"Haha, hey, look, I did it!" Yuu shouted excitedly while running around the garden, with water covering him.
"That's good, that's good." I said, smiling.
*Finally.*
"Hehe, it's only natural." He said.
"But that's just for water. You still haven't learnt the one for fire and the other ones." Emiko said.
"Sh-sh-shut up!!" He shouted before running off.
*Ah... I'm getting sick of this.* I thought, walking towards a bench and slumping on it.
*If I stay here any longer, I wonder what will happen to mom.* I thought, looking up at the sky.
"Here..." Erina said as I looked over to her.
She held a cup of water with her hands outstretched.
"Oh, thanks a lot." I said, grabbing the cup of water as she sat beside me.
"What's wrong?" She asked without looking at me.
"N-nothing, why'd you ask?" I asked.
"Nothing, you look... tired." She said.
"Oh, ignore me." I said, gulping down the water.
*I'll be thirteen soon, and I'm still in this mansion.* I thought before releasing a sigh.
I told the Lord of the mansion previously that I'd like to leave after I'd turned 12, but he refused. He asked me to bear with his kids for a few more months.
*Maybe if I tell him once again, he'll let me go.* I thought.
"Do you...?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you plan on... leaving?" Erina asked.
"Well..."
"Oh, mm." She said before walking out.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, I'll go focus on learning. I've rested enough." She said, smiling at me.
"Well, if you say so."
"Ha... do you really want to leave this soon?" He asked as I nodded.
"I have unfinished business somewhere. I have to go complete them." I said, bowing to the Lord.
"Hmm... go back, i'll get back to you." He said.
"Thanks, my lord."
*Yes!!*
Two weeks had passed since my meeting with the Lord of the mansion. I didn't get any feedback, and I didn't see him throughout the week. I kept teaching his kids since I had nothing better to do.
"Natsuo-san, the Lord of the mansion wishes to meet you." A guard said.
"Hmm... oh, see you later, guys." I said, smiling at them.
*Finally, it's about time I left.* I thought, walking behind the guard proudly.
*Hmm, everywhere is packed and silent.* I thought as I walked into the Lords meeting hall.
*This feels more like... getting into trouble. Yeah, I'm sure I've gotten into trouble in my past life, almost everyday.* I thought grinning.
*But nah, I'm sure it's not that.* I thought.
"Look how he's acting in front of the Lord."
*Hmm?*
"He really is a bad seed."
*Huh?*
"He thinks he's so tricky."
"I'm glad he was found out."
"I reckon he be executed."
*Shock!!*
"Silence!!!"
*Wh-what's all this?* I thought, swallowing hard.
"Natsuo!" The Lord shouted.
"M-my Lord!!" I answered, bowing my head.
"Kneel."
*Hmm, this is getting quite serious.* I thought before kneeling.
"I really can't believe you did this." He said, nodding his head disapprovingly.
*Huh? What? what?*
"Ha... no wonder you wanted to leave here so soon." He said as I looked up at him.
"My lord, if I may ask, what did I do wrong?" I asked as he looked over to a lady who brought a bag that looked familiar.
*That's my bag.* I thought.
My eyes widened as they began bringing some stuff out of the bag.
*Wh-what are those?* I thought.
"See... these are important documents for the Lord. If these documents enter the wrong hands, this territory might end up with others." The lady said.
"And not just that, here are 1000 gold coins and 500 silver coins." Another lady said stepping forward.
*I... I didn't have any of that before, though I had about 500 gold coins since I saved up the ones I got. How did they end up there.* I thought.
"Wait a minute!! I didn't take any of those. Those weren't in my hands. You have to believe me."
"He's shouting at the Lord. He must be mad."
"Natsuo!! You'll be imprisoned for some time till you tell us who sent you here." The Lord said, standing up as some guards rushed towards me.
"W-wait a minute... stop it!! Wait!!" I called trying to break free.
The guards dragged me out of the room as I kept shouting.
"What's wrong? Why are you being violent with Natsuo?" Emiko asked as she ran towards us with her other siblings.
"My lady, I'm sorry, but we can't tell you anything."
"Stop it, free him at once."
"My lady."
"Dad!!" Yuu shouted, running into the meeting room.
"Dad, they're trying to bully Natsuo." He said.
"Yuu, get back to your room quickly." The king said.
"No. I won't. Why are they taking brother Natsuo away?" He asked.
"Guards!! Take Yuu to his room."
"Yes, sir!!"
"Dad!! Dad!! Dad!!!"
"Ouch." I said as they threw me into the cell.
"Hehe, I'll make sure you won't make it out alive." One of them said, locking the place up.
*Why...? What did I do...?* I thought, lying on the ground.
"1000 gold coins, you can't be kidding me!!!"
"Hey, shut up, you fool!!!"