Seraphine and Damian arrived at the grand mansion, which was a stark contrast to Damian's personal mansion where he had been exiled. The mansion before them was opulent and luxurious, a testament to the wealth and status of the Marquis Ornstein family.
However, with the revenue and treasure gathered by Seraphine, Damian's personal mansion had also risen in status, closing the gap between the two.
As they stepped out of the carriage, they were warmly welcomed by the mansion's servants. Followers and knights helped carry the luggage, and Seraphine entered the mansion, taking in the sight of a large hallway adorned with extravagant decorations.
The Marquis Ornstein family was not exactly poor, but Damian's allowance had been intentionally kept extremely low, leading to the family in the capital living extravagantly while neglecting the needs of Damian territory.
In the original story, Damian was expelled from the academy due to severe violations and crimes. This tragic turn of events was the straw that broke the camel's back and tipped him into a truly villainous phase.
He had come to the capital and committed patricide to usurp the head of the family's title. Seraphine knew that it was crucial to mend the strained relationship between Damian and his father to prevent the calamity that awaited them in the future.
As they entered inside the mansion, an elegant figure approached them, the personal butler of Marquis Adrain. He was in his middle age but carried himself with utmost dignity and grace.
"Welcome, young master. We have been expecting your arrival," the butler said, offering a respectful bow to both Seraphine and Damian. His words were formal, but his tone carried a sense of genuine sincerity. He seemed genuinely glad to see Damian return, and it was evident that he held a sense of loyalty towards the young master.
The butler led Seraphine and Damian through the mansion's corridors until they reached a grand dining hall. Inside, seated at the head of a long table, was Marquis Adrain Ornstein. He appeared stern and imposing, with golden hair that resembled Damian.
Next to him sat his new wife, Mariana Ornstein, whose elegant beauty hid a shrewd intelligence. At one side of the table, the second sister, Adelaide Ornstein, looked mature for her age, her eyes observing every detail around her. On the other side, the youngest, Joseph Ornstein, seemed restless, fidgeting in his chair.
"Father, I have returned," Damian announced, his voice steady but tinged with underlying emotions.
The marquis glanced up, his expression aloof at first, but then he seemed taken aback as his eyes fell on Seraphine standing next to Damian. The presence of a young woman in such an important family gathering was a rare sight.
"And who is this?" Marquis Adrain inquired, his gaze scrutinizing Seraphine. Even though he is the person who bought her as a Damian birthday present, he never saw her appearance before.
"I am Seraphine, the advisor to Young Master Damian. I have been traveling with him and providing assistance," Seraphine introduced herself politely, offering a graceful curtsy.
"An advisor?" Mariana raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. " Aren't you a slave that we brought for Damian?"
Seraphine held her composure, knowing that her new status as a baron's daughter might not be fully accepted by the higher nobility.
"Indeed," Damian spoke up, his voice firm. "Even though Seraphine is a former slave, she now holds the title of advisor. She has been of great help to me and the estate. I trust her completely."
Marquis Adrain studied his son for a moment, a mix of emotions playing on his face. It was evident that their relationship was strained, but Damian's return and the appearance of Seraphine seemed to stir something within him.
"Very well. We shall discuss this later," the marquis said, his tone suggesting that the matter was not entirely settled.
The Marquis' family initially looked down upon Seraphine and were highly curious about her abilities and her special bond with Damian. Adelaide, though outwardly friendly, deep down viewed Seraphine as a lesser person who did not belong in their ranks. Meanwhile, Joseph, being young and naive, was ignorant of the situation and was innocent towards Seraphine.
Throughout the meal, Seraphine was bombarded with interrogations, some of which were quite rude. However, she maintained her composure and responded gracefully, all while keeping her cool. Some of the questions she was asked were even more personal, such as whether she had previously worked in a brothel before.
This question, in particular, made Seraphine extremely frustrated and tempted her to strike Mariana, the one who posed the question. Despite her desire to lash out, Seraphine rose above the situation and showed immense strength and self-control, handling each question with ease.
Despite the rude behavior displayed by the family towards Seraphine, she could not help but notice that Adrian seemed to treat Damian better than the rest. He attempted to strike up a conversation with him. Damien, too, was puzzled by the shift in his father's demeanor, wondering what had caused it.
As the dinner went on, Adrian's unusual behavior grew more and more apparent, leading the pair to suspect that something significant had happened. This was unlike the original timeline where Adrian held a deep-seated disdain for Damian and blamed him for his former wife's untimely demise.
In the book, it is emphasized that Damian's siblings and stepmother do not actually have animosity towards him. Instead, they pity him for the difficulties he has faced. The real issue is Adrain's animosity and hatred towards him, which has caused all the problems and strained their relationships within the family.
After the meal, as they were preparing to return to their chambers, the butler interrupted Seraphine and informed her that Marquis Adrain wished to meet with her personally.
This development made Damian uneasy, as he didn't know his father's intentions or what might happen to Seraphine. To reassure her, he placed both hands on her shoulders and said,
"If anything happens, just yell out loud, and I will immediately come to your aid. I don't care if I have to hurt my father or not."
Seraphine smiled at Damian, her composure unwavering as she responded,
"Don't worry, young master. I am strong enough to protect myself now. " Seraphine has been training for several months, and her mental energy and physical strength are sufficient to defend herself. She gave him a reassuring pat on the arm and walked confidently towards Marquis Adrain's chambers.
As Seraphine walks into Marquis Adrain's room, the butler departs, leaving the two individuals alone. Adrian has already poured himself a scotch whiskey in a fine crystal glass and is sipping it while eying Seraphine. The atmosphere is tinged with tension, and Seraphine stands waiting for Adrain to speak. After finishing his drink, he finally looks into Seraphine's eyes and says,
" Sit down, I have something to discuss with you."