ã€ŠIncarnation of Ice and Fireã€‹


 Volume 01 Foreword

    First things first, I am a great fan of Tsukino Ayato¨Csensei and his/her work. I am so enamored with his/her series that I made a fan-fiction using its world and lores.

    Yes, this is a fan-fiction OVERHAUL series of Falling in Love with the Villainess or also known as Akuyaku Reijo Ni Koi Wo Shite.

    Unlike other Isekai Otome Novels out there, Falling in Love with the Villainess is one of those who got my attention and full interest.

    Don¡¯t misunderstand; although this is titled like an Isekai-Otome Novel, it IS NOT. It is more like an Isekai-Romance-Action.

    I even thought this was just another generic Shoujo Novel (I actually liked reading some Unique Good Shoujo Series)

    I was searching for Gold but found a Diamond instead.

    For me everything in this series is quite good, interesting and sometimes unique.

    BUT!!

    Later after the ¡°Truth Revealed Chapter¡±, I found the novel slowly becoming bland, predictable, diseased with clich¨¦ and generic plot, and adding some events, plots and characters that can only be found from Bland Generic harem isekai series.

    I later concluded that Tsukino¨Csensei later added this Generic Shits because he/she had to add some kind of fan service aimed towards the virgin weaboos in local japan to boost the popularity of his/her series ¨C a bad decision.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    I don¡¯t mind this series being axed but what I can¡¯t stand is having the novel a generic ending arc. This is like Game of Thrones TV series all over again.

    Fuck that season 6-8. I still cant move on how they butchered the TV series.

    Okay back to the topic, I was so mesmerized by this series that I can¡¯t accept such stain to this already good series. So I took it on myself to alter some major points and delete the plots that shouldn¡¯t even exist in this novel in the first place. If you have read the Original Series, you may noticed that I still follow the first and second arcs of the series with major alterations, additions of characters and their backgrounds.

    I am in no way stealing this work of his/her. Please support ¨Csensei in any way you can. If this ¡°Altered Version¡± ever reaches the Fan Translating Group in charge of the Original, then please tell Tsukino¨Csensei my regards, thanks for creating such a potential masterpiece and my apologies in advance in releasing an altered version of his/her work.

    I also changed the title of this novel series because on how I changed the world of this story that it isn¡¯t like the original plot anymore. In my little ¡°adventure¡± of altering this novel, I find the title later not in mesh with my edited plots and characters. So I changed it that really meshes with the not-so-hidden-plot I added.

    And I changed the title from Children of Discord to Incarnation of Ice and Fire, this is the result of the recent changes I made with some characters and their background from volume 02(AGAIN, sorry!). I reviewed and read my own volume 02 again and found it quite lacking.

    Welp, back to the topic, everyone may later know why I titled it Incarnation of Ice and Fire instead of the Original: Falling in Love with the Villainess.

    I hope you will enjoy the Altered Version of Falling in Love with the Villainess.

    -Vincent Valentine

    2020

 Volume 01 Foreword - Post Notes

    ADDITIONAL NOTES

    *I will use/follow this table for more concrete details because in reality, this TABLE is far more complicated and confusing. In medieval Europe there are times when Knights have their own lands, but some don¡¯t and there are times when a count is far more powerful than the duke, or a baron far more powerful than a count/earl, and also even have multiple titles on their name, for example, King Henry II (1133-1189) where he was a King of England and he is also Duke of Normandy & Aquitaine, Count of Maine, Anjou & Touraine, so yeah. Their society is complicated as hell.

    *I did not put all ranks/titles that were used during medieval times in this table. So if you were knowledgeable in that field, you may notice and ask, ¡°why is the blah blah not inside the Table¡±, that is BECAUSE I only put what I am going to use for this novel to avoid confusions, I will show this table again with its updates if I decided to add or use a title that isn¡¯t on the table.

    *Any Noble Rank/title that is below the ¡°Dominus¡± row cannot be inherited. For example, a child of a Knight cannot inherit the title in the event of his/her father¡¯s / mother¡¯s death. He/she has to enter the process of Knighthood to gain this title.

    *Any rank below the Knight is not a Title but a status because of their job or livelihood or situation or from their parents.

    *Duke / Duchess were directly under the Royal family, no one is above them other than the King and Emperor. They are like personal vassals of the King or Emperor. (I searched and read some things about the society and medieval aristocracy, and it is complicated AF. The responsibilities and powers of a duke is not consistent as such I will just use this description for the sake of consistency.)

    *Marquis are the 2<sup>nd</sup> highest rank after the King but don¡¯t be confuse in thinking Marquis is equal to Duke as Marquises were outside the supervision of the Royal Family, King or Emperor, their territories is usually on the frontiers to protect that land against invaders or raiders. But they still answers to their overlord; King or Emperor (Again, this is one of the complicated parts of medieval society because sometimes/some places, Marquises were equal or even more powerful than Dukes but sometimes/some places are not. Their power and duty to the realm also varies from different countries so again for the sake of consistency, I will just use this and the table.)

    *Serfs are different from slaves because they were allowed to live in good homes, have their own properties, have money, eat at their leisure, have families, but they ARE NOT allowed to change or even to choose their livelihood and occupation. They also don¡¯t have freedom to move around and was forbidden to escape their land. There are actually laws with punishment against those escaped serfs and those who shelters them. So those who found an escape serf must immediately capture or report them and have their lord reclaim them.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    *Serfs were practically the manpower to work on their lords¡¯ lands or farms without much freedom of choice. They are essentially the source of income of every lords and the ones toiling the fields, planting the seeds, and harvest the bounties but they don¡¯t get to eat the result of their hard work as all of it is given to their lords while serfs were given only a small share.

    *And like of that of the Slaves¡¯, the children of the serfs will also become serfs.

    *(In my Novel and table) You may wonder why peddlers and travellers have lower rank in society than normal citizens, it is because they have no permanent citizenship. Most of the people during medieval era are far more cruel and close minded that what you think or see in movies or generic novels, most especially in remote areas not usually visited by merchants or away from trading hubs. Suspicions of being a spy are unavoidable. And sometimes they were regarded as greedy lying men whose only concern is money. That is why the presence of Merchant¡¯s Guild is essential to some traders to increase their importance in the region. But it may also depend on the kingdom as some countries gave the Merchant Class a good status sometimes equal to a Knight & Lord even without the presence of a guild like those near Venice or League(s) during medieval era.

    *If you think I did a mistake in the table or in my details of explanation, please don¡¯t hesitate to send me a message in my email or patreon. Any correction is greatly welcomed. But make sure to attach a reference also. I will ignore any corrections without any reference or proof of your explanation.

    By the way:

    I will still naturally describe and add details about the tables above in between chapters and volumes. But I just want to make a table where people who will not be able to comprehend the information in between or just too lazy to understand the narrative details will still be able to know through these tables.

    If you want to read in advance, please check my Patreon. In that library, you can get an access to my drafts and future chapters. Also you may get the chance to read my other series which I have not released on any site yet.

    And if you enjoyed my series, please don¡¯t forget to support me by donating. It really helps a lot (especially after my beloved computer just broke down recently and went to Valhalla, may we meet each other again as part of the Einherjar *sniff).

    Patreon: (Good for Monthly Donators)

    patreon.com/BlackSilverKing

    Paypal: (Good for One-Time Donators)

    paypal.me/blacksilverking

    Email: (For corrections, pms, or wanted to ask something personally)

    [email protected]</a>

 Volume 01 Prologue

    The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were the numerous stars flickering in the night sky.

    It was my first time seeing a night sky this beautiful ever since I was born¨C then that impression vanished in just a moment.

    I have no idea on where it is coming from but the heavy stench was strongly drifting on the air.

    Though I tried to ignore the bad smell by bearing with it, but what struck me next was a great pain that ran through my whole body. I groaned in pain while tumbling on the ground but in doing so, the pain just increasingly worsened.

    Gritting my teeth, I tried to put up with the pain.

    Though it didn¡¯t completely diminished, the pain has calmed a little bit. Regaining my composure and checking the state of my body, it seems the pain didn¡¯t come from wounds but rather from something like bruises.

    How did things ended up this way?

    Though being drunk and picking up fights has come to mind, I have no memory of drinking at all. The only thing I clearly remember was going straight home and riding the bus from the nearest station¡­ wait bus? Station? What are those? Wait¡­ what am I even thinking about?

    And by the way what in the world am I doing here? Most importantly¡­

    Who am I?

    These types of questions kept increasing in my head when I was interrupted by someone.

    ¡¸Oi. Until when do you plan to ignore me?¡¹???

    Suddenly hearing that voice, my line of thought was cut off.

    Thinking about who it was and inclining my head towards where the voice came from, in that moment I almost forgot the pain.

    Blonde hair and green eyes, the voice came from a Caucasian boy with a face slightly dyed red¡­ Caucasian? Again, another peculiar word which unconsciously came from my mind.

    Though it may look like the person was clean and healthy, the boy was plump or rather has gained enough weight to become a chubby. As he was staring towards me with a cheeky expression, I also tried to know more about the kid by looking at him more clearly.

    His outfit was a shirt with a lot of frills and a red neck tie. Above the white tights he was wearing was a navy blue pants, dressing just like the clich¨¦ and generic haughty nobles that comes straight from medieval era movies and novels. Wait¡­ medieval era movies? Novels? Seriously, what are these things that kept coming to my mind?

    I tried to think more about these unknown things that kept popping into my mind when a sudden pain from my head stops my attempt.

    I tried to reduce the pain by not thinking and diverting my attention to other important things. My hard breaths can tell anyone how hard I am trying to bear the pain and wounds.

    ¡¸Haa, you are?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You? What¡¯s with that ¡°You¡±? How insolent!!¡¹Boy

    Even his rebuttal was as expected. My mind was all the more turned into mayhem.

    ¡¸Well its fine, our current situation isn¡¯t a place to mind manners, so... where are we now?¡¹Boy

    The boy whom I¡¯d normally never associate myself with said those uncomprehending words, but just as he said he is the only person I can talk to. And may be the person who knows what am I doing here or who am I so I cannot afford to drive him away.

    ¡¸Hey! Answer me. Where is this place?¡¹Boy

    With the boy¡¯s question, the thought ¡°that¡¯s what I wanted to know¡± comes to mind but¨C

    ¡¸Ack¡­The outskirts¡­haaa¡­ of the slum area¡­¡¹Me

    What came out of my mouth was a totally different phrase.

    ¡¸Slums¡­ Eehhh?! This is bad!! No good!¡¹Boy

    The face of the boy instantly turned pale, albeit it¡¯s a bit dim, I understood as such. This response was just like when someone is lost, however what concerned me the most was where was this slum area.

    The answer to that was ¡ª the northern outskirts of the capital of Grandfram Kingdom. It seems that my memories are slowly coming back to me.

    I just noticed that my hands were so small and my arms were so skinny that you can already feel the bones. And it seems I am wearing only some piece of rag to cover my small body. I then remembered that I lived here on the slums and I am¨C

    ¡¸Aaaack¡­¡¹Me

    Again, another wave of excruciating pain was hammered to my head.

    Shocked at this turn of events, my mind immediately went into panic and confusion but was interrupted again by extreme pain from different parts of my body.

    ¡¸Hey you¡­ I can¡¯t stay here! I want you to guide me out of here. Do you know the way?¡¹Boy

    ¡¸I can but... I can¡¯t...¡¹Me

    This time the words that floated in my mind were what my mouth uttered. I can¡¯t even think clearly to control what comes out of my mouth anymore.

    It seems I knew some things which I don¡¯t even know where I got them. Then another sudden wave of pain was felt by my mind and body. My head felt like it¡¯s about to explode and my body were being ripped apart.

    ¡¸What do you mean by you can but cannot!? Did you forget? I saved you! B-but if it¡¯s a reward, I can give it to you!¡¹Boy

    With the way the boy was talking as if in a hurry, my train of thought was suspended. Huh¡­ saved me? What does he mean by that? Anyway for starters, I must find a way to deal with this situation.

    ¡¸No¡­ I¡¯m injured so¡­ I can¡¯t move.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Injured? I-I see... Wait a bit.¡¹Boy

    Though I thought he will call for help, that expectation was betrayed as the boy started to move from his position. With a serious expression he began to utter words.

    ¡¸I shall bestow upon you my healing magic.¡¹Boy

    Listening carefully, those were the words that I heard. Then three small green circles with some sort of characters or symbols etched in it appeared. Two on his arms and a bigger one on his waist, making him glow faintly in this dim place.

    ¡¸Curing wind, Heal!¡¹Boy

    A little bit later after the words of the boy, another green glowing circles in each small hands appeared and then my whole body was suddenly caressed by the wind.

    Just a little bit of wind. Though it¡¯s only a small amount, it¡¯s indeed the wind. Understanding the meaning behind the actions of the boy, I was astonished.

    ¡¸How is it?¡¹Boy

    The boy asked in high spirits. If it¡¯s about whether the injury healed, then there¡¯s no mistake.

    I tried to move my body softly.

    ¡¸Kuh...!¡¹Me

    My voice unintentionally leaked out. Though my mind had become calmer, the injury did not dissipate.

    ¡¸I-I¡¯m still learning! When I grow up I will be able to do better. Just be grateful that I even tried to heal you, okay?!¡¹Boy

    He must¡¯ve figured it out from my response. The boy made excuses however there is no mistake, the boy tried to heal my injury which according to another wave of returned memories is something called ¡°magic¡±. It is strange that I felt that I knew about this ¡°magic¡± and at the same time don¡¯t.

    ¡¸Ah, I see¡­ thank you. The pain has really lightened. If it¡¯s just walking then I can do it.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I-Is that so? Then guide me.¡¹Boy

    Rather than for the boy¡¯s sake, I also wanted to hurry up and get out of this obviously dangerous place, so when I can finally move my body albeit still riddled with pain, I¡¯ll get out of here.

    Though it¡¯s indeed painful, it¡¯s not as if I can¡¯t move with it.

    More or less, I understood the effect of the magic that the boy used.

    ¡¸¡­This way.¡¹Me

    Again, my mind was filled with memories of this place on its own albeit I don¡¯t know why, for now I¡¯m grateful for it.

    Given that the information was indeed correct, I still can¡¯t help but doubt it.

    Anyway, after being able to go to a safer place, I have to ascertain my situation either from the boy or someone with more understanding.

    That¡¯s right. Even though I still can¡¯t remember most of the things, I know that this place is dangerous both to me and the boy.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    With the fear within me spontaneously breaking out, my walking pace became faster.

    However those footsteps had to be stopped for some reason.

    ¡¸Oh...he he¡­ So you are still alive?¡¹???

    Said by the man who slowly appeared in front of us. Then suddenly another wave of memories hit me.

    I remember him¡­I know this man. My injuries were¡­ brought by this man¡¯s violence and not just that¡­even though I still can¡¯t grasp my memories completely, I know that this man had done even worse things to me.

    I still don¡¯t remember the concrete details but it¡¯s just that¡­ I have an intense hatred towards this man.

    No, he is an existence where just simply hating him is not enough, that¡¯s just who this person is to me.

    ¡¸Well, that doesn¡¯t matter. For now, it¡¯s about the brat behind you.¡¹Man

    Sure enough, his curiosity was turned towards the boy behind me.

    A boy who obviously came from a rich family from the way he was dressed. For the people who live in this place, a perfectly suitable prey. Even I to a certain extent after sending him off, have thoughts to take his valuables¨C No, that¡¯s not really my priority but that¡¯s what occupies on my mind.

    ¡¸You¡¯ll have to hand that brat over to me. This prey would just be a waste on you. You don¡¯t even know on where to sell his valuables without getting mugged yourself, if you successfully took it from him.¡¹Man

    Of course I know what he is talking about. That is why that option is not my priority but to gain favor on this boy when he is returned to his rich parents. However, when it comes to this man, he will threaten his home in order to obtain a ransom. Indeed, it would be a waste on me.

    Why did such thoughts even entered me, I don¡¯t understand it myself. My memories now is becoming clearer but not to the extent of remembering everything. I just know that this is the way of life on this place.

    ¡¸Fuuu¡­haaa¡­ Ack!¡¹Me

    Suddenly I felt a strong wave of dizziness and pain on my side. It was so painful that the strength on my legs left me, which forced me to lie on the dirty alleyway.

    ¡¸H-hey.¡¹Boy

    ¡¸Heh, so you can¡¯t even stand. Still useless as ever. Hehe.¡¹Man

    He went towards us or specifically towards me and kicked my face and sides several times.

    ¡¸Did-You-Know-How-Much-Trouble-You-Gave-Me?!¡¹Man

    With every word, he matched it with a kick in my face, stomp on my head, another kick on my sides, body, feet, and back as if to express his anger for something I did. I can¡¯t even find the strength to groan or yell the pain every time he struck.

    After several minutes of getting beaten, I lost my sense of pain. With my head on the dirty floor, I can even see the flow of blood from my bleeding nose. I also know that I already have broken ribs and bleeding lip. And from what I felt from my tongue, some of my teeth were missing.

    Then he lowered himself and grabbed my hair forcing me to look at him.

    ¡¸Haah¡­ ha¡­ I did enjoy that. Hehehe. Don¡¯t worry, I will make you enjoy that later again. So don¡¯t you fucking die on me yet, okay? I will let you taste my real punishment later.¡¹Man

    My body seems to be very light for him that he easily threw me in the nearest garbage dump.

    ¡¸Now your turn piggy.¡¹Man

    ¡¸Insolent! Just who do you think am I?¡¹Boy

    ¡¸Hell if I know! In this place, as long as you have lots of coin, it doesn¡¯t matter who you are!¡¹Man

    ¡¸I am Vincent of House Gwyndolyn and the rightful heir to House Windhill! One of the three Main Houses of this kingdom!¡¹Boy

    ¡¸What!?¡¹Man

    Although words have power to avoid being harm, it may bring trouble if told to a wrong person. Especially to a resident of the slums where one of its unwritten laws was ¡°Take the coin from the owner then punch his teeth and make him pay to stop¡± But it must also had limits.

    House of Windhill for me or to be exact according to the small fragments of memories within me, were a famous noble family that everyone knows about. It was one of the three most powerful aristocratic families that were considered as the pillars of this kingdom and those who dare to scowl at the three families has no place in this country.

    Though thinking as such would be normal, this man on the other hand was different. With a broad grin in his face, he walked towards the boy. Though I already knew as such, this man is just hopelessly stupid.

    ¡¸If it¡¯s for a lord¡¯s kid, no matter what kind of demand, it won¡¯t be a problem. I can mess around with it for all my life.¡¹Man

    ¡¸D-Don¡¯t think of doing something stupid!¡¹Boy

    ¡¸I¡¯m not stupid!¡¹Man

    The stupidity of this man doesn¡¯t matter. The problem is securing my own safety. If there¡¯s any, how would the surrounding people see this situation?

    They would probably believe that I fooled this kid to deliver him to this man.

    Supposing that was the case, I can already see the ending of my life. Though it¡¯s a life of anything goes, dying without doing even a single good thing gets on my nerves¨C no that¡¯s not it. I don¡¯t want to die like this.

    That thought reverberated within my whole body. As for who I currently really am, somehow it doesn¡¯t matter anymore.

    ¡¸If you behave properly, you won¡¯t experience any pain. As long as they pay the price, you can reunite with your family safe and sound, alive and whole of course hehehe.¡¹Man

    ¡¸I-is that true?¡¹Boy

    It seems as though the boy is also an idiot.

    Now that you saw the face of the kidnappers, there¡¯s no way that you¡¯ll make it out alive.

    Also, if the boy ever comes back to his family, the aristocratic house will use its full strength to deliver retribution.

    And if his parents found out that I was also the reason why the boy was caught, I will also be misunderstood that I am one of those kidnappers. And even worse, after this man gets the kid, there is a high chance that I will be killed by the man to reduce witnesses of those who knew the face of the kidnapper. I don¡¯t think that this man will share his profits with someone like me. Or worse¡­ but I had enough of becoming his plaything.

    There¡¯s no mistake, if the kid gets caught, I will be killed either way.

    I can¡¯t escape with these injuries also.

    The only chance where I can get out of this mess is to take the kid with me and deliver him personally to his parents. A kid from a slum safely delivering their child is far more acceptable and preferable than a man ransoming the kid.

    There¡¯s no other choice. I have to resolve myself.

    ¡¸That¡¯s right, so just obediently come over here and I will take you home immediately.¡¹Man

    ¡¸¡­as I thought, I refuse. Lead us instead to my house immediately and if you do that, I will bestow upon you a sufficient reward.¡¹Boy

    ¡¸That¡¯s why I said that as long as I get the money, I will send you home right?¡¹Man

    ¡¸A-After all¡­¡¹Boy

    This man planned to finish it with a gentle face so that the boy¡¯s eagerness will be soothed. He knows that if he ended up scaring the boy and runs away, he would more likely lose him again. And there will be a chance where someone else will get the prize he wanted for himself. As such he wanted to avoid such scenario.

    But thanks to that, his senses were dulled by his greed, lust and stupidity. He forgot about me.

    Should I do it? No, I have to do it!

    Fueled by the intense hatred towards this man and the will to survive, my body began to move accordingly. Even completely ignoring the pain that struck me with every step I took.

    Slowly without being noticed, I sneaked and approached the back of the man. I took out the knife that I was hiding. This was the only weapon I managed to steal from him when he grabbed me by hair earlier. I also noticed that this is actually my own knife which he took from me when I was captured. I still don¡¯t remember most of the things but it seems that I have innate experience of being a thief.

    This time, I definitely must not fail.

    The boy was caught immediately by the man but was still struggling so he had a hard time in controlling the boy. He seized both hands of the boy with harsh grip that the boy cried in pain. Thanks to that, the man was in a squat position where the defenseless back of his head was fully exposed. I raised my hand over to strike the nape of that man with my knife.

    But the boy stopped struggling with his eyes looking directly at me. He really is an idiot. Alerted by the gaze of the boy, the man turned his sight behind him and instantly noticed me.

    ¡¸You bastard! What are you trying to do!?¡¹Man

    ¡¸uwaaa!!¡¹Boy

    ¡¸Yeaargh!!!¡¹Me

    While I shouted due to the fear within me breaking out, my hand swung downwards towards the face of the man.

    ¡¸Gu¡­ guah!!!¡¹Man

    What remained on my hand was a very unpleasant fleshy sensation but I have no time to ponder on such thoughts.

    After pulling out the knife that got struck in the man¡¯s mouth, I immediately swung it downwards again.

    The knife has struck towards the right eye of the man. But not yet, I knew because the man was still shrieking. It seems it was not deep enough to render him dead.

    ¡¸Ack!! Aeeei!!¡¹Man

    ¡¸Diee!! Dieeee!! Dieeeeeeeeeeee!!!¡¹Me

    I struck the knife on his face continuously. I don¡¯t know why but every time I struck there is a part of me that felt grossly enjoying it. I don¡¯t even know where I got the strength to strike him several times with my measly small arms and body.

    I was blinded with rage and enjoyment, knowing that I was able to kill the man who made me suffer in life. I was only stopped when the knife had slipped from my hands due to the intense amount of blood and flesh on its handle.

    No words came out of the man¡¯s mouth. I seriously doubt that anyone can recognize him by looking at the state of his face. I just realized that he managed to scratch my arms and chest with his nails in his desperate attempt to defend himself.

    It seems they are right that a strike in the head will always do the job.

    ¡¸Haa... Haa¡­ Ha¡­¡¹Me

    My breathing is painful, my heart is thumping so hard that it brings pain to my chest.

    ¡¸Y-You..¡¹Boy

    ¡¸¡­Run away.¡¹Me

    ¡¸R-Run away you say...b-but¡¹Boy

    ¡¸Follow me, let¡¯s hurry up and escape!!¡¹Me

    ¡¸R-right!¡¹Boy

    I grabbed the knife from the disfigured bloody head which resulted for the corpse to fall limply on the ground. Then I eagerly ran towards the path that I remembered to be the quickest way to the main street. Though with how fast we are running, it wouldn¡¯t be a wonder if I accidentally dropped the knife or cut myself but my stiffening and shivering hands couldn¡¯t let go of it.

    ¡¸O-oi¡­ hahh¡­ wait! Slowdown¡­ hah¡­a little bit.¡¹Boy

    The boy shouted behind my back. Because I can¡¯t leave him alone, I slowed down my pace as he had requested.

    For me the boy will be an important source of money. After demanding a reward, I must obtain sufficient money somehow.

    It¡¯s a fund that I must obtain to get away from the capital. And if possible start a new life somewhere. Then we had to stop and slow down our speed to save stamina. I led the way, checking every corner before crossing while he followed me from behind.

    ¡¸Did he die?¡¹Boy

    ¡¸I...dont know.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Boy

    I tried to ignore him and focus on the task of escaping from the slums. But it seems that it was his first time in seeing something like that. Although that is a normal sight here in the slums, it is actually my first time to take someone¡¯s life.

    ¡¸You have¡­ killed someone¡­¡¹Boy

    ¡¸If I didn¡¯t, I will be killed.¡¹Me

    That is one of the unwritten rules in this kind of place.

    ¡¸I-is that so...¡¹Boy

    After my reply, the boy turned silent. Though I don¡¯t really want to kill a person, it¡¯s better to do so than being killed.

    I killed a person.

    Maybe because of his words, that very thought finally weighed down on me. Suddenly, my hands began to tremble. The knife that I couldn¡¯t let go before¡­ easily slipped out of my hand. The shaking has spread towards my whole body. Making me stop from walking and stood in silence.

    ¡¸Oi! W-what¡¯s the matter?¡¹Boy

    I can¡¯t even make myself answer his question anymore. I tried opening my mouth but nothing comes out. As if my mouth and voice had failed me.

    ¡¸Hey? Are you alright? We have to hurry and escape.¡¹Boy

    I know that much. I killed that man but I also remembered that he have comrades. If I don¡¯t get out of the slums in time, I would be killed.

    However no matter what I do or what I try, I can¡¯t move. Then slowly, my consciousness is turning hazy to the point I can¡¯t even hear the voice of the boy clearly.

    ¡¸¡­.! Hur¡­.! Where¡­.!?¡¹Boy

    I can¡¯t understand him anymore and neither have the strength to think about it. To be honest, I am getting tired of everything that happened to me. It seems that the actions I took were already asking their heavy tolls on my body.

    Thinking that this may be what they call Reaper¡¯s Visit and may save me from the pain and suffering I experienced, I surrendered myself and let my consciousness slowly swallowed by darkness.

 Volume 01 Chapter One - "A Cold Start"

    When I woke up, what was in front of me was a wood grain ceiling. It seems for some reason, I was sleeping on a soft bed.

    It was a dream ¡ª is what I thought but then I noticed that the ceiling in front of me was not something that¡¯s familiar to me.

    I raised my body in panic and glanced around. The surroundings of the bed had a nice feeling in it, with profound, clean and with many luxurious looking furniture in place, a room owned only by someone rich and wealthy.

    Then I sensed someone¡¯s breathing within the room. Inclining my head towards my right, I noticed a woman sitting at a distance from the bed.

    Seeing that I am awake, she stood up from her chair and began to approach the bed.

    ¡¸It seems you have woken up. I will be out for a bit to report this. Please wait for me right here.¡¹???

    A woman with brown hair and blue eyes, no matter how I look at her, she¡¯s not like a person from the slums nor a Japanese. She may be a European descent. Her appearance looks like those female servants in Victorian novels and movies. In addition to that, she was also wearing a maid uniform and had a calming voice but with strict aura.

    She left the room without waiting for my reply.

    It seems I am still in a dream. If I¡¯m already awake then this is¨C wait, maid? Novels and movies? Where did¡­

    This time around without the wave of pain, I was able to fully remember who I am but there is one problem¡­ there are two answers.

    I am Flay, one of the orphans in the slums.

    And at the same time I am also Moriya Ryou, 28 years old man and Japanese.

    Information and knowledge from both sides had all of the sudden been organized and arranged as if I had lived as both of them at the same time. It feels perfectly normal and natural but even so, it did not reduce my surprise and astonishment in knowing something which Flay and Ryou did not.

    A Different World.

    I was shocked to know the existence of another world, both as Flay and Ryou. Though I cannot believe it, there¡¯s no doubt that it¡¯s true. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s what anymore.

    As Flay, the last memories before I met that boy in the slums are my fading thoughts, feelings of excruciating pain and dying. Yes, I thought I died.

    Several men have terribly tormented me to that extent. The slum was not a naive place where anyone thought it was just a place of poor people and dirty beggars. It¡¯s a dog eat dog. No, it would have been much better if it¡¯s just that simple but it¡¯s not. What I had experienced is much worse than that.

    I began to feel that something is darkening inside me. Slowly trying to calm myself, I have decided to think first about these matters carefully and clearly.

    And to try knowing the last scene that I saw back on Earth, I pulled some of my memories as Ryou.

    What I can only remember was, I rode a bus from the station. The bus was actually full of passengers that some of them were standing. I don¡¯t remember the day and time but maybe it was rush hour. I had to stand at the very end but was able to sit at the back when someone offered me a small space to sit.

    Then I noticed that five of the passengers were cops¡­ or just look like one and felt their gaze towards me. I thought they were after me for some reason but I don¡¯t remember doing anything that compelled the police to follow or observe me. After several hours of thinking, I decided that I was just overthinking things. Then the vehicle entered a highway and suddenly the inside of the bus turned strangely bright that I had to close my eyes.

    But after that, nothing else comes to mind. Even if I tried to remember what happened next, I can¡¯t recall anything.

    If I try to make sense out of it, maybe I immediately died from a collision or accident. I knew I shouldn¡¯t have sat on that seat. I¡¯m still young, so I should¡¯ve continued standing and maybe by doing that I wouldn¡¯t have died.

    Sigh¡­ it is hopeless to regret what happened anymore. Let us evaluate our situation for now.

    First, are these two worlds connected or in the same universe? Did the strange bright light came from an alien spaceship and when they tried to kidnapped me their ship got malfunctioned and I was instead accidentally transported through a wormhole that got me in this place? I don¡¯t know but I couldn¡¯t come up with an answer regarding this question.

    Second, where am I? Kingdom of Grandfram, was the certain answer that floated in my mind.

    Third, I tried pinching the various parts of my arms and skin, checking my head and body to know that I am not dreaming. Pain, texture of my rough skin and long hair told me that I really am not in a dream.

    Fourth, where is my birthplace? ¡ª The answer is ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± from Flay¡¯s memories and ¡°Tokyo, Japan¡± from Ryou¡¯s.

    This strangely felt like I am interviewing my own self for the questions I don¡¯t know and I do know.

    Fifth, what am I? I don¡¯t know ¨C is the answer I can only come up with. But no matter how much I think about it, deep inside I know different things that don¡¯t exist on this world. There¡¯s no mistake about it, it seems that I gained new set of memories, but which of the two had gained the other is still unknown to me.

    I don¡¯t even know which is me right now, if I am Flay that gained the memories and knowledge of Moriya Ryou.

    Or if I am Moriya Ryou whom currently possessed the body of Flay with the memories and knowledge of the orphan.

    Just to satisfy, reduce my confusion and erase my fear of this unknown predicament, I will just consider for now that Moriya Ryou and Flay had merged into one.

    And finally, what should I do from now on? ¨C I don¡¯t know also¡­ I must first evaluate and just react accordingly to what will happen later. Surely I would not be sleeping on a soft comfortable bed if the one who took me in would just kill me in the end.

    Let me check and investigate first my situation before deciding something. Where is this house located? Is this still in the city? Is this house still within the slums? ¨C These were the main questions first that I had to answer to reduce the fear and confusion that¡¯s on my mind right now.

    I stood from the bed and went to the glass window. It is made up of beautiful glass with various colors which took the figure of a Pegasus. Seeing that I can¡¯t see through the glass without opening it, I took it on myself to unbolt the window.

    The first thing that I felt after opening the window is a strong breeze of wind and the blinding sunlight. The sun had just started to rise. And I also noticed that I am on the third floor of this mansion. From this window, I can also see that this mansion was built on high ground overlooking the city. But I still don¡¯t know if this is still the capital city because I don¡¯t even know any landmarks I can use as a reference.

    Looking below, people who looked like servants were running around and cleaning the vast gardens. Even so, the size of this property is much larger in comparison to the number of servants that are taking care of the grounds. I can even see the wing that attached another building to this one. The one who owned this property must be very, very wealthy.

    I closed the window and thought again some scenarios why I am here. Then I suddenly remembered the rich boy back in the slums. So most probably, the boy was able to find help when I fainted and he dragged me to his home¡­ I hope so.

    I went back and jump back to the bed, remembering my former shelter. What entered into my mind was not an address but a place where there were worn out people, malnourished children, garbage, rats, rabid dogs and some dirty obstacles to separate each other¡¯s make shift sleeping quarters. That place was where I was sleeping before I was taken by that man.

    And with that in mind, I also remembered the first man I killed with my own two hands. Before, I was trembling. But now, all I feel is a mysterious sense of satisfaction and fulfillment where I found myself grinning. All I can say is that, I don¡¯t regret what I did.

    For now I will think of things that I must ponder my thoughts into. If fortunate, I will be given a monetary reward for what I did, then use that money to leave the capital immediately. It was due to fear of receiving the revenge of that man¡¯s comrades.

    However the problem is that I am an orphan and I have no one to rely into. I only managed to keep on living by eating the food scraps, rotten potatoes and rain water on the slums. In order to escape, I need money and ability among other things.

    That¡¯s not it, there¡¯s something I need to think of before that.

    Just in case that this was not the house of that rich boy but was a house of a person who intends to harm me or if this is really that boy¡¯s house but his family later decides to erase me for any reasons, then I should think of possible routes and solutions to escape.

    I immediately got up from the bed, went towards the window and glanced again outside. I can see the white clouds spreading in the sky. Below the window was a beautiful garden with lots of shrubbery where I can jump into but I¡¯m also on the third floor and there are still a lot of servants going around taking errands. It would be impossible to escape from the window without getting caught or getting injured with broken bones.

    So I decided to check the outside of the door. But when I was walking towards the exit door, a voice coming from someone entered my ears. As if in the right timing, I suddenly heard a woman¡¯s voice.

    ¡¸Lady Ariel! You must not! You must not approach that room!¡¹???

    I don¡¯t have to listen carefully because it clearly entered my ears. Knowing the meaning behind those words, I immediately went back to the bed in a hurry.

    Just as I returned to my bed, the door was roughly opened at the same time. Slowly turning my head towards the door, what was there was a young child with the same blond hair and green eyes of the boy I met on the slum area, except this time it¡¯s a girl.

    Although she was not chubby, she also had the same almond shaped eyes that give an impression. Overall, she had a lovely and cute face.

    That girl who approached me with a cheeky glare began to gaze at my direction.

    The words that came from the girl as she opened her mouth was¡­

    ¡¸Hmmph, I see¡­ so you are the dirty pet that my brother had brought with him.¡¹Girl

    It¡¯s the most impolite word.

    I take back all my previous remarks. She¡¯s not cute at all.

    She¡¯s just an impudent young girl, is what I thought but my curiosity was inclined towards a word that the girl said.

    ¡¸¨Cbrother had brought with him?¡¹Me

    ¡¸That¡¯s right. The filthy child that ¡°that¡± brother of mine have brought with him from the slums.¡¹Girl

    Though filthy was a bit excessive, I¡¯m not in the position to voice out complaints.

    ¡¸By ¡°brought¡± you meant?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You who fell unconscious on that slum, was brought here by ¡°that¡± older brother of mine by being carried on his back and thus saving you.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸He... on his back.¡¹Me

    Though I¡¯m concerned as to why she presses the word ¡°that¡± every time, the fact that the boy carried me here was certain.

    ¡¸That¡¯s right.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Which means, this house is¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Oh my, haven¡¯t you been told yet? This is the mansion owned by the current head of House Windhill, which is of course my father.¡¹Girl

    For some reason, while puffing her chest, the girl declared as such. Thinking that it was strangely cute, I couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Being brought to that boy¡¯s house, perhaps I could rest with ease now.

    ¡¸What are you smiling at?¡¹Girl

    The girl asked me whom had smile floating in the face.

    ¡¸I¡¯m thinking that I was really saved.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Girl

    The girl whom I answered to, began to look at me in displeasure.

    ¡¸Is there something wrong?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Your way of speaking. How impertinent for something like a pet.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Saying pet¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸I am a person of nobility you know? Your way of speaking towards me does not fit your status and company!¡¹Girl

    ¡¸That¡­ I apologize for being rude... milady¡¹Me

    This is my carelessness. This girl is a noble and I have even a lesser status than a commoner or peasant. I almost forgot about my lower class status due to the new memories that was added to my brain.

    Maybe because after consciously knowing that there is another world where its morals, laws and ethics, although not really good but still far more better than this world¡¯s made me feel how tough, rough, unfair and cruel life is.

    ¡®Why am I not also born in that world?¡¯ as Flay, I cursed this unfairness.

    My feelings suddenly felt darker upon that thought. But it was contained by the interruption of the girl.

    ¡¸Oh my, it seems you can actually speak properly and politely.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Just¡­ merely a bit.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well, as long as you are properly disciplined around those parts, then it¡¯s good. Hmmhmm.¡¹Girl

    Discipline. For this girls it seems I am just a pet to the very end.

    ¡¸But before that¡­ your attire. Your hair is unkempt and you are very dirty, in addition somehow¡­ you smell.¡¹Girl

    She suddenly covered her nose with a handkerchief.

    ¡¸Do I smell that bad?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You do. It¡¯s a very unpleasant smell.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸I apologize.¡¹Me

    Due to living in the slums for so long and was chained for so long without even shitting and peeing in a designated place, I became immune and numb to such smells that are considered awful to her.

    ¡¸Riza.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Yes!¡¹Riza

    So the name of her female attendant is Riza.

    ¡¸Make this thing clean, brush the body, clean the dirt out, tidy up the hair, give it a suitable appearance worthy as a pet of my brother, Vincent Woodville who is the legitimate heir of House Windhill. ¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Yes. Certainly.¡¹Riza

    I feel this little girl is saying such intricate descriptions intentionally¡­ on what purpose, I do not know. But thanks to her, I finally knew the name of the boy.

    ¡¸And also do something about the stinky breath of this pet.¡¹Girl

    Was the pet treatment already decided? I have complaints but decided not to voice them out to avoid earning the ire of that boy¡¯s sister.

    ¡®It¡¯s all for the reward money, it¡¯s all for the reward money, just endure it and all of this will come to pass.¡¯ I tried to persuade myself.

    ¡¸Well then, when you¡¯ve become tidy, I¡¯ll meet you again.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸I will meet you again.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­I will wait in anticipation.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Ah yes¡­ Well then, excuse me milady.¡¹Me

    It seems it was the right answer. The girl with the aloofly composed expression left the room.

    What remained were me and the female attendant.

    ¡¸This way, follow me.¡¹Riza

    The female attendant had an unconcerned look or rather as it subsided I was told to follow her direction.

    It seems I am not very welcome. I don¡¯t really mind at all. It¡¯s not as if I¡¯ll be here for long.

    For now, I will just let the pressing danger pass. The next hurdle would be to obtain a reward and possess a fund that would be enough to leave the capital and start new life somewhere.

    Maybe start at a farm or become an apprentice at some smith or merchant.

    I wonder what I should do to obtain such. Ack¡­ and there¡¯s too much to think of that it feels like my head is being punctured again by overthinking things.

    Let us stop counting our eggs first and play several scenarios that may occur later.

    Right now, I am not capable of anything but thinking of possible scenarios and play it out in simulations so that I can react accordingly if it really happened.

    I wonder where did that boy went to. I hope he will be present when I meet his parents or someone in authority that will meet with me.

    I need some backing on my words after all.

    I may need also to lie later to cover up some things that are too unnatural for a child like me or for someone who got involved with a noble¡¯s son.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    As I exited the room, I was met with a barrage of warnings from the gossiping servants waiting outside.

    ¡¸I can¡¯t believe this is happening! Lady Ariel, You shouldn¡¯t have allowed that thing inside. And most of all You must not go near that thing!¡¹ Male Servant

    ¡¸Yes I agree with him milady! You don¡¯t know what kind of diseases they bring from that place!¡¹ Female servant

    ¡¸It¡¯s too dangerous! Slumborns can never be trusted. That place was a well-known nest for thieves, criminals and thugs, who knows if that thing is also one of them?¡¹ Female Cook

    ¡¸Slumborns are dirty milady! You shouldn¡¯t touch them at any cost. Who knows if they carry a curse or bad luck.¡¹Gardener

    As if you care about my wellbeing.

    For unknown reasons, my older brother found himself in the slums then he was saved by a young girl when he is about to be kidnapped by thugs. Hearing the tale from him was quite unbelievable actually, that mangy thin girl saved my stupid brother by murdering someone without any hesitation.

    ¡¸Surely the person you are referring to can be bathed, clothe properly and cleaned right? Dirt can be removed, but if she did really save my brother then it is our duty, honor and responsibility as a noble to repay that favor, isn¡¯t it?¡¹ Ariel

    ¡¸Yes but¡­¡¹ Female Servant

    ¡¸Enough, you servants don¡¯t even have the power to decide her fate so go back to your work instead. Or do you want to taste my whip instead?¡¹ Ariel

    After shoving them away, they reluctantly returned to their own errands and daily duties.

    Even though I said that, even I¡­ myself also have suspicions over her. If what she did is true, then it just made it too perfect to be called as a coincidence. A girl in the slums, meeting my brother in some dilapidated house, unknowingly guided him to a dangerous thug in that place then without hesitation, killed the man.

    It¡¯s too good to be true. Especially right now where there is a conflict between the vassals on the topic of the heir¡­ and most importantly how my brother even got himself in that place?

    My brother only recalled being hit by someone in the back then woke up restrained inside a sack in a house. Then he met the girl, wounded and chained on a pillar. And seeing that she was also on the same situation as him, he talked to her, persuading that if she can guide him out of this place he will get her free, which she agreed. He then used his wind magic to cut the ropes on the girl, and later healed her wounds, with her help, got him out of the sack and house using a secret passage. They were able to sneakily get out of the house until they were caught by a thug and the story goes by.

    As far as I know, even if I don¡¯t want to remind myself¡­ brother is losing his stand as the heir of this house. Only my father¡¯s love was able to save the last hope for his status. But the majority vote from our vassals can overturn his decision. Fortunately right now, my brother still has some vassals supporting him.

    But this occurrence is quite dangerous, it only tell us one thing: they wanted my brother to disappear. They are desperate to end this early and were getting more aggressive and proactive about it.

    And if the people behind brother¡¯s unfortunate experience in the slums found out that a child saved him and wrecked their plans then I for one, she is in danger as she may have a lead on who did these things.

    I cannot blame the vassal families not supporting my brother. He became spoiled and haughty. It is not my parents that was to blame but my grandparents on mother¡¯s side. He already caused enough harm to several servants in the house due to his tantrums alone, which later caused them to resign and retire. That doesn¡¯t even include the harmful pranks he did.

    Before I was born, my parents were quite busy in the affairs of the realm at that time. The horselords from the north had invaded, the Salyphate¡¯s armies landed on our southern shores and the Republic of Venezia¡¯s armies crossed the borders, marching inward to our kingdom. My father has a responsibility to defend the realm from any foreign invasions; as such he had to lead an army to repel the Salyphate¡¯s forces.

    Our capital city, Wyvungrad was in danger of being sieged or attack at that time as such my brother was left to the care of my grandmother who was the head of House Woodville at that time in a faraway county.

    And under their care, became haughty, prideful, arrogant and downright inept at his lessons. My grandparents overprotectiveness made him grow into a bent plant with full of thorns. Anyone who tries to correct or attempts to straighten him up will get hurt instead.

    Only I and my parents were able to stop him in his tantrums or selfish actions. He would sometimes hurt a servant if he didn¡¯t like the food that was prepared for him, his clothes, toys and if the servant disturbs him. His piety towards his family is the only thing I considered to be a good trait he got under our grandparents.

    That¡¯s why it is most mysterious of all is the sudden change with my brother¡¯s attitude on things. After he arrived, he went straight to the infirmary with that girl on his back.

    It is quite disturbing, even for me, to see my brother care for another. He refused to leave her unattended. And for the first time, he yelled at me. He got angry at me when I suggested to hand the girl over to the acolytes in the Sanctuary to give her better accommodations to heal her wounds and injuries.

    Just what in the world had happened in his five days in the slums?

    ¡¸Handerlily! Arlyn!¡¹ Ariel

    ¡¸Y-yes milady? ¡¹ Handerlily

    ¡¸Here milady.¡¹Arlyn

    I called two of my personal and closest female attendants. Handerlily is from a baronet house under us. Same with Arlyn. Both of them were the only female servants in the house that is on the same age as me, thus making us very close to each other¡­ or as what others saw it.

    Two of them were neither loyal nor have any love for me. Both were more or less spies for their family. Thus I was always been careful on not to make it seem that I already know their hidden motives and limit on what I can say as their mistress. Like grandfather have taught me; anyone that is not a family, is an enemy.

    ¡¸Come, help me find a good dress for tomorrow¡¯s meeting with father. Did you already finish washing my clothes earlier?¡¹ Ariel

    ¡¸Y-Yes!¡¹ Handerlily

    ¡¸It is done already, milady.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Good then and follow me. We have much to prepare for tomorrow.¡¹ Ariel

    Every time we pass servants and attendants, they always looked at me in fear or with heat of hate. The two on my back is no exception.

    ¡¸Milady, why did you not ask for permission first from the marquis before letting that child enter the premises of the house? Much less sleep on a guest room? Even if it is a reward for the child, it is too much for its status to receive such treatment.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Arlyn¡­Handerlily, I am sure both of you already have an idea why my brother was kidnapped.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Anyone could obviously see what this incident implies milady.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Well¡­ this can be described as a grave mistake for the kidnappers. N-no offense milady!¡¹ Handerlily

    ¡¸And who do you think is the most probable suspect?¡¹Ariel

    I tried asking a probing question. With the purpose of acting as if I already trusted them to the point of asking such question to both of them only and to know what they think or¡­what they wanted me to think about them.

    Thus hitting two birds in one stone.

    ¡¸I have four in mind. My first prime suspect is Count Magdeburg, because he is adamant in the candidacy of his son as the successor due to his great mana and affinity. He even once insulted the Marquis in front of the king. Second is Count Cutterfem, his obvious support towards Lord Erwin is getting more and more support and backing from other main vassals. His insistent visits are becoming more frequent. ¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸And?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Third is Marquis Aquismeia whom also hates your father due to his countless aggressive and strong refusals in returning the County of Prantzly. The death of Lord Vincent would certainly take a toll on Marquis¡¯ reputation and mind. It is also well known in the entire kingdom how your father dots on your older brother and would result on paranoia and ruin on this house if he dies.¡¹

    ¡¸Yes, seeing that they cannot touch father who was always surrounded by Sturmhounds, they changed their target to someone who could tragically affect father which is my brother. My brother¡¯s death or disappearance could result father¡¯s suspicions on his vassals and supporters as the potential suspects for the crime as thus lowering his trusts on the vassal houses.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Fourth is Lady Julianne whom also strongly publicizes the candidacy of Lord Erwin. She and Erwin had suffered great humiliation and suffering from living separately from the main house. So she also had a motive for this crime as she can then push Erwin as the next successor of the marquis. All of them were my strongest suspects milady.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Ehhhh? You already thought that much Lyn?¡¹Handerlily

    ¡¸I also have the same suspects as yours¡­ however there are five prime suspects for me.¡¹Ariel

    I am actually annoyed that she told me her real thoughts. I was expecting some lies again but was disappointed instead.

    ¡¸Who is the fifth milady?¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸¡­I can¡¯t say for now, because I don¡¯t even have a proof. All I got is a strange feeling that¡­¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸No¡­never mind, first let us prepare for tomorrow¡¯s meeting with father. Handerlily! Tell Riza to prepare suitable clothes for that child.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Y-yes milady!¡¹Handerlily

    ¡¸Father is really right about you recently milady.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸What?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸That you are quite mature for your age. When we first met, you are still the crybaby and mindless girl who always go on tantrums.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Nonsense, it is a part of growing up as a daughter of a noble. Unlike peasants, we are carrying heavy responsibilities and duty from the day we were born. As thus we have to grow and mature faster than ordinary children.¡¹Ariel

    I both lied and told the truth.

    ¡¸You shall not worry milady, we will serve you to the best of our abilities.¡¹Arlyn

    ¡¸Yes, that¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t shoulder everything, milady. We are here to support you.¡¹Handerlily

    I am sure you would, I thought sarcastically.

    ¡¸Thanks, but¡­ sometimes I do envy the peasant¡¯s life.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Grasses is always greener on the other side of the fence, eh?¡¹Handerlily

    ¡¸Yes, anyway let us hurry up. We have things to do.¡¹Ariel

    Life of a noble does not just revolve around eating, drinking, getting fat from the taxes and protecting their lands. Unlike peasants, they also have to tackle problems such as succession conflicts, feuds against another house or family, mediating conflicts between the vassals, meeting the expectations of the royal family, maintaining the loyalty and order on your court and finally keeping your reputation, influence and power in check.

    Unlike sons or male children, girls have less opportunity especially in the noble circles. Unlike in the books I have read, the dream of falling in love and marrying a handsome prince on a shining horse is pure fantasy. Most of the time, noble women have to marry someone they don¡¯t even like or love. Worst, they may have to marry a slob fat pig-like noble to increase the connections, power or to protect their family.

    ¡°Simple life, Simple problems¡±, there are few times where I wished I was born as countryside girl, I don¡¯t even mind feeding the pigs or getting dirty in toiling the fields or getting wet with sweat under the burning sun. Peasant girls mostly have a say on who they will marry.

    The great sprites may have a purpose for me as a daughter of a powerful lord. I thought that purpose is to marry the future king of this country. But due to my immaturity, that arrangement is lost forever.

    So I have no choice but to change, no ¨C I must change, I have to, for the survival of our house and for my family. I just can¡¯t keep as an innocent girl like before.

    I can¡¯t just let father and mother carry the burden of protecting this family. And I can rely on brother as of yet. Like grandfather have told me, I must deceive everyone, trust no one and depend on no one.

    First I must not let that girl get out of our grasp. I must get more information from her. To do that I must persuade father tomorrow to keep her as a pet, pretend to like her and earn her trust. This way I may have a chance to know what she knew.

    After that, disposing her shouldn¡¯t be that hard.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    ¡¸Hurry up!¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Y-yes.¡¹Me

    Following the female attendant, I walked towards the corridor.

    As I walked in its corridors, I became all the more surprised and understood the vastness of this building. A hallway that continues to expand as if endlessly and among other things in those walls was the doors that lined up to the point of being seen as countless.

    Staying on those very large hotels probably gives the same feeling but because I have never come to such large hotels, it¡¯s just a wild guess.

    On that corridor, numerous people were walking.

    There were females wearing the same maid clothing that was worn by the woman called Riza. The males on the other hand was wearing suits, or rather maybe it was more close to tuxedo.

    I have also noticed the few people with armors that passed, I wonder if they are something like house guards or knights.

    I¡¯m glancing at those who we pass by from the opening of my bangs which was long enough to make others not realize that I¡¯m looking at them. And most of them were looking at me without any restraint.

    ¡°What is a dirty child doing here,¡± even though I can¡¯t hear it, I can tell what they are thinking.

    Just how long do we have to walk? Descending one more level in addition to exiting the room, what we arrived into had a fountain.

    ¡¸Rinse your body here.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Yes?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I will leave the towels here. You can call for me when you are done, until then I will wait outside.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸¡­o-okay. By the way, can I¨C¡¹Me

    I was about to ask questions but as if she already said what she had to, Riza left the room.

    Is it a waste for letting a dirty child from slums a take a bath in here? Or is it that taking a bath was a luxury for the people outside of slums? All I remember was that I have never taken a bath after I was caught.

    There was a spherical pipe that stretched in the water fountain and from there, water is continuously flowing. There was a countless water buckets in the place where water falls. At the very least, it also functions not only as fountain but also a bathing place.

    Holding that bucket in my hands, I let the flowing water fill it.

    Thank goodness, the current weather isn¡¯t winter, or else I will be bathing in cold water with my skinny body.

    Especially that the winter here is far colder and harsher than back on Earth. Not because it had colder wind, but because people like me who lived on slums had no capability to fight against the cold. I was lucky to survive the past winters because I still lived on that house while those who were more unfortunate on the slums, froze to death.

    While thinking such things, I again realize how all of this became normal to me especially that I am from the slums with no knowledge on things. I would have flustered, stuttered or worse say impolite words to the girl and the maid, but thankfully I also have another piece of memory of living as an grown up man on Earth.

    But I still can¡¯t get used to this creepy feeling of knowing something most people don¡¯t. Especially when I am still not sure on who am I or specifically which of the two is me. I remembered and heard how psychologists divide the memories into two types; the procedural and declarative. Though I don¡¯t remember what those are. I don¡¯t even remember on where the hell or who the hell mentioned those terms.

    I began to take off the robes that I was wearing. I am not wearing anything underneath, making it easier for me to start bathing immediately.

    I picked a bucket that was near the pool and started pouring water from my head to my lower body. Looking at the water as it flows through my skin up to my toes, my mood has begun to worsen.

    The flowing water from my body became muddy and dirty. I just realize now on how much dirt this body had.

    Scooping another bucket, this time I poured water to myself while scratching the scalp of my head. Obviously the flowing water was dirty, I can even see some clump of black dirt that fell. I decided to ignore it and just enjoy the feeling of becoming clean.

    I continued doing this until I felt that there was no dirt left on my head.

    As a resident of the slums, it was my first time to use such clean water for bathing. Usually this type of water is used for drinking in that place. But actually even the drinking water in the slums is contaminated with dirt and muck.

    I began to slowly feel a small tinge of happiness and satisfaction filling my heart.

    Pouring water to my body every time was actually very tiring, especially when my arms don¡¯t even have the muscles and energy to keep repeating such actions. So I knelt below the pipeline that stretched in the fountain and held my head against the flowing water.

    Originally back in the slums, I don¡¯t particularly need to bathe or shall I say¡­ wasn¡¯t even allowed to bathe. But bathing like this would never be a bother at all, rather it felt that I could get addicted to this wonderful feeling.

    In this situation, wishing for a shampoo would be quite awkward and unnecessary. I began to desire even just a small piece of soap. But is there even soap here? Though they probably have one, I¡¯m guessing that it would come with a high price.

    According to my memories back in the slums, soap was so expensive that only high class prostitutes in the slums could afford one, even in the brothel only the owner and few of the prostitutes had one and they rarely used it.

    It seems that I would still have a hard time living alone even if I am already outside of the slums. Several scenarios came into mind but only negative thoughts have been resurfacing in my brain.

    For now, let¡¯s just continue enjoying this bath.

    After a considerable amount of time, I noticed that the maid was actually watching me. She may have entered the room without me knowing. And because she was observing while I was bathing, the female attendant came in sight when I am still stark naked.

    Being seen naked would be really embarrassing, so I quickly wiped my body with the towel and immediately put on the clean dry robes that were prepared for me in a wooden stool.

    My long hair was still soaking wet. Covering it with towel, I immediately tried wiping it dry. Drying my hair that was as long as a girl¡¯s was irritating and tiring.

    ¡¸Are you done?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Yes. I¡¯ll just dry my hair.¡¹Me

    ¡¸If you¡¯re going to wipe it, do it with this.¡¹Riza

    Riza handed me a new dry towel. I accepted it and used it to wipe my hair. With the moisture now removed to some extent, I gathered my irritating hair together and tied it with towel.

    My body felt refreshed. My line of sight also became better. Anyhow, it feels good to be clean.

    ¡¸Thank you for waiting.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­!¡¹Riza

    Though I called out on Riza, there¡¯s no answer from her. Confused about what¡¯s wrong, I focused my gaze towards her wide opened eyes. As if realizing that I was looking at her, she stiffened.

    ¡¸ummm¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­O-oh, are you done? then¡­. L-let¡¯s return to your room.¡¹Riza

    Though the female attendant had a quite complex facial expression, other than that, she said nothing and headed towards the building and started walking.

    The confused me only followed after her.

    During the time when we were still walking on the hallway, the people and servants that we passed turned their gaze towards me without holding back or even any attempt to hide it. If I were to speak, I feel like it just got worse.

    There were even people that seemed to have been taken aback. There were others also that were frowning, showing their unpleasant feelings. Some of them even tried to move away from me while I was walking, attempting to avoid getting close to me.

    I knew it, it got worse.

    Thinking that something became weird after the bath, I began to check my body. Rubbing my face on my hands, sniffing my arms and trying to see if there is something awful on my face or robes. But even after doing that I understood nothing.

    Since it can¡¯t be helped, I decided to ignore the gazes from my surroundings and began walking with my face straight ahead.

    Climbing to the third floor, I have passed through countless doors on my way. Upon returning to my former room, the female attendant halted. She stopped by the door and turned towards me.

    ¡¸We have prepared a meal inside the room.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸T-Thank you very much.¡¹MeThis story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡¸¡­Please stay and behave well inside the room.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Okay...¡¹Me

    As always, the gaze of the female attendant remained cold.

    The social status and discrimination towards me might be worse than I thought.

    Upon entering the room, as the female attendant said, there was food above the table.

    It was a piece of round white bread, a plate of vegetable salad, scrambled eggs and orange juice.

    Upon looking at those, intense feelings of hunger have begun to assault me. Thinking about it, ever since I¡¯ve regained consciousness, I have never eaten once. No¡ªScratch that, it seems that I had never eaten any food on that whole day and even on the day before.

    Sitting on the chair, I started by trying the orange juice first.

    ¡¸¡­.tasty.¡¹Me

    The strong flavor was delicious but not really that good compare to the orange juice I had back on Earth.

    ¡­back on Earth¡­Ahhh¡­ I really am a different person now huh? I already considered my memories and life from the slums as part of my existence as well as my memories and life back from Earth. They really are right when they said that memories do make up the personality of a person.

    I do hope that I may find something that could answer my questions later on.

    My focus went back to the food in front of me. I took a piece of white bread into my mouth to taste it ¡ª it was soft but had some tough parts. Earth¡¯s bread was really much better, though if I am speaking from my experience in the slums, this would¡¯ve been considered soft and delicious compared to the bread scraps in the garbage dumps.

    Afterwards were the scrambled eggs¡ª it¡¯s really great. The eggs also had a strong flavor. The salad was the same. Every vegetable was good, even without something like a dressing. Chicken eggs were actually a rare sight on the slums.

    But I did have an experience on eating eggs, though not from chickens but from an alligator in the sewers. I forgot the taste though.

    I am delighted because I never tasted such a fresh vegetable even back in the brothel ¨C wait¡­Fresh?

    Information suddenly flooded my mind but was immediately flushed away. It¡¯s probably because I¡¯ve been reminded by things I better off not remembering during meal time.

    Just how many years has it been since I¡¯ve had a food that smelled good? At the very least for my past self in the slums, I never did.

    The food that was in front of me disappeared in just a blink of an eye, albeit it¡¯s far from having my stomach full, the feeling being full was there. My body felt relieved, even my stomach was so-so satisfied. As things have turned out this way, I have decided to thoroughly think of my current situation.

    No matter how you think about it this phenomenon that happened to me is strange and unnatural. Though it¡¯s quite possibly that all of this is just a dream, having to cling to that possibility for now wouldn¡¯t help.

    Beyond this point, I must think of how I should live in this world.

    It is my first time to live outside of the slums so I don¡¯t have the slightest idea on how the current society runs. Even if I also had another life on modern Earth it is still useless due to living in a modern world without any significant knowledge on medieval life and society. Except some small ideas after watching historical movies, TV series, books and light novels so it seems I can rely on my modern life experience for etiquette and manners.

    Because even with this body that didn¡¯t even have the strength to defend itself nor a person to rely on, I managed to live in the lawless area of the slum. I will just follow what I have been; cautious, careful and clear, the three principles of my slum life. Even faced with such a disastrous situation and not even yielding to such life, having a strong heart to take action in order to overturn the situation.

    Thinking about it, would I find it agreeable, that sort feeling began to swell up. I had given up the thinking about the future and just decided to keep on struggling to survive and continue living.

    I was about to head back to the bed and get some sleep but was stopped when I heard a voice on the hallway again. It came from someone whom was already a familiar to me.

    And as I would¡¯ve thought, with the grand entrance of suddenly opening the door, the little lady entered. She was puffing her chest conceitedly with a smug face but because she had such little body, one would just find it ridiculous or cute.

    ¡¸It seems, you have become clea¨C¡¹Girl

    The girl who approached me, appears to have stiffened and taken aback.

    It¡¯s a bit different to those people that we had passed in the hallway who glared at me with pitying, disgust, hate, and cold eyes. Her eyes were like shining, clear, serene, water in the morning. In other words it¡¯s¨C

    ¡¸¡­so¡­pretty....¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Hah?¡¹Me

    I was surprised and confused by the unexpected words she muttered. Then she got closer to me with curious shining eyes as if she was trying to make a clear sight on something that¡¯s on my face.

    ¡¸Nee~Neee~ those eyes¡­ Why do they have different colors?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸...colors?¡¹Me

    I have no idea what this girl is talking about. Asking the reason why the colors of my eyes were different, isn¡¯t it normal for others to have same eye colors? Most of the people I met and saw in the past have the same colors in their eyes. Actually I have never met someone who had different eye colors except cats back on Earth and few people I found in the internet. And also¨C

    ¡¸Neee~ Have you ever tried looking in the mirror?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­no¡­¡¹Me

    There¡¯s no way that the folks on the slums would have something that expensive.

    Even the prostitutes back in the brothel had only one small broken mirror which they take turns to use.

    ¡¸Well then, here use mine and have a look.¡¹Girl

    The girl took a small mirror from her pocket and presented it to my face.

    Taking it would be unnecessary as my face was already reflected in the mirror but because it¡¯s too small and doesn¡¯t show my eyes clearly, I tried moving my face closer.

    The color of my eyes¡­ It¡¯s indeed different.

    It¡¯s not that the colors of the girl¡¯s eyes were different from mine but the colors of my two eyes were different from each other. Blue right eye, red left eye, I have never even met such human with these pair of eyes.

    I finally realized the difference between me and other people.

    ¡¸See! Doesn¡¯t it differ?!¡¹Girl

    Although I was quite shocked, the girl was somehow very delighted.

    As for what¡¯s so fun about it, I have no idea.

    ¡¸Y-Yeah¡­¡¹Me

    For now let¡¯s return with a vague reply.

    ¡¸Pretty red and blue...whaa¡­ And not just your eyes! I can see that you will have a lovely face also. Even with your skinny body and complexion, anyone can obviously see your future potential as a beauty once you grow up. And even with your long and uncombed white hair, you still retain the look of a pretty girl¡­ I didn¡¯t notice before but it seems the bath really did uncover the hidden gem you possess. Are you really from the slums?¡¹Girl

    Bringing her face close, the girl who was staring at my eyes said as such. Am I being praised or being spoken ill of? I don¡¯t know.

    At any rate, let¡¯s cut my hair later, is what I thought.

    ¡¸Milady! Please distance yourself!¡¹Riza

    As if she is trying to give a grave warning towards the girl, Riza raised her voice.

    Even if the girl is of the same age as me, Riza is probably thinking that the girl is too close to someone who is from the slums.

    ¡¸Oh please be quiet, I wanted to look at this child¡¯s face carefully.¡¹Girl

    A voice larger than the female attendant has flown. It seems the selfish noble girl won¡¯t do as Riza told. But even so, Riza didn¡¯t obediently withdraw.

    ¡¸That¡¯s no good! That child is a slumborn and worse, being too close to those with heterochromatic people would bring misfortune.¡¹Maid

    ¡¸Heterochromatic?¡¹Girl

    It seems it was also her first time hearing it. I on the other hand, have heard it countless times albeit I do not know the meaning. However, now I know the reason why I am hated.

    It seems humans with the same condition as my eyes were considered as a sinister existence.

    ¡¸What is a Heterochromatic?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Just like this¡­ thing, the color of the eyes were different.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Then why would it bring misfortune?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸That is¡­¡¹Riza

    She waited for the female attendant to explain the real reasons, but the maid wasn¡¯t able to answer anything in return.

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Riza

    ¡¸If there is no reason then there would be no need to mind such mindless superstitions. I do not believe in something like ¡°misfortunes¡±. After all, it¡¯s this pretty.¡¹Girl

    To establish her point, she hugged my head like it¡¯s one of the heads of her dolls. Although the chest that is hugging me is flat as a wall and thousand times different from the chests of the adult women that hugged my body in the past, I am in no way uncomfortable as she smells nice.

    ¡¸However, saying that¡­¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Be silent, if you speak another word than this I will have you disappear in this house immediately.¡¹Girl

    As if trying to protect her doll that is about to be taken, she strengthened her hug on my head that it can¡¯t be called a hug anymore but a choke.

    ¡¸¡­certainly.¡¹Riza

    With a mind that will only abide by her own will, this noble girl is outrageously overbearing.

    Though the maid didn¡¯t say anything anymore as told, that face was clearly tinged with thoughts of displeasure.

    It seems the girl was not liked very much even by her own servant due to the girl¡¯s tantrums and selfishness. Having to deal with such personality frequently, such result is obvious.

    Not even giving the maid a single concern, the little girl slowly undid her choke on my head and carefully looked at my eyes with great interest.

    ¡¸Nee~ Neee~ do you know how to use magic?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Haa?¡¹Me

    ¡¸It¡¯s magic you know? Magic.¡¹Girl

    Her eyes that are looking at me were tinge with curiosity¡­ and with a bit of seriousness.

    ¡¸There¡¯s no way I could.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­ Is that so? Even though you have such a pretty eyes and beautiful face.¡¹Girl

    I can¡¯t understand this talk at all. There¡¯s no way a commoner like me could use magic at all.

    Magic can only be used by the descendants of high class nobles.

    ¡¸...But¡­if you are taught then maybe you can.¡¹Girl

    Like I told you, there¡¯s no way I can.

    ¡¸Well, that¡¯s good for now. You will be residing here from now onwards after all, I shall slowly be able to ascertain of it little by little.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Ha?¡¹Me

    ¡¸What are you being surprised about?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸-residing here¡­ does it mean that I will live here..?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Isn¡¯t that natural? You are brother¡¯s pet. Therefore, you are also my pet.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­Pet?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I can now understand why my brother risked himself to save you and was so adamant on keeping you. By the way, what is your name?¡¹Girl

    While I was bewildered with being called a pet, my name was asked. It seems she doesn¡¯t concern herself with people¡¯s reaction.

    ¡¸So you don¡¯t even have a name? Then I shall bestow you one.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Ah, no.¡¹Me

    I absolutely don¡¯t want that. And it may be better to use my other name than my orphan name, just to avoid unnecessary conflict and trouble in the future.

    ¡¸Then if you have one, tell me.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­.Ryou. Yes, my name is Moriya Ryou.¡¹Me

    I told her my name from my life on Earth. But I regret it a bit already.

    ¡¸¡­Oh? You have a last name? As far as I thought, most of the people in the slums don¡¯t have one due to being able to avoid the strict Great Annual Record. And¡­ that is a weird name.¡¹Girl

    I don¡¯t know what ¡°The Great Annual Record¡± is, but somehow, what I gave her was a weird name. I frowned in response to her for making fun of my name.

    ¡¸¡­Re¡­yo, hmmm... Re-yo...¡¹Girl

    It seems it¡¯s really hard for her to pronounce my name.

    ¡¸¡­.Ri¡­yo¡­Rio¡­Rion¡­ Oh well, your name would be Rion, okay?¡¹Girl

    Eh? How did it become like that?

    ¡¸No, that¡¯s n¨C¡¹Me

    ¡¸It¡¯s Rion. I have decided as such. Do you have any complaints?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡ªnot.¡¹Me

    Yielding to the little girl¡¯s coercion, I accepted it. Because if I refuse her now, this girl will without a doubt think of an even weirder name. Thinking that Rion would be better as a name, it seems I convinced myself.

    ¡¸Then Rion, after tidying up your hair, dress up afterwards okay?¡¹Girl

    ¡¸Hair? Tidy up?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You have to be beautiful enough to be worthy as my pet.¡¹Girl

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Me

    According from both of my memories, Pet = animal = are beings that was brought up by human to love, care and play with. I finally realize the meaning behind the word ¡°Pet¡±.

    I reflexively glanced towards the female attendant looking for salvation. Even knowing she won¡¯t voice out anything. As usual, the female attendant won¡¯t say a thing and merely showed a stoic face.

    Tidying up one¡¯s hair meant having it combed and tied so the length didn¡¯t really change. And having your hair combed and smeared with oil comes with a relaxing feeling but having something being spread on my face was quite uncomfortable.

    The clothes that was prepared for changing was the little girl¡¯s hand-me-downs.

    In the end, I was dressed up like a doll by the girl then exclaiming many times on how I was pretty and cute on some of her clothes¡­ all day long.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    I woke up in a different room than yesterday. It¡¯s the room where I was guided last night and was told that to be my temporary sleeping quarters. There¡¯s a bed, small desk and a wardrobe placed inside. Even with just that, it was a narrow room where there is almost no space.

    Although it is massively different compared to my former room back on Earth and my small dirty place back in the slums, I really don¡¯t mind.

    The size of my former room back on Earth was 4.5 tatami mats with comfort room included but no bathtub. It takes around 10 minutes from the station by bus and it¡¯s a worn out apartment where the only redeeming feature was it was quite cheap. While my own place in the slums were near the dumps, along with other beggars, dogs, flies, rats and dead cats.

    Seeing my current situation, I can definitely say that this is good enough for someone like me. It is already a miracle that I was able to live through various ordeals back in the slums and get this kind of treatment.

    Yesterday was quite a tiring day after all, particularly to the mind. I am currently wearing her white gowns that seemed to be the former clothes of that little girl. My hair is also tied up.

    That aside, the girl was really the typical selfish little lady trope huh? Even after doing what she pleases to her surroundings, there¡¯s no one else to voice out against her.

    With that, I¡¯m starting to worry as to what kind of woman she will grow up into.

    However, my appearance itself was quite lovely in comparison, huh? Is it because of my current face? When she puts make up, dressed me with female clothes, and saw myself in the mirror, I was charmed without resistance.

    Even though my body is that of a child, it already brings such a charmi¨C

    Wait wait wait¡­W-what am I doing? Getting enticed by myself.

    While thinking about these idiotic things and wasting my time, I suddenly heard a knock on the door.

    Without even waiting for a reply, the door opened.

    I thought it was the little girl again but it seems it was just the female maid named Riza.

    ¡¸Have you woken up?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Yes. Is there something I should do?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You don¡¯t have to do anything. Just behave yourself and remain on this room.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸What do you¡­¡¹Me

    I wanted to ask something because I got curious with the Riza¡¯s way of talking but I gave up due to that cold gaze.

    ¡¸How should we deal with you is yet to be decided. Because no matter what Lord Vincent and Lady Ariel says, the one who decides your fate would be the master of this house.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Then if I stay here, I have no choice but to be their pet?¡¹Me

    Aside from becoming a toy, this turn of events is favorable for me. I am not like those na?ve young boys back on Earth who dreams of being transported to another medieval era world.

    Reality is brutal.

    If I will be thrown out of this house, what awaits me is hell.

    Even if I use my modern knowledge to get some sort of livelihood, I will either be accused as a heretic, a child of a witch or demon spawn for having an out-of ¨Cthis-world knowledge and most especially with my Heterochromatic eyes.

    As a child of the slum having some sort of modern knowledge that isn¡¯t natural for the current era will likely be burned to a stake.

    And as child with no name or standing in this world, I will not be able to safely conduct actions even if I use my modern knowledge. I am not capable enough to defend myself against those who will try to harm or exploit me.

    Also, the modern knowledge I got was just about what I gained from school, mostly economics, minor historical advantage and office work. No redeeming knowledge that will help me gain some sort of powers or technological advantage to create things like cars or guns.

    Unlike those stupid generic shows and novels I have read and dropped, there is no cliche ¡°Meeting with a god to get a cheat-like ability¡± here. Or a generic, cringey scenario where I met a god and told me ¡°Oh I have killed you in accident, I will give you a cheat like ability as an apology¡± or the overused ¡°Stat window + 9999 increase¡±. Or that transferring to another world and ¡°accidentally killing an army of monsters and then instantly leveling up into an Overpowered character¡±.

    Or an awkward, also cringey ¡°You have died, we will now give you a chance to have a second life and as a gift we will allow you to bring one thing from your world.¡± And the typical trash scenario where ¡°I was summoned by a cat girl and an elf where both argued later on which of them is my master¡±.

    By the way, who the fuck is that even? Clearly those who had written those novels and read those with great interest had a real problem in their social and real life that they were desperate to escape reality.

    Okay back to the topic, the man I killed was named Daqn and he had also some loyal underlings in the slums. The slums is a small place that they may have already found the dagger I used to stab Daqn. They also knew that I have deep hatred towards Daqn and will be able to narrow down the suspects who killed him. It will be just a matter of time before they found out that I was the one who did it. Seeing that I escaped with the boy they captured, it wouldn¡¯t be much of a wonder if they come to that conclusion easily.

    So if the parents of the boy that I saved will not give me money or some sort of help to get me out of my potential predicaments before casting me out of this house, I will likely end up in hell.

    ¡¸I fear that an existence such as yourself should¡¯ve never been allowed to enter these grounds.¡¹Riza

    I can obviously see that she said this to me not because of loyalty to the family of this house but due to personal disgust. The source of disgust towards me was...

    ¡¸Is it about¡­ these Heterochromatic eyes?¡¹Me

    I pointed to my eyes.

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Is it detestable to that extent?¡¹Me

    ¡¸It¡¯s as you say. For most of the people in this kingdom, particularly for the aristocrats.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Why?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I came here to tell the real reason, although it¡¯s for the sake of Lady Ariel, I should convey it to you as well.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Please do so.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I¡¯m sure you already knew that the person¡¯s eye color represents an individual¡¯s natural affinity with the elements, right?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸No.¡¹Me

    I know nothing about the nobility of this kingdom, much less the name of the current king. Even though I lived in the capital city of this country, I was never given the opportunity to know more outside the streets of the slums. She can only sigh in annoyance at my reply.

    ¡¸¡­Fine, let us start from there. First, the aristocrats and nobles of this kingdom were blessed with very high affinity with the elements. The blood that flows within them contains mana. This mana is needed as an offering to the elemental sprites that surrounds us in order to cast magic. This is also why peasants or common people are not capable on using magic. The higher quality of mana means stronger magic.¡¹Riza

    So this is the reason why no one else can use magic other than those with the blood of the nobility or someone related to them. So the quality of the blood flowing in every person is different. It¡¯s something hard to understand for a modern man like me who had no idea about the existence of magic and for an orphan like me who never even encountered the so called magic back in the slums. I wonder if it is the same as the different blood types back on Earth?

    While I was thinking this, she continued.

    ¡¸For example, in the Royal Family and the Three Great Nobility, as the name indicates, the attribute of the Grandfram royal family is FIRE. That¡¯s why their direct descendants had red hair and red colored eyes. Naturally, the eyes of the King is the most beautiful with scarlet colors.¡¹Riza

    Because it¡¯s fire, the color is red. Thankfully it¡¯s easy to understand. Though the other colors have yet to be explained too, there¡¯s still a part of that explanation that I didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡¸As the name indicates¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You¡­ you don¡¯t even know that much?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸It¡¯s because I was raised in the slums.¡¹Me

    With another sigh, she gave it a little thought, dismissed it right away and continued explaining.

    ¡¸That¡¯s right isn¡¯t it. You probably never even studied too. In ancient Antezcu language, Grandfram came from the old words ¡°grundelt fraham¡± which means¡¾Great Flame¡¿ fitting the FIRE attribute.¡¹Riza

    Or isn¡¯t it because the royal family¡¯s attribute was flame that they¡¯ve decided on that name¨C is what I thought but I didn¡¯t put it in my mouth. I don¡¯t want her to stop her explanation due to displeasure after all.

    ¡¸And by the way, the Royal Family and the Three Great Nobility completes the four elements. That¡¯s how special these families are, their names were also derived from the old words of the Ancient Antezcu;

    Aquismeia which came from the old words ¡°aquisi aldi meiartan¡± which means ¡¾Holy Water¡¿, while Fatillas comes from the old words ¡°fahtis la flamms¡± means ¡¾Sacred Earth¡¿.

    And this family¡¯s name, Windhill was also derived from the old words ¡°whund heilem¡± that means¡¾Divine Wind¡¿.¡¹Riza

    So the elemental attributes of magic are fire, water, wind and earth. Do they have light or darkness, or more elements, or is it that they are just unaware of it? I will reserve this question later and just let her finish her explanation for now.

    ¡¸Together these families were also the same ancient families who founded this kingdom. But enough with history and lets go back to the topic at hand. In accordance with those attributes, they all have different eye colors that are respectively according to their own family¡¯s elemental affinity. Do you understand now?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Now then, because you already understand the concept, let¡¯s return to the topic before. About the source of the thought that people with ¡°Heterochromatic¡± eyes brings misfortune.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸Although the color of the eyes indicates the attributes of an individual, any person that has two different eye colors cannot or never be blessed with the affinity from both of the elements.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸W-wha¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸That¡¯s right. The two elements would contradict each other. It is said that ¡°Having two elements will result into not being loved by either.¡±¡¹Riza

    Again, another odd representation. What does she mean by ¡°not being loved¡± , even though Riza has a disdain look on her face again, this time I decided to ask her about it.

    ¡¸By not being loved, you mean¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸So you don¡¯t even know this as well¡­ The effectiveness of magic is affected by the intervention of the world, in other words the four elements. Being loved by those four elements will result into stronger effectiveness, the lesser affection means weaker effectiveness and if the affection is poor then it will result to none at all.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸... So it means that the four elements have will on their own?¡¹Me

    ¡¸The world itself has a will on its own. And for these elements composing that world, having a will is a matter of course.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Does this mean that there are only four elements?¡¹Me

    ¡¸No, there are six elements that I know of¡­ who knows if there are a lot more, but within this kingdom, its people were blessed with the proficiency of the four elements. The other elements were the light and shadow attributes which is proficiently practiced in a faraway empire.¡¹Riza

    Perhaps these elements are like spirits that were mostly mentioned in the fantasy novels back on earth, like undines or salamanders. However, it seems Riza doesn¡¯t know much about the existence of spirits. But if she knows them, then maybe that she is hiding it from me. She may be disclosing only that is on accordance with the rules of the aristocrats and circle of nobles. I feel that their society is even more complicated than that of the medieval era Earth due to the presence of magic.

    ¡¸So¡­ you who have blue eyes, means you can use water magic?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Aah?¡¹Riza

    It was my comprehensive blunder. She raised her brow at my question. Judging from the way she reacted, this person cannot use magic at all.

    ¡¸I¡¯m sorry. It seems I¡¯ve misunderstood something. You don¡¯t belong to a noble family right?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I have noble¡¯s blood!!¡¹Riza

    ¡¸I¡¯m sorry.¡¹Me

    Another blunder. It seems I¡¯ve completely made her angry this time. I had to be careful about what I ask this time.

    ¡¸¡­Ignorance is really tied to impoliteness. Even though it doesn¡¯t concern you who will soon leave this place anyway. Just in case let me tell you this, I came from a family that is given the rank of a baron.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Baron?¡¹Me

    Although my memories from the slums isn¡¯t familiar about this, I already have an idea about the word from my modern knowledge, but I still to confirm it from her that what I learned back from Earth is the same as on this world.

    ¡¸*sigh¡­ Nobles were separated from each other by duties, responsibilities, power and influence. You may interpret this as a hierarchy of some sort. The king is on the top obviously, followed by the Dukes, Royal Family and the Three Marquises. Although the baron belongs to the bottom, there is still a peerage rank that is even lower and that is called a baronet...¡¹Riza

    From there, Riza¡¯s explanation of this country¡¯s aristocratic system felt like it went forever.

    The aristocrats have a hierarchy and aside from the special rank Duke that is directly connected to the royal family, the second highest rank would be the Marquises. I can¡¯t really understand these parts properly but the Dukes were the retainer of the royal family.

    However, although the Duke has the highest rank in regards to the vassal status, there¡¯s an explanation about it being outside the realm of aristocratic system, but I couldn¡¯t understand that part anymore.

    Anyhow, the highest would be the Marquis followed by the Count, Viscount and Baron. There were three Marquises and each of them have their respective dominion which was on the north, west and southeastern territory. Marquises have the duty to defend the kingdom from any foreign invasion that will enter near their respective territories. Thus their territories and positions were the vital point for the protection and defense of the country.

    The Count or also the equivalent of an Earl, have their own respective territories, they were either vassals of a Duke or a Marquis. They have the duty to answer the call for war from their overlords. It seems that the landmass difference between a Count and a Marquis are enormously huge, even compared to the Dukes.

    The Three Marquis Families were special indeed in so many aspects.

    The Viscount on the other hand has lower power, territory and influence than that of a count. They were usually under the supervision or ruled by a Marquis, Duke or a Count. The size of their territory is much smaller than that of a count. And same as the Count, they also must answer the call for war from their lords.

    So the marquises would be similar (but not equal) to the metropolitan governors, the earls were prefectural governor and the viscount would be town mayors. I manage to understand it by putting them in this manner.

    Then about Riza¡¯s baron family, it was not regarded as part of nobility in the truest sense and has neither town nor territory because it is merely granted in honor. It¡¯s an honorary position only granted due to achievements, the hereditary of this rank peerage are only allowed for one generation and will become a baronet.

    And the most important of all is that, the higher your affinity in magic, the higher chance you will also be given a higher rank. For example, if you belong to a lower rank like a third son of a baron, but was discovered to have high quality mana or affinity, there will be a lot of offers from the higher ranking nobles on asking for your hand, if you are a female. Or you will be receiving a lot of letters offering their daughter¡¯s hand in marriage if you are a male.

    People on the rank of Barons were usually not blessed with the affinity of magic or had a low quality mana. This is why the lower ranking nobles were desperate to be connected to a higher ranking family through marriage with a high quality of mana or affinity.

    Unfortunately, Riza had already let go of such opportunity after becoming a maid of this house. Maids can still marry, but usually from within the house or fellow servants only. Maybe due to the strict security of her employer, I don¡¯t know. Although quite displeased, she explained up to that part. It¡¯s probably because she actually has a gentle heart¡­ or she just wanted me to know my place.

    ¡¸By the way, are we still on the capital?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yes, why are you asking?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸I just wondered because most of the high ranking nobles have their own castles in their territories. So why would they be here in the capital?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hoo, so you had a small understanding about nobles huh.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Its common sense even for a child in the slums that most nobles have their own castles. Am I wrong?¡¹Me

    ¡¸The Marquis and his family were attending a Royal Ball that was held last week. But due to Lord Vincent¡¯s disappearance after the ball, we stayed. Right now we are on Sepherald Villa, House Windhill¡¯s own property here on the noble quarters of the capital. The Marquis have returned yesterday and Lord Vincent was already found so we may be leaving on the day after tomorrow.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Ah, huh¡­ so the reason why people with Heterochromatic eyes were considered a sinister existence is because of having a contradiction on our bodies?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Not just that, Heterochromatic people were also a believed to be the reincarnation of the Devils.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸Wait, what?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Know your place while talking to me! Even though I am not the lady, you still have a lower standing than me.¡¹Riza

    Being told that my existence is connected to a Devil made me forget my place and unconsciously talked with an impolite tone.

    ¡¸I-I am sorry.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmmph, your kind was considered to be highly vulnerable to being possessed by the Ancient Evils. In the past, the devil cults tried resurrecting their dark gods. Countless heroes and great warriors tried to stop their nefarious schemes. And through various conflicts with them, there was a single connection that was common in their demonic rituals. ¡¹Riza

    ¡¸And that is Heterochromatic children¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yes, it was found out those children with Heterochromatic eyes were perfect vessels for the devils. The last time a devil was successfully resurrected, almost half of this kingdom fell. But thanks to the efforts of the former king Varangold VII, we were able to take back and repel the demons. It was his son Algwyn the Rageblade and the famous Warmaiden Estella who sealed the devil for good. After this, King Varangold issued a royal decree to slay every infant that will be born with Heterochromatic eyes.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸...then, why?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Why you were still alive? Because after the death of King Varangold, his son and the current king, Algwyn rescinded the royal decree and stopped the killing of the Heterochromatic infants when he took the throne. Although it stopped, the memories of demons and the barbarism of the attacks were still fresh to the minds of the people. Your kind was one of the reasons why the devils were resurrected. And misfortune always follows to any family or people who keeps a Heterochromatic child due to its strong affinity with evil.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸But you said-¡¹Me

    ¡¸There were countless people in the past that suffered greatly in sheltering your kind. As such it became common sense to avoid the source of troubles and problems. Not just this kingdom but also entire lands of Aeygerian suffered countless attacks and destruction from these evil beings.¡¹Riza

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmpph, that¡¯s why even if you did save Lord Vincent. Your kind is not welcome here especially to this house.¡¹Riza

    I just looked down to the floor, silent.

    ¡¸Stay here and behave while I am gone.¡¹Riza

    Seeing my silent state, she must have satisfied herself from insulting me. She went to the door and exited the room.

    To be honest, I don¡¯t know what to feel after knowing the real reason why I am being discriminated. I now know why my parents have abandoned me after I was born.

    Ignoring such potential depressing thoughts for now, the conclusion of this talk is that the thicker the bloodline the better effectiveness of magic they have. And the better magic they have the better life they will get.

    Unfortunately, I was born as an orphan child in the slums who have lower status than commoner or peasant. Adding also my Heterochromatic eyes which colors symbolizes fire and water that obviously contradicts each other. These two combinations is the worst thing a person can get in this kingdom.

    My short lived dream of using magic had vanished.

    While I was feeling down, I heard Riza telling familiar phrases to someone and that someone is getting louder outside the room. It¡¯s the arrival of the selfish little lady, Ariel. As was before, she just loudly opened the door without any concerns of the possibility that someone is standing behind them.

    ¡¸Rion! Come with me immediately!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Eh?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Quit being absentminded! This is urgent you know!?¡¹Ariel

    The selfish little lady seems to be in a hurry.

    ¡¸Lady Ariel, just what is happening?¡¹Riza

    ¡¸It¡¯s about father and the others deciding the fate of Rion without even a meeting!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Ah¡­ that is...¡¹Riza

    For me this is not really something new after all, I¡¯ve already heard about being driven out from Riza. And after knowing the real reason why I am discriminated in the past, I would not wonder anymore if they decided to kick me out of their house. It¡¯s part of my life even back in the slums.

    ¡¸They said that the only way to deal with such sinister existence is disposing them! I won¡¯t permit such a thing!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­Eh!?¡¹Me

    ¡¸If they see how Rion looks, surely they would reconsider! Because Rion is such a beautiful pet after all!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Me

    Surely what they meant by the word ¡°disposing¡± is getting kicked out of the house right? Like how you dispose garbage by throwing it on a garbage can, right? I just escaped the slums to avoid getting killed and now, death seems to be infatuated with me.

    ¡¸Come with me immediately!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸O-okay.¡¹Me

    With the complex feelings coming to my mind, I followed the back of Ariel. I don¡¯t like becoming a pet but I hate getting killed more. We exited the room and just left Riza who was still trying to stop Ariel.

    It seems that the destination room is quite far and on the other side of the building because we had to cross the wing. Walking towards it feels to take forever. Maybe because the room I resided in was probably one of the furthest rooms for the servants.

    With that in my mind, we kept on running in the hallway. The little lady in front of me seems to be having a hard time; I wonder why this girl is this desperate? For someone like me, running to the point of being out of breathe. I am sure that she can still find someone else to be their pet. I feel that there is something else she wanted from me.

    I thought she is just a bratty selfish girl noble¨C

    I don¡¯t have any particular good memories with aristocrats. As such it is no wonder that I have come to hate them. For those who have nothing, harboring unpleasant feelings towards those people who were given everything is natural, both here and on Earth.

    It¡¯s about resenting the unfairness of the world.

    ¡¸W-We should be near¡­haa¡­¡¹Ariel

    The gloomy feelings were instantly extinguished by her voice, although she had the face of someone in pain, she still won¡¯t stop running. We just passed other servants and guards who seemed concerned about why the girl is running on the hallway with an unfamiliar child. But she completely ignored them, grabbed my hand and increased her speed.

    Am I really that much important as a pet¨C while thinking about it, I couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly at the irony. I just stopped thinking things and focused what¡¯s next by simulating possible scenarios once again in my head until we stopped at a certain large double door guarded by several armored knights.

    ¡¸We¡¯ve finally arrived¡­. haa, haa, haa...¡¹Ariel

    She let go of my hand as she had to adjust her breathing by using the door as a support. The knights just looked at her indifferently then at me and went back to their stoic expressions. They give such intimidating aura that made me feel of not wanting to linger in front of them much longer.

    She on the other hand just stopped in front of the door and stared at it for a few minutes. I don¡¯t know the reason why she won¡¯t immediately enter the room. She seems to be grumbling something then turned around. She walked towards me with a frown on her face.

    ¡¸How is my appearance? Is my hair disheveled?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Your clothes seems fine but your hair is a little crumpy.¡¹Me

    Maybe it became like that after running without care earlier.

    ¡¸Fix it.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Okay¡­¡¹Me

    It seems she was concerned about her appearance. I thought she is going to meet her father so is it something that needs a good appearance?

    Although having a little bit of hesitation as I am not that confident in my grooming skills, I tried fixing her disheveled hair in order. Sweat was also starting to show on her forehead. After finishing her hair, I tried wiping her sweat using the hem of my clothes.

    It seems this kind of manner is no good because she frowned at my action.

    ¡¸Have you not brought a handkerchief with yourself?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Handkerchief? Ah-no, I¡¯m sorry...¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well then, use this instead.¡¹Ariel

    She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to me.

    As I was wiping the sweat on her face, she was quietly keeping her eyes closed. With the way she closed her eyes tight, her childishness has seemingly increased. After sensing that I am done, she just opened her eyes and asked.

    ¡¸So now how is it?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes. It¡¯s adorable.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I-Is that so?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­?¡¹Me

    ¡¸*ahem¡­Well then it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s proceed.¡¹Ariel

    With one final deep breath, she went towards the door. Gesturing her hands as she was about to knock. But she stopped when we heard a voice yelling inside.

    ¡¸Don¡¯t kid around! Something that I have picked up belongs to me!¡¹???

    The familiar voice belongs to the boy of long ago.

    However, saying that a person belongs to him, why are these two siblings capable of such thoughts?

    ¡¸Lord Vincent, this is not the time to be selfish.¡¹???

    ¡¸Which part of this is being selfish!? You are tossing out my property of your own accord! This is something to be angry about!¡¹Vincent

    So his name is Vincent. I never got his name back when we were together at the slums.

    ¡¸However, there is a problem about the thing you¡¯ve picked up.¡¹???

    ¡¸There¡¯s no such thing!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That thing is an orphan of the slums. And what are you even going to do, in feeling obliged to such a thing? You should normally think that you are being taken advantage of.¡¹???

    Yeah it¡¯s no wonder. Most children in the slums were willing to deceive lost travellers that entered the slums or even the unsuspecting virtuous nobles who gave out charity. Kindness doesn¡¯t exist in our vocabulary. It is only one of our ways to exploit people to get food and survive. So it¡¯s no wonder if they will suspect an orphan child from the slums.

    Deception and Violence is the number one language in the slums.

    ¡¸I don¡¯t feel any obligation at all!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸But, however weren¡¯t you saved by that slum child?¡¹???

    ¡¸I never said something like that! I was not saved! I carried that kid here so I was the one who saved that child!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸¡­That is-¡¹???

    ¡¸That¡¯s why I don¡¯t feel obliged in the slightest. The one who should feel obliged was that kid.¡¹Vincent

    Though the reasoning is absurd, perhaps this is the way of the boy to protect me by putting me under his wing.

    ¡¸And not just that, but that thing has a Heterochromatic eyes.¡¹???

    ¡¸It¡¯s not like it¡¯s contagious!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸It¡¯s not about that!¡¹???

    ¡¸Well then, what is this about?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸It¡¯s not safe to just easily get close to that thing whom you know neither its name nor origin. Especially someone who carried those eyes.¡¹???

    ¡¸That thing is Rion of the slums.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That¡¯s not what I meant-¡¹???

    Without even waiting to hear his reply, Ariel proceeded to knock on the door and entered.

    ¡¸Lady Ariel¡­ that is-¡¹Butler

    The man who seems to be the one talking to Vincent spoke with a troubled voice after seeing Ariel enter the room with the child they are talking about earlier.

    ¡¸I have brought Rion. I am sure you already knew where this child came from, right?¡¹Ariel

    The declaration of Ariel beat down the argument.

    ¡¸Lady Ariel, please pardon me but that is not what I really meant.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸It is wrong to judge a person without even looking and knowing the person by yourself.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Well that indeed is correct, however-¡¹Butler

    His line of sight went towards me. Not just him, but attention of everyone else in the room focused on me.

    Is the man comfortably sitting on the sofa the marquis and the beautiful lady next to him is his wife? Because the two resembles the little lady, there¡¯s no mistake.

    Sitting in front of the two was the boy and three others were standing at the back of the marquis. They seemed to be knights because of their full plate armor.

    ¡¸You, what are you called?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Rion, is what the girl named me.¡¹Me

    ¡¸What I¡¯m talking about is your real name.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸¡­Ryou.¡¹Me

    I decided to use my other name again just for safety, security and a less troublesome future. Then maybe, I will be able to change my name other than ¡°Rion¡±. I actually didn¡¯t like it a little as it sounded the same as the name of that generic goody-two-shoes protagonist of a novel which I regretted on wasting my time reading it.

    ¡¸W-what?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Ryou.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Butler

    ¡¸*sigh¡­ just call me Rion.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmm.¡¹Butler

    I wonder why my name ¡°Ryou¡± is hard to comprehend.

    ¡¸Where are your parents?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I don¡¯t have one¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸What do you mean by not having one?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I was found in the sewers of the slums. Then the people who found me took me in.¡¹Me

    Even in this world, disposing new born is easy. There are no laws that protect the infants from being abandoned by its parents. These were mostly done by prostitutes, maidens who don¡¯t want to carry the burden of being a parent, servants who were impregnated by their lord or a mother who wanted to reduce the mouths to feed.

    And most especially now that I realized the real reason why my parents had abandoned me. After hearing what I said, the marquis and his wife seemed to accept it as a norm. It seems that abandoning an infant with Heterochromatic eyes in the sewers is not uncommon.

    ¡¸Who are these people who found you?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸An elderly couple with no children.¡¹Me

    Mentioning that I was found by those who worked in a brothel would obviously have bad results so I lied. I am sure no loving parent would allow their child near a child who lived with the people who could have venereal diseases. I need to increase the possibility of getting rewarded as much as possible. I must squeeze everything out to get the best possible result.

    ¡¸Where are they now?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸They are dead.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­ And how did you live after that?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Consuming garbage, I still can¡¯t work with this age after all. Even if I found one, it is not a work for someone as skinny, bony and thin as me.¡¹Me

    I lied again, can¡¯t have them know about my past livelihood in the brothel, of course.

    ¡¸So, you have never worked before?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I have done home chores but it¡¯s not an occupation.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well then, where did you learn to speak that way?¡¹Butler

    The man threw that question as if he had triumphed. It seems he thought that he had obtained proper evidence. It seems thinking that using polite, respectful words and tone would give better result, was a mistake on my part.

    ¡¸From those who took care of me who died.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Butler

    For the time being let¡¯s lie with an innocent face.

    ¡¸*ahem¡­And what did these people- who took care and lived with you, do for a living?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I do not know. Because we¡¯re in the slum area, they have never spoken about their jobs.¡¹Me

    This is the truth and not just me. The jobs of those in the slums are most-likely shady so not telling their jobs to their children seems to be the norm for the parents due to that.

    ¡¸When did you lose these people?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I was around 7 years old but I don¡¯t really remember the exact day.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Are you telling me you do not remember the day they died?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Even if you tell me that, I do not even know what the current day is.¡¹Me

    Due to being raised in the slums, fabricating your identity is really easy.

    ¡¸What¡¯s the cause of their death?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I don¡¯t know, when I woke up they are already died. It¡¯s not something unusual in the slums.¡¹Me

    ¡¸What do you plan to do after this?¡¹Butler

    Although his wariness has increased to me who didn¡¯t show even a little bit of being shaken to the intense interrogation exchange, it seems he had arrived into a stalemate or it¡¯s probably around that. I already simulated the possible questions they will ask of me with best answers before I even entered this room.

    ¡¸I have never thought about it. I did not have the time to think about it yesterday.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­then how about thinking about it now?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Right here? Is it really needed?¡¹Me

    ¡¸What!?¡¹Butler

    My reply is obviously rude, no wonder¡­ but it is actually on point especially if they are talking lightly about on what to do with me. I must also make it known to them that I may be a slumborn but I am neither a slave nor will cower as a pet.

    ¡¸The things I want to do is my own problem. Though it may seem a bit rude, it doesn¡¯t concern everyone here.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­ Do you mean, you don¡¯t want to be meddled by this family?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸I do not understand the question. What kind of answer do you wish for? If it¡¯s about not wanting to be involved, then that is my answer.¡¹Me

    ¡¸That is¡­¡¹Butler

    This man probably has no authority. I can conclude that he is just finding faults in my every answer and to let the people around us decide the judgment. Anyway, I don¡¯t want things to go his way.

    The worst case scenario is where they decided to execute me. It may sound illogical as Ryou and the people from Earth, but in here I have come to know as Flay that summary executions are not uncommon for nobles.

    ¡¸It seems that my son has been in your care.¡¹Marquis

    Suddenly, I heard a voice coming from the man sitting on the sofa. It seems that I was right that he is the marquis after saying about the boy being his son.

    ¡¸I don¡¯t think so. Even if I am not aware at that time, your son did carry me to safety. So the credit goes the same to both of us.¡¹Me

    ¡¸The same?¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸I have saved your son from being taken again by a thug and as I fell unconscious when we were about to escape, the one who saved me was your son.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I see. So it was a give and take.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Me

    I must not appear arrogant in here also. Making it seem that his son and I were equal in terms of saving each other is one of the ways to get their sympathy and good will.

    ¡¸Then you have the freedom to do what you want next. I can even give you reward money and send you home. Do you want that?¡¹Marquis

    It seems I was able to succeed in getting the good side of the marquis.

    Previously, after hearing the butler¡¯s arguments and the siblings¡¯ banters, I had two choices: First, is to run away if they decided to kill me, Second is to become the sibling¡¯s pet as they have planned.

    But now there is a third one, accept the marquis¡¯ offer of money and use it to escape the capital.

    Welp, it¡¯s already obvious on which option I will choose. I will just accept the reward money. But being sent back to the slums is the last thing I want as it is practically a suicide. I have no choice then but to leave this house¡­ but it is still the best outcome for me. The probability of my survival in living outside the capital is a hundred times greater than going back to the slums.

    ¡¸Ah, no¡­ just the reward money is enou-¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡¸Father!!¡¹¡¹Ariel & Vincent

    When I thought that the matter is already settled by accepting the reward money and be on my way, the two siblings have simultaneously voiced out. I have forgotten about the two who opposed it. I am deeply annoyed by their interruption.

    ¡¸This thing belongs to me!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That is correct, this is already our pet.¡¹Ariel

    My life has already been spared; I want you to stop that talk already.

    ¡¸However¡­ for her to be your pet, isn¡¯t she too big already?¡¹Marquis

    Marquis, even you!?

    Wait, I felt that I missed to clear something very important.

    ¡¸Ah no-¡¹Me

    ¡¸It¡¯s fine. Since she always does what I say and the most important of all¡­ she¡¯s this beautiful.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­Well, that is indeed correct. However, it¡¯s too early for Vincent. You must grow a little bit more.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Why?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s just the way it is.¡¹Marquis

    I feel like all of them are misunderstanding something.

    ¡¸Ah, wai-¡¹Me

    ¡¸That¡¯s right. Besides, the partner must not be a child of the slums or I cannot approve of such a thing¡­ but well, I could probably agree if she already reached the marriageable age while living in this household.¡¹Marquis¡¯ Wife

    ¡¸Huh?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸No, wait. I-¡¹Me

    From here, the words of both parents were complimenting each other. However, I must clear something first. Even Vincent had sensed that something is wrong.

    ¡¸Indeed, if it¡¯s like that. Well however, even if she did grew up to be beautiful, for her to become Vincent¡¯s concubine, she must have a certain degree of peerage first.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸If it¡¯s just a mistress then it¡¯s all good.¡¹Marquis¡¯ Wife

    ¡¸Eh? Ummm¡­¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸I see. Mistress huh? If that¡¯s the case-¡¹Marquis

    Were they convinced now? Or rather, what¡¯s the difference between concubine and mistress? Wait, this is not the time to think about that! There¡¯s an even bigger problem. Thankfully I was able to interrupt their dangerous talk this time.

    ¡¸Umm...¡¹Me

    ¡¸What is it?¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸I am a boy though...¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹

    Silence soon ensued at my revelation.

    ¡¸Eh?!¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Wha-¡¹Butler

    ¡¸¡¸?!!¡¹¡¹Marquis and his Wife

    I didn¡¯t make my gender clear but is it actually not that obvious to that degree?

    Or is it that the gender of the orphan they picked up doesn¡¯t really matter?

    ¡¸W-wait¡­ you are a boy? You don¡¯t¡­ look like one¡­¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Eh? Why are you all surprise? Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡¹Vincent

    It seems that Vincent is the only one who knew my real gender.

    ¡¸Well-¡¹Marquis

    Before he can continue, he was interrupted by a sudden whisper from one of the guards behind them. Even Marquis¡¯ Wife even joined in listening what is being whispered by the guard. I can¡¯t hear what the guard is whispering so I was quite nervous after I realized that the Marquis and his wife were looking at me with great interest which was quite different from their previous indifferent eyes.

    ¡¸Well¡­*ahem, that is quite surprising, just seeing your countenance will make everyone confuse about your gender¡­Hmmm... Well then, what are you going to use her-I mean him for, Vincent?¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸E-Eh? What for¡­ ummm, on a lot of things! Yes! ¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸¡­.is it¡­ as an attendant?¡¹Butler

    ¡¸W-Well, something like that. ¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸I see. However, we already have an attendant for you and I cannot allow a boy to be Ariel¡¯s attendant. ¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Ahh, if Lord Vincent desires it as such, I will withdraw from being his attendant. It seems that it may be good also for the growth of the young lord to have an attendant that is the same age as him. ¡¹Butler

    The guy who was interrogating me before said so.

    So this guy was an attendant.

    Considering that, he¡¯s quite ahead of himself and besides, what is he being so happy about?

    ¡¸And where would you be then?¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Because I would be troubled on losing a job, if possible I¡¯d like to be Lord Erwin¡¯s attendant instead. ¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Erwin? Being a full time attendant of Erwin¡­ ¡¹Marquis

    I heard an unfamiliar name from the mouth of the Marquis. Because this is a talk about attendants and the like, is he perhaps another sibling of the two?

    ¡¸Well, that¡¯s fine I guess. However, this child must undergo first a training to be Vincent¡¯s attendant and as to whom we will leave that into¡­.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸In that case, I shall also see to that. I will be the one handing the position over after all. ¡¹Butler

    ¡¸That would be good, Well then¡­.¡¹Marquis

    The marquis began steadily staring at me, as for the reason¡­ I already know.

    ¡¸It¡¯s Rion.¡¹Me

    ¡¸That¡¯s right. Rion, from today onwards you are now Vincent¡¯s attendant. Endeavor yourself in Vincent¡¯s well being.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Yes¡­. Eh?¡¹Me

    How did it end up this way? Isn¡¯t this talk was about driving me out of the house.

    ¡¸The gold that was intended to be your reward will be given to you later. I am sure you don¡¯t want to return to the slums and for someone who only lived in the slums, you are still quite ignorant of the world.¡¹Marquis

    ¡¸Yes¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸Then as the savior of my son, accept this job. This chance was never given to someone like you, even among the commoners. But on our honor as nobles, we always pay the favor ten times. So will you leave the house with your reward money and bet your life on the unknown world outside the slums or accept the job as an attendant of my son.¡¹Marquis

    By being an attendant, doesn¡¯t it mean that I would be residing here forever? But he is right; I have better chance of surviving this world by being on this house. I would rather take the opportunity in front of me than select the option of gambling my life.

    ¡¸Yes, I accept the job. Thank you very much.¡¹Me

    I bowed as I accept the Marquis¡¯ offer. Ariel and Vincent seem to be quite happy about the result of the discussion. After that, the butler dragged me outside the room with Vincent and Ariel following us.

    I was still quite ignorant at that time; not knowing that this decision of mine had started the change in the world.

 Volume 01 Chapter Two - â€œInto the Palm of the Storm Maidenâ€ (Part 1)

    Now that Vincent was found safely, the marquis and his family went back to their own lands¡­ that is what it should have been. But it seems that the Marquis still have business to finish here in the capital and as thus decided to stay with his family in this villa for now.

    I was given a room for male servants that is as big as my previous room back on Earth. My current job is now a full-time valet of Vincent, the eldest son of the Marquis Windhill.

    And I am right now under the care of the man who left his babysitting job to me. It can¡¯t be helped; I had to rely on this guy for learning the know-how of this job.

    ¡¸Erm¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸What? Is there something that you didn¡¯t understand?¡¹Butler

    As opposed to his personality that was shown previously in the discussion with the marquis, the man attended to me in a gentle manner. Which means that just being able to leave his job as Vincent¡¯s valet have made him that delighted.

    ¡¸Just how did things turned out this way? The purpose of the talk was to expel me out of this household, is it not?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Oh, that talk? Just focus on the things regarding your job. I want to finish handing it to you quickly.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Umm well¡­ I can¡¯t help but think about it.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I guess there¡¯s no other choice. At first it was indeed like that. There is no way we can trust anyone coming from the slums after all. After being in debt to such people, they will only think of anyone as nothing but a source of income.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Well, I myself came from the slums, there really is nothing there but those sort of people but not all of them is that bad. If a person is overcome by hunger, he will eat his own just to survive.¡¹Me

    I tried to rebuke indirectly that I am not like those thugs in the slums. Although I cannot fully say that I am innocent as I did do some things that can never be considered good.

    ¡¸Yes, well fortunately you are the one who helped the young lord return to his family. As such we don¡¯t have to deal with thugs if the young lord was ransomed instead. If it ever did happen, this is still House Windhill. The Sturmhounds have their ways in eliminating such arrogant criminals and rescue the young lord in time. We have a reputation and dignity as a noble to uphold, so we must not appear na?ve and soft. That¡¯s why I am wondering myself on what reason did the marquis accepted you as one of the servants and even a valet of the Lord Vincent.¡¹Butler

    ¡®I am wondering also about that myself¡¯ is what I thought but decided not to voice it out.

    ¡¸The truth is, disposing or expelling you have already ceased to be an option ever since Lady Ariel have taken a liking unto you. The lord and his wife are quite lenient to the young lady compared to Lord Vincent after all.¡¹Butler

    In other words, they are just doting parents.

    I¡¯m not really trying to make fun of them but rather as Flay who never felt or knew the existence of my parents, it¡¯s something to be jealous about.

    ¡¸If that¡¯s the case, what about that exchange earlier?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I was opposed to it of course. Just being Lord Vincent¡¯s valet has already proven to be difficult. I can¡¯t deal with something like an orphan from the slums at the same time. ¡¹Butler

    I can only sigh in my mind. As I thought, my existence will never avoid discrimination. My previous impression about everyone outside the slums as Flay is definitely not wrong.

    ¡¸Pardon me for being impolite but does being a valet have such authority to oppose or question the marquis¡¯ son? Or even suggest an option or advise the marquis for his decisions?¡¹Me

    ¡¸A full time valet would be the butler of the next generation or if fortunate, head of the House. If not, then he will become one of the close aids of the family head. As a person having that much of a connection with Lord Vincent, your right to speak will be recognized.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Eh? So such a position was given to me...¡¹Me

    ¡¸Except you. As it¡¯s impossible from someone with doubtful origin to become a close aide of the marquis.¡¹Butler

    This guy, there¡¯s a limit to being insensitive. Just how did he pass being the valet of the heir of the marquis, with his personality?

    ¡¸But¡­ come to think of it what should I call you?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Walle... It¡¯s Walle Girk.¡¹Butler

    ¡¸Mister Girk then?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Call me by Walle instead.¡¹Walle

    So calling him by given name is the right way. I should take these simple things in my mind carefully.

    ¡¸Is calling you by ¡°Mister Walle¡± really alright? You, who would be the future close senior associate of mine.¡¹Me

    ¡¸As for that¡­., don¡¯t mind it. I hate those kinds of formalities.¡¹Walle

    ¡¸Is that so?¡¹Me

    He is clearly lying though. However, I can¡¯t really press him for that.

    There¡¯s something fishy. If not, then this guy would never be in such a good mood, but I should be able to find out about it after working for this house.

    ¡¸Then let¡¯s resume. At this rate, we won¡¯t be done with the process of handing the job over after all.¡¹Walle

    To summarize the job of a Valet, it would be a person in charge of miscellaneous affairs. To put it simply, the responsibilities of a valet is to fulfill all the lacking or holes left by his or her master, assist them in things they cannot solve and helping to ease their daily lives. That is what I was told but, something is suspicious.

    I just can¡¯t imagine Walle being able to fulfill all the desires of that seemingly self-centered boy.

    Though it¡¯s called handing over, this is actually different to what I imagined. What he taught me was nothing but the schedule of Vincent for the month.

    Other than that, it¡¯s his likes and dislikes on food, that I can still let slide. I can just eat his leftovers if he doesn¡¯t like them.

    His likes and dislikes on studies¨Cor so I say but there nothing on like at all. Walle also told me to study and learn how to read and write. Many of the duties held by the valet involve reading and writing. When I asked him who will teach me about that, he blatantly changed the subject.

    Walle also mentioned Vincent¡¯s level of affinity on magic¨C I didn¡¯t even understand a single piece of it.

    Also the person Vincent likes and dislikes¡­

    Wait¡­ why is Walle not on the list? Surely, he would¡¯ve been hated by him.

    I was also given a book. He told me the title is Great Houses and Nobility of Grandfram. It was so big and heavy that Walle had it delivered to my room instead. I was told that after learning how to read, I must then quickly memorize every houses and their coat of arms. He told me that most valets must be able to identify the lords just from seeing the sigil of their houses without any introduction. This way I will be able to help or assist Vincent in attending parties or in joining the circle of nobles in the near future.

    And just as Walle wanted, after half a day of lecture, the handing over was finished just like that. And Walle, the bastard immediately fled.

    After the lecture, Vincent and I went to the room full of clothes along with some maids to choose the clothes I¡¯m going to wear.

    I only realized just now that I¡¯ve been wearing robes for sleeping all this time but because Vincent minded it, they have prepared a new set of clothing for the new valet. The maids just rummage the old clothes of previous valets that were stored in the wardrobe. They have found several set of clothes that were already considered to be the smallest¡­ but none of them seemed to fit on me or rather they are too big for me.

    It seems I have a particularly smaller built or rather very thin body, I don¡¯t even know my age.

    Maybe the reason why no clothes seemed to fit on me was because I am too thin for an average kid and I have yet to reach the proper age to become a valet. The youngest valet before me is over 15 years old. Seeing that, Vincent allowed the maids to search the wardrobes of his old clothes which he already grew out. He must have a lot after I realize that the wardrobe is far larger than my room. After they found several ¡°good¡± clothes, the maids left the room to let me change and try the clothes.

    ¡¸How about this one?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸¡­ I think it¡¯s too flashy for a valet.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Even this one? Well you¡¯re probably right. In regards to valets, their attire must have a composed ambiance.¡¹Vincent

    He seemed to have gotten the rough idea but this boy who fusses over on how my clothes should be was quite stubborn.

    Choosing the clothes I had to wear first and foremost seemed to have rooted on the thought that the clothes of his valet must appear proper.

    However, the standards of the boy in choosing clothes are really lame.

    It might be proper clothing in regards to this world, but for me it¡¯s just a bunch of clothes that I would never be able to endure wearing. It¡¯s like those over flamboyant clothes of the 1800s back on Earth, where the men would wear wig and a lot of frills on their neck and arms. No matter what clothes I try, I was not able to find the clothes that I could like.

    The moment I finally thought of giving up, on the corner of the closet, I have stumbled upon a suit. The suit was quite different than the usual, the monochromatic black have a composed feeling.

    I picked it up and saw that it may be on a right size for me.

    ¡¸Is this one alright?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmm?¡¹Vincent

    The boy shifted his attention on the clothes I presented. His facial expression became cloudy. It seems he was not fond of it.

    ¡¸These are the clothes of a knight.¡¹VincentThis novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡¸Clothes of a knight?¡¹Me

    ¡¸This is the clothes that knights wear.¡¹Vincent

    ¡®Did knights have no age requirement that they have something on this size?¡¯ I wanted to ask but after remembering that I found this on his closet of old clothes, I realize that this may be his. This suit has better looking appearance than his current clothes, I wanted to ask why he stopped wearing this but it¡¯s not a priority right now.

    ¡¸No, I get that part however, how does it pose a problem?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You¡¯re going to be a valet, not a knight.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸¡­Ah that is correct.¡¹Me

    This stubbornness might prove to be more difficult than I imagined. However, I can¡¯t just pull back when it comes to this thing because I¡¯d rather die than wear a frilly shirt and short pants.

    ¡¸However, I am going to be Lord Vincent¡¯s valet so wouldn¡¯t there be times where I must protect him as his full-time valet?¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­That is¡­ correct.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Someone who protects his master is similar to that of a knight. Although the occupations might differ, they are the same in regards of their duties.¡¹Me

    ¡¸...¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That¡¯s why as a person given the job as your valet, wearing the clothing of knights shouldn¡¯t pose a problem.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­That... where did you¨C no, nevermind¡­ Okay, very well. Let us try and have this as your uniform. Let me see it first if it fits.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Me

    Persuasion successful!

    I immediately turned back to the closet and changed my clothes.

    Though I¡¯ve heard it was a set of clothing that knights wore, it felt just like an altered high school uniform with just a higher collar and bit of longer coat. It¡¯s like someone combined the traits of a school uniform and a tuxedo. Though I have said that it was monochromatic black, there was some silver embroidery on some parts of it.

    After finishing putting it on and checking it in the mirror, it seems to fit me more than I thought.

    That seems to lead to the question again as to why only this clothing was like this. Is there a difference between the clothes of knights and aristocrats?

    While I was lost in that thought, the boy was showing an astonished face.

    ¡¸¡­Does it look strange?¡¹Me

    ¡¸No, it¡¯s the opposite. Mmm, it suits you well. ¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸I¡¯m grateful for that. It¡¯s probably because the fitting of these clothes matches me well. This may help me serve you better.¡¹Me

    ¡¸If we disregard your white hair and eyes¡­you look like the black knight.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Yes?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Do you not know about it? It¡¯s the protagonist of the book I have read since child I was child. Black hair and eyes, the clothes he wore were also of the same color, he was a hero who came from another world. That clothing were made to imitate the clothes worn by the black knight drawn in that book.¡¹

    Oh, now I get it. This suit was never made for knights. This was sewed and made to imitate his childhood hero. No wonder he didn¡¯t like it at first glance, it must have dug up his dark embarrassing past. But I got more interesting information about this; a hero with black hair and eyes and he came from another world wearing same clothing.

    ¡¸Another world? Wait, there are other worlds?¡¹Me

    I have to pretend that I don¡¯t know anything to get more detailed information from him. I have to act like someone from the slums.

    ¡¸Yes, from what I have read, there are countless of worlds. Ours is just one of the hundreds of thousands.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸How does our world interact with others? Is there a bridge? I thought the world is just a large plate being carried by a giant, so how does it happen?¡¹Me

    ¡¸I don¡¯t even know how. There are words I still don¡¯t understand.¡¹Vincent

    Maybe it¡¯s still too deep for him to comprehend the words.

    ¡¸I see¡­this black knight¡­ how did he come to our world?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Ah, I almost forgot. You are now my valet, as such you shall address me as your lord. If my valet don¡¯t know how to address me according to my status as his lord and the heir of this house, other nobles will look down upon me¡­and you.¡¹Vincent

    Ah yeah, I almost forgot about that again. The annoying manners and etiquettes towards nobles and aristocrats.

    ¡¸I apologize¡­m-milord¡¹Me

    ¡¸Good. You must learn now on how to act like a valet. And for your question, I have read that he was summoned by the Archbishop of Sanctuary.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Sanctuary?¡¹Me

    ¡¸The main religion of the Endymion Empire. They also have a branch here in the kingdom.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸So he was summoned in the Empire¡­ milord?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yes, then he travelled throughout here in the western part of the continent. Vanquishing evil and saving those in need. He was then knighted by the emperor after defeating an army of orcs and goblins. His famous achievement is slaying the great dragon Aldruada who destroyed much of the Kingdom of Hashu.¡¹Vincent

    Vincent is already drunk in retelling the stories of his favorite hero. Good, lets continue with this flow and get more information this way.

    ¡¸Is everyone who came from this so called ¡°another world¡± were always hero?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yes, well¡­ according to the scriptures of the Sanctuary, heroes were formerly angels. A semi-divine beings created by the gods against any evil. If the world will suffers any evil, the gods allow enough number of angels to descend to the mortal realm to fight it. But in exchange, they must take form as a mortal in this world. And in becoming a mortal, they will also be subjected to the evils and temptations felt by mankind, so some of these heroes were also infamous for the evils they have done¡­ but I don¡¯t know if this is the truth, I only read this description from the library.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸How did these heroes¡­ ¡°descend¡± aside from being summoned¡­ m-milord?¡¹Me

    ¡¸What do you mean?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸You know, like what you have mentioned earlier, other than being summoned by a¡­ an archbishop.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmmmm¡­. As far as I remember, these heroes can be summoned by someone powerful enough as the Sanctuary¡¯s archbishops. But there are also written records and stories where some heroes were born as one of the children of a peasant parents. And at a certain age, they will reach ¡°enlightenment¡± where they will remember their purpose and their former memories as an agent of the gods. Then after their ¡°enlightenment¡± they will regain their former strength when they were still divine beings except for their immortality. And there are also heroes that just fell to this world, just suddenly waking up with no recollection of their past but still have the strength of a divine mortal.¡¹Vincent

    Yeah this really seemed like those novels and series I used to read and watch.

    ¡¸Did these heroes ever attempted to go back to their¡­ realm, umm milord?¡¹Me

    I still can¡¯t get used in this way of speaking. But it seems that Vincent didn¡¯t notice because of how he enjoyed in retelling the tales of these heroes.

    ¡¸This¡­ I don¡¯t know. I myself was asking such question in the past. But the books and records never mentioned such action from any hero. Nevertheless, most of them spent their life in this world. They mostly retired and had families later on. And the descendants of these heroes were known to inherit their strength and powers; as such most of them were either married to a royal family or high ranking nobles of some kingdoms and empires. ¡¹Vincent

    ¡®Then what happens if they die as a mortal? Do they return then back to their realm after their death?¡¯ I wanted to ask but there is an important question I must prioritize first.

    ¡¸Were there any written records or books that mentioned that they descended in this world by possessing a body of a person?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Hmmm, not that I know of. These beings had to take form as a mortal and not to take a body. Because from what I have understood, if they possess a body that is not theirs, then they would not get their former strength back when they were still the divine beings.¡¹Vincent

    This is quite difficult. It may mean that my situation is badly unique. Or that the people who were transported into this world like me were never remembered or recorded and lived without getting attention¡­ or was never blessed with a future of becoming a hero. I may have to visit this library he is talking about earlier to find out more about this black knight he mentioned.

    ¡¸And by the way, where is he now¡­ milord? The black knight you mentioned earlier?¡¹Me

    ¡¸His story is almost 700 years old. In the book, it was mentioned that he retired and went back to the empire. He married the third princess and spent his last days in the empire.¡¹Vincent

    Sigh¡­ then the hope of meeting him is lost forever. I wonder if that person is Japanese or Asian. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m not the only one in this world who came from another world. But even so IF it¡¯s really a black haired and eyed person from Earth then the way he was sent to this world was different from mine.

    It seems everything goes in this world.

    ¡¸By the way, do you know how to use a sword?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Not at all¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸I assumed you are because of¡­ how you handled a knife a while back.¡¹Vincent

    I was first wondering on what he is talking about but then I remembered Daqn.

    ¡¸Oh¡­well, that was just a lucky strike.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­ is it true?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸About what¡­milord?¡¹Me

    ¡¸That taking someone¡¯s life is normal in the slums?¡¹Vincent

    I frowned in his question.

    ¡¸Well¡­ it¡¯s a dog eat dog place. It¡¯s not a place where it is only for the poor, orphans, abandoned children, criminals or prostitutes that is probably mentioned in your books. We always lived, eat our daily rotting bread, and survive through this saying, ¡°Do unto others before they do unto you¡±. Stealing the things that belong to others including their life is how I have survived for all these years. That¡¯s why you are so blessed milord in being born as a child of a noble.¡¹Me

    It may sound like rude but I am intentionally saying this to spite him a little. This is my true feelings as Flay who had lived in the slums. I have saved his life by killing someone and he still asked me if it was a normal thing to us who lived in the slums. It¡¯s like insensitively asking a soldier with PTSD if the way they shoot or kill someone is just a normal thing for them.

    Though frankly, after remembering almost all of my memories, both from Flay and Ryou, I can¡¯t really say that Daqn is my first kill. Back in the slums, I used to hit other children who got food with a large rock in their head or beat them with anything I find nearby to steal their food. I usually got my loot after they were knocked out. After that I leave them to their fate without turning back. So I don¡¯t know if they died from being hit in the back of their head or that I beat them too much that they don¡¯t wake up for the next day.

    Corpses found in the slums were always taken and sold to someone or somewhere who needed dead bodies for something. That¡¯s why if I unknowingly killed someone in those days, I would never find out.

    ¡¸¡­hmm. So you never knew how to use a sword?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Nope, I never even touched one. The weapons used in the slums were usually spears, crossbows and axes¡­milord. But the most favorite of the thugs and criminals who lived there were knives and daggers as they were easy to use in stabbing people in the back, easier to throw or use in the dark alleys and cut someone¡¯s throat. ¡¹Me

    I gestured a cutting action on my throat. I neither have any experience nor touched a sword as Flay.

    But if we are talking about as Moriya Ryou, then maybe I could say yes. Although, I don¡¯t know if what I had learned as Ryou can be considered ¡°knightly¡±. As it is not even kendo or kenjutsu that I have learned. It is more similar to ¨C

    ¡¸Is that so? Then take lessons with me.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Eh?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Do you not already know my schedule from Walle?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸No, I already did. You have a fencing practice three times a week. Is it about that class?¡¹Me

    I came to know that this world has six days per week when I was being taught of his schedule. The days were in elements, Arsday-Light, Neitday-Shadow, Welmsday-Wind, Goldsday-Earth, Therstday-Water, and Fireday-Fire.

    ¡¸You¡¯ll participate on those fencing practices.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Won¡¯t I be in the way?¡¹Me

    I would really be delighted to be taught of the ¡°elegant swordsmanship¡±. Not every child in the slums or common people in this world were given a chance to learn swordsmanship. Sword arts may someday help me defend myself. However, being able to join in or not was not within my discretion.

    ¡¸It¡¯s for the sake of being able to protect me properly so naturally you should also polish your skills on the sword.¡¹Vincent

    This was the reasoning I said earlier. Well, that¡¯s fine.

    ¡¸I understand. I shall do as you say.¡¹Me

    Then Vincent suddenly took something from his pocket and handed it to me.

    ¡¸By the way, use this eye patch to cover your left red eye. I am sure you already have an idea about the connection between the colors of the eyes and their noble bloodlines.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Ah yes milord.¡¹Me

    I put on the eye patch he gave me and let down some of my hair to cover my entire left eye. I used the large full body mirror again to see my appearance then I realized that he made the eye patch in white cloth that had same level of color with my white hair thus letting it appear natural in my face. Vincent must have considered about how my status as a heterochromatic child would interfere with my duties in this house so he thought of a way to hide one of my eyes.

    And from what he had said, he also took consideration on which of my eyes must be covered because if I displayed my left red eye instead of my blue eye, it would gather suspicion and unwanted attention from others as only those who have the blood of the Royal Family or members of House Highland have red eyes in this kingdom.

    ¡®Wait¡­ speaking of which, I do have a red eye¡­ then maybe I have a blood of royalty in me? As if.¡¯ Is what I jokingly thought as I fixed the eyepatch using my reflection at the mirror.

    Riza told me that the color of the eyes of a heterochromatic person is not related to his parents or bloodline as some of the heterochromatic infants were sometimes born from a commoner family with no relation or connection with any noble family. The colors were just a one hell of a freak misfortune for the child.

    ¡¸Is it done?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Ah yes milord, thank you very much.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well then, come. My first lesson is about to start. Make sure not to take off that eye patch without my permission or my sister¡¯s.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Yes!¡¹Me

    With this I will be able to take fencing lessons as well, but this swordsmanship matter has yet to be settled.

 Volume 01 Chapter Two - â€œInto the Palm of the Storm Maidenâ€ (Part 2)

    After learning his daily schedule, my impression of the boy has changed.

    It was quite a busy schedule after all.

    Every day, he will be taught by the live-in tutor throughout the morning and in the whole noon again, this was his schedule on magic lessons. And in the first half of the afternoon, he will be taught of fencing as well and on the latter half; he will be taught of etiquette.

    His whole day was filled with studying arrangements.

    When I first saw his schedule, I thought that his schedule should really be that busy because he was the heir of the household. However, upon witnessing his scheduled studies myself, I was filled with feelings of sympathy for him.

    ¡¸The reason why I did not understand your lessons was because your way of teaching is poor.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Though I apologize for that, if the one I am teaching is not even interested in learning then there is nothing I can do.¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸Are you saying that the fault lies in me?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸I was merely saying that we should both work harder on our ends.¡¹Tutor

    The boy who got poor grades only shifted the blame on his tutor. The tutor was also saying something against him in that matter.

    It seems the tutor, Harvey Moore is a little different from the other servants. He is one of this family¡¯s servants that were free to act towards Vincent¡­ or just brave enough.

    Even though his carefree way of speaking is rude, I sort of understand on where he stands. Just listening to the lecture and the class, anyone will. It was because just teaching this boy alone was too difficult.

    I thought that Vincent is a bookworm type due to how he told me those stories from countless books and tales in their library. But after seeing his performance in his classes, he doesn¡¯t have any motivation in studying any lessons or topics except if it is History. And right now, the topic is similar to that of basic mathematics.

    Thankfully, the numbers and symbols they used were exceedingly similar to that of the Earth¡¯s. So it is quite easy for me to know what was being lectured. Maybe someone from my former world taught them in the past.

    ¡¸I AM working hard.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Is that really the case?¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸What??!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸If you are listening to me properly, you should be able to understand what I am teaching right away. Not being able to do so only means that you are not listening diligently.¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸¡­.That¡¯s not true at all!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸No. That¡¯s how it is.¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸Why do you say so?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Because even him who was only listening on the furthest back was able to understand it.¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸What!?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Eh?¡¹Me

    It¡¯s the worst development here. I want them to stop shifting the talk towards me. Well, indeed I understood it however, not because I¡¯m properly listening but because I was already taught of it long ago.

    Vincent in response to his shock, he asked me.

    ¡¸Is that true?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸That is¡­¡¹Me

    I was then confused if I am going to tell that I could or I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t know which of the answers can help me avoid trouble. But it seems that by hesitating to answer is also part of the options and it is the most troublesome.

    ¡¸Not answering is the answer itself. This is just due to his consideration to you, Lord Vincent.¡¹Tutor

    Teacher Moore took advantage of my silence and used it for his own convenience. But because of this he was actually driving me more into a corner. Just what the heck is this tutor planning?

    After hearing it, Vincent stood from his seat then went to the board and pointed at a written mathematical problem.

    ¡¸¡­Rion¡­ so you can. Well then, have a look at this problem.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Ah no, that is¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸If you do not solve it then you¡¯ll be punished by being exempted from dinner. Your choice.¡¹Vincent

    It seems he has now taken this ordeal seriously. In regards to this ordeal, it¡¯s not even a choice.

    ¡¸I understand.¡¹Me

    Obviously I wasn¡¯t able to win over my appetite.

    I was given a chair, a pen and a paper by the tutor and then I assessed the problem. The problem written was about the multiplication and division of fractions. As expected, I can answer this much.

    Using this kind of feathered pen was quite harder than solving the problem itself. I¡¯m not used to such a pen that needs to be dipped in the ink every single time, but I was able to answer the problem somehow¡­ although it produced messy and dirty writing.

    After writing the answer, I handed the paper to the tutor.

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Tutor

    But when he took a look on my paper, he frowned and looked like he was surprised at something then looked at me in silence. I was wondering if my answers were incorrect.

    ¡¸Umm, teacher?¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­you¡­ Have you taken arithmetic lessons before?¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸¡­uhm¡­ Just a little bit from those who took care of me.¡¹Me

    I was surprised at the shocked reaction of the tutor, I thought he expected me to solve this as he had mentioned earlier. I have to use again my last method of misdirection by using their ignorance to the life and ways of those who lived in the slums.

    ¡¸But I heard they died?¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸I-I was taught before they died.¡¹Me

    ¡¸...The dwellers of slums, teaching their children?¡¹Tutor

    ¡¸I do not have any idea in regards of those parts. However, I was only able to remember the things that I might be able to use to get out of slums. I only know the numbers and basic problems but I still don¡¯t know how to read and write this kingdom¡¯s language.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well that is justified. However, to think you could do a very quick mental arithmetic...¡¹Tutor

    Ah, so that is the real reason why he was surprised. It seems that I have really done it now. Multiplication and division of fractions are just simple problems however I have overdone it by solving the problem mentally and writing the answer without the solution.

    I shouldn¡¯t have done it considering the level of education of this world¨Cno, this age and era.

    And the reaction of the boy was¡­

    ¡¸As expected of my full time valet!! Alright, you must study with me from now on. Teacher, that is fine right?¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Eh¡­Ah, of course¡­¡¹Tutor

    Not even tinged with jealousy, he was even happy about it. I expected him to show a tantrum or frown of being overcome by someone lesser than him.

    Isn¡¯t he a spoiled brat? I don¡¯t understand just what he is anymore.

    But what I¡¯m sure now, is that it is too early to judge him as nothing but a selfish noble child.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    After the class, we went to eat lunch. But the valet may only eat after his or her master did, so I must escort Vincent and assist the maids who will serve him the food. It¡¯s also my job to tell the maids what should be served, how much juice he needs, what kind of drink Vincent wants or what he doesn¡¯t like to eat, but at the same time it¡¯s also part of the job to manage what Vincent eats and serve him food that is not harmful for his body.

    So yeah, basically it¡¯s my job to watch what he eats and control his appetite¡­ and become the scapegoat for his tantrums if he doesn¡¯t like what I do to his food. But fortunately for me, he didn¡¯t. He just accepted the food and cheerfully enjoyed the drinks he was given.

    After letting Vincent enjoy his food, we went to the Hanging Gardens where he will be massaged by the maids. It¡¯s actually a good place to relax, it is on the second floor with an open roof, the sun¡¯s blistering heat is blocked by the large vines and leaves of the plants in the garden and in the windows, the cool breeze enters from the outside.

    Then it¡¯s my time to eat lunch. Vincent then told me that I have to hurry as I must attend in the next lesson. I went to the Servant¡¯s Quarters building that had quite a distance away from the Hanging Gardens¡¯ building. I got irritated at how wide the entire property is, that it became a chore to walk.

    ¡®They should¡¯ve allowed wagons and horses inside. Then the servants don¡¯t have to walk between buildings that are literally far from each other. It is wide enough to have a racing competition between six chariots.¡¯ I quietly complained.

    It will be my first time to eat at the servant¡¯s dining room. Only then I realized that I actually underestimated the number of servants this family had. This room is actually one of the largest in the property, second only to the Severwind Hall which was used for balls and parties with the nobles. But despite its size, the entire room is packed with servants taking their lunch.

    I queued up on the line to get my food. But even though it is crowded and despite my small size, it did not help me avoid getting attention from other servants. The servants in front of me and the back were whispering to each other while sneaking glances at me. It is also the same to those servants on the tables I passed as I kept following the line. Maybe I should simulate several scenarios where I will be bullied by other servants, just in case.

    When it was my turn to get food, the cooks just quietly gave me a tray of food and a glass of fruit juice. My second problem is to get a table or space where I can eat. I wanted to eat this food outside as it is very uncomfortable to be the focus of attention while eating. But unfortunately, it is not allowed to eat outside the servant¡¯s dining room. Well, this is according to what I have heard from the other servants before me who also planned in doing so but was scolded by the cook.

    I carried my tray while trying to find a good space. The servants who were whispering earlier at my back got a table to eat just after getting their food. Well, they knew someone from the table so it was easy for them to get one. If I am not in a position to mind etiquette then I would¡¯ve eat on the floor instead. I have to quickly finish my lunch or I will get a tantrum from Vincent again.

    I was about to go around again to check the other tables when someone called for me.

    ¡¸Hey slumborn! Over here. ¡¹???

    I turned to see the one calling for me and I saw several maids on a table with one of them waving at me.

    ¡¸Eh? ¡¹Me

    Well, not directly though but I am sure I am the only one here who was a slumborn here so the probability that she is referring to me is high.

    ¡¸Over here slumborn! We have a space here!¡¹???

    Due to her shouting, she gathered a lot of attention than I did previously, especially after yelling the taboo word here in the dining room for the servants of a noble.

    After spending several days here, I found out that the word slumborn is considered a taboo word in the circles of nobles. The individual who will use this word against a person with noble¡¯s blood cannot complain if he or she gets killed in retaliation. His or her family will have no right also to take vengeance on the murderer as the system of Nobles itself backed this unwritten law.

    It attacks the dignity and the pride of being a noble. And if a peasant speaks of this word against a noble, he or she cannot resist the execution along with his or her entire family.

    ¡¸Evelyn! M-mind your words!¡¹??

    ¡¸Ehhh¡­ well, he is a slumborn so it¡¯s no insult.¡¹???

    They began to argue but soon stopped as I reached their table. I asked them with a smile to create a good rapport.

    ¡¸If I may be bold miss¡­ were you calling for me earlier?¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹

    Instead of getting an answer, all of them at the table just silently stared at me. Their silence and gaze were only seconds long but felt like it¡¯s an hour that it is quite embarrassing.

    Unlike the gazes I have received back when I first entered these grounds and after my first bath here, their stares were not uncomfortable. Maybe because one of my eyes were covered that they forgot that not only I am a slumborn but I am also a heterochromatic child.

    ¡¸Cute¡­¡¹???

    ¡¸¡­Yeah.¡¹??

    ¡¸Wow...¡¹????

    ¡¸Eh?¡¹Me

    Although it was just mutterings and whispers, my small distance with them let me hear some of the words.

    ¡¸E-Evelyn!¡¹??

    ¡¸Ah-Eh, uh yeah. *Ahem¡­ you are trying to find some place to eat right? We have a vacant chair here. So don¡¯t be shy and take a seat. We are all servants here.¡¹???

    ¡¸Thank you. I will take up your offer then.¡¹Me

    Finally, I was able to rest my tired knees after standing and walking around. The table had eight chairs and there are seven of them so I took the seat beside her companion. The one who called me is on the other side and it seemed that they are about to finish their lunch after seeing their food at the table.

    ¡¸You must be very tired from standing at such a long time. I am sorry. I was actually watching you earlier and was waiting for you to come nearby so that I can call you here. We are actually quite interested in you¡­ uhmm¡­ before that, what is your name? It is quite awkward in calling you slumborn everytime. By the way I am Evelyn of House Ederlvann.¡¹Evelyn

    She had an aura of a strict but caring senior. But I don¡¯t know if she really is though, after calling me slumborn in this place. And I was expecting that the one who invited me is some kind of jolly and dense character but was surprised to see a glasses type girl instead.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Looking sneakily at her robust figure and calculating her height from the way she sits, she must be 17 or 18 years old. But seeing her initiate the introduction and the dialogue, she may be a gossiping type. She also has a yellow-green hair in ponytail with green eyes.

    ¡¸Oh, I apologize for that. I took a seat without introducing myself. My name is Rion, the new valet of Lord Vincent. Thank you again Miss Evelyn. And may I also know the names of your friends?¡¹Me

    I stood from my seat, bowed towards her while introducing myself and when back to sit.

    ¡¸Heee¡­ So you are the new valet who took Walle¡¯s job from him. My name is Lucia of House Cardiggan. Good job at taking his job. That old man should never be given a job again because of his lobster personality.¡¹Lucia

    She winked at my direction. This one seems to be 15-16 years old, judging from her body and face that looks like it just started puberty.

    Lucia sits beside Evelyn and seeing that both of us were not tall enough to reach each other¡¯s hands, she used the table as support to reach me and offer her hands in greeting. I shook them in return. Only then I was able to get a closer look on her green eyes. I previously thought she is a commoner after seeing her short brown hair but it seems I was wrong.

    ¡¸And I was expecting an ignorant young child in terms of manners but you actually carried yourself well. Ah right! Girls, why not introduce yourselves also?¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Well, he already stayed here for several days and he was employed by the marquis himself so he must have the skills to learn our ways quickly. You are now an acquaintance of Joanna from House Bandenoch. ¡¹Joanna

    The girl named Joanna was seated beside me. She smells like that woman named, Riza. She just glanced at me and returned to her tired sleepy posture using the table as her pillow. Although it was short but I got a glimpse on the blue color of her eyes. Like Lucia, she also had a brown hair.

    ¡¸Or Walle did a good job in teaching and training him thoroughly¡­Rion, I am Julie of House Quethyller.¡¹Julie

    I took a look at her and Julie has green eyes also; I don¡¯t have any knowledge in regards to the names of female¡¯s hairstyles so I will just describe her as someone with curly brown hair. She also had a, what you can call ¡°baby face¡±.

    ¡¸I am quite pleased to finally meet you, Rion. I am Louise, third daughter of Viscount Shredzunburg.¡¹Louise

    This one will attract a lot of men who had strike zones for foreheads. Her fore hair is pinned to the back that made her shining forehead exposed. She has a brown hair with blue eyes like Riza.

    ¡¸I am Hopia, first daughter of Baron Harethford. Hmmmm, you seemed to be more mature than you actually look.¡¹Hopia

    Again, another girl with braided yellow-green hair and blue eyes with a motherly aura. She appears to be the eldest among them.

    ¡¸Celia of House Ulster!¡¹Celia

    Celia seems to be the youngest member of their group but still, much older than me. She had a dark green hair in twin tails supported by flowery hairpins. Her sparkling green eyes can make anyone see her childish personality.

    This is quite a peculiar group of friends as each of them has different hair and eye colors. Well, it¡¯s no wonder after knowing all of them came from the vassal families of House Windhill.

    All of them introduced themselves with their houses attached. I was told by Riza that this is actually a normal introduction between servants that have a noble blood. In entering the employment under House Windhill, they are now carrying the reputation of their own house and family.

    ¡¸Is it true that you saved the young lord back in the slums? We are quite curious on the authenticity of the whole story.¡¹Julie

    ¡¸Um¡­¡¹Me

    Ahhh¡­ it seems I will not be able to eat my lunch in peace. It may be rude to them if I didn¡¯t answer or satiate their curiosity, especially after offering me a space in their table to eat. Sigh¡­ even though the food in my tray is mouthwatering, Vegetable salad, milk soup with some shrimp on it and a plate of meat. This is quite a luxurious meal for a servant if I compare this to what I ate back on the slums.

    ¡¸Don¡¯t worry, all of the servants here were ordered by the marquis to never tell anyone outside this House. But as servants of this house, we are free to talk about it inside the premises.¡¹ Julie

    That is not my concern though but well, nevermind.

    ¡¸Well¡­ *Ahem, it is the same for both of us as I have mentioned to Marquis. I did save the lord from his kidnappers but Vinc- Lord Vincent also carried me to safety when I lost consciousness in the slums.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Wait¡­ what?¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸Carried you to safety? Eh? Really? Are we talking about the same Lord Vincent?¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Y-yeah.¡¹Me

    It seems that they cannot believe that Vincent did something like this.

    ¡¸This is quite¡­ shocking.¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸Yeah, this is more than just ¡°doing something out of his character¡± but it is just¡­¡¹Louise

    ¡¸I thought he would even grew up to be one of the worse type of nobles but one can never really predict the future of every person huh.¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸I never would¡¯ve thought that the problem child of House Windhill would do such a thing. What a surprise¡­¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸H-hey Evelyn!¡¹Celia

    ¡¸What? It¡¯s true anyway. Almost all servants here were annoyed by such spoiled personality of the young lord. But still, a job is a job, so we have to serve him well even if he is that bad. If only he is the same as Lady Ariel. I still remember how he caused several injuries to many servants that later prompted them to voluntarily leave their jobs. I think Walle is the only one who was the longest to ever hold his position under the young lord.¡¹Joanna

    ¡¸I think the young lady is not that much different though, haven¡¯t you heard? The rumors said that she once whipped a servant so hard that her entire back was covered in blood.¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Eh? Really? I haven¡¯t heard of that. What was the story?¡¹Julie

    ¡¸You see-¡¹Evelyn

    Girls really love gossips in any form huh.

    Thankfully, their attention has now turned away from me which let me start to enjoy my lunch. But still that rumor intrigues me so I keep both of my ears open while my mouth and hands were busy eating.

    The level of their voices weren¡¯t really trying to hide the dangerous topic of their talk but it did seem unnecessary to whisper to each other when the entire room is noisy from all the talking from other tables and servants. Still, it changes everything when the one sitting on your table is getting attention from others, specifically¡­ me.

    Either they just don¡¯t care about who will hear it or this kind of talk is normal between the servants of this family.

    ¡¸I heard it happened two years ago, a servant or specifically, one of her handmaidens did something Ariel didn¡¯t like. And as punishment, she whipped that handmaiden so bad that she only stopped when her female servant isn¡¯t responding to her whips anymore and fainted. Days later, that handmaiden resigned and went back to her family along with the scars on her back.¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Ehhh?! That¡¯s awful! What did she do to get punished like that?¡¹Louise

    ¡¸I don¡¯t know¡­ I think only Lady Ariel, the Marquis and the handmaiden knew the cause of that predicament.¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Do you know her name or even just the name of the house where she came from?¡¹Louise

    ¡¸I¡¯m afraid the marquis ordered a full concealment on the matter or even her identity as everytime I asked about it from the older servants, they always change the topic or ignore me or just give vague answers.¡¹Evelyn

    Ariel huh¡­ she doesn¡¯t strike me as that kind of person though¡­ or she haven¡¯t show it to me yet. Anyways, this is a very important information for me.

    ¡¸Hey, hey ladies! I think we should stop talking about such rumors. We will be scaring Rion here.¡¹Hopia

    Hopia clapped her hands to stop her friends from continuing. Though I don¡¯t really mind them though as I would rather hear more rumors and information that may help me survive and live easily under this House.

    ¡¸Forgive me if I am rude but may I ask something about all of you?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yes?¡¹Hopia

    ¡¸I am still new to the ways of the nobles so I wondered why all of you chose to serve the family of the marquis? I realized that all of you were mostly daughters from powerful vassal families so I thought that you would rather¡­ you know stay with your family.¡¹Me

    Although I still haven¡¯t read that book about nobles, I already memorized the main vassal lords under House Windhill after asking Riza. So some of these girls were from powerful families of that have a rank of Count or Viscount.

    In the choice of living in luxury with your family or serving two spoiled children of your lord, I would immediately select the first option.

    ¡¸Frankly, most of us here have the same reason: to escape from being married to someone we don¡¯t like.¡¹Hopia

    ¡¸Yeah, we don¡¯t want to be forced in tying the knot to someone whom our parents wanted just to increase the power of our house.¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸We have better chance in finding a good partner if we serve as handmaidens or servants of a powerful house.¡¹Louise

    ¡¸Eh? How?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Tea parties, Balls, Dance parties, Birthday Parties, Weddings, and any celebrations that will gather a lot of nobles and fellow servants. These events doesn¡¯t just to create connections for the lords and nobles but it is also one of the easiest ways for us servants to know and meet new promising acquaintances and potential spouse. If lucky, we may get chance to be married to a handsome, rich and powerful noble.¡¹Joanna

    ¡¸Or a prince if we pooled all of our luck. Hahahaha!¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸As if! Prince Arnold is still 11 years old, you know. So no luck for us ladies if he doesn¡¯t have a taste for those older than him.¡¹Hopia

    ¡¸Well, that depends on how good is your charm as a woman.¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Sorry but I don¡¯t have a taste for young boys, I would prefer men like Count Strastleberg or Count Fitzmartin. Muscles and height is what makes a man for me.¡¹Louise

    ¡¸Eehh? I don¡¯t want to marry a burly man. Just someone with a fit body and a good face is enough as long as he has high magic affinity.¡¹Celia

    ¡¸Ah yeah, that is also one of the reasons why my parents wanted me to marry the heir of House Berckeneth. They always wanted our bloodline to gain good affinity with the elements. Though I don¡¯t like him one bit as he is younger than me and skinny for my type. He looked like he swallows poison everyday that his muscles were replaced with bones instead. If he wears a black hood and carried a scythe, he can become a good replacement for the Reaper.¡¹Joanna

    ¡¸You are being rude Joanna.¡¹Hopia

    They are now already on their own world of fantasies.

    ¡¸And Miss Joanna, your¡­ parents just allowed your decision to be employed as a servant?¡¹Me

    I thought that their parents would see it as an insult if their child were reduce as one of the maids or servants of their lord, especially for powerful and high ranking nobles. But it seems I was wrong.

    ¡¸Yeah, they were actually quite happy for me to be employed under this house as they were also hoping for me to meet and catch a much better partner.¡¹Joanna

    ¡¸Let me guess, one of their hope is Lord Vincent?¡¹Louise

    ¡¸Yeah, but even given a chance I wouldn¡¯t even take it. Even if I ignore that he is younger than me and too chubby, his personality makes it impossible for me to like him.¡¹Joanna

    Vincent must be quite a problem child if he is hated to this degree by his family¡¯s servants.

    ¡¸I am quite surprised that all of you were here with the same purpose.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Yeah, thankfully I was able to avoid becoming one of the concubines of a fat and pig-like man. My parents arranged our marriage before even I was even born to increase our house¡¯s connection and support from his house. And all of that were thrown away when I was able to enter the employment under this house. But the arrangement between my parents and that man is still floating. In order for me to fully escape his clutches, all I have to do is to find a decent spouse and marry him with the blessing of the marquis. This way, even my parents and that man cannot overturn my decision.¡¹Evelyn

    So it means that if she will resign or lost her job here, she have no choice but to marry the person arranged by her parents. Hm... this is probably one of the reasons why there are a lot of servants here.

    ¡¸By the way, can I ask on how old is Lady Ariel and Lord Vincent is? I forgot to ask Walle about this.¡¹Me

    Even though it was my fault for not asking, it is still part of his responsibility to help me know more about the people I will be serving. Yet, he didn¡¯t even bother telling me the age of the two children before leaving.

    ¡¸Hmm¡­ Lady Ariel is 9 years old this year and Lord Vincent is 11 years old. Speaking of age, how old are you Rion?¡¹Louise

    ¡¸I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸Eh? What? You never counted your age? Or you just don¡¯t remember the day you were born?¡¹Louise

    ¡¸Ah no, actually I don¡¯t even know how many days or years I had lived in the slums.¡¹Me

    And this is actually the truth even after gaining two memories.

    ¡¸Is it common in the slums to never know your age?¡¹Celia

    ¡¸Yes.¡¹Me

    Celebrating birthdays and counting one¡¯s age is not even part of the life in the slums. Especially when most children don¡¯t even live long enough to reach the age of 10.

    ¡¸Hmm, oh yeah Rion, can I ask on how was your first day in serving the young lord? And I almost forgot, why aren¡¯t you wearing the uniforms of valets? And where did you get that suit?¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸Lord Vincent gave this to me. This is actually one of his old clothes and the only set that fit on my size because I found none among the valet¡¯s uniforms.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Heeeeh¡­ Another surprising matter, I didn¡¯t even expect that the young lord would give one of his old clothes to someone who isn¡¯t even a noble. I thought he wouldn¡¯t care less about the servants that were assigned to him. Or he would just make you wear something awful just to make fun of you, seeing how he hated all of the servants that were given to him.¡¹Lucia

    You are not alone in that thought, I was expecting even worse after Ariel and Vincent tried to persuade their father by hiring me as their toy.

    ¡¸Tsk-tsk-tsk. That is where you were wrong Lucia. I heard that it was Lord Vincent himself who wanted Rion to be his valet. He even carried Rion on his back until they were found and rescued by a Sturmhound. Even he is that bad, I am sure he would never harm someone whom he gave an effort to save. Am I right Rion?¡¹Evelyn

    ¡¸Eehhh?! I-is that true?!¡¹Julie

    ¡¸What? what?¡¹Louise

    I don¡¯t know why but Celia, Louise, Lucia and Julie suddenly got excited. All of them suddenly huddled closely. Even Joanna suddenly perked up as if her sleepy and tired mood had disappeared.

    ¡¸Now that I think of it, this new change of the young lord is actually quite strange. In the past, Lord Vincent¡¯s tantrums are an everyday sight for us servants. Every morning he would scold the servants who just walked pass him, trying find faults in order to have a good reason in yelling at someone. Then he would intentionally throw all of his clothes outside the window to have the servants wash it and put it back again on his wardrobe. He did things that are obviously not intended to be pranks but guaranteed to make everyone annoyed and irritated. And worse, he doesn¡¯t even care if it will harm someone.¡¹Evelyn

    Eh? He did those kinds of things? I wish he wouldn¡¯t do something like that to me. I wouldn¡¯t want to regret my decision in not leaving this house to survive in this world.

    ¡¸But now after he returned from the slums, most of his past habits had disappeared. I heard he even started to say shocking words such as ¡°Thank you¡± or ¡°Sorry¡± from the maids who served him in these past days.¡¹Evelyn

    Vincent must be one of the worse kinds of spoiled brats to make these servants shocked to see his changes.

    ¡¸Eh really?!¡¹Julie

    ¡¸That infamous young lord is saying such things?¡¹Joanna

    ¡¸Speaking of which, I have heard that they also thought that you were a girl until you told them, is that also true?¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸Ah yeah but¨C¡¹Me

    ¡¸T-this is starting to get interesting¡­¡¹Louise

    ¡¸I actually noticed just now, but you really could be misunderstood as a girl Rion.¡¹Lucia

    ¡¸Y-yeah¡­ B-but c-could it be?¡¹Celia

    ¡¸H-hey they are still k-kids!¡¹Hopia

    ¡¸But, but¡­ don¡¯t you feel something about this?¡¹Julie

    Yeah, I got a strange, creepy, and bad feeling towards the way their talk is slowly turning that every strand of hair in my body stood on their end. Their eyes even gave a dangerous glint. So I decided to change the subject again by asking more questions about some topics that may help me in my future.

    I was able to get more information thanks to their gossiping nature, although most of it was actually just rumors and their own conspiracy theories. After finally finishing my food, I took my tray, thank them for the time and the chance of meeting them then bid my leave telling them that I still have to attend the afternoon¡¯s lesson with Vincent. I left them at their table still talking about something that I felt better off not knowing.

    I actually thought that they may show some kind of disgust towards me after knowing that I am a slumborn with Heterochromatic eyes¡­ but I never felt that from them. Either they are good at hiding it or they were truly sincere on meeting and knowing me. I may have to take a mental note and memorize their names. I can definitely use them as a source of gossips and information while living under this House.

    After exiting the hall, I immediately went straight to the scheduled grounds of the next afternoon lessons. I got in time just before the teacher arrived. This time it¡¯s about learning sword arts. When I arrived at the venue, Vincent was already wearing something that looks like a leather breastplate with armguards and carries a wooden sword.

    I immediately took off my top and changed to one of the white shirts that were offered to me by one of the maids standing on the corner. Although I was just taking off my top, it seems it is not good manners for a valet to just suddenly show his naked body out in the open so I was told by Vincent to change in one of the vacant rooms nearby. Then I realize that they really don¡¯t have a size for me as the white shirt is quite big for my upper body.

    ¡¸Master Erick, I wanted someone to join our lessons today. I am sure you wouldn¡¯t mind another student right? Rion, introduce yourself.¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Yes! I am Rion, the new valet of Lord Vincent. Please take good care of me Master Erick!¡¹Me

    The one teaching us was one of the commanders of the Sturmhounds, the elite personal guards of the marquis. Because my position was also one of his students, Vincent told me to call him ¡°master¡± which is part of the boy¡¯s stubbornness.

    He has an aura of a strict military sergeant with an army-cut brown hair with green eyes. But contrary to my previous expectations though, he has an average height with no stone-like muscles like those generic martial art teachers. Instead he is actually wearing glasses, black pants, black leather shoes and a plain blue shirt with collar that he looked like a 25 year old math teacher.

    ¡¸Good, it is actually better to have someone with you in our lessons. So new students were always welcome. Seeing that this is our first meeting Rion, I will be introducing myself once again. My name is Erick Averis Chaldea Magdra Almohk of House Ducsentria. I will be your teacher until you learn how to beat me using a real sword. So until then, I will be the one who will beat the two of you with this wooden sword. Grit your teeth and prepare yourselves!¡¹Master Erick

    ¡¸Yes Master!¡¹Vincent

    ¡¸Y-yes Master!¡¹Me

    Because this is about sword arts, as expected it should not be the same with what happened to arithmetic.

    Of course, unlike those main characters in those generic novels, movies, fictions or anime, I have done neither fencing nor kendo in my previous life and as to what a completely beginner like me should start doing, that is already decided.

    It¡¯s nothing but practice swings.

    Master Erick who was at the boy¡¯s side glance was wholeheartedly swinging his sword as an example for us.

    It¡¯s already way past the thing called practice swinging.

    His footwork, the movement of his ankles and knees, the center gravity of his hip and lower back, the smooth swinging of his arms and being able to swing in one breathe without defiance.

    I was told to do the same thing but, I can¡¯t understand it let alone do as I was told. His instruction was that the correct way of swinging not just by your hands but your whole body as well.

    With that in mind, I kept practicing by swinging while being conscious of my body movements.

    But while doing so, I noticed that the other knight who came with Master Erick was staring at me. Although he is on full plate armor and helmet, I can feel his deep stare towards me, as if observing me carefully at my every move.

    I tried to think of the possible reasons of his stare but in the end for the peace of my mind, I decided to ignore it. Instead I kept on earnestly doing the same actions I was told to repeat entire time. Or so I say, but currently I still can¡¯t keep up.

    By the time we were finished, I was already out of breath with aching arms and body. Only then I realize the capacity of my stamina with this fencing lesson. I should create time for myself to train my stamina later.

    Like this, I was able to formulate my own schedule little by little.

 Volume 01 Chapter Two - â€œInto the Palm of the Storm Maidenâ€ (Part 3)

    After the fencing lesson the next would be afternoon nap.

    Of course that was the schedule for the boy and someone like me would not be granted an afternoon nap. Vincent was already lying face down in the mat by the time I entered the lounge. The maids then helped him lie down to a more comfortable pillow bench and left a glass of orange juice on the table.

    Having said that, someone like me who merely became a full time valet has nothing to do on his free time and as if she had anticipated such, the one who arrived next was his little sister.

    ¡¸Rion, you are free right now. Am I correct?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes...¡¹Me

    ¡¸Well then, accompany me.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸To which place?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Although we are not on the Wyvungrad yet, my classes begins from this day onwards. You should study with me as well.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­understood.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Brother, I will borrow Rion.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸...mmmm.¡¹Vincent

    It seems Vincent was too tired after that fencing class that he didn¡¯t even bother in moving his head to see his sister taking me. He just raised his right arm and groaned his permission towards Ariel.

    ¡¸Well, then¡­ come Rion. Follow me.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Uhhh, yes.¡¹Me

    Though I do not know what her classes were, learning is still a good thing nonetheless. No matter how much I wanted to study back on Earth, I had a hard time. When I was Flay on the other hand, was never given a chance to study or even learn how to read.

    Just by being born poor, a person will already be robbed of his potentials.

    I immediately remembered that sentence.

    It seems she noticed my slow walking that she grabbed my right hand again and dragged me. I was expecting another study room but instead we entered the Severwind Hall, which made me confused on what is the subject of her lessons.

    The tables and chairs were all arrange on the corners, making a vast open space at the center of the hall. Even if there are no balls or parties inside, the decorations, chandeliers and curtains were luxurious as ever.

    Inside, a woman in her thirties on a dress was waiting for us. She seems to be reading a book until she noticed our arrival.

    ¡¸Teacher Mayers, I have brought Rion along with me.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Ohh, so that¡¯s him.¡¹Mayers

    As though she had refused beforehand, Teacher Mayers was clearly not very happy with my arrival.

    Having the vibe of strictness, she seemed to be very fitting for her job as a noble daughter¡¯s tutor.

    Although it¡¯s an image that I just selfishly imposed, she has really fitted what I imagined her to be.

    ¡¸Well then teacher, I am pleased to be in your care.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Of course, Lady Ariel. I¡¯m pleased to be in your care as well.¡¹Teacher Mayers

    She made an elegant bow with a proper lady-like aura which feels to be out of her character.

    ¡¸¡­What¡¯s with that look? ¡¹Ariel

    As I stood there petrified due to being surprised to her sudden change to proper decorum then she gave me a look of displeasure.

    Now this is the usual little lady.

    ¡¸Lady Ariel, isn¡¯t that behavior unbecoming? ¡¹Teacher Mayers

    ¡¸¡­Oh my, I have shown you my embarrassing side. I will be very careful from now on.¡¹ Ariel

    Again, it changed to that unexpected graceful behavior. I still have no concrete idea on what is this class about.

    ¡¸Ummm, may I know what is the subject of this lesson?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Can you not tell by looking? It is the lesson of etiquette and manners.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸E-etiquette? I¡¯m participating as well?¡¹Me

    ¡¸You are not only the valet of my brother but also my¡­my¡­¡¹Ariel

    It seems she had the discretion that it would be hard to call me a pet in front of her Etiquette Teacher.

    ¡¸Anyhow, as you are now a person of this household and most especially the personal attendant of my brother, you should learn the good manners and the correct way of interaction with other nobles and attendants. Enough to avoid becoming an embarrassment to the public.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸¡­However, I am nothing but a¨C¡¹Me

    ¡¸Even if you are a servant, you are surely to become someone who will always follow my brother¡¯s endeavors and at times, of me as well. Or do you intend to become an embarrassment for us when that time comes?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸No, I don¡¯t milady.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Then you must learn proper etiquette precisely.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Understood¡­but¡­¡¹Me

    ¡¸But what?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸I apologize but I may reek of sweat after my previous lesson.¡¹Me

    ¡¸No you don¡¯t. Stop trying make up things because you will not be able to escape this.¡¹Ariel

    But I was not though. It seems it¡¯s hard to go against this girl even for someone like me whom have a considerably older mental age. Was it due to the dignity and charisma that the nobles are born with? Or she is just natural in using her towering authority on others. However I did not feel such a thing from Vincent.

    I slowly feel that she will become a fiercely strong-headed woman whom I can never defy in the future.

    ¡¸Well then for today, the first lesson is the proper dance etiquette.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes?¡¹Me

    ¡¸That¡¯s exactly why I called you. I would need a partner to be with for my dance lesson, you know?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸I have no knowledge prior to this about dancing.¡¹Me

    Though I remember dancing in my primary school, it is very different from the dance here.

    ¡¸That is fine, it is my first time as well after all. Well then teacher, let us begin.¡¹Ariel

    She got closed to me and grabbed my right hand.

    ¡¸Rion, put your hand on the back of my hip. Hold me firmly and closely¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Uh, Yes!¡¹Me

    I am neither nervous nor flustered but it seems the strength in my tired arms is not enough to hold her hand and body firmly that it started shaking.

    ¡¸And you are the man here, so you should be the one who will initiate and control the dance, and not to be forced into the flow. Wait¡­ why are you shaking?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸I am sorry milady, my arms are still tired from the fencing lessons earlier.¡¹Me

    ¡¸Oh, then make do with those tired arms. This will become your daily routine so get used to it.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes¡­¡¹Me

    Like brother like sister¡­

    The teacher then told Ariel and me that we should start first with a greeting and a bow. So we separated from each other first and did the greeting. But it seems my way of bowing isn¡¯t right as the teacher told me how it isn¡¯t.

    ¡¸No! Don¡¯t bow using your entire body as if you are a slave. Bend only the top half of your body a little towards your partner. Of course, you must still close your eyes but not too long. Put right hand against your chest¨C¡¹Teacher Mayers

    Blah blah blah¡­ such classy ways of greetings. Well, this must be one of the annoying etiquettes in the circle of nobles.

    Then after that, the teacher taught us the right posture we should take during the dance, the right grip towards the partner¡¯s hands, the right speed in dancing and many more which I may not remember anymore and will just depend on my body to memorize those.

    Just like back on Earth, they follow same rhythm. But because we are still starting, the teacher just taught us first the most basic part of the dance. So all that happened is just swirling, swaying and lots of steps but no complicated routine yet.

    We took a small break to rest our tired feet. Ariel went towards a fluffy comfortable bench to sit and I noticed that there are no chairs here other than Ariel¡¯s and Teacher Mayer¡¯s, so I decided to sit on the floor. But it seems this kind of manner is inappropriate also as I heard another earful from the teacher after she saw me resting on the floor.

    ¡¸Rion! Don¡¯t sit on the floor! It is not appropriate!¡¹Teacher Mayers

    ¡®Where would I sit then?¡¯ I thought but decided not to speak it out loud. I immediately stood up from my sitting position.

    ¡¸There is a space near Ariel¡¯s bench so use what you have learned from Walle and me on how to properly ask a lady the permission to seat beside her. Pretend that you are in a dance and Ariel¡¯s seat is the only one available.¡¹Teacher Mayers

    There is classy way for that also? Sigh¡­ this is the only aspect I will never envy from the nobles. It is so suffocating if every interaction with others were restricted with etiquette and high class manners. And unfortunately madam, but Walle didn¡¯t teach me anything about any proper lines for asking out.

    I don¡¯t have a choice but to find some classy lines I considered a cringe to hear back on Earth. As I came near her, Ariel cannot even find herself to hide her feline smile that obviously tells that she became interested at what I would say to her. Just to be less embarrassing, I will just say the simplest line I could make.

    ¡¸M-milady, is this seat already taken?¡¹Me

    ¡¸No, so feel free to sit with me.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Thank you.¡¹Me

    She must have been expecting me to say funny lines that her disappointment is showing in her frown.

    ¡¸Hmm, seems passable enough but you can still improve by using appropriate words such as¨C¡¹Teacher Mayers

    My rest had become a lecture about more words and phrases for talking with the nobles. Then after several minutes of word lesson, I was finally freed. And suddenly, Ariel called my name while keeping her eyes stuck on the book she was reading.

    ¡¸Rion.¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Yes milady?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Where did you learn on how to do mental arithmetic?¡¹Ariel

    She may have heard about what I did in Vincent¡¯s previous lesson.

    ¡¸Back in the slums milady, the ones who took me in taught me this.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­and where did you learn on how to act politely towards nobles?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸From the elderly who took me in also, milady¡¹Me

    I just repeated what I have said to Walle when they interviewed me about my past. I am quite confused on why she is asking me the same questions again. But from what I can see from her eye brows on her side view, she is definitely frowning.

    ¡¸What is your former occupation in the slums?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸I don¡¯t think home chores can be regarded as an occupation but that is what I did before I was captured.¡¹Me

    ¡¸I will rephrase my question, where did you work in the slums? On what place? Is it an establishment or a house?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸On a local tavern milady.¡¹Me

    Upon my answer, the air around me suddenly felt cold. Then Ariel strangely breathed heavily a few times and put a pressure on her chest using her right hand as if she is trying to calm herself. My confusion only rose on her actions.

    ¡¸Haa¡­ and in this tavern, who was working with you?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Hmmm, the innkeeper, the waitresses and the cook.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Ariel

    She is not looking at me while questioning so I don¡¯t know what kind of face she is making, but I feel that she is slowly getting angry at me. Though I don¡¯t even know the reason or things I did that may have provoked her.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡¸Rion¡­ why did you save my brother?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸Eh?¡¹Me

    ¡¸Just answer me.¡¹Ariel

    With how she is acting, I felt that she is trying to probe something from me, making me sweat in buckets. But regarding with her question, I decided to answer honestly as it may help lower their suspicion if they know that I didn¡¯t save him because of some generic ¡°Virtuous, Heroic, Good-Guy¡± reason.

    ¡¸Hmm, my first reason is that he-I mean, Lord Vincent can actually help me escape the slums. Of course this is after he displayed his power by cutting the ropes that bound me and healing my wounds. Then later, I realized that he was telling the truth about being the son of a high ranking noble. So I decided to escort him back to his home for the promised reward money that can help me get a new life outside the capital.¡¹Me

    ¡¸So you decided to help him with the resolve of facing a possibility of getting killed and killing someone?¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸That milady¡­ just happened. Even if Lord Vincent or the dangling reward money wasn¡¯t there, I would do the same thing all over again. To be honest, if what we encountered at that time were a group of thugs rather than a single man, I would¡¯ve given up the young lord without a fight. I would still prioritize my life.¡¹Me

    I slowly realized that Ariel was already looking at me. This is the first time I can finally see her green eyes up close.

    Then I looked towards the ceiling, smiled and continued.

    ¡¸That man¡­ let¡¯s just say that he is a person whom I will enjoy watching scream in pain while I cut off his entire limbs and his manhood, skin him alive, pour boiling water on his eyes and heal them back again. And I will repeat the same process every single day until my life ends.¡¹Me

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Ariel

    ¡¸So what I really did to Lord Vincent was just a major gamble.¡¹Me

    She is about to ask another question when Teacher Mayers interrupted her.

    ¡¸Okay, times up! Back to our lesson. We can now start with the Dance of the Swans.¡¹Teacher Mayers

    In the end, I had to accompany her dancing lesson for almost an hour. Luckily, it was just the beginning of Ariel¡¯s dance lessons so that may be why the steps were pretty simple.

    I only wished that the energy I spent for this may some worth in the future.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    After the dance lessons with the little lady were over, I came back to the lounge. I found Vincent playing with his spoon using his wind magic to ease his boredom. It seems he is trying to shoot the spoon out of the glass using his magic but was unable to do so. Then he stopped doing so after he noticed me.

    ¡¸Come Rion, time for the next lesson.¡¹Vincent

    His next schedule would be the magic lessons. This is the only part that I won¡¯t be able to learn with him. I merely stood in the corner of the room in order to avoid interrupting the boy who was sincerely focused on grasping the so called ¡°mana¡± by following what his tutor told him.

    Although this is a magic class, it seems he won¡¯t be able use magic very well in today¡¯s lesson.

    According to the tutor, the most important part was to be able to grasp and control your mana properly. In order to invoke a magic, you must be able to circulate the mana properly and allocate only the proper amount of it.

    After mastering this mana manipulation, it seems the precision and effectiveness of your magic are surely to grow as well.

    Presently, that boy is practicing the mana manipulation.

    He was softly muttering the aria of magic at times.

    It seems the process of chanting were divided in three steps, the invocation of magic being the first phase and second would be the manifestation of mana dwelling inside one¡¯s body.

    It seems these steps mostly don¡¯t change no matter what element you have affinity with. Because it¡¯s highly dependent on the imagination of the individual, the arrangement is also accordingly.

    In other words, the purpose of uttering the aria was for the individual to procure a mental image easier. With this you should be able to use special abilities even with nonexistent arias.

    ¡¸¡°Bestow upon me, the power of healing!¡±¡¹Vincent

    This is the second time I¡¯ve heard that phrase.

    Naturally, this will change the effectiveness of magic. For some reason this affects the circulation of mana inside one¡¯s body.

    But I feel like something is wrong.

    Circulation does not fit how I imagined it.

    ¡¸¡°Wind of Cure, Healing!¡±¡¹Vincent

    And the last step was the elements to be used must be established and after imbuing it with wind attribute, turning it to a healing magic. The teacher will then induce the mana residing in his body and the will of the world will act accordingly¨C is what I was told but which part did the world take action?

    It has no part on the explanation of aria neither on the application part. They seemed to have mixed up the spirit and elemental magic. That¡¯s what I thought in regards to my knowledge of fantasy genres in my former world.

    Well, it¡¯s only a crude knowledge.

    Maybe I should have read more light novels and books back on Earth especially on high fantasy genre.

    The will of the world and the four attributes, if those were Sprites then do they manifest when one invokes magic? I looked relentlessly on the surroundings but there¡¯s no trace of them.

    Maybe it really is impossible for me to use magic after all.

    Several days have already passed since I left the slums, but there was neither a visit from any gods in my dreams to give me generic cheat-like abilities nor visions that will give me something that I can use to gain advantage against my future enemies. Not even the generic so called status window to know my capabilities.

    If this was a game, it seems that I am on a ¡°Prepare to Die A Lot¡± Difficulty.

    To be honest, I would rather be in that type of difficulty if the catch is being given the power to respawn.

    In every death, I learn.

    But the problem is¡­ I don¡¯t even know if there is something called respawn here for me. Or just like a certain main character where he was able to go back in time at a certain point in the past every time he dies.

    There is a part of me that wanted to check if I was given such power, but I don¡¯t want to stupidly gamble on something like cutting my own throat or wrists just to test if I can go back in time. There isn¡¯t even a proof or guarantee that I was given something like that. At worse, I never had such a thing and resulted only on getting myself killed in the most stupid way.

    Although those sudden power ups or those childish ¡°Nakama power¡± are generic or clich¨¦ and even though they are still a cringe to be read and watched, I had to admit that I am still quite envious of them. Most especially, now that I badly needed those kind of abilities to survive in this hellhole. Reality is truly rude and very hard to swallow.

    *Sigh¡­ I take back my previous words, maybe I never should have read those kinds of novels or watch those series. By doing so, I may have remained ignorant of such fantasy. I always found myself comparing my own situation to those characters.

    If that¡¯s the case, then the only thing I can do is raise my fighting prowess through learning the proper swordsmanship. I cannot remain powerless like this forever and thinking so I began to focus on my future.

    I do not care anymore on what people will say about my origins from the slums or my eyes, no matter how they will see or discriminate against me, I must obtain the power needed, not to survive¡­ but to live in this world.

    Maybe I¡¯ll put all my strength and effort on physical training, if fortunate¡­ maybe I will get the same level as that bald hero.

    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó

    All of us Sturmhounds were staying at the Sepherald Barracks just a small distance away from the Sepherald Villa. One thousand and four hundred Sturmhounds have left our capital city of Wyvungrad to accompany the Marquis and his family while staying here in the capital. I, Charteau of House Ducsentria, youngest member of the Sturmhounds, embarked on my first day as one of them.

    Sturmhounds were one of the most feared Order of Knights in this kingdom. But unlike most knights, we don¡¯t follow the Code of Chivalry or we can just say that we aren¡¯t bound by any code, religion or moral. As long as it can help us serve our lord, we will do whatever it takes, whatever the cost.

    The king doesn¡¯t even have the authority and power to command us. We only obey the head of House Windhill. If he wanted us to assassinate the king, we will do so without any question. If he orders us to kill our families, children or ourselves, we will blindly obey without hesitation. The very foundation of our Order is to serve the will of the Windhill, with blind loyalty. Thus the name of our order, Hounds of the Storm.

    The marquis and his family were all here at the capital to attend a Royal Ball where an engagement would be announced between House Windhill and House Highland. But due to some unfortunate events, the engagement was cancelled.

    Then on the second day, talks of engagement between Lord Vincent and Lady Mylene of House Curthose started. But unlike his younger sister, Lord Vincent may have never been blessed with wit or manners of a noble¡¯s child. He is as arrogant as the worst type of spoiled child which may have started since he learned to start walking. He was always been throwing indiscriminate tantrums to others. Only his sister and his parents were able to control him. So it¡¯s no wonder if the talks for engagement also failed due to his personality.

    Even so, we must still continue to uphold our duty in protecting Lord Vincent, as the son of our master.

    After the Royal Ball, we would have returned back to Wyndeia by now if another unforeseen and unfortunate event had not happened; Lord Vincent was kidnapped.

    It was one of the greatest blunders of the Sturmhounds. It is a direct insult to our pride and honor. We were furious. We raised and turned every rock in the capital to find him. In our desperate efforts to find him, we almost started a conflict with the Drownguards, House Aquismeia¡¯s elite guards. But thankfully, Lady Ariel put a stop to the sparks before it could erupt.

    In the fifth day he was missing, I finally found him. I spotted him, yelling at a driver of a carriage in the main highway. He is shouting his identity as the son of Marquis Windhill and was demanding the driver to deliver him to the Sepherald Villa. Telling also the driver that he will be paid if Vincent arrives safely. The driver seems to be in doubt towards the authenticity of his words.

    I raced towards him and kneeled in apology for not being able to find him in time. Instead of throwing a tantrum which I expected, he only told his thanks and gratitude for being able to find him then he asked me to give him a lift. I then realized how his appearance was so dirty that anyone who isn¡¯t familiar with his face and his voice, no one would believe his claims as a noble¡¯s child.

    And I also noticed that he is carrying something on his back. It was a young child. It is so thin, dirty and smelly that none one would want to go near it. Then I found out that it was a slumborn child. Lord Vincent told me that the child needed some immediate medical help, only then I noticed that it wasn¡¯t dirt on the child¡¯s head and rags, it was dried blood. I also saw many makeshift bandages from torn clothes on the other parts of its body. So Lord Vincent may have tried to reduce the bleeding by tearing his clothes into bandages for the child.

    I tried to persuade Lord Vincent a few times that the child may not make it in time. I am a Sturmhound so I prioritize the well-being of the young lord first before anything else. This child may be carrying some sort of disease or may later bring trouble to the main family. But he strongly refused to leave the child behind. It was my first time to see the young lord, being selfish for the sake of someone else.

    I then hired the driver and his carriage to carry back the young lord to the Villa, along with the thing he picked up.

    Then two days later, I have heard that the child Lord Vincent had picked up was actually a slumborn with Heterochromatic eyes. But I was even more shocked in hearing that the Marquis have rewarded the child and was hired as the personal valet of the young lord, replacing Walle as a result.

    I do not know what is happening anymore.

    My father, Erick Ducsentria was the one in charge of training them with sword arts. The young lord and his valet had just finished their daily training and went on a break for the next lesson. And then both of us went back to the barracks and ate our late lunch. The today¡¯s dishes were grilled chicken, hot potato-corn soup, vegetable salad, roasted bacon strips and rabbit stew.

    ¡¸Father, so how was Lord Vincent¡¯s performance for you?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hmm?¡¹Father

    He seemed to be very busy in chewing his favorite food, the grilled chicken wings.

    ¡¸I was asking about the performance of the young lord in today¡¯s lesson. How was he?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­ I feel sorry for him, but I don¡¯t see or feel any potential from him. He already started his training with me back at the Wyvungrad but even so, I never felt any growth from him. It is not because he has no motivation for his lessons, this may be rude to him but for me, he has no talent.¡¹Father

    ¡¸Then how will you train him to be good then?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸I will first try to feel which weapons and stances he is comfortable with, then I will start from there.¡¹Father

    ¡¸I thought you will be teaching him the way of the sword?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸He is not going be a knight. So if he is worse at the sword but actually quite adept in using bows or spear, then that is where I will focus instead. Learning how to use a sword should not be forced. If I trained you in bow and arrows instead of the sword and lance, will you be able to become a good archer?¡¹Father

    ¡¸Ahh, no¡­ I now get what you meant. But¡­¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hm?¡¹Father

    I picked a strip of bacon with my fork and took a bite. It was juicy and tasty as expected from the first class cooks of this villa but it didn¡¯t help me in getting the uncomfortable gut feeling out of my mind.

    ¡¸And¡­ what do you think about his new valet?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hmm, he is the same as his master, no talent and potential skills to become a good swordsman. He is too thin to carry even the wooden sword. But unlike the young lord whom can still make do with what he lacks through magic, that young valet is pitiful.¡¹Father

    ¡¸Not a single trait or movement that you have noticed to be out of place for someone like him?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Nope, but he has something that already exceeded you.¡¹Father

    ¡¸That is?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hm¡­¡¹Father

    I was insulted a bit in hearing that I lost to that slumborn boy on something. It made me impatient to know what it is. But my father just kept on enjoying his food as if he doesn¡¯t care about what he is talking about. He took a large gulp from his cup of wine then looked at me with smiling eyes.

    ¡¸What is it?¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Ahh¡­ Hmm, a pair of determined eyes that have seen Death and fought it by spilling the blood of another.¡¹Father

    ¡¸Are you saying that he is better than me in terms of being an experienced killer? It¡¯s true that my sword hasn¡¯t been rusted by anyone¡¯s blood yet, but that is because we are not barbaric. We always use diplomacy and talks in conflicts before violence.¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸I am saying that he has seen and experienced the worse that you still haven¡¯t. Without your prided armors, he is much dangerous than you or any of the recent Sturmhounds that still haven¡¯t seen the battlefield. A person who have bathe in someone else¡¯s blood will never hesitate to do so again.¡¹Father

    ¡¸Then that is one good reason that he must be watched at all times.¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Don¡¯t worry, that is not your concern anymore. I already made some arrangements regarding that.¡¹Father

    Although father tried to ease my worries, I still can¡¯t let go of my gut feelings that there is something else that we had missed.

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸What? Did you expect him to be some kind of ¡°child with secret background and skills in blade or sword¡± or ¡°a secret child assassin¡± or something?¡¹Father

    ¡¸Ah, n-no of course not!¡¹Charteau

    I became embarrassed after I realized that I was only overthinking things. I have known father to be quite perceptive on anything unusual, he is not one of the Sturmhound Captains for show. So if he didn¡¯t sense anything dangerous from the slumborn then all is well.

    ¡¸Why are you getting red?¡¹Father

    ¡¸Eh? I am not!¡¹Charteau

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­ wait! Could it be?¡¹Father

    ¡¸W-what?¡¹Charteau

    I suddenly got nervous as I thought he realized something grave about the boy but it was actually just pure utter nonsense.

    ¡¸Ahh¡­ my beloved daughter is finally getting interested to opposite sex. *Sniff¡­As your father, I was quite worried that you may become an old woman before you get married just like your aunt but it seems my worries were unfounded. But I am now worried about your preferences of men. Seriously? An eight years old child? Well, I actually don¡¯t know his age but if we based it on his stature then he may be between 8-9 years old¡­¡¹Father

    ¡¸W-wha¡­ what are you talking about? It is one of the duties of a Sturmhound to be suspicious to anyone who gets close to our masters! So of course I am wary of that child with unknown origins! And I am still 18 years old!¡¹Charteau

    I truly became flustered at his daily teases regarding my status as single. Almost every day he would always find some way to get back at my choice of remaining single at the moment.

    ¡¸So you are saying that if you are 18 years old, your preference towards young boys is reasonable?¡¹Father

    ¡¸N-no!! That¡¯s not it! I am saying that I am still young as such I don¡¯t have any desire or dreams of getting married yet! And how did you even come to that conclusion?!¡¹Charteau

    It is natural for us here in the kingdom that any person in nobility who reaches the age of 18 must have a fianc¨¦ or was promised already to someone. Almost half of the Sturmhounds were women like me, but only few of us remains unmarried or without any arrangement or fianc¨¦s. Each of us would only get 2-3 weeks of break every year as such we have no time to focus on getting entangled with someone yet.

    Unless they were already promised or was arranged already by their parents. But as for me, I cancelled my engagement with the heir of House Kernethwale that was already set up by my grandparents even before I was born. I did have a legitimate reason as I will be joining the Sturmhounds. Well, it didn¡¯t have any problem in cutting off the engagement as most of the nobles who minded their bloodline, they never wanted their future wives to be at the jaws of death every day.

    For most nobles, marriage was never to get beautiful girls or wives. It was to strengthen their line by getting good capable heirs. My parents were both blessed with high affinity on magic; as such I was born with even stronger affinity. But it is better to get good wives that would rather stay at the castle to give birth rather than get a wife that may die at a moment¡¯s notice. Especially someone who is a member of Sturmhounds.

    ¡¸Muuhhh! Enough! I will go back to my duty instead!¡¹Charteau

    I tried to end it right there before it becomes something more embarrassing. I gathered my plates and cup and put them in the tray. I stood from my chair and was about to leave when my father stopped me to tell something.

    ¡¸And by the way, as I have mentioned earlier, don¡¯t you worry about him. As I already put someone who watches him in his every step just after he entered into this property. He has already caught the eyes of your cousin, Riza.¡¹Father

 Volume 01 Chapter Two - â€œInto the Palm of the Storm Maidenâ€ (Part 4)

    No matter how many times I return to this keep, its fiery beauty cannot overcome the gloomy atmosphere it exudes. It has always been like this ever since the Queen had lost her second child, the princess. But I did not come here to swim in its depressing air.

    Accompanied by ten Sturmhounds led by Captain Isoff, we entered the great halls of Magmar Keep. After a discussion with the slumborn who saved my son, I was called by the king once again for an urgent council meeting.

    I was greeted by one of the Ashenguards when I entered the doors to the Throne Room.

    ¡¸Marquis Windhill, I welcome you once again in our glorious keep. The king and the ministers were waiting for you at the Council Chambers.¡¹Ashenguard

    ¡¸Yeah, I am heading there anyway¡­and you are?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸I am Tetrarch, one of the captains of Ashenguards and your guide for today to the council.¡¹Tetrarch

    Guide eh? It¡¯s always been like this since that assassination of the previous king at the council meeting. Strict security procedures and almost thousands of Ashenguards were always on duty every single day.

    ¡¸Do we always have to do this everytime?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸My apologies for the inconvenience milord but it is a requirement for safety and security measures for the king and for all of you in the council. We don¡¯t know the future, as such it is better to be careful than to regret it later.¡¹Tetrarch

    We have no choice but to follow such procedures then. But in any place the head of House Windhill goes, a Sturmhound goes with him. So I had to leave again the rest of the Sturmhounds and have their captain instead follow me.

    ¡¸Fine. Well then¡­ Captain Isoff, have your men on standby within this walls. Then follow me to the chambers.¡¹Marquis Windill

    ¡¸Yes Milord.¡¹Captain Isoff

    ¡¸I am sure you wouldn¡¯t mind a single Sturmhound with me right? I always brought one hound with me after all.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸It is completely fine milord. Please do follow me.¡¹Tetrarch

    It took almost half an hour before we arrived at the Council Chambers. In the past, an assassin had successfully entered the chambers and murdered the king. As such one of the measurement made by the Ashenguards were to create several layers of magical barriers and guards before entering the vicinity of the room. Since then, two assassination attempts failed thanks to this, but it is a very long procedure for anyone who wanted to enter the chambers. No one is exempted to skip except the king.

    ¡¸Thank you for following the security procedure milord, you can now enter the chambers. I will now go back to escort your captain also. Well, then milord.¡¹Tetrarch

    After that, he left me on the doors of the chambers. Although the room is intentionally made with magic so that no sound can escape the room, the atmosphere of heavy talks and arguments can be felt from the outside.

    I entered the room by opening one of the four doors.

    It seems they are already discussing something even before I arrived. The ones that are present are my fellow marquises and dukes: Marquis Fatillas, Marquis Aquismeia, Duke Reims, Duke Greatfyd, Duke Farronheld, Duke Adzvestrom, Duke Aefyrwald, and Duke Bevlerhymn.

    They were far too busy in their discussion that they didn¡¯t notice me entering the room. And the ones sitting on the table were the high officials and ministers of this kingdom:

    Lord Destilmond, the trusted Royal Treasurer who oversees all the taxes and flow of wealth in this country.

    Lord Farquas, the Royal Spymaster, one in charge of this kingdom¡¯s external and foreign affairs and the one responsible for knowing the movement and stability of other countries that may affect our security.

    Lord Streggor, the current Headmaster of the Royal Internal Bureau, another branch of this kingdom¡¯s army whom manages the order, security and discovering hidden plots inside the kingdom that may harm the king or the kingdom.

    But the first one to greet me is Lord Farquas and Lord Streggor, whom both immediately stood up and went towards me after I entered the room.

    ¡¸Marquis Windhill!! I truly am sorry for not being able to help in your family¡¯s predicament earlier. But do know that I am thankful also to the Great Sprites about the safe return of your son.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸As do I, I truly apologize also that my Bureau wasn¡¯t able to help in search for the young lord. The incompetence of my subordinates shall never repeat again milord.¡¹Lord Streggor

    ¡¸I appreciate it, Lord Farquas. And for you Lord Streggor, maybe you should reintegrate your Bureau. Who knows if someone will try the same thing, endangering the royal family.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    Lord Streggor only bowed in response.

    ¡¸He must have suffered a lot in his captivity in the slums. Is the young lord well, Marquis Windhill?¡¹Duke Aefyrwald

    ¡¸Yes, he is a very strong boy. He was able to get himself out of the slums without anyone¡¯s help. Although he is not that¡­ good in his personality, I admit. But he is brave enough to survive on his own.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    I have made a very strict command to never disclose the identity of my son¡¯s companion in the slums. So aside from the house servants and the Sturmhounds, no one knows about the heterochromatic slumborn child.

    ¡¸That is quite reassuring. I will be very interested in seeing this brave son of yours again. I truly regret, I was not able to see and know him clearly at the Royal Ball.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Your grace, forgive me for my tardiness.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    The one who interrupted us is our sovereign, King Algwyn Leorick Van Travadde Lesterheld Musserein Cherubin of House Highland and the 674<sup>th</sup> Ruler of Grandfram Kingdom.

    Behind him is the famed First Hundred Ashenguards. He is the only one in this council that is allowed to bring such number of Ashenguards inside this room. And beside him is High Commander Beckendric of House Adzvestrom, the Royal Military Advisor.

    I kneeled in apology towards the king when he came near but instead he pulled me up, forcing me to stand immediately.

    ¡¸There is nothing to forgive my friend. Instead I should be the one apologizing. I myself have faults in your son¡¯s earlier predicaments, if only I increased the security around the keep at that time, it would¡¯ve never happened. I understand that you must have been quite busy after his safe return but unfortunately, the problems of the realm were as rude and insensitive to these matters. But still¡­ it¡¯s good to know that your son is safe and well once again. Everyone please take a seat.¡¹King Algwyn

    I shook the hands he offered. Then he went back to his chair in the round table. We followed suit and took a sit on ours. Captain Isoff had entered the room and stood behind me like other guards of the council.

    ¡¸Well¡­ now that all of the council members are present, let us begin the minor problems first.¡¹King Algwyn

    The king looked at Lord Destilmond as a gesture to start the meeting.

    ¡¸Yes your grace. Milords, I have received reports about the increase raids and attacks in the Gredorian Mines by goblins and orcs. We still have not traced the location of their nests but these attacks have already crippled the local economy of Count Berkinswill¡¯s territory. The count are asking for help for this matter as he doesn¡¯t have enough military power and funds to eliminate this problem.¡¹Lord Destilmond

    Orcs and goblins were humanoids that usually dwelled in the mountains. As such they usually clash with dwarves and halflings who also lived at the same regions. And they are also one of the major problems of the lords who oversee mining operations in the mountains. Though unlike dwarves and halflings, orcs and goblins never had any intelligence for diplomacy, thus to get food or extend their territory, they usually attack and raid unsuspecting mines and villages nearby.

    Overall, they are a headache. When I was still 16 years old, I led an army to clear the Shinara Mines that were held by my family. It took me three months to clean the entire tunnels out. But I lost almost a third of my men and the ensuing cleanup operation halted the acquisition of precious metals which decreased the monthly income of my territory.

    I suffered a lot because of these creatures so how much more to those lords whom their incomes depended on their mines?

    ¡¸Marquis Fatillas, your family owns two-thirds of this kingdom¡¯s Rythgold and Kraugstone mines. I am sure you¡¯ve already experienced this kind of problem many times.¡¹Duke Reims

    Duke Reims suddenly called out Marquis Fatillas, the overlord who oversees the northern borders of the kingdom.

    ¡¸Tsk. Many times due to my incompetent cousins whom I left to take care of the mines in the Sollus Mountains. You will wish that you would never experience such problem. That kind of matter is already considered the worst case scenario. Imagine, 20,000 goblins, orcs, trolls and ogres united in a single tribe? And they also made the entire underground mine as their own fortress? Not even an army of a hundred thousand can defeat them so easily in those dark and narrow caverns.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    It would be quite bad if these creatures had made a fortified nest in the mountains. It will be a base of operations for these creatures in their consistent raids and attacks in the nearest settlements and towns.

    ¡¸Then shouldn¡¯t this be a problem well suited for Adventurers?¡¹Duke Farronheld

    Mercenaries and adventurers were mostly hired by wealthy nobles for this kind of job. The reason for this is to never suffer any casualty or reduction of their standing army and for their experience and efficiency in completing such job.

    ¡¸Yes it is, they are far more powerful and stronger than an average soldier and sellsword but this level of problem was assessed as an A+ Rank Quest. Which means it¡¯s as if I will be paying for an equivalent cost of 40,000 sellswords or even more, if I hire Platinum Ranked Adventurers. And not only that, adventurers still value their lives. So although they have greater efficiency and chance of cleaning out the mines than the thousands of mercenaries, they are very careful and cautious that it may take a decade for them to finish. Any missions from the Adventurers Guild that were regarded as an A+ Rank Quest has a deadline of 10-15 Years.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Fifteen years¡­¡¹Duke Farronheld

    15 years of having a no income from your mines which you have solely depended upon is one of the worst problems as a lord.

    ¡¸Well after seeing the caverns and the maze-like tunnels they made out of my mines, encountered several hundreds of hobspecies, an increase in the number of goblins or orcs, and the existence of an army of shamans, this headache may had become an S Rank Quest which will extend the deadline to 20 years.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Adventurers Guild has a ranking system to categorize the difficulties of every quest. And S Rank Quests were fourth of the most difficult which were mostly composed of missions on repelling and subduing rogue dragons, giants, sea monsters and large beasts that is capable of destroying cities if left uncheck.

    And Mercenary Guild has also their own ranking system but unlike Adventurers Guild, they had no deadline or any allowances given. A hired sellsword must jump on a cliff if his or her employer tells him or her to do so. This may seems to be similar to a slavery but application and entering to the Mercenary Guild is voluntary.

    It was never forced and every single disadvantages and risks were always read and told to the applicants. And the sellswords were paid regularly every week with handsome salary and benefits unlike the Adventurers Guild where no benefit is given if one died during and outside the quest and they can only be paid through taking and finishing quests successfully. Any failure of their quests means no payment and with great penalty on the Adventurer. While the Mercenaries were backed by the Guild in case of their deaths or got disabled and with no penalty in failing the mission as it was deemed to be the employer¡¯s fault for any failure done by any sellsword.

    ¡¸Although I have no problem actually on hiring Adventurers as long as they are Adamantite Rank. But at that time, I was told that our kingdom¡¯s Adamantite Adventurers, was still on their quests on foreign countries. Bloodthorn is on the Kingdom of Hashu to subdue a Calydonian Boar, Seven Set was sent off to the Mycronesian Seas to hunt down a sea serpent, Hemlock was missing in action on their quest on Berberlands and the Maidens of Beholden was on a newly discovered dungeon on the Kingdom of Westermarck. And I also requested for the infamous Platinum Ranked Adventurer, Goblin Hunter who was a known for his achievements and great skills in cleaning out the goblin infestations. But he was also on a quest outside the kingdom.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Adamantite Rank adventurers were regarded to be almost an equivalent of heroes. Some of them were even descendants of the ancient heroes. They were the cream of the crop of all members in the Adventurers Guild. As such it is understandable for Marquis Fatillas to request for them even with a very, very expensive payment, they could clean out these mines in a short amount of time with almost no casualty.

    ¡¸As such, I had no choice but to make do with mercenaries and my Jagdtruppen.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸How about collapsing the entire mountain?¡¹Duke Reims

    ¡¸Would you? Would you be willing to destroy one of your largest mines just to destroy these creatures?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸¡­¡¹Duke Reims

    The wellbeing of the nearby settlements and villages were not a priority. As a marquis, Lord Fatillas prioritized the wellbeing of his entire territory than a few peasants. His territories were mostly barren, mountainous and rugged with almost no potential for farming or vegetation. Their lives depended on the rich veins of precious metals and minerals in their mountains. So if he lost these mines, many of his people will lose their livelihood and will greatly affect his territory¡¯s prosperity.

    ¡¸There are actually other better ways in cleaning out the mines. Although it is costly, hard and took too long to finish, it is much better than collapsing or burying your entire potential wealth below the ground. ¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸And? What did you do that solved your problem?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    Marquis Fatillas can only grip his fists in frustration as a response.

    ¡¸I tried closing up the caves and trapping them with poisonous, toxic fumes, flooding them out by diverting several rivers and even using fire but instead but it only made them desperate to dig deeper. The safest solution I did first is to surround the entire mountain range with forts and castles and by using our magic, we raised up the hardest bedrock to disable them in digging their way outside the mountains. This way we were able to starve and force them out of the caves after using the former methods. But it took me almost seven years before we cleared out the mines¡­ah! Forgive me for ranting¡­ I still haven¡¯t forgotten this past matter that it keeps haunting me. By the way, may I know more about the detailed reports of the attacks and raids of these creatures?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    That was quite a very long rant, anyone can feel and see that the marquis personally hated this type of problem.

    ¡¸Umm¡­ I am not actually the one who received the reports as I only handle the¡­ reports about the problems on economy and the flow of wealth of that county¡­so¡­¡¹Lord Destilmond

    Lord Destilmond kept on sneaking several looks on Lord Streggor as if he is saying that it is not his call to report these matters. It¡¯s no wonder as the records and information about these matters is solely the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Royal Internal Bureau.

    After getting the glances from Lord Destilmond and others, he finally got the idea that they are asking about the information he got from his bureau. He then immediately rummages in his book where all notes he received were stamped and recorded.

    ¡¸Ah, forgive me milords. Let¡¯s see here¡­. Ah! Here it is, there are twenty-nine villages already near the mountains that were forced to be abandoned due to the constant attacks of goblins and orcs. Many women and cattle were already taken. Thanks to the written reports of the Adventurers Guild, they were able to record about¡­ 749 women and young girls that were taken by force or went missing on these villages just this month alone. And from the Riquer Town¡¯s records, there are¡­ 151 cases of attacks on the roads by goblins and orcs on some merchant convoys and travellers.¡¹Lord Streggor

    ¡¸Haaa¡­No wonder the count is desperately asking for help from us. The numbers were already on abnormal level. The large number of kidnapped and missing women only tells us one thing; they are intending to breed fast. I truly mourn for the cruel fate of those captive young girls.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Goblins, orcs, trolls, ogres and Cyclops don¡¯t have a female member of their species, as such the only way for them to procreate and reproduce is to breed with the female members of other species such as humans, dwarves, elves, demihumans, and beastmen.

    And unlike other species, these monsters can impregnate females more quickly. Within a week in captivity, a single female can give birth to over 5-10 goblins, three orcs, 2-3 ogres, and one Cyclops. And giving birth is too brutal for the body of a woman that after a week, the female will die in giving birth then discarded as food for the nest.

    ¡¸We must not let this problem erupt into anarchy in that region. Marquis Fatillas, we may need your in depth knowledge on these matters. Could you provide some help for the count?¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Hmm¡­ most of my troops were preoccupied at the moment on some serious matters on the North, but¡­ I could spare some of my competent vassals who helped me solved the matters when this happened at my region. I will be sending eagles back to Onyxfort to mobilize 20,000 of my Jagdtruppen. Ser Uther of House Tenchebray will be leading this army. They will greatly help the count in solving this matter as quickly as possible. *sigh¡­I don¡¯t want anyone to suffer like what I did.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Tiredly, Marquis Fatillas covered his frowning face with his palms.

    ¡¸Thank you milord, I will surely send this good news to the count immediately after the meeting.¡¹Lord Streggor

    ¡¸Now that is one load off to my back.¡¹Lord Destilmond

    ¡¸Mmm, now is there anything more?¡¹Duke Farronheld

    ¡¸If I may milords, just like what Marquis Fatillas had mentioned earlier, the North is getting restless as of late. I am sure you already felt the tremors milord?¡¹Lord Farquas

    It seems there will be another migration from the tribes of the north.

    ¡¸Yeah, it was thanks to the fortresses and castles we built on the northern borders that granted us the ability to repel any raids. But in this month alone we already had suffered several attacks that were able to penetrate the first line of castles. Several pioneering villages were already burnt to the ground before we can even send a party to fend them off.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸They shouldn¡¯t have the strength to stand against our defenses. Those fortresses were not typical house of stone but were built to disable the fast acting raids of these horselords.¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    That I agree. In the past, we consistently suffered from the raids and attacks of these horselords. But were finally reduced thanks to the innovations that were added and built to the castles on the northern borders.

    ¡¸If their attacks is intensifying then does that mean that something happened to these Northern Tribes?¡¹Duke Reims

    ¡¸Yes, according to the worms I planted, eighty-four tribes on the north have united under the banner of Argalik Tribe.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸How many?¡¹Duke Farronheld

    ¡¸I don¡¯t have an exact number due to some inconsistent reports but my rough estimate based from the information I got is about two hundred thousand at least, well this may include the women and children.¡¹Lord Farquas

    So they may have 70,000-80,000 strong men as their fighting force.

    ¡¸Do you already have an idea about the cause of their attacks? Is it about another migration?¡¹Duke Aefyrwald

    ¡¸I have several points to say regarding the cause of their recent aggressions. First is that the climate on the north had changed greatly, the former grassy plains have become the icy plains of winter. I still don¡¯t know the cause of this sudden change in climate but what I do know is that the different warring clans and tribes were forced to unite once again due to this. Second is that their recent attacks were orchestrated by the newly elected Khan. For the third time in their history, they elected a woman to be their Khan. I still haven¡¯t grasp her identity yet but I was able to get the name. They call her ¡°Yandawei¡±. ¡¹Lord Farquas

    I frowned in hearing that word. I think I know this word but I can¡¯t fully remember where and when.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Ah yes¡­ I think grandfather mentioned this word to me but I don¡¯t remember the rest. But what I do remember is that his words were meant to be a grave warning.

    ¡¸Yandawei¡­ does that mean something important that we should be concerned about?¡¹Duke Aefyrwald

    ¡¸Yes milord, we should be. It is synonymous to the Antezcu word of ¡°Astari¡±, which means ¡°Champion¡±¡­ or which may also mean in layman terms or in our common tongue¡­ ¡°Hero¡±.¡¹Lord Farquas

    Silenced soon took over after that, as if all of us were thinking deeply of something. Then after several minutes, someone broke that.

    ¡¸Wait¡­ what? Are you telling me that this girl is a Hero? The one that is told in our books that fell from the another world?¡¹Duke Farronheld

    ¡¸Throughout the horselord¡¯s history, the word ¡°Yandawei¡± is the title that was given only four times. And four of these people who received the title were also heroes that were recorded in our archives who descended on their plains. All four of them were elected as khans of the united tribal confederacy of the north on their time.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Tsk, what did your worms tell you? Is our kingdom their target?¡¹Duke Adzvestrom

    ¡¸I don¡¯t know milord but judging from the information I got from my sources, all of their aggressions in these past months were simply probing attacks. And we are not the only one who¡¯s currently suffering from their raids. The Kingdom of Merica and Alvarren have also suffered numerous raids this month.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸We just have to increase our defenses then. Marquis Fatillas, I know that you have promised to send help to other lords but I will be imposing on you once again to defend our northern borders.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸It is my duty and responsibility as the overlord of the northern frontiers your grace. But any help is also deeply appreciated.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Hmm, then Duke Bevlerhymn and Duke Aefyrwald, may I trust you to help defend our realm from the northern tribes?¡¹King Algwyn

    The king looked at the two dukes sitting beside each other. These two were the neighbors of Marquis Fatillas on the Northern borders. Their territories sat behind the protection of the marquis. In response to being called, they stood and bowed towards him.

    ¡¸It would greatly please me your grace.¡¹Duke Aefyrwald

    ¡¸It would also be my pleasure your grace, me and my men wanted to test our combat capability on the battlefield. I am grateful for giving me that chance.¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    ¡¸Hmmm, thank you. Lord Fatillas, if you need anything, please don¡¯t hesitate to send an eagle to the capital.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Yes your grace.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    We were about to sigh in relief when the king himself interrupted our attempt.

    ¡¸Milords, I am sorry but there is still a far more grave matter to be discussed.¡¹King Algwyn

    All of us then tensed upon hearing it.

    ¡¸Lord Farquas if you would, please.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Thank you, your highness. Well then milords, I will be straight to the point on this matter. The Albbassid Empire on the south is planning a major invasion on Aeygerian shores.¡¹

    ¡¸¡­¡¹

    After hearing such news, our wide eyes and half open mouths can let anyone see how shocked we were.

    ¡¸W-wait... this too much.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    I agree with him, this is too much of a shock for us. Albbassid Empire located at the far south beyond the Mycronesian Seas. They were quite busy all these years in repelling the invasions from the Crusaders and the Endymion Empire. So what happened that they switched their attention towards us here in the far western continent?

    ¡¸Great Sprites¡­¡¹Duke Farronheld

    ¡¸Are you sure you didn¡¯t made any mistake?¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    ¡¸If only I did milord, but I am afraid it is the truth.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸How in the world¡­¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    ¡¸This doesn¡¯t just affect us here in Grandfram but all of our neighboring kingdoms also, milords. I have already sent doves bearing same message to my fellow friends in the Kingdom of Duscanny and Alvarren¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Why did we receive this news just now? I am sure as the spymaster, your rats would¡¯ve noticed a large invasion force being gathered beyond the southern seas, am I not correct?¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    ¡¸I do apologize for this mistake milord. I myself had fallen to their trap after I misjudged that they are planning to use their armies to invade further towards Berberlands. But I was actually wrong. I was only able to confirm the authenticity of this message from one of the¡­rats I planted inside the Albbassid harem. I must do give thanks to Lady Uriel whom according to the reports was the one responsible for this massive but very deadly misdirection.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Lady Uriel?¡¹Duke Reims

    ¡¸A fellow spymaster of the Albbassid Empire milord. We have met a few times in the past. Enough, to know her¡­signature when she does these things.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸How many?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸¡­500,000 at least milord. But unlike the northern tribe¡¯s migrations, there are no women and children among their numbers.¡¹Lord Farquas

    If it was someone else telling us the number, we would¡¯ve shrugged it off, calling it as an exaggeration but it was a well-known fact that Lord Farquas never exaggerates.

    ¡¸W-what in the world! In which part of hells did they get that vast number of soldiers?¡¹Duke Reims

    ¡¸I thought they were still at war with the crusader states and the Endymion Empire. How in the world did they still have a spare time to invade a faraway land beyond the seas when their own is in danger of being invaded at the same time?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸The Albbassid was able to ally themselves with another major power on Berberlands, the Saljukbahr Sultanate. This alliance gave a guarantee that the Sultanate will retaliate if the Crusader States or Endymion Empire attempts anything.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸A Defensive Alliance huh.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Not only that, as far as I know the Sultanate have three other allies in the Berberlands; the Pherdician Empire, Khymer Kingdom and Malibu Confederacy which all three surround the Endymion Empire. If any Crusader or Endymion aggression towards Albbassid is done, these three will also act in response with their allied Sultanate attack.

    ¡¸Yes but with much worse addition. I am sure many of you here may ask, why would they risk the lives of their 500,000 soldiers if they cannot guarantee that they can keep what they will get?¡¹Lord Farquas

    Yes I am wondering that myself, the Salyphate invasions and Gurgudan campaigns in the past had proven that even if they did manage to conquer some kingdoms in this part of the continent. They will never conquer the hearts of its people. Every individual in this continent would never bow to any Berber lord or king.

    In the past, several kingdoms have fallen to Salyphate¡¯s rule. But their reign on these kingdoms never even reached a year as they were repelled by hundreds of rebellions from its conquered people. And this happened also in the failed Gurgudan Campaigns.

    ¡¸Yes and why is that?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸They will not come here to invade or conquer new lands but they will be here for blood.¡¹Lord Farquas

    Most of us frowned in response after hearing such word.

    If their goal for their invasion is not lands or territory but blood, then it means they are here for one thing¡­ vengeance.

    ¡¸Blood¡­ Why? What the hell happened?¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸Last month, the princess of Albbassid was visiting the northern kingdoms for trade and economic friendship, but when she visited she didn¡¯t introduced herself as a princess but was an envoy in incognito.¡¹Lord Farquas

    Northern Kingdoms was a country on the far snowy cold north where 17 kingdoms vied for power. And two hundred years ago, they were all united under a single king. Although it can be considered now as an empire but their sovereign never proclaimed it as an empire but as one kingdom ruling over several kingdoms. All of them were not ruled by an Emperor but a High King. So far I only heard of them mostly trying to repel the constant raids from the northern tribes and that was all.

    But princess in incognito and far away kingdom, these two has only one dreadful answer. And Lord Farquas confirmed it.

    ¡¸In her several weeks of stay, she was wooed by the male members of the royal family because of her beauty and intelligence. But¡­ on the eve of her departure¡­ *sigh¡­ her fellow envoys found her dead, bloody, beaten and naked body on her chambers.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸¡­¡¹

    ¡¸The envoys had to postpone their departure in order to investigate her death. And with their local spies¡¯ help, they found the true identity of her murderers: the current High King and his four sons.¡¹ Lord Farquas

    The worse type of international incident.

    ¡¸The envoys then bluntly visited and ask the king of these matters. They revealed that the one they had killed was the first princess of the Albbassid Empire and they demanded justice. The king at first denied the accusations but the envoys got hold of several proofs and evidence that linked the crime back to him and his sons. Thinking that he can still bury the truth, the king executed these envoys. And then he sent an envoy of his own to tell the Albbassid sovereign about how his envoys and the princess died of a disease during their stay.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Blast! Fucking barbarians!¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸But unknown to them, these envoys already sent an agent to report back these grave matters to their homeland. And the current Padisha of the Albbassid Empire is the older brother of the princess and he is known to be a dotting brother towards his beloved sister. When he heard of this matter from the agent, he almost destroyed his own keep in his blind rage.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Didn¡¯t the Albbassid have infamous skilled assassins they usually use? Why can¡¯t they just kill those motherfuckers and end it in a single stroke?¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸Apparently milord, it was also recommended by one of his ministers but the instant he finished uttering these words, his entire body had already become a bloody paste. And the Northern Kingdoms just poured more oil to the fire when their envoy arrived to tell a lie towards the Padisha himself. This envoy never came back as he was then captured and tortured to death.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸¡­¡¹

    ¡¸The Padisha swore to burn the cold icy north milords. And I doubt that the winters of the north could pacify his rage. According to my sources, many of those who supported his decision were also the people who deeply cared for the princess. Blood can only satisfy their lust milords.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸And we cannot also give them Military Access even if they asked. We can¡¯t just let 500,000 foreign soldiers enter our kingdom. Who knows if they decided to aim those blades at us.¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    The Albbassid Empire is not like the Northern Tribes that we can just repel using our magic and castle defenses. They were one of the empires that were capable of going toe-on-toe for centuries against the combined elite forces of the Crusader States and Endymion Empire. And their Padisha is known to be a descendant of a hero, which gave him the ability to slay and even subdue several dragons that his name became too long to say that those who knew him only call him by his title as the Padisha.

    ¡¸What was the response of the Northern Kingdoms?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸They were panicking milord. After hearing the mobilization of the Albbassid armies, they sent several envoys to make peace with the Albbassid. The king even offered the heads of his two sons. But all of them were rejected. The envoys returned as bloody beaten skinned corpses and the heads were displayed on the Port of Narra. And just three days ago, an envoy had come to seek help from us. Of course, we didn¡¯t answer anything concrete and had him leave on the next day to avoid any misconception from any Albbassid spies here that we aren¡¯t making deals with the Northern Kingdoms.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸When will they sail?¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    ¡¸Sixteen months from now and the First Army will set sail towards the Dukedom of Myceia to create a bridgehead for their invasion on this continent. This army will be led by Akashi Ashir Nac¡¯hal Asudssil.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸First Army?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Due to the large size of the invasion force, it will be divided into eight armies. Although I am still lacking definite information regarding on who will be leading the rest of the seven armies.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸*Sigh¡­ so any advise milords?¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸We don¡¯t have a choice but mobilize the Fourteen Armies.¡¹Duke Reims

    The Fourteen Armies were the combined strength of all lords in Grandfram. Last time it was mobilize was during the Demon Invasion where 800,000 soldiers were called to war. But due to the long peace and ¡°quick¡± wars several centuries after that, these number would reach millions if mobilize.

    ¡¸Then how about the matters on the North then? We cannot just leave our rear undermanned.¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    And even though we were able to mobilize millions of soldiers, the real problem is that our kingdoms have only a handful of commanders to lead each army. Because unlike other monarchies and kingdoms, everytime we mobilize the Fourteen Armies, the entire country will be put into a temporary centralize control where all of the levies and armies will be put under the control of the King.

    This way, it disallows any private affairs or backhand deals like what usually happened in the past between the vassal lords and our enemies. Some lords in the past would offer temporary military access to our enemies or even switch sides in the middle of the war by adding their own levies to the invading armies. As such, this measurement was implemented to avoid such scenario ever happening again.

    All armies will be put under the authority of the King and the High Commander except for the personal guards of the Three Marquises, which were the Sturmhounds, Drownguards and Jagdtruppen.

    ¡¸And we cannot also let our western and eastern defenses go soft, those bastards on Merica and Republic of Venezia would take advantage of our weakened defenses. Not to mention, we are also suffering from the constant harassments from the Diabolic Cults. Who knows if they will also exploit our empty unguarded lands to raise another one of their Devil God on our midst?¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    I almost forgot about those cults, although my territory haven¡¯t seen or suffered from any attacks from them yet, the western and eastern lands of Grandfram were teeming in their numbers. They are also one of the reasons why I chose to hide that heterochromatic child under my protection for the time being.

    ¡¸Okay. How about we, the southerners will take care of this instead. Me, Duke Reims and Marquis Aquismeia will mobilize our own.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸Wait, you will be facing the entire 500,000 soldiers of the Albbassid. Can you really repel them with just your forces?¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸No, milord. Of course, we will still need some of your men. But we will be leading them in your stead so that you can focus on your tasks. And did you forget? Lord Farquas said that these 500,000 soldiers will not land on our shores in full 500,000 in numbers. They will be dividing themselves into several armies which we can defeat one by one. And most of all, they will be facing the combined might of the Drownguards and the Sturmhounds.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    Similar to my previous concern, no matter how many soldiers they have if their commanders capable enough to lead such army are limited; this 500,000 strong army will become a dull beast that can be outsmarted and repelled. The only concern I have is their core elite army, the Pestaroi which all of them were descendants from the lines of heroes. They can be considered the equal counterpart of my Sturmhounds, Drownguards and Jagdtruppen.

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸So does that settles it? I will also mobilize 40,000 of my Ashenguards to help bolster your forces milord.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Thank you your grace.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    I actually expected the king to mobilize more of his men with the High Commander leading them but it seems he had other plans in mind.

    Then all of the sudden, Marquis Aquismeia who was staying silent previously had made another request.

    ¡¸In order for my armies to be fully capable of defending our southern shores, I must first request the return of what is rightfully owned by my family¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    Not this again¡­

    ¡¸¡­Not this again¡­ ¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    Oh, it seems I have a fellow friend who has the same feelings on this topic.

    ¡¸This is not the time for such talk Marquis Aquismeia, our priority right now is how to repel the impending invasion of the Albbassid.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸This is important to defend our kingdom. The County of Prantzly must be returned to us.¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    The County of Prantzly was one of the thriving and prospering naval hubs of the southern Grandfram. Not only that it was a major stopping point for merchant ships but it is also the gateway to enter and exit from the Mycronesian Seas. It is also one of the major strategic naval positions of Grandfram. And the entire southern shores were all under the same overlord, House Aquismeia. As such they became prosperous and wealthy in monopolizing these port cities and its waters.

    But they lost it during the Vorsund Wars when the Kingdom of Merica had invaded the southern shores of this kingdom. For decades, Merica held that county. Then at the Axillian Conflict, the county was taken by my ancestors of House Windhill. And for the first time, it stopped the monopoly of the southern seas by House Aquismeia. Since then the County of Prantzly became part of House Windhill¡¯s territories.

    ¡¸This County is already a de jure land of Windhill¡¯s territory. Almost two centuries have passed since it became ours. Any rights you have on this land were now turned over to my family, as was written on this kingdom¡¯s Property Laws.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    I would rather not provoke my potential ally on repelling the Albbassid but I cannot back down on this as the current head of House Windhill.

    ¡¸This is not¨C¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    He is about to continue when a sudden loud clap from the king stopped him.

    ¡¸This talk can still be continued on other meetings, Marquis. That land is not going anywhere but an enemy army is slowly preparing to march on our lands. So for now let us focus first on the matters at hand.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Yes, your grace.¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    Thanks to his highness, that problem was closed for the day.

    ¡¸Are there still other matters we need to discuss?¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Yes milord, actually regarding with this Albbassid threat. The Sanctuary is planning to send 40,000 crusaders to help defend western shores. They are requesting for a Military Access on our lands.¡¹Lord Farquas

    I just want to end this meeting right now, I had enough of hearing some foreign armies trying to enter our kingdom.

    ¡¸Why? Did someone from the western kingdoms requested their help?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸No milord, it seems this action of theirs is purely voluntary. They are prepared also to send help to our kingdom by giving 4,000 crusaders to help us repel any naval invasions of the Albbassid in exchange for letting them pass.¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Where will the rest of 36,000 crusaders then go?¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    ¡¸It seems that the Dukedom of Myceia is their destination. They will pass through our borders and use the Merica navy to transport their troops towards the dukedom. By the way, the Republic of Venezia also supported the Sanctuary¡¯s actions that they will be transporting also another 20,000 crusaders from the Kingdom of Shivthene to the dukedom.¡¹Lord Farquas

    I feel that these two warring factions, Albbassid and Crusaders were trying to bring their Holy War into our lands.

    ¡¸No.¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    ¡¸Milord?¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸No, we can make do with our navy to repel any naval attacks of the Albbassid. I also strongly reject any notion of giving them a Military Access to our kingdom, even if it is temporary. Giving them a chance to exert their influence in this part of the continent will be a major catastrophe for us than the Albbassid threat. I am sure you still remember the tragic invasions they did in the past?¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    ¡¸Yeah¡­¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Didn¡¯t we already allow them to build an embassy at Duke Reims¡¯ territory?¡¹Duke Bevlerhymn

    ¡¸Yeah, although they didn¡¯t cause any problem, their presence alone in my territory increased the tensions between the believers of the Great Sprites and their Militant Priests.¡¹Duke Reims

    Duke Reims¡¯ territory is one of the few lords who allowed a Sanctuary embassy and several churches to be built on his lands.

    ¡¸I apologize for giving such burden to you.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸No, your grace. It¡¯s actually an honor for me to become their watchdog. Well their monthly tributes did increase the wealth in my coffers.¡¹Duke Reims

    ¡¸Wait, why can¡¯t they take action against the Albbassid in¨C¡¹Duke Greatfyd

    ¡¸As I have mentioned earlier milords, the Alliance between the Albbassid and the Sultanate disallows any aggression from the Empire and the Sanctuary¡¯s crusaders. As such the only way for them to act is to repel them in their impending invasion.¡¹Lord Farquas

    Invasion from the North, threats from the East and West, Naval Invasion from the South, increasing strength of the Diabolic cults and potential Invasion from the religious militants¡­ what awful problems we have this month.

    ¡¸Then milords, what shall be our response to their request?¡¹Lord Streggor

    ¡¸I already said my stance in rejecting their request. I am sure most of you here are already on the same mind as me.¡¹Marquis Aquismeia

    ¡¸Yes, just as Marquis Aquismeia, I also propose not to accept their request. Not only that we can handle in repelling the Albbassid but I feel that there is another deeper meaning to their movement here in the far west other than the invasion threat, which they are not disclosing to us.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸I am also against of giving them military access. Those Sanctuary crusaders are not normal soldiers who just came to fight. They will also carry their own banners of religion and may force to extend their influence on our kingdom.¡¹Duke Adzvestrom

    Their actions in the western Berberlands started also as some sort of ¡°Help to keep the peace and order for their newfound friends¡± but later became a conquest instead.

    ¡¸Your grace, the final decision still falls on you.¡¹ Duke Farronheld

    All of us then silently waited for the words of our sovereign.

    ¡¸I am also on the same mind as you. We cannot allow any army to pass through our lands. May they be an Albbassid or Crusaders.¡¹King Algwyn

    ¡¸Yes, your grace. I shall be sending your response to the Sanctuary after this¡¹Lord Farquas

    ¡¸Another problem settled for now¡­ so any other matters?¡¹King Algwyn

    After that, what were discussed were just minor problems with taxes, outbreak of monsters in several cities, caught in-the-act corruptions by several mayors, potential peasant uprising, floods, and famine with minor riots on their lands.

    It was already dark when we finish the meeting.

    But I still can¡¯t get over my feelings over this so called ¡°Yandawei¡±. I may have to check the library later for any records.

    I was about to leave the Throne Room when someone called for me.

    ¡¸Lord Windhill, can I take up your time for several minutes? This will be very quick.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Of course. Captain have the hounds on standby outside. I will follow you shortly.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸Yes milord.¡¹Captain Isoff

    After the captain had left, the marquis continued.

    ¡¸What a hectic day eh? Problems do pile up if not tended.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸It is one of the greatest burdens of being on the top, milord. I can only imagine the stress to our king.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    Especially when the Queen herself is still mourning about their lost child.

    ¡¸But don¡¯t you feel something in all of this milord?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸About what?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸Tremors on the north, critical barrel hoops on the east and west, invasion from the south and the threat from the crusaders. All of these were happening coincidentally at the same time. It is so perfect that I cannot be called coincidence anymore.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Hmmm¡­ what do you think milord? Do you think there is someone pulling the strings behind all of these? Because if there is, won¡¯t all of his plans be burned to ashes if someone were to¨C¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸.No, I feel that everything is already on their places that he didn¡¯t mind anymore on letting his plans get exposed. If this is true, then this just makes everything more dangerous than what it already is.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    I¡¯d have to agree, especially this stinging in my gut after hearing the word ¡°Yandawei¡± and my grandfather¡¯s warning. Should I tell the marquis?

    No, for now I need to find grandfather¡¯s journals and research scrolls that was left behind by grandfather. But if all of these were really orchestrated by someone or some country, then these matters were far graver than we had thought.

    ¡¸If we have to, we still have one last card.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸That is?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Destroy the board entirely.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    I said it metaphorically but it seems the marquis were able to understand what I meant.

    ¡¸Eh, but how?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸I can¡¯t say it right now, but it will be our last option. Don¡¯t worry, I will tell you about it if we have to use it. But still, I wish that it will never come to that future.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    This card is still premature to be used but it is my last desperate option to save this kingdom from catastrophic events, may it be a Dragon attack, hopeless defense against foreign invasion or Devil¡¯s resurrection.

    ¡¸Yeah¡­ by the way you are going back to your land after this right?¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸I do not know milord, as the king may summon us once again so I am considering these matters on my plans. Why? Is there anything I can help you with?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸Actually milord, I will just be extending my invitation to you and your family.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Oh?¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸We will be at Duke Reims¡¯ territory this month to host a wedding for my younger brother and his bride. So if you will be returning to Wyndeia, please do pass through at the City of Quathbolg and attend at the feast. I would be very glad to have you and your family as one of our honored guests.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    A noble¡¯s wedding feast here in Grandfram would always last for a month. As such most of them would try to invite as many attendees as possible. They don¡¯t want to lose a number of their guests as it would be an embarrassing sight even if there is a day where no guest had attended.

    ¡¸Ohhh, do send my congratulations to the groom. And I will surely keep that in mind. Hmmm¡­ maybe we will though. There are very few comfortable stops from here to Wyndeia so maybe we will take up your offer. Thank you for the invitation Milord.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸Yes, please do. My daughter Charlotte would be very happy to meet a new girl acquaintance especially someone who is almost same age as her. I am sure that she and Lady Ariel would become best of friends.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    My daughter huh, I feel that she is becoming more like father in these past days.

    ¡¸And also milord, I have another proposition to make.¡¹Marquis Fatillas

    ¡¸Go on.¡¹Marquis Windhill

    ¡¸I wish to have my daughter, Charlotte to be wed to your son, Vincent.¡¹Marquis Fatillas