I can't say I didn't expect the consequences of the little wound I had yesterday. I mean it's barely just a gash and they treated it as if I had my arms blown up or something. They must truly care for Sanders. When I woke up, I followed a similar starting routine but when I went out, a butler named Sebastian greeted me.
"You are awake before even the sun rises young master, is there something of the matter?" Sebastian asked me. My first impression of him is that he looked like someone who used to serve in the military and I have a feeling he has seen combat as well.
"Morning exercise… I am tired of being stuck in bed… I'm sick… of being sick…" I said as I almost slipped out the old feelings I thought vanished when I became a Marine. It also seemed to be a mix of Sanders too. This is bad.
"I see but didn't you wound yourself yesterday? It may be best for you to take a rest for a few days and let your body recover."
"Thank you for being nice but it really is just a small wound… besides.." I paused for a moment, hesitant but I decided to continue "I want to be stronger… I… I don't want to be a burden for any longer."
There was a momentary pause after I said and my head faced the ornate floor. Sebastian then forced a cough, making me look up to him. "If that is your feelings as a young master, then I shall respect it. But I or someone else should always be there to accompany you. Never step out of this room alone, this is for your own good young master."
"Thank you" I said as I started walking to the same location. Sebastian offered to carry me but I refused, stating my honor and stuff. He chuckled but I decided to ignore it. When we arrived at the field, there's more people around it, including my two older twin brothers, Isaac and Watson. They waved at me with big smiles so I decided to wave back, with a weak smile. They were also wearing sportswear and I noticed more people wearing them as well.
I looked back to Sebastian, my head slightly tilted to the side, asking the question of what was happening. Isaac chimed in and explained that after the incident yesterday, Duchess Loretta has decided to essentially have people accompany me when I do exercise. The twins were told that if their younger brother is trying hard to get better, then the two should put in more effort as well. It became a sealed deal when apparently Archduke Alastair thought it was a good idea and added that they could join with the Palace Guards.
"As much as I prefer to not do much physical activity, it is pretty embarrassing when it's pointed out," Isaac said.
"Mother and father were really shocked you know when they heard what happened but they are pretty busy about the war between Iridane and Renev. Pretty recent too, as this news was just yesterday from a telegraph from our consulate on the two" Watson added.
War? The word rang in my head longer than it should have. I blankly stared at my two brothers and they immediately apologised, bringing a heavy topic to me, who is still six. Then the twins held both my hands as they brought me to the rest of the people who would be exercising with us.
I swept under the rug what I just heard, reminding myself that I am now Sanders, the third son of the Kianna royalty. I might end up in the position some day of sending young boys to war… I wonder how the people who sent me and the rest of us to our deaths back then.
I must become stronger. I must become smarter.
After an hour and a half of exercise, although I basically was struggling in just less than half an hour, and that's me doing light physical activity. After that, I then took a shower, ate breakfast in my room as I was too exhausted to walk to the dining room. Afterwards, in the afternoon, I decided I can't remain clueless to my surroundings and begged to be brought to the library.
When I arrived there, I was first amazed at just how big the library is in the palace, bigger and better maintained than the library I had back when I was in middle school. For now, I decided to read about the general history of this world and the history of the Kianna Duchy.
It's still unsettling to me how at first I seem to be able to read with no problem and that the language so far feels the same too. Well whatever, at least I can read the language of this country.
People call this world "Millie" and based on current theory, the planet is approximately 3.5 billion years old. It orbits a star named "Celes", which is described as a yellow-orange dwarf K-type star. Millie has one artificial moon named Lua. They call their solar system here the "Celestial System". It has 6 inner terrestrial planets and 2 outer gas giants, separated by the Asteroid Belt or some books call it the Asteroid Belt Alpha as there have been observations of a second belt beyond the 2 gas giants, tentatively named Asteroid Belt Beta.
This is pretty fun.
I got carried away reading Astronomy and decided, hesitantly, to put away the books related to it as I resumed reading the subjects I was planning to read first. The current year is 1907 AoL (Age of Liberation). Years before AoL are referred to as RIC or Reign of the Infernal Crown, which is considered short in terms of history as it only lasted for 50 years but had a significant impact in the course of history of this world. Before that is simply known as Classical Era or CE.
Anyways, the Kianna Duchy, or Kianna Empire before 1875, used to be a massive dominant colonial power that spanned all three of the eastern continents. I could infer that Kianna can be compared to either the Spanish or Portuguese Empire back in my world during the early days of colonization.
Unfortunately, or for me, fortunately, the Kianna Duchy only has three colonies left, although one of them is surprisingly massive. It reminds me of the British Raj and I'm left wondering as to how a declining empire managed to keep such large territory.
Back to the Kianna Duchy, its capital, which I currently reside in, is named after its supposed founder, Latrielle, one of the supposed members of the "hero" party that sealed the Demon Emperor. The country is a semi-constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The Kiannese parliament has a tricameral legislature.
The first one is the oldest, the Council of the High Peerage, which are composed of the old or "original" aristocrats of the Kianna Duchy. I would most likely end up here. They hold half of the power in the country's government and are directly connected to the Royal Family. The first spouse of the reigning monarch would usually end up being the leader of the Council.
The second one is the newest one of them all, established just ten years ago but has managed to snatch the other half of the power in the country. It is the Council of the Civic Gentry. These are primarily composed of the bourgeoisie, capitalist, industrialist or the nouveau riche. The one who provides the largest donation ends up being the leader of this Council. It has been suspected that this Council has already been infiltrated by foreign actors.
The third one and the one that came in the formation of the Parliament in 1776 but has the least power and is usually beholden to the other two. It is the Chamber of the Notables. It is primarily composed of academics, scholars, children from either the aristocrats or industrialists who wouldn't inherit the family estate or business, and the very rare, actual common people. They are the only ones who actually do some form of elections to determine the leader of the Chamber.
Despite being "semi-constitutional", the only elections that actually occur in this country are in the local level and the Chamber of the Notables. Technically the other two houses have some semblance of democratic elements but only amongst themselves when they feel like it. The monarchy remains to have absolute power and despite the existence of the Constitution, the restraints could barely even be called restraint as a single declaration from the monarch can suspend or even abolish the Constitution entirely.
I tried looking for any books regarding the living conditions in the Kianna Duchy and even asked the librarian for it but they said that there's no such books in the library. I did however find books about the local and global economics. I'm surprised that the Kianna Duchy was ranked 5th richest economy in 1905.
Ah right, it has that one big colony…
I honestly did not expect to find myself caring much about these things, especially when it comes to ending up in another world. Maybe this is the curse of being reincarnated into a prominent position. There's so much I don't know at this point. I need to build up strength and knowledge before I could have a glimpse of the world outside the Palace Walls.
I remember my past, my father who struggled to live, me who was left as an orphan and the brothers I lost in war. My past life was a struggle. I recalled the old vow I made, the one to find my parents and the other, to make sure my future family will never experience the same life I experienced. I looked at my tiny hands gripping at the economic book.
Unlike in my previous life, I am in the position to do something. I am in the position of power. I may not become the next heir to the throne, but I am still royalty. I have the power to make a change. I have the power to make sure no one else experiences what I experienced. Whether in my previous life or this.
I stared at the large window overlooking the garden. I didn't notice the time as it seems that the stars dotted the night sky. I raised my arms as if to reach for one of them but I hesitated. Thoughts such as Can I really do something? or I'm just a third prince that surfaced my mind. I decided to hold this thought for now and focused on my current goal.I fell asleep on the stack of books and didn't notice Sebastian carrying me to my room.
As he closed the door, Loretta asked in a soft yet concerned voice:
"Sanders is active lately, did something happen to him?"
"As far as we know, he simply decided one day to start doing more. We have yet to ask him questions as we want to focus on his recovery."
"I see… well I'll hold this one for now but once he recovers… will… will he even be able to-? She was interrupted as Alastair embraced her from behind and she almost fired a spell before realizing it was him.
"Sanders is moving more than he has ever been. Have faith in him." Alastair said as he embraced his wife who turned to his chest to hide the tears coming out of her eyes. Sebastian decided to walk away.
A month later, I was getting significantly better in performing my daily exercises. What used to exhaust me before I even arrived at the field, I could not only walk the entire way with energy left but I could even jog half the entire circumference of the field. I can even catch up with the guards for five minutes. Then I noticed a maid frantically looking around as she tried to catch her breath.
I grabbed one of the water canteens and an unused towel and approached the maid. Before I could even speak
"I have been looking for you young master, your fiance has arrived at the port."
"What?"