When the fuck is she gone pull up?
Constantly looking between the door and the ceiling. I felt like I was being played.
'She didn't lie did she?' Maybe I should've made her sign a blood pact or some shit. If even after all that crying I still have to stay in this bum ass room, I swear she getting poked in the eyes next time I see her.
Just then, as if in fear of my plan the door swung open, displaying a radiant woman.
Seeing me staring at her akin to a hawk, Urethia started itching the back of her head in embarrassment
"Sorry for my tardiness, young master… some situations showed up, slowing me in my.."
As she babbled on and on in an attempt to cover her ass, I just stared at her even harder, wanting to see how far she would go.
"And suddenly, a moose, as massive as a house , showed up.."
Seeing her excuses get more and more excessive, I raised my hand to signal for her to shut up.
"Urethia.."
"Yes, my lord?"
Trying to be as casual as can be. I then asked.
"How was your nap?"
"It was alright. Could've been bet-." She suddenly stopped.
I returned to silently staring at her.
After a few moments of silence, she grunted. Clearly annoyed at getting caught.
"How did I even fall for that.. You got me, hurry up and let's get out of here." She said with a roll of her eyes turning back the way she came with a roll of her heels.
Seeing her long ears droop slightly and her drop the pretense I showed a smile.
This was why she was my favorite, second only to my mother. She never made a pretense with me. Always choosing to speak to me casually and without mincing her words.
To me, who originally came from a place where casual interactions were the standard. Constant formal and distant communication had begun to become an annoyance. So her and mother were always reliable sources of fresh air.
"Hold up!" Since I only reached up to about her kneecaps it took some effort to catch up.
Before dissing me. Remember I was only one. And she was quite a tall woman.
Following closely behind her I asked her where we were going first.
"Where to?"
"Hmm. I don't know. How about you choose?"
"Choose what retard? I've been trapped in my section of the palace for my entire life."
Noticing my use of foul language she wrinkled her nose.
"I suggest you stop with the foul language before I make you. See if I won't shove a bar of soap down your throat to clean it. Who even taught you that?"
"Am I a prince or peasant? With the way you talk to me I would've taken myself for a beggar." I replied, undisturbed in the face of her threat. She didn't have the balls to do it anyway.
A snort left her nose.
"To start off with. No you are not a prince but the son of a duchess, your mouth would be quite a scare for the other nobility."
" Enough of the smart comments. Where are we going?"
"How old are you? I refuse to believe a one year old should be talking to me in such a manner." She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Anyway, your mother gave us some options. Pick which one you want to start with first. So, the areas you're currently allowed to visit extend to- The library, the gardens, the observatory, indoor gymnasium, annnnd. That's about it.'
"Damn. That's basically nothing." I complained.
Before she could reply to my repeated usage of foul language I continued.
"Can we go to the library first?"
Seeing her shaking her head, I heard her muttering under her breath.
"I really need to have a talk with the other maids in charge of you."
"Alright. Library first."
With that, she picked me up, saying I was going too slow. Deciding to not indulge in her stupidity and remind her of my height I stayed quiet, just enjoying the ride.
Soon we reached the library. I had thought I had already seen the height of extravagance during my stay here, but clearly I was wrong. What greeted my eyes was a library that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, with spiral ladders climbing ever higher, till I couldn't see their tops. There was mist near the top further enhancing the fantastical sight displayed before me, but also obscuring my attempts to peek at what laid ahead.
"Woahhh." The sight had me stunned, how was it so big?
Seeing my expression Urethia smiled smugly. Seeming to take pride for reasons unknown to me.
'Why is she acting like she made this shit?'
"Enjoying the view, young master?"
"Very, How was this made? I don't think the palace was so big it could accommodate something of such grandeur."
"Such assumptions would be correct.The library was made with a spacial art formation at its base."
"Spacial what?"
Seeing her face freeze up, I don't think she was supposed to tell me that.
"Uh. Never mind that, you'll know more when you grow older."
'Spacial arts huh? Seems like I wasn't tweaking, magic was present in this world.'
I had honestly almost lost hope of magic being prevalent in this world, seeing no sight, nor mention of it.
So what specifically are those particles? Seeing how the people around me had not told me anything about them, I assumed I wasn't supposed to be able to see them. Not even once were they mentioned. And me not wanting to stick out, I also hadn't mentioned them.
"Can I go and check out the books?" I asked, eyes glimmering expectantly.
"Can you read?"
".."
'You bitc… '
Of course, that stayed in my head; not wanting to get hit, I wisely decided to say something else.
"Watch that mouth of yours."
"Or what." With a grunt she advanced forward, carrying me along.
"... Just wait till I grow up." I mumbled under my breath.
We stopped before a man sitting behind a desk.. He was sleeping.
Bang
With a bang on the head Urethia woke him up.
Clearly in a daze, I saw him slightly tilt his down to try and discreetly swipe the drool off his cheek.. Before looking up and focusing on us. For some reason, I saw his face relax into an expression of relief, laying back into his chair, he spoke.
"What do you want, you wretch?" He uttered, his voice still drowsy with sleep.
"Cleon."
"Yes?"
"Do you not see the young master perched on my shoulder?"
He looked towards me and dumbly blinked his eyes as he looked at me.
Then in a flurry of actions, I saw him tidy his outfit, slick his hair to the side, and sit upright. Instantly gaining the bearing of a young, but professional librarian.
"Ahh. It's not everyday that I get to meet his lordship."
Tilting my head, I thought.
'He's never met me before though, right?'
Maintaining his composure, he looked me in the eyes.
"I apologize for my usage of foul language. Since I had just awoke- just opened my eyes after closing them in thought, for a while. My vision was quite blurry when speaking, I apologize for not noticing his lordship."
With that, he bowed his head towards me.
Amused, I accepted his apology. "It's ok, I don't mind. I've heard worse."
Clearly gratefully, then relaxed slightly. "Ah. So the rumors were downplayed, not only learning to speak at the age of one, but also having such patience and grace at such a young age The rumors clearly don't serve you justice. I can rest easy seeing that I will be in great hands in the future, It seems the future of our house will be blinding."
Seeing him instantly launching into a barrage of compliments, I couldn't help but smile. Indeed, getting glazed was the best.
"Enough of the babbling, do you have any educational picture books for the young master?" Urethia butted in, much to my annoyance.
Seeing her cut off my stream of glazing, I slapped her in the back of the head. Causing her to glare at me; to which I looked to the side.
"Indeed, what genre would his lordship prefer? We have quite the collection, ranging from romance to politics, we have it all."
"Do you have anything regarding spacial arts?"
He looked towards Urethia, seeing her shaking her head, he turned back towards me.
"Unfortunately. You don't currently meet the age requirements to be learning about magic, my lordship."
He took a pause.
"Since you are of noble stature, the Madam should permit you to learn about the Etheric matrix by the time you are eight."
"What's the Etheric matrix?"
"Why ruin the surprise?"
"Cause I asked?"
"No."
The audacity of these people.
Giving up on pursuing the matter, I asked for a book about the various species. Seeing how I had seen elves. The rest of the fantasy races should be here as well.
"Right away, my lord."
With a clap of his hands, a thin book flew out to us.
"This book should suffice. It's mainly a picture book, but any text you may encounter, Urethia should be able to translate for you, my lord.
With that. Urethia carried me to one of the tables a distance away from the librarian's table.
I wonder, did humans exist here as well?