Adrian stepped away from the meeting room with Seraphina by his side, leading her down the grand halls of the Everhart estate. Her mind swirled with memories of the days she lived here, of how close Adrian had once been with her before things changed.
Meanwhile, Adrian glanced at his aunt from the corner of his eye, watching the way her hair caught the light like fire and how her confident stride never wavered.
Seraphina's soft voice cut through the tension. "You've grown so much," she said, her tone warm yet teasing.
"I still remember you chasing after me everywhere when you were little, proclaiming you'd marry me. You'd get all pouty if I even left your sight for more than a few minutes."
Adrian chuckled, a smile tugging at his lips. "I was pretty attached, wasn't I?" His eyes softened with fondness at the memory, though there was an edge of embarrassment as well.
Seraphina shot him a sideways glance, the playful smirk never leaving her face. "You changed, though. Shortly after I left for the royal capital, your bratty phase kicked in. From what Isabella told me, you became insufferable—creating trouble for her, Sophia, and others and not helping them."
Adrian winced. "Yeah… I went through a bit of a phase," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "But I'm not that same kid anymore."
Seraphina stopped, her intense blue eyes locking onto his with an almost probing look. "No, you're not. Isabella kept me in the loop, even when I wasn't here. At first, I was disappointed by what I heard. But then..."
Her lips curved into a proud smile. "Then I started hearing about your growth—how you've rescued the mother-daughter pair, Eve and Rosalyn, and even managed to rescue the Blackthorn princess. How you've become stronger, more focused. It made me proud to see how far you've come, Adrian."
His chest swelled with warmth at her words. "I've had to grow up fast," he said simply. "There's no other choice. As a man, I have to do everything to protect my family."
They walked through the courtyard in comfortable silence, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant sounds of training soldiers providing a steady backdrop to their conversation.
Eventually, they reached the training grounds where Adrian's newly summoned army stood in formation, teaching the new recruits as well as other soldiers of Everhart Manor.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of the soldiers. "Well, well, look at those menacing-looking soldiers. The pressure they are exuding is even greater than the royal army," she murmured.
"Where did you find them? Our Everhart Barony should not have these kinds of people. Also, they don't feel like pure humans at all."
Adrian grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "They are my summons, Aunt. They are 100% loyal to me and are immortal in the sense that they regenerate after death, though they will lose all progress except for the skills they have learned. There's a lot you don't know about me yet, Aunt Seraphina."
"Impressive," she muttered, as she had no other words for him, seeing his ability that left her in deep shock.
As she examined the soldiers, Adrian, curious about her own power, used his Observation Skill on her. His eyes widened as the results appeared:
Name: Seraphina Everhart
Class: ??? (Third Class)
Health Points: ???
Mana Points: ???
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Intelligence: ???
Charm: ???
Luck: ???
"Third Class?" Adrian muttered under his breath, stunned. He quickly asked the system for clarification about why her stats were replaced with "???."
The system responded with a mocking tone. "Host can only observe stats up to one class higher than your own. You're too weak to comprehend the rest."
Adrian rolled his eyes. "Seriously?" he grumbled. A fleeting thought crossed his mind—If my aunt's this strong, maybe I should just throw her at Baron Mortimer.
His mind conjured an image of him yelling, "I choose you, Aunt Seraphina! Use Meteor," and boom, Mortimer Barony is destroyed, as if he were commanding a Pokémon. He chuckled inwardly at the absurdity.
Before he could fully process this discovery, Seraphina turned to face him, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Did Isabella tell you about my class?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Adrian asked, "What the... was I speaking too loudly?" thinking he had been mumbling to himself.
Seraphina shook her head. "Once you reach Third Class, your senses are heightened. Even if you just move your lips, I can comprehend what you're saying."
Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, thinking at least she wasn't reading his mind, and she had only heard his mumbling.
He then shook his head and responded to her question, "No, I have an observation skill that lets me see people's stats. But I didn't expect..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I didn't expect you to be this strong."
Seraphina's lips curled into a soft smile, her tone affectionate. "Well, I've had my fair share of challenges. Reaching Third Class wasn't easy, but I did what had to be done." She stepped closer, her presence suddenly overwhelming.
"You seem to possess quite a few interesting skills. I wonder if I can learn some of those from you?" Seraphina mused, looking at him intently.
There was a teasing lilt to her words, and Adrian felt the tension between them again, stronger than before. Her fiery red hair, her penetrating gaze, and the sheer power she radiated made her an enigma he couldn't easily unravel.
"You've grown into quite the man," she murmured, her eyes glinting with both pride and mischief. "But I hope you're ready to keep up with me."
Adrian's heart skipped a beat. The way she looked at him, the proximity of her body, the sultry tone in her voice—it all stirred something primal in him.
He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Let's keep moving. I still have more to show you around the estate."
Seraphina chuckled, a sound rich with amusement as she hooked her arm through his, her breasts pressing against his arm. "Lead the way, dear nephew. I'm happy to spend more time with my dear Adrian."
As they walked, Adrian couldn't help but reflect on the mysterious power his aunt wielded. Third Class, he mused. The top powers in the kingdom were all Third Class—formidable beings capable of wielding magic and might beyond ordinary understanding. It felt surreal knowing that his own aunt stood among them. She was every bit as strong as the most powerful individuals in the realm.