—
In the serene ambiance of the Golden Mansion, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the grand estate. Amidst the opulent surroundings, Amon's guest arrived in his automobile. The vehicle, adorned with ornate detailing, featured smooth curves and intricate patterns in the metalwork that reflected the craftsmanship of local Eudaemoran artisans.
As the automobile's engine came to a stop , a meticulously dressed driver emerged. Neat and professional, he smoothly exited the front seat and swiftly opened the door, extending a hand to assist his esteemed passenger, who wore an eyepatch over his right eye, while his beautiful golden iris was exposed on the other eye. The sole heir to the Aurum estate in the south of Grythwill City was dressed in a tailored suit and a distinguished top hat. In his hand, he carried an exquisite cane carved from the heartwood of an Ironwood tree.
The black-haired heir, who was led by a butler, made his way into the lobby of the Golden Mansion. He grinned at the sight of the humongous crystal chandelier by the staircase. Surely, the mansion of the Midases reflected their extravagant lifestyle, and it felt surreal to finally step inside the famous Golden Mansion.
Seeing his visitor, Amon greeted him with a handshake, extending a welcome into his lavish home.
"Welcome, Mr. Aurum," he said in a somewhat flat voice. As he walked ahead, leading him to the rose garden, Amon couldn't help but frown. The letter he had sent Dmitri Aurum was among the first batch of invitations to reputable gentlemen in the city, and he no longer expected a response. He didn't know that the gentleman would still respond to it.
At the start of their deal, Amon badly wanted to get rid of Juliane's lively presence by immediately marrying her to another, but his feelings had completely reversed. Now, the young master hoped no other men would show interest in a blind date with an unknown lady sponsored by the Midas family .
But how could those gentlemen not notice the letters, if they were from the famous Amon Midas? Perhaps it was what convinced the one-eyed businessman. He should have withdrawn all the letters he sent.
"Mr. Aurum, please wait at the gazebo," Amon said, pointing to the structure in front of them. "I'll go fetch Ms. Johara."
"Thank you, Mr. Midas," Dmitri said with a warm smile.
As Amon watched Dmitri enter the gazebo, he couldn't help but notice how perfect his posture and gait were. The gentleman appeared to have refined taste, so perhaps he wouldn't like Juliane, whose rough behavior couldn't be fully masked by etiquette lessons.
Amon's heavy steps could be heard in the hallway of the mansion, and it was quite obvious that he was in a sour mood. Even with his mind preoccupied by the current situation, he stopped walking at the sight of the prettiest girl in the Golden Mansion.
Juliane Johara descended the grand staircase of the mansion in a delicate, pink, long-sleeved shirt dress accented with intricate gold laces. The attire added a touch of sophistication to her presence. Her wavy, bluish hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing her elegant features. Juliane's ears sparkled with earrings bearing the finest pearls from the coastal town of Coralilla, their soft glow rivaling the moonlight. Her makeup, skillfully applied using cosmetics from the Region of Zuchira, enhanced her natural beauty, with a subtle powder base and a pink blush that matched her radiant smile.
Amon couldn't help but be entranced by Juliane's ethereal beauty. As she made her way down the grand staircase, her elegant dress flowing behind her, his gaze remained fixed on her while the world around him faded into the background. He was utterly stunned, captivated by her natural allure and the graceful presence.
Seeing Amon standing at the bottom of the stairs like a statue, Juliane approached him, visibly puzzled. "Mr. Midas?" she called softly, waving her hand in front of his face. "Are you alright?"
Amon blinked, snapping out of his trance. "Ah, yes," he said, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He forced himself to compose, unwilling to appear flustered in front of her. After all, when had the revered Amon Midas ever been absent-minded? Never—until Juliane Johara walked into his life.
"Ms. Johara," he said, straightening his posture. "Come now, Mr. Aurum is waiting." His voice was firm, but he avoided meeting her gaze, afraid his eyes would betray his feelings.
A playful glint flickered in Juliane's eyes as she tilted her head. "I wonder if he'll like me… Do I look okay, Mr. Grumpy Cupid?" she asked with a teasing smile though there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Amon's heart skipped a beat. "You look beautiful… Can you not meet Dmitri Aurum, and just marry me?"—that's what he wanted to say. But he couldn't. Instead, he cleared his throat and replied, "You look like a human for once."
Juliane pouted, crossing her arms. "You're mean, sire," she said, feigning annoyance as she quickened her pace towards the garden.
Amon watched her walk away, his brows furrowed in frustration. As she disappeared into the distance, he sighed deeply. With the moon as his silent witness, he made a quiet vow to himself.
If someone as sophisticated as Dmitri accepted Juliane for who she was, then he would step aside and let her go. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, but he knew he had to respect her choices.
Meanwhile, Juliane found herself seated across from Dmitri Aurum in the rose garden. The moonlight bathed the scene in a soft glow, casting a romantic ambiance over the evening. After exchanging pleasantries, Juliane decided to be upfront about her background. "Actually, I used to be a potato farmer, and Mr. Midas bought our land in the Eastern Farmlands," she said steadily. "I want to apologize for my poor background—"
But Dmitri shook his head, interrupting her. "Please, Ms. Johara. There's nothing wrong with being a farmer. To be honest, I also came from a humble background. My parents were once treasure divers near Oseanna City."
"Treasure divers?" Juliane asked, visibly curious. Her eyes widened slightly, intrigued by the unexpected turn in their conversation.
Dmitri nodded with a small smile playing on his lips. He continued, "Yes, we used to 'borrow' from trading ships… until one day, we stumbled upon some rare items in a treasure chest. That's how we became wealthy, but I was the one who expanded our seafood trading business."
Juliane's eyes sparkled with admiration. "You're very lucky, Mr. Aurum! Your parents must be so proud of you for becoming successful in your family business."
Dmitri's smile faltered slightly as his expression darkened. "My father's doing well, but my mother… she's in an asylum at the moment. She became obsessed with gold—so much so that she tried to take my eye." He pointed to his eyepatch.
Juliane gasped, pitying the gentleman with such a traumatic experience. But she also realized that he and Amon had something in common– both of them are associated with gold. If Amon had hair with a golden hue, Dmitri's eyes were like molten gold, vibrant and captivating.
"I'm sorry… That was insensitive of me. I shouldn't have mentioned your parents," she said softly, bowing her head in apology.
Dmitri's expression softened, and he gave a reassuring smile. "It's alright, that's what getting to know each other is for." He poured Juliane some black tea with grace and composure. "How about you… How's your relationship with your parents?"
Juliane hesitated for a moment before opening up. She spoke of her father, who had left, and her strained relationship with her mother, who had opposed her desire to continue farming. Dmitri listened attentively ashis eyes remained fixed on hers.
When she finished, Dmitri smiled, finding their interaction unexpectedly pleasant. "Seems like we have some things in common, Ms. Johara. Don't you think this is… destiny?" he asked with a gentle, confident voice.
Hearing the word 'destiny,' Juliane's breath caught in her throat. She looked at Dmitri, her heart racing. What if he was right?
Could Dmitri Aurum really be her destined husband?