Chapter 22

A week later.....

"Hey"

"Yes, Master"

"Use red paint"

"Okay, Master"

"Hmm?.... No, use blue paint"

"Okay, Master"

With graceful strokes, Aether painted a blade-like symbol on the carriage, while Kai, his Master, meticulously observed his slave's handiwork.

It had been a week since Aether found himself thrust into this unfamiliar world..... A place that seemed to thrive on its own set of rules and secrets. However, in that time, he realized he had learned...

Absolutely nothing about this world!!

As a slave, he was barred from the library, and others avoided him like the plague. Consequently, he had few chances to learn about anything beyond the fact that he was a slave... in the Duke's House called Forstblade.

His duties were simple; he was supposed to do everything his Master said. His Master was a boy named Kai, who was the same age as Aether.

After that fateful day, Aether obediently followed every command....

Even though Mortimer Forstblade had told him to take a rest. However, it seemed others didn't want him to rest, as Aether woke up the next day with the same treatment by Kai.

Despite Mortimer's kindness, there were times Aether was beaten by the Timmy group, and sometimes Velc slapped him for not completing his work.

Aether tried to enter Mortimer's room. Even though he was a slave, he believed he deserved some human respect, right?

Yet, the room's door was heavily guarded.... as if no one was allowed to enter.

Most of all, He learned one thing... that was Hierarchy!!

Aether found himself at the bottom, with Mortimer Forstblade reigning at the top. He was not allowed to speak unless Mortimer personally called him, solidifying the stark divisions within the household and world.

Moreover, this world proved to be devoid of technological advancements...

Unlike the comforts of his previous life, Aether was now subjected to a reality governed by archaic norms and practices.

Regardless of the peculiarities, today marked a significant event as both Selene and Kai were scheduled for baptism.

Aether wasn't entirely sure what it entailed, mirroring his experiences from his previous life where he simply followed orders without a hint of understanding or control... not a single thing changed.

'Oh? One thing changed though... that is I am a slave to a child!' Aether thought, irritation evident in his internal monologue.

In the past, he entertained the idea that memories of Ether might surface, offering insights into the dynamics at play.

Yet, to his dismay, no such memories appeared, not even in his nightmares. The enigma of his current existence persisted, leaving him to navigate this unfamiliar world with a sense of frustration and uncertainty.

"Young Master!" a black-haired boy shouted.

"Oh, hello, Timmy. Is everyone ready?" Kai inquired.

"Yes, and Lord Velc asked the young master to come," Timmy responded.

"Oh? Okay then. Timmy, take care of him," Kai instructed before walking away.

"Take care... Of course," Timmy grinned as he looked at Aether.

Aether glanced at Timmy, stood up, and respectfully said, "Hello, Sir."

In the rigid order of the hierarchy, Aether found himself below everyone, obliging him to maintain respect even when he didn't want to. It mirrored his experiences in his previous world, where he had no choice but to bow his head to the privileged elite.

"Heheh..." Timmy grinned with satisfaction. "Looks like you learned your lesson!"

Aether remained silent, continuing to paint the blade symbol on the carriage.

Timmy scrutinized Aether's thin, stick-like body clad in the same sack dress. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and asked, "Hey, did you even take a bath before?" covering his nose with his displeasing expression.

Aether stopped his hands and glanced back at Timmy with a blank look, causing Timmy to flinch. However, he quickly regained his composure and glared at Aether. "What?"

"Nothing, Sir," Aether answered calmly before returning to his painting.

Timmy's lips twitched, and just as he was about to shout at Aether, he noticed the paint. With a wicked smile, he slowly picked it up, intending to pour it on Aether's head when a stern voice interrupted him,

"If I were you, I wouldn't do that, Timmy" A white-haired old man, spoke with authority. Timmy turned to look at his father, flinching.

"F-Fathe--"

"That's Teacher for you!" Alfred corrected him, taking the paint can from his son's hand and carefully placing it on the ground.

Alfred's eyes lingered on Ether, who continued to paint as if he hadn't heard anything. A subtle smirk played on Alfred's lips. It was improbable for a 15-year-old boy, even one who had regained his emotions, to carry himself with the demeanor of a seasoned 30-year-old man. Ether's patience, refined speech, and artistic finesse intrigued Alfred.

'Today, we will see who he truly was,' Alfred mumbled inwardly, a hint of anticipation coloring his thoughts.

"Alfred," an authoritative voice resonated through the grand yard. Velc, a man clad in a luxurious robe adorned with intricate designs, approached the carriage. His dark blue hair and noble bearing marked him as a figure of importance. Behind him were two pairs of beautiful siblings, adding an aura of elegance to the scene.

"Everything is ready, Master!" Alfred nodded respectfully as he opened the carriage. Aether had already moved away, standing beside other servants.

"Hmm," Velc nodded before stepping inside the carriage, his eyes briefly meeting Ether's gaze.

The two sets of siblings followed suit, entering the carriage with a graceful demeanor.

"Hmm?" Aether raised his eyebrows in surprise as he noticed Timmy joining the group.

Alfred took charge of the driving seat and then glanced at Aether.

"Come with me."

"???" Although Aether felt the urge to ask, he obediently followed the order. Seating himself beside Alfred, he prepared for the journey as the carriage began to move, guided by the rhythmic steps of the horse.

Alfred nodded in satisfaction. Aether's compliance without questions pleased him. A subtle transformation seemed to be taking place, turning Aether into a more obedient figure.

Not privy to the truth, Aether maintained his silence strategically, using the opportunity to observe the outside world. Since arriving in this unfamiliar realm, he had been confined within the mansion, denied the chance to explore beyond its walls.

"Open the Gate!!"

With anticipation flickering in his eyes, Aether looked forward to the adventure that awaited him beyond the confines of the mansion.