Light flashes inside the room.
Even though it is not my first time waking up in this room…. "I still can't get used to this"
Someone approached the door and knocked "Young master, may I?"
"Sure"
I stood up from lying as I glanced at him "What is it?"
"The guest asked me to remind you that he'll be waiting at the training area…"
'Oh yeah, I need to meet Howen....'
"I see th—"
"And the duke told me to deliver some words for you…" he followed.
'The duke??? oh no, please not that topic'
"He said 'I will be back early from this meeting so you better think of some good reason' quote 'My child.' And that is what he wanted to say, young master."
'Damn, I thought I'm safe after going back late at night without meeting him…'
"Thanks, you can go now"
"May the moon guide the young master." The servant said as he bowed and left
"I may have dodged the duke last night but I can't run away this time…."
*Sigh
"I'll just go meet Howen and tell him the news first"
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At the Welsh mansion
Knights training area
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It is still morning and the guest of the house has already been showing off his skills in swordsmanship. Every knight in the household who takes morning training stopped and kept on watching him.
'It's not weird for a guy like him who actually the prince of the country hiding under a sunflower boy's face to be good at swords.'
"He is the second prince. I heard he is really good at swords and has been handling the Laficent kingdom royal knights since 10" Louis whispered to me
"I can see that. The way he moves and the way he reacts, it is like the sword dances with him"
"Even you said that," Louis replied
"Yes, I Vaile the Captain of the Welsh dukedom knights. If he is not the prince, I will do whatever it takes to recruit him"
"Right. Such talent"
'…. Welsh dukedom… The only dukedom reigning in the south and the farthest from the royal capital. We do have excellent swordsmen in the mansion like the duke himself and other platoon captains, but we still cannot deny the fact that the Welsh family is a family of sorcerers. The young lady, the young sir, and the heir of Welsh are blessed with overflowing mana. But they are not good at wielding weapons.'
As we kept on watching the guest presenting his skill, someone tapped on my shoulder. "Something wrong?" I asked as I looked back at the person and was surprised to see the young master.
"Y-young master lewis!" I said, everyone looked at us and bowed.
"Oh, it is alright, do not mind me. I am here to meet pri— ehem, Howen" the Young master said as he almost had a slip of the tongue.
The small commotion caught the attention of Prince Howen and hurriedly waved to the young master "Ah! —Lewis! Here!" he called.
The young master walks in front — "Hope I didn't make you wait"
"Of course not! Anyways shall we start the training?" Prince Howen joyfully asked.
"Training?!" Everyone was surprised, even I.
"What training are you talking about young master?" Louis asked.
"Oh, Howen said he'll teach me swordsmanship." Young master lewis replied
"For real?! The young master who hated learning swords and only loved floating around with his overflowing mana???" Everyone spoke in unison
"I can hear you all...…." The young master glares while letting out his murderous aura. The knights could only look away.
'Indeed, this is a miracle, I knew it, Young master has been oddly weird these days…'
"Did the moon replace the sun today?" Louis asked
"If anyone in the Floyent castle heard that you'll get decapitated" Young Master Lewis said as he tapped Louis' shoulder. Everyone felt the shiver running down their spine.
"Forgive my words, young master"
"Forget all of that— Lewis shall we start with a spar?" Lord Howen said
"A what?" other knights react
"A spar" Lord Howen repeats himself
"Excuse me lord Howen but our young master Lewis here actually does not know how to properly wield a s—" Louis tried to explain but he was interrupted by the young master.
"After you." Young master lewis agreed
"—What!" The knights reacted again
"Great!" Lord Howen happily grabbed another wooden sword and gave it to the young master
'Is this really alright...'
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"Is this your first time wielding a sword?" Howen asked me
"Not, but my first time sparring" I replied as I grasped the wooden sword, he gave me. 'Weidling a sword huh, of course it is not my first time. I have been wielding the sword of the sun— an artifact of the Austyn for 20 years of my life. Fighting in war, I honed my skill to the very limit because I thought presenting my hard work to the people was enough for them to acknowledge me. I guess it was all useless from the start'
"Really? I thought the duke might have sparred with you" Howen said. I could see the question mark on his face.
"I mean sparring after my amnesia arc"
"HAHA! You are really funny Lewis!"
"Am I…"
The two young men stepped in front.
Wielding their wooden swords, Prince Howen rushes forward. He was so fast that a normal person without experience in battle would not be able to follow. This made the knights witnessing the spar become nervous because they knew, that their young master was not used in fighting in swords. But their worried faces were replaced by amazement when their young master Lewis deflected Prince Howen's attack. Even Prince Howen himself was caught off guard. Lewis deflecting his sword made him realize that his opponent was not new to wielding swords and he underestimated him. As fast as he could jumped away but Lewis took the opportunity to take offense. Lewis strikes forward. He slices through Howen's defense and slaps Howen's hand making him lose grasp in the sword. Howen falls and everyone shouts in joy.
"When did young master Lewis learn how to wield a sword? Did you secretly teach him?" Louis asked me
"I did not. As far as I remember he hated wielding a sword and kept saying it was just a heavy burden physically and mentally. But right now we can see that the young master looks just like the duke."
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"LEWIS!" Howen ran to me "You told me it's your first time since your amnesia arc?"
"It is true, m-maybe my body acted on its own. You know, the body's defensive mechanism" I lied
"Really...…." Howen suspiciously walks all around me
"Y-yeah"
"Hmm.........…"
'I mean, it cannot be helped. When Howen stepped forward, I felt blood rushing through my body. It is like my body activates on its own and protects me. My time experience in war is not a joke'
"Anyways, you really do not need help in learning swords. I am useless again..." Howen felt depressed.
'Oh, right I forgot. Tsk, I should have known it to be like this and weakened my body with magic'
"Do not say that. You are useful just the way you are, anyway, we actually need to talk about something. Care to join me for a tea?"
"Hmm?"
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At the greenhouse
West of the Welsh mansion
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"Louis, get us something to drink"
"Right away."
When butler Louis left, Lewis glanced at me.
"Is this the plan for how I'm going to meet my sister?"
"Right, but actually I already had a plan on how you will meet her. And it will be 2 months from now." Lewis said.
"You already have a plan? Woah and it is 2 months from now. But how though?"
"There will be a Hunt happening in one of the Welsh household territories and all royals are invited to participate. I will make a way for the two of you to meet"
"Really? You thought of that plan yourself?! Lewis, you are a genius!"
"I am not. Opportunity just came knocking at my door."
"So, what is the other thing we're going to talk about?"
"It's—"
A faint knock can be heard from outside that makes Lewis stop. "Young master, refreshments are here"
Butler Louis entered and set up the table for us quickly and left.
Lewis grabbed his drink, and so did I.
"Sorry, what was you going to say again?"
Lewis sipped his tea and glanced at me. "It's actually— or maybe be unfair for you"
"Unfair? Why?" curiously, I blinked twice.
"Well, it might be not beneficial to you" Lewis followed as he glanced away.
"Say it first" I sipped and put back my tea cup.
Lewis sighed. "Well, I am actually investigating the 'Me-tripping-and-hitting-myself-on-the-lamp' accident at the royal palace last time"
"Oh, the thing that causes you to lose some of your memories?"
"Right......... Anyways I'm—"
"Why though? Is it not an accident?" I interrupted him
"That— maybe," he explains as he tilts his head
"Maybe? Are you assuming that it is intentional?"
"Yes. I mean, there is no harm in assuming it was intentional."
"Sooooo??"
"So, um, soon I will be traveling to the household of the person who pushed me 'accidentally'." He explained
"Ohhhhhh! To sum it up. You need someone to come with you and investigate the place while you walk the talk."
"That's one way to say it" Lewis scratched his neck and loosened his necktie.
"Alright, I'm in!"
"Are you sure?" He asked again.
"You helped me come up with a plan to talk with my sister and that is not even beneficial to you. So, I will do my best to help you back"
"Thanks, Howen."
"No problem!"
Another faint knock came from outside.
"Come in" Lewis answered
Butler Louis enters "Young master Lewis, the duke has arrived. He wanted me to say that he is waiting for you at the office, and he wants me to quote "my child" butler Louis explained.
'Quote?'
"Alright-Alright, I'll follow" Lewis sways his hand telling Louis to get out.
"Yes, young master" Butler Louis left.
Lewis gave out a deep sigh "Damn...."
"Why? Something wrong?" I asked
"It is just…. You know, I actually met your sister."
"You meet who!?" Surprised, I jumped at the table and grabbed Lewis's collar "How is she?! Is she alright?!" I followed.
Lewis chuckled as if he remembered something and then patted my head. "She is fine. She was actually full of energy when I met her."
I slowly let go of him as the nervous feeling I got faded away
"Whew… So, what is with the duke?" I sat properly again
Lewis coughed "He…. He thought I was dating your sister"
"YOU WHAT!??"
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At the Duke office
5th floor of the Welsh mansion
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"Lewis my child! I have been waiting for— what is wrong with your collar?" The duke's expression changes from smiling to worried as he stares at me.
I could only scratch my neck as I remembered how Howen grabbed my collar again because he was surprised by the 'dating' news. 'He is just like her! They might not have the same mother but they totally had the same father!'
"It is nothing, father. I— actually had a sparring with Prince Howen earlier" I explained as I fixed my collar and necktie in the nearest mirror in the office.
"Sparring? I did not know that the Second prince of Laficent is well-versed in magic to be able to spar with you"
"Ah— no." I stopped fixing my collar and glanced back at him "I actually sparred with a sword"
The duke lost grasp of his pen "You sparred with what???"
"Yes, I sparred with a sword— a wooden sword."
"I see…" he grabbed his pen "It is alright son. You do not need to be depressed just because you lost a friendly spar—"
"I won" I spoke interrupting him.
"…...You what?!" the duke dropped his pen again as he stood up in surprise
"Yes. I won— a clean victory" while patting my sleeves.
"For real?"
"Yes. For real, you can ask Louis later."
The duke laughed in excitement. "I for sure will! —anyways, you know why I called for you right" The duke walks towards the sofa.
I followed him and sat in the chair in front of him "Yes.... It is a misunderstanding"
"How so?"
"The girl the Duke of Maison told you is actually the Second Princess of Laficent. Prince Howen's reason for arrival." I explained
"She is?" The duke calmly grabbed a tea on the table
"Yes"
"How did you even meet?"
"That…. actually, it's an unexpected meeting that even if I tell you, you might not believe me. Kind of a fictional story."
"Tell me..."
"Alright…" I sat up properly "She was falling from the sky and I barely caught her because things were a little bit fast and people were following her so I helped her get away. When we teleported outside the capital, we ended up traveling towards the Maison dukedom, in which we met Elijah and decided that we should stay in the duchy for a night to talk about a lot of things, especially about Prince Howen's appearance in the Welsh dukedom but accidentally the duke of Maison followed his son and misunderstands because the princess tripped from a piece of I don't know maybe wood, and then fall towards me causing me to lay in the bed with her on top of me. And then here we are"
"I see. Alright," The duke sipped his tea. He looked like he was actually just stopping himself from laughing.
"You'll believe me?"
"Yes of course. Why? Are you lying?" He puts down his teacup
"I'm not"
"Then great. Also, I might have acted like that but I knew you would not do that. And the people following the princess? I already dealt with them."
'The princess is right; the duke indeed trusts his son'
"You dealt with them?" I asked
"Yes, King Laficent asked me for favor…. So as a good friend, I shall do well."
"I see… so you are not mad?"
"Nope. Not at all… although."
"Although?"
"Although if you want to be Wedd with her, I'll—"
"Nope. Not at all."
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At the Black Rose Garden
of the Welsh mansion
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"Sigh"
"Is there something wrong? Young master"
"Oh, it's nothing."
The old man continued to tend the plants while I kept staring at the black roses swaying with the wind.
After leaving the duke's office, the duke gave me permission to make Prince Howen my aide so he could stay with me all the time. It is actually convenient rather than making him a dukedom knight.
"I gotta prepare for the visit to Marquis Maurilio's household. But what am I supposed to bring?" I mindlessly asked.
The old man heard me so he stood up and spoke. "If that's the reason why my young master is sighing, then can I your humble gardener share a story?"
"A story?"
"Yes"
"Then please go on" I moved a little bit so he could sit beside me.
He sat and smiled facing the black roses in the garden. "Unbeknown to the young master, when I was still a teenager, I was working as a gardener of the Maurilio household in the past before the arrival of the new marchioness."
"A new marchioness?"
"Yes, I heard you had a small amnesia because of the Marquis's nephew— Sir Liem."
"Ah yes, what about him?"
"It's a hot topic in the Marquis household in the past that sir Liem is actually the Marquis's hidden child"
I was so surprised that I sat up straight "Wait what??? What gave the Idea?"
The old man chuckles "Well the fact that sir Liem looks just like the marquis and the new marchioness. And also, there was a rumor that the new marchioness was the reason why the former marchioness died"
"Eh, why?"
"Well, we don't really know why but rumors like that are already expected to be made when the marquise literally brought his new wife, just a month after the burial of the former marchioness"
"Oomph, that is awkward. I see, then I guess I gotta watch out bringing that topic in front"
"Oh, but if you want to fish out some information and hear some gossip or maybe trigger the new marchioness you should carry a white lily." The old man suggested
"White lily? Why?"
"The former marchioness loved that specific flower in which she put out a whole bunch of white lilies to decorate the whole garden."
"Is that garden still there?"
"Yes, even the new marchioness demanded for that place to be destroyed, but the heir of Maurilio's household which is young master Glysius— the only son of the former marchioness beat her to it."
"I see, so if I want to voice out my support to that guy— Glysius, I just need to give a white lily"
"That's right, also add some orange ones."
"Orange? Orange lilies?"
"Yes, before we were kicked out from the marquis household, the former marchioness asked us to plant orange lilies in the middle, because she said that orange represents the birth of the new heir in ancient times" he explained
"I see, thanks for telling me the story behind the Maurilio household"
"Anything for you, young master" The old man grabbed his tools and left the place
I leaned back in the chair and stared once again at the black roses.
"Orange lilies…. Representation of birth…. Ancient times…. where did I hear that?"
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At the ??????
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"Give it up while am still asking nicely," the woman said to the person in front of her. "Do you really think that you will succeed? You do not even have anyone to support you. HAH! That is so unfortunate! So miserable." While whispering the last words, she just said.
The man stood still, not even affected
"What makes you even think you will succeed than me? You are nothing but a man grabber and a lady killer who cannot even handle her own little carbon copy demon child. So unfortunate, so pathetic" The man smirked
The woman was fuming in anger "IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER, GLYSIUS!"
The man walks away
"GET BACK HERE GLYSIUS YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! ARGHHH!" the woman keeps on screaming and ransacking the pots near her. While being stopped by the maids and butler.
The man continued to walk and did not even try to look back. He then pulled out a small watch which contained an image of another woman smiling. "Mother, I am sorry but your lilies might be losing a couple of friends. Do not worry, I will replace it as soon as I can. Please watch over me, I will do my best for you. Your representation of birth"