More years passed. I watched from my window as the maids prepared decorations, carrying fabric and carved ornaments across the courtyard.
Right. My eighth birthday was almost here, only two days away.
In this kingdom, turning eight and sixteen are special, each celebrated differently. The age of eight is a day of gratitude for life, and sixteen marks the beginning of adulthood.
I had been so absorbed in reading that I had completely forgotten it was coming.
Mother had recently allowed me to use the old study room, though she still called it inappropriate for a child. She was not wrong. It held strange items and old books filled with topics most parents would never allow near their children. It had taken years of begging and persistent requests to earn her approval.
Now I spent most of my time here, and it had become my own little treasure trove.
Items lay scattered across the table, and books lined the shelves, some marked with runes. I returned to the journal on my desk.
It told the story of Aldric Von Lockewood, my grandfather, once the Duke of the East, and rumored to be favored by the God. His life, missions, and sacrifices were written plainly and without exaggeration.
After a couple of minutes, there was a knock at the door. I closed the book and went to open it.
Belle stepped into the room, her emerald eyes scanning the shelves and scattered books before she fixed her gaze on me.
"Hey! Mother told me to bring you to town to get something."
She sighed loudly. "Everyone's busy, yet you're always stuck in this room without a care in the world. What do you even do here? It's just books! Mother's worried about you, you know!"
I sighed. "Alright, I'll talk to her later. So, stop nagging me."
"Hmph… You better. I'll be waiting out front, so go change your clothes."
Although she was right, I didn't really go outside or interact with other people much. My world revolved around my family and the servants in the manor. I had no friends, which made me the opposite of my older sister, who was bright and friendly.
I didn't mind the quiet, though. Solitude felt safer. Still, sometimes, seeing how easily Belle made friends, I wondered what that was like.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my clothes and running a hand through my black hair. As I stared into my unusual crimson eyes, I remembered what my mother had told me that I had inherited them from my grandfather.
Looking at my small hands, I clenched them into fists, missing the strength and size of my old body. It felt strange to be so small after all those years living as someone else.
Once I was ready, I headed to the front gate, where a tall, serious-looking man in a reinforced leather coat stood guard. A prominent scar marked his left cheek. I smiled and greeted him warmly.
"Good afternoon, Sir Roswell."
"Good afternoon, young lord. I heard you're also coming to town today."
"Yeah, Mother asked me to go. So, how are you liking it here so far?"
He nodded thoughtfully. "I'm still adjusting, but the training grounds and the people here are nice."
From what I'd heard, Roswell was an old friend of my father from their academy days. Last week, Father hired him as our guard. They said he was incredibly strong, comparable to Father himself. I would have loved to see them spar, but I doubted it would happen anytime soon.
Before I could ask him anything else, the sound of hooves drew my attention. A carriage rolled up to the front, and Belle appeared, walking briskly toward us in a green-and-white dress with a ribbon tied neatly at the collar, her expression impatient.
"Hey, you're late!" she yelled. "We need to hurry."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "No, I'm not. What exactly are we going to get?"
She sighed dramatically. "Just get in the carriage. You'll know when we get there."
Deciding not to argue, I dropped the subject and climbed into the carriage beside her. The driver gave a soft command, and the horses began to trot, pulling us toward the busy town of Linberg. I never won arguments with her anyway.
. . .
As we rode, Belle reached into her purse and handed me a colorful puzzle cube.
"Here. I still can't figure this one out," she grumbled, folding her arms.
"I told you, you have to start with this part first," I said, pointing to one side.
Belle leaned closer, watching intently as I rotated the cube, aligning the pieces step by step. After a few twists, the colors clicked into place.
"Done," I said, handing it back with a grin.
Belle stared at the solved cube in awe, then back at me. "How do you come up with so many of these things?" she muttered, though I could see curiosity in her eyes.
"Reading books," I replied with a shrug.
Of course, I couldn't tell her they were ideas from my past life. Creating puzzles kept me entertained in this world. Belle often borrowed them, even if she pretended not to care.
"I prefer swords over books," she said, tossing the cube into her bag. Then her face lit up. "Oh! Guess what—I heard Roswell's going to start training me next week!"
"Really? That's amazing! Can I join the training too?" I asked, my excitement rising.
Belle raised an eyebrow, giving me a skeptical look. "I don't know. Maybe I should ask Father later."
"Please. Please!" I clasped my hands together, refusing to let age hold me back.
She smirked, clearly enjoying the sight of me begging. "Alright, I'll ask him. But don't get your hopes up, little brother. You're still a weakling."
I rolled my eyes at her teasing but couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face.
. . .
When we reached town, the sharp smell of salt and fish hit me instantly. Dockworkers shouted orders, carts rumbled across the cobblestone roads, and colorful stalls lined the streets. Linberg was alive in a way our manor never was, full of noise and movement.
We entered a large building with Sir Roswell, where my mother's order awaited. An employee greeted us.
Belle spoke first. "We're here to pick up Mother's order."
The employee checked her notebook. "Found it! I'll bring it out. This may take a few minutes."
"That's alright, we will pick it up later," Belle said.
While we were about to leave, a girl with brown hair and bright yellow eyes appeared and greeted my sister.
"Belle! It's so good to see you!" she said with a cheerful smile.
"Mary! Nice to see you too," Belle replied, then grinned as she looked at me. "This is my little brother, Lucy. Isn't he cute?"
Ignoring her, I introduced myself, "Good to meet you, Lady Mary. You can call me Lucian."
"It's great to finally meet you, Lucian. Belle talks about you often," Mary said with a friendly smile.
"Really? I hope she hasn't said anything too bad," I replied, narrowing my eyes at Belle.
Mary giggled. "Not at all! You don't come to town often, so it's nice to finally see you."
"You're right. I'll try to visit more often."
Belle interrupted, "Enough talking. Mary, want to go to Lana's Pastry while we wait?"
"Sure! They just got a new cake," Mary replied, her eyes lighting up.
"Really? I can't wait to try it," Belle said, and the two left together, laughing as they walked toward the street.
Mary stopped and asked, "Lucian, are you coming?"
"No, I'm going to check out some books," I replied.
Mary Goldhart was the daughter of the owner of Goldhart Trading Company, one of the most influential businesses in Valeria.
As they left, Roswell looked at me and spoke. "I'll come with you—"
"It's fine. The bookstore is just across the road. Keep an eye on Belle."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But don't wander."
. . .
I stepped into the bookstore. At the counter stood a suspicious-looking man, his sharp eyes flicking up as I approached.
"Do you have a detailed map of Valeria and the neighboring countries? And books on famous individuals, history, and similar topics?" I handed him a list I'd prepared.
He raised a brow. "A bit young for these kinds of books, aren't you?"
I grinned, tapping the small pouch of coins. "I've got money, mister. That's all that matters, right?"
He chuckled. "Fair enough, young patron. Let me see what I've got."
After a while, he returned with three books and two scrolls.
"This should cover everything."
"Thanks."
As I paid and turned to leave, he called out, "Please come again, young patron!"
I glanced back, half-expecting he might overcharge me for being a child, but he seemed kinder than I had assumed.
As I stepped back onto the bustling streets of Linberg, I wandered for a moment. People moved in small groups, speaking in hushed tones, and a few glanced over their shoulders as they passed. Several knights patrolled the road on high alert. The crowd seemed restless.
While walking, I noticed a commotion in a dark alley. Three boys were harassing someone. I walked toward them and called out, "Hey, could you stop that?"
One of the boys sneered. "Ha! Why would we—"
My heart raced. I wasn't strong, but I couldn't just watch. I tightened my grip on the book bag and swung it at his face. He fell backward, landing hard as the bag tore open, scattering my books across the cobblestones.
"You little brat!" the bleeding boy yelled, furious as he prepared to strike me.
"Stop, or I'll scream," I warned, pointing toward a guard nearby on the road.
The boy's friend grabbed him. "Let's go. He looks like he's from a noble family."
With a glare, the bleeding boy spat at the girl. "Lucky brat," he muttered before retreating down the alley with his friends.
I bent down to gather my scattered books.
"I didn't need your help," the skinny girl said, kneeling to assist me anyway. She looked like she was about my age.
She wasn't wrong. I couldn't have beaten them alone, and they probably would have come after her later. But I couldn't walk away.
In my past life, I often saw beggars, the poor, and homeless people. I rarely helped them, for many reasons. Thinking back now, I realized I stepped in today mostly out of curiosity and maybe guilt. With my family name, talents, and memories, maybe I could change something, even just a little.
"These got dirty," I muttered, brushing off the books. "Here." I handed her some coins and a folded piece of paper.
"I can't—"
"Just take it. Trust me, you need it more than I do."
She peeked at the paper. "Lu… LuLu's School?"
"It's a place where you can learn and get free meals every weekend," I explained.
After a pause, she looked up at me and asked, "Thank you, sir. What's your name?"
"Lucian," I replied with a small smile.