It's a hierarchical relationship.
This is a phenomenon prevalent in human society, one that has never disappeared from ancient times to the present, and it was most severe in the old century when compulsory education was not yet universal.
Of course, in modern society, influenced by the ideology of egalitarianism, I was originally living a tolerable life. If nothing major had happened, I would probably have lived peacefully and died of old age like most other people.
But this is another world where aristocracy reigns supreme, so bullying is definitely commonplace here.
Although not being reincarnated as a commoner at the bottom was fortunate, even in the aristocratic world, there are clearly defined hierarchical relationships. For me, a modern person, it is undoubtedly a form of torment.
It was just breakfast, yet the entire living room was eerily silent, with everyone's attention focused on the man at the table.
Perhaps some people think that not speaking while eating is polite, but it's clear that the current situation has exceeded the level of "politeness." It felt as if someone would face great misfortune if that man so much as twitched an eyelid; that's the atmosphere I sensed.
After saying he looked forward to my growth, the head of this Marquis Family, and my biological father in this world, Marquis Anglus, did not utter another word before finishing breakfast, nor did anyone speak to him. Even his gaze no longer caught anyone, as if he were indifferent and showed little interest in anyone.
Honestly, it was terrifying.
'Father, your beard is like a toilet brush.'
Even if I were dense, I knew that such a playful joke could absolutely not be said. If I said it, I would probably die, no, I would definitely die.
Finally, Marquis Anglus left the living room without a sound, and the four women behind him followed, I didn't know where they were going, and I didn't dare to ask.
The human touch reflected in basic greetings at the dinner table in modern times was completely absent here; this was probably the daily life of the Marquis House.
I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, feeling as if I had escaped a first-encounter kill in a horror game. I couldn't taste anything from the breakfast; rather, for someone in his twenties like me, eating such a children's meal was truly a bit hard to swallow. Goodbye, my dear modern cuisine.
"Young Master Robert, shall we go then?"
"Mm."
I had no idea what to do after breakfast, but following the butler's arrangements should be fine. There were still many questions I needed to figure out, so I could only try to get information indirectly, one by one.
Honestly, I really wished someone would help me explain the situation of this world. When others are hit by a car and die, they have a deity as a guide. Don't I get that kind of reincarnation novice service? I want to complain!
Then, Volth led me down the corridor again, seemingly heading back to my room.
At the same time, two sets of footsteps approached us from the front. Around the corner, a male butler appeared, leading a boy who was only half his height.
From the boy's well-fitting noble attire, it was easy to see that he held an equally noble status in this Marquis Family. Although his appearance was still childish, he already had the basic makings of a handsome man.
Could it be that the boy was the eldest son of the Anglus House, my elder brother?
I remembered that the character Robert Von Anglus in the novel was the second son and had an elder brother and an elder sister above him. What were their names again?
I didn't remember them at all because they never appeared in the novel. Oh, right, the Marquis seemed to have mentioned it when he spoke to me just now.
—Is that so? Well done, Lucius and Aisha couldn't do it when they were so young…
Lucius? Right, Lucius von Anglus, that should be correct.
"Good… Good morning, Brother Lucius."
As a noble and a younger brother, I believed it was only natural to offer a polite greeting to my elder brother, just as I had greeted my father earlier.
However, I didn't receive a reciprocal "Good morning." Lucius and his butler stopped, and the look in his eyes as he looked down at me was not kind.
"Get out of the way, don't block the path."
Then he pushed me away.
"Young Master Robert!"
Fortunately, Volth quickly held me in front of him, otherwise, with my currently frail little body, I would inevitably have fallen to the ground or hit my head against the wall.
W-Who is this?! Even though it was just a younger brother friendly greeting his elder brother, he pushed me away mercilessly. Does he have no concept of "family affection" at all?
I couldn't help but stand stunned on the spot.
"Keep a good eye on him, you idiot! Are you so incompetent that you can't even look after a child?"
"V-Very sorry."
Even Volth, who was with me, was verbally abused.
Ah, alright, alright, I get it, I get it. This is just a typical scumbag noble. Although I don't know what kind of environment made him develop such a personality, like father, like son, right?
My character itself is a villainous noble, so how could his family members be good people? I was wrong to think that family affection would exist just because they were family. I shouldn't have used a modern person's mindset to think about this Marquis Family's situation. I should have realized it from the beginning, and now I've brought this humiliation upon myself.
I cursed him dozens of times in my heart, watching Lucius and his butler leave. I'll remember this grudge.
"Are you alright, Young Master Robert?"
"Mm."
It's pretty miserable being a servant in a noble Anglus Family, having to face the unreasonable master's humiliation at any time. I wonder if they get extra allowances... Most likely not.
What should I do? Just thinking about being family with that kind of guy, and then recalling that terrifying Marquis, my life feels full of darkness. Can I delete my account and restart?
...