Luke opened up his eyes. Through the blowing curtains, a radiant and warm glow was shining into the room.
'Who opened up the windows?' Luke lifted his upper body and looked around.
"Good morning, young master Luke." A maid was seated on a chair at the foot of his bed. In her hand was a book which suggested that she had been sitting there for quite a while.
"Morning. Where's miss Lauran?"
He didn't expect a new maid to replace her this soon.
"She will take the rest of the month off. All of us were informed of it last night by lord Sebastian. Apparently she was experiencing some trauma from what happened."
"I-I see."
'I never got the chance to talk to her.'
When Lauran came to the castle, she immediately headed to the office. That was probably to ask permission to leave. After that she went to her room without interacting with anyone.
Since she was the heir's maid, she had her own room instead of the servant quarters like all the other servants. She was using the guest room right next to Luke's current room.
Luke had tried several times to call out to her, only to be ignored. He had been worried that something was wrong with her. Arnold never told him what happened when they found her, after all.
"She left early this morning and gave her duties to me. Please do not worry, I have been a maid for four years and I have an education as well." She noticed the unreadable expression on his face, mistaking it as him finding this situation unpleasant.
"Ah, I'm not worried about that. W-Will she…be okay?"
"According to the madam, Lauran's mental health isn't looking good at the moment. Her Grace used magic and confirmed that Lauran isn't in the right state of mind. She was told to go see one of the family's doctors to get a full grasp of her situation. It'll be a while before she comes back. Hopefully, she can fulfill her duties once she does." The maid stood up and headed to the cabinet. She pulled out a shirt and shorts meant for Luke's clothing for today.
Luke had stayed here before he was introduced to the rest of the family members so he was quite familiar to how things worked and where his things were. He was given Arnold's old room which was quite large for one person.
"It seems master Luke is lively this morning. It is quite big." The maid chuckled when Luke got up. Her eyes were looking at his nether region.
"Ah!" Luke hurriedly lowered his sweater to hide his morning wood.
The girl shrugged as if it was a normal occurrence. "It's not something to be embarrassed about. Plus, there's no need to hide it. I'm used to seeing those things by now."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Master Arnold would always walk around naked in the mornings. It's inevitable that some of us would see it dangling down there. I've done it with him twice by now so this doesn't scare me... Anyway, will these clothes do?"
"Y-Yes." Luke was still blushing. He felt his crotch calm down after a while.
The maid left after giving Luke the clothes. The maids would always insist on dressing him several times but he'd keep refusing. He wasn't use to this whole noble routines yet.
Showing someone his naked body was still too much to ask of him.
"Err…" Luke struggled to get his tie to sit right. It was tiresome having to wear such clothes every day.
After a while, he managed to get it right. Well, almost. It was a little tight on his neck.
"Is this the schedule that was set up for me?" Luke looked at a placate that was hanged up on his room's wall. On it were all the classes he had for the rest of the week.
"Math, history, business, sword technique--" He read all the subjects that were listed and their timetables.
Just looking at all of them, he could feel a headache coming.
"…How am I supposed to learn all of these subjects in just a few years?"
Having been born in a poor village, Luke never had the chance to get a formal education. Claudia tried teaching him some basic things, however, that was as far as his education got. He could multiply and read somewhat.
He spent most of his time helping the hunter's squad of his village. They were responsible for getting food for the village.
That was how he learned to fight. Although his skills weren't exactly top-tier, he could survive in a fight with an Orc at least.
"You're awake."
An elderly man's voice spoke to him as he was looking at the chart.
"Mister Sebastian?"
It was the old man who had the muscular body of a veteran knight. That was Luke's first impression of the head's butler. He had both the body and the eyes of a fighter.
Luke knew that, out of all the warriors he had seen before, Sebastian and Marcus were the strongest.
"Please, it's just Sebastian."
"Ah, yes."
Sebas strode into the room with his hands behind his back. Maybe it was his years of service but his gait was that of a perfect servant. His walking posture was both strong and elegant.
"Tell me; what food did you usually eat in the mornings? In the village, I mean." Sebas suddenly asked as he approached Luke and fixed his tie.
"Eh, well…We usually eat wheat porridge."
"And during the day at lunchtime?"
"I always make myself a steak sandwich. If there isn't steak, I settle with any other meat."
"Dinner?"
Luke, not knowing why he was asking these questions, answered:
"Miss Claudia usually makes stuff like stew, curry and soup. When there isn't enough for a meal, we just eat bread."
"I see. No wonder you look like this." Sebastian lifted Luke's arm and squeezed. It felt like he was squishing jelly arms.
"You have little muscle, weak stamina and even weaker endurance. How is it that you're the strongest in your village? Well, I guess the standards differ from yours and mine. Perhaps everyone, man and woman alike in that village is just weak."
Perhaps it was the environment you grew up in, Sebastian muttered.
"Um, why did you ask about what we usually eat?"
"It is because I am in charge of your physical training. If I do not know my student's habits then I cannot conduct a plan to improve your physical appearance. I must know what to change and what not to change."
Although Luke ate his fill every day, it seemed that that wasn't enough to classify as healthy. Perhaps it was the foods he ate.
"How much protein-filled foods do you eat regularly? Once a week? Twice a week?"
"On average, two times."
Sebas frowned. "No wonder your body looks like this."
"Um, what exactly is wrong?"
"Your hands are too soft. Like that of a maiden's. But not even lady Anna has such soft hands, though." Sebas held one of Luke's hands. "Your core is flabby and skinny." Next he placed his hand on Luke's stomach and rubbed it.
"And finally, your form is distorted." Sebas pushed Luke against his chest. The latter staggered back a few steps from that soft push.
"See? You are too weak. Try punching my core."
"Huh?"
"Punch me in the core. Right here."
Sebastian got into a ready stance. He tightened his core muscles which was probably unnecessary. It was obvious why.
Luke pulled back his right arm.
"Hiyaah! Guaah!!" Luke landed a solid punch, however, it felt like he was punching a brick wall.
Sebastian sighed in disappointment.
"Even Al could punch harder than that when he was younger. It will take a while for us to unlock your hidden potential."
"You mean…"
Luke's hand which had punched a literal brick wall calmed down somewhat.
"Yes. The Golden Aura you used to defeat lord Arnold."
"I wouldn't say I defeated him…." Luke smiled wryly.
"In any case, my objective is to force that aura out of you and make it your own. You can rest assured that these old hands can make you a fine warrior one day. A warrior fit to rule this city." Sebastian gestured towards the door. "Please follow me."
◇
"What, what's this?" Luke's eyes widened when he saw the vast amounts of food on the dining table. There were even foods he had never seen before in his life.
The inside of the dining room was filled with the delicious aromas of all sorts of exotic and unique dishes.
All the food were meat dishes of the highest quality.
There were many servants standing to the side of the dining room's wall. Luke had noticed that they were even more than the mansion's servants.
The castle was bigger so it was obvious that more personnel were needed.
"I have personally prepared these overnight. Please enjoy and tell me what you think." Sebastian pushed Luke towards a chair.
"U-Um…." Luke couldn't resist Sebastian's suggestion and only sat down.
"This is what you must eat every day. We must make sure you eat healthy. A warrior's might must be as big as his stomach. A warrior once taught me those words."
'Was there such a saying?' Luke thought as he was given his utensils.
"Oh, right. Is miss Flora up yet?" Luke asked while cutting through one of the many meat dishes.
"Unfortunately, no." Sebas explained. "It seems the young lady has not slept for days. Even though we tried calling many times, she continued sleeping. I feel that it is fine to let her rest for the whole day. While I do not know why young master Al bought yet another slave, I will not inquire his reasons."
"Ah…Am I imagining it or am I the only one having breakfast this morning?" Luke gazed around the room. Besides him and Sebastian, there were ten other servants idly standing by.
"The rest of the family cannot join---"
When Sebas was about to speak, another person entered the dining room. He closed his mouth immediately when he saw her.
"Second miss."
Everyone bowed when Judith, the second wife entered.
She was wearing a red dress and her lipstick on her lips was the same color as her dress.
"Humph." She strode into the dining room and located a seat.
"Why is the table filled with this junk food?" Judith said unpleasantly. When she saw Luke, whose mouth was filled with sauce, her face twisted.
"I apologize. I was under the impression that none of the family members will be joining him at the table."
"And why do you think that? You should've known that I and Jack were still here." Judith motioned for one of the servants to get rid of the dishes sitting by the section of the table she was heading towards.
"As the duke has left on important business, the tasks required for each member of the family has increased significantly so I assumed the same would go for the second miss. Her Grace has not left the office since last night, young Melina has left the castle to attend her classes, miss Anna left to head to meet one of her contacts and young master Al is also preparing for something in his room." Sebastian listed all of the above to the fuming Judith. "Plus, as the Second Miss did not dine with the family last night, I assumed the case to be the same this morning."
"You…." Judith narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You should know that, as a head butler, mistakes cannot be tolerated. The fact that you cannot do your job properly can cause your subordinates to look down on you. Had you asked for my input first then we wouldn't be having this conversation, now would we?"
A smirk spread on Judith's face.
Sebastian's expression contorted for a second. Although her words didn't warrant a reply from the dozen servants in the room, Luke could tell that they agreed with her words.
Sebastian bowed. "Please forgive my tardiness."
"Humph. Such tardiness is not expected from a head butler."
After saying her bit, she snapped her fingers.
"Bring my breakfast. The usual. And be quick." She pointed at a random servant.
"Y-Yes!"
The person hurriedly left the room to head to the kitchen.
"Is young master Jack joining us this morning?" Sebastian asked. It was like her earlier remark didn't faze him at all.
Perhaps it did and he just had an unbreakable will, Luke thought.
"No. He is still in bed."
"I see."
Sebastian stepped back as if he had said what he needed to say.
Judith also shifted her attention elsewhere. At Luke.
"So, heir of the Berkley family, hm? How does it feel?"
Luke swallowed the food he had in his mouth.
"Well…I'm still getting used to being the young master of the household. It's my first time having such an important role."
Luke laughed nervously even though it wasn't a joke.
'Although I found some closure last night when I spoke to miss Adrianna, it'll be a while before I'm fully used to it.'
Luke smiled. Judith didn't miss that.
"I see. And you wholeheartedly accept being the heir? Are you not afraid of the dangers you'll be exposed to?"
At that moment, the air froze. The atmosphere which was already uncomfortable became more unbearable.
One could hear a loud gulping sound.
It was coming from Luke.
"D-Dangers?" He asked as his pupils shook.
Judith nodded with a small smile.
"As the adopted son of a Great Noble, there are many things you must look out for. Even that bas—even Arnold had to always watch his back."
It was a common worry for those at the top of the aristocracy. It didn't just concern heirs but heiresses as well. Gender did not matter in this world. Everyone was treated the same. Even killers kill indiscriminately.
"By far, four assassination attempts had been made. Of course, his father destroyed both the culprits and the culprits' family's lives. It was one of those rare times when he is out for blood. Two involved direct contact(ambushes) while the other two were indirect contact(poison). When he was seven years old and attended a party, he drank a glass of juice that had a very dangerous poison inside of it. We were convinced he'd die, however, his mother was able to save him using her magic."
"…"
"Ah, then there was this case when he was nine years old. He was stabbed while he was returning from a play date with one of his childhood friends. We are unsure of what happened to the assailant. His maid, Victoria was the one who rushed him back home. We never found out what really happened besides what she said happened."
Luke silently listened.
Why was she telling him this? Was it to warn him of the possible dangers? Was it to scare him if he were to continue keeping the position of heir?
Big brother lived this harsh a life ever since he was a child…?
Luke had grown up in a loving atmosphere during his childhood. He couldn't say that he understood what Arnold went through as a child.
"All I want you to know is that many would benefit from getting rid of our household. That includes any potential heirs. Poor little Arnold had to suffer just because he bore the name Berkley."
Judith shut her mouth as if she had said what she wanted to say. A small cackle came out of her.
Luke looked at Sebas. It was to confirm whether what she had said was true.
Sebas nodded silently. A grave expression on his face.
"Ah…" Luke suddenly lost his appetite.
"Why the long face?" Judith asked with a smile as if she was oblivious to the fact that it was her words which caused the tension in the air.
"Well, do not worry. We have learned from those days. Security in the city, as well as in this castle, has been increased significantly."
"I-I see." Luke couldn't help but notice how much his body was trembling.
"By the way, the second princess is expected to visit in two days, no?" Judith looked at Sebastian.
"That is correct." He nodded.
"Will she stay this time, I wonder. Arnold won't be leaving anytime soon since Victoria has not informed us yet if they are done cleaning the lord's mansion."
It was a common fact that Olivia disliked Arnold. The few times that she had visited was out of consideration for her relationship with the family. She and Anna shared many common traits so they got along very well. She considered Melina like a little sister and she loved chatting with Adrianna.
"I will strive to keep master Arnold away for the time being."
"Don't worry about that, Sebas."
A voice came from the dining room's door.
It was Arnold. He was dressed in rather shoddy attire which only commoners or poor nobles wore.
Judith's face twisted in displeasure.
"Pardon?"
"I mean, you don't need to find some excuse to keep me away."
Arnold strode into the room and sat down on one of the chairs. His boots made a loud thumping noise as he walked the clean floor of the room.
"I'm going adventuring."