Path of Absolute Transcendence

Even if it works, it could easily leave a lot of loophole and Amelia wasn\'t willing to do that.

Amelia\'s plan was to emotionally capture Caius by exploiting his weakness.

As of now, the one with the highest change of becoming the next Duke was Draken. He made a lot of contribution to the family and entirely focuses on it.

But that doesn\'t mean the other two brothers wasn\'t contributing hard enough.

In fact, Caius made similar contributions to that of Draken, but he didn\'t get enough recognition from the Elder as his eldest brother.

This leaves a lot of resentment and bitterness in Caius heart, and Amelia plans to exploit that.

The evening was draped in a velvet darkness as Amelia positioned herself in the corridor, a strategic choice that allowed her to intercept Lord Caius during his nightly wanderings—a time when his defenses were lowered, and his mind was adrift in contemplation. The portraits of the Dono ancestors seemed to watch in silent judgment as she prepared to weave her web of deceit.

As Lord Caius approached, the soft echo of his footsteps a harbinger of the impending psychological dance, Amelia stepped into the halo of light cast by the wall sconces. Her gown, a concoction of emerald silk and black lace, hugged her curves with a deliberate precision, the color echoing the envy she sought to instill in him.

Her hair, a cascade of midnight waves, framed her face and fell over her shoulders, a dark contrast to the pale elegance of her skin.

"Lord Caius," she greeted him, her voice a dulcet tone that seemed to resonate with the very walls of the estate. "Might I steal a moment of your time?"

He paused, his eyes tracing the contours of her form before meeting her gaze. "Amelia," he acknowledged, his voice betraying a hint of the turmoil that lay beneath his composed exterior. "What matter is so pressing that it brings you here at this hour?"

She closed the distance between them, her steps measured and graceful. The scent of her perfume, a blend of night-blooming jasmine and something more exotic, filled the space, a sensory assault that weakened the walls around his will. "It\'s a concern that weighs heavily on my heart," she confessed, her hand finding its way to his arm, resting there with a featherlight touch.

"You are the backbone of this family," she whispered, her lips barely moving, as if the words were a secret meant only for him. "The strength that holds the Dono name aloft. Yet, it seems to me that your contributions go unnoticed, your brilliance overshadowed by the legacy you strive to uphold."

Caius\'s eyes darkened, the reflection of his own doubts mirrored in her words. "You speak of things you do not understand, Amelia," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.

"On the contrary, my lord," she countered, her gaze unwavering, her charm a tangible force that drew him in. "I see more than you realize. I see a man of great capability, bound by the chains of familial expectation, unappreciated by those who should value him most."

Her touch lingered, a physical manifestation of the emotional tether she was forging. "Consider what you could achieve if only they recognized your worth. Imagine the heights to which you could soar if not for the weight of their indifference."

Caius swallowed, the seed of envy sprouting within him, watered by her words. "And what would you have me do, Amelia?" he asked, his resolve crumbling like the facade of a once-majestic ruin.

"Merely that you reflect upon your position," she replied, her hand sliding along his arm to capture his hand in hers. The contact was electric, a current that surged through him, igniting a fire of ambition and desire.

"You deserve more, Caius. Power commensurate with your talents. Do not let their oversight become the shackles that bind you to mediocrity."

Her words were a balm to the wounds of his pride, a siren\'s call to the greatness he believed was his due. In her eyes, he saw the promise of a future where he was no longer just the middle brother, but a man of influence and authority.

As she slowly withdrew her hand, the absence of her warmth left a void, a hunger for the validation she offered. "Think on it, my lord," she urged, her voice a lingering caress. "I am here, should you seek an ally in your endeavors."

With a final, lingering glance, Amelia retreated into the shadows from which she had emerged, leaving Lord Caius alone with the tumultuous thoughts she had stirred.

Caius cluched his fist hard in anger. He already interacted with Amelia more than enough to know that she really meant those words.

"The reason why I didn\'t get enough recognition is because my mother was partial to Draken." Caius muttered, gritting his teeth and punching the wall in anger.

Without Amelia\'s guidance, Caius thought everything was because of his mother\'s fault.

"It seems the only one who truly recognises and cares about me in the entire family is Amelia" Caius took a deep breath and calmed himself. His trust on Amelia increased blindly.

After relaxing himself, Caius left the corridor.

"I thought, I would have to do a lot of work to convince him, but I didn\'t expect him to be this good at making things up." Amelia appeared from the shadows.

Apparently, she didn\'t leave or disappeared after her conversation with Caius. She watched everything, while hiding her presence.

Amelia wanted to check Caius\'s reaction before her next course of action, but that seems unnecessary right now.

\'He He! Now I can concentrate on the third idiot and finally cause a chaos large enough to solidify my position.\' Amelia grinned and disappeared into the shadows joyfully.