I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 696: The arrival of Liam

By the time Julian stepped out of his room, the castle was buzzing with energy. It was barely eight in the morning, but the corridors were already alive with servants rushing everywhere.

The King’s arrival had turned the entire household into chaos.

Julian walked through it with his hands clasped behind his back and no particular destination. He moved through the corridors at his own pace, watching the preparation unfold around him.

He passed Olivia in the eastern corridor.

She was standing tall and commanding, directing three young maids who were adjusting a large tapestry on the wall. Her own dress was elegant but dangerously flattering — deep emerald green fabric that hugged her figure in all the perfect way.

”Higher on the left. No — there. Hold it steady,” she was saying.

She looked up as Julian passed.

For a brief second, the composed mask slipped. Heat flashed across her face as the memories of the last night raced over her.

Then she regained control. She gave him a single, long look before turning back to the tapestry as if nothing had happened.

Julian kept walking, but the image of her stayed with him.

A little farther down, near the grand staircase, he found Vanessa.

She stood like she owned the entire hallway. Her dress was a deep, rich burgundy, the fabric shimmering as she moved. She was speaking with a senior servant, but the moment Julian appeared, her full attention shifted to him.

A slow, perfectly practiced smile curved her lips. It was a natural, effortless expression— a sister acknowledging her brother in a busy corridor.

”Kraven,” she said softly.

He nodded once. ”Vanessa.”

He continued past and didn’t look back, but he was aware of her gaze following him. She watched him until he disappeared around the corner, and even then he could almost feel the weight of her stare lingering.

Vanessa was already rethinking her decisions. By now Sera would have given her the morning report, and Vanessa would be adjusting her plans. She would send the maid back with more skin showing, more sweetness and more actions.

He almost smiled and kept walking.

**

After half an hour,

Julian had seen enough of the castle’s interior. The constant rush of servants made standing anywhere feel like he was in the way. So he stepped outside into the front courtyard.

The morning air was crisp and cool against his skin, carrying the sharp clarity that only early hours had. The courtyard was well-lit in the full morning light, the pale stone of the castle walls catching the sun that made the whole space feel larger than it usually did.

In the center of the courtyard, stood the Duke and Commander Aldric. Both of them were facing the gate and Julian could see the tension in their posture.

He crossed the courtyard and stopped beside them.

”Good morning, Father. Commander.”

The Duke nodded once without looking at him.

Aldric turned and bowed deeply. ”Young master. You are up early.”

Julian looked at the gate, then back at them.

”Are you waiting for someone?” he said. ”Why are you outside the castle.”

Aldric’s mouth opened and then closed again. He looked at the Duke with the expression of a man who had decided that the answer to this particular question belonged to someone else.

The Duke himself was quiet for a moment.

”This,” he said, ”is the price of your actions yesterday.”

The bitterness in his tone was present and controlled.

Aldric smoothly filled the silence that followed. ”Young master, Lord Liam and his family are returning to the castle.”

Julian looked at the gate.

The timing was too perfect. Yesterday’s confrontation in the corridor had sent a message. Now, the morning after, Liam was arriving with his entire family. This was not a coincidence. Liam wanted to see with his own eyes what had come back from Ezakael.

He is coming to test the waters... or start a fight, Julian thought.

They waited.

The Duke said nothing further. Aldric stood with the professional posture of a military man and Julian stood between them and watched the gate.

Five minutes passed.

Then the sound of wheels on stone reached the courtyard. The gate swung open wide and the carriage rolled through.

It was not the Astran carriage. Where the Duke’s carriage was black and fitted with gold, this one was darker and more subdued. Its frame looked heavier and the fittings were silver rather than gold—giving it a much colder feel.

It stopped in the center of the courtyard, just before them.

The soldier at the front came down and moved to the door. He opened it and stepped back and held his position.

The first person to step out was Liam.

Julian looked at him and immediately went through Kraven’s memories.

The memories quickly gave him an image — sharp-featured, younger than the Duke by roughly a decade, carrying the particular egoistic aura around him.

The man who stepped down from the carriage was that image refined by additional years and power. His face was sharp, clean-shaven, with eyes that immediately moved all over the courtyard. His hair was dark with occasional whites, and somehow it suited him more than it every had before.

He wore deep blackish dress that was a perfect mixture of armor and formals. A long fitted coat over fitted pant, a silver clasp at the collar carrying the crossed swords and shield of his faction.

His eyes found Julian within three seconds of stepping out of the carriage. He held the look for a moment and then moved it to the Duke.

The second person to descend was Liam’s wife.

Julian raised his brow.

Lady Louisa was around thirty-five, but she wore her age like a weapon. Her auburn hair was styled in an elegant updo, yet several soft strands had been allowed to curl loosely around her temples and neck.

She was tall for a woman, with long, graceful legs and a posture that screamed power.