Ch.5This is Why I’m Obsessed #1

Morning, as the sun began to dimly rise. A carriage raced along a well-maintained road.

The clop-clop sound of horse hooves pounding the ground vigorously. Amidst the noise of wheels rolling along the path that rang in my ears, I gazed at the scenery rushing past beyond the carriage window.

The carriage was heading toward Duke Krauser’s mansion.

Although Altram’s residence was also within Krauser’s domain, close enough to walk, the reason for taking a carriage was simple. It was just faster.

During that brief time, Chess, who sat across from me, briefly explained what I would do today and beyond.

Since I would merely be serving as Helena’s attendant, there was nothing grandiose about it. I just needed to stay by her side, respond when called, and do as instructed.

“It’s quite large.”

I blurted out something foolish as soon as I stepped out of the carriage. Of course, it was only natural for a duke’s mansion to be enormous.

“Hoho. Hearing you say that, I can tell you’re still a child after all.”

Chess, who followed me out of the carriage, patted my back and chuckled. At eight years old, wasn’t I undeniably a child?

I wanted to voice this question and see how Chess would react, but the iron gate swinging open as if welcoming us made that impossible.

The morning always started early for the servants who helped keep the massive entity known as Krauser running smoothly.

Cleaning the hall and each room, washing sheets, maintaining clothes, and more. There was always much to do.

From that perspective, I was incredibly fortunate to only need to attend to Helena.

“Welcome, Sir Chess.”

As we quietly entered through the back door of the mansion, a middle-aged man in a tailcoat greeted us warmly, as if he had been waiting.

As far as I knew, he was the butler of this house and oversaw all the servants. I remembered his face from Helena’s birthday parties.

“Hmm. You’re working hard as always. Was everything peaceful yesterday?”

“Yes. Fortunately, yesterday was peaceful as well.”

“That’s good to hear. Ah, this is my son Zion. I’ve brought him to serve as Lady Helena’s attendant starting today.”

“Ah~ So this is the son you mentioned yesterday?”

The butler laughed good-naturedly, then bowed politely to me.

It was a humble bow that seemed too deferential to be directed at a viscount’s son.

“Hoho. It seems we’re meeting here for the first time? Allow me to properly introduce myself again. I am Andy, the butler.”

Normally, nobles hold their heads high. Even a mere viscount’s pride could rival that of a duke, so there was no need to elaborate further.

However, I was never one to hold my head high. I had been that way since birth, and continued to be so even after death when I served as Hypnos’s attendant.

Additionally, I had been educated on how to interact with the servants here.

Therefore, I slightly bowed my head and tried my best to steady my voice.

“I am Zion Altram. I may have many shortcomings that might frustrate you, but I humbly ask for your guidance going forward.”

“My, my. If Sir Chess’s son claims to be lacking, then many other noble children would have to weep tears of blood.”

Andy laughed heartily while excessively praising me.

Many people seemed to mistake precocity for genius, and I cautiously wondered if this butler might be one of them.

“But, is it really appropriate for Altram’s young master to wear the same clothes as servants? Perhaps we should at least prepare a tailcoat…”

Amidst the gentle and relaxed atmosphere, the butler suddenly looked at my attire and muttered with concern.

Though the clothes were clean as they were new, they were identical to what the servants here wore—literally servant’s attire.

No matter how loyal they were to Krauser, Altram was still a noble family. Perhaps that’s why such a question instinctively arose.

But.

“Don’t worry. Though Altram is nobility, before that, aren’t we colleagues serving the same master? Although I’ve trained him, he’ll make mistakes as he learns from the beginning. Also, wearing servant’s attire was entirely Zion’s decision.”

“What…? Your son decided this himself?”

Upon hearing that I had personally chosen to wear the same clothes as servants, Andy widened his eyes in surprise.

Even Chess himself had been quite shocked just yesterday. It was an understandable reaction.

“Yes. I personally requested it from my father. Although I am of House Altram, this is my first time actually working, and moreover, I am a child. Rather than an ill-fitting tailcoat, I thought it would be more comfortable to wear the same clothes as those working here.”

I fully understand the desire to dress a child in fine clothes. But the thought of a tiny boy strutting around in a fancy tailcoat seemed ridiculous. That’s why I decided to wear the clean, roomy servant’s attire.

“Truly… Young Master Zion thinks differently from ordinary children. Is this the Altram bloodline?”

“Hoho, that’s too much exaggeration. Don’t praise him so excessively.”

Chess responded to Andy’s impressed words with feigned strictness, but his face was full of smiles.

He seemed quite pleased to hear his child being praised. He was the very definition of a doting parent.

“Ah, um… Should I start working now?”

“And so enthusiastic too! Very well. Let’s go upstairs.”

Praise is nice, but too much makes one’s face burn. So after getting the butler’s permission, I headed straight to Helena’s room.

Though I only visited about once a year, I was familiar with the general layout. I didn’t need guidance.

I stopped in front of what should be Helena’s door and stood guard without entering.

The Krauser family assigned one dedicated servant to each family member, who would wait like this to be summoned promptly.

This was a practice not unique to them but common among other nobles as well.

However, in Krauser’s case, the rotation schedule was quite generous, making it much easier to work here than for other nobles.

“…Is someone there?”

After waiting outside the door for about thirty minutes, a familiar female voice came from inside. It was Helena’s voice.

“Yes, Lady Helena. I am waiting here.”

“Um, then if you don’t mind, could you bring some water…”

She cut off mid-sentence, and suddenly there was a flurry of movement inside.

A loud thud followed, the kind of noise people make when they’re flustered.

I was listening carefully, wondering what was happening, when the door suddenly flung open.

There stood Helena in very light attire. She widened her eyes in disbelief and her lips trembled.

She might have been surprised to find me standing here at this hour.

“Z-Zion…? Is it really you?”

“Yes, Lady Helena. It’s the first time we’re meeting this early in the morning, isn’t it?”

“Well… it is the first time, but…”

Helena still seemed flustered, stumbling over her words.

With that, the swell of her chest, uncharacteristic for a sixteen-year-old, trembled slightly. She had grown to the height of an average man or taller, looking completely like an adult woman.

I found it hard to believe that someone with such a curvaceous figure was the kingdom’s premier knight.

“A-Anyway! That’s not the point. Why are you here, Zion?”

“I’ve been assigned as your attendant starting today, Lady Helena. That’s why I’m here.”

“A-Attendant?! You, Zion, as my attendant…?”

Even for an Altram, an eight-year-old child isn’t typically put to work.

Usually, one needs to be at least fifteen before being assigned outside duties. A child’s body is small and slender, making it unsuitable for work.

Normally, it’s slaves or orphans who work out of necessity due to various circumstances, but that’s not the case with the Altrams.

Although they don’t have a territory, they have ongoing businesses that keep them financially stable.

Nevertheless, the reason I’m working at such a young age is, as I mentioned earlier, entirely my own decision.

I judged that Helena’s mental state would completely shatter around the age of twenty, so I needed to care for her in advance.

However, she had been visiting the Altram household frequently lately and seemed mentally healthy, so perhaps my concern was excessive.

“Yes. However, if you have any objections, please let me know. If you prefer your previous attendant, I could assist them instead…”

“N-No! I have no objections! I’m actually happy that I’ll get to see you more often!”

“Ah… yes. That’s a relief.”

Helena seemed unusually flustered, abandoning her typically composed demeanor, but the glow on her face made it clear she was pleased.

As someone who confided in me about the pressure of being both an excellent lady and knight, she wouldn’t be hiding her true feelings.

Anyway, now that I have my master’s approval, it’s time to properly begin my duties.

As a first step, I need to fix this disheveled young lady’s attire.

“Well then, shall we change you into day clothes? You can’t have breakfast in your nightwear.”

“…Oh.”

Only after I pointed it out did Helena realize what she was wearing, and her face turned red.

Though I am biologically male, I’m still just a child.

So there didn’t seem to be any issue regarding seeing me as the opposite sex; she was simply embarrassed about appearing in such casual attire.

“Ah, umm… Yes. You’re right.”

“Then, excuse me.”

Most nobles receive help from attendants even when changing clothes.

Helena was no exception, and now it was my turn to fulfill that role.

Fortunately, I was skilled at helping women change clothes. I had consistently practiced dressing and undressing with one of Altram’s female servants as a subject.

Thanks to that, I could handle even the most complicated dresses with ease.

So I gestured for Helena to enter her room, but she hesitated at the doorway. I looked around to see if something was bothering her, but the hallway was empty.

I gently urged Helena to enter the room.

“Lady Helena? You should go in quickly. The Duke wouldn’t approve of you wandering around like this.”

“A-Ahem! Yes. I can’t stay like this. Very well. I’m prepared. Let’s go!”

She turned around with the solemnity of someone heading into battle.

It seemed like an excessive reaction just for changing clothes. Or perhaps, even though I’m a child, I’m still male after all.

I wasn’t sure. I just felt a strange sense of sympathy for her.

Because Cain, the eldest son of this house and Helena’s brother, unilaterally despised her.

With such a brother, she probably never had the opportunity to build family bonds.