It's been six years since I was reincarnated into this world, and it's been far too long since the last time I had such a nightmare," Caelum said, shivering.
That was how long it had taken me to learn the language.
Six years of bedtime stories with tutors and maids, along with endless corrections whenever I mispronounced a word, but after persevering, I finally learned it.
It's been so long since the mark brightened again, and I'm really happy about that.
"Young Master, hold still," a maid with red hair chimed.
I looked down to see how she was polishing up my clothes. I noticed the clothes were a deep midnight blue outfit with a flat cap, with a fitted jacket trimmed in black, resting over a spotless white shirt. Matching the trousers that hung loosely around his legs, ending in polished boots.
I sighed as another servant adjusted my jacket. Calum thought, "I can never get used to how bland these clothes are," with a tone of depression.
"Today was the annual Spring Bazaar, so please hold still," the maid said in a serious tone, as I continued to shake, insisting that the jacket was too tight.
Apparently, I was dressed up to attend a bazaar I never wanted to go to, despite my initial refusal. I was utterly helpless against my mother's orders to go. I sighed, replying, "Such is the life of a child."
Mother had wanted to take me to the Spring Bazaar for years because her favorite opera performer was visiting. This year, she finally decided I was old enough to attend.
Personally, I would have preferred staying home with a book. A part of me wanted to ask if she intentionally got pregnant with me just for this.
As the maids finished polishing my attire, I began heading down the stairs. There I met my sister, whose name was Diana, which surprised me when I finally got the hang of this world's language. Caelum thought as he looked at her; he noticed her.
Her raven-black hair was tied with a silver ribbon, while a cream silk dress embroidered with silver thread and a burgundy cloak trimmed with white fur completed her noble appearance.
He said silently in his heart. "She really does take after our mom, but the same can't be said about her attitude."
The moment he began to stare too long, she quickly called to him in a soft tone, "Caelum, what are you looking at?" Am I so beautiful that u can't take your eyes off me?
The moment he heard those words, Caelum looked at her with questionable eyes, replying, "In your dreams, Diana," Caelum responded. She quickly brought her shoulders close to him, replying, "Boo," in a childish tone.
As both of them were heading down the stairs side by side and soon arrived at the main hall, they immediately saw their father having breakfast with a cigarette resting beside his plate while the butler stood behind him it was in that moment that Diana rushed quickly to his side to greet him.
As she approached him, the butler behind her quickly greeted, "Good morning, young mistress. Are you ready for the fair?" Calmly, she replied, "Yes, Sebastian. I would be accompanying Mother to the fair together with my younger brother Caelum, behind her, could only look on."
The chatting of the butler and Diana awoke Father from his daze while eating. The moment he caught eyes with her, the first words that came out of his mouth were, "You look beautiful, Diana, just like a real royal princess," while dropping his fork to pet her head.
The moment Caelum heard that, he immediately said, "Alright, we get it. She takes after her mother. Don't stroke her ego even further."
Everyone in the hall began to laugh. Father replied, "Well, but it is true," while also calling for Caelum to come to his side. He complimented Caelum on his attire. The moment he said that, Caelum's face immediately turned red with pride, although internally he didn't really like the clothes.
As he finished petting both, he quickly told Sebastian to check with the coachman if the carriage was ready. Sebastian nooded.
While heading out into the courtyard, Caelum saw a mysterious insignia on a letter placed beneath his father's plate; out of curiosity he quickly retrieved it.
When he playfully asked his father about the insignia that looked like a crowned lion holding a rose branch in its jaws, he quickly bent down and replied, "It's the symbol of our county and also our family crest." Caelum asked him what the lion and the rose mean; he replied that it means "strength tempered by grace."
While replying to Caelum, always remember that as he was saying that, the maids quickly came out and said, "The madam is ready," and before he knew it, he heard a voice coming from the stairs.
He immediately looked to see who it was; it was a woman wearing a beautiful silver dress. It was a young mature woman who arrived.
With a silver gown shimmering beneath the morning light. With blue hair pinned into an updo-style arrangement, and a small silver handbag hung from her wrist.
Looking at her, Caelum shouted, " Mother, " while he couldn't help but admire her natural beauty, thinking she looked more like a queen than a countess.
After arriving at the main hall, she immediately greeted her father while he stood from his chair, cleaned his mouth, and replied to her, "You look gorgeous, my dear. I would have loved to attend this event by your side, but I have a meeting to attend later." While kneeling on one knee, he kissed the back of her hand.
As he stood up, we immediately heard someone knocking on the door. As I was about to approach it to see who I was, a maid stopped me while saying, "Don't worry, young master, I will get it as she approached the door and opened it, we realized it was Sebastian. He began first to apologize for ruining the mood and said the coachman is ready for us. As we hear that, at both ends, Diana was the first to step out of the main manor.
With our mother right behind her with a maid Following, I asked Mother if the maid would be accompanying.
She replied, stating that she can't handle two children by herself in her condition, so she instructed one of them to follow. As they all entered the carriage.
The coachman asked, "Where to, madam?" She replied. The opera house in Vienna, with a nod of his head he hit the reins and we began to move.
As the carriage moved out of the gate of the manor and unto the street in a quick pace caelum brought his head outside the window to get a better view as he saw multiple shops and vendors outside with Gas lamps hanging overhead with some stall owners who had long ears with a few wearing beautiful clothes behind there shops caelum wondered what type of people had long ears like that he thought while the carriage was on the move.
It couldn't be right self-doubting himself so he went on to ask his mother Tugging at her dress he asked his mother I saw some people with long ears what are they in a childish tone.
She replied calmly there elves sweetheart she answered with a smile caelum replied What elves she responded they are a type of demi-human in a sense as they closely resemble humans caelum couldn't believe it for this was the first time he was hearing that demi-humans existed in this type of world he silently thought while making a confused expression of all the fantasy stories and novels he'd read in his entire past life.
No one had ever had demi-humans in the type of world he was reincarnated into he asked himself how this was possible but just decided not to ponder too much on it.
After returning from his daze he saw Diana getting way to close to his face smiling what are you think about Caelum responded Nothing that concerns u she responded is that so she pulled his ear and started questioning is that how u respond to your big sister I carried you when u were just born the least u could do was show respect Caelum internally wanting to be the mature one started pleading for forgiveness constantly began to apologize.
While his mother let out a sigh what am I going to do with both of you this is why I brought a maid along but they weren't listening she suddenly separated both of the fighting siblings and grabbed them by the ear and forced while forcing an apology out of both or she wouldn't buy them any snacks at the Bazaar.
They quickly apologized with their ear still red and then she began to suddenly cough rapidly then the maid sitting across from them rushed to help her asking are u ok madam she said while her mother still coughing replied am ok thanks.
After her cough subsided it was then that the coachman said we are almost there madam is there anything u need madam she replied, " Ah, yes thank you for reminding me the moment she said that she looked at both Caelum and Diana and said, " We will be stopping here for a bit to go sightseeing I need to get something and please don't run of on your own.
After both children responded 'yes, mum that they would be careful did she open the door of the carriage and they immediately all stepped out.
As Caelum began taking in the sights he looked around and noticed a large crowd of people and goods that stretched across the city square like a temporary kingdom built overnight— with wooden stalls packed tightly together, with lots of colorful canopies swaying in the morning breeze, and banners stitched with different crests fluttering above the crowd.
For a moment, he just watched.
People moved everywhere at once.
Vendors leaned forward shouting prices over one another, coins flashing between hands. And people in dark blue wool uniforms patrolling the streets. He thought and asked his mother who those people in dark wool attire were. She replied that they were police officers he said, " At least the place is secured and safe.
As Caelum walked forward with his sister in hand, the maid behind them, a sharp scent drifted in as they were about to explore. It was then that he noticed an open stall selling roasted meat mixed with crushed spices.
He looked at his mother eagerly, begging for permission to try the fair food. His maid looked at him sternly, saying no, it hasn't been two hours since we left, and now you want to eat again. Repeatedly saying no, but Caelum didn't take no for an answer.
He huddled with his sister and pleaded, "Let's convince Mom, please." Before she could say anything, her stomach began to rumble, and she immediately replied, "Let's do it."
They puffed out their cheeks and put on their best pleading expressions.
"Please?"
After several rounds of begging, she finally relented.
And asked the maid to go get them something to eat while opening her wallet.
As she handed her two silver coins and asked her to use the remaining money on herself the maid thanked her and took both of them to the stall while also reminding them that she would wait for them in the carriage to come back before going to run her errand.
While also warning them to stay close to Scarlett if not they would receive a serious scolding when they got back by the time she said that they had already gone beyond her voice range.
As Caelum Diana with Scarlet approached the vendor to order some skewers he noticed a brass roasting jack turned steadily beside the fire, its gears clicking softly as it spun a dripping joint of meat over the glowing coals.
Caelum asked Scarlett what, is that and she replied, " It's a roasting jack young Master It turns the meat so it cooks evenly over the fire."
She said Caelum looked at her with a surprised expression and said I didn't know how skewers were grilled before placing their order.
As they all sat at a small iron-legged table beneath a striped awning, a steaming roast was set before them on a gleaming pewter plate while Scarlett stood up and paid the man 2 silvers he returned 10 bronze coins to her as change. Caelum noticed that the man had long ears with a polished face seeing this, Caelum thought to himself I didn't know elves ran stalls here what a surprise.
For a brief moment, Caelum forgot about the food in his hands. An actual elf was standing right in front of him, selling roast meat at a bazaar.
It completely shattered every assumption he had carried over from the fantasy stories of his previous life.
As Caelum continued to eat he heard Scarlett talking with the elven vendor and their conversation piqued his interest as she held the two silver coins that her mother had given her and was about to pay the man while he gave her change of ten bronze coins.
Watching the exchange, Caelum guessed that ten bronze coins made a silver he thought while munching on his meal it was then that the ramblings of other customers talking piqued his interest.
Two young men at a nearby table were discussing the opera house.
"I heard the Marquess increased security," one of them said.
"Why?"
"His spies uncovered rumors of a bombing."
The moment Caelum heard that while still eating he began to worry because that's where they were visiting and could only reply, " Why today of all days he said out loud in an annoyed tone.