Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 72: Female Rivalry!

The twilight painted the sky in golden and pink hues, while the corridors of the mansion radiated an aura of anticipation. Irelia stood before the large mirror in the main hall, adjusting her cream-colored dress, which, in her eyes, felt tighter than it should. The delicate lace on her shoulders and the golden details at the waist gave the piece a refined touch, but it didn't help improve her mood.

"I still can't believe I'm wearing this," she murmured, crossing her arms in frustration, her face slightly flushed.

Adalric, standing beside her, couldn't help but grin mischievously. "Oh, drop the drama, Irelia. You look stunning. I'm sure anyone who looks at you today will agree."

Irelia rolled her eyes. "That only makes things worse, uncle. I'm a warrior, not a… display doll."

Adalric chuckled heartily, but before he could make another tease, he looked down the corridor and gestured. "Ah, looks like the final piece has arrived."

Irelia, curious, followed her uncle's gaze. In the distance, Kael appeared, stepping out from one of the hallway doors. The soft light of the magical lanterns illuminated his figure as he approached. He was dressed in a classic Victorian-style black suit with silver details on the cuffs and collar, paired with an impeccably pressed white shirt. A gray silk tie completed the look, giving him an unexpectedly elegant air.

For a moment, Irelia fell silent. Her eyes traced his figure, then his face, which looked somewhat uncomfortable with all the attention. His hair was styled more carefully than usual, and though his expression was slightly embarrassed, he appeared particularly well-suited to the private setting.

"So, where are we going, Master?" Kael asked, adjusting his tie as he neared them. His voice carried a mix of curiosity and nervousness.

"Why the rush, kid?" Adalric responded, clearly enjoying the situation. He lightly tapped the cane he held, an accessory he used more for style than necessity. "Someone else still needs to show up."

Kael furrowed his brow, intrigued. "Who else is coming?"

Adalric didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced briefly at Irelia, who still seemed to be evaluating Kael with an expression that flickered between approval and slight recovery. When she noticed Adalric watching her, she quickly averted her gaze, crossing her arms once more.

"Well, you two are looking more presentable than I expected. Progress, I'd say," Adalric finally commented, breaking the awkward silence. He then turned to Kael with a mischievous smile. "But tell me, kid... how does it feel seeing my niece so... charming?"

Kael blinked, completely caught off guard by the question. "I... I... she looks fine. I mean, she looks beautiful. Not that I was paying attention... or that it matters..." He stumbled over his words, his face quickly turning red.

Irelia, in turn, also became visibly flushed. "Uncle! Stop saying those stupid things! Like I care what he thinks!" She turned her face away but couldn't help but sneak a glance at Kael, who now appeared even more embarrassed.

Adalric laughed, clearly pleased with how easily he was able to provoke the two. "Ah, you're both so easy to tease. But enough of this, you two can head out now," he suddenly said, with an enigmatic smile.

Kael furrowed his brow, confused. "Head out? You're—"

Before he could finish, an intense, extremely familiar aura exploded down the corridor. He barely had time to react before he was engulfed by a blur of red and white, striking him with the force of a hurricane.

"FINALLY!!! MY KAEL!!!"

The feminine voice echoed through the hall, filled with excitement and emotion. Before Kael could comprehend what was happening, he found himself crushed in a warm, extremely tight hug. To his surprise, he was pressed against a pair of incredibly sexy breasts, enveloped in a tight red dress that left little to the imagination.

"T-TIA EVA?!" Kael exclaimed, his voice louder than he intended, as he desperately tried to break free, his face completely red.

"Oh, my sweet Kael! Look how much you've grown! Look at you, so handsome and elegant!" Eva exclaimed, completely ignoring his discomfort as she affectionately rubbed her face against his.

Irelia, standing a few meters away, watched the scene with a mixture of shock and... attraction? "Who is this... woman?" she murmured, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.

Adalric, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself more than ever. "Well... she was really eager to see you..." he commented, laughing at the boy's panicked expression.

Eva finally loosened her embrace, but not before holding Kael's face between her hands, examining him with a maternal look mixed with an almost mischievous gleam in her eyes. "So handsome! The last time I saw you, you were what, three years old? Wow... little Sylphie is going to go crazy when she sees you!"

"S-Sylphie is here?!" Kael stammered.

"Of course! She's going to attend the academy this year!" Eva said, smiling and rubbing her chest against his face again...

Kael sighed, still trying to catch his breath and regain composure. "Aunt Eva... could you... please... not do that in front of everyone?"

Eva tilted her head, pretending to be offended. "Oh, my dear, don't be shy! You know your aunt will always be your biggest fan!"

[Charm trait is affecting Eva Sparda and Irelia Ainsworth]

"Of course it is!" he roared internally.

Irelia cleared her throat loudly, abruptly catching the attention of both of them. Her eyes were fixed on Eva, filled with something difficult to define, but it clearly seemed like sportswear and a hint of jealousy. "Whoever you are, can you stop treating him like he's some kind of toy? He has a name, you know?"

Eva, finally noticing the girl, slowly turned toward her, still holding Kael by the shoulders as if he were a rare prize. Her red eyes shone with a mix of curiosity and provocation. She raised an eyebrow and gave a refined, almost predatory smile. "And who are you, exactly? His girlfriend? Sorry, sweetheart, but I've been around eight years longer. If you want a spot in line, I suggest you be patient."

Her tone was between playful and challenging, but it didn't exactly sound like a joke.

Irelia took a step forward, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes, as if sizing Eva up. "I'm Irelia, Adalric's niece," she replied firmly, almost defensively. "And before you jump to stupid conclusions, I'm nothing special to him! We're... training buddies!"

The way she said "nothing special" was accompanied by a slight blush on her cheeks, trying to keep her tone casual.

Eva blinked slowly, her smile widening into something almost dismissive. "Ah, I see. Just a friend, is that it? How convenient. I bet you've shouted his name more than you've shouted at your swords during training, haven't you?"

Irelia was momentarily speechless, her face turning even redder. "What?! You... you're crazy!"

Eva shrugged, releasing Kael as if he were a doll and turning to Irelia with her hand on her hip. "Crazy? Maybe. But that doesn't change the fact that Kael and I have a special bond. You can keep training next to him all you want, but you can't erase what's already been built between us."

"What special bond? You sound more like a lunatic who decided to kidnap him at the first opportunity!" Irelia retorted, her tone growing increasingly frustrated.

Adalric, who had been watching the scene as if it were a show, finally intervened, still grinning from ear to ear. "Girls, boys... what wonderful energy you have. But I think you can save that passion for later, alright? We have an important night ahead."

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"It's not passion!" Irelia and Kael shouted simultaneously, which made Adalric laugh even louder.

Eva, on the other hand, seemed pleased, moving closer to Kael and ruffling his hair as if marking her territory. "Oh, don't worry, Adalric. I was just making it clear that, when it comes to Kael, I'll always be one step ahead."

Irelia gritted her teeth, clearly frustrated, but remained silent, deciding to prove her worth in other ways.

Kael, caught in the middle of that emotional storm, sighed heavily, wishing the night would end before it even started. "Why is it always me in the middle of these things?" he murmured quietly as Adalric gave him friendly pats on the shoulder.

"Welcome to the adult world, kid. Female rivalry happens to all handsome men like us."