CHAPTER 177: LET’S MEET MY MOTHER!

The gentle afternoon sun painted the streets of the capital in gold as the carriage rolled through the busy district. Laughter and chatter filled the air... merchants calling, children chasing after each other, nobles strolling with parasols... and among them, the black carriage of Marquess D’Amaris drew the eyes of many. Inside sat three figures whose silence carried a thousand unsaid thoughts.

Seraphina sat straight and elegant, her gloved hands resting neatly on her lap. Every now and then, she stole a glance at Rin, who sat across from her, relaxed as if he owned the carriage. His white hair caught the sunlight through the window, his calm face unreadable. The Marquess sat beside him, lost in thought, occasionally tapping his cane against the floor.

The silence lasted until Seraphina spoke, her tone sweet but sharp beneath the surface.

"So, this is the place you chose, Rin? An ice cream restaurant?"

Rin turned his gaze lazily toward her.

"Yes. Unless nobles like you melt when they touch something cold."

Her eyes narrowed. "You must think you’re clever."

He smiled faintly. "Oh, I don’t think, Seraphina. I know."

Before she could reply, the carriage stopped. The guard outside opened the door and bowed.

"We’ve arrived, my lord."

The Marquess stepped out first, followed by Seraphina and then Rin. The familiar ice cream restaurant was grander than most... marble pillars, crystal lamps, and a red carpet that led inside. It was famous among nobles, and the crowd waiting outside stared as the Marquess entered. They were wondering why someone like him would visit an ice cream restaurant. He could have just ordered his chef to make one for him. They kept gossiping, also wondering who that handsome young man was with him.

"Welcome, Lord D’Amaris!" the manager exclaimed, bowing so low his head almost touched the floor. "It’s an honour to have you here!"

The Marquess nodded politely. "A private room, please."

"Of course! Right this way." He stretched his hands.

They were led through the main hall to a quiet VIP section, separated from the rest of the restaurant by golden curtains. Inside, the seats were made of red velvet, and the polished glass table reflected their faces clearly. The Marquess sat at the head of the table, Seraphina on his right, Rin on his left.

The manager handed them menus before bowing and stepping back.

"Order whatever you want," the Marquess said, glancing at both of them.

"Oh my! Thank you, Father," Seraphina smiled sweetly. "I’ll have the creamiest and sweetest one. The Imperial Delight."

The Marquess nodded, then turned to Rin. "And you?"

Rin flipped through the menu slowly before closing it. "Everything."

Seraphina blinked. "Everything?"

He nodded, calm as ever.

The Marquess chuckled softly. "Are you sure you can finish them all?"

"I ordered the same thing last time," Rin replied casually, "but I didn’t get to finish it. Someone interrupted."

His words made Seraphina stiffen. The Marquess only smiled, amused. "Then I’ll let you try again."

When the waiter left, Seraphina leaned back, crossing her arms.

"You must be starving at the brothel to order that much. It’s sad, really."

Rin turned to her, expression still relaxed.

"Oh my! How do you know? You must visit often to understand what starving looks like."

Her smile froze. "I... That’s not what I meant..."

The Marquess raised his hand gently. "Seraphina. Enough."

She lowered her gaze, biting her lip.

D’Amaris turned to Rin again. "Actually, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you."

Rin’s brows lifted slightly. "Something to discuss? With me?"

"Yes." The Marquess folded his hands on the table. "You’re... an admirable young man. You stand up for yourself. You remind me of someone I once knew. I want to help you."

"Help me?" Rin tilted his head. "How?"

The Marquess looked at him seriously. "By adopting you."

The room fell silent. Even the air seemed to freeze. Rin blinked once, unsure if he heard correctly. Seraphina’s hand tightened on her fan until it almost cracked.

"Adopt... me?" Rin repeated quietly.

Before anyone could say more, the door opened, and waiters walked in carrying trays of colourful ice cream. They set them neatly on the table... a mountain of bowls in front of Rin, a small elegant one in front of Seraphina.

The sweet smell filled the room.

Rin looked at his portion and then at the Marquess, who hadn’t ordered anything.

"Aren’t you getting one?"

"I don’t like sweet things," the Marquess said with a small smile.

Rin rubbed his chin thoughtfully and pushed one of his bowls toward him.

"Then try this one. It’s not that sweet."

D’Amaris blinked. "Oh? Which flavour is that?"

"No idea. I picked it because the colour looked sad."

"Sad? It doesn’t matter the colour or flavour. My father doesn’t eat sweets. So stop trying hard to..." Seraphina said, but got interrupted by the Marquess’s light laughter.

Seraphina watched as her father took a spoonful. His eyes widened. "This... is surprisingly good."

Seraphina froze. Her father never ate sweets. He’d rejected every dessert she’d ever offered him, no matter how beautiful or expensive. But now... he was eating something Rin picked.

She forced a laugh. "Father, would you like mine instead?"

"No, no. Enjoy yours," he said, smiling kindly. "This one’s perfect."

Her smile faltered. Inside, anger coiled like a snake.

’Perfect? Because Rin gave it to you?’

Meanwhile, Rin was already halfway through his own bowls, scooping one after another like he was born for it.

"I told you it wasn’t too sweet," he said between bites.

The Marquess nodded in amusement. "You were right."

Seraphina stared at her melting ice cream. It tasted sweet but felt bitter on her tongue. Every time her father laughed at Rin’s words, she felt something twist in her chest.

After a while, the Marquess placed his spoon down and looked at Rin seriously again.

"About what I said earlier... I truly mean it. I want to adopt you."

Rin looked up slowly, licking the spoon clean. "I heard you the first time. But I can’t be adopted."

"Why not?" the Marquess asked softly.

"Because I already have a mother," Rin said. "I might not have a father, but that doesn’t mean I’m lacking one."

Seraphina leaned forward, her voice laced with mockery.

"How can someone like you have a mother?"

Rin smiled faintly, eyes gleaming. "Oh my... do you have one?"

Her breath hitched. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. The Marquess shot Rin a warning look, but Rin’s tone remained calm and almost teasing.

"No offence," Rin said, "but I can’t be adopted. Even if I wanted a father, it’s not a decision I can make alone."

The Marquess nodded slowly. "Then perhaps I could meet your mother. Maybe she and I could talk. I’d like to at least be a father figure to you."

Rin tapped his finger against his chin, pretending to think. Inside, his thoughts drifted to Winter... his little brother.

’Would having someone like D’Amaris around really help?’

He didn’t know. But one thing was certain... this man wasn’t cruel.

He finally looked up. "When would you like to meet her?"

D’Amaris glanced at his pocket watch.

"It’s still early afternoon. I don’t mind going now."

Rin arched an eyebrow. "To a brothel?"

The Marquess only chuckled. "If that’s where she is, then yes."

Seraphina’s mouth fell open. "Father, you can’t be serious! You can’t just walk into a brothel!"

D’Amaris turned his gaze on her, stern. "Then stay here if you don’t want to come."

"I’ll come!" she snapped before she could stop herself.

Rin hid a small grin behind his spoon. "Then let’s finish eating first. I don’t want the ice cream to go to waste. I’m not a wasteful kind,"

She groaned, slumping back in her seat, stabbing her melting dessert with her spoon. "Fine. I’m also not a wasteful person,"

The Marquess chuckled under his breath as Rin continued to eat cheerfully. Seraphina tried to compose herself, but her thoughts were far from calm.

’He’ll regret this. Father might find Rin interesting now, but once he meets that woman, he’ll see what kind of filth he’s defending. A brothel woman? Tch!’

As Rin finished his last bowl, he sighed in satisfaction. "I’m done."

"Finally," Seraphina muttered. "Can we leave now?"

He ignored her, wiping his mouth with the napkin before looking at the Marquess.

"Let’s go then. I’ll take you to my mother."

The Marquess smiled warmly, standing. "Lead the way."

Outside, as the carriage door shut behind them, Seraphina stared out the window, her reflection in the glass was sharp and cold. She thought of her father’s smile whenever Rin spoke, the way he listened, the laughter she hadn’t heard from him in years.

Her heart burned with something darker than jealousy.

’Rin... enjoy your moment. Because soon, I’ll make sure your world falls apart.’

Beside her, Rin leaned lazily against the seat, eyes closed, a faint smirk playing on his lips... as if he could already feel the storm building around him but didn’t care. She’s just a villainess and villainesses die at the end.

The carriage wheels rolled toward the brothel district, carrying with them three souls bound by pride, resentment, and a growing, dangerous interest.

And somewhere deep in Rin’s chest, a quiet thought flickered...

’If Lucien finds out about this, he’ll probably scold me for this.’

He smiled faintly.

’But I kind of want to see how it turns out.’