Akuyaku Reijou ni Koi wo s.h.i.+te – Chapter 05 :
“I have gotten considerably used to my livelihood.”
It has been three months since the day I’ve been hired by the Winhirr household and I have gotten quite used to the livelihood here.
I wake up before the sun rises and forge my body every day. Because the morning of this household starts early, with all the employees waking up together with the rise of the sun beginning their work, Â I had to wake up before them to create time for myself.
I ran around the outrageously huge courtyard and trained my muscles through numerous push up and sit ups.
I have begun doing this every time before the sun rises.
After the sun rises however, my job as a valet starts but I hardly have things to do. The only things that the former valet, Walle told me other than routine duties would be how to interact with other families
It seems preparation for tea party being held on our own household, preparing invitations for the selection of invitees and lastly confirmation of their attendance are quite a load of work.
Other than that, there is also the job of checking their invitations and seeing through who is supposed to attend those who should be refused. It seems grasping the relations.h.i.+p to other families, examining the who will partic.i.p.ate, coming up with a decision and comprehending their circ.u.mstances was quite the troublesome work as well.
However, presently those kinds of works have yet to come.
The reason was not because Vincent-sama was still a child.
When it comes to aristocratic families, I have heard that it’s common to drag someone amongst their children to socializing occasions. In the first place, in this world, the latest age for someone to hold a ceremony for reaching adulthood would be sixteen and I have also heard of those who reached the adulthood pretty fast with the age of twelve.
It was seemingly the same with the male coming of age ceremonies that the higher echelons of the otherworld have held out in the past.
The age of Vincent-sama is ten and adulthood should be far off, however it seems by age of twelve they will attend a school. Thinking about that, it would be better to start socializing with the same generation of other families now.
and yet… there’s no single invitation at all.
Even though there should be a lot of families who would desire to interact with Winhir Marquis Household.
Why is it like this? There was no person who gave me a precise answer. Thinking that there must be a reason why they refuse to tell me, I gave up investigating because I should be able to find out sooner or later anyway.
Before worrying about that, let’s cherish the time I have made for myself to the great lengths. As for what am I doing, it would be practicing how to read.
It seems the characters– so to speak of this world differ from j.a.panese characters. After writing my name, I immediately recognized them as nothing but scribble. It seems the characters of this world were called alphabet.
When I realized that my future had seemingly became bleak. Not being able to even read nor write for a valet would be a fatal flaw is what I thought.
However by string of blessings, for some reason I can read. My eyes recognizes what was written in front of me in j.a.panese. However I cannot write and that itself is a huge problem. Writing on the behalf of someone should belong to the list of jobs that a valet would do a lot and not even being able to do something like that would disqualify me as a valet.
I must learn how to write the letters at all cost.
Although they are in j.a.panese characters no matter how I look at them, in reality these letters should have a different shape. I thought it was impossible but the one who made this impossible was actually my peculiar existence.
(*TN Okay, this is most-likely personality switching to the original.)
When I take the reins of the consciousness, the characters written were not in Nihongo but the alphabets of this world. Although because I can neither read nor write, I do not know what is written. I can only recognize the shape.
But that itself is enough. The other me can understand what was written. I will perceive the shape of the characters and write them. The other me will understand the meaning behind the words and after learning the meaning of each word, I will remember how to read each characters.
I commended my other self who only thought “How dare you” in return.
(TN* Okay the guy who can see j.a.panese letters is the j.a.panese guy right?, so we’re back to him, I think.)
Presently the study session is showing fruition. The letters of the characters of the book I’m using for study are now jumbled between j.a.panese characters and the alphabet of this world. The characters that have been replaced by the alphabet of this world were the ones I’ve grown accustomed to.
Although deciphering was quite hard at first, now I have gotten used to it.
Because I’m also doing this every day, I have gotten used to using the pen as well. Even though it’s still shabby, I think it’s slowly changing to tidy writing.
(*TN: We’re back to the original)
The road to becoming a full-fledged vallet.
Although it’s still very far off, I’ve got the feeling that I’m slowly making progress.
I wonder why am I striving so hard to be diligent in this job? But the truth is, I know the answer for myself. It’s because I just cannot seem to leave those two egoistic siblings as is.
Although those two have caused me plenty of problems, I have no other people that I can trust in this world other than those two.
Such a person like me, was being treated normally by those people. The me who was showered with contempt by my surroundings and have been on the receiving end of hara.s.sment, the two of them have taken me under their wings of protection.
The me who is nothing but an abnormality— I’m not referring to just the heterochromatic pair of eyes. I’m way more abnormal than that.
My body has two personalities residing in it. I’m starting to feel friction between the two personalities. Me and that guy a port of the fence separating the two personalities have been lost and are slowly merging into one. I will become me all the time* and the other me will become me as well. However me and him will be one and the same.
I feel like I have started to become an adult and consequently, the other me also felt like he had become a child.
The one that deduced that the two personalities are merging was the other me. That is fine. That should be fine is what I thought but even if my two personality have merged into one, I am still far of from being normal.
The two of us have understood as such.
It seems the other me had made quite the resolve for himself. He came from another world so naturally he understood that he was far from normal huh?
However I am different. I am an orphan from the slums, an existence who could have died any time.
Just how did I, who is an peculiar existence even among the slums have turned out like this? The other me doesn’t have any idea either.
Will I be an existence whom will possess strength? By that time, will I still be able to become a normal existence? If I had become an existence withholding a strength, then I want to use that strength for the sake of those two.
The other me was quite the trustworthy as well. Saying that this body belongs to me, the other me who have always pa.s.sed the reins of my consciousness to myself. After thinking about various things, I understood that even knowing that I should have died, he still honestly handed the body over to the seemingly after image of my consciousness. It was my first time meeting such a human being.
The way we met was strange though, because that me is a part of myself after all. The me right now is my other self as well. Anyhow, the other me is trustworthy. I want his earnestness to suppress the lingering hate in my heart.
So that I could keep the happiness that I’m currently withholding.
4 o’clock. Vincent-sama should wake up around 8am in regards to the time of the other world.
Originally it was not my job but the job of other maids but because they don’t want to deal with waking up Vincent-sama which is really difficult, before I knew it the job was forced into me.
Normally, the personal maid should be in front of the room waiting for me but…
「Why is there no coffee!?」
「Erm.. that is.」
「Even though you haven’t even made a coffee to ease my sleepiness, why did you wake me up?!」
I can hear a shouting voice inside the room. It appears that the maid had tried to wake him up this time. Though it doesn’t really matter for me, I would like them to do it properly.
Sighing lightly, I turned back to the way I came from and jogged. Though I feel quite guilty about the maid, for now I will endure it for a bit. Because of her, I have to think of a method to calm him down after all.
By the time I got back, the voice of Vincent-sama had become calmer.
However, his complaints to the maid are still going on even now. Shouldn’t he channel this persistence to somewhere else? With such thoughts in my mind, I entered the room.
Pa.s.sing through the horizontal bed, I opened the curtains resulting to sunlight entering the window. As it was the room of the heir, it was a room facing towards the sun.
When I turned my head, although that should be expected, the glare of Vincent-sama was turned towards me who just suddenly entered the room.
Confirming such, I courteously bowed.
「Good morning, Vincent-sama.」
「Yeah, good morning.」
「Today, I have prepared an apple juice for breakfast.」
「….What?」
Hearing my words, the forehead of Vincent-sama wrinkled seemingly that of a difficult person. Even taking notice of such, I must not falter.
「I have prepared an apple juice for breakfast.」
「Why is it not a coffee? It obviously takes plenty of coffee to wake me up!」
「Yes. Indeed I was instructed as such.」
「Then, why not do as you are told? Are you not my personal valet?」
「The truth is, upon reading a book yesterday, I discovered something.」
「Discovered?」
「It seems drinking coffee when you just woke up is not very healthy.」
「….As if I care about such things. Coffee is obviously the one for me.」
Even so, it’s not like he is particularly fond of coffee. He was just copying his father, the marquis.
「However….」
「What is it now?」
「However, I read that from King Takemitsu’s anecdote written on a book.」
The figure surpa.s.sing Vincent-sama’s own father for him was the 3rd generation king of the Granfram kingdom. He was a king who used the kingdom’s military prowess to expand the dominion of the kingdom and the one said to have laid down the foundation of the current state kingdom, it was King Takemitsu.
「…What?」
「King Takemitsu was a gentleman who minded his own health.」
「I know that. King Takemitsu made reckless behaviors on the battlefield but during peace time, he was seemingly like a coward, treasuring his health. It was due to the thought of being able to display his maximum strength because his true worth can be shown on the battlefield.」
「That Takemitsu-ousama said that coffee is not very healthy.」
「….What about the apple juice?」
「Fruits are good for the body. It seems the sweetness of the fruit can improve the ability of one’s mind.」
These were not the words of King Takemitsu but since we’ve come this far, that doesn’t matter.
「Is that so? Well then, that is fine.」
「Understood. Well then, I’ll leave it on the top of the table so please help yourself.」
「Alright.」
Vincent-sama rose from his bed and sat in front of his desk. He had already stopped paying heed to the maid.
With this, I should have accomplished my duty properly.
Using the topic that I prepared for making him rise from his bed into soothing his mood was such a waste though. It was hard preparing a topic to rouse Vincent-sama’s interest everyday.
However, I know about it, that even if the thing about the maid waking him up didn’t happen, he will throw a tantrum on them on purpose.
He was doing it while thinking of making them who were negative about my stay in this household, recognize my worth.
For the sake of returning that good will, preparing a topic every morning would be nothing.
「Well then, I will convey the schedule for today.」
「Fumu~」
Vincent-sama composedly nodded his head. Explaining the schedule that didn’t improve for the better will complete my work for the morning.
Attending to his change of clothes was the job of the maid.
Until that is finished, I will prepare for the this morning’s study in the neighboring room I prepared the textbooks, writing tools and sheets of paper and placed it above the desks.
The homework of yesterday was only pure white as usual. When pen in my hand, I opened the books to the topics that are within the scope of my understanding.
Around the time I was done, the preparation of Vincent-sama was done as well and has entered the room.
「Are you done?」
「……I was thinking of waiting before your preparations are finished.」
「The reason why I don’t do my homework was so that you could study. I can do such thing no matter when I want to, and in fact, I should be able to do it before teacher comes.」
Saying that, Vincent-sama took a seat and held a pen and although he was pretending to be thinking, he was only copying my answers.
Doing this now, the thing he said before is losing persuasive power. Using me as an excuse means he couldn’t think of any other way of persuasion. The “So I could study part” was probably used so that I would not think about it.
When we were done, as if he had estimated as such, Moore-sensei arrived in the room.
It’s the start of the morning study session.
Facing towards us, sensei checked our answers as he explained yesterday’s homework one by one. That was just a review and after we’re done with that we’ll go back to the lessons of today.
Though we are using text books, most of the things he discusses orally were not written in the book. Although I have pondered the reason why, it seems it was to protect his worth as a teacher. I have concluded as such around the time I was thinking of stopping Vincent-sama who was eagerly writing his words.
I don’t have any papers left, so naturally I had no choice but to focus so that the words of sensei doesn’t leak out of me at the corner of the room.
Moore-sensei only directed question to me once. After that, sensei completely ignores my existence. I understood the reason from that gaze which was seemingly containing contempt.
There’s no mistake that it was because studies are unnecessary for an orphan valet. When he realizes that I’m listening carefully, he’s lowering his voice thoroughly. Being hated to that extent might not only be due to being orphan but also related to my pair of eyes.
Even to this mansion, the behavior of the environment in regards to mine doesn’t change. Even on the slums and up to this mansion, I am still a subject of hate.
Except to those two.
Next to the morning study was lunch.
Because Vincent-sama will eat lunch with his family, the a.s.sistance will be left to the maids. In the meanwhile, I also have to finish my meals accordingly.
After taking my own meals from the kitchen, I have to return to my room.
Although there are quarters for servants to eat, because I will just be annoyed at the surrounding glares, I have begun eating on my own room. Because I also have to review the lessons from this morning, that is fine with me. I don’t know what they will say if they saw myself studying.
While biting on my bread, I began writing the things discussed on the morning study to my paper. Even if those lessons leak out of me or were forgotten, if I asked questions to the other me I’ll most-likely be answered.
Though I don’t know the why, for some reason I have a good memory.
I’m fully occupied by eating and writing on the paper at the same time. After that I’ll re-read it all over again and try to understand the contents. In cases of things that I don’t understand, I’ll write them in a paper and Vincent-sama will ask them tomorrow.
I can study primarily due to Vincent-sama’s cooperation.
I also thought of asking him why is he helping me to this degree and strangely, I was also satisfied with his answer.
There is no perfect human being. For a human being to stand above the others, he must seek someone who would fill what he lacks—that was Vincent-sama’s answer.
In other words, because he is poor at studying, I must pile up knowledge in his stead.
I think what he said was correct. However unfortunately, someone like Vincent-sama had too many things that he lacks.
Presently, I’m the only one to fulfill those holes. Until the persons to do such increases, I must give it my all for the time being.
This afternoon was both Vincent-sama and Ariel-sama’s manner study. There is no need for me to tag along as a dance partner.
My open schedule will be spend on the usual training at the usual place. I took the emptied bowls to the kitchen and washed it, afterwards I came to the court yard.
There is a fountain located on the court yard. I circled around it’s circ.u.mference to the opposite side.
There is no other reason for going to this side than drawing water. It was concealed by the shadow of the fountain and was seldom under the sight of the people’s eyes. At the very least, I have no memories of being sighted ever since I came here.
But even so, just to make sure I concentrated on my ears to look for people’s presence. Although it would be another thing if someone was hiding like me, at the very least there are no signs of people on the surroundings.
Still trying to make sure of such, this time I focused the sensation within myself. Calming down myself and putting my consciousness on my vision and in addition focusing on my right eye. Continuing that, before long, I could faintly saw something floating in the surroundings of the fountain.
It has no color neither a shape and yet despite of that I can still feel its presence.
It seems it had also noticed that I was looking at this direction. Because these things have consciousness as well, they have gathered and floated around my surroundings.
In order to not scare them, I slowly presented my right hand in the air. Those things that had gathered on my right arm was slowly pulling something out of my body and had begun its absorption.
I can feel their existence gradually getting stronger. After gathering them to myself, I will convey my wish.
If I wish for them to become a round ball, they will do as I wish. If I wish for them to take the form of a blade, they will act accordingly.
After that, if I wish to cut the tree branch that stretched out in front of me, the liquid-like blade will fly and cut the branch into pieces. Although for now, I can only cut small and thin branches, if they get larger I will able to cut something thicker.
This is the magic that I have come to learn. Its way different from the magic that Vincent-sama is being taught. However my intuition is telling me something or rather, it might not be my intuition but something was telling me….
..that this is the real magic.
Noticing the presence of that something was only a coincidence. Since I have been addicted to bathing, I have been sneaking here after dark to prevent people from noticing.
Due to pouring water over my head first, coincidentally my other eyes was hindered and after having to use only my right eye to see on the surroundings of the fountain, I saw those things floating in the surroundings. I thought it was just my imagination since after looking intently, they disappear.
However, even if I don’t see them any longer, I can still feel their presence. Thinking that perhaps I can only see them with my right eye, I tried doing it again and they became visible. I tried doing so with my left eye but they disappear.
They are existence that can only be seen through blue eyes. So I immediately knew that they were water elemental spirits. Though I just named them spirits by my own convenience, I don’t really know if they are spirits or what. However, surely they have a will.
Having a consciousness, they will also need to eat.
Their meals of course are the mana residing in human’s body. Not needing the activation of mana neither the circulation, if I let them, the spirits will absorb mana directly within my body and will become mine.
Listening as I wish would be their way of paying the grat.i.tude.
That was the principle behind magic.
Knowing that, questions have begun popping up. Why is the tutor of Vincent-sama teaching him lies? However, I still cannot voice it out. It’s because me being able to use magic would be another oddity of mine after all.
I still don’t have the courage to let the others know about this. Although keeping secret was rather difficult, fortunately, there was someone who could offer me advice and support on such situation.
Knowing that the established fact to the people was wrong should be kept secret for as long as possible. Letting them know should be by the time that I have acquired a power that would deal with complications.
Deciding as such, for now I must desperately polish this ability.
For now, even without closing my other eyes, I can feel the presence of the water spirits by just focusing my consciousness. Even on the places with water other than the fountain, if I focus the sensation in my body, I can now feel the presence of the spirits.
If I can start seeing them with few effort, this magic of mine should prove to be useful. I can feel a considerable response from the water spirits.
So that I can also forge my left eye this time, I need to create much more time for myself. Recently, I have begun pondering on such thoughts.