The Rydel Estate I

The Rydel estate was just as large and ostentatious as a person would expect the home of an aristocratic family to be.

The property had been owned by the family for generations and maintained privacy due to its location in the more sparsely populated eastern city boundary.

Eric remembered how amazed and slack jawed the sight of the grounds and the manor had left him.

For someone who had been born and raised in the city his whole life, being here had been like experiencing something straight out of a fairytale.

Now with a thick layer of snow covering the expansive grounds and walking down the salt-covered cobblestone pathway leading to the manor seasonally decorated with silver and gold fairy lights, it felt more like stepping into a winter wonderland than someone's home.

To this day he couldn't believe that not only would this place be his home one day but his property too when his future husband inherited it.

He glanced at Yuliang who stood by his side to see his reaction. Eric would imagine that this would be Yuliang's first time seeing such luxury, but unlike the awe he'd expected to see from his country-bumpkin of a friend, Yuliang looked just as unimpressed as he did on any other day.

When their eyes met, he offered him a reassuring smile which was acknowledged by a small twitch of lips.

The jagged imprint on his shoulder burned and Eric was helpless to the small kernel of resentment that lit up within him.

He breathed through it.

"Well, let's not keep them waiting. I'm sure everyone's been out of their minds with worry for Elys," he said brightly.