147: Chapter 147 First Bloom! Harvest! Extraordinary Attributes!

Rowan entered Cecilia's room.

He had changed into a deep ink-colored velvet robe for lounging, its belt loosely tied, and his collar slightly open.

His hair, still damp from bathing, fell casually across his forehead, adding a touch of languor and nonchalance to his already handsome face.

He closed the door behind him, his gaze naturally falling upon Cecilia by the window.

In an instant, a clear and undeniable look of astonishment flashed across his eyes.

The young woman before him, having shed her daytime dress that had seemed a little constrained, stood quietly in a thin silk robe, her beautiful hair cascading over her shoulders.

The soft lamplight cast a hazy glow upon her, the ivory-white silk nightgown forming a exquisite contrast with her slightly honeyed skin.

That healthy beauty, infused with the vitality of the wilderness, the supple curves of a young woman's body, and her red lips slightly pursed in tension...

Formed a truly striking picture.

Especially the clear [91 points] displayed on the system panel, proclaiming the extraordinary beauty and potential contained within this body.

Ninety-one points... a first bloom...

A ripple of pleasure ran through Rowan's heart.

Such a high-quality flower, falling into his garden in such a natural way, becoming his to pluck and cultivate at will.

This feeling was quite good.

As the supreme lord of this territory, he had no need, nor any intention, for excessive circumlocution.

The blooming flower had entered the garden; it was time to enjoy and Drain.

However, he was not in a hurry to get straight to the point.

A good taste required proper foreplay.

Initial understanding and guidance were also necessary for emotions to bloom more deliciously.

He walked slowly towards Cecilia.

At the same time, his level 3 Charm skill was quietly activated, enveloping the slightly stiff Cecilia like the gentlest breeze on a spring night.

He stopped in front of her, his gaze resting on her somewhat tense face, and said casually:

"No need to be nervous. Relax. Your name is Cecilia, right? How old are you this year?"

Hearing this, Cecilia raised her eyes to meet Rowan's gaze, then lowered them, whispering:

"...Eighteen."

"Eighteen, a good age." Rowan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room. "From Ascalon? Was the journey difficult?"

"It... it was fine. The merchant guild made excellent arrangements." Cecilia replied instinctively, while also quickly observing Rowan.

He looked younger and more handsome than rumored, and... more unfathomable.

Her talent allowed her to perceive:

The other party seemed to lack the common arrogance or flamboyance of nobles, possessing only a deep calm and an invisible composure that controlled everything.

"Do you like this room?"

Rowan walked to the small table and casually fiddled with the holly berry.

"It's... very good. Thank you, my Lord."

Cecilia answered in accordance with his words, but a silent alarm rang in her heart.

Unbeknownst to her, most of her apprehension and stiffness had quietly dissolved.

Although she knew this was merely the calm before the storm, her body and emotional instincts were no longer as resistant as they had been initially.

Rowan could feel the subtle changes in her breathing.

He knew the time was right.

So, he reached out, his fingertips gently brushing a slightly damp strand of hair from her cheek.

His gaze fell upon her beautiful eyes, which, despite her efforts to remain calm, still betrayed a hint of apprehension.

"You are very beautiful, Cecilia." His voice dropped even lower, husky and magnetic. "From today on, you will stay by my side."

Cecilia gave a soft hum.

Then, she closed her eyes.

Reason told her this was a mission, a price.

But emotionally, a primal resistance and an unspeakable humiliation still stirred within her.

However, she neither dodged nor spoke, merely biting her lower lip tightly, allowing the complex emotions to churn silently in her chest.

She knew she had no room to resist, and had already... made her choice.

Rowan waited no longer.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips, which carried the fresh scent of her bath.

The silky nightgown's belt was easily untied, and the ivory-white fabric slid down her smooth skin, pooling on the thick carpeted floor.

Under the dim lamplight, her young and vibrant body was fully revealed.

Every line seemed to contain wild vitality and astonishing beauty.

Rowan lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the large, luxurious four-poster bed in the depths of the room.

The bed curtains were drawn, concealing the blossoming spring and gasps within the room.

...

After an unknown amount of time...

The clouds dispersed, and the rain ceased.

Cecilia curled up on her side amidst the disheveled bedding, her back to Rowan.

Her eyes were closed, her breathing not yet fully settled, and a subtle ache still lingered in her body.

The physical act was done.

That mix of submissive pleasure, and an even deeper sense of bewilderment, left her heart unsettled.

She quietly turned over, opening her eyes a slit, and cautiously observed the man beside her, who had already calmed down, in the dim light of the wall lamp.

Rowan's handsome profile was like a perfect sculpture in the dim light.

He exuded a sense of languor and control befitting a strong individual.

This was Count Golden Flame...

Thoughts raced through Cecilia's mind.

He looked younger than she had imagined, and didn't seem to possess the rumored brutality of nobles.

But that invisible pressure and desire for control...

This was not a foolish noble who would be easily swayed by beauty.

Her mission might be even more difficult than anticipated. She had to be more careful, more patient.

Before gaining his trust and finding an opportunity to uncover secrets, she couldn't reveal any flaws.

While Cecilia's thoughts drifted, Rowan's consciousness was immersed in tallying his gains.

The system panel appeared in his mind:

[Charm lv3 proficiency +96]

[Drain lv3 proficiency +360]

[Obtained Free Attribute Points: 1200]

1200 points...

Rowan was satisfied.

As expected of the first bloom of a 91-point maiden.

Combined with the Drain skill, which had advanced to level 3, the harvest far exceeded previous times.

At the same time, his Perception had not slackened.

Just now, he not only Drained abundant emotional energy but also used Insight to perceive Cecilia's condition more deeply.

He clearly captured an unusually active transcendent trait deep within her bloodline, carrying a unique, hidden spiritual glow.

This transcendent trait's attributes leaned towards the Shadow path. It was extremely deeply hidden, yet of exceptionally high quality.

Thinking of this, a superb Breathing Technique immediately came to Rowan's mind.

The Farrell Family's Shadow Breathing Technique.

That was an excellent-grade Breathing Technique focused on shadow affinity, stealth, enhanced perception, and explosive assassination, ranking among the top within its quality.

Cecilia's transcendent trait seemed to have a high compatibility with the Shadow Breathing Technique.

After a moment of thought.

He quickly made a decision.

He could let her try cultivating it first.

With resources provided, and her talent, her improvement speed should not be slow.

At the same time, his Perception silently swept over Cecilia's lower abdomen.

There, two extremely faint new life energies had stabilized and were quietly brewing.

This was the inevitable result of his Succubus Talent.

Two... that's enough...

Rowan's heart was calm.

He knew that childbirth would consume some of the mother's life essence and transcendent traits.

But if she achieved something in cultivating the Shadow Breathing Technique and her strength improved, she would be able to effectively compensate for this loss, and even refine her own traits further.

At that time, she could continue to give birth...

A clear, sustainable cycle model of procreation and cultivation formed in his mind.

At the same time, he sighed softly in his heart.

If only giving birth didn't decrease the score no matter how many times it happened.

Then he would truly be soaring.

For now, it was just a brisk jog...

The night was deep.

Outside the castle, the cold wind of winter still blew.

Rowan embraced Cecilia's soft body and fell into a deep sleep.

...