Chereads / The Duke's Prodigy / Chapter 20 - C20 - Greetings Summer

Chapter 20 - C20 - Greetings Summer

The next day, just before sunrise, the city's first bell chime stirred me from my sleep. As I lay awake, my thoughts drifted to the circumstances that had brought us to this point. I was to be the Duke's prospective adoptee, a position that puzzled me deeply. How had the nobility even become aware of my existence? This inconsistency gnawed at my mind, and I couldn't shake it. The ducal couple had mentioned that I wouldn't be introduced to their family until after meeting Anna and the King. This should imply that hardly anyone knew about me, correct? Or was there something I was overlooking?

Fully awake and with time to spare before Mona would come to fetch me, I decided to engage in some additional practice. My skills in dual casting had shown slight improvement, yet I remained far from mastery. To progress, I needed to focus on each element simultaneously and with equal intensity. At present, my practice involved rapidly switching my focus back and forth between elements. While I was making strides, I sensed an impending roadblock that might hinder my ultimate goal.

I stood in my crib, quietly triumphant that I could now do so without arousing suspicion. Usually, I had to feign instability, but today I could abandon that pretense. After my unsuccessful attempt at dual casting, I decided to practice conjuring a candle flame. I would cast it using one MP, let the flame burn out, and then immediately recast it. As I repeated this process, my mind began to drift. The quintessential RPG spell was the fireball: target an area, and a massive explosion would erupt. If I had to hypothesize, it involved a blend of matter and heat mana, similar to flame magic, possibly with an infusion of space mana to prevent it from detonating prematurely.

Gazing at the conjured candle flame, I wondered if there was a way to channel mana into creating an attack spell, like a fireball or ice spell, that would behave like the candle flame—levitating before it exploded. If I could condense the spell, encase it within a barrier, and channel additional MP to amplify its potency, perhaps I could create a lingering spell that would detonate after a set period—a bomb, a trap.

My mind raced with possibilities. Increasing the proportion of space mana could yield a smaller but faster-moving explosion. Conversely, reducing the space mana could result in a slower spell with a larger blast radius. I mentally cataloged the list of explosive chemicals from my past life. Several particularly volatile ones sprang to mind, such as azidoazide azide and octaazacubane. The latter possessed nearly five times the energy of TNT, while the former was so unstable that its explosive potential wasn't measured until the 22nd century, boasting nearly eight times the power of TNT.

A voice shouting, "Fire!" snapped me out of my chemical musings. I glanced up, the conjured magic candle flame still flickering in my hand, and saw Mona standing in the doorway. Before I could react, she was already rushing towards me to extinguish the flame. Thankfully, it was about to burn out, so I let it expire. By the time Mona reached me, the flame had vanished. She swiftly grabbed my hand, inspecting it for burns. Finding none, she cast a puzzled glance around the room before looking at me. "What happened, little one?"

I had no reasonable explanation that wouldn't sound absurd. It was a stroke of luck that Mona wasn't well-versed in magic and didn't recognize it. I remained silent and shrugged. In that moment, I realized I had made two mistakes: first, by remaining calm instead of feigning panic, and second, by avoiding the question. As soon as I shrugged, I saw Mona's eyes narrow in suspicion. I needed a distraction, and fast.

"Faser!" I exclaimed (Father).

She looked momentarily confused before saying, "Yes, your Father is coming to take you to meet your sister." She began to slowly get me ready for the day. "Are you sure you don't know what happened?" I shook my head more confidently this time, fully committing to my story.

She paused and then shrugged. "Just be careful, young master. If you get hurt, then my son and I suffer too, remember?" she admonished. I nodded sincerely, making a mental note not to betray their trust. I needed to exercise caution; I couldn't develop too quickly for a toddler. Making Mona more suspicious would be disastrous, and I already suspected she was onto me but chose to ignore it for some reason.

Thankfully, she dropped the subject. We headed down to the breakfast area, where I was gradually being weaned off Mona's services. The dining hall, adorned with intricate tapestries depicting the rich history of the Duke's lineage, was a stark contrast to the sterile, futuristic environment of the Bellerophon. The long oak table was set with an array of dishes, each more enticing than the last. The flavors of foods in this world were drastically different from what I was used to. Part of me missed the hyper-processed, vitamin-infused, calorie-free junk food. However, there was something much more satisfying about real sugar. I discovered that real fruit, even mashed up, tasted far better than the sugar-free versions we had on the Bellerophon.

Around the time of the third bell, or what would be nine a.m., the Duke arrived at the villa. The sound of the carriage wheels crunching on the gravel path announced his presence. Seeing him step out of the ornately decorated carriage, I ran to him, shouting, "Faser!" (Father). He picked me up and twirled me around, his rich, velvety cloak billowing out like a royal banner. He set me back down and greeted the others. His embrace with Selahe, spoke volumes about their close bond. 

I hoped that Fazio and I would reach that level of camaraderie someday. Fazio, who was observing the scene from a distance, caught my eye. His dark hair framed his face, and there was a spark of determination in his eyes. He was watching the pair, and his gaze shifted to me, likely having the same thought. I quickly pretended to make thrusting and dodging motions with an imaginary dagger, mimicking the moves I had seen him practice countless times in the training yard.

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the villa, illuminating the lush gardens filled with exotic flowers and meticulously sculpted topiaries. The scent of blooming jasmine mingled with the crisp air, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and promise. The villa itself, with its grand marble columns and elegant archways, stood as a testament to the family's opulence and heritage. As I watched the Duke and Selahe converse, their figures framed by the vibrant greenery and the trickling sounds of the courtyard fountain, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. 

Fazio approached with a respectful bow. "Your lordship, would you do me the honor of observing my progress? I am confident that, in time, I can serve you as faithfully as Selahe."

The Duke and Selahe broke their embrace, the Duke regarding Fazio with an amused smile. "Very well, let us proceed to the training grounds. Mona, could you watch over young Dam?"

Mona appeared conflicted. "I am willing, my lord, howe—"

I quickly interjected, "Fasio!" (Fazio)

Mona chuckled and continued, "It seems Dam prefers to observe the training."

The Duke looked at me with a proud expression. "Ah, my son shows an interest in combat? Bless the gods, for Anna has never taken to martial training."

With that settled, we all made our way to the damp, cold basement. The stone walls, covered in centuries-old moss, echoed with the sounds of our footsteps. The faint light from the torches flickered, casting long shadows along the passage. The Duke lifted me into his arms, allowing us to spectate the bout from a different angle than my usual perch among the toys. As the sparring commenced, I seized the opportunity to further demonstrate my enthusiasm by mimicking Fazio's movements with an imaginary dagger, my small body twisting and turning in earnest imitation. The clashing of swords and the shouts of exertion filled the chamber, blending with the ancient ambiance of the place, reminding me of the rich history and traditions of the Duke's lineage.