CHAPTER 179: THE NEXT DUKE DRAVEN!

For a moment, no one spoke a word. The quiet in the room felt heavy... almost suffocating. Rin’s eyes moved from his mother to the Marquess, then to Seraphina, who looked just as stunned as he was.

Auren was the first to break the silence. His voice was low and rough, like it had aged with guilt.

"...Elyria."

Elyria blinked slowly, as if she wasn’t sure he was real. "Auren," she said softly, before adding...

"It’s been... a long time."

Seraphina turned sharply to her father, confusion flashing in her eyes.

"Father? You know this woman?"

The Marquess didn’t answer. His hand trembled slightly before he hid it behind his back. Rin noticed the gesture... the same kind of hesitation he’d seen in nobles hiding something. Not just him. He was sure his mother was hiding something, but she was good at hiding her emotions, or maybe she had no emotions to show.

Elyria smiled faintly, breaking the thick air.

"You have a beautiful daughter. She looks just like... her mother," she said quietly, her tone polite but detached.

Auren straightened a little, forcing a small smile. "Thank you," he said quickly. His voice held gratitude, but also something that sounded like pain.

Seraphina’s gaze flicked between them, growing uneasy. Her father looked... nervous. She had never seen him like that. She hated it. She hated that her father was like this because of that woman, Elyria.

"Father," she repeated, stepping between them slightly, "Do you know this woman or not?"

"Yes. Yes, I do, Seraphina," Auren rubbed his temple, avoiding her eyes. "But it’s... complicated."

Rin frowned, stepping closer to his mother. "Mother, how do you know the Marquess?"

Elyria’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes softened as she looked at her son.

"It’s just a coincidence, dear."

Auren forced another nod.

"Yes. A coincidence."

Seraphina’s frown deepened. Her father never avoided anyone’s gaze. Not even the king’s. But now, he couldn’t even meet this woman’s eyes.

Elyria moved gracefully toward the sofa and sat down.

"Please, sit, Lord D’Amaris. I’m sure you have had a long day already."

He hesitated, then lowered himself into the seat opposite her. Rin sat beside his mother, while Seraphina remained near her father, her back straight and eyes sharp.

For a moment, the only sound was the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Then Elyria’s calm voice broke the quiet.

"You wanted to see me, didn’t you, Marquess? Why?"

Auren clasped his hands together and exhaled. "Yes. I didn’t know you were Rin’s mother when I asked to meet her. If I had known..." He paused, searching for the right words. "We agreed never to meet again, but fate seems cruel."

Elyria tilted her head slightly.

"Cruel, perhaps. Or playful."

He smiled weakly, looking older than before.

"I wanted to meet Rin’s mother because I intended to speak about adopting him."

Rin blinked, staring at his mother to see her expression. He didn’t expect the Marquess to go straight to the point and mention the adoption without wasting much time.

Elyria’s calm face tightened.

"Adopt him? Why?"

Auren cleared his throat, sitting straighter. "Because I wished to help him. That’s all."

Elyria turned her head toward her son, who only gave a helpless shrug. Her voice was still soft, but there was steel behind it.

"He has a father, Auren. Even if he’s gone."

"I know," Auren said quickly. "I only admire Rin. He’s talented, brave, and kind. I see him like a son."

Before Elyria could reply, Seraphina spoke sharply, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"If she doesn’t want you to adopt him, Father, she should just say it plainly. Don’t let her make you look foolish. You’re a Marquess... they’re just commoners."

"Seraphina!" Auren’s voice thundered across the room, making her flinch. His expression hardened for the first time that day. "One more word out of you and you’ll leave this room."

She froze, lips parting in shock. "But... Father..."

"Last warning," he said, his tone final. "Don’t make me repeat myself, child,"

Seraphina sank back into her chair, her cheeks burning with humiliation and fury. She had never been scolded like that before... and certainly not in front of others. She clenched her fist tight.

The silence returned.

Rin leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.

*If we can’t talk freely, then I’ll ask the question myself. How do the two of you know each other?" His voice was calm, but his tone left no room for evasion. "Mother. Marquess. Please speak. Just one of you,"

Elyria and Auren exchanged long, uncertain glances. Neither seemed eager to speak first. The silence stretched until Elyria sighed, her fingers curling in her lap.

"Well, it all started more than twenty-five years ago," she began slowly, "I built this brothel and worked here. Back then, I was just a courtesan."

Rin’s eyes softened. He’d heard a little of his mother’s past, but never this directly. He only heard it from others and not from her.

Elyria continued, her gaze distant.

"I had many clients. Most of them were nobles. Auren was one of them."

Across from her, Seraphina’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth, but her father’s warning glare kept her silent. She bit her bottom lip hard, her pride stinging. She never thought her father was ’one of them’. He visited brothels? He didn’t look like that at all.

Elyria’s voice was steady, but her words carried the weight of old memories.

"He came often. Even after he was betrothed to another woman. He didn’t like her... it was an arranged marriage after all. He didn’t even know her name at first. He told me once that he came here because it was the only place he could feel... free."

Auren closed his eyes, his expression pained but silent.

Elyria looked at him briefly, then away.

"He would always ask me to run away with him, but I refused. I didn’t want that kind of life. One day, his fiancée found me in the street and humiliated me in front of everyone. I thought my life was over."

Rin frowned deeply. "What happened after that?"

"I was saved by Edward," she said softly.

Rin blinked. "Edward...?"

Her lips curved faintly. "Your father."

Something in Rin’s chest tightened. He thought his father’s name was Rhys. Maybe Edward was his middle name... or maybe his mother simply didn’t want to explain more. He didn’t push.

Elyria continued, her tone calm but heavy.

"I told Auren to stay away, but he didn’t. I’ve been humiliated by his fiancée and I didn’t want more of that. He kept apologising, kept sending letters and gifts, even after being banned from entering the brothel. I ignored him until the day I left to marry Edward. That was the last time we saw each other."

The room stayed still for a long moment. The air itself seemed to pause.

Auren’s head lowered slightly. His voice was quiet, almost regretful.

"I ruined everything back then. I couldn’t even protect you from what happened. And I... married my fiancée, because I had no choice."

Seraphina’s hands tightened around her gown, her nails digging into the fabric. Her father’s words echoed in her head... married because he had no choice.

Did that mean he never loved her mother? Did he only marry to forget someone else?

She wanted to shout, to demand an answer, but she kept her mouth shut this time.

Rin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I see... so that’s what happened."

Auren lifted his head, looking at Elyria with guilt. "I’ve carried that regret for years. When I found out what happened to you... I was unable to save you. I guess meeting Rin is fate. It’s the only way I can apologise for what happened in the past. If I could at least take care of you now, or adopt him, I could make things right."

Elyria’s eyes softened for a moment, but then she shook her head.

"Auren, stop. It’s fine. That was a long time ago. I’ve forgotten it. You don’t need to apologise,"

He shook his head firmly.

"Even if you’ve forgotten, I haven’t. Please... let me take care of you both. I could make arrangements. Rin could live comfortably, and you..."

Elyria stood up abruptly, cutting him off. Her calm tone returned, but her words were sharp.

"That’s not possible."

"Elyria..."

"You can’t adopt Rin," she said firmly. "And you can’t take me in as your mistress or second wife. I’m not ready to be bound to anyone, especially someone I no longer long for."

Auren’s expression fell. He opened his mouth, but Elyria didn’t give him the chance.

"As for Rin," she continued, her gaze steady, "you can’t adopt him because he’s already the next Duke Draven."

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Rin froze, blinking slowly.

’Duke Draven? Me? Why is mom mentioning that now?’

He realised what she was doing... deflecting, trying to protect him from the Marquess’s offer... but still, the Duke’s name carried weight he didn’t want.

Across from them, Seraphina’s face went pale. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed again.

’Rin? The next Duke Draven?’

The boy she’d mocked, the one she’d called low-born and filthy... was going to outrank her.

She felt her throat tighten as she whispered under her breath, trembling.

"No way. It’s impossible. That commoner can’t become a noble..."

No one heard her but herself.