The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 25: The Formal Meeting

Chapter 25: The Formal Meeting

Damien’s coach came to a halt in front of the Ashter residence, and he observed an aged, gaunt man dressed in a stiff butler uniform hurriedly approaching him, trailed by two young maids. After a brief exchange of courtesies, the duke was escorted into the noticeably dilapidated estate. The stark contrast between his own grand home and the humble abode meant to shelter Rosalie couldn’t escape his attention.

Marquess Ashter’s mansion stood as a solemn testament to faded grandeur. Within its aging walls, echoes of former opulence mingled with neglect and decay. The once resplendent interiors bore the scars of time, their faded tapestries and worn-out carpets telling tales of forgotten splendor.

The atmosphere, tinged with melancholy, weighed heavily upon the gloomy faces of the servants who moved about with a sense of resignation. Yet, amidst the desolation, tall windows stood as beacons of hope, inviting streams of sunlight to flood the rooms during the day, breathing life into the worn spaces, reminding all who entered of the mansion’s former glory.

As Damien stood in front of the shabby entrance to Ian Ashter’s study, the old butler knocked three times with his prominent knuckles, and slowly opened the heavy door, following the throaty and muffled "Enter!" that seeped through its tiny cracks.

Upon entering the study, Damien was met by both Marquess Ashter and his son, Raphael, who promptly rose from their seats, their expressions tinged with unease and perhaps even fear. Lord Ashter spoke first,

"Oh, Your Grace, welcome! Please, have a seat."

He gestured towards one of the worn leather couches positioned in the center of the room. As Damien accepted the invitation and settled down, Ian took his place on the couch opposite the coffee table, clasping his hands atop his knees and forcing a somewhat awkward smile. Meanwhile, Raphael stood behind his father, emanating an aura of loyal devotion akin to a steadfast knight.

"Goodness, Your Grace, your sudden proposal caused quite an uproar in the entire capital! The banquet had to be halted due to the shock. I had no inkling of your interest in marriage. If I may inquire, why Rosalie?"

Damien cast a quick glance at Raphael, who stared at him with an intense glare, his face growing darker by the moment. He ran his fingers through his already tousled hair, let out a long sigh, and a somewhat smug smile graced his lips.

"Well, Lord Ian, to be honest, I have been secretly in love with your daughter for quite some time. Recently, we had a discreet meeting, during which I asked her if she would be willing to accept my proposal at the Imperial Banquet."

Raphael’s rage was now evident. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his skin, and rapidly left the room, slamming the heavy door behind him, leaving a loud echo of that noise to shake the otherwise quiet space.

Marquess Ashter clicked his tongue disapprovingly and shook his head. Of all times, his son had chosen the most inconvenient moment for one of his explosive outbursts.

"I apologize for my son’s behavior, Your Grace. You see, he is fiercely protective of his little sister, so the sudden news of her impending marriage without our prior knowledge has deeply unsettled him."

Damien closed his eyes briefly. He had been in the house for only ten minutes, yet the mounting frustration he felt seemed even more oppressive than all the chaotic events that had transpired earlier in the day.

"... I understand."

He resolved to keep his responses brief from now on, realizing that engaging with the male members of the Ashter family was an exercise in futility, devoid of any emotional strain.

Lord Ian, astute enough to perceive that their meeting had already tested the duke’s patience, and well aware of Damien’s infamous reputation as a ruthless monster, wisely chose to get straight to the point as well.

"As you are aware, Your Grace, Duke Amado and I had already arranged for our children to be married. Although the engagement was not yet official, your sudden proposal has left both of our families in quite a predicament."

"Certainly, Lord Ashter. I understand, which is why I have come prepared. Let me address the inconveniences I have caused."

Having predicted this exact outcome, Damien silently reached his hand into the inner pocket of his black jacket, took out a small rectangular piece of paper bearing his personal stamp, and slid it across the coffee table, his face still showing no emotion.

The marquess picked up the bank check left by Damien, then hesitated for a moment, offering the duke a polite smile, and finally looked at its contents. His eyes widened upon seeing the numbers written on the piece of paper in his weathered hands – even when his family was still in its prime, he could not remember if he saw such a large sum of money granted to him on a whim.

As expected, his decision to agree to the marriage had been the right one.

Damien kept quietly observing Ian’s joyous face and could not help but shiver in disgust. The sight of a parent displaying such excitement at essentially selling his only daughter to the most feared man in the Empire made him sick to his core.

Thus, he slowly rose to his feet and said, his voice bearing a sense of urgency,

"If everything is now resolved, Lord Ashter, then I shall take my leave."

"Wait, Your Grace!"

Lord Ashter practically jumped to his feet, his troubled gaze fixed on Damien.

"I would like for Rosalie to visit her home one more time. We haven’t even said goodbye..."

Duke Dio threw an irritated glare at the bank check clutched in the marquess’s hand and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Whether Lady Rosalie wishes to return here or not is her decision. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am a rather busy man."

He tightened his grip on the black, ornate door handle, veins on his hand bulging with pressure. Opening the door, he concluded their meeting with a final cold remark,

"No need to see me out. And... if either of you should wish to see Lady Rosalie in the future, you will have to go through me first."