Ashton stopped in his tracks. Max then turned to Madam Mari to ask if he could talk to his father "Lady Mari, May I? It won't take too much time." He smiled at her as he asked.
Madam Mari was about to lash out but seeing how he addressed her and his smile, she nodded. "Okay, but make it quick."
Everyone looked at her peculiarly. Seeing this, she snapped, "What? Do you really think that I don't have enough patience to fulfil a kid's wish?"
No one said anything, but they chuckled inwardly and thought, 'Yes, we do.'
After saying this, she and the others slowly walked toward the entrance of the manor while Max and Ashton sat in the meeting hall again. Lilly and others were still present.
Max stood in front of Ashton and pointed toward Lilly. "Father, I love her, and she is already my woman."
Ashton looked at Max and then Lilly, whose face was now bright red from embarrassment. "Little girl, Do you also love him or..." Ashton started to speak in his usual authoritative tone.
Lilly sprang from her seat and bowed in front of him. "My...My lord, I also lo-love him. I know it is presumptuous of me to think of forming a relationship with a noble member of the family that gave me better life but... but I really do love him, and I don't care of the consequences." She stuttered when she started speaking because of nervousness, but she knew she had to say it today; therefore, she didn't hesitate to express her love for him and her guilt toward the family.
"Okay, I understand. Sit in your seat." Ashton used his magic to make her sit. He did it because he could see that she might collapse due to her nervousness.
Max looked at her with a loving gaze. He knew that she considered herself beneath his status and knew that she didn't have the confidence to confess her love in front of every member of the family, but she still did it.
When Max turned to look at his father, he was surprised a little to see him smiling. Not only he but others were also smiling. Amelia stood from her seat and poured a glass of water, and gave it to Lilly. "Here, my dear."
"Your choice is a great son. I'm happy that you found the woman who you love, and she also loves you. We don't have any problem with your relationship." After saying this, he looked toward Lilly and said, "Little Lady, you should not degrade yourself. From now on, your status is that of his wife. So don't ever underestimate yourself."
Lilly was stunned. She hadn't expected his family to accept her like this. But soon, this surprise turned into happiness, and tears started rolling down her cheeks. "Thank you, my lord."
Ashton's face hardened hearing this, and he rebuked, "Are you going to keep calling me that? Call me father, just like Max. We are your family from now on, not your employer."
Amelia caressed her hair and said, "Yes, Lilly, you can call me mother just like my other daughters-in-law do."
"Mhm... Father, Mother." Lilly called out softly, and her tears flowed like an unstoppable river. She felt happy, very happy at this moment. She hadn't known that these words would come out of her mouth ever.
"Hai! Hai!" Amelia hugged her and patted her shoulders.
...
"So Max, when do you want to marry her?" Ashton asked after Lilly had stooped crying.
Lilly didn't raise her head to look at him because she was very nervous right now, but when she heard Ashton ask him this, she slightly raised her head to look at him, Wanting to hear his reply.
"Father, I've decided to first go to a Magic Academy to train myself, and Lilly will also go with me. After we've graduated from there, we will get married." Max said.
"Good. You should first focus on your future, and you should, too, Lilly. You also have to become strong enough to accompany him in the future." Ashton nodded.
Lilly froze for a second. She vaguely understood his meaning. If she wanted to marry him, she needed enough strength so that no can object to their relationship. She then nodded toward him.
Ashton smiled when she understood his meaning and then asked, "So which Magic Academy do you want to go to. Seeing that you've already become a two-star mage, you can join even Royal Academy."
"No, I want to go to the same Academy Anna goes to." Max shook his head.
Ashton glanced at Lilly and understood his intentions; therefore, he didn't say anything and nodded.
After talking for a few more minutes, Ashton stood up. "I should go now, or that Mari would become even more irritated." He then called out, "George!"
A few moments later, Butler George appeared in the hall and bowed. "Yes, my lord!"
"This mission might take some time. So if I'm not present when Max goes to participate in the Academy exam, you make all the necessary preparation and escort him to the Academy." Ashton ordered.
"Yes, my lord!" Butler George nodded.
"Good. I'm going now. Take care, Guys." Ashton waved his goodbyes and went out with Mari and others.
*****
After Ashton had left, Max asked Lilly to come with him to rest. "No, I'm going to train in my magic spells." She said with determination and started to go towards the training hall when Max grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, and flicked her forehead. "At least first change your clothes to some comfortable ones to train in."
"Mhm..." She nodded and hurriedly ran to their room when she saw that Amelia and the others were smiling, seeing them act lovey-dovey.
"Tch, Look at her act so serious. Does she think she can do whatever she wants now that she is his lover?" Lacey muttered in a low voice. She was feeling jealous over the fact that all of them accepted her as his lover so easily even though she was just a maid recently. Even though she was the woman of the eldest son of the Garfield family, she was never treated this way because she wasn't the main wife.
Eva, who was close to her, smiled when she heard her rant and whispered, "You better not speak anything like this before him if you want to live a better life in the future. Max wouldn't tolerate it if he came to know that you were talking badly about his woman. You should know his talent is miles ahead of your husband and he is most likely to inherit his father's position."
Lacey's expression froze. She also knew that Max has exceptional talent and most likely would become a very powerful figure. She quickly snapped out of it and said, "Thanks. But shouldn't you also worry about your future, given your husband is the one who mocked him the most."
Eva smiled at this and walked toward her room. "I've already made sure that nothing bad happens to me because of my husband's foolishness."