Two years passed.
I am three years old now.
And for the first time, I look normal.
I blend in. I act my age when I need to. I laugh at the right moments. I trip when expected. I cry on cue.
My cover is perfect.
Last year, my mother hired a maid.
At first, I didn't care.
Until the day she arrived with her daughter.
My eyes widened the moment I saw her.
Blue hair.
Glasses.
That same composed posture.
That same... presence.
She was the maid from my first life.
From the rich family.
From the window I jumped out of.
No.
That's impossible.
...Isn't it?
Relax.
There's no way she would recognize me. I was an infant.
Still.
There is always room for doubt.
I can never lower my guard.
The maid spoke calmly.
"You must be Xavier."
I immediately ran and hid behind the hallway corner, acting shy. Small. Harmless.
I know how adorable I look. Soft hair. Wide eyes.
Weaponized innocence.
She sighed and turned to her daughter.
"Should I leave you with him? I have something else to attend to."
Her daughter crossed her arms.
"You promised you'd help me."
"You wanted to become a maid like me," the mother replied. "Learning independence is part of that."
"That's not helping. That's breaking your promise."
The maid smiled faintly. "I'll make it up to you."
She walked away.
"Oh, and Hatori - signal me when you head home. I don't like this neighborhood."
"Roger that," the daughter replied.
Hatori.
So that's her name.
And yes.
She's attractive.
Both of them are.
This world really likes to test me.
I retreated to my room to practice magic.
And to think.
"Hatori: Wait, Xavier!"
I ignored her and opened a book about explosion magic.
She entered anyway.
"You know it's rude to run from people."
She smiled gently.
Too gently.
I looked away, pretending to blush.
Inside, I was calculating.
She noticed the book in my hands.
"Oh... that's not a typical book for someone your age."
"I just find it interesting how-"
I stopped myself.
Careful.
Too articulate and she'll notice.
She knelt down.
"I know this might be confusing, but I'm your new babysitter."
What?
No.
Absolutely not.
I finally get freedom and now this?
"I don't need one," I thought.
She continued proudly, "I'm not just any babysitter. I'm Elephant Rank."
Elephant Rank?
A memory flashed in my mind.
My father's voice.
"I am the Prince of the Kingdom of Holmes."
My mother shouting his name.
His confession.
"Your mother is not someone I love. She was responsibility. Nothing more. But you... you carry royal blood. Every beat of your heart screams our name."
Wisdom.
That was our royal family name.
He admitted he had another family.
Another life.
He spoke of guilt.
Of regret.
Of running from consequences.
I understood him more than I wanted to.
We're not so different, Alexander.
We both cling to broken things.
When he left that night, my mother locked the door behind him and ran to her room to cry.
I felt nothing.
Just disgust.
A cheating mother.
A guilty prince.
And me.
Jeffrey Atlas.
Not Xavier Hamilton.
Not Wisdom.
My blood belongs to the parents I lost.
This world will not erase that.
"H-hello?" Hatori waved her hand in front of my face.
"You read magic books," she said. "So you must know about the ranks?"
"No."
Her eyes lit up.
"Oh! Then let me explain!"
She straightened proudly.
"There are five main ranks for both magic users and swordsmen. Same titles - different disciplines."
She began counting on her fingers.
"Lowest ranks: Deer and Horse."
"Mid ranks: Wolf and Leopard."
"Upper class: Elephant and Rhinoceros."
"Elite class: Bear and Tiger."
"And at the very top... Lion."
"Those are called Lionhearts."
Interesting.
She's Elephant.
Top three tiers.
Not bad.
"How do I know my rank?" I asked.
"You'll be officially evaluated at fourteen."
Fourteen.
Eleven more years.
My magic so far?
Sweaty palms.
Pathetic.
But...
That's perfect.
If I start training now...
If I master magic before the system recognizes me...
I could surpass expectations.
Control the board before they even know I'm playing.
I looked out the window.
Small village.
Fake smiles.
Hidden royalty.
Secret ranks.
And the same blue-haired maid from another life.
This is not coincidence.
This world is layered.
Structured.
Intentional.
I smiled slightly.
Fine.
If this is reality...
Then I'll master it.
And this time-
I won't be the one who lose . Not this time