Kays Translations

Chapter 5: The Noble's House

Three years later--

Lucius sat alone on the floor of his room, in a posture similar to that of zazen meditation.

It was still morning, and while the sun had already risen, some people might still be sleeping.

At the age of three, one's senses become more attuned to their past life. Lucius could now walk, talk, and take care of his own needs.

Although he didn't know what an ordinary three-year-old was like, Lucius, who had inherited the memories and personality of his past life, was able to do most things by himself.

There was a knock at the door, and Matilda, a young maid who had not yet reached adulthood, stood before him.

"Master Lucius, your breakfast is ready."

"Thank you, Matilda."

The maid bowed humbly, but her expression was one of bewilderment.

"Are you going to practice using your magic again?"

"Yes, that's right."

Lucius's parents and Matilda called the energy that resides in the body's left and right hands "magic."

When he first heard the term, he had thought it was a silly name for a new religion, but apparently even people from outside the estate understood the term "magic."

This world seemed to be different from the one he had known.

Even the language he had thought was English was different in some ways.

The culture was also vastly different.

He didn't see cars, buildings, or even things like televisions or smartphones that were commonplace in his previous life. Even in a remote part of a foreign country, there would be at least cars passing by.

Moreover, people's hair and eye colors were more vividly colored than anything he had seen in his previous life.

He thought his father had dyed his red hair, but apparently, it was his natural hair color.

Matilda's eyes were purple, but she wasn't wearing colored contact lenses.

It was all strange, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

Once you got used to things like hair and skin color, it didn't matter anymore.

He just had to learn the language, and he could live without a smartphone.

But there was one thing that was unbearable and difficult to accept.

--He had been born into nobility.

Father is a baron and also a lord. Mother, of course, is referred to as a baroness.

Matilda, a young woman who I thought was a maid, turned out to be a lady-in-waiting.

I still remember how greatly alarmed I was when I found out that fact.

Honestly, I didn't want to have anything to do with the prestige of the family or their honor.

My previous parents were aristocrats who were related to court nobles, and they were obsessed with that fact.

Even though my previous parents, who didn't have any privileges under the law, were so attached to their lineage.

Active nobles are even worse.

I may be exempted from various things because I am still young, but I was afraid of when I would be forced to become a slave to my family name.

Lucius returned each of the magical powers that had circulated through his left hand, right hand, eye, and mouth to their original positions.

"All right. We're done for today."

"Lucius-sama, you endure that pain very well. I couldn't do it."

Matilda's suspicion still strongly resonated with me.

I had felt distant from her since I was aware of my surroundings, but recently her eyes when looking at Lucius had become even harsher.

- Well, it doesn't matter. I'll leave when I have siblings.

Lucius has no intention of inheriting the baron's family. When he has siblings, he plans to pass on the family headship right away.

Until that day, he believed it would be better to live without causing any friction.

"It's just a matter of getting used to it. Come on, let's go."

Lucius straightened his collar and shirt, and together with Matilda, left the room and descended to the dining room.

When we got to the dining room, my mother and father were already seated.

"Sorry for being late."

Lucius immediately apologized, and his father, Roebel, laughed.

"Don't worry about it. Let's eat quickly," he said.

"Yes," Lucius replied.

As soon as they sat next to their mother Emily, Matilda served bacon and bread onto plates.

"Thank you, Matilda," Lucius said cordially.

"Oh no, please don't mention it, Lord Lucius," Matilda replied.

Matilda's gaze was unsettling as she looked at him as if she had seen something strange before quickly averting her eyes.

"Lucius, has your magical power increased again?" his father asked without considering the timing, before Lucius had taken his first bite.

"Has it?" Lucius asked.

Father Roberu smiled widely, showing his white teeth.

"I can't wait for your future, Lucius! The whole village can't stop talking about you!" his father said.

For some reason, his father and the villagers were pleased with Lucius's increased magical power.

After circulating the magical power around his body, left hand, and eyes, and returning it to its original location, Lucius's magical power had increased slightly.

It was a painful process, but he had done it every day without fail since regaining consciousness.

It was strange if his magical power didn't increase.

Later, he learned that his parents did not intend to perform the 【bestowal of magic ceremony】  more than once.

The 【bestowal of magic ceremony】was a legal requirement for children born to nobles, and it was always performed around one month after birth. It was highly unusual to perform it in multiple locations, as he was told.

First of all, it's a ritual that affects one's life. It seems that it's rarely performed multiple times.

I was looking for the day when the next ceremony would be held, but when I found out that fact, I felt emptiness and didn't feel like doing anything for about two days.

However, I continued to transfer magic.

At first, it was just because I had nothing else to do with my immobile body, and then it was to prepare for the ritual, but lately, it's something I do to please Robel.

Doing things that make your parents happy even if you're going to leave the house someday. Lucius doesn't really understand that it's a curse from his past life.

"I will strive to meet Father's expectations."

"Hey, didn't I tell you that before? Fix your formal language. You're only three years old. Where did you learn such words?"

"...I understand."

Lucius smiled wryly.

In his past life, he was taught to use honorific language with his father and mother without fail. If he tried to speak casually, he would be slapped on the cheek.

Habits that have been ingrained once are not easily changed.

He also doesn't understand the subtle nuances of words well, so he tends to choose polite words as much as possible.

"Oh, right! And Lucius, we're leaving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Where are we going?"

"Barondia, the capital. We're going to have the Appraisal Ceremony."

"The Appraisal Ceremony?"

"Yes, the surrounding nobles gather to measure the magical power of their children."

"A gathering of nobles, is it?"

-I don't want to go...

An instinctive rejection occurs.

In his past life, he was forced to attend gatherings of former aristocrats several times, and it was terrible.

The children of each family are surrounded by adults who scrutinize and grade them. The expressions on their faces speak volumes, although the scores are never mentioned.

If you make a small mistake during the meeting, your father and mother will punish you severely when you get home.

When his face twisted, his mother Emily put her hand on his shoulder.

"Lucius, you're nervous, aren't you? Don't worry, Papa and Mama will be with you."

"...I'll be careful not to tarnish our family name." 

Lucius replied weakly with a mask-like face.

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