Alex remained silent, eyes fixed on her, waiting.
She exhaled slowly, calming herself before speaking.
"Your mother—my sister—was the talented heir of our Seraph family. She made a name for herself across all ten clans while still in her first year at the academy. Everyone knew her. Admired her."
She paused, her voice distant with memory.
"Heirs from most of the ten clans came to our doors, hoping to get engaged to her. But she rejected them. My mother—the Matriarch at the time—and our grandmother, the previous Matriarch, both supported her right to choose."
Serene gave a faint, sad smile.
"My own mother had married for love. A brilliant man from a lesser noble house. So she wanted her daughter—your mother—to have the same freedom."
Her expression darkened.
