was very slow and on purpose. Each time his foot hit the floor it made a noise that showed he was in charge. It was like the stairs were made for him. People in the hall looked up without thinking about it. They were drawn to him because of something they felt down something that made them a little scared. It was, like bugs flying towards a fire even though they know it will hurt them.

The long coat stuck to his body, which was lean and strong. His shoulders were big. They got smaller at his waist. You could tell by looking at him that he was very strong. He did not show it off. This was not a man who just had power the man had power that was a part of him. He had power like people have air to breathe all the time and, without even trying. The man carried power the way others carried breath it was something he did.

The man stepped fully into view now. He was standing there in front of us. The man was completely visible. We could see the man clearly.

Count William.

This man has hair that is really thick and dark. It is swept back. It looks like he did not even try to make it look that way. His hair is around a face that’s very good looking. His face has lines and high cheekbones. He has a jaw and his lips are curved a little bit like he is smiling.. When you look at his eyes you can not tell if he is really smiling or not. His eyes are completely black. They do not show anything. They are, like two holes that take in the light and do not give anything back. You can not tell what he is thinking when you look at his eyes.

This guy had a scary ability to smile at you while he was doing something really bad to you. A man, like that is someone who could smile while gutting you.

This person was able to say nice things even when they were holding a knife. A man like this could whisper kindness with a knife in his hand. He was a man who could whisper kindness with a knife, in hand which’s a pretty strange thing.

The mans black coat was not completely closed so you could see a bit of what he was wearing underneath. He had on a velvet vest that fit his body tightly and it had silver buttons that shone quietly in the light from the torches. The mans white shirt was clean and neat. Its sleeves were held in place by fancy clasps that looked like wings. It was as if even his clothes knew that they belonged to someone who was very powerful and maybe a little scary. You could tell that the man had a body even without touching him. He was tall and lean. He looked like he could hurt someone if he wanted to. The mans body was made for being, in charge. This person looks really fancy. It is like they are wearing a knife. They look beautiful. You can tell they are also very dangerous. A predator is what they are. They are dressed up in nice clothes, which is a pretty strange thing to see.

He did not. Stomp. He simply. The space made way for him. Every step that he took carried the certainty of the man who had never needed to demand obedience in order to receive it. The room belonged to the man long before the man actually claimed the room, for himself.

The man actually owned this thing. He really did own this one.

Below the staircase the nobles got really scared. It was like something was choking them. They could not see what it was. Some of the nobles took a breath and you could tell they were nervous. The nobles were too proud to show they were afraid. They could not help it. Some of the nobles looked down which is what they always did when they knew they could not win. The nobles learned to do this after years of knowing when to give up. Some of the nobles just stood there they were so afraid that they could not move the fear kept them stuck, to the marble floor the nobles were frozen with fear of the nobles situation.

And then there were the women.

They were all dressed up in silk and jewels with their hair pulled back high and decorated with sparkling things. Their eyes shone a bit much as they looked at him. The corners of their mouths turned up a little. They kept staring at him. It was not because they liked him in a romantic way. It was because they got a kick out of something a weird excitement that they hid behind their nice behavior. They watched him with eyes that gleamed a little brightly and their gazes lingered on him because of this dark thrill that pulsed beneath their polished manners beneath the fancy silk and jewels.

Not because he was handsome.

No—because he was dangerous.

And in noble society, danger was a kind of pleasure.

William reached the step. His boots made a clicking sound against the marble. The sound echoed off the walls of the hall. It was very quiet. William did not rush. He did not have to. He looked around at all the nobles who were standing there. His eyes moved from one face to another. It was like he was looking at things that were, on display. They were all smiling nicely. They were standing up straight. They were breathing carefully. William could see what was really going on. He could tell what they were really thinking. He could see behind their smiles. He did not have to do anything to figure it out. William just knew. The nobles and their masks did not fool him.

Baron Halden was the first to break under the weight of that gaze. His shoulders. Then he made himself talk. The Baron Haldens voice was trembling,. He tried to sound excited. The weight of that gaze was really getting to the Baron Halden.

"G–Greetings, Count William."

There was a moment of silence. Then the room started moving like a big wave that was really scared. The room moved like a tide.

"Greetings, Count William."

"An honor, Count William."

We welcome you Count. That is very nice of us to say this to the Count. The Count is someone we’re happy to welcome.

William lifted one hand it was a gesture.

The room became really quiet all of a sudden.

Every single word just died in the peoples throats. The sound of silk moving and the quiet clink of jewelry just stopped too like the whole hall was waiting to see what would happen next. It was, like the hall itself had decided to be still and quiet holding its breath in anticipation.

He tilted his head down slowly. His mouth curled up into a smile. It looked really good but it was not a happy smile. People knew it was not a smile. The smile, on his face was a polite one it did not mean he was being kind.

"Thank you for the warm reception."

The words were flawless. Gentle. Civil.

They were also empty.

A small wave of calm went through the room as the nobles let out their breath. They all did it very quietly. When people feel better they have to be really quiet, about it. They have to be careful not to show much. If they do someone will see it.. That is not a good thing. The nobles know that being noticed is not safe.

Williams reputation was not something that people talked about all the time. It did not spread through rumors or gossip that people shared when they were drinking wine. Williams reputation was different from that. People actually knew William. They knew what he was, like.

It was something harder than that.

It was a fact.

This guy could be really charming when he wanted to be. Really charming. He knew the right way to move his head the way to look at people with his eyes the way to make them feel like they were the only person in the world for a little while. The people would forget that they were stuck with the guy because he made them feel seen by him. The guy made people feel seen by the guy for a little while and that was enough to make them forget how trapped they were, with the guy.

When the man wanted to he was able to act like a gentleman. He could really play the part of a gentleman.

North Vellore was not owned by a gentleman. The person who had North Vellore was not a gentleman all. North Vellore did not have a gentleman, as its owner.

This thing was owned by a man. He was a ruler who did things in a careful way and he took his time. On the outside he seemed nice and gentle.. Really he was very strict. He had a grip but it was covered up. His nobles did what he said not because they cared about him. Because they knew what would happen if they did not obey the man. The man was someone to be feared.

And his reputation with women carried the same razor edge.

No married woman.

No young lady.

No widow.

There were no safe categories where desire was concerned. If someone caught his interest, social rules became little more than suggestions.

Half the noblewomen gathered here had imagined what it would be like to draw his gaze, to be chosen by a man like him—even if just once.

The other half had spent sleepless nights praying they never would.

But right now, every single pair of eyes was on him.

Some stole glances through lowered lashes.

Some stared without shame.

Some trembled with a thrill they didn’t fully understand.

Some trembled because they understood it all too well.

But every one of them looked at him now.

Their conversations thinned, then died, as attention quietly tilted in his direction.

He gave them all one short sweep of observation, slow and deliberate, like a man glancing over a menu he already knew he could afford.

Then William inclined his head slightly toward the gathered nobles — not quite a bow, but close enough to pass for courtesy.

"My noble friends, allies, and... companions," he said, his voice warm, smooth, and edged with something sharp beneath the politeness. "I trust the evening has been enjoyable so far?"

A ripple of quick, eager reactions followed — nods that came too fast, smiles stretched a little too wide.

"Yes, very much."

"Exquisite preparations tonight."

"We are honored by your presence."

The words tumbled out like practiced lines from a well-rehearsed play.

William let out a soft chuckle, barely more than breath, as if he’d heard it all before.