Damian slowly reached his hand into his suit pocket and brought out a piece of document, leaving Seraphine curious about its contents.
"Young master, what is this paper about?" Seraphine asked, seeking clarification.
"This is your slave contract that I acquired from the market. If you put your signature here, it will revoke the contract, and you will be free, Seraphine," Damian explained, pointing his finger at a small box designated for her signature. Seraphine was taken aback and had not expected Damian to go to such lengths for her.
"Does that mean I will get my identity back, Young master?" Seraphine asked, her disbelief and contentment apparent. The prospect of freedom after being bound as a slave was overwhelming.
"Actually, while you were away, I prepared a new identity for you," Damian said, bringing out another document from his suit. At the top of the paper, it was labeled as an adoption document.
"Adoption? What is this about?" Seraphine wondered, eager for Damian to explain further.
"I asked Marcus' family to officially adopt you as their daughter, granting you the status of a baron's daughter. At first, they seemed reluctant, but after Marcus and I explained the situation and your capability to them, they agreed to sign and adopt you, Seraphine. Now, you not only have the freedom of a commoner but also hold a noble status," Damian revealed with a warm smile.
Now, Seraphine was overwhelmed with multiple emotions. On one hand, she felt content that she had become a free person and acquired a new identity to live outside the mansion. On the other hand, she was filled with uncertainty about whether she should continue working beside the young master or venture out on her own.
"It feels wrong that I have kept you bound to this mansion without your consent. That's why I've decided to free you, and you are no longer bound to me in any way," Damian continued to speak, his tone slightly saddened.
After giving Seraphine her freedom, Damian nervously asked,
"Seraphine, after you are free, are you still willing to work for me? Or do you want to leave?"
His puppy-like eyes gazed at Seraphine, making her feel shaken by his actions and the depth of his emotions.
"Alice, do you still think it's a better idea to stay here with Damian, or should we leave after acquiring the new identity?" Seraphine asked Alice silently within her mind, seeking guidance.
They had discussed this matter before, and Alice had advised her to get her identity before live outside the mansion. Now that she had acquired it, the decision weighed heavily on her.
"Seraphine, do you want to live freely without anything bothering you and leave the world to its own devices, or do you want to stop the calamity and chaos order in the future?"
Alice's words made Seraphine realize the gravity of her decision. It was not just about her personal freedom but also about the fate of the entire empire or even the world. The chaos order posed a threat that couldn't be ignored, and if Seraphine left, she wondered if Damian would be able to escape the terrible fate that awaited him.
After living in the mansion for many months, Seraphine's relationship with the new servants and the young master had significantly improved from their first meeting. She had grown fond of them, and the thought of leaving them saddened her. Moreover, she was worried about what would happen to Damian if she were to leave, as he had changed and become a better person during their time together.
"It seems I don't have a choice then," Seraphine replied to Alice's statement in her mind. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to answer Damian's eagerly awaited question.
"Young master, I'm truly thankful for your gift of freedom. Even though I am able to leave, I am willing to continue working with you," Seraphine responded to Damian with a warm smile.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished her sentence, Damian moved and hugged her tightly, filled with contentment. It was clear that he had been nervous and uncertain about the outcome of freeing Seraphine.
While he had wanted to grant Seraphine her freedom, he also wanted her by his side. He was ready to accept her decision if she chose to leave, but it would still be difficult for him to handle. However, with Seraphine deciding to stay with him, Damian felt overwhelmed with contentment and immediately embraced her.
"Thank you, Seraphine." Damian said, holding Seraphine tightly. She could feel his emotions overwhelming him, and she gently hugged him back, reassuring him of her decision.
They both embraced each other warmly, showing affection for one another. It had been a month since their last meeting, and Damian had missed Seraphine's presence when she departed.
After a while, Damian stepped back and proceeded to discuss a further matter with her.
"By the way, Seraphine, I also have to inform you that we will be going on a hunting ceremony in a few months. My father has already appointed me as the representative for the family," Damian said, his expression turning serious.
"Hunting ceremony? Do I have to participate as well, young master?" Seraphine asked, recalling from the book that the hunting ceremony was reserved for nobility and knights.
"Don't you remember? You are already a baron's daughter now, Seraphine," Damian said with a sly expression, teasing her.
"Well... I totally forgot about that," Seraphine replied, feeling slightly embarrassed that she had forgotten their recent conversation.
"We will have to prepare for the competition. This will be a good chance for us to bring back our family's reputation in the social circle again. I hope you can provide me with assistance, right?" Damian extended his hand, a gesture of trust, and waited for Seraphine to accept.
"Yes, young master, we will definitely show them that you are no longer part of a collapsing family!" Seraphine grasped Damian's hand firmly, looking into his eyes with determination. Damian smiled back at her.
With Damian now preparing Seraphine's identity, they were getting ready to participate in the competition, an important ceremony taking place in the capital. Both of them would have to depart soon, and the promising journey and events were about to unfold in the near future.