The Tharot family mansion had a medieval design that exuded both luxury and elegance.

It didn't resemble a typical mansion—it looked more like a royal palace.

The gates were wide, and the garden inside was filled with neatly arranged ornamental plants, each carefully trimmed and maintained.

At the center of the courtyard stood a statue of a robed man plunging his sword into the ground, standing proudly as if to display the Tharot family's past glory.

The carriage passed through the gate without issue. The guards had already granted permission, so there was no need for another inspection.

Moments later, the carriage came to a stop before the mansion's grand entrance.

James immediately stepped down and opened the door for Merlin.

Merlin got out quietly, carrying the graceful air of a noble's son.

"Welcome, Young Master Merlin and Butler James," two maids greeted respectfully. "Lord Frederin and Lady Iris are waiting for you inside."

Merlin smiled and gave a polite nod. "Thank you for the information."

After that, he and James were escorted into the mansion. The interior was vast and breathtaking.

Historical paintings adorned the walls, while golden statues of knights stood proudly in every corner.

Blue crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light reflecting off ancient carvings that enhanced the grandeur of the hall.

Honestly, the Clay family mansion was nothing compared to this place.

Still, that was only natural—after all, the Tharot family had a long and distinguished history within the kingdom.

When they arrived at the parlor, two people—a man and a woman—were already seated, both wearing warm, welcoming smiles.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a black robe with a fur-lined cape that enhanced his commanding presence.

His brown hair reached slightly past his ears, and a small, uniquely designed crown rested on his head.

He was Frederin Tharot—the head of the Tharot family of this generation.

Beside him sat a remarkably beautiful woman. Her face was perfectly oval, framed by long, wavy pink hair that flowed down her back.

Her eyes, the same soft shade of pink, radiated warmth and grace.

The simple blue dress she wore didn't diminish her beauty; instead, it highlighted her elegance and gentle demeanor.

She was Iris Tharot—the wife of Frederin Tharot.

When the two saw Merlin and James enter, their smiles deepened.

They both stood, and Frederin greeted them with hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! Welcome, kid! Your journey must have been exhausting, right?"

Merlin smiled in return. "Yes, Duke Tharot, it was quite a long journey. But I rested last night, so I feel refreshed."

"Good!" Frederin nodded in satisfaction, letting out a small chuckle. "Sit down, my boy. And James..."

He turned to the butler with a polite smile. "It's been a while. You're still as healthy as ever."

James gave a small smile and shook his head. "You're too polite, Duke. You also look as healthy as ever. The Tharot family will surely continue to prosper."

After exchanging pleasantries, Merlin and James sat down on the sofa across from them.

"By the way, my dear," Iris said softly, "have you eaten yet? How about having something first?"

Merlin glanced at the stunningly beautiful Iris before replying politely, "Thank you, Lady Iris, but I already ate earlier."

As he answered, memories of Iris surfaced in his mind. In the novel, she was portrayed as kind and loving, yet also firm.

She was a strong supporter of the engagement between Merlin Clay and Luna.

Unfortunately, Luna despised Merlin and grew closer to Abel, which often led to arguments between mother and daughter.

As for Frederin, Merlin viewed him as an honest yet shrewd man—like most heads of noble families.

When Luna first began getting close to Abel, Frederin was firmly against their relationship. After all, Luna was already engaged to Merlin Clay at the time.

However, everything changed when Abel discovered the Tharot family's lost scepter—an heirloom thought to be missing for hundreds of years.

From that moment, Frederin's stance began to soften.

Although he no longer voiced his opposition openly, his silence spoke volumes.

If not for Iris's firm objection, Frederin would have likely annulled the engagement between the Tharot and Clay families.

As such, Merlin decided to treat Iris kindly, but when it came to Frederin, he would stay cautious.

"So that's how it is…" Iris sighed softly, her expression tinged with sadness.

Merlin immediately noticed the change in her face and felt puzzled.

Then he suddenly remembered something about Iris from the novel—she loved cooking all kinds of dishes, and in the story, Merlin was often the one who ended up tasting them.

The databook also mentioned that cooking was her hobby. So, she had probably prepared something for him.

However, Merlin was already full after eating at the inn earlier, making it impossible for him to eat anything heavy.

He thought for a moment, and then an idea came to mind.

"I can't eat heavy food right now, but if it's a cake or biscuit, I can," he said.

"Oh!" Iris's eyes brightened instantly, and she stood up with excitement. "Just a moment, I'll bring them out!"

Without delay, she hurried to the dining room, clearly delighted.

Merlin could only smile and shake his head.

"By the way, kid, I heard from your father that you've been helping him manage the city. Is that true?" Frederin asked with curiosity.

He and Ardhis often exchanged letters, and in some of them, Ardhis frequently mentioned Merlin's achievements—his advice in city planning, agriculture, and many other matters.

At first, Frederin had been skeptical. As far as he remembered, Merlin was known for being mischievous and ill-tempered.

That was why he had postponed the engagement discussion. It wasn't until Ardhis personally assured him of Merlin's growth and abilities that Frederin began to reconsider the relationship between their two families.

"You think too highly of me, Duke Tharot," Merlin laughed, waving his right hand. "I didn't do anything. I just gave him some advice—nothing more. The rest is up to him."

"Tsk! No need to be so modest, son," Frederin sighed deeply. "You've really changed. I remember how naughty you used to be—your father complained to me so often that I thought my head would explode."

Merlin let out an awkward laugh. The real Merlin Clay had indeed been terrible—or rather, it wasn't truly him, but the curse that had taken hold of his body.

Because of that, his personality had changed drastically, turning him into someone completely different.

"But seeing you recover and return to normal makes me very happy. This engagement can finally move forward," Frederin said as he took a sip of tea.

Merlin caught the hidden meaning behind his words, his eyebrow arching slightly.

'Don't tell me the engagement was postponed because of that?'

The engagement between him and Luna should have taken place a year ago, but due to a sudden turn of events, everything had gotten complicated.

He had never known the real reason, but with Frederin's words just now, everything finally made sense.

While Merlin and James were still conversing with Frederin, the sound of footsteps came from the side, followed by a girl's lazy voice.

"Did you call me?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.