《Athem》 Chapter 0 The end Chapter 0 the end [William]: ¡°Where I am¡± William woke up, with a lot of pain in his head, everything was seems to be blurry. [Butler]: ¡°Master William you have finally wake up, I was getting so worry that you did not wake up no matter how many times I call you¡±. The boy in the bed could remember his now own name to be William, but for some reason someone was calling him with an unfamiliar ¡°Master¡±, turning his head a around he could see a very old man to his knees beside his bed, holding the sheets of the bed very tight with his both hands, the face of the man was full of sorrow and relief at the same. [William]: ¡°I am ok now Alfred, you can go now, thanks for watching over me, please tell Maria to bring me some water¡±. ¡°Alfred that was the Butler name, but why I know his name¡± William thought to himself, even weirder, that exchange just now felt very familiar to him, but at the same time William was feeling that everything felt so distant and unrelated to him right now, something felt out of place, but the thumbing pain in his head did not allow him to focus. Alfred after seeing the young master was doing fine, he did what he was told and left the room, he could let a sigh now, after being hit in the head, the Young master was brought back to the house bleeding a lot from his wound in his head and did not wake up after 4 hours, to Alfred, if William did not wake up, it would be his head that would roll to the ground as the head butler of the house. Even now he head was not in a safe position, if William get some kind permanent damage, like the thinnest of visible scar, he was sure his punishment would be very harsh. Probably all the servants in the household would be fire or worse they would be thrown into jail where they surely meet their end, if something serious were to happen to the young master, Alfred only hope was to this matter never to be presented to the Lord of the house, the father of William, but how it couldn¡¯t, he himself would have to silent all the servant¡¯s in the house, but if they found out he was lying, it would be worse, Alfred could only give up and pray for his luck, ignoring completely that the young has just said ¡°thanks¡¯¡± to him, Alfred was so afraid of what would happen to him that he did took notice of this. Soon after Alfred left the room, a young maid, not older than fifteen or seventeen year old entered William room, carry a silver platter, with a glass full of translucent waster, that looked very cold, the maid even if was dressed in an old fashioned maid outfit, still walked with an elegant posture, her skin of cinnamon color matched her, red eyes and black hair, as she has a radiant young aura while she presented the glass of water to the young master without the slight mistake.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Behind the glass of water was a face full of worry, but not about her own wellbeing but Williams, she was the personal maid of the young master, she was in charge of taking care of him every need 24/7, but because she has lost sight of the young master for a little while, a tragic accident has occurred when he was outsight, the master has always run off by himself other times but nothing bad has ever happen to him, no one was such a fool to even lay their hands in him, if not for Maria lighting reflects and excellent skills at healing maybe William would had die on the spot. [William]: ¡°Thank you Maria, that would be all, you can go now¡± Maria was displeased with this order, she wanted to stay beside William, but she could not disobey him, so she bow very deeply as she said. [Maria]: ¡°I will be just outside of your room if you need me young master¡±. As Maria was exiting the room she realized something was off, ¡°did the young master just said thanks?¡± unlike Alfred, she knew better far better the young master, so she was the first to notice something different about the young master and she left the room. William in the other hand was felling refreshed, the water that Maria has brought him, was not just waster, it was like healing water, calming the pain in his head with every sip. [William]: ¡°That¡¯s right, my name is truly William but why I feel I am forgetting something, and why I know the names of those people¡± In true, William was feeling this was his first meeting with Alfred and Maria, but that make everything even more strangely to him to know their names so well. [William]: ¡°Let¡¯s see, what is the last thing I can remember?¡± Closing his eyes William started to focus in the last things he could remember. [William]: ¡°It was last night and I was doing some Christmas shopping, ¡°twin love¡± was just released, after waiting in line for 8 hours I got my two copies, and I was going back home, when¡­ a light hit me¡­. wait it couldn¡¯t¡­ be¡± Everything was very clear to William now as he jumped of his bed he was sitting, now sweeting, those lights were from a car, because he was carrying so many bags of his impulsive shopping, and the street was very crowed of people, someone has bump into him and made him lost his balance just when a car was passing by, the last thing he saw was a pair of lights. [William]: ¡°That means¡­ I should had die, but then why I am still alive¡±. This was very puzzling to him, how did he survived, he should be dead, or at least in a hospital, looking over the room, William soon enough found a big mirror where he could see all his body, he was afraid of what would be reflected in it, he knew he body was not right, it felt to weird, something horrible should have happened to his body, but in the end it was something he has to see for himself, after positioning himself in front of the mirror and opening his eyes. What was reflected back was a young boy of 5 years old, with short golden hair, blue eyes and white skin, just like a tiny version of a prince he has saw in many the televisions show in the past, William did not believe that was him at the beginning but as he moved his body and did faces, the mirror followed after his every move, he did this until he could only be convinced that the young boy was him, and because if someone enters and watch him doing weird faces in front of the mirror would be too embarrassing for him to bear. William himself was a 30 year old loner that live by himself and worked in the tech industry, he has read a lot of web novels, where this kind of things were very common. [William]: ¡°I die and then I reincarnated in a 5 year old boy¡± Chapter 1: New life Chapter 1: New life William was shocked by the words that had come out of his mouth, to have such stupid dead, and to be reborn or he was more like remembering his past life? After wondering around in his room, he could still put the pieces together, he still had all the memories of the boy known as William, but he has now the memories of his past self, and because he had live 30 years before his past memories had almost overtaken for completely to the young William. Finding a desk in his room, he took a piece of paper and a pen and started writing the alphabet of this word, even if William was young, he knew how to write without a problem, now William found himself able to write in both languages, he soon started to write down the names in William memories, not his own but the memories of the young William, but only 4 names had come out. Maria, his personal maid, Alfred the head of the servants, Massimilian the name of his father, and Elizabeth the reason he hurt in the head, everything was coming back to him, William had sneaked away from the careful watch of Maria, to climb up the tallest tree in all the forest that surrounded the house, he was together with Elizabeth, she was a tomboyish kid that lived nearby and liked to climb trees a lot, and William without another choice followed after her because she was his only friend. After reaching the top he had a misstep making him fall and hit his head with the ground, he was lucky to be still breathing right now, or maybe he really had died and now William has taken over his body, he could not be completely sure about that. Nevertheless something else bothering his mind right now, of all the names he could remember, where was his mother name? William tried but he couldn¡¯t remember it, he could only feel sadness, not even a face has come to him. ¡®Knock Knock¡¯ While William was lost in a daze a knock was heard on the door bringing William back to reality. [William]: ¡°You may come in¡± Opening the door was Alfred with a pale face like he just had seen a ghost. [Alfred]: ¡°How are you feeling young master William?¡± [William]: ¡°I am a lot better than¡­. What do you want?¡± William had realized his mistake now, the young boy was not someone that would say thanks or please, if he wants to fools these people he could only act. [Alfred]: ¡°young master, your father had come by to pay you a visit, he is waiting you in down stairs¡±. William was very surprise, his father rarely had come to pay him a visit, maybe once every fourth months or so, nevertheless what he worry the most is that William¡¯s father surely could take a notice that he was not the same William anymore, young master William was gone and only his memories had remained, but from the memories of the young boy, William knew he could not make his father wait for longer. In the other hand, Alfred was deadly pale, and more surprise that William, any hope of keeping his head was near zero now, well maybe he still was lucky, if the Lord had arrived just a bit early and found out the unconscious William, he didn¡¯t knew what it would become of him. [William]: ¡°Tell my father I will come down in a moment I need dress according to the occasion of his visit¡± [Alfred]: ¡°I understand young master, I will inform the Lord¡± Doing a deep bow Alfred left the room. Just as William was thinking how he could fool his father, another ¡®Knock¡¯ in the door was hear, William annoyed to be interrupted again responded in a brush matter. [William]: ¡°What now Alfred I told I will come down in a moment¡± But from the other side of the door the voice of a young woman was heard. [Mari]: ¡°its Maria young master, sorry to interrupt you but I bring your changes of clothes¡±. After realizing his mistake, William could not but to feel ashamed of his rash behavior. ¡°This is not like me, usually don¡¯t get this angry¡± William say to himself, in true he was a very calm person that would not act rash because of a knock in the door, maybe the he was being affected by the host body of the young William, but this is what he need to fool the people in the mansion right now. [William]: ¡°You may enter¡± [Maria]: ¡°Thank you young master¡±. Entering the room was Maria holding a fresh changes of clothes, that where very elegant, obviously they were picked to be presented in front of William father. After standing in front of him for a while, William could not help but talk again. [William]: ¡°Leave the clothes there, I will come down after I change¡± After he said that a frown appeared in the young maid face, because she was his personal maid, she was allowed to show more emotions that other servants, to the young William, he didn¡¯t like soulless puppets serving under him, so he had ordered Maria to show more of his emotions. William could not understand what he did wrong for Maria to be mad with him, but then he remember how the young William had Maria always dressing him¡­ and undressing him, maybe to the young William this was not a problem but for the current William was a huge problem, to had a woman younger than himself dressing him all the time.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. With a red face, William could not help but to give her another command, thank god even if he was a child he had still a lot of power in this house. [William]: ¡°Maria for now on I will be dressing by myself, you can leave now¡±. Maria did not leave immediately, she stood there doing a staring contest with William after she realized that William was not backing down, she let out a sigh, and after carefully putting the clothes in the bed she left the room with a bow. William could celebrate his mini victory, for now on his had took over his own destiny, nobody would dress him again, with a triumphant smile William started check out the clothes Maria has left, only to found out he didn¡¯t had a clue how to wear then, they were too fancy, they were something he has never seen before, in his past last he has only use shirts and pants¡­ after realizing he was in huge troubles he was left with no other choice, he had made his father wait a lot, and if he show himself badly dress he didn¡¯t wanted to think in the storm that would unfold after that. Looking over the door where Maria had just left William said. [William]: ¡°Maria¡± A young woman voice was hear in response, Maria has never truly left at all, and she was behind the door all this time. [Maria]: ¡°Yes young master¡± [William]: ¡°Can you come for a second¡± It has being 5 minutes when Maria was back now wearing a triumphant smile hiding by a bow. [Maria]: ¡°In what I can help the young master with¡± William eyebrow twitched, ¡°you knew all along this would happened didn¡¯t you! But as a Man I know how to admit my mistakes! And there is no shame in admitting ones mistakes¡± [William]: ¡°Can you teach me¡­ how to wear this¡± A light chuckle was heard from Maria, William face was becoming a lot redder now but Maria didn¡¯t mind as she started perfectly explaining to William how to get wear those clothes. After 10 minutes William was kneeling in front of a man, the man face show signs to be displeased for William to have him keep waiting too much time. [Massimilian]: ¡°You had keep me waiting far too long will, what where you doing¡±. Will, only his father could call him will, everybody else had to call him young master, or William. The mas had long black hair with red eyes, his face of little resemble to William, if not for the memories of the young boy, William could had never guessed that this man was his father. [William]: ¡°I am sorry father it would never happen again¡± Massimilian nodded his head. [Massimilian]: ¡°Maybe I should send Maria to work in the stables after a harsh punishment, it is her fault that you keep me waiting for too long after all¡± A drop of sweep was in William forehead, because his own silliness about dressing by himself Maria would suffer, the word punishment was not even close to describe it, it meant Maria would be gone for good. William could not help but to speak up. [William]: ¡°Father you are being to rash, raising a new personal maid would take too long, Maria already know all my every needs very well, and I am afraid another maid would take too long to hear, or maybe she could do worse job¡± Massimilian that was looking over the window and looked like he was bored to death regained his focus as soon as he hear William speaking. [Massimilian]: ¡°Oh then how about we made Maria first teach everything she knows to the new maid and then we send her to the stables after a harsh punishment that would resolve the issue of not having a new maid fast enough¡± William could only grit his teeth. ¡°Crap this was a trap, he was just testing me, I should had known better¡± William knew that every time his father had come, he played around with him, not long ago William had the mind of a kid so he did even realized he was being played with, this was just a show of power of his father and a test for young William. ¡°I have to said something, or Maria would be done for real now¡± Maybe he had just remember his past and he did not had any real connection with Maria, but from the memories of young William he could see that Maria was more than his personal Maid, she was his only friend in this Mansion, even he was pampered and ill tempered, Maria always took good care of him, also even know that he was late to his meeting with his father she never show any hint of disdain on her, she teach him very carefully how to get dress, as a Man he would not allow such injustice to happen. [William]: ¡°Father is right but that don¡¯t solve the second problem, what is the new maid is less competent than Maria¡± [Massimilian]: ¡°Then instead of one, we can bring more maids to be your personal maid, after Maria teach them everything, you can pick the best suited for you¡± An amusing smile escaped Massimilian, as he watched the face of despair William was putting, it was like taking a candy from kid. William almost give up on the spot, his two arguments where crushed on the spot, he could not now admit it was his fault that he was late, no, if he said that it was the same as admitting defeat, and it would meant the end for Maria. William turned his head around to see Maria that was standing just to the say, yes she had being standing there listening to everything without saying a word, as William watched Maria to eyes she returned the look, and wink at him with her left eye, before looking over the distance again. This was her saying she was fine no matter what and not to worry about her, William could only curse under his breath until a thought pop up ¡­ Turning around William give a strong look to his father, before returning to look over the ground again, because he was the son of Massimilian he could show some level of discourse like raising his head for a short moment but if he did for too long it would be a sign of disrespect, Massimilian did not mind it as he was enjoying toying with William, this boy has never fight him before this was something new, he wanted to see how far he can go. In the other hand William was ¡°a fault was made, I can¡¯t make up for the fault, nor I can have Maria stay, but what if¡­¡± [William]: ¡°What father say is correct, if we gather more maid at least one of them should be competent enough¡± [Massimilian]: ¡°Then it is settle, Maria would train a group of maid and you will pick one of them¡± The spark in Massimilian eyes disappeared like it was never there, William has choose to give up on Maria, waving his to Maria signaling her to leave, but before Maria could give a step. [William]: ¡°But¡­ what if¡± Massimilian, raise his eyebrow, was not William over yet? William was stilling kneeling down in front of him [Massimilian]: ¡°What if?¡± [William]: ¡°What if after training a group of personal Maid, Maria is still the most competent of all of them, you said I could pick the most¡­¡± Before William could finish he was interrupted by his father. [Massimilian]: ¡°Then I would personally pick her, if Maria is the most skilled and competent one of all the group as you say, to that I will the judged¡± [William]: ¡°I can¡¯t have father wasting his time in such unimportant matter as selecting a maid¡± A light laughter escaped Massimilian lips. [Massimilian]: ¡°What it is more important that my own son wellbeing and education¡± A bitter smile appeared in William face, ¡°is this as far as I can go?¡± at least he have create a path for Maria to escaped, but this¡­ she not only have to teach other maid, she have to compete with them at the end and beat them, and she could not do a bad job in teaching them either, the other maids should be also of the highest caliber, even if she did not teach them anything at all they would still be hard to beat. Taking the silent of William as an agreement to hold a competition, Massimilian announced as such. [Massimilian]: ¡°Then that settles it, I will send a group maid here, and come back in 4 months, then we will hold a little competition to see whom is the best personal maid for you, Maria herself will participated too, she is to teach everything she knows to the other maids, and I will be the one to judged it whom wins, you can all leave now¡± Massimilian words were law in here, all the servants did a deep bow before leaving the room, in the room only William and his father stayed behind.