The next day found Neo sitting in bed.
Having technically not slept for days--if he doesn't count his death as sleeping--he fell into bed without any dinner the moment he arrived back at the manor.
His excursion into town had left him exhausted. It wasn't every day you get the chance to go back to your past life. His mind had eventually finished processing his current situation and he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Waking up to his luxurious bedroom had him shutting his eyes and praying this was all a dream.
After committing this action, he gave up hoping and fell back into a neutral state--repressing his grief for a rainy day.
Some may say he's a bit lax with these things--repressing and replacing, ignoring the bad, and wearing rose-tinted glasses--but Neo isn't much of a fighter once he's weighed the pros and cons of his situation.
It is more accurate to say that he's grown to be more reasonable.
He knows he's at a disadvantage here.
This second chance was given to him mysteriously. For all he knows, it could be a being that has transcended this current plane of existence.
He cannot fight against something so powerful if he isn't even sure of what it is.
He has no abilities besides research and scheming, and the latter skills haven't been used since he was stabbed through with a sword.
Being a researching medical doctor doesn't give him god-tier powers or significant magical abilities.
He's just really good at researching and writing scathing essays about the health care systems around the world.
As Nazareth, he's learned basic casting and talisman making, but it didn't mean he was amazingly talented. If he was, the Magic Tower would have extended an invitation to join them years ago.
Not that he wants to.
Magic engineering was never in his field of interest.
Now, medicine and healing, those two professions are what he is aiming for.
It will be difficult to achieve due to his current grades, but not impossible.
For now, he might as well take the opportunity to fix things and enjoy his second chance.
Aurelion is the heir so the Ducal will go to him.
On the other hand, he has the luxury to not be chained down by the responsibilities of the Ducal.
His responsibilities in the Modern World were not equivalent to his responsibilities here. Life was both easy and challenging as the son of a duke. He needed to take up the burden of this lifetime and leave behind his past duties, but the burden did not weigh as heavy as his brother's.
Making connections, creating bonds and ties, and assisting his brother in ascending his place as the next duke--all the duties he should have been responsible for in his last lifetime will be taken care of this time around.
He swallows down the crawling urge to escape these duties. The tell-tale signs of longing to go back is quickly repressed.
As Doctor Overland, he's lived a good life.
Hopefully, Clark would find his notes and distribute the vaccine to the rest of the world.
As for his parents… he can only hope they won't be too upset by his death.
He has no other regrets besides that.
No regrets at all.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Young Master, please excuse the intrusion.
Rainer's voice resonates from behind the door.
Punctual as always, according to the clock on the wall striking eight, exactly.
The door opens.
The first thing Neo spots is a jar of bright yellow dandelions in the servant's arms.
He watches as Rainier places the jar next to the window and parts the curtains, letting in the morning light.
He opens the windows next, allowing the distinctive smell of flower trees to enter the room, along with chilly spring air.
Neo shivers as a breeze flies past.
One thing he really hates about mornings is how cold it can be.
However, Rainier going to his closet is his cue to crawl out of bed.
He does so reluctantly.
Sitting down in front of the mirror, he sees the state of his hair. It was a bit of a mess, but at least he doesn't look like that one girl who fell down a well in that horror movie he was forced to watch with some of his colleagues.
It might not look as neat as did the day before, but he thinks he did pretty well with his haircut.
Clark seems to believe that he doesn't have the ability to take care of himself, but he can. Alright, Clark? He can.
What did the guy even think he was? A plant? Sure, he was a bit of a workaholic, but he was raised to be a somewhat functioning human being.
He can take care of himself just fine when he gets the chance.
"Is there anything the Young Master would like to wear, today?"
Rainier brings him out of his musing.
The servant is arms deep in his closet and seems close to picking out the most colorful-looking article of clothing he could find.
Neo shakes his head vehemently.
"Just something simple," he explains hastily. "I won't be going out today."
From the corner of his eye, he sees Rainier shove a pastel purple jacket back into the closet. A few seconds later, he brings out a simple white button-down and black trousers.
"Is this alright, Young Master?"
"It's perfect."
He feels like he dodged a bullet.
He barely remembers how he used to dress during his time as Nazareth, but it must have been somewhat horrendous. Nazareth didn't know how to dress properly. He was attracted to brightly colored clothes due to the Red Light District's influence and loved the feeling of silk and furs.
Even with someone as capable as Rainier, he cannot stop him from creating fashion faux-pas when he keeps buying such gaudy pieces of clothes unbefitting of nobility.
Neo knows he has new responsibilities. He will fulfill them, as he should have. Because he is still a child of the Odum Household. It is his identity for as long as he lives in this world.
Compared to his past belligerent carelessness, he cannot afford to be so ignorant of his surroundings this time around.
And that means his sense of dress must become refined or he will gain no respect.
He smiles to himself at the thought.
Fashion in the Modern World had its extravagance, but for those in the workforce, fashion was a bit different.
Neo would know. He experimented a lot in his youth.
He liked colors and good quality clothes, but they weren't efficient in a laboratory setting where he could possibly spill something and dirty his shirt.
For most of his career, he settled for stained button-downs and trousers since it was the closest he could get to professional.
The occasional Christmas sweaters his adoptive father would knit him during the winter were a part of his wardrobe indefinitely in case he needed the comfort.
He also went goth during his teen years and had a multitude of piercings on his face and ears. Heavy eyeliner and black nail polish were heavily favored by his sixteen-year-old self during that time period--along with a collection of alternative rock music stashed inside his phone.
It is amazing how much his adoptive parents allowed him such mobility.
He still can't believe they actually let him out of the house, especially after that one time he shaved the left side of his head and dyed the remaining half of his hair neon green…
Suffice to say, he had an amazing childhood full of teenage angst and lived out his fashionable dreams in a somewhat responsible manner.
However, if his colleagues had seen his yearbooks, they might have an aneurism. He's certainly toned down his interests by his mid-twenties.
Rainier helped him get dressed into his outfit for the day. As he approached with the clothes, Neo noticed that he wore a shear blindfold today.
"Is this new?" He asked as Rainier helped him button up the cuffs of his sleeves.
He watches as the deft fingers pause.
"No, Young Master. It is not. The last one got dirty, so I threw it away."
By dirtied, Rainier likely means he didn't trust him not to tamper with the blindfold after he touched it yesterday.
Not for the first time, Neo wondered how much Rainier hated him.
The servant doesn't show it, but Neo is well aware that he's one of Aurelion's many eyes. It should be obvious that the man is upset by what he's done. The brand is a symbol of shame.
In his last life, Rainier never took off the blindfold—at least, not in front of him. And why should he? He branded him like a slave!
But this is not the time to get emotional.
He still has an opportunity to fix his mistakes. Removing the Slave Emblem is one such task.
Rainier brought in a pail of water so he could wash up.
"Where would the Young Master like to take his morning meal, today?" Rainier suddenly asked.
"Are we not eating in the dining hall?"
"Master and Madam left two hours ago for the palace and decidedly skipped breakfast. Lady Guinivere cited that she was going out to eat with friends, and Young Master Aurelion needed to leave early for an event with the other heirs."
Neo hummed.
His eyes wandered over to his work desk.
Homework littered the table, placed haphazardly with obvious signs of blatant disregard. There were so many of them, too.
"Can you bring a tray to my room with a pot of coffee? I'm going to finish some school work."
If Rainier was surprised by his answer, the servant didn't show it.
"Certainly, Young Master."
The school year just started a few weeks ago. Neo had checked the calendar the night before to make sure.
If he falls behind so soon, it will be difficult to catch up.
He had been a poor student during his time as Nazareth, not because he didn't have the abilities, but because he placed no effort into trying despite being fortunate enough to attend the Academy.
In the Modern World, given the fact that his adoptive parents could afford his education, he became Doctor Overland through his efforts.
Rainier leaves the room with the bucket, excusing himself for the moment. Neo makes a noise of assent and rolls up his sleeves.
There is no way he's going to fail this world's equivalent of high school.
---
By mid-afternoon, he had gotten a decent amount of work done.
There were a couple of history essays he needed to complete. For those, he's going to have to relearn the history of this world.
Alchemy, magic theory, and arithmetics, on the other hand, were simple. He's always had a head for math.
But literature and history?
The very bane of his existence.
Literature required him to look through a playwright he'll be studying this quarter, which isn't difficult for the moment.
There was also a political theory class that he's taking, but thankfully, the political theory professor hasn't assigned him anything yet. He looked through his schedules and saw that he had elected for that particular class and nearly died.
No doubt, he had picked it to learn how to politically out-maneuver his younger half brother--not that the class taught him anything remotely violent.
He plans to trade the class in for a herbalist elective. It might help him in the long run, especially since he plans to go into an apprenticeship next year.
Neo drops his pen and takes a sip of his sixth cup of coffee.
He stretched, arms held up to the ceiling.
This is a good time to take a break.
"Rainier,"
The servant appears from behind the door.
"More coffee, Young Master?"
He shows a charming smile and politely inclines his head.
Neo wants to say yes, but he knows his limits. Six cups of coffee are enough for the day.
"Actually, can you bring me some tea?"
"Most certainly, Young Master. Is there a preferred location? Or should I bring it here?"
Neo took a peek outside his window.
It is a wonderful day to be out under the sun. The spring air is clean and the Odum gardens have always been well-cared for.
He made up his mind.
"Bring it to the pavilion on the..."
Which garden was closest to his side of the manor, again?
His father and step-mother took the north side, near the entrance of the manor. Guinevere sleeps in the southern wing. Aurelion is closest to the east, so that leaves him with the west.
"The western garden." He buried a maid there once upon a time…
"The garden, Young Master?" Rainier reiterates. If the servant was surprised by his response, he didn't show it.
"Yes, it's a very nice day outside."
"As you say, Young Master. Will blue earl be fine?"
Neo shakes his head. He had six cups of coffee. With the state of his current unemployment, he won't be able to fall asleep at night. "Just something light-colored. Do we have any ceylon?"
He was never much of a tea drinker back in the Modern World, but his adoptive mother was an enthusiast and often dragged him to the Annual Tea Drinking Festival each year.
Three days inside the festival usually has him coming out tasting nothing but astringent and fragrant teas for weeks on end.
---
Rainier wordlessly listened to the Young Master's exposition.
He has no idea what caffeine is.
Nor is he sure of what to make of the Young Master's current behavior.
The fact that the youth is able to identify another tea type other than earl grey is astonishing enough.
In the past, it was obvious that the Young Master could barely tell the difference between black and green tea! If you told him he was drinking earl grey, he would have believed you instantly without batting a lash.
Or perhaps he didn't actually care what he was drinking?
Little did Rainier know, he was spot on with his theory.
Nazareth didn't really give a shit what he was drinking. He only knew earl gray since it was the most favored drink in Noble Society. He had no opinions as long as the drink wasn't poisoned. The standards for him were very low, indeed.
"Please add something to pair with the tea later, as well." The Young Master said with an absentminded expression.
"Young Master..." Came the overly bewildered reply.
He admits he may be overreacting, but the Young Master has become so strange!
"We have some leftover cakes from Lady Guinevere's tea party. Should that suffice?"
He watches as the youth's face pulls into a mild smile.
"Of course, Rainier!" Was the cheerful reply.
Again, Rainier's mind draws to a realization.
Having tea in the garden pavilion with cakes...
Is the Young Master going to the pavilion for afternoon tea?
Not for the first time that day, Rainier felt his three world views collapsing.
It is unusual for the scheming Young Master to be so lax.
Everyone knows there's only one reason for the Young Master to participate in tea time. The reason being either a plot to kill someone or a setup to poison somebody.
Rainier should know. It's happened a couple of times in the past.
However, he is a Capable Servant, one of the finest from the Servant Academy. He won't question Young Master Nazareth's intentions just yet, but he will certainly observe and report back to Master Aurelion.
There's always a chance that Young Master Nazareth is cooking up another assassination attempt against his younger brother. Rainier is worried since it's too soon since the last attempt.
For all he knows, Master Aurelion might not come out of the next one unscathed.
"The tea cart will be ready for you in ten minutes, Young Master."
For now, he will watch for hints.
"Thank you, Rainier."
And evaluate the strange behavior of the Young Master.
---
Neo watched as Rainier left the room, his footsteps gradually disappearing down the wall.
What a shame those cornflower eyes have to be covered up.
The feeling of regret surges through him.
The youth stood up from his desk and walked over to his bookshelf.
He had never been an avid reader in the past, but he had a rather large collection of medicinal volumes--mostly because he was interested in poisons.
Reaching up, he drew out a battered and worn book made from cheap materials. It was incomparable to the quality of paper of his other books, but there were obvious signs that the book was well-loved.
His first herbal dictionary, written and bound by his mummy. Given to him on his fifth birthday and the first thing he's ever owned.
She had hoped he would become a successful healer in the future. It was her inheritance to him since she had nothing she could call her own beside him.
Unfortunately, she wasn't able to teach him how to read it, either due to her work or her illness.
He did learn how to read after returning to the Odum Manor, and he did read the book many times, but the intent of the gift did not benefit him during the throes of his madness.
He was more obsessed with killing Aurelion than worrying about his future career choices.
Neo opened the book and saw his mummy's familiar penmanship.
The handwriting was messy, with a few misspelled words, but the instructions and information have been valuable.
His mummy wrote three chapters worth of aphrodisiacs--on how to make them, identify them, and counter them.
There were also several chapters on poisons, from mild to dangerous, in the case of a violent client.
If he had chosen to stay in the brothel after her death, he might have found the information to be godly.
But besides these specific chapters, it was this book that made him want to go into medical research.
That, and his mummy's death.
Alouysia died at the hands of a plague that swept through the lower parts of the Rhine Empire.
The Red Light District was heavily affected by the disease.
If the Church had let the healers and herbalists of the Empire try a hand in finding a cure for that year's plague, his mummy could have been saved.
The royal physician was able to eventually procure a healing spell to counteract the plague with the help of the Magic Tower and the Church, but it was too late by that point.
They found the remedy five years too late and it did nothing to bring back the dead.
Neo went into medical research because he wanted to help people.
When an unknown virus had spread through the modern world, he felt a sense of deja vu. His desperation to cultivate the vaccine turned into an obsession.
He feared for his adoptive parents, who were more susceptible to the disease.
He wasn't ready to lose someone to a plague a second time.
Neo flipped through the pages of his book.
Near the edges of each page, he wrote his own personal notes, which covered how to utilize each healing plant as poisons.
There were a few papers shoved in between the pages, with instructions that could get him arrested for treason.
He silently shoves them into his drawers, intending to burn them at a later time.
Eventually, he found a small slip of paper folded in half. It looked like it used to be a part of a receipt from an apothecary.
'For Servant 1' was written crudely on the front.
Upon opening it, Neo knew he found the instructions for the Slave Emblem, spell and all.
Lovely.
Tucking the piece of paper into his desk, he sighed.
The instructions were just as cruel and merciless as he remembered when he wrote it.
Forget about forgiveness, Rainier has every right to leave his service once he removes the emblem.
Neo sets the book down and walks over to his mirror.
He brought out a red ribbon from his drawers and began tying up his shortened hair.
He might have cut a good length off, but it was still a little long and would get in the way of his reading. He dared not go any shorter since he has no clippers.
After that, he began his trek towards the western garden pavilion.
---
Locating the western garden wasn't an easy feat.
He needed to first find the exit to the western wing of the manor, which involved climbing down a few staircases. After that, it was bypassing the knight's training field.
In the past, he didn't often visit this garden, mostly due to his resentment against his father.
Gareth had given him the garden along with the west side of the Manor.
The west wing was empty before he came along. It hadn't been used in generations and was mostly for storage. It was all cleared out by his arrival.
Neo followed the garden path and saw the sight of the pavilion in a clearing surrounded by flowers.
The pathway turned into a stone walkway, extending from four different directions.
It parted a sea of peonies, which his father had ordered to be planted when he was brought home.
It was clear that despite never using this space, the servants in the household had continued to maintain it over the years.
Rainier appeared from behind one of the pillars of the pavilion, a tea cart beside him.
He set the cakes and teas on the round table inside the pavilion and bowed when he noticed him.
Neo smiled and seated himself on one of the chairs.
The servant pours the tea.
The observation between the master and servant thus commence.
---
In the afternoon, Aurelion came back to the mansion in an irritable mood. The servants quickly fled his line of sight and gave him a wide berth as he stormed through the manor ground.
The audacity of that damn ingrate!
Aurelion despised snakes the most, especially snakes that work for his brother.
Not only was that ingrate's attempt to humiliate him embarrassing, but he even dared to brag about the oppression of some lower families in the noble social circle. Such a taboo conversation and the lack of decorum nearly made him throw his chair and sock the idiot in the face.
But what really had him reeling was not just the idiot's behavior, but the fact that the crown prince, his own friend, didn't even do anything to stop him or kick him out of the party!
That spineless coward!
Blinded by his fury, Aurelion did not pay any attention to where he was going.
The scent of peonies entered his nose and it snapped him right out of his frustration.
He looked around.
The familiar sight of his brother's western garden had him coming to a full stop.
With a glance, he spotted his brother's bedroom window a fair distance away.
Thankfully, he's close to the western pavilion.
Everyone knows his brother never comes here, anyway.
Perhaps if he leaves now, he won't get caught?
That Scummy Troublemaker might start something about private property if he sees him in his garden.
God, he's too tired to start another argument...
"What is it?"
Aurelion heard the oh-so-familiar voice of Nazareth coming from behind him and froze.
He quickly scrambled to hide, looking around for the source of his voice.
He sees a bush of peonies and nearly dives behind it.
"Young Master?"
He hears Rainier's voice.
It looks like it's coming from… the pavilion?
"Funny. I could have sworn I heard footsteps."
His brother was talking to Rainier.
Aurelion dares a peek from behind the bush and is immediately stricken by the sight.
He sees Rainier placing a cake in front of Nazareth.
But what was even more bewildering was the way his brother dressed.
What the hell?
This was the first time Aurelion has ever seen this older brother of his in such a state of undress. Nazareth had always worn more than a couple of layers. More often than not, he bulked up his clothes with those tasteless coats to make up for his height.
Apparently, being shorter than him made his older brother feel inferior to him.
He had already determined that those seven years living away from the household had stunted his brother's growth, but he was still fairly tall.
Aurelion was only two inches taller than him! What is there to feel inferior about?!
But now, witness this peaceful scene, it seems almost unreal.
Maybe he's more tired than he initially thought.
Nazareth's now short hair--and really, he either gained some worldly wisdom in his decision making and chopped off that black mop, knowing full well he looked like a ghost, or became even more insane--was tied back by a red ribbon, exposing more of his pale white face and vermillion eyes than ever before.
But, the most curious thing was the impromptu solo tea party.
Has he ever seen his older brother spend his time in such a relaxing state? Of course not. Nazareth never had any time for this. He was always plotting and obsessively scheming to make his life hell. The fact that he was able to find time for this is already amazing enough.
Isn't he currently failing his classes?
---
Young Master Nazareth held a fork in his hand and ate his chocolate cake. Having clearly skipped lunch, he looked famished.
Rainier looked on, dumbfounded.
This is the Young Master's third serving.
Where does it all go?
There's also another matter that has unexpectedly popped up.
The servant turned and 'stared' at the black tuft of hair sticking out quite obviously from behind the peony bushes.
Master Aurelion, we can clearly see you from this distance!
"Aurelion?"
Ah, looks like Young Master Nazareth has also become aware.
Master Aurelion stiffens from his 'hiding spot', but he doesn't come out.
Rainier watches as Young Master Nazareth tilts his head in confusion.
---
Neo took a sip of his tea to cover up his own uncertainty.
Is that really his younger brother hiding behind the bushes? The cold and dignified Aurelion Odum?
What in the world was he doing here?
Just as he thought this brother of his was going to run away, Aurelion finally came out from behind the bushes.
Short black hair and sapphire blue eyes were uncanny.
He is not mistaken in his guess. This is not an imposter of his brother.
A small smile formed on his face.
Turns out he has this side of him as well.
How cute.
---
Step 6. Contemplate your current unemployment status, diss your own taste in clothes, do some homework, drink lots of coffee, and crack open a book. It is important to re-educate yourself on poisons. After that, go drink tea and relax.