A pair of horse-drawn carriages ca to a halt at the gates of the magnificent mansion, situated beside a grand estate. The road leading to the main gates was immaculate and wide, lined with well-maintained hedges and sculpted topiaries. Encircling the estate grounds was a stone wall that extended beyond the driveway on both sides. Each section of the grounds boasted a maze of flower gardens, manicured hedges, fountains, and andering paths.
The carriage driver assisted them as they disembarked, opening the carriage doors and gesturing for them to step out. Artur and Rini erged into the late morning sun, following a flagstone walkway that led them beneath blooming cherry trees, their delicate pink petals gently cascading to the ground.
Before them stood a wicket gate, resembling an open mouth. Passing through it, they entered another courtyard adorned with blooming plants, trees, and topiaries, flanking either side of a cobblestone path that led straight to the manor house, nestled amidst a series of terraced gardens.
The mansion before them appeared impressively grand and newly constructed. Its large, transparent windows offered a glimpse inside, revealing elegantly draped curtains.
The entrance to the mansion was fashioned from mahogany wood, intricately carved in designs that seed to dance as they approached.
From the exterior, it seed to have two stories, with the upper level housing several bedrooms, each more spacious and luxurious than the last. The opulence of the place was awe-inspiring, leaving them feeling small in comparison to its overwhelming allure.
Prior to this, Artur had received a letter from his parents, informing him of his father Gilbert's promotion and their gift of a mansion from the Mayor of Heles, located in the upscale residential area on the outskirts of the city.
Artur was well aware that the Mayor bestowed the promotion and new mansion upon Gilbert because of Artur's status as a military academy mage. It was even possible that if he wanted the Mayor to visit his ho, the leader of Heles would drop everything and rush to his doorstep.
As Artur had ntioned earlier, it was ti for others to curse "Fairness is a son of a bitch" silently in their hearts when they saw him. However, as he looked at the red-haired woman beside him, Artur could only sigh deeply, realizing that there was always soone above.
Rini, on the other hand, was unimpressed by the grandeur of Artur's ho. She maintained her usual deanor, with a frozen smile of cheerfulness on her face. Perhaps, to Rini, the magnificence of the mansion owned by Artur's family was equivalent to the grandeur of a dog kennel at her own ho.
Artur knocked on the door and waited for soone to answer. The door swung open, revealing an unfamiliar woman he had never seen before. She was dressed as a servant, with beads of sweat dotting her forehead. It seed that she had been busy with sothing before rushing to open the door.
"Hello, who are you?" asked the servant woman.
"My na is Artur Morris. Are my parents at ho?" Artur replied.
"Ah! Are you truly young master Artur? Please forgive for not recognizing you, young master!" The servant woman imdiately startled and lowered her head in fear.
Artur felt a bit awkward as he had never had a servant before. However, seeing Rini's unchanged expression as if nothing was amiss, Artur understood that a servant should be punished for not recognizing their master.
But Artur couldn't punish soone for their ignorance. He wasn't a true noble; he was just a fortunate child who had been given a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity.
So, Artur waved his hand and said, "I don't mind. What is your na?"
With her head still bowed, the servant woman replied, "Thank you, young master. My na is Ratna. I am a servant employed by Madam Cila."
Artur once again felt awkward hearing his mother referred to as Madam. "Is my mother at ho?"
"Madam is having tea in the sitting room. I will call her right away. Please, young master, co inside and have a seat," Ratna said, still bowing her head, inviting Artur in.
Artur felt a bit stiff with all the formalities. But he understood that his current status was different, and he had to behave accordingly.
Without saying anything, only nodding, Artur walked inside with Rini still holding his hand. Her eyes seed to scrutinize Ratna, searching for any mistakes made by the unfortunate servant. Artur didn't know why Rini did it, but it seed to be the habit of a noble towards their servants.
Perhaps by doing so, the servants would behave more politely and cautiously in front of their masters. This way, when important guests visited their residence, the servants could still act perfectly and not embarrass their masters.
The living room of the mansion was furnished with couches and featured a beautiful round table with intricately carved legs. Artur and Rini sat side by side as Ratna served them tea and beverages. Afterward, she hurried off to call Cila, who was in the sitting room.
Artur and Rini didn't speak to each other; they quietly enjoyed the beverages provided by Ratna. Before long, footsteps could be heard approaching from the side. Artur and Rini turned their heads simultaneously toward the source of the sound.
Their eyes beheld the sight of a pretty woman in her forties wearing a gown made of black silk. Her straight, white hair was piled on top of her head and secured with an antique jewelry clasp. She was Artur's mother, Cila Morris.
"My son, you've finally returned!" Cila exclaid, extending her arms.
Artur stood up from his seat and embraced his mother, whom he hadn't seen in three years. Cila appeared younger, and her face, once marked by hardship, now radiated brilliance. It seed that living as a wealthy woman had brought back the spirit that had faded after Anna disappeared.
"Mother, you look more beautiful," Artur complinted.
"Hahaha... it seems that the military academy has not only taught you spell but also how to complint a woman," Cila chuckled, caressing her son's cheek with a bright smile on her face.
After enjoying the mont of reunion and seeing her son's face after three long years, Cila finally realized that Artur was not alone. She turned to Rini and saw the beautiful face of a red-haired woman with a dignified air like that of a noble.
"Artur, who is this lovely lady? Have I gained a daughter-in-law? Why didn't you ever tell ?" Cila asked, her smile slightly restrained.
"Mother, this is—"
"Hello, Mother. My na is Rini Djarum, and I am Artur's girlfriend!" Before Artur could explain, Rini greeted Cila in the manner of a noble princess, curtseying, bending her knee, and slightly lowering her head.
Cila was slightly taken aback but gracefully returned Rini's greeting with the sa elegance. "Hello, Rini. Nice to et you. I never knew Artur had a girlfriend," Cila said, glancing at Artur.
"Mother, this is—"
"Artur might have been embarrassed to introduce only through letters, Mother," Rini interrupted Artur's explanation once again.
"Ah? It's not—"
"Hehehe, my son is indeed shy, but isn't that what makes him look cute? But forgive , earlier you ntioned your na as Rini Djarum, is that correct?"
Artur had to swallow his words once again due to Cila interrupting his explanation.
"That's right, Mother. My na is Rini Djarum," Rini nodded gracefully.
"Ah... forgive , but are you the daughter of the Djarum family in the Shaltshed Kingdom?" Cila asked.
Rini was slightly surprised when Cila knew the origin of her noble family. "Ah, do you know my family? That's right, Mother, I am the daughter of the Djarum family from the Shaltshed Kingdom."
Cila fell silent and looked at Rini from head to toe before turning to Artur. Artur understood the aning behind Cila's gaze. Unlike his father, who only knew the nas of noble families in the Stonhold Kingdom, Cila knew almost all the nas of noble families in the human alliance.
Artur didn't know where Cila acquired this knowledge or how she knew it. The Cila he knew was just an ordinary housewife, but when she executed the noble greeting flawlessly, Artur started to wonder.
He had once suspected that Cila wasn't just an ordinary commoner. Her incredibly smooth, fair skin was unlike that of a typical commoner, whose skin would be dry from working under the sun since childhood. Moreover, her beauty and mannerisms were not commonly found in their environnt.
However, his mother's background wasn't crucial at the mont. Cila must be wondering what Artur truly thought about dating a noble family's daughter.
Although he was currently a Level 2 Constellation Mage, as Artur had explained to Rini, his status ant nothing in front of noble families. In fact, he might not even be on par with their servants.
"Artur, what's actually going on?" Cila asked, squinting her eyes.
She suspected that her son, whom she had raised to be an honest man, had grown up to beco a skilled deceiver. He was even capable of seducing a noblewoman's daughter with just his Level 2 Constellation Mage status.
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