Ch.4From Newborn to Servant #4

“Huff, huff…!”

In the training yard behind the Altram mansion, I was catching my breath, panting heavily.

General knowledge. Noble family trees. Duties as an attendant. And even physical training for emergencies—I was spending my days busy with various tasks. It was only natural if I was to serve the Duke.

I wasn’t bad at studying, but I wasn’t particularly good at it either.

So I had many concerns when receiving education, but fortunately, thanks to a child’s unique absorption ability, I was somehow able to digest the vast amount of content.

“Hmm. Let’s take a break if you’re tired.”

My instructor and Zion Altram’s biological father, Chess, lowered his fists that had been raised to his chest and declared a break.

It’s been nearly three years since he started training me under the pretext that I needed skills to protect the Krauser family in case of emergency.

“Yes. Thank… you…”

I trailed off as I plopped down on the ground.

Setting aside hand-to-hand combat techniques, I had to remain constantly alert because I was also learning assassination techniques that only assassins would use. Moreover, being in a child’s body meant I tired more quickly than others.

Still, the reason I could endure at all was because Chess moderated the training appropriately. Perhaps he was being considerate because I was his son.

“Zion. You’re already eight years old now.”

The fluffy-haired Chess sat down across from me and spoke somewhat abruptly.

He was also wearing training clothes, so it wouldn’t matter if they got dirty, but sitting casually on the ground seemed far from the behavior of a typical nobleman.

Well, this man has maintained a physical relationship with his wife since I was a baby.

From that perspective, it was clear he was cut from a different cloth than the typical nobles who always put on airs.

“Yes. That’s true, but why bring up my age suddenly…?”

“Ahem. Normally, bringing this up with you would clearly be premature. I had planned to discuss this when you were older… but you’re much more precocious and mature than I expected.”

Precocious, huh. I found that statement extremely reasonable.

After all, I’m essentially an older person who reincarnated while retaining my memories.

“That’s quite embarrassing.”

I responded with appropriate modesty, and Chess shook his head as if to say there was no need for that.

Judging by the faint smile on his lips, he seemed pleased with my attitude.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Anyway, seeing you like this, I have something to ask.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Do you intend to serve the Krauser ducal family, as is our Altram tradition?”

Finally, this question has come.

I knew that all the etiquette and training I had received so far was for the sake of the Krausers.

Nevertheless, Chess had never mentioned anything about it. He had only extolled the generosity and greatness of the Krausers, without showing any sign of forcing the matter.

I thought this was possible because he respected my free will.

Chess’s love for his children was as extreme as his loyalty, which is probably why he had remained silent until now.

However, he was now asking me if I would serve the Krausers. He must have brought it up thinking I would fully understand the weight of this question.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have praised a young child for being precocious.

“Serving the ducal family has been our Altram family’s role, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. For over 300 years now. Despite opportunities to receive higher titles, we’ve declined and remained viscounts, continuing to support the Krauser ducal family. My father did so, and I am doing the same. However, all of this was a path chosen by those before me, including myself. There was never any coercion.”

No coercion. That implied that the Krausers had the ability to secure the Altrams’ loyalty.

And it was an exceptional ability—enough to make them serve for generations.

“Both the current Duke and Lady Helena, who will be the future Duchess, are excellent people. It’s an honor beyond my station just to be near them.”

I know well about the Altrams’ loyalty.

But seeing him so fervent about it, he was truly like a fanatic. It was almost chilling.

So I unconsciously responded with a somewhat awkward tone.

“Ah, yes…”

“Anyway, I’m asking this question because I believe you’re capable of making sound judgments. I feel uneasy about forcing you to make a decision so early… but please consider carefully whether you will serve the Krausers or not.”

A judgment.

While I appreciated being given the choice, my answer was already decided.

If I were to say I wanted to live freely here, there would be no reason for my reincarnation.

It might not be bad to enjoy life here regardless of whether the world ends or not, but in that case, it’s clear the world would be utterly destroyed.

Even if I tried to enjoy it, a situation would arise where I couldn’t. So nodding my head was the correct answer to maintain peace.

“Father. I’ve already decided. I will serve the Krauser ducal family.”

“What?! Really?!”

Despite secretly hoping I would serve the Krausers, Chess was visibly surprised when I gave my answer without showing any sign of deliberation.

His reaction was natural since he knew nothing of my circumstances.

“Yes, truly. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”

“Hmm… I see. Is it perhaps because of Lady Helena?”

“I won’t deny it.”

Helena had visited the Altram family whenever she had time since I was a baby.

Her purpose was solely to see me, and outwardly, she probably appeared as an innocent child who couldn’t help but adore a baby. No, that was actually the case.

She was becoming more skilled with the sword day by day, refining her education, and becoming an increasingly flawless person.

Seeing such a person visiting to see a baby revealed an adorable gap, and beyond that, it showed a humanity appropriate for her age.

However, that wasn’t the only reason she frequently visited.

I knew she had another reason—to forget, even for a moment, the countless attentions directed at her.

—Lady Helena is so pitiful.

That was probably when I was around five years old.

I recalled pretending to be innocent, pretending to know nothing, stroking Helena’s head to comfort her.

Once I reached an age where I could understand speech, she stopped even muttering complaints to herself, so I did it to let her know she didn’t have to.

Of course, I was confident in my action of stroking a noble’s head—an act that, depending on the circumstances, could be punishable by death for insulting a noble.

It was a calculated move because I knew Helena had a personality prone to becoming sick.

And the effect of that action and words was excellent.

Helena knelt down, hugged me tightly, and sobbed while suppressing her voice.

Come to think of it, Helena’s expression brightened considerably after that, and her personality that was prone to sickness seemed to improve gradually.

It was around that time that her actions began to show a sense of composure. It was undoubtedly a good thing.

Because a sick Helena would be like a bomb thrown into the powder keg of the entire continent.

“Yes… for Lady Helena rather than the Krausers. That’s good too.”

But this man seemed to have greatly misunderstood something, muttering to himself and nodding. From the context, it seemed he thought I wanted to serve Helena because I liked her.

I briefly considered whether I should correct him or not. I concluded there was no need.

Upon calm reflection, it seemed fine to let him misunderstand, and it was much better than exhausting myself trying to correct his misconception.

In other words, there was no need to stir up a hornet’s nest.

“Good. I’ll convey your decision to the Duke and Lady Helena.”

After a brief silence, Chess left the backyard with a look of determination in his eyes. Isn’t that a bit too hasty?

◎◎◎

“…Hmm. I see. Your son has also made a big decision. And at such a young age.”

In a study decorated with predominantly red and black tones, furnished with luxurious but visibly aged furniture.

The owner of this place, who was also the lord of this domain, Duke Ise Krauser, stroked his elegant beard as he received Chess’s report.

The news of a child who volunteered to serve the ducal family at the young age of eight reminded him of Helena in her childhood.

Helena was elegant yet kind, and also possessed exceptional talent with the sword.

She was truly a person suited to the vessel of the Krauser ducal family, which led the kingdom’s army. Despite being a woman, her talent was unwavering.

No, she was becoming sharper with each passing day.

It had already been two years since the Duke himself could no longer match Helena, so there was nothing more to say.

Moreover, at some point, she began wielding a sword that incorporated not only sharpness but also gentleness, making her virtually impenetrable.

In this state, the Duke was confident that it wouldn’t be long before she stepped into the realm of Masters, of which there were few on the continent.

And from the moment he learned that Chess’s son was involved in the center of that change, he had secretly wanted to draw the boy in.

The bloodline of the Altrams was the most reliable guarantee.

Setting aside ability, the Duke understood that loyalty passed down through generations was as difficult to obtain as plucking stars from the sky.

For this reason, Ise welcomed the boy’s determination, but was also concerned.

Though young, Zion possessed a maturity that reminded him of Helena.

He thought that if such a child had made a firm decision, it might also include the reason of being smitten with the Duke’s daughter.

However, that thought was half right and half wrong.

If Zion had heard it, he would have inwardly snorted in disbelief. It was true that he cared about Helena, but it was only to prevent the world from collapsing.

But from the Duke’s perspective, it was a perfectly reasonable concern.

While it was undeniable that Helena’s strength was becoming more solid day by day, she was also developing voluptuous and feminine curves in proportion.

In other words, the Duke was confident that her beauty was such that it would be strange for a man not to fall for her.

“Hmm. Even so, it would be difficult to assign him the same duties as you right away. It’s not yet time for you to retire either, so for now, let’s make him Helena’s attendant to get him accustomed gradually. He’s still just a child, isn’t he?”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration. Shall I report this to Lady Helena right away?”

“Yes. Please do so.”

Nevertheless, the Duke permitted Zion to serve as Helena’s attendant.

Concerns aside, the Duke also knew that a certain ease had developed in Helena as she frequented the Altram household. He also knew that Helena valued that ease immensely.

So he gave this order, and Chess showed signs of delight as he left the study.

“Hmm—.”

Left alone, Ise let out a low groan as he pondered, but he believed his conclusion would not change.

As a father, it was natural to worry about men approaching his daughter, but he couldn’t use that as an excuse to oppress her.