Lady Josephine brought us to a drawing room located deep within the main hall. Unlike the rest of the manor, it wasn't opulent. Instead, it appeared to be a place of rest and relaxation. Instead of crimson and gold, the drawing room was decorated with lighter colors: lilac, pink, and yellow. Glowstone lamps protruded from the walls, glowing with a gentle light. All the furniture, while still beautiful and expensive looking, appeared to focus more on comfort than anything.

Small potted plants placed at strategic locations added a touch of nature to the room. They filled the air with a light floral scent, which I preferred over the almost oppressive smell of roses that filled the rest of the manor. The sound of trickling water reached my ears. I looked over and found a small waterfall fountain in a corner.

All in all, this drawing room appeared to be a private and personal space rather than one meant for receiving guests. It contained none of the trappings often used to awe and impress, and sometimes intimidate, outsiders.

After we entered, Lady Josephine gestured for Mother and I to take a seat. Anna joined us, sitting by my side. She took my hand in her own and squeezed it, lending me her support.

Lady Josephine and Lord Trevor sat opposite of us. The former wore a complicated expression, while the latter regarded me with suspicion and wariness. Lord Miles stood behind them. He looked at me with a disdainful smirk, as if he had won and it was just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Grand Elder Luther stood off with an intrigued expression on his face. I didn't know if he intended to participate in the upcoming conversation, or just observe it.

After everyone settled in, no one said anything at first. We all studied each other in silence, waiting for the other side to speak up. Mother wore a calm expression on her face, as if nothing was wrong, and I felt pretty much the same way. Anna, on the other, looked defiant.

"Did you know?" Lady Josephine asked Mother, breaking the silence.

Mother gave her a questioning look.

"Hmm? Did I know what?"

Lady Josephine narrowed her eyes at Mother.

"Don't play games with me, Claire," she said. "You know what I meant. Don't insult my intelligence by pretending otherwise."

Mother, with a thoughtful expression on her face, didn't respond right away. Lord Miles, unable to hold it in any longer, spoke up first.

"Your son is a transmigrator!" he said in an accusing tone.

Mother stiffened, before glancing at me. Well then, since it was out in the open, why not just go with it? Yes, we could deny it, but what was the point? They already knew the truth, and denying it wouldn't help. If anything, it would make us look more suspicious.

I gave Mother a reassuring smile, before looking at Lord Miles.

"Yes, and?" I asked. "How is that relevant?"

Lady Josephine, Lord Trevor, and Lord Miles all looked at me with varying degrees of surprise. I guess they hadn't expected me to admit it so readily. Then again, I wasn't a transmigrator from First Murim, so I wasn't revealing the full truth.

Lord Miles was the first to recover.

"Of course it's relevant!" he said. "This changes everything!"

I tilted my head and gave him a questioning look.

"How so?" I asked. "Mother and I came here to discuss my engagement with Lady Annabelle." I gave Anna's hand a squeeze. "What does me being a transmigrator have to do with anything?"

Lord Miles looked ready to strangle me. I'll admit, I felt petty satisfaction at seeing him so worked up.

"You cheated during the duel!" he said. "Of course I wasn't going to win against a transmigrator!"

I gave him a hard look.

"That's hypocritical of you," I said. "Considering you had no trouble challenging me when you thought I was a mere Second Star martial artist." I grinned at him. "Besides, the main point of the duel was to display my martial arts skills. I'd say we accomplish that."

Lord Miles' face turned so red, I feared for his heart.

"Enough," Lady Josephine said in a sharp voice. "Miles, not another word."

Lord Miles clenched his jaw and nodded.

"You being a transmigrator matters, Lord Gabriel," Lady Josephine said, turning to face me. "Because there is a difference between allowing my daughter to marry her peer, and marrying her off to an old man inhabiting a young man's body."

I reared up, offended by her words.

"I'm not an old man!" I said. "I was only twenty five years old when I died!"

Nevermind the fact that I had over forty years of life experience. However, since Anna was a regressor, that wasn't a problem. In fact, taking everything into account, she was a bit older than me.

"You're not marrying me off to anyone," Anna said. "I want to marry Gabriel of my own free will. And yes, before you ask, I already knew about him being a transmigrator."

Lady Josephine grimaced, while Lord Trevor gave Anna a pleading look.

"Annabelle, sweetie," he said. "Think about this before you make a decision you can't take back. Marriage is serious business. Why don't you wait a few years before you settle down?" He glanced at me. "By that point, someone better will come along."

Anna snorted.

"Better by whose standards?" she asked. "Yours? I'd die of old age before that happens." She raised her hand, the one holding mine, and showed it to her parents. "I want to marry Gabriel."

"Why him?" Lord Miles cried out. "What's so special about him? He's just a shameless old man who seduced you with that pretty face of his."

Pretty? Asshole. My face was more than merely pretty.

"First of all, I seduced him," Anna said. "Gabriel tried to run away, but I chased him down and made him mine." She gestured to Lady Josephine. "Just like Mom taught me."

Mother gave me a look, as if I had disappointed her by succumbing to her one-time enemy's daughter. Lady Josephine, on the other hand, looked torn between pride and reluctance.

"Second," Anna said, giving her brother a hard look. "I wanted to be with Gabriel before I saw his face. We met when he was disguised. I fell for him because he's strong, capable, and reliable." Her expression softened. "There are many more reasons, but there aren't enough words in Common Tongue, Spirit Tongue, or any other language to describe the depths of my feelings."

"But-" Lord Miles started to say, but Anna cut him off.

"There is no 'but', Miles," she said, her expression hardening once again. "I will marry Gabriel, regardless of what you or anyone else has to say on the matter."

Lord Miles stared at Anna with a stricken expression on his face, as if his heart was breaking. Anna looked back at him, not giving any ground at all. A part of me suspected that she knew about his feelings for her, and this was her way of making her stance clear. Coldhearted, but necessary.

If Anna showed even an ounce of kindness, Lord Miles might misinterpret it and cling onto a false hope. It was better to sever this particular thread rather than let it dangle. This was for Lord Miles' sake as well as ours.

Well, not that I cared about Lord Miles' feelings. However, he was Anna's brother. That meant that we would have to put up with him for the foreseeable future. The last thing I wanted was for him to cling unto her like some kind of leech.

Without another word, Lord Miles walked out of the drawing room. No one tried to stop him. I guess we all knew that he needed a moment alone. A heavy silence filled the drawing room after he left.

"I apologize on his behalf," Lady Josephine said, looking at me and Mother. "Miles has always been…hotheaded."

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"I wonder where he got it from," Mother said in a sardonic tone.

Lady Josephine gave her a withering look.

"You're one to talk," she said. "You once started a fight with me because I looked at you the wrong way."

Mother grinned.

"Oh, that was an excuse," she said. "I just wanted to fight you."

"And how do you know that? I didn't even mention when or where this happened."

"Because that's what happened every time I picked a fight with you."

Their banter helped to dissipate the heaviness that remained in the wake of Lord Miles' departure. I didn't know if that was their intention or not. Regardless, it worked. The atmosphere in the drawing room eased.

"I object to this marriage," Lord Trevor said, dropping all pretenses. "I won't allow it."

And like that, the atmosphere grew tense again.

"Dad!" Anna exclaimed. "Why not?"

Lord Trevor pointed a finger at me.

"He's not good enough for you," he said. "Yes, you're happy with him now. However, you'll come to regret your decision sooner or later. Mark my words."

Okay, this was getting ridiculous. There were only so many personal insults I could tolerate, even from my future father in law. Mother felt the same way, it appeared.

"Lord Trevor," she said, an edge to her voice. "Out of respect for your wife, I have tolerated your nonsense thus far. However, I will not stand idly by while you insult my son right in front of my face."

Lord Trevor narrowed his eyes at her.

"I don't want to hear that from a woman who abandoned her family for a man," he said.

"My family abandoned me," Mother said, her voice ice cold. "I served them for years, working hard for their sake. However, the moment I made a choice for myself, they cut me off and cast me aside." She leaned forward. "And unless you plan on doing that to your own daughter, I suggest you listen to what she has to say."

Lord Trevor looked ready to start a fight. However, before he could say or do anything, Lady Josephine put a hand on his arm.

"Annabelle is our daughter," she said. "She has set her sights on Lord Gabriel. Do you remember what happened when I pursued you? My parents objected, but I married you anyway. And look at where we are now. It worked out for us. Why can't it work out for our daughter?" Her expression softened. "I know you're concerned for Annabelle, and you don't want to part with her, but this is a trial every parent must go through."

While Lord Trevor still looked angry and defiant, Lady Josephine's words had an effect on him.

"Dad, please," Annabelle said. "Don't make me choose between my family and Gabriel."

Lord Trevor looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow and resignation. After a moment, he sighed.

"Fine," he said. "Against my better judgment, I won't oppose this engagement anymore." He looked right at me. "However, that doesn't mean I approve or accept you, Lord Gabriel. It just means I won't stand between you and my daughter."

Well, at least he compromised this much. Perhaps this is the best we could hope for.

"You better treat my daughter right," Lord Trevor continued. "Or I will make you regret ever coming to this realm."

I nodded, a solemn expression on my face.

"I'll do everything in my power to make her happy," I said.

At that, Lord Trevor relented. Not by a lot, but just enough.

"Thank you, Dad!" Annabelle said, rushing over to hug her father.

Lord Trevor grumbled, but returned the hug.

"Now then," Lady Josephine said, an expression of both relief and anticipation on her face. "Shall we discuss the details of the marriage contract?"

Mother straightened up, looking as if she were about to go to war.

"Yes, let's," she said.

"And that's my cue to leave," Anna said, standing up. "I need to finish getting ready for tonight's feast."

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Feast?" I asked.

"Of course," Anna said, as if explaining the obvious. "The Young Mistress of Clan Thorne just got engaged. We need to celebrate."

I blinked at her.

"But we just got engaged," I said. "Well, almost. Did you plan a feast ahead of time?"

Anna snorted.

"Yes," she said. "Why wouldn't I? I knew I would get what I wanted."

I glanced at her parents. Lady Josephine appeared amused, while Lord Trevor looked troubled.

"See you in a few hours, Gabriel," Anna said, kissing my cheek before leaving the drawing room.

As soon as she left, Grand Elder Luther stepped forward. He had remained silent and kept his presence subdued this entire time. I had almost forgotten about him.

"Lord Gabriel," he said. "Will you join me for a stroll? It's not everyday one gets the opportunity to meet a transmigrator."

I glanced at Mother, Lady Josephine, and Lord Trevor. On the one hand, I wanted to remain here. Mother already knew what I wanted as part of the marriage contract, but it wouldn't hurt to participate in the marriage negotiations myself. On the other hand, I also wanted to talk with Grand Elder Luther. I'm sure there was a lot we could discuss with one another.

While I reached Sixth Star and Supreme mastery in my previous life, I also died young. Meanwhile, Grand Elder Luther had decades of experience. There was a lot I could learn from him, and I'm sure my insights would benefit him as well.

"Go ahead," Mother said, smiling at me. "Let your mother handle the marriage negotiations."

"You sure?" I asked.

Mother nodded.

"In that case, yes," I said, looking at the grand elder. "I will join you."

Grand Elder Luther gave me a pleased smile.

"Excellent," he said. "Please, follow me."

With that, I left the drawing room with the grand elder while Mother remained behind with Lady Josephine and Lord Trevor.

I took a moment to change out of the red training uniform and back into my blue and silver robes. Afterwards, Grand Elder Luther led me to a large garden located within an open air courtyard. Unlike most of the other gardens in the Clan Thorne manor, this one had more than just roses. There were a variety of other flowers, all bright and colorful. They filled the air with a light floral scent.

In the center of the garden lay a pond. Pink lotus flowers emerged from within its depths. Koi fish swam around in the pond, fat and lazy. The air felt cooler here, though not to an uncomfortable degree. Glowstone lamps were placed in strategic locations to enhance the garden's beauty. The air smelled of water mixed with a light floral scent.

All in all, I found the garden peaceful and tranquil. It was the kind of place I would go to when I wanted to get away from all the world's troubles, or if I just wanted to enjoy a cup of tea in solitude.

A smooth stone pathway wrapped around the pond, forming a circuit. Grand Elder Luther and I walked along this stone path in silence, neither one of us saying a word. He invited me here for a reason, and I accepted his invitation for my own reasons, but we weren't in a hurry. If nothing else, the silence gave me an opportunity to appreciate the garden's beauty.

"Were you truly twenty five years old when you died?" Grand Elder Luther asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded.

"Yes," I said.

Grand Elder Luther sighed.

"To achieve Supreme mastery at such a young age," he said. "How amazing. Did you also reach Sixth Star?"

I nodded again.

"I envy you," Grand Elder Luther said in a rueful tone. "I was a little older than your parents by the time I reached my current level."

"That may be, Grand Elder Luther," I said. "However, you have decades of experience over me. That's valuable in its own right. If we had fought in my previous life, you would've defeated me." I shrugged. "Besides, I can't take all the credit. I had my teacher's guidance. Without her, it would've taken me much longer to reach Supreme master or Sixth Star."

Grand Elder Luther chuckled.

"I appreciate your attempt to make this old man feel better," he said. "But there's no need. I made peace with my lot in life a long time ago. Sixth Star is my limit. I doubt I'll climb any higher in this lifetime."

I grinned at him.

"How can that be?" I asked. "You're only what? Seventy years old? Eighty? You still have plenty of time left, especially as a martial artist. I'm sure you can still climb higher."

Martial artists and wizards aged slower than regular people. I didn't know the exact rates, but I think it was anywhere from two-thirds as fast to half as fast. Take my parents, for example. Father looked ten years younger than his actual age, while my mother looked just a few years older than me.

"No," Grand Elder Luther said. "While I don't remember my exact age, I know I'm well over a hundred and fifty years old. I've been stuck at my current level, and my current appearance, for decades now." He gave me a gentle smile. "Though I thank you for your kind words."

Well, damn. Now I feel like a bit of an asshole.

"I apologize for my careless words, Grand Elder Luther," I said.

He made a dismissive gesture.

"No need," he said. "As I said earlier, I already made peace with my lot in life. Instead, I decided to focus on helping the younger generation reach their full potential." He shook his head. "It's a shame you died so young. I wonder what you could've become if you hadn't perished."

I mulled it over, before shaking my head.

"I have no regrets," I said. "Overall, I prefer this life over my previous one. While I miss the people I left behind, I have plenty of loved ones here." I shrugged. "Besides, I'll reach Sixth Star again soon enough, so death was just a minor setback in that regard."

Grand Elder Luther laughed.

"That's a good attitude to have," he said. "In that case, ignore my previous words."

I smiled.

"Now then," I said. "Shall we get down to business? What did you wish to speak with me about, Grand Elder Luther?"

The grand elder stopped in place, a frown on his face. I stopped walking and waited for him to speak up.

"Lord Gabriel," Grand Elder Luther said. "That fighting style of yours. Where did you learn it?"

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"My teacher from my previous life," I said, seeing no reason to withhold the truth. "I made it mine by incorporating my elemental affinities, but I learned the core of my fighting style from my teacher."

Grand Elder Luther nodded.

"I guessed as much," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"As I told you earlier, my goal in life is to help the younger generation reach their full potential." He gave me an amused smile. "Now that you're set to marry Young Mistress Annabelle, this includes you as well. While I can't help you directly, your fighting style differs too much from my own, but I know someone who can."

I frowned at him.

"What do you mean?"

Grand Elder Luther looked me in the eyes with a solemn expression on his face.

"I know someone else with the same fighting style as yours," he said. "Someone who can help you reach greater heights."

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