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.