With a determined breath, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The air was cool and still, carrying a faint, pleasant scent of polished wood and aged leather. The corridor was wide and lined with tall windows on one side, allowing soft light to filter through, casting a warm glow on the rich, dark wood paneling.

"Woah..."

I began to walk, my footsteps echoing softly on the marble floor. The hallway stretched out before him, seemingly endless, with doors spaced at regular intervals. Each door was crafted from dark wood, intricately carved with patterns that seemed to dance in the low light. I passed by a few of them, resisting the urge to open every one. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for whatever else this place might hold.

The mansion was vast, far larger than any place he had ever imagined living in. As I walked, I took in the details—the ornate moldings that lined the ceiling, the paintings that hung on the walls, each one a masterpiece depicting scenes of battles, landscapes, and portraits of stern-faced ancestors who might have once roamed these very halls.

I paused by one particularly large painting, a grand portrait of a stern-looking man dressed in elaborate armor. The man’s gaze seemed to follow me as I moved, eyes filled with an intensity that made me shiver. Was this one of his predecessors? Or perhaps even a past version of himself? The thought was both unsettling and fascinating.

As I walked through the halls, I noticed how the mansion seemed to have a life of its own. The lights flickered on as I approached, dimming as I passed. The air was filled with a faint, almost imperceptible hum as if the walls themselves were whispering secrets from long ago.

"This place seemed alive, it's kind of creepy and cool at the same time."

I found myself in a large sitting room next, its walls lined with towering bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, despite there being no one around to tend it. The furniture was plush and inviting, and I could imagine myself spending hours here, lost in a good book or simply enjoying the quiet.

As I moved through the mansion, a sense of familiarity began to grow within me. Despite the initial shock, the place didn’t feel entirely alien. The more I saw, the more it felt like…home. A strange, eerie home filled with mysteries, but mine nonetheless.

I stopped in front of a large set of double doors that seemed to beckon me. Something about it felt important and significant. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the handle, before pushing them open.

Inside was a grand study, the centerpiece of which was a massive desk made of dark, polished wood. Behind the desk was a large, high-backed chair, and on the walls were more bookshelves, filled with tomes that looked even older and more arcane than those in the sitting room. A large window behind the desk offered a view of the sprawling grounds outside, the landscape bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

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I stepped inside, the door closing softly behind me. The room was filled with an air of quiet authority as if it had witnessed many important decisions and secrets over the years. I walked over to the desk, running my hand along its smooth surface, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders.

"This is my new home..."

There was so much to learn, so much to discover. And as I stood there, in the heart of my estate, I knew that this was only the beginning of my journey into the strange, new life that awaited me.

First, I need information. I needed to understand the world I now inhabited. What kind of kingdom was this? Where was he located? What was his role in this strange new life as a Dullahan lord?

Also... I need to know about Satoma and the others...

The more I thought about it, the more urgent the questions became. I couldn’t just wander aimlessly through this mansion; I needed information, and I needed it now.

My gaze fell on the massive desk before me, its surface cluttered with documents and ledgers. Somewhere among these papers, there had to be answers, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I knew he couldn’t do this alone.

"Wait, now that I think of it..."

The butler, If anyone could help him navigate this world, it was him. But there was just one problem: I had no idea how to summon the butler.

I looked around the room, searching for a bell or some other way to call for assistance, but found nothing. A slight frown crossed my face as I realized how out of place I still felt, despite the growing sense of familiarity with his surroundings. I needed to start somewhere, and calling for my butler seemed like the logical first step.

I took a deep breath, trying to think of how to properly summon someone of his stature. “Do I just call out? Or… maybe there’s a specific way to do this,” I mused aloud. The silence of the study offered no answers, leaving me to figure it out on my own.

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, I decided to go with the simplest option. Clearing my throat, I called out, “Butler!”

To my surprise, almost immediately after I spoke, a soft knock echoed from the door behind me. I turned, slightly startled at how quickly my call had been answered. It was as if the butler had been waiting just outside the entire time, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

“Come in,” I said, trying to mask my surprise with an air of authority.

The door opened smoothly, and the butler stepped inside, my expression as composed as ever. He bowed slightly before speaking. “You called for me, my lord?”

I nodded, trying to collect my thoughts.

“Yes, I did. There are… many things I need to know. About this place, the kingdom, my position—everything.”

The butler straightened, his gaze steady and respectful. “Of course, my lord. I am at your service and will provide whatever information you require. How may I assist you in gaining the knowledge you seek?”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I didn’t have to navigate this alone. With the Butler's help, I could start to piece together the puzzle of my new life. I gestured to the desk, where stacks of papers and maps were scattered.

“I need to know everything. The geography, the political landscape, and most importantly, my role here. Where do we start?”

The butler approached the desk, his hands clasped behind his back, and surveyed the documents with a practiced eye.

“I believe it would be prudent to begin with an overview of the kingdom and your estate’s place within it. From there, we can delve into more specific details about your responsibilities and the current state of affairs.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination and excitement settle in.

“Good. Let’s get started.”