Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.

I remember the dream, though the details are hazy and hard to explain.

If my memory serves me right, I was in a world of pure darkness. Nothing existed but me. In front of me stood a dark-looking throne, oozing with a malice so pure and evil there was no other word to describe it.

Seated on this malice-ridden throne was a figure, their form completely blurred, making it hard for me to tell what they looked like.

I was, however, able to tell it was a dress they wore, which meant the figure before me was likely a woman. After taking in my hopeless situation, I also realized a great force was keeping me tied to the ground, pinning me in place.

My heart beat faster with every passing moment as I consciously struggled to free myself from shackles I couldn't see.

Then came the voice from the figure. It was definitely female, but the fear it struck in me was not something I could ignore.

"Seraphina Monteli."

The voice called out my full name.

Scared, I slowly raised my head to look at the figure, and all I could see were two red, glowing eyes staring directly back at me.

"I, the Witch of Evernight, have come to you with a deal."

A deal? A witch? As far as I knew, witches were said to have gone extinct a very long time ago, slain by the heroes of the past.

How was one seated here before me? Was this some kind of illusion? The thought crossed my mind several times.

Rather than asking questions, I waited for the witch to speak.

It was then she slowly raised her hand and pointed at my stomach, her voice following right after.

"You are going to die soon," she said to me.

I was so freaked out by her comment that I immediately had to check for myself. And what do you know, I could see my own insides pouring out of a small cut in my gut.

Actually, I wouldn't call it my insides, since all I could see was a dark liquid slipping out of the opening.

"Ahh!"

Before I knew it, I was screaming, completely terrified and lost. Now that I thought about it, the spider had only managed to cut my leg, so how did I get injured in my stomach all of a sudden? There were too many questions and so little answers.

After a while of me just heaving in fear as the dark liquid poured from my body, I heard the voice of the witch speak to me again.

"If you wish to live, make a deal with me."

This time, as I looked up, her fingers were no longer pointing at me; her hand was held out for a handshake.

I didn't want to die. Not while I had done nothing for my family.

Biting my lower lip, with tears now dropping from my eyes, I replied,

"Yes. I accept. Please don't let me die yet."

Immediately, a huge grin appeared on the witch's face. Before I could fully understand what had happened, energy from the figure began to slip into my body as easily as the air I breathe. Simultaneously, a flood of memories began to pour into my mind, of a man I had never met, and yet I held such deep feelings for. A man I would kill for. A man I would burn the world for if it meant he would notice me.

This man was my everything: his smile, the way he spoke, how he held and protected me.

But I don't know this man… I don't know him, and yet, my heart ached at the thought of him being so distant.

Jacob?

I leaned forward, my face nearly grazing the dark ground.

Why did he leave? No, did I make him leave? Why?

These memories were incomplete, but I didn't care. I wanted to see him, I wanted to hug him, to let him know how deeply sorry I was for not protecting him as I should.

Who is this man? And why am I willing to throw everything I have away for him? He is just a man.

"Dorian Aurelian. I will keep my end of the bargain. Find him, and he will help you attain that wish you want. All of which you want."

The voice of the witch spoke to me once again.

Right after that, the new memories I had gotten began to fade, fleeting from my mind like they never existed in the first place. Still, that gaping hole in my chest telling me something was missing was still there, which confused me even further.

After I woke up, and this handsome man told me he was Dorian Aurelian, I felt that hole fill up in an instant. I thought to myself, if it was this man, if this was the man I would have to be near my entire life, then I don't mind submitting myself to him.

Was I confused? Yes. I, who prided myself in having power over the men I wanted, was now willing to lick the feet of this random stranger I was supposed to prove wrong to my uncle. I didn't understand it.

That said, my heart was not having the same debate. My heart wanted this man. I tried to fight it, but it all ended in a splitting headache. I could easily walk away and act like it never happened; even if my heart yearned for him, my ambition was far greater.

But a part of me knew if I were to miss this opportunity, then I would end up regretting it later. I doubt any other man could make me feel the way I felt right then.

Soon my body moved on its own, and I found myself bowing down in front of this man. How embarrassing. I wished for the ground to swallow me whole.

Yet, I didn't stop, because I didn't want to stop.

"I would like to become your wife."

If there was anything more to be said, then I must have said it all in that moment.

Still, after that very moment, I made up my mind.

I wish nothing more than to remain by this man's side for the rest of my life. And it happened just like a blessing; Lord Dorian changed the life of the Monteli family, and I fell in love with him even more.

(Seraphina's pov ends.)

…

The very next morning after their night of sex and cuddles, Maria and Seraphina were outside the mansion, attending to their duties while waiting for Dorian to wake up from his sleep and give them the next needed task, as he always has.

However, Dorian had been sleeping for quite a long time, so much so that he missed the family's morning dinner.

Because of this, Lady Stella took it upon herself to check up on her son and make sure he was okay.

Most of it was because she was quite curious to know if they finally did it or not.

Just as she got to the door, rather than knocking, she opened it, and her eyes were immediately filled with surprise when she saw Dorian sitting on the ground, thin and exhausted, trying to put on his clothes.

"Oh my~."