Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.

Maria and Seraphina soon found themselves inside one of the mansion's offices.

This particular office belonged to Lady Stella, a cozy, well-lit space where she often spent her day managing the barony's budget for her husband.

On the wall were two large windows, allowing the soft glow of the moonlight to radiate into the room. A pair of chairs was set close to them, with a center table adorned with a pot of tea and snacks.

Stella was seated on one of the couches, while the two young women she had invited took the opposite one.

Sipping a bit of her tea with her legs crossed, Stella looked at them, slowly lowering the cup from her lips.

"What's wrong? Are you two not fans of tea?" she asked, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

It was true. The cups of tea she had offered them remained untouched on the table. Both Maria and Seraphina wore the same nervous expressions. \\

Seraphina's foot tapped a frantic rhythm against the floor, her eyes darting around the room, while Maria sat as still as a statue, a rock of forced calm.

Seeing this, Stella chuckled. "Honestly, you girls are exactly as my son described. I can see why he likes you so much." She gently placed her cup on its saucer.

"Lord Dorian said that?" Seraphina couldn't miss the opportunity to ask, her nervous energy instantly replaced by excitement.

"He never misses a chance to praise you both in front of his father, so I'd say yes." Stella watched as both of their cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. "Which is why I called you here for a chat today. Woman to woman."

Before they could respond, Stella turned her gaze to Maria.

"Maria, if my memory serves me right, I heard you and my son were quite close a few years back. I also remember you often standing outside our mansion, as if to check up on him."

Maria flinched slightly as Stella continued.

"I don't know the full story of what happened between you two. But I do know that after my son was injured, you stopped coming. It was also then that he…" she trailed off, her expression softening.

"I just need to confirm: are you an enemy of my son, or did you truly come back to support him?"

Maria kept a straight face, though Seraphina could see how her hands were fidgeting nervously in her lap.

"I would lay down my life for Lord Dorian if the need be. I have sworn my loyalty to him. As a knight, it is my duty to support him to the very—"

"I am not asking you as a knight," Stella interjected gently. "I am asking you as a woman. I did say we are having a woman's talk, right?"

Maria paused, a single drop of sweat forming at her temple as confusion crept onto her face. "I…" Her gaze darted towards Seraphina, as if silently pleading for help.

Seraphina simply gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.

Lowering her brow at the less-than-helpful gesture, Maria turned her gaze back to Stella, struggling to find the right words.

"I… uhm… I support Lord Dorian. I am not his enemy."

Each word she let out was followed by a glance to the side.

After receiving Maria's reply and studying her body language, Stella couldn't help but giggle once again, amused by them both.

"Should I assume you feel the same way, Lady Seraphina?"

"Of course, ma'am! I do indeed love your son," Seraphina replied boldly, placing a hand on her chest. "If anything, I have been hoping for an opportunity to speak with you so I can ask you for a favor."

Maria was shocked at how freely Seraphina spoke, to the baroness of all people.

Stella raised a brow in amusement. "Oh? Love, is it?"

"Yes, my lady. So you can view me as no threat at all. I simply want to love Lord Dorian as much as I can; that is my only offense."

"Oh my~" Stella giggled again. "I didn't know my son was this popular with the ladies." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "And what is this favor you wished to ask?"

Seraphina leaned forward, her eyes filled with a fierce determination as she uttered, "P-please, allow me to call you Mother!"

"Oh?" Stella's eyes glinted with mischief.

Maria, who was seated at the side, was even more shocked.

"You want to call me mother?" Stella asked.

"Yes, please!" Seraphina replied quickly. Then, with blushed cheeks, she poked her index fingers together while looking at the ground.

"It's just… I-I feel if I call you Mother, L-Lord Dorian would come to accept me faster. I promise I am a good wife; you don't have to worry about that. My soul and body belong to him."

The more she heard, the more intrigued Stella got.

As always, Maria's jaw was completely open in shock. Why couldn't she have said something like that? Seraphina played her cards perfectly because she knew Maria would hesitate.

That thumbs-up suddenly made a lot of sense.

Stella didn't say anything for a long moment, not until she took another sip of her tea and placed it gently on the table.

"I am glad you feel that way, because I called you here for this very reason," she began. "How would you two like to marry into the Aurelian family?"

Maria's and Seraphina's eyes widened in unison.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard that right. My lady, did you say… marry into the Aurelian family?" Maria confirmed, the side of her mouth twitching.

As for Seraphina, she had heard loud and clear and was beaming with pure joy.

"Yes, you heard me right. I would like you two to marry my son." Stella leaned back completely in her chair.

"My son has been through a lot of changes over the past months, and I would hate for the wrong woman to be the one leading him astray."

She continued,

"I am sure you have noticed the rapid pace at which our barony has been growing since Dorian decided to take part in it. That boy tends to run from responsibility, and all of a sudden, he is changing everything for the better. James couldn't be more proud."

A warm smile formed on her face.

"My husband informed me that the Count contacted him, and there was a chance he would be getting a higher noble title soon."

"That's amazing!" Seraphina chimed in. "No way, you mean the barony could become a viscounty? A county?"

Stella giggled. "Something like that. I wasn't filled in on all the details. However, I do know that with this, other nobles will want to marry their daughters to my son to get closer to our household.

And I can't guarantee how many of them will have his best interests at heart. That is why I must ask you two, those he trusts the most, to stop him from falling prey to these women by becoming his wives."

She leaned forward, her expression serious. "So I ask once again, are you willing to take my son's hand in marriage?"

....

[A/N]

Thank you all for the support; i truly appreciate it. Now that Ishtar will be joining the harem as the voting went, and also, it seems Seraphina is the second highest now, her pov will be coming soon.

Please note all pov lead to a backstory of the character.