We stayed with the group for some time, chatting and drinking.

The conversation flowed easily, light gossip about other guests, jokes about the dramatic scene with Fabian earlier, and playful teasing directed at me. Aria kept me close the entire time, her arm linked with mine, her body subtly pressed against me as we sipped our drinks.

The alcohol and the elegant atmosphere loosened everyone up, but I could feel the eyes of the room still occasionally drifting toward us, the rumors about the garden fight and Aria’s very public breakup spreading like wildfire. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Eventually, Aria and I slipped away from the group and settled on a luxurious couch in a slightly quieter corner of the grand hall, away from the thickest part of the crowd.

I stretched my arm along the backrest of the couch, letting out a tired sigh as Aria leaned into me, resting her head comfortably on my shoulder.

"I didn’t know royal parties could be this tiring," I said, my fingers idly playing with a strand of her long black hair.

"If you’re tired, we could always go back to my room," Aria whispered seductively, her finger tracing slow, lazy circles on my chest over the fabric of my shirt.

She gradually moved higher, brushing over my nipple, her touch light but clearly intentional.

Suddenly, Lady Emilia appeared, holding a glass of champagne in her hand. She gracefully sat down on the couch right next to us.

Her elegant red dress shifted as she settled in, the fabric clinging to her voluptuous figure and highlighting her massive breasts and wide hips.

"Why aren’t you two dancing?" Emilia asked, taking a slow sip from her glass as she looked at us with a calm, almost probing expression.

"Nah, I’m not really the dancing type," I replied, leaning back slightly on the couch.

Emilia tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Aria, did you give Alex a proper tour of our house yet?"

"I will, Mom," Aria said quickly, glancing at me with a small, excited smile. She turned to me, her hand resting on my thigh. "Alex, if you’re tired, we could go to our Jacuzzi. It’s great for relieving tiredness, it’s really big and private."

"Yeah?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion.

"Yeah, why don’t we go?" Aria said, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "It’s so good... and big."

We were about to stand up and head there when a butler in a crisp black uniform approached us, moving with quiet urgency through the crowd.

"Miss Aria," he said politely, bowing slightly. "Your grandmother requested your presence in the main receiving hall. There are some guests she would like you to greet."

Aria let out a small, frustrated sigh, clearly disappointed at the interruption. She looked at me apologetically. "It’s like every time we have a party, Grandma wants to introduce me."

"Why does she want to introduce you to guests?" I asked, genuinely curious about the sudden interruption.

"You know I’m the oldest heir of our family," Aria explained, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance. "Grandma says I need to be known by our guests and our clients. It’s gonna be so tiring and take a long time. I just wanted to dip in the Jacuzzi right now with you."

"Hey, I’ll wait for you there," I said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You go. If it wasn’t important, Olivia wouldn’t ask you to."

"You sure?" Aria asked, searching my eyes with a small, hopeful smile.

"Yeah, I’ll be at the Jacuzzi waiting for you," I replied, leaning in to kiss her cheek softly.

Aria glanced at the butler who had delivered the message and asked politely, "Can you please show Alex to the jacuzzi?"

"Of course, Miss," the butler replied with a respectful bow.

Aria gave me one last lingering look, her hand squeezing mine gently before she turned and disappeared back into the crowd, heading toward whatever family obligations her grandmother had arranged.

The moment she left, the atmosphere around the couch shifted noticeably.

Now it was just me, the butler, and Lady Emilia. She sat there elegantly, her legs crossed, the red dress hugging her voluptuous figure as she held her champagne glass with poise.

We hadn’t resolved the misunderstanding from earlier, the charged, forbidden moment in the dark when her hand had been wrapped around my cock and my fingers had been deep inside her.

Neither of us brought it up.

"I’ll be going then," I said, standing up and adjusting my suit jacket.

Emilia simply nodded, her sharp, beautiful eyes following me as I turned to leave with the butler. There was something unreadable in her gaze.

The butler led me through the grand hall and up the wide, sweeping marble staircase to the upper floors.

The mansion was even more impressive up close, crystal chandeliers hanging from high ceilings, intricate gold leaf detailing on the walls, and priceless artwork lining the corridors.

We walked down a long hallway until we reached a corner room. The butler opened the heavy wooden door with a quiet click and stepped aside.

It was a truly luxurious space. The room was large and opulent, with soft ambient lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the illuminated gardens, and a massive jacuzzi built into a raised platform in the center.

The jacuzzi itself was enormous, easily big enough for several people, with bubbling water already heated and ready, surrounded by smooth marble and comfortable seating.

Plush towels, robes, and chilled bottles of champagne were arranged neatly on a side table, completing the private, indulgent atmosphere.

The butler gave a small bow.

He closed the door behind him, leaving me alone in the lavish room.

I quickly removed my clothes and stepped into the jacuzzi completely naked. The warm, bubbling water felt luxurious against my skin as I sank in, spreading my arms along the wide marble edge and leaning my head back with a deep, satisfied sigh.

The jets massaged my tired muscles, and for a few peaceful minutes, I let the tension of the chaotic night melt away.

I looked down. My cock was still half-hard, twitching occasionally in the water as memories of the evening flashed through my mind, the raw encounters with Tiffany and Autumn and the charged tension with Lady Emilia in the dark.

"Calm down, buddy," I muttered to myself with a small smirk. "Aria will join us soon."

Then, suddenly, the door to the room opened.

I assumed Aria had come early to surprise me.

But it wasn’t Aria.

It was her mother — Lady Emilia.