As the sun slowly began to set, a gorgeous red glow filled the sky, bathing the area in a beautiful light. In one of the mansion's large bedrooms, a small boy was seen sleeping soundly. He was a striking figure, with short white hair and a kind, handsome face. Those who didn't know him would have said he was an angel who had fallen from the sky.
The child frowned, as if to say that he was having a bit of a tough time sleeping. Sweat began to form on his forehead from the heat, moved uncomfortably, hiding his face and meeting the cold part of the pillow. Just as the child was about to continue sleeping comfortably, there was a knock on the door of the room. The child covered his ears, a little disturbed by the sound, but when the door knocked again, he gave up and sat up. With a little pout on his face, he pursed his lips and rubbed his eyes with his hand to recover.
At that moment, the door opened and the person who entered was greeted by the image of an extremely cute boy. This boy was none other than Dae Hyun, who was now known as Marcius.
Marcius took his hand away from his eye and looked at the person who had entered. He began to match his image with the memories in his head. Maid uniform + black hair + purple eyes + male = Kain. Marcius's personal servant.
While he was trying to figure out who it was in his head, Kain approached and came to the front of the bed with quick steps. Kain put his hand to the boy's forehead and was relieved to find it wasn't hot.
"Young master, we were so worried! Your fever has been up for hours, and we were really scared. Thank goodness for Rugaru, who helped you come to your senses. We were almost sure His Majesty would call a doctor from Ramos, but thankfully, he didn't."
The boy stared at the man, not sure what to do with himself after the sudden outburst. When the man finally finished speaking, the boy smiled back, his eyes bright and innocent.
"What happened to me, Kain? I don't remember anything. I just remember coming here and lying on the bed," he said, opening his green eyes wide in wonder.
Kain felt his heart melting at the sight. He sat down next to the boy and began to speak as he moulded the boy's dishevelled hair with his hand.
My dear young master, I'm so sorry to tell you that you were poisoned last night. It was a very dangerous poison. In fact, it's a miracle you woke up today and made it to class. Our gods have spared you, thankfully. You must have fainted after you came back from class. When I found out that your class had ended early, I thought something was wrong, so I came to you and found you sweating in bed. I was so scared, I can't even tell you! Our family doctor stayed with you for the next few hours, bless him. He left about half an hour ago when he felt your fever had gone down.
"I'd just brought you some water for your bath," she said, her voice still a little shaky from all the excitement. Marcius stopped her and gave her a big hug as she quickly wiped away her tears with her hand.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Kain," he said, his eyes filling with tears. She could feel the worry in his eyes and it made her chest feel a little uncomfortable.
Kain froze for a moment at the sudden movement, but quickly put his arms around him. He felt the tears start to flow again. This child was no different from his own child, seeing him like that and knowing that his own carelessness had caused it was such a great pain that he didn't know what he would do if something worse happened to him. After a few minutes of crying and smearing his tears on the boy's clothes, he realised what he had done and pulled away and stood up. His ears were slightly red with embarrassment.
-Forgive my presumption, young master, I didn't know what I was doing
- he said, bowing, and Marcius came over, chuckling, and took his hands and gently straightened them.
-It's all right Kain, I was the one hugging you, should I apologise too,he said playfully.
-Certainly not sir, thank you for seeing me so close,he said shyly.
-I can smell my father, was he here? He tried to unbutton his soaked shirt, but his small fingers were not ideal for the task, Kain interrupted his struggle and came over to him, deftly unbuttoning the buttons and answering at the same time.
-Yes, young master, His Majesty was here until your condition improved a little, now they are investigating to find the culprit of this incident,he said with his usual professionalism.
-You were told to let me know when you woke up, if you will excuse me, I will come and prepare your bath,he said, moving quickly to the door.
Marcius surveyed the room as he listened to Kain inform the guards of the situation.The room was huge.It was the size of a three bedroom house in the other world and had two doors leading to the bathroom and the room where his clothes were.One of the walls of the room had a huge bookshelf, but it was only half full.He remembered keeping the books he had read from his memories here.The bed was big enough for five grown men to sleep on, so he looked like a dwarf lying on the bed. In one part of the room there was a desk and a section with his favorite motifs.There were two swords with identical motifs, obviously quite old, fixed on nails to keep them upright.He knew they had belonged to one of his ancestors two generations ago, a pair of swordsmen.
In the Valentino family, children, whether boys or girls, were taken to the armoury and expected to choose one of the dozens of weapons on display.When Marcius was five years old, as soon as he saw this weapon, he pointed to it as if he felt it and thus determined that he was a double swordsman.He remembered how happy his father was at this choice, smiling and kissing him.He smiled at this memory.His father was a great man and a great father. He had taken such good care of his children since their mother had died at the birth of his brother.It was unheard of for a nobleman or a commoner to love and care for their children so much. Marcius' smile was broken when he thought of his father's death.He remembered that his father had died when he was eighteen years old, but he could not remember why he had died.This raised a question in his mind.It was something he should solve, but unfortunately it was not the only thing.
He was shaken from his thoughts when the door opened quickly and a handsome man, obviously in his twenties, entered.The man walked anxiously over to the boy and immediately took him in his arms and hugged him.Marcius could hear the man's heart beating rapidly from where he was leaning.He felt guilty for worrying his father so much, his eyes began to fill.
-Your Majesty, you are frightening the young master,‖ a voice said, snapping a man and a child out of their reverie.
The man immediately took the child from his lap, knelt down in front of him, checked his forehead and body with his hands, and when he finally saw that there was no problem, he calmed down and spoke.
-Son, are you all right? If you have any pain tell us right away so we can get it checked out, why are you standing up, you need to lie down,the man said worriedly, Marcius moved away from his father with a quick movement and spoke with a smile.
-I'm fine Dad, I'm not in any pain but I'm very sweaty, I want to take a shower,- he said.
The man finally pulled himself together, stood up and said in a stern voice:
Didn't you hear Kain, get his bath ready now, I should have killed you after what happened yesterday, but pray my son loves you,- he said, sitting on the bed and motioning for the boy to come.
Kain was already in the bath with the water and Marcius walked over to his father and sat down, his father pulling him onto his lap and beginning to fuss with his hair, which was obviously sweaty.
-You know that boy is responsible for what happened today, don't you, son?
-Who?
-Kain? the boy said in surprise.
-Yes, I know you love him, but what he has done is unforgivable. If you send him away now without doing anything, it won't be good for you, son,the man said in a worried voice.
-But it's Kain, Dad! He's been looking after me since I was a baby, how could he know this would happen? Please don't punish him, he said eagerly, his eyes wide open.
The man, not knowing what to do, put his hand to his face and patted it.
-I know who Kain is, of course, but if you don't want me to, I won't, but if he makes the slightest mistake, he will have a fate worse than death, do you accept that?
-Marcius stood and kissed his father on the cheek. The man laughed, took the boy's cheek between his fingers and squeezed it:
-I see that you have really come to your senses, little gentleman, so I will not hold back, he said, and began to tickle the boy as he lay on the bed. After playing like this for a while, and when Marcius was tired of laughing, Kain came in and announced that the bath was ready.
Then the man got up:
-Have a nice bath and then come for dinner,‖ and with her approval he kissed Marcius on the forehead and left the room.
When he was out of the door, he staggered as if he had lost his strength and leaned against the wall:
-What if she had never woken up today, Richard, what if I had never heard her laugh or her voice again, could I bear it?
He felt his butler embrace him as the tears he could not hold back rolled down his cheeks, and he continued to cry, leaning his head on his butler's shoulder.
-This can never happen, Your Majesty. Neither you nor I would allow it. Now pull yourself together before anyone else sees you, and don't give anyone the chance to see you fall," Richard said in a quiet but reassuring voice.
They stood there until the Duke had recovered a little and then went into the dining room.
It was the first time the little boy had ever seen his father cry, and he was shocked to see a man as strong and indestructible as a mountain crying.
The boy looked to be about five years old, with white hair and green eyes like his older brother and father.
After his father and Richard the Steward had left, the boy ran to the front of his brother's room; the guards who had left with the Duke's arrival had not yet returned, so he easily entered through the empty door. So he started looking for his older brother without looking around the room, and when he saw his brother coming out of the bathroom door, he ran and jumped on him, almost knocking them both down, but Kain helped them up. Marcius laughed and scooped the boy up in his arms, trying to hold him more comfortably.
-Calm down Ry, I'm not going anywhere,″ he said, planting a kiss on the boy's hair, but was surprised to hear the boy sigh and lift his head from his chest.
-Are you all right, Ry? -He asked worriedly. The child pressed his hands to his eyes as if trying to stop himself from crying. Marcius held his hands before the child could hurt himself and kissed them.
-Brother, I was very scared, my father was crying too, I thought something had happened to you, Ry said, trying to speak between sobs.
Marcius sat down on the bed, took the boy in his lap, wiped the tears from his cheeks with his hands and planted a kiss on each cheek.
-Ry, I'm fine, do you think your brother would be afraid of a little illness? -You don't trust me very much, do you?
-I trust my brother, but my father was crying, I thought something bad had happened,she said sadly, her lips parted and her eyes red from crying.
Marcius, looking at this sweetness, did not know what to say for a moment.
-I don't know why our father is crying, my child, but I'm as fit as a fiddle, look, he said, squeezing one of his arms, showing off his missing muscles, and winking,
-Look how strong your brother is,‖ he said. Ry laughed and touched his brother's arms.
-Yes, your brother is very strong,‖ he said.
-Of course he is, you know your brother will always protect you, right Ryland?
Ry nodded his head up and down quickly, nodding in agreement. Marcius kissed him on the forehead and stood up without taking Ry from his lap.It was time for dinner and they had to go.
Kain had already opened the door,waiting for them to come out.Marcius proceeded with slow steps, talking to his brother. The Valentino Mansion was pretentious,as befits the name of the dukedom.There were paintings all over the walls of the corridor as if they told the history of the family.Some of the paintings contained detailed depictions of battles and covered an entire wall.On some of the walls there were only portraits.Men and women with white hair and green eyes were either on horseback or standing, demonstrating impressive postures, revealing the glorious history of the house. Marcius remembered that when he was five years old, he memorized the names of all of them.He remembered everything from the names of the swords they used to the nicknames bestowed on them.His family's achievements give him pride,he thought he would do it all to be worthy of the family's name. Now he was sure he could do it.His name and pictures would adorn these walls with great splendor.Towards his brother's ear and leaned over and asked:
-Ry, when we grow up, we'll both work to be able to stand on these walls, right?I think Ry will very much deserve to have his portrait here,he said, reassuring the boy, who was looking at him with eyes that could not believe it.
Many years later, a young man looking at a portrait found there smiled sadly, "I was going to be me, brother, you lied.said.
Not wishing to linger any longer, Marcius quickened his steps and they soon reached the dining room. The dining room was a rather ostentatious room decorated with gold motifs.There was a table in the middle of the room that could be adjusted by magic according to the number of people.Since there were only three people today, the table was also shaped according to him, but it still looked like a table for 8 people.There were various kinds of dishes on the table,seafood,meat dishes and all kinds of desserts.Although he was also quite well off in his old world, he never remembered eating at such a table.This amount of wealth seemed a little too much. He sat down in his own place .He gave his brother to nanny to feed him, and turning to his father, he smiled. -You're a little late, Marcius,I'll ignore it this time.Because of what happened today, we should start by praying to Rogaru(the goddess of peace and healing). May peace and well-being be upon us.Thank you for your blessings,he said, and joined hands and saluted.The servants and guards in the room made the same gesture and said their prayers. Marcius imitated them and grinned imperceptibly at his brother, who made strange movements while trying to copy himself.
After the prayers had been said, Marcius began by taking his spoon in his hand, as his father had begun.They had a pleasant meal, talking from time to time. After dinner, the duke, who wanted to spend some time with his children, came to them and made his way to the recreation room.He told Richard to prepare the files and that he would arrive in an hour. When they sat down in a comfortable armchair, he hugged them, taking Ryland under one arm and Marcius under one arm.
- When do you want to start sword training, Mar, his father said as he ruffled his son's hair.
Marcius thought for a moment.Looking at the memories of the future, he recalled that he started training too late because he was in a coma.He didn't want to delay this time.
- Can I start in 2 days, dad, I don't want to get so weak again,he said decisively.Ry, who was on his father's lap from the sidelines at the time, added:
-I want it too, I want it too ,she said, scratching her father's face with her nails.The duke saved himself from this pain by holding his son's hands and:
,-You're younger, Ry, you need to grow up at least 2 more years, he said mockingly.Ry thereupon turned his head and puckered his lips.
-Come on, Ry, don't worry, don't you want to watch me work anyway?Are you going to leave your brother alone?
Marcius said, bowing his head as if he was sad. Ryland held his brother's head up, lifted it and held out his hands, asking him to take it in his lap.Marcius picked her up and smothered her cheek in kisses.He couldn't stand this sweetness.
-Of course I will follow big brother, I will never leave you alone,Ry said sadly.Marcius put his arms tightly around his brother's waist and hugged him.
-Of course I know, I'll follow you when you start your classes, okay? Ry nodded his approval with his head, but it still seemed that he was upset.Thinking of something to cheer her up,she turned to him at the sound of the duke, who was watching his children with a smile.
-Mar, you know you need a partner, right? He went on, with Marcius shaking his head.
-You know, our lineage is a very special lineage ,the reason we are so far above other families is that we have a platinum-level lineage.But this lineage has side effects.As you start to rise in swordsmanship, anger, impurities will begin to appear in your body.We can remove this anger from our body in some ways.A spell is usually used for this process, and if the spell cannot be used, it is cast in another way.I'm not going to get into that right now.
The duke continued, clearing his throat.He ignored his housekeeper, who was looking at him with a laugh
. -We need a partner to use this magic.But this is not a normal spell.It's a life spell, and the person who will use it needs to have a connection with your soul.To summarize, you need someone you'll trust for the rest of your life, because if he dies, you die too, if one of you breaks the bond, you'll both be very badly injured.
Marcius was recalling it from his memories.In his former life, he chose his partner after waking up from a coma at the age of 11 ,he was a commoner boy with very sweet blonde hair.His name was Jaime.He really trusted her a lot, but he was disappointed.Before he died,Jaime had broken the bond, leaving him in a very weak state.Then he could not get rid of the assassins who attacked him. He tried to get rid of unpleasant memories.He wasn't going to make such a mistake this time.He also had a goddess-given ability in his hand.Using it, he could choose who he could trust.
-Where will I find him, Dad,I can't choose who to trust so easily,he asked in a curious voice.The duke ruffled his hair with a laugh.
-Don't worry, you'll understand when you see him,tomorrow Richard and I will go around orphanages and slave Sundays, if you don't find someone suitable, we'll look elsewhere .But remember, the person you choose can never be from a noble family,the Duke said in a harsh voice.
-Okay, dad,I will definitely consider it,he said. Ry had fallen asleep on his brother's lap,he handed him to his nanny, who came to take him to bed.He flexed his numb arms .He decided to ask his father one last question before getting up.He had not learned the answer to this question in his previous life either.
-Dad, so who's your partner? He asked, opening his eyes wide with curiosity.The duke grinned.
-Actually, you know him very well,he's standing right behind you, he said, and after kissing Marcius on the forehead, he got up with a wink. Marcius raised his eyebrows in surprise and noticed that the man standing behind him was advancing after his father.His mouth was also added to his eyes, which opened from surprise, and made a funny image
. -My father's partner was Richard, the butler.Of course, he died after my father died, too.How can I not understand this, I am so stupid,he said with shame as he put his hand to his face.
Lineage levels:
Copper: the lowest.
Silver: Medium.
Gold: High.
Platinum: The highest.
Ancestry levels express how strong people who have that ancestry can be.Ancestry is the growth rate.The growth of people who have the platinum lineage never stops, it continues until they die .In the empire, only the imperial family and the house of valentino have platinum ancestry.The golden bloodline can only advance to the eighth level.If you peel platinum, 12.it has even been seen to reach the level.