Chapter 12:
The next day dawned early, with the light gently pouring into Noah's room, casting soft beams over his small, peaceful form. For once, he wasn't sleeping in his mother's embrace, despite her tendency to cling to him. Ever since he turned two, Noah had insisted on having his own room. Though Lilith was hesitant at first, the stubbornness in his little face ultimately led her to give in to his wishes.
You might wonder why a three-year-old boy would so desperately want his own space. Was he unhappy with his mother's love? Not at all. The reality was far more awkward for Noah. Inside this small body resided the soul of a man in his 30s. His mature mind was all too aware of the adult world, and Noah, despite his young age, had become uncomfortably knowledgeable about his parents' nightly "quality time." It was innocent enough, he supposed, but the last thing he wanted was to be privy to it all.
It was with this in mind that he insisted on his own room, to avoid the awkwardness of knowing far too much for his age. He certainly didn't want to become a spectator to his parents' affection. And now, he had his separate space where he could rest in peace without that nagging discomfort.
Back in the present, Noah was in a deep sleep, only to be awoken by a soft, wet sensation on his cheek, followed by a soothing voice.
"Wake up, young master," the voice called softly.
Noah blinked open his eyes and saw the face of a beautiful woman with black hair and eyes, dressed in a traditional maid outfit. Her wide hips and generous chest were concealed under the neatly pressed uniform.
She was Bella, his personal maid, who had taken care of him since the day he was born.
"Is it morning already?" Noah mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he tried to wake up.
"Of course, young master. The sun's already up. You have to get ready," Bella said, smiling as she helped him sit up.
Noah yawned and stretched his tiny arms. "Let me sleep just a little more," he pleaded, still half-asleep and trying to burrow back into his blankets.
Bella chuckled softly, brushing his messy hair out of his face. "You can't, young master. Have you forgotten your plans for today? You and the mistress are going out."
The mention of the outing jolted Noah awake. He sat up quickly, eyes wide with excitement. "Of course, I didn't forget! How could I when I'm the one who suggested it?" he said, feigning confidence, though he couldn't meet Bella's amused gaze.
Bella, knowing her young master well, chuckled again but said nothing. She picked him up easily, despite his squirming, and carried him towards the bathroom. "Not so fast, young master. You need to get ready first."
In the bathroom, Bella began preparing a bath, and soon Noah was stripped down, left standing awkwardly as Bella washed him. Despite being a child in appearance, his older mind still felt embarrassment whenever she bathed him. Being stripped down by a female till he was naked is quite embarrassing. He stood in front of Bella, completely naked. His face was red and his head was down. Bella poured water on him and cleaned him, rubbing his body. Till now, everything is normal. The problem arises from now on, while bathing him, Bella also gets wet. Making her prominent bust more visible through her white dress. Her body curves are all too visible through her white maid uniform, making him excited, but he has nowhere to let out that excitement. All this excitement was too much for a kid. Even though his soul is in his 30s, his body is still of 3 year old. As his body was not even developed enough to release his hormones. So all the excitement was being just piled up and making his situation even more intense. Even though it was a daily routine for him, he was still not able to get accustomed to it.
But what could he do? It was not something he could change. He could just wait for his body to be developed as he grows. For now, he left everything to fate, knowing he didn't have much of a choice.
Once the bath was over, Noah emerged from the bathroom and found a small team of maids waiting for him, each holding an outfit. Every piece of clothing was luxurious, befitting his status as the heir to the Vestron Duchy. His mother had handpicked every outfit for him, ensuring they suited him perfectly.
Noah randomly chose an outfit, knowing all of them would look good on him, and allowed the maids to dress him. When they were finished, Bella led him to the dining room where his parents were already seated, waiting for him.
Lilith's face lit up when she saw him. "You look so handsome in that outfit, my little angel," she said, standing up and pulling Noah into her lap.
"Are you ready for today's outing?" she asked, stroking his hair gently.
"Of course, mom! I can't wait," Noah replied, his excitement shining through.
"Now, now... calm down and eat your breakfast first," Lilith said, smiling as she began feeding him with her own hands.
Lucious, his father, looked up from his meal, "I've already informed the knight captain. He and a few guards will be accompanying you as escort."
Lilith smiled, "Thank you, dear. I'm sure Noah will be thrilled to see the city today."
Lucious nodded but sighed lightly, "I wish I could come with you, but the estate's business demands my attention. Perhaps next time."
"It's okay, dear," Lilith comforted him, though a tinge of disappointment colored her voice. "It's ok, darling. You can join us next time."
After breakfast, they left the mansion, Noah was carried in his mother's arms while Bella walked beside them.
At the mansion gate stood a tall, muscular man with a stern expression and a large scar across his face. His broad shoulders and bulky frame made him appear even more imposing. However, the moment his eyes fell on Bella, his expression softened into a smile. It was a subtle change, but Noah noticed. Glancing at Bella, he saw her blushing shyly.
'Oh… so there's something between them,' Noah thought, hiding his smirk as his mind filled with thoughts he shouldn't have at his age. The contrast between Bella's delicate beauty and the brute of a man in front of him was almost laughable.
'Love is indeed blind,' he mused inwardly.
Ronald, the knight captain, stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Greetings, mistress. Young master. The carriage is ready, and we'll be following closely behind," he said, gesturing to the carriage waiting at the entrance.
Lilith smiled kindly. "Thank you, Captain Ronald. We'll be in your care today."
Ronald bowed again, and one of the knights opened the carriage door for them. Noah climbed inside with his mother and Bella, and his jaw nearly dropped at the sight before him. The interior of the carriage was far grander than the outside. It was spacious, almost impossibly so, and the luxurious furnishings made it feel more like a small room than a vehicle.
Lilith chuckled softly at his astonished expression. "Impressive, isn't it?" she teased, pulling him onto the plush sofa beside her.
"It's huge! How is it this big? and so quiet in here" Noah asked, still looking around in awe.
"It's all thanks to space magic," Lilith explained. "The floor beneath us is inscribed with a magic circle that expands the space inside. There are also noise-cancellation enchantments on the walls, and anti-disturbance spells on the floor to make the ride smooth."
Noah's curiosity was piqued. "Doesn't that kind of magic need a constant supply of mana? Shouldn't there be a mage feeding mana to the enchantments?"
Lilith smiled at his curiosity. "Normally, yes. But this carriage is powered by mana stones embedded in the magic circle. They gradually release their stored mana to keep the enchantments running. Once the mana is depleted, we simply replace the stones."
"Mana stones? What are those?" Noah asked, his eyes wide with interest.
Lilith chuckled again. "Don't worry, my little scholar. We have a long ride ahead. I'll explain everything."