Melvia was the only one Kaisel could truly call a friend. She had been brought to the duchy five years ago, and since then, she had been the only person his age he ever spent time with. They had grown up side by side, playing and quarreling like childhood companions.
She shook her head with a faint smile.
"I'll stick to 'young master,' young master."
Kaisel sighed, taking the towel from her hands.
"You're really stubborn…"
She didn't answer, only stood there smiling at him.
"Are you going to say something?" he asked, raising a brow.
Her gaze dropped to his hands. The calluses stood out against his reddened skin.
"You're training too much, young master. Why are you pushing yourself like this?"
"Why? … To become stronger. As fast as possible."
"For what?" she pressed gently.
Kaisel gave her a small smile.
"To protect my family. To protect the duchy. To protect the people as well."
This time, when she looked at him, her eyes carried an emotion he couldn't place—something softer, deeper. Kaisel didn't understand it, but he felt the weight of it in her gaze.
Silence lingered between them until he broke it.
"Can you prepare the bath for me?"
Her lips curved again.
"As you say, young master."
.....
Night was settling over the duchy when Kaisel stepped out of the bath, dressed in fresh clothes. He paused before the mirror, raising his hands. The calluses that had once hardened his palms were gone, replaced by smooth, elegant skin—the hands of someone who had never known labor.
It was the work of the Bloodfiend Lizard's regeneration. The innate ability remembered the body's perfect state and restored even the smallest blemish. Normally, Kaisel resisted its instinctive healing, allowing the calluses to remain as proof of his training. But this time, he had let them vanish.
With a faint sigh, he left his chamber.
In the corridor, a small figure was waiting. Nerrisa stood there, clutching a little book to her chest, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Big brother, read me this story," she said, holding it up to him.
Kaisel blinked. "Eh? You want to hear it right now?"
"Yes!" she chirped, her voice brimming with eagerness.
He had planned to spend the evening buried in his studies of magic, yet here was Nerrisa, tugging him into a different world. For a moment, he hesitated, then his lips curved faintly.
"Fine..."
.....
In the living room, Kaisel sat with the book on his lap, Nerrisa clinging to his side.
The story was about a knight from a lesser noble family—a tall, handsome young man with brown hair and matching brown eyes. The book even contained a finely drawn illustration of him, rendered with exquisite detail. It was a well-known story among young noble children, so the artistry and care in the book were unsurprising.
The knight's family lived in harmony, their home filled with warmth and cheer. His mother's gentle hand, his father's steady wisdom, and his brother's laughter gave him strength as he grew. Though his family bore only a small name among nobles, their bond made them rich in spirit.
In time, the knight's path crossed with the daughter of a great lord. She was graceful and kind, her smile like sunlight breaking through clouds. The knight, though modest in station, could not help but be captivated by her. And she, seeing his bravery and sincerity, found her heart drawn to him in return.
The lord, discerning this affection, set before the knight a trial: "A beast has been ravaging my lands. Subdue it, and prove your worth."
Without hesitation, the knight set forth. Fortune favored him, for deep within the forest he discovered an ancient relic—a sword of light, slumbering in a forgotten shrine. With this blessed weapon, he battled monsters that prowled the shadows, each victory strengthening his resolve.
At last, a demon of great power rose to threaten the people. With the artifact in hand and courage unshaken, the knight stood against it. The struggle was fierce, yet with one final strike, the demon was vanquished.
When he returned, the land sang his name. The lord welcomed him with open arms, granting his daughter's hand in marriage. Their union was celebrated with joy and blessing, and the knight's family was lifted into comfort and honor.
The knight became lord, ruling with wisdom and kindness, never forgetting the simple happiness of his childhood home. His family flourished, his people prospered, and peace endured.
Thus ended the tale, in the manner most beloved by children: with love, triumph, and a life happily ever after.
The end.
Why are all children's storybooks like that?, It's really overused, Kaisel thought. Most of them followed the same pattern—some weak, ordinary person, usually handsome, stumbles into love, trains a little, grows stronger, and somehow becomes a hero.
"Well, there you go… the story is finished," Kaisel murmured.
He glanced at Nerrisa. "Uh… Nerrisa?"
The little girl had already fallen asleep, curled against his side, even before the story had ended. Kaisel let out a quiet sigh. She always had a way of drifting off at the most inconvenient moments.
He carefully closed the book and flipped through its pages one last time, lingering on the illustration of the knight. The image was so vivid—a man with both parents alive, a family full of warmth, living in peace… a hero.
Kaisel's fingers traced the edges of the page almost unconsciously. The knight's life, so simple and complete, stirred something inside him he rarely acknowledged.
Oh… are you envious of him…?
The voice was sudden, cold, yet deliberate. Kaisel flinched. Envy. He knew it instantly. After months of interaction with the Seven Sins, he had learned to recognize their distinct tones, each unnatural and unsettling in its own way.
Pride's voice rumbled deeply, demanding attention.
Greed laughed with every word, sharp and teasing.
Gluttony's hoarse voice sounded hollow, always wanting.
Envy spoke slowly, each word measured, deliberate.
Lust whispered, smooth and lingering.
Sloth murmured in endless tiredness, as if speaking through a dream.
Wrath's voice was harsh, laden with malice.
You… are envious of him, aren't you? the voice taunted, drawing out the syllables. A knight with a happy family… Do you… want to become him…?
Finally, in a sharp, controlled voice, he said, "Shut up."
The silence that followed was almost complete, broken only by the quiet rustle of the pages as he set the book aside.
.....
Kaisel gently tucked Nerrisa into bed and stepped out of her chamber. It was late, and he decided to go straight to his own room rather than spend more time reading.
As he walked down the corridor, he noticed Anton approaching, a book clutched in his hand. Don't tell me… he also wants me to read a story, Kaisel thought.
"Oh, brother… did you have dinner?" Anton asked, looking up at him.
"Oh… uh, no," Kaisel replied, already anticipating where this was going.
"Great! Let's eat together," Anton said with a bright grin.
Kaisel couldn't help but smile in return. Why not, he thought. It's nice to share a meal with my younger brother.
"Uh… sure," he said, his voice softening.
Kaisel tilted his head, glancing at the book in Anton's hand. "Why are you reading that?"
Anton replied, "Oh… I'm studying commerce and mathematics. To manage the duchy better—understand trade, oversee taxes, calculate resources, and plan its growth efficiently."
Kaisel paused for a moment, caught off guard—not by surprise, but by a quiet sense of being touched. His younger brother… was trying to help the duchy, and the family, in his own way. It was small, simple, yet genuine.
"That's great..." ,Kaisel smiled.
.....
After finishing his meal with Anton, Kaisel went to bed. He was tired from training, but for the first time in a while, he felt… good. Spending even a little time with his younger brother and sister had filled him with quiet joy
He was in a genuinely great mood. Sliding under the covers, he closed his eyes, letting the calm of the evening wash over him, and soon drifted into sleep.
.....
Kaisel's eyes opened, but the world felt… wrong. The ground beneath him was rough, littered with dry, brittle leaves, yet somehow familiar. The air hung heavy, thick with a metallic tang that made his stomach twist.
Where… where am I? he murmured, voice tight and uncertain.
He tried to move, but his limbs felt sluggish, unresponsive. Something cold and wet brushed against his fingers. Hesitant, he lifted his hands. His breath caught. Blood. Dark, sticky, sharp with the scent of iron, clinging to his skin.
A chill ran down his spine. His heart pounded, each beat echoing in his ears. The silence around him was too deep, too deliberate, pressing in from every side.
Then—movement. Shadows flickered at the edge of his vision. A rustle of fabric, a soft scraping sound. His pulse leapt. Shapes emerged slowly from the darkness, figures in black cloaks that seemed to absorb the light around them. Their garments were soaked in blood, and weapons, dripping with the same crimson, gleamed in fleeting glints.
To be continued.