In the previously seen family room upon entering the mansion, Artur found himself sitting in the House of Valya's grand salon for the first time. They often referred to it as "The Grand Salon."
The grand salon exuded opulence, with its deep-colored furniture adding to the luxurious atmosphere. At the center of attention stood an immense fireplace, capturing the dim light with its intricate carvings and gilded accents, drawing attention to its magnificence.
Adorning the walls were masterful works of art and exquisite tapestries, while the windows offered a breathtaking view of the picturesque countryside.
Within the grand salon, one would discover a collection of imposing dark wooden furniture, complemented by expansive velvet couches and resplendent golden chandeliers. The fireplace itself was a sight to behold, radiating a dignified presence with its meticulously carved marble and broad mantelpiece.
It served as the heart of the room, creating a warm and inviting space where the family would gather, sharing laughter and stories.
The grand salon boasted lofty ceilings adorned with elegant cornices, accentuating the grandeur of the space. Along the perimeter, intricate crown molding adorned the pristine white walls, lending an air of refinement. Standing prominently at the center was an exquisite marble fireplace, adorned with detailed carvings and a generous gold mantlepiece, commanding admiration.
Plush rugs adorned the floors, while sumptuous velvet furniture filled the room. The gentle flicker of the fireplace and the soft glow of candlelight enveloped the space, creating an ambiance that invited the House of Valya family to gather, fostering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Artur and Sergei sat facing each other, with the fireplace in between them. Zilya and Rini sat in front of the fireplace, providing space for the two men to converse.
As a commoner, Artur was unfamiliar with the art of small talk and starting conversations in a noble fashion. On the other hand, Sergei was not one for superficial pleasantries and empty words. As a result, their meeting was filled with silence and awkwardness.
Until Zilya couldn't take it anymore and said, "Father, Sister Cila didn't come with Artur." Zilya didn't mean anything by her words; she just wanted to initiate a conversation between the two men in front of her with something that would surely interest Sergei.
True to form, Sergei, who had been silent all this time with a frozen expression on his face, let out an annoyed snort. "Hmm... My daughter's blinded by love. What's so great about this Gilbert guy that she would turn her back on her own family?"
In a calm and expressionless voice, Zilya interjected, "Isn't it because of you?"
Still wearing the same expressionless face, Sergei snorted again, "It's not my fault that that slut is cheating."
For the first time since they arrived at this place, Artur and Rini saw Zilya roll her eyes. Although her face remained devoid of expression, it was clear that their aunt was mocking Sergei's words.
Artur was previously unaware of the true reason Cila ran away from home. But it seemed like her case was truly serious, causing trauma for her when she was still young at the time. He couldn't dwell too long on his thoughts because Sergei was now paying attention to him.
"Hey, tell me, how great is this Gilbert guy that he makes my daughter refuse to carry the Valya name and live in this blessed land!" Sergei asked seriously as if he genuinely couldn't understand what was going on in Cila's mind.
Artur smiled faintly and said a single word, "Home."
"Home? What kind of home? A home where you go hungry every day when the famine season comes? A home where you shiver in the cold every night when winter arrives? Or a home where you sweat profusely from the heat every day during the summer? Hmm..." Sergei snorted, shaking his head, still not understanding.
Hearing that, Artur fell silent for a moment, his mind drifting back to a childhood memory. Usually, young children don't remember what happened when they were little, but this memory was so deeply ingrained in his mind that he still remembered it vividly.
At that time, a famine hit Heles City, and the prices of food skyrocketed. The Morris family, who were already very poor, had to gradually reduce their meals day by day. Eventually, they could only afford to eat once a day, with portions far smaller than what their bodies need.
Coupled with scorching summers that left them parched, their bodies became dry and brittle. If it was painful for Anna and Artur, then their parents were in an even worse condition.
Gilbert would leave for work on an empty stomach, sometimes not eating for days, having to tie a stone to his stomach to make it feel full. Cila, who was once beautiful, appeared so weary with dark circles under her eyes and sunken cheeks. They probably hadn't eaten for several days, and any food they managed to get would be given directly to Anna and Artur.
Their parents never asked their children to save food for them. Every night, they would give all the food they could find to Anna and Artur, urging them to eat to their heart's content. Young Artur would always devour his meal hungrily due to extreme hunger, but Anna, who was slightly older, would leave half of her food untouched.
Both of them believed that their parents had already eaten beforehand, as that's what they always said when asked. However, Anna had a hunch that their parents were lying, but she didn't know how hungry Gilbert and Cila truly were. That's why she left half of her food behind.
They only discovered the true situation when Artur woke up in the middle of the night and asked Anna to accompany him to the bathroom. As they passed by the kitchen, they heard their parents arguing.
It wasn't an argument caused by Cila complaining about not eating or Gilbert complaining about not eating. It was an argument over who would eat Anna's leftover food from earlier.
Gilbert shouted that he was a man and that men had strong bodies capable of enduring a month without food. He forced Cila to eat Anna's leftovers, using that as his reasoning.
Cila cried and refused because she knew that Gilbert was the one who had to work hard every day to earn a living. Her husband needed more energy than she did, as her daily activities only involved taking care of the household.
After that incident, Artur and Anna realized that these arguments occurred every night whenever there were leftovers. Most of the time, Gilbert won the arguments, but occasionally Cila would win after threatening to throw away the leftovers if Gilbert didn't eat them.
Anna and Artur had never known that their parents argued over leftover food like this. They believed that Gilbert got food while he was working or that Cila received food from neighbors. They both immediately ran and embraced Gilbert and Cila, tears streaming down their faces.
Realizing that their argument had been discovered by their two children, Gilbert and Cila fell silent. The small family held each other tightly, and eventually, Artur asked with the innocence of a child.
"Mother, are you in distress?"
Upon hearing that, Cila wiped away Artur's tears with a warm smile that always adorned her face. "No, my son. I am not in distress, you know why? Because I have a Home!"
Artur smiled as he reminisced about that moment. Back then, he never understood what Cila meant, and he thought it was her way of comforting herself while crying. But now, Artur somewhat understood Cila's feelings at that time.
That's why he could respond to Sergei's words tonight, saying, "Home is not just a house, Home is not wealth, and Home is not power. Home is family, a family that makes you feel full when the famine season arrives, a family that keeps you warm when the winter comes, and a family that makes you laugh when the summer arrives. I believe my mother has everything she desires, and the only thing she wants is Home. The Home that my father has given her."
After saying that, Artur felt a longing for his home in Heles. However, he came to this place not to play around, but to lay the foundation for the Home he would build.
"Grandfather, I know deep down that your desire for me to join the House of Valya is not because of my achievements in the military academy, but to make my mother return to this place. However, unfortunately, no matter how much you insist, my mother will continue to refuse your wishes. There are too many painful memories associated with this place. I won't blame you because it's not my place to blame you. I have never lived in misery, and I have never regretted my childhood in the Morris family. But now, I need your help in creating a future for my new family. If you still feel guilty towards my mother or guilty towards me, then I hope you can assist me!"
Artur's words flowed gently, without force, lies, or deceit. He spoke from the depths of his heart. While he currently needed the House of Valya's assistance to marry Rini, it did not mean he would support Sergei in forcing Cila to divorce Gilbert and return to Volskova.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l