Looks like my cute little brother is in trouble again.
I glanced at him with a small grin.
"So… what did you do this time?"
"Uhm… I just broke Mother's favorite vase."
For a moment, I was speechless.
He had broken that vase, the one Mother always used for her favorite flowers. The flowers inside it changed depending on the season… or sometimes simply her mood.
Before I could even respond, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, rapidly approaching our room. Thanks to my heightened senses, I could hear them clearly.
At least I had a moment to prepare myself.
But… there was no way I could save him from this.
The footsteps stopped right outside the door. Then...Bang!
The door swung open as Mother pushed it wide.
She rushed straight to Allen, kneeling beside him and pulling him gently into her arms. A look of deep concern filled her face as she quickly checked him over.
"Are you okay? Did any of the broken pieces hurt you?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Umm… I'm okay," Allen replied hesitantly. Then he looked up at her with a puzzled expression, a trace of fear still in his voice. "But Mom… aren't you mad?"
I thought you'd be getting another scolding today. Looks like you're lucky again.
My gaze shifted to Mother, waiting to hear what she would say.
"What do you mean?" she said softly. "Did you think I'd be angry just because a vase broke?" She looked at the both of us, relief and affection shining in her eyes.
"You two are far more precious to me than any vase could ever be." A gentle, reassuring smile spread across her face as she held us close.
Three maids soon arrived and stood behind her. One of them looked slightly concerned, though relief was evident on her face as well.
The maid standing beside Mother had curly blonde hair and warm brown eyes. With her slender figure and a height close to six feet, she carried herself with quiet elegance. She was Mother's personal lady's maid,Martha.
Behind her stood the other two.
One had long dark-brown hair that flowed almost to her waist, paired with gentle brown eyes. She had a slender figure and stood around five feet ten inches tall. Her name was Jullianne.
The other had long blonde hair that fell down her back, though not quite reaching her waist. Her green eyes were bright and attentive, and like the others, she had a slender frame, standing nearly six feet tall. She was Cecilia.
Both of them were in charge and responsible for looking after the two of us.
Since we were a noble household, employing servants was the norm.
From what I had observed while wandering around the mansion, the staff alone was practically an organization of its own. There were at least fifteen maids under the supervision of a single head maid. The kitchen employed around ten cooks, including three pâtissiers and a head chef.
Three gardeners maintained the estate's vast gardens according to a strict schedule. There was also a butler with two assistant butlers, two valets who attended to Father, and four carriage drivers responsible for the horses and transport. On top of that, two caretakers handled the animals in the stables.
These were simply the workers I had managed to learn about during my explorations of the mansion.
However, thanks to my innate ability, I had sensed something else. Near Father's study, there were always several presences concealed in the shadows. They moved quietly, carefully hidden from sight. Just like assassins.
Still, as a child, I made sure to avoid looking in their direction. Drawing attention to myself would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Although magic and monsters existed in this world—a fact I had learned from books in the family library, as well as from Father whenever I asked out of curiosity—the concept behind them was entirely different from my innate ability.
Sorcery, which people here simply called magic, relied on an external energy known as magia. By using specific techniques and methods, a person could attract this energy and condense it within their body.
Unfortunately, I had yet to find any detailed instructions on how to actually perform those techniques within the vast library.
Most of the books were filled with history, war tactics, monster encyclopedias, and journals written by famous travelers.
Sigh… reading is still difficult.
The language is something I'm still learning… and there are too many unfamiliar words.
…
"Since both of you will be turning five next week, we've decided to hold a banquet in your honor," Mother said with a bright, delighted smile. "Many nobles will be attending, so you must start learning proper manners and etiquette."
She spoke cheerfully, as if she were already imagining the celebration.
I wonder how the other nobles view our family…
I pondered quietly until Mother casually dropped a rather shocking piece of information.
"By the way, Allen," she continued, "you're already engaged to the youngest daughter of Viscount Murdoc."
"Huh? What do you mean, Mother?" Allen asked, his face filled with confusion. Clearly, he had no idea what an engagement even meant.
So my brother is already bound in a political marriage…
I glanced at him for a moment.
I just hope he ends up with someone kind.
Mother suddenly looked at me, as if she had noticed something.
"Rio, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Her voice snapped me back to reality.
"Nothing, Mother," I replied calmly. "I was just curious about what you said earlier."
Allen, who was still trying to process Mother's previous words, looked between the two of us in confusion, clearly attempting to understand what was going on.
Mother chuckled softly.
"Oh, don't worry, my dear," she said teasingly. "You'll get one too." Her words caught me completely off guard.
"Huh? What do you mean, Mom?"
I quickly played along, keeping up the act of an innocent child. After all, I was still just a boy enjoying the comforts of noble life in this strange new world.
"You'll understand when you're older," she said with a bright, knowing smile.
Behind her, the maids reacted differently. Jullianne and Cecilia looked delighted, already eager to share the news with the other maids in the mansion. Martha, on the other hand, remained perfectly composed, maintaining the stern professionalism expected of a lady's maid who is also the head maid of the house.
Not long after, I heard hurried footsteps echoing through the hallway.
Thanks to my heightened senses, I could tell immediately that someone was rushing toward Father's study again.
I wonder what that's about.
Although my curiosity stirred, I chose to ignore it. For now, I preferred to enjoy this peaceful life until the day I turned five.
A day that every child in this world looked forward to.
For nobles, it was a hidden form of power. For commoners, it was a ray of hope. It is called the Blessing of the Gods.
A rare phenomenon in which a child might receive a divine blessing after undergoing a baptism performed by the church's Pope within their respective kingdoms or empires.
Every child, upon reaching the age of five, would undergo the ceremony to determine whether they were chosen by the gods. The book regarding it still not within my reach and no one is allowed to take it without permission from lord of the house.
I once overheard a group of knights training recruits mention that Father himself possessed a blessing. However, none of them ever revealed what it was. Even so, they spoke with pride about serving under our family.
And that day was only a week away. Just before the grand banquet that was still being prepared.