CHAPTER 253: GLIDED SHOCK

The massive doors of The Main Palace swung open, revealing not just an entrance but towering gates of ethereal black and gold.

Standing thirty feet tall and polished to an obsidian gleam, they captured the golden sun like a heavenly mirror.

As the family stepped through this grand threshold into the heart of Dominion Sanctum, they were hit by a wave of glittering magnificence.

"Wha..." Ashley’s jaw dropped as she blinked rapidly, trying to process the sheer opulence that unfolded before her. "This is a house? Are you sure we haven’t been teleported to a royal palace?"

"Ashley, even a royal palace isn’t this... well, this stunning," Olivia said, equally dumbfounded.

Kaia tugged Billy’s sleeves and said absentmindedly," Billy are you sure you didn’t hit your head on a wall when you decided to run away from home".

Billy came back to his senses and rolled his eyes at Kaia and said," Technically I didn’t runaway, i was kicked out and second why do you ask?".

"Well because if you didn’t hit your head on a wall,why the hell do you want to runaway from this" Kaia said while pointing her finger infront of her.

Even Arthur, usually composed, allowed the corners of his lips to tilt upward slightly as a fleeting proud expression crossed his face before vanishing again.

The foyer alone could host an extravagant ball! Marble floors veined with gold and starlight stretched endlessly beneath their feet, reflecting swirling constellation-like lighting above.

A chandelier descended from the cathedral-like ceiling,but calling it merely a chandelier would be an insult.

It resembled a galaxy itself! Suspended orbs of ethereal glass floated in gentle rotation, glowing with soft gradients that responded to movement.

Every color shimmered enticingly as they walked beneath it.

Kaia stood frozen in awe. Her hand clutched Billy’s shirt tightly as she whispered in disbelief, "This isn’t real... Is this real?"

Billy managed a slow nod despite his own astonishment. "I don’t know if I should take off my shoes or my soul."

To their left lay a sprawling lounge chamber with velvet-lined walls and indigo crystal pillars that gave it celestial depth.

Plush sofas in dark gold and storm grey curved into inviting conversation circles,each one more lavish than the last.

Some sat beside recessed fire pits made from enchanted black glass; others were positioned next to screens so vast they engulfed entire walls,each acting as an immersive home theater.

"Those aren’t TVs," George muttered while nudging Edward. "Those are command center monitors from the future."

Edward chuckled dryly but remained slack-jawed at the spectacle.

Ashley had already darted away in excitement.

She stopped before an enormous set of cascading curtains,deep crimson velvet embroidered with filigree that shimmered like fallen stardust.

Running her fingers over them, she exclaimed wide-eyed, "Wait... are these... from Tessaria?"

Arthur nodded solemnly beside her.

Ashley spun around dramatically. "Do you all even understand what this means?! Tessaria is one of THE fashion empires of the world! Their designer silk curtains are worth more than my entire university campus!"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow and quipped, "Ashley, you didn’t even go to class."

"Still counts!" Ashley shot back playfully.

Laughter bubbled up, dissolving the tension of awe that had gripped them moments before. It was replaced by a giddy exhilaration, as if they had stumbled into a dream too grand to fully comprehend.

To their right, rows of wine walls stretched along an expansive corridor, each bottle nestled in its crystalline niche like a precious gem waiting to be discovered.

Bella, who had remained silent until now, felt an irresistible pull toward the shimmering shelves.

Her eyes darted from one glittering label to another.

"These aren’t just wines..." she whispered in disbelief. "That’s Solare’s Dawn,only one hundred bottles ever made! And over there,is that Eldranni Moonwine? That stuff ages in floating citadel barrels!"

Oscar whistled appreciatively. "The GDP of a small nation couldn’t afford this collection!"

Arthur smirked and replied, "You’re not wrong."

Billy raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why is there a wine called Bloody Tyrant?"

"Because it was banned in 20 countries for being too potent," Arthur replied casually.

Their shocked stares spoke volumes as they moved on through hallways wider than most hotel lobbies, each illuminated by sconces carved from firegems,rare stones mined from beneath the Emberreach mountains.

Kaia paused at a section resembling a private museum.

Display cases held ancient artifacts,from crystalline spears to armor fragments adorned with intricate sigils of forgotten dynasties.

"These aren’t replicas, right?" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arthur nodded solemnly. "Most are genuine relics from lost civilizations,recovered and restored at great expense. I spend a great deal of fortune to get these and i even used some unconventional ways to get some of them"

Her gaze lingered on every display as they continued their exploration.

Then came the indoor garden,a breathtaking ecosystem unlike anything they’d ever seen.

A towering glass dome arched above them, projecting false skies so vivid that one could easily forget they were indoors.

Trees from every known continent lined the pathways: cherry blossoms from Elaris, flamewillows from Vexronis, and floating lily pads from the Lakes of Myra danced gently on the water’s surface.

Butterflies with luminescent wings flitted between bioluminescent flowers while waterfalls cascaded down onyx rock walls into koi ponds filled with fish boasting jeweled scales.

Bella gasped and broke into a run. "It smells like heaven!"

"It is heaven," Olivia murmured with wide eyes. "This is where fairies live."

And then...the Great Dining Hall awaited them,a stretch of eternity adorned with a massive curved crescent slab of goldenroot stone forged from mountain crust.

Platinum-inlaid chairs flanked either side, with thrones at both ends.

Kaia glanced down at her shoes, feeling woefully underdressed in the presence of such opulence.

With a hint of anxiety in her voice, she leaned toward Billy and whispered, "I’d be terrified to eat here! What if I accidentally break something worth more than my entire life?"

Billy chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don’t sweat it! If you break something, I’ll just sell you off!"

Kaia shot him a playful glare and rolled her eyes.

Just then, Edward peeked into an alcove and nearly screamed. "There’s a whole cheese vault in here!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

"Not to mention a wine-tasting corridor right next to it!" George chimed in as he leaned over Edward’s shoulder.

Ashley returned triumphantly, dragging a massive silk throw blanket behind her like royalty. "I found the softest thing in this entire house,and no one can take it from me!"

Arthur simply rolled his eyes and continued onward.

As they moved past the hall, a stunning spiral staircase made of floating crystal steps beckoned them upward toward the private quarters.

Each step shimmered beneath their feet, shifting colors gently depending on who walked upon them.

Liz muttered something about marrying the staircase—who could blame her?

On the second floor, they passed by the library,a true sanctuary for book lovers.

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves climbed multiple levels, accessible via floating platforms that glided effortlessly with just a thought.

Tomes bound in some old animal hide or inked in bloodgold lined the shelves like treasures waiting to be discovered.

In one corner, an AI assistant quietly catalogued incoming volumes.

"This is my heaven," Bella said reverently as she took it all in.

"I thought the wine wall was your heaven?" Edward teased.

"I can have multiple heavens! Don’t judge me," Bella replied with a grin.

Each cousin seemed to find their own personal slice of wonder within this magnificent estate.

For George, it was the glass piano that played along with its user; for Charlotte, it was the art wing showcasing masterpieces from every major movement; for Eva, it was the high-tech security war room,a command center more advanced than most governments could dream of!

At the heart of this grand living room stood an awe-inspiring atrium featuring a 70-meter-tall statue of the First Osborn Patriarch with his hand outstretched toward the ceiling.

The base was intricately carved with 1,000 Osborn deeds,each telling its own story.

Light poured through stained crystal ceilings filtered by lion-shaped skylights above them. Water channels flowed gracefully through the floor like rivers of glass,a mesmerizing sight indeed!

As everyone gazed up at that monumental statue with various emotions etched across their faces, Arthur turned to address them all.

"This mansion wasn’t just built to impress," he said softly, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "It was crafted to protect, to inspire, and to endure.

Every detail,from the exquisite wine and formidable weapons to the luxurious silk and sturdy steel,reflects what the Osborn name truly represents."

A long silence enveloped the room as everyone absorbed his words.

Ashley wrapped her blanket tighter around herself, breaking the stillness with a playful grin. "...But it’s also meant to impress, right?"

Laughter erupted from the group, filling the space with warmth and camaraderie.

Outside, night began its gentle descent, but inside the Main Palace, lights flickered on like stars welcoming their family home.

As they stood together in this magnificent place, a sense of belonging washed over them.

They knew that this wasn’t just a house; it was their new home.