After a while, I was able to slowly open my eyes. The first thing that greeted me was a blinding light flashing straight into my eyes. After adjusting my eyes from the light, I heard a voice.
"Ragnar! You are awake!" My mother said weakly as tears formed around her eyes, as she saw me wake up and proceed to hug me.
When she wrapped her arm around me to hug me, I could feel how worried she was, as her arm was shaking as she hugged me.
Then, I looked at my surroundings. I could see the curtains on both my sides and could smell herbs and different varieties of concoctions. I am guessing that someone carried me here. Well, I do pray for one thing. It is that I hope that I did not drink any concoctions while I was unconscious.
I turned my head back towards my mother, who was still crying while hugging me.
"You are a bad son," Wraith said mockingly.
Oh, shut up.
"If only you had not lost the duel," Lust said calmly.
Your authority is the reason why I lost, though...
But their words held some truth. If only I had not said anything and just silently watched the duel between Lysander and Zyvaris and not made any comments, I would not have been involved in this mess.
I also know that Lust Authority's drawbacks are the worst for me in this world, where most of the characters I played in the game that I played contain a lot of female characters. If I remember correctly, most of the story's fights consist of fighting against females...
I need to awaken fast, but if I do, the weak body would not be able to handle the mana or aura and would just destroy the body, which leads to me just wanting to die...
As I was having those thoughts, my mother broke my thoughts as she asked me a question.
"Son, I want to ask you a question. Who did these to you? Which children bully or beat you up like that?" My mother asked firmly, her voice containing anger at wanting to find out who did these things to me.
Listening to her words, I could feel the anger within her voice. I wanted to keep it and not tell her, but I gave up and just confessed to her. I confessed that I was just looking for her, and I accidentally got lost on the training ground where the noble children were.
Then I saw the duel between Lysander and Zyvaris. I also confess that because I accidentally said my opinions, Lyraena, who heard it, felt anger because, to her, I was insulting her brother, and it was an excuse that also led to insulting the Destenebres.
And how it led to me and her having a duel, and how I was led to this. I did not talk to her about Lust Authority, which caused me to lose, as it is best to keep it a secret.
After hearing my explanation, my mother had a grim expression. She did not expect the reason why I was in a state of critical injury would be the truth I had given to her.
Soon, we heard footsteps, and we turned our heads in the direction of the footsteps. After a few seconds, the owner of the footstep was revealed to be a small girl with long, wavy, bright red hair tied into high pigtails and deep golden eyes. She was Elara, Elara Aremflaris.
Then another footstep was heard. The owner of the footstep did not take long to be revealed.
She wore a crimson lace gown, its rich floral patterns shimmering in the light. The bodice was structured, drawing in her narrow waist and setting off the gown's off‑shoulder neckline. The skirt widened over her rounded hips and fell in long folds that moved gracefully with her steps.
Her bright red hair cascaded in waves down her back, vivid against pale skin. Her eyes, scarlet-touched with green, seemed to shift in the light. The gown revealed her striking figure with clarity, leaving her presence impossible to ignore.
It was Cassandra Aremflaris.
As she entered, the first thing she did was give my mother a cold glare. Cesline, who saw that, felt like it was unfair, as she did not do anything wrong. My mother and Cassandra did not speak until a voice broke the cold silence.
"I want to introduce myself again. I am Elara, Elara Aremflaris." Elara said gently as she lifted her dress slightly and introduced herself.
Hearing her words, I decided to reintroduce myself.
"My name is Ragnar," I said calmly as I lowered my upper body to greet the noble girl in front of me.
"Ragnar, I wish to thank you for saving me from the cake that fell today," Elara said gently as she looked at me with a calm smile.
"There is no need to thank me. I just happened to be nearby, and somehow, fate simply ordered me to save you from that cake," I said calmly.
"With your choice of words, it feels like you are saying it's destiny..." Lust said sarcastically.
I do not think kids have such a wild imagination. Back in my days––
"Back in your days, you were a loner," Pride said nonchalantly.
I did not answer or reply to Pride's comment.
Elara, who heard my words, felt her heart beating faster. Then her face turned incredibly red as she could not look at my face.
Cassandra, who saw her daughter's expression, looked at me and asked a question.
"Boy, may I ask what the relationship between that woman and you is?" Cassandra asked coldly.
Before I could respond to her with a lie, my mother said her words first.
"He's... my... son..." Cesline said weakly as she confessed the truth.
Hearing the truth, Cassandra's eyes open wide as she reacts with her stunned expression. Even Elara, who was blushing badly, was also stunned.
Cesline is the mistress of the Destenebres' current head of the family. So if the boy whose name is Ragnar was the son of Cesline. That would lead to Ragnar being a Destenebres bloodline member. Which leads to...
"You are Ragnar, and you are a Destenebres... meaning you are Ragnar Destenebres... and considering you are a son of Madam Cesline... so you are an illegitimate child of the Destenebres?" Elara asked curiously.
"Considering that the cat is out of the bag, correct, I am an illegitimate child of the Destenebres. Let me introduce myself again. I am Ragnar, Ragnar Destenebres. An illegitimate child of the Destenebres, or, to be fair, the abandoned child of the Destenebres..." I said calmly with a calm smile.
Both of them were stunned by what I had just said, as if knowing a secret truth of the Destenebres' family, but then, Elara raised her hand towards me and asked me a question.
"What do you mean by the cat is out of the bag?" Elara asked gently.
...
Everyone was silent about her questions and then also turned to me, wondering the meaning or what I was trying to say when I said, 'The cat is out of the bag.'
I forgot that idiom doesn't exist in this world...
"It is just an idiom that I made, relating to having a secret exposed or revealed," I explained calmly as I lied.
Everyone who heard my explanation started understanding what I was trying to say, but didn't understand why I used a weird idiom.
"You are a bad liar..." Envy said pitifully.
I wouldn't deny that.
Feeling that my body was alright and healed, I slowly got out of bed.
"Hhuuuuhhhh... So tired." I yawned softly due to the tiring day and also Sloth's Authority as I was standing.
I also realised that my outfit hadn't changed and was now dirty from the duel. My mother, hearing my yawn, suggested we go home. Upon hearing her words, I agree. Just as I walked out of the medical room with my mother, Elara's voice was heard behind us.
"Erm, will we meet again?" Elara asked nervously, her face still blushing.
"Maybe, I cannot say. However, I do hope that Lady Elara will grow up more beautiful when we meet again. I also hope Madam Cassandra will grow more beautiful when we meet again." I said calmly as I tried to give a compliment that would leave a good impression as I walked out with my mother to navigate back to the entrance of the Destenebres' mansion.
Hearing my words, Elara felt her heart beating even more aggressively. She could not understand her emotions too well right now as those words resounded in her mind.
Cassandra, who glanced at her daughter, understood what her daughter was feeling but chose to remain silent.
'That boy is a dangerous person, he is a smooth talker like that Aiden, ' Cassandra thought coldly as she noted the boy as a dangerous influence on his daughter.
Soon, my mother walked with me to the entrance of the mansion. As we walked, we could hear the excitement and other voices from the other noble guests celebrating in the mansion.
Today, sure was a tiring day...
"It sure was," Sloth said sleepily.
As we arrived near the entrance, what greeted us was a single carriage that was being in charged of by Jagid in his armour and...
"Great Night, Madam Cesline and Young Master Ragnar", Seraphina said calmly with a calm smile.
Seraphina, whom I only see in her chef's outfit, was dressed differently.
She was dressed in a crisp white blouse that clung across her chest, the fabric stretched just enough to suggest the fullness beneath while still keeping a refined look. The high collar framed her neck, and the puffed sleeves softened the outline of her shoulders. A blue ribbon tied at her throat drew the eye upwards, contrasting with the fiery braid that draped over her shoulder.
Over the blouse, she wore a deep navy pinafore dress, tailored closely to her form. The straps curved over her bust, holding firmly in place and giving structure to her figure. The waist was drawn in tightly, emphasising the narrowness of her middle and the dramatic curve that swept into her hips. The skirt fell in smooth lines, skimming over her shape so that each step carried a graceful sway. Gold buttons and a star‑shaped pin added richness to the design, while the large blue bow in her hair echoed the ribbon at her collar, completing the look with a noble charm.
At her side were two large luggage. Seeing them makes me suspect that something is off here.
"Night, Chef Seraphina, what are you doing here?" I asked curiously, fearing that it might be something bad.
"Let's just say that I have been transferred to a different boss," Seraphina smiled calmly.
"Why were you transferred? Also, which boss?" I asked again, not sure if the situation was what I thought.
Seraphina did not answer and instead looked at Jagid, who got off the carriage and helped carry her two large luggage onto the carriage. Seeing the scene, I looked back at Seraphina, who was smiling back at me.
"So why were you transferred?" I asked again, as the situation I expected was instantly wiped from my mind, so I removed one part of the question.
"Well, I decided to give up my position as head chef to Petro and decided to transfer to someone else. After what happened today, I do not feel like working with a Young Lord who does not appreciate a chef's work. So I decided to work under someone who can understand how to cook and what it is like to cook." Seraphina said calmly with a smile.
Hearing her words, I could understand the feeling. If I were an employee and my employer did not appreciate my work. I would feel fed up and would quit my job to find a job that appreciates my work if my employer stresses me out. Though there was one thing that made me suspect something, it was why she transferred under us. Before I could ask, Seraphina answered first.
"Let's just say that I owe someone their bonus that I have not paid for their help today", Seraphina said calmly.
I'd rather have money as a bonus than have a chef...
"I see, I hope we get along well", I said calmly with a smile.
My mother, Cesline, walked with me and Seraphina to our carriage as Jagid opened the door for us. As we all got in, we saw Elara waving goodbye to us at the mansion's entrance through the carriage's window. Seeing her wave goodbye, I waved goodbye back to her, though her mother was coldly glaring at my mother and... wait... she was glaring at me as well? What did I do?
"I wouldn't blame her", Pride said calmly.
What did I do to deserve it?
"Idiot..." Lust said boredly.
At least tell me...
"No", Wraith said calmly.
Then the carriage moved. Considering it was a long trip, I just slept as the carriage moved to the manor in the forest. Seraphina also had the same idea as me and just fell asleep. My mother, however, looked at me falling asleep with a sceptical and worried expression.
She could remember what happen when she brought my unconscious body back to the medical room in the medical room. When she rushed in and informed the medical staff to help her son, the staff told her to place me on a bed. Which she did and let the medical staff do their job.
The medical staff observed my wounds and then replied to my mother with a worried expression.
"Erm, may I ask if your son has some sort of artifact that helps him recover?" The medical staff asked weakly.
My mother, who did not understand why the medical staff asked the question, replied to them that I do not have an artifact that helps me recover.
The medical staff who heard that were shocked, seeing the shocked expression. My mother felt agitated that the medical staff was not helping her son and wanted to tell her how critically injured her son is and needs urgent help, but as she went towards me, she understood why the medical staff was shocked and asked a ridiculous question.
She was looking at the corrosive marks slowly disappearing and the bruises on her body slowly fading. It was as if her son's body was recovering at an unnatural rate.
Soon, all the injuries faded, and her son's body was fully healed. Cesline wanted to feel happy that her son was no longer in danger and to thank the goddesses, but she couldn't. Instead, she felt a sense of suspicion. How was her son, who had been born without any talents, suddenly able to possess such abilities?
What if her son was secretly practising those forbidden dark arts?
Cesline pushed her troubling thoughts aside. She should be grateful her son was alive, not questioning if he was a dark art practitioner. Instead, she squeezed his hand and prayed for him to wake up soon.
The medical staff observing the situation decided to admit that they hadn't seen anything at all. They simply continued with their work, fearing that the son might be a member of a cult who could seek revenge on their families if anything happened to him.
After a while, the carriage finally arrived at the manor in the forest. I woke up and stepped out, accompanied by Seraphina and my mother. As we descended, Jagid was already unloading the two pieces of luggage that Seraphina had brought with her.
Once he finished, he waved us goodbye and drove the carriage back to the mansion.
At the entrance of the manor, all three of us started walking inside the manor. Seraphina effortlessly carried her two pieces of luggage, having enhanced her strength with body enhancement magic.
As we walked inside, the hallway was dark. Considering that it is late at night, it is understandable that everyone is asleep. Since Seraphina has been transferred to us, we also need to find a room in the manor for her to stay and sleep.
Just when we walked near the kitchen, we saw a candle burning on a table and a note in front of it in the kitchen. Feeling something was off, we went to check it out as we walked towards the candle.
Why does this feel like a horror movie?
"Boo!" Wraith said mockingly.
Shut up.
Just as we were near the candle, we read the note.
"Blow the candle," the words stated on the note.
...
I just didn't care and blew out the fire on the candle. Once the flame was out, the kitchen was shrouded in darkness.
Maybe I should not have done that.
Then all of a sudden, the kitchen's magic lights lit up as it shone in the darkness in the kitchen, blinding Seraphina, my mother and me.
Once I adjusted my eyes, I saw everyone at the table with a cake. The maids, Yukino, Sana, Rina, Aurelia and Lourel, who is in a wheelchair behind the cake. I could also see many party decorations around us, as well as many foods on the tables, as they are being set up by the maids in the kitchen.
"Surprise!" Everyone shouted at the same time.
"What is going on?" I asked curiously, though I already understood what was going on.
"Since we could not celebrate your birthday at the mansion, we thought we could make our own surprise birthday party for you, young master Ragnar," Rina said excitedly with a grin.
"It was Aurelia's idea, she said, that we could not celebrate your birthday at the mansion. So she decided that we should make a party here when you all came back", Sana said happily with a bright smile.
"Indeed, my daughter skipped her knight training just to plan for this surprise party," Lourel said warmly with a gentle smile.
Hearing her words, I turned to look at Aurelia, who had an embarrassed expression on her face.
"I am sorry if the party that we had set up may not be as good as the party in the mansion..." Aurelia said weakly, still having an embarrassed expression.
"How cute", Lust said playfully.
"No, this party is better than the party at the mansion", I said calmly with a gentle smile.
Everyone who heard that smiled, as the effort that they spent making the surprise party was worth it.
"By the way, who is that woman behind you?" Lourel asked calmly as she looked at Seraphina.
Everyone, aside from my mother and me, looked at Seraphina, then they all realised who she is.
"That's Chef Seraphina, who is the head chef of the Destenebres' Mansion. Why are you here?" Yukino asked, surprised.
Seraphina, who saw Yukino just introduce her, smiled. She explained everything about why she was here. She started with me being forced to work in the kitchen, then being forced to work as a room service staff member around the mansion. Then also revealed how I suggested and helped make an ice cream cake after an incident. She also explained how she dropped from being a head chef and transferred here on her own volition, and also stated that she owes me my bonus, which is why she is here. She even describes the details of the chef's outfit I wore when I was working in the kitchen.
Everyone who heard that looked at my expression as Seraphina explained everything, whether it was true or not. I just nodded my head slowly as I had a sad expression.
I do not want to wear such an outfit ever again...
Well, after that, we just celebrated this unexpected birthday party for me as we all ate the meals at the table. I even talked about how much I earned from working as a room service staff member as I took out a pouch full of gold coins, saying it was the best birthday gift I had ever had by my own hands.
At the end of the party, everyone lit a single candle on my cake and looked at me, to blow the fire on the candle away and make a wish. After giving some thought, I blew the fire on the candle away as I made my wish.
'All I wish is for me to have a beautiful life that is envied by all, which is a peaceful life free from all troubles,' I prayed with all my faith towards my wish, hoping it would come true.
"I wish for my lord to have a stressful life and have many troubles", Wraith prayed sincerely.
You bastard!
"I wish my lord would encounter many new, beautiful women as his partners in his life. He has violated art today", Lust prayed sincerely.
No, do not grant that wish. I am happily married to a couple of women. I do not need any more.
"I wish for my lord to sleep in his entire life, not doing a single thing", Sloth prayed sincerely.
Are you wishing me an eternal slumber, which is death?
"I wish for my lord to suffer badly, because he is living too peacefully and happily", Envy prayed sincerely.
I was just badly injured today, and you describe it as living too peacefully and happily?
"I wish for my lord to accumulate eternal wealth in his life", Greed prayed sincerely.
That is a good wish, thank you, Greed.
"I wish for my lord to eat more delicious delicacies and hope he gets stronger faster through eating because he is too weak." Gluttony prayed sincerely.
I appreciate your goodwill, but that last comment felt unnecessary...
"I wish that my Lord would not fight alone, ever again", Pride prayed sincerely, but there was also a trace of sadness in his words.
...
"Why aren't you commenting on anything?" Pride asked with scepticism.
I... a... Hope that your wish will be granted as well.
After blowing out the candle, we enjoyed the cake and the meals prepared by the maids. We celebrated the night together until I eventually fell asleep shortly after eating a lot of food in the kitchen, and also due to the effects of using the Sloth's Authority today.