And in this household, where I was already branded "the peasant woman's son," I would need every advantage I could get.
In this world, strength wasn't only the sword or the spell. It was knowing. Seeing. Preparing.
And besides… this wasn't just necessity. It was joy.
Back in my old world, when life crushed me with long hours, unpaid overtime, and nights of exhaustion, the only escape I had was reading. Books were my sanctuary.
I loved knowledge. But as an orphan, I could never afford more than high school. University was a dream I could never reach. So I read everything I could get my hands on, farming, military history, even the latest weapon technology.
Reading was more than a hobby. It was the one thing that never abandoned me.
And now… heh. Let's start reading this thick book....err, they call it a tome.
Wonder why it's called a tome. But whatever.
Since I can learn more about this world, that's all that matters.
Alright… let's begin.
Oh....before I dive in, I should explain.
My "main" family is of Baron rank.
In this world, nobility is ranked from lowest to highest. According to both this tome and what Mother told me, the order is simple enough:
Knight
Baronet
Baron
Viscount
Count
Marquess
Duke
ArcDuke
And, as usual, princes and princesses.
At the very top.
King and Queen.
Yep. Straight from the book. Straight from my mother's voice.
I traced the letters with my finger, reading them over and over again until the words sank deep into my mind.
So that's the ladder of power in this world.
And me?
I was sitting at one of the lowest rungs.
A Baron's son, sure. But the son of the second wife.
Which meant no matter what the book said, no matter what the law claimed, the truth was simple: I was already standing lower than the rest.
But I wonder… do ranks really matter in this world?
Or is it just like my previous one, where money decides everything?
Those billionaires who bought their way into political seats, waving around cash like crowns.
Heh… talking about politics.
Yeah, that shitty system.
"Vote by the people," they said.
But once elected? They served no one but their own pockets.
Greedy hands, empty promises, shouting about "serving the people" while living in mansions built from the sweat of everyone else.
What a joke.
At least here, nobility doesn't bother pretending.
At least here, the book is honest: rank decides your place. Power and bloodline make the law.
No sugar-coating. No fake smiles on campaign posters.
And strangely enough… I think I prefer that.
Oh?
So according to this information… the lord really does own the land, huh?
Like… really own it.
Different from my previous world, where governments claimed authority but didn't personally own every inch. Here, the book was clear, the land wasn't just governed. It belonged.
To them.
The Baron. The Count. The Duke.
Everyone else? Farmers, workers, common folk? They lived on that land by permission.
Which means… if they can't own land themselves, how do they live? Rent? Taxes? Service?
I really want to know.
Because understanding that system, who owns what, who owes what, isn't just trivia.
It's survival.
Knowing the rules and the laws here, knowing who is really important, and how much power they hold… that's the kind of knowledge that separates those who rise from those who vanish.
Well… this is good.
I really want to read more books like this.
Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do than fill my stomach and sleep like a real baby.
Right now, I have nothing but free time.
So I'll use it.
Learn as much as I can. Piece by piece. Word by word.
If I'm going to live this second life, then I refuse to waste it idly.
Reading. Learning. Understanding this world slowly, while still enjoying the simple days.
And when I reach the right age…
Exploring.
Yep. That will be my path.
Jarius turned the pages.
"Ohhhh!!! This is it!"
Races in this world.
Human
Beastfolk
Dwarven
Demon
Halfling
And… elf.
"Whoa!? Elf? The pointy-eared beauties who live for over a thousand years… they really exist in this world!?"
My heart raced. Back in my old life, elves were only stories, legends from books, games, and movies. But here… here they were real.
"Wooohooo!!! I can't wait till I reach the age where I can walk outside and explore! Yeah!"
The thought alone made me grin inside.
Wait.
I was born into a noble household, wasn't I?
Which means… it won't be so simple. My life won't be just reading, exploring, and chasing after elves like some excited tourist.
No.
I don't know what the future will bring.
Politics. Family conflict. Expectations I never asked for.
"Ah… shit."
I closed the tome slowly, the weight of its words settling heavier in my mind than I expected.
( End Of Chapter )