Long ago, our ancestors fought against astral creatures known as KARNE—creatures that nearly caused this world to fall into the void.
Those who fought against the KARNE worked together, combining their powers to create weapons capable of fighting those life-devouring monsters.
There were countless remnants left behind by our ancestors—recorded in books or carved into ancient stones. Yet among all of them, the deepest traces of the founders of this world remained within those who held power.
"Ughhh... this book is stupid. Why do I even have to learn about the remains of dead people? Sure, they saved the world, but that was a long time ago. And I don't want to read history books. I want a good storybook."
"Kane, could you help Mother for a moment? I need to move these things so I can clean."
"Alright, Mom. I'll be down in a minute."
The Ventusie family was a noble family that my mother served.
And, of course, so did I.
My mother was a servant of the Ventusie family. She had served them since she was young, and I was born within the grounds of their residence as well.
I lived in a servant's house at the back of the estate.
Only... I always felt that something about it was strange.
Why was our servant's house different?
I mean, our place was larger than the other servants' quarters, and we lived by ourselves while the other servants had to share their rooms.
I thought it was unfair.
But according to my mother, my father had once been a knight of the Ventusie family, so he had been able to provide a decent life for his family.
Unfortunately, he died while fighting a monster that attacked this estate...
Well, it wasn't a bad way to die, as long as he died with honor.
He deserved to be respected.
That's simply how life was in this world.
There were even people who died protecting the ones they loved, only to eventually be forgotten.
...
"Mom, where should I put these boxes?" I shouted while carrying a box filled with old belongings.
"Ah, put those boxes in the garden and stack them there. Uncle, the gardener, will take care of them later. And don't forget to tell the garden guard that I'm going to the city soon."
This was my mother, Laura Kalvine.
My name was supposed to be Kane Kalvine, but my mother told me that my father had never given me a name.
So I simply took the name my mother gave me.
I had never even seen what my father looked like.
Ventusie Estate — Flower Garden
"Uncle! I'll put the box beside the fountain, okay?" I shouted to the gardener, who was busy sowing plant seeds.
"Yeah, yeah. What's inside the box?" the gardener asked curiously.
"I don't know. I saw some cloth, books, and old decorations inside," I answered enthusiastically.
"Alright, alright. I'll donate these things to the children at the orphanage. Hopefully, they'll be of some help to them," the gardener said gently.
"Why donate these old things? Why don't we just sell them and use the money to buy food for them?" I asked with a confused expression.
"Oh, dear. Look at this child. He's already thinking about money."
The gardener held his head as he looked at me, who was beginning to get annoyed.
"Now go home and help your mother with her work."
"Alright, Uncle. Oh, right! I almost forgot to tell you. Mom said—"
BAAAM!
Suddenly, as I turned around, a stone struck me in the head.
It hadn't fallen.
It hadn't been blown by the wind, either.
Someone had definitely thrown it on purpose...
And judging by the impact, they had thrown it hard.
"Hahahaha! I told you it would hit you!"
Ah.
Here we go again.
He was the sixth young master of the Ventusie family, Ronald de Ventusie.
"What are you looking at, you piece of trash?" he said, glaring at me.
"Y-Young Master Ronald, what are you doing here?" the gardener asked while lowering his head helplessly.
"That's none of your business! I can be wherever I want. This is my family's home!" he shouted as he kicked the gardener's leg.
The servants of this family had probably grown accustomed to his rebellious behavior and constant harassment.
And I was no exception.
He often bothered me too, and I knew that soon he would come over and insult me right to my face.
"And you."
Here it comes.
"You dare stare back at me with those disgusting blue eyes of yours?"
His expression turned fierce.
"Let me remind you that you are nothing more than trash thrown out of your mother's womb, and you're completely useless. But don't worry. I can wash you clean."
Ah, I already knew exactly what he was going to say.
I could insult him back.
I could even hit him.
But my mother told me that I had to endure it. Otherwise, she would lose her job, and we would have nothing to eat.
"You understand? You're nothing more than a servant here, someone I can order around however I please."
SLAP!
He slapped me hard enough to knock me to the ground.
"Now get out. I don't want to see you or your ugly face in front of me, you little bastard!"
He whispered the last words near my ear before walking away.
Damn it.
I was really angry now.
I didn't care if he insulted me.
But when he brought my mother into it...
I really had to hold myself back so she wouldn't get into trouble.
I'll deal with him another time if I get the chance.
"Are you alright, Kane? Come here, let Uncle treat your wounds," the gardener asked worriedly.
"Ah, I'm fine, Uncle. I'll just go straight home," I replied as I stood up from the ground.
"But... but your face is swollen, and your head... there's blood coming from it," he said as he reached toward my wound.
"Ah! Don't touch my wound with hands that just came from the garden! I might get an infection!" I shouted, trying to calm him down.
"Sorry, sorry."
Laura's Servant House
"Mom, I'm back from the garden," I said as I entered the house.
"Thank you, Kane. Mother has to go to the city right no—"
She stopped.
"Wait... what's wrong with your face? Did you trip and fall?"
"Oh, Young Master Ronald threw a stone at me and hit me several times."
Of course, that was a lie.
That bastard had only thrown one stone at my head and slapped me once.
I just made it sound worse so Mom would worry about me and pay more attention to me.
"Oh my goodness! Come here, Kane. Let Mother treat your wounds."
Mom immediately walked toward the medicine cabinet in the kitchen.
"I'm fine, Mom. I can treat my own wounds. You can go to the city and buy the supplies needed for the main estate," I replied, pretending to complain through the pain.
"No. I can't leave you in this condition. Come here. Mother will bandage your head."
She gently waved me over.
I approached my mother as she sat on a wooden chair. She slowly and carefully wrapped a bandage around my head.
At least I was lucky to have a mother this kind and gentle.
There were people who didn't have a mother at all.
And there were those who had one, yet their mothers didn't care about their own children.
Compared to them, I had nothing to complain about.
"Are you angry?"
"Huh?"
"Are you angry at Young Master Ronald for doing this to you? And it's not like this only happened once or twice. He's probably done it dozens, maybe even hundreds of times."
Mom asked sadly, her eyes filled with what seemed like regret.
"No. Honestly, I've already gotten used to the way he treats me."
I smiled.
"The important thing is that I can still be with you. And you don't need to feel sad just because I was born as the child of a servant. I'm still grateful that I was born as the son of a mother as sincere and loving as you."
"Oh, look at you. You've gotten good at sweet-talking your mother."
She reached out and pulled me into her arms.
"Come here."
In Front of the Servant House
"Alright. Mother is going to the city for a while to buy some kitchen supplies. Kane, take care of yourself while I'm gone, okay?"
"Yeah. You be careful on the way too, Mom."
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
"Bye!"
I waved my hand as Mom left in a horse-drawn carriage.
She waved back at me.