When I woke up, what was in front of me was a wood grain ceiling. It seems for some reason, I was sleeping on a soft bed.

It was a dream — is what I thought but then I noticed that the ceiling in front of me was not something that’s familiar to me.

I raised my body in panic and glanced around. The surroundings of the bed had a nice feeling in it, with profound, clean and with many luxurious looking furniture in place, a room owned only by someone rich and wealthy.

Then I sensed someone’s breathing within the room. Inclining my head towards my right, I noticed a woman sitting at a distance from the bed.

Seeing that I am awake, she stood up from her chair and began to approach the bed.

「It seems you have woken up. I will be out for a bit to report this. Please wait for me right here.」???

A woman with brown hair and blue eyes, no matter how I look at her, she’s not like a person from the slums nor a Japanese. She may be a European descent. Her appearance looks like those female servants in Victorian novels and movies. In addition to that, she was also wearing a maid uniform and had a calming voice but with strict aura.

She left the room without waiting for my reply.

It seems I am still in a dream. If I’m already awake then this is– wait, maid? Novels and movies? Where did…

This time around without the wave of pain, I was able to fully remember who I am but there is one problem… there are two answers.

I am Flay, one of the orphans in the slums.

And at the same time I am also Moriya Ryou, 28 years old man and Japanese.

Information and knowledge from both sides had all of the sudden been organized and arranged as if I had lived as both of them at the same time. It feels perfectly normal and natural but even so, it did not reduce my surprise and astonishment in knowing something which Flay and Ryou did not.

A Different World.

I was shocked to know the existence of another world, both as Flay and Ryou. Though I cannot believe it, there’s no doubt that it’s true. I don’t know what’s what anymore.

As Flay, the last memories before I met that boy in the slums are my fading thoughts, feelings of excruciating pain and dying. Yes, I thought I died.

Several men have terribly tormented me to that extent. The slum was not a naive place where anyone thought it was just a place of poor people and dirty beggars. It’s a dog eat dog. No, it would have been much better if it’s just that simple but it’s not. What I had experienced is much worse than that.

I began to feel that something is darkening inside me. Slowly trying to calm myself, I have decided to think first about these matters carefully and clearly.

And to try knowing the last scene that I saw back on Earth, I pulled some of my memories as Ryou.

What I can only remember was, I rode a bus from the station. The bus was actually full of passengers that some of them were standing. I don’t remember the day and time but maybe it was rush hour. I had to stand at the very end but was able to sit at the back when someone offered me a small space to sit.

Then I noticed that five of the passengers were cops… or just look like one and felt their gaze towards me. I thought they were after me for some reason but I don’t remember doing anything that compelled the police to follow or observe me. After several hours of thinking, I decided that I was just overthinking things. Then the vehicle entered a highway and suddenly the inside of the bus turned strangely bright that I had to close my eyes.

But after that, nothing else comes to mind. Even if I tried to remember what happened next, I can’t recall anything.

If I try to make sense out of it, maybe I immediately died from a collision or accident. I knew I shouldn’t have sat on that seat. I’m still young, so I should’ve continued standing and maybe by doing that I wouldn’t have died.

Sigh… it is hopeless to regret what happened anymore. Let us evaluate our situation for now.

First, are these two worlds connected or in the same universe? Did the strange bright light came from an alien spaceship and when they tried to kidnapped me their ship got malfunctioned and I was instead accidentally transported through a wormhole that got me in this place? I don’t know but I couldn’t come up with an answer regarding this question.

Second, where am I? Kingdom of Grandfram, was the certain answer that floated in my mind.

Third, I tried pinching the various parts of my arms and skin, checking my head and body to know that I am not dreaming. Pain, texture of my rough skin and long hair told me that I really am not in a dream.

Fourth, where is my birthplace? — The answer is “I don’t know” from Flay’s memories and “Tokyo, Japan” from Ryou’s.

This strangely felt like I am interviewing my own self for the questions I don’t know and I do know.

Fifth, what am I? I don’t know – is the answer I can only come up with. But no matter how much I think about it, deep inside I know different things that don’t exist on this world. There’s no mistake about it, it seems that I gained new set of memories, but which of the two had gained the other is still unknown to me.

I don’t even know which is me right now, if I am Flay that gained the memories and knowledge of Moriya Ryou.

Or if I am Moriya Ryou whom currently possessed the body of Flay with the memories and knowledge of the orphan.

Just to satisfy, reduce my confusion and erase my fear of this unknown predicament, I will just consider for now that Moriya Ryou and Flay had merged into one.

And finally, what should I do from now on? – I don’t know also… I must first evaluate and just react accordingly to what will happen later. Surely I would not be sleeping on a soft comfortable bed if the one who took me in would just kill me in the end.

Let me check and investigate first my situation before deciding something. Where is this house located? Is this still in the city? Is this house still within the slums? – These were the main questions first that I had to answer to reduce the fear and confusion that’s on my mind right now.

I stood from the bed and went to the glass window. It is made up of beautiful glass with various colors which took the figure of a Pegasus. Seeing that I can’t see through the glass without opening it, I took it on myself to unbolt the window.

The first thing that I felt after opening the window is a strong breeze of wind and the blinding sunlight. The sun had just started to rise. And I also noticed that I am on the third floor of this mansion. From this window, I can also see that this mansion was built on high ground overlooking the city. But I still don’t know if this is still the capital city because I don’t even know any landmarks I can use as a reference.

Looking below, people who looked like servants were running around and cleaning the vast gardens. Even so, the size of this property is much larger in comparison to the number of servants that are taking care of the grounds. I can even see the wing that attached another building to this one. The one who owned this property must be very, very wealthy.

I closed the window and thought again some scenarios why I am here. Then I suddenly remembered the rich boy back in the slums. So most probably, the boy was able to find help when I fainted and he dragged me to his home… I hope so.

I went back and jump back to the bed, remembering my former shelter. What entered into my mind was not an address but a place where there were worn out people, malnourished children, garbage, rats, rabid dogs and some dirty obstacles to separate each other’s make shift sleeping quarters. That place was where I was sleeping before I was taken by that man.

And with that in mind, I also remembered the first man I killed with my own two hands. Before, I was trembling. But now, all I feel is a mysterious sense of satisfaction and fulfillment where I found myself grinning. All I can say is that, I don’t regret what I did.

For now I will think of things that I must ponder my thoughts into. If fortunate, I will be given a monetary reward for what I did, then use that money to leave the capital immediately. It was due to fear of receiving the revenge of that man’s comrades.

However the problem is that I am an orphan and I have no one to rely into. I only managed to keep on living by eating the food scraps, rotten potatoes and rain water on the slums. In order to escape, I need money and ability among other things.

That’s not it, there’s something I need to think of before that.

Just in case that this was not the house of that rich boy but was a house of a person who intends to harm me or if this is really that boy’s house but his family later decides to erase me for any reasons, then I should think of possible routes and solutions to escape.

I immediately got up from the bed, went towards the window and glanced again outside. I can see the white clouds spreading in the sky. Below the window was a beautiful garden with lots of shrubbery where I can jump into but I’m also on the third floor and there are still a lot of servants going around taking errands. It would be impossible to escape from the window without getting caught or getting injured with broken bones.

So I decided to check the outside of the door. But when I was walking towards the exit door, a voice coming from someone entered my ears. As if in the right timing, I suddenly heard a woman’s voice.

「Lady Ariel! You must not! You must not approach that room!」???

I don’t have to listen carefully because it clearly entered my ears. Knowing the meaning behind those words, I immediately went back to the bed in a hurry.

Just as I returned to my bed, the door was roughly opened at the same time. Slowly turning my head towards the door, what was there was a young child with the same blond hair and green eyes of the boy I met on the slum area, except this time it’s a girl.

Although she was not chubby, she also had the same almond shaped eyes that give an impression. Overall, she had a lovely and cute face.

That girl who approached me with a cheeky glare began to gaze at my direction.

The words that came from the girl as she opened her mouth was…

「Hmmph, I see… so you are the dirty pet that my brother had brought with him.」Girl

It’s the most impolite word.

I take back all my previous remarks. She’s not cute at all.

She’s just an impudent young girl, is what I thought but my curiosity was inclined towards a word that the girl said.

「–brother had brought with him?」Me

「That’s right. The filthy child that “that” brother of mine have brought with him from the slums.」Girl

Though filthy was a bit excessive, I’m not in the position to voice out complaints.

「By “brought” you meant?」Me

「You who fell unconscious on that slum, was brought here by “that” older brother of mine by being carried on his back and thus saving you.」Girl

「He... on his back.」Me

Though I’m concerned as to why she presses the word “that” every time, the fact that the boy carried me here was certain.

「That’s right.」Girl

「Which means, this house is…?」Me

「Oh my, haven’t you been told yet? This is the mansion owned by the current head of House Windhill, which is of course my father.」Girl

For some reason, while puffing her chest, the girl declared as such. Thinking that it was strangely cute, I couldn’t help but smile.

Being brought to that boy’s house, perhaps I could rest with ease now.

「What are you smiling at?」Girl

The girl asked me whom had smile floating in the face.

「I’m thinking that I was really saved.」Me

「…」Girl

The girl whom I answered to, began to look at me in displeasure.

「Is there something wrong?」Me

「Your way of speaking. How impertinent for something like a pet.」Girl

「Saying pet…」Me

「I am a person of nobility you know? Your way of speaking towards me does not fit your status and company!」Girl

「That… I apologize for being rude... milady」Me

This is my carelessness. This girl is a noble and I have even a lesser status than a commoner or peasant. I almost forgot about my lower class status due to the new memories that was added to my brain.

Maybe because after consciously knowing that there is another world where its morals, laws and ethics, although not really good but still far more better than this world’s made me feel how tough, rough, unfair and cruel life is.

‘Why am I not also born in that world?’ as Flay, I cursed this unfairness.

My feelings suddenly felt darker upon that thought. But it was contained by the interruption of the girl.

「Oh my, it seems you can actually speak properly and politely.」Girl

「Just… merely a bit.」Me

「Well, as long as you are properly disciplined around those parts, then it’s good. Hmmhmm.」Girl

Discipline. For this girls it seems I am just a pet to the very end.

「But before that… your attire. Your hair is unkempt and you are very dirty, in addition somehow… you smell.」Girl

She suddenly covered her nose with a handkerchief.

「Do I smell that bad?」Me

「You do. It’s a very unpleasant smell.」Girl

「I apologize.」Me

Due to living in the slums for so long and was chained for so long without even shitting and peeing in a designated place, I became immune and numb to such smells that are considered awful to her.

「Riza.」Girl

「Yes!」Riza

So the name of her female attendant is Riza.

「Make this thing clean, brush the body, clean the dirt out, tidy up the hair, give it a suitable appearance worthy as a pet of my brother, Vincent Woodville who is the legitimate heir of House Windhill. 」Girl

「Yes. Certainly.」Riza

I feel this little girl is saying such intricate descriptions intentionally… on what purpose, I do not know. But thanks to her, I finally knew the name of the boy.

「And also do something about the stinky breath of this pet.」Girl

Was the pet treatment already decided? I have complaints but decided not to voice them out to avoid earning the ire of that boy’s sister.

‘It’s all for the reward money, it’s all for the reward money, just endure it and all of this will come to pass.’ I tried to persuade myself.

「Well then, when you’ve become tidy, I’ll meet you again.」Girl

「…」Me

「I will meet you again.」Girl

「…?」Me

「…I will wait in anticipation.」Girl

「Ah yes… Well then, excuse me milady.」Me

It seems it was the right answer. The girl with the aloofly composed expression left the room.

What remained were me and the female attendant.

「This way, follow me.」Riza

The female attendant had an unconcerned look or rather as it subsided I was told to follow her direction.

It seems I am not very welcome. I don’t really mind at all. It’s not as if I’ll be here for long.

For now, I will just let the pressing danger pass. The next hurdle would be to obtain a reward and possess a fund that would be enough to leave the capital and start new life somewhere.

Maybe start at a farm or become an apprentice at some smith or merchant.

I wonder what I should do to obtain such. Ack… and there’s too much to think of that it feels like my head is being punctured again by overthinking things.

Let us stop counting our eggs first and play several scenarios that may occur later.

Right now, I am not capable of anything but thinking of possible scenarios and play it out in simulations so that I can react accordingly if it really happened.

I wonder where did that boy went to. I hope he will be present when I meet his parents or someone in authority that will meet with me.

I need some backing on my words after all.

I may need also to lie later to cover up some things that are too unnatural for a child like me or for someone who got involved with a noble’s son.

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As I exited the room, I was met with a barrage of warnings from the gossiping servants waiting outside.

「I can’t believe this is happening! Lady Ariel, You shouldn’t have allowed that thing inside. And most of all You must not go near that thing!」 Male Servant

「Yes I agree with him milady! You don’t know what kind of diseases they bring from that place!」 Female servant

「It’s too dangerous! Slumborns can never be trusted. That place was a well-known nest for thieves, criminals and thugs, who knows if that thing is also one of them?」 Female Cook

「Slumborns are dirty milady! You shouldn’t touch them at any cost. Who knows if they carry a curse or bad luck.」Gardener

As if you care about my wellbeing.

For unknown reasons, my older brother found himself in the slums then he was saved by a young girl when he is about to be kidnapped by thugs. Hearing the tale from him was quite unbelievable actually, that mangy thin girl saved my stupid brother by murdering someone without any hesitation.

「Surely the person you are referring to can be bathed, clothe properly and cleaned right? Dirt can be removed, but if she did really save my brother then it is our duty, honor and responsibility as a noble to repay that favor, isn’t it?」 Ariel

「Yes but…」 Female Servant

「Enough, you servants don’t even have the power to decide her fate so go back to your work instead. Or do you want to taste my whip instead?」 Ariel

After shoving them away, they reluctantly returned to their own errands and daily duties.

Even though I said that, even I… myself also have suspicions over her. If what she did is true, then it just made it too perfect to be called as a coincidence. A girl in the slums, meeting my brother in some dilapidated house, unknowingly guided him to a dangerous thug in that place then without hesitation, killed the man.

It’s too good to be true. Especially right now where there is a conflict between the vassals on the topic of the heir… and most importantly how my brother even got himself in that place?

My brother only recalled being hit by someone in the back then woke up restrained inside a sack in a house. Then he met the girl, wounded and chained on a pillar. And seeing that she was also on the same situation as him, he talked to her, persuading that if she can guide him out of this place he will get her free, which she agreed. He then used his wind magic to cut the ropes on the girl, and later healed her wounds, with her help, got him out of the sack and house using a secret passage. They were able to sneakily get out of the house until they were caught by a thug and the story goes by.

As far as I know, even if I don’t want to remind myself… brother is losing his stand as the heir of this house. Only my father’s love was able to save the last hope for his status. But the majority vote from our vassals can overturn his decision. Fortunately right now, my brother still has some vassals supporting him.

But this occurrence is quite dangerous, it only tell us one thing: they wanted my brother to disappear. They are desperate to end this early and were getting more aggressive and proactive about it.

And if the people behind brother’s unfortunate experience in the slums found out that a child saved him and wrecked their plans then I for one, she is in danger as she may have a lead on who did these things.

I cannot blame the vassal families not supporting my brother. He became spoiled and haughty. It is not my parents that was to blame but my grandparents on mother’s side. He already caused enough harm to several servants in the house due to his tantrums alone, which later caused them to resign and retire. That doesn’t even include the harmful pranks he did.

Before I was born, my parents were quite busy in the affairs of the realm at that time. The horselords from the north had invaded, the Salyphate’s armies landed on our southern shores and the Republic of Venezia’s armies crossed the borders, marching inward to our kingdom. My father has a responsibility to defend the realm from any foreign invasions; as such he had to lead an army to repel the Salyphate’s forces.

Our capital city, Wyvungrad was in danger of being sieged or attack at that time as such my brother was left to the care of my grandmother who was the head of House Woodville at that time in a faraway county.

And under their care, became haughty, prideful, arrogant and downright inept at his lessons. My grandparents overprotectiveness made him grow into a bent plant with full of thorns. Anyone who tries to correct or attempts to straighten him up will get hurt instead.

Only I and my parents were able to stop him in his tantrums or selfish actions. He would sometimes hurt a servant if he didn’t like the food that was prepared for him, his clothes, toys and if the servant disturbs him. His piety towards his family is the only thing I considered to be a good trait he got under our grandparents.

That’s why it is most mysterious of all is the sudden change with my brother’s attitude on things. After he arrived, he went straight to the infirmary with that girl on his back.

It is quite disturbing, even for me, to see my brother care for another. He refused to leave her unattended. And for the first time, he yelled at me. He got angry at me when I suggested to hand the girl over to the acolytes in the Sanctuary to give her better accommodations to heal her wounds and injuries.

Just what in the world had happened in his five days in the slums?

「Handerlily! Arlyn!」 Ariel

「Y-yes milady? 」 Handerlily

「Here milady.」Arlyn

I called two of my personal and closest female attendants. Handerlily is from a baronet house under us. Same with Arlyn. Both of them were the only female servants in the house that is on the same age as me, thus making us very close to each other… or as what others saw it.

Two of them were neither loyal nor have any love for me. Both were more or less spies for their family. Thus I was always been careful on not to make it seem that I already know their hidden motives and limit on what I can say as their mistress. Like grandfather have taught me; anyone that is not a family, is an enemy.

「Come, help me find a good dress for tomorrow’s meeting with father. Did you already finish washing my clothes earlier?」 Ariel

「Y-Yes!」 Handerlily

「It is done already, milady.」Arlyn

「Good then and follow me. We have much to prepare for tomorrow.」 Ariel

Every time we pass servants and attendants, they always looked at me in fear or with heat of hate. The two on my back is no exception.

「Milady, why did you not ask for permission first from the marquis before letting that child enter the premises of the house? Much less sleep on a guest room? Even if it is a reward for the child, it is too much for its status to receive such treatment.」Arlyn

「Arlyn…Handerlily, I am sure both of you already have an idea why my brother was kidnapped.」Ariel

「Anyone could obviously see what this incident implies milady.」Arlyn

「Well… this can be described as a grave mistake for the kidnappers. N-no offense milady!」 Handerlily

「And who do you think is the most probable suspect?」Ariel

I tried asking a probing question. With the purpose of acting as if I already trusted them to the point of asking such question to both of them only and to know what they think or…what they wanted me to think about them.

Thus hitting two birds in one stone.

「I have four in mind. My first prime suspect is Count Magdeburg, because he is adamant in the candidacy of his son as the successor due to his great mana and affinity. He even once insulted the Marquis in front of the king. Second is Count Cutterfem, his obvious support towards Lord Erwin is getting more and more support and backing from other main vassals. His insistent visits are becoming more frequent. 」Arlyn

「And?」Ariel

「Third is Marquis Aquismeia whom also hates your father due to his countless aggressive and strong refusals in returning the County of Prantzly. The death of Lord Vincent would certainly take a toll on Marquis’ reputation and mind. It is also well known in the entire kingdom how your father dots on your older brother and would result on paranoia and ruin on this house if he dies.」

「Yes, seeing that they cannot touch father who was always surrounded by Sturmhounds, they changed their target to someone who could tragically affect father which is my brother. My brother’s death or disappearance could result father’s suspicions on his vassals and supporters as the potential suspects for the crime as thus lowering his trusts on the vassal houses.」Ariel

「Fourth is Lady Julianne whom also strongly publicizes the candidacy of Lord Erwin. She and Erwin had suffered great humiliation and suffering from living separately from the main house. So she also had a motive for this crime as she can then push Erwin as the next successor of the marquis. All of them were my strongest suspects milady.」Arlyn

「Hmmm…」Ariel

「Ehhhh? You already thought that much Lyn?」Handerlily

「I also have the same suspects as yours… however there are five prime suspects for me.」Ariel

I am actually annoyed that she told me her real thoughts. I was expecting some lies again but was disappointed instead.

「Who is the fifth milady?」Arlyn

「…I can’t say for now, because I don’t even have a proof. All I got is a strange feeling that…」Ariel

「…」Arlyn

「No…never mind, first let us prepare for tomorrow’s meeting with father. Handerlily! Tell Riza to prepare suitable clothes for that child.」Ariel

「Y-yes milady!」Handerlily

「Father is really right about you recently milady.」Arlyn

「What?」Ariel

「That you are quite mature for your age. When we first met, you are still the crybaby and mindless girl who always go on tantrums.」Arlyn

「Nonsense, it is a part of growing up as a daughter of a noble. Unlike peasants, we are carrying heavy responsibilities and duty from the day we were born. As thus we have to grow and mature faster than ordinary children.」Ariel

I both lied and told the truth.

「You shall not worry milady, we will serve you to the best of our abilities.」Arlyn

「Yes, that’s why you shouldn’t shoulder everything, milady. We are here to support you.」Handerlily

I am sure you would, I thought sarcastically.

「Thanks, but… sometimes I do envy the peasant’s life.」Ariel

「Grasses is always greener on the other side of the fence, eh?」Handerlily

「Yes, anyway let us hurry up. We have things to do.」Ariel

Life of a noble does not just revolve around eating, drinking, getting fat from the taxes and protecting their lands. Unlike peasants, they also have to tackle problems such as succession conflicts, feuds against another house or family, mediating conflicts between the vassals, meeting the expectations of the royal family, maintaining the loyalty and order on your court and finally keeping your reputation, influence and power in check.

Unlike sons or male children, girls have less opportunity especially in the noble circles. Unlike in the books I have read, the dream of falling in love and marrying a handsome prince on a shining horse is pure fantasy. Most of the time, noble women have to marry someone they don’t even like or love. Worst, they may have to marry a slob fat pig-like noble to increase the connections, power or to protect their family.

“Simple life, Simple problems”, there are few times where I wished I was born as countryside girl, I don’t even mind feeding the pigs or getting dirty in toiling the fields or getting wet with sweat under the burning sun. Peasant girls mostly have a say on who they will marry.

The great sprites may have a purpose for me as a daughter of a powerful lord. I thought that purpose is to marry the future king of this country. But due to my immaturity, that arrangement is lost forever.

So I have no choice but to change, no – I must change, I have to, for the survival of our house and for my family. I just can’t keep as an innocent girl like before.

I can’t just let father and mother carry the burden of protecting this family. And I can rely on brother as of yet. Like grandfather have told me, I must deceive everyone, trust no one and depend on no one.

First I must not let that girl get out of our grasp. I must get more information from her. To do that I must persuade father tomorrow to keep her as a pet, pretend to like her and earn her trust. This way I may have a chance to know what she knew.

After that, disposing her shouldn’t be that hard.

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「Hurry up!」Riza

「Y-yes.」Me

Following the female attendant, I walked towards the corridor.

As I walked in its corridors, I became all the more surprised and understood the vastness of this building. A hallway that continues to expand as if endlessly and among other things in those walls was the doors that lined up to the point of being seen as countless.

Staying on those very large hotels probably gives the same feeling but because I have never come to such large hotels, it’s just a wild guess.

On that corridor, numerous people were walking.

There were females wearing the same maid clothing that was worn by the woman called Riza. The males on the other hand was wearing suits, or rather maybe it was more close to tuxedo.

I have also noticed the few people with armors that passed, I wonder if they are something like house guards or knights.

I’m glancing at those who we pass by from the opening of my bangs which was long enough to make others not realize that I’m looking at them. And most of them were looking at me without any restraint.

“What is a dirty child doing here,” even though I can’t hear it, I can tell what they are thinking.

Just how long do we have to walk? Descending one more level in addition to exiting the room, what we arrived into had a fountain.

「Rinse your body here.」Riza

「Yes?」Me

「I will leave the towels here. You can call for me when you are done, until then I will wait outside.」Riza

「…o-okay. By the way, can I–」Me

I was about to ask questions but as if she already said what she had to, Riza left the room.

Is it a waste for letting a dirty child from slums a take a bath in here? Or is it that taking a bath was a luxury for the people outside of slums? All I remember was that I have never taken a bath after I was caught.

There was a spherical pipe that stretched in the water fountain and from there, water is continuously flowing. There was a countless water buckets in the place where water falls. At the very least, it also functions not only as fountain but also a bathing place.

Holding that bucket in my hands, I let the flowing water fill it.

Thank goodness, the current weather isn’t winter, or else I will be bathing in cold water with my skinny body.

Especially that the winter here is far colder and harsher than back on Earth. Not because it had colder wind, but because people like me who lived on slums had no capability to fight against the cold. I was lucky to survive the past winters because I still lived on that house while those who were more unfortunate on the slums, froze to death.

While thinking such things, I again realize how all of this became normal to me especially that I am from the slums with no knowledge on things. I would have flustered, stuttered or worse say impolite words to the girl and the maid, but thankfully I also have another piece of memory of living as an grown up man on Earth.

But I still can’t get used to this creepy feeling of knowing something most people don’t. Especially when I am still not sure on who am I or specifically which of the two is me. I remembered and heard how psychologists divide the memories into two types; the procedural and declarative. Though I don’t remember what those are. I don’t even remember on where the hell or who the hell mentioned those terms.

I began to take off the robes that I was wearing. I am not wearing anything underneath, making it easier for me to start bathing immediately.

I picked a bucket that was near the pool and started pouring water from my head to my lower body. Looking at the water as it flows through my skin up to my toes, my mood has begun to worsen.

The flowing water from my body became muddy and dirty. I just realize now on how much dirt this body had.

Scooping another bucket, this time I poured water to myself while scratching the scalp of my head. Obviously the flowing water was dirty, I can even see some clump of black dirt that fell. I decided to ignore it and just enjoy the feeling of becoming clean.

I continued doing this until I felt that there was no dirt left on my head.

As a resident of the slums, it was my first time to use such clean water for bathing. Usually this type of water is used for drinking in that place. But actually even the drinking water in the slums is contaminated with dirt and muck.

I began to slowly feel a small tinge of happiness and satisfaction filling my heart.

Pouring water to my body every time was actually very tiring, especially when my arms don’t even have the muscles and energy to keep repeating such actions. So I knelt below the pipeline that stretched in the fountain and held my head against the flowing water.

Originally back in the slums, I don’t particularly need to bathe or shall I say… wasn’t even allowed to bathe. But bathing like this would never be a bother at all, rather it felt that I could get addicted to this wonderful feeling.

In this situation, wishing for a shampoo would be quite awkward and unnecessary. I began to desire even just a small piece of soap. But is there even soap here? Though they probably have one, I’m guessing that it would come with a high price.

According to my memories back in the slums, soap was so expensive that only high class prostitutes in the slums could afford one, even in the brothel only the owner and few of the prostitutes had one and they rarely used it.

It seems that I would still have a hard time living alone even if I am already outside of the slums. Several scenarios came into mind but only negative thoughts have been resurfacing in my brain.

For now, let’s just continue enjoying this bath.

After a considerable amount of time, I noticed that the maid was actually watching me. She may have entered the room without me knowing. And because she was observing while I was bathing, the female attendant came in sight when I am still stark naked.

Being seen naked would be really embarrassing, so I quickly wiped my body with the towel and immediately put on the clean dry robes that were prepared for me in a wooden stool.

My long hair was still soaking wet. Covering it with towel, I immediately tried wiping it dry. Drying my hair that was as long as a girl’s was irritating and tiring.

「Are you done?」Riza

「Yes. I’ll just dry my hair.」Me

「If you’re going to wipe it, do it with this.」Riza

Riza handed me a new dry towel. I accepted it and used it to wipe my hair. With the moisture now removed to some extent, I gathered my irritating hair together and tied it with towel.

My body felt refreshed. My line of sight also became better. Anyhow, it feels good to be clean.

「Thank you for waiting.」Me

「…!」Riza

Though I called out on Riza, there’s no answer from her. Confused about what’s wrong, I focused my gaze towards her wide opened eyes. As if realizing that I was looking at her, she stiffened.

「ummm…?」Me

「…O-oh, are you done? then…. L-let’s return to your room.」Riza

Though the female attendant had a quite complex facial expression, other than that, she said nothing and headed towards the building and started walking.

The confused me only followed after her.

During the time when we were still walking on the hallway, the people and servants that we passed turned their gaze towards me without holding back or even any attempt to hide it. If I were to speak, I feel like it just got worse.

There were even people that seemed to have been taken aback. There were others also that were frowning, showing their unpleasant feelings. Some of them even tried to move away from me while I was walking, attempting to avoid getting close to me.

I knew it, it got worse.

Thinking that something became weird after the bath, I began to check my body. Rubbing my face on my hands, sniffing my arms and trying to see if there is something awful on my face or robes. But even after doing that I understood nothing.

Since it can’t be helped, I decided to ignore the gazes from my surroundings and began walking with my face straight ahead.

Climbing to the third floor, I have passed through countless doors on my way. Upon returning to my former room, the female attendant halted. She stopped by the door and turned towards me.

「We have prepared a meal inside the room.」Riza

「T-Thank you very much.」Me

「…Please stay and behave well inside the room.」Riza

「Okay...」Me

As always, the gaze of the female attendant remained cold.

The social status and discrimination towards me might be worse than I thought.

Upon entering the room, as the female attendant said, there was food above the table.

It was a piece of round white bread, a plate of vegetable salad, scrambled eggs and orange juice.

Upon looking at those, intense feelings of hunger have begun to assault me. Thinking about it, ever since I’ve regained consciousness, I have never eaten once. No—Scratch that, it seems that I had never eaten any food on that whole day and even on the day before.

Sitting on the chair, I started by trying the orange juice first.

「….tasty.」Me

The strong flavor was delicious but not really that good compare to the orange juice I had back on Earth.

…back on Earth…Ahhh… I really am a different person now huh? I already considered my memories and life from the slums as part of my existence as well as my memories and life back from Earth. They really are right when they said that memories do make up the personality of a person.

I do hope that I may find something that could answer my questions later on.

My focus went back to the food in front of me. I took a piece of white bread into my mouth to taste it — it was soft but had some tough parts. Earth’s bread was really much better, though if I am speaking from my experience in the slums, this would’ve been considered soft and delicious compared to the bread scraps in the garbage dumps.

Afterwards were the scrambled eggs— it’s really great. The eggs also had a strong flavor. The salad was the same. Every vegetable was good, even without something like a dressing. Chicken eggs were actually a rare sight on the slums.

But I did have an experience on eating eggs, though not from chickens but from an alligator in the sewers. I forgot the taste though.

I am delighted because I never tasted such a fresh vegetable even back in the brothel – wait…Fresh?

Information suddenly flooded my mind but was immediately flushed away. It’s probably because I’ve been reminded by things I better off not remembering during meal time.

Just how many years has it been since I’ve had a food that smelled good? At the very least for my past self in the slums, I never did.

The food that was in front of me disappeared in just a blink of an eye, albeit it’s far from having my stomach full, the feeling being full was there. My body felt relieved, even my stomach was so-so satisfied. As things have turned out this way, I have decided to thoroughly think of my current situation.

No matter how you think about it this phenomenon that happened to me is strange and unnatural. Though it’s quite possibly that all of this is just a dream, having to cling to that possibility for now wouldn’t help.

Beyond this point, I must think of how I should live in this world.

It is my first time to live outside of the slums so I don’t have the slightest idea on how the current society runs. Even if I also had another life on modern Earth it is still useless due to living in a modern world without any significant knowledge on medieval life and society. Except some small ideas after watching historical movies, TV series, books and light novels so it seems I can rely on my modern life experience for etiquette and manners.

Because even with this body that didn’t even have the strength to defend itself nor a person to rely on, I managed to live in the lawless area of the slum. I will just follow what I have been; cautious, careful and clear, the three principles of my slum life. Even faced with such a disastrous situation and not even yielding to such life, having a strong heart to take action in order to overturn the situation.

Thinking about it, would I find it agreeable, that sort feeling began to swell up. I had given up the thinking about the future and just decided to keep on struggling to survive and continue living.

I was about to head back to the bed and get some sleep but was stopped when I heard a voice on the hallway again. It came from someone whom was already a familiar to me.

And as I would’ve thought, with the grand entrance of suddenly opening the door, the little lady entered. She was puffing her chest conceitedly with a smug face but because she had such little body, one would just find it ridiculous or cute.

「It seems, you have become clea–」Girl

The girl who approached me, appears to have stiffened and taken aback.

It’s a bit different to those people that we had passed in the hallway who glared at me with pitying, disgust, hate, and cold eyes. Her eyes were like shining, clear, serene, water in the morning. In other words it’s–

「…so…pretty....」Girl

「Hah?」Me

I was surprised and confused by the unexpected words she muttered. Then she got closer to me with curious shining eyes as if she was trying to make a clear sight on something that’s on my face.

「Nee~Neee~ those eyes… Why do they have different colors?」Girl

「...colors?」Me

I have no idea what this girl is talking about. Asking the reason why the colors of my eyes were different, isn’t it normal for others to have same eye colors? Most of the people I met and saw in the past have the same colors in their eyes. Actually I have never met someone who had different eye colors except cats back on Earth and few people I found in the internet. And also–

「Neee~ Have you ever tried looking in the mirror?」Girl

「…no…」Me

There’s no way that the folks on the slums would have something that expensive.

Even the prostitutes back in the brothel had only one small broken mirror which they take turns to use.

「Well then, here use mine and have a look.」Girl

The girl took a small mirror from her pocket and presented it to my face.

Taking it would be unnecessary as my face was already reflected in the mirror but because it’s too small and doesn’t show my eyes clearly, I tried moving my face closer.

The color of my eyes… It’s indeed different.

It’s not that the colors of the girl’s eyes were different from mine but the colors of my two eyes were different from each other. Blue right eye, red left eye, I have never even met such human with these pair of eyes.

I finally realized the difference between me and other people.

「See! Doesn’t it differ?!」Girl

Although I was quite shocked, the girl was somehow very delighted.

As for what’s so fun about it, I have no idea.

「Y-Yeah…」Me

For now let’s return with a vague reply.

「Pretty red and blue...whaa… And not just your eyes! I can see that you will have a lovely face also. Even with your skinny body and complexion, anyone can obviously see your future potential as a beauty once you grow up. And even with your long and uncombed white hair, you still retain the look of a pretty girl… I didn’t notice before but it seems the bath really did uncover the hidden gem you possess. Are you really from the slums?」Girl

Bringing her face close, the girl who was staring at my eyes said as such. Am I being praised or being spoken ill of? I don’t know.

At any rate, let’s cut my hair later, is what I thought.

「Milady! Please distance yourself!」Riza

As if she is trying to give a grave warning towards the girl, Riza raised her voice.

Even if the girl is of the same age as me, Riza is probably thinking that the girl is too close to someone who is from the slums.

「Oh please be quiet, I wanted to look at this child’s face carefully.」Girl

A voice larger than the female attendant has flown. It seems the selfish noble girl won’t do as Riza told. But even so, Riza didn’t obediently withdraw.

「That’s no good! That child is a slumborn and worse, being too close to those with heterochromatic people would bring misfortune.」Maid

「Heterochromatic?」Girl

It seems it was also her first time hearing it. I on the other hand, have heard it countless times albeit I do not know the meaning. However, now I know the reason why I am hated.

It seems humans with the same condition as my eyes were considered as a sinister existence.

「What is a Heterochromatic?」Girl

「Just like this… thing, the color of the eyes were different.」Riza

「Then why would it bring misfortune?」Girl

「That is…」Riza

She waited for the female attendant to explain the real reasons, but the maid wasn’t able to answer anything in return.

「…」Riza

「If there is no reason then there would be no need to mind such mindless superstitions. I do not believe in something like “misfortunes”. After all, it’s this pretty.」Girl

To establish her point, she hugged my head like it’s one of the heads of her dolls. Although the chest that is hugging me is flat as a wall and thousand times different from the chests of the adult women that hugged my body in the past, I am in no way uncomfortable as she smells nice.

「However, saying that…」Riza

「Be silent, if you speak another word than this I will have you disappear in this house immediately.」Girl

As if trying to protect her doll that is about to be taken, she strengthened her hug on my head that it can’t be called a hug anymore but a choke.

「…certainly.」Riza

With a mind that will only abide by her own will, this noble girl is outrageously overbearing.

Though the maid didn’t say anything anymore as told, that face was clearly tinged with thoughts of displeasure.

It seems the girl was not liked very much even by her own servant due to the girl’s tantrums and selfishness. Having to deal with such personality frequently, such result is obvious.

Not even giving the maid a single concern, the little girl slowly undid her choke on my head and carefully looked at my eyes with great interest.

「Nee~ Neee~ do you know how to use magic?」Girl

「Haa?」Me

「It’s magic you know? Magic.」Girl

Her eyes that are looking at me were tinge with curiosity… and with a bit of seriousness.

「There’s no way I could.」Me

「Hmmm… Is that so? Even though you have such a pretty eyes and beautiful face.」Girl

I can’t understand this talk at all. There’s no way a commoner like me could use magic at all.

Magic can only be used by the descendants of high class nobles.

「...But…if you are taught then maybe you can.」Girl

Like I told you, there’s no way I can.

「Well, that’s good for now. You will be residing here from now onwards after all, I shall slowly be able to ascertain of it little by little.」Girl

「Ha?」Me

「What are you being surprised about?」Girl

「-residing here… does it mean that I will live here..?」Me

「Isn’t that natural? You are brother’s pet. Therefore, you are also my pet.」Girl

「…Pet?」Me

「I can now understand why my brother risked himself to save you and was so adamant on keeping you. By the way, what is your name?」Girl

While I was bewildered with being called a pet, my name was asked. It seems she doesn’t concern herself with people’s reaction.

「So you don’t even have a name? Then I shall bestow you one.」Girl

「Ah, no.」Me

I absolutely don’t want that. And it may be better to use my other name than my orphan name, just to avoid unnecessary conflict and trouble in the future.

「Then if you have one, tell me.」Girl

「….Ryou. Yes, my name is Moriya Ryou.」Me

I told her my name from my life on Earth. But I regret it a bit already.

「…Oh? You have a last name? As far as I thought, most of the people in the slums don’t have one due to being able to avoid the strict Great Annual Record. And… that is a weird name.」Girl

I don’t know what “The Great Annual Record” is, but somehow, what I gave her was a weird name. I frowned in response to her for making fun of my name.

「…Re…yo, hmmm... Re-yo...」Girl

It seems it’s really hard for her to pronounce my name.

「….Ri…yo…Rio…Rion… Oh well, your name would be Rion, okay?」Girl

Eh? How did it become like that?

「No, that’s n–」Me

「It’s Rion. I have decided as such. Do you have any complaints?」Girl

「—not.」Me

Yielding to the little girl’s coercion, I accepted it. Because if I refuse her now, this girl will without a doubt think of an even weirder name. Thinking that Rion would be better as a name, it seems I convinced myself.

「Then Rion, after tidying up your hair, dress up afterwards okay?」Girl

「Hair? Tidy up?」Me

「You have to be beautiful enough to be worthy as my pet.」Girl

「…」Me

According from both of my memories, Pet = animal = are beings that was brought up by human to love, care and play with. I finally realize the meaning behind the word “Pet”.

I reflexively glanced towards the female attendant looking for salvation. Even knowing she won’t voice out anything. As usual, the female attendant won’t say a thing and merely showed a stoic face.

Tidying up one’s hair meant having it combed and tied so the length didn’t really change. And having your hair combed and smeared with oil comes with a relaxing feeling but having something being spread on my face was quite uncomfortable.

The clothes that was prepared for changing was the little girl’s hand-me-downs.

In the end, I was dressed up like a doll by the girl then exclaiming many times on how I was pretty and cute on some of her clothes… all day long.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

I woke up in a different room than yesterday. It’s the room where I was guided last night and was told that to be my temporary sleeping quarters. There’s a bed, small desk and a wardrobe placed inside. Even with just that, it was a narrow room where there is almost no space.

Although it is massively different compared to my former room back on Earth and my small dirty place back in the slums, I really don’t mind.

The size of my former room back on Earth was 4.5 tatami mats with comfort room included but no bathtub. It takes around 10 minutes from the station by bus and it’s a worn out apartment where the only redeeming feature was it was quite cheap. While my own place in the slums were near the dumps, along with other beggars, dogs, flies, rats and dead cats.

Seeing my current situation, I can definitely say that this is good enough for someone like me. It is already a miracle that I was able to live through various ordeals back in the slums and get this kind of treatment.

Yesterday was quite a tiring day after all, particularly to the mind. I am currently wearing her white gowns that seemed to be the former clothes of that little girl. My hair is also tied up.

That aside, the girl was really the typical selfish little lady trope huh? Even after doing what she pleases to her surroundings, there’s no one else to voice out against her.

With that, I’m starting to worry as to what kind of woman she will grow up into.

However, my appearance itself was quite lovely in comparison, huh? Is it because of my current face? When she puts make up, dressed me with female clothes, and saw myself in the mirror, I was charmed without resistance.

Even though my body is that of a child, it already brings such a charmi–

Wait wait wait…W-what am I doing? Getting enticed by myself.

While thinking about these idiotic things and wasting my time, I suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Without even waiting for a reply, the door opened.

I thought it was the little girl again but it seems it was just the female maid named Riza.

「Have you woken up?」Riza

「Yes. Is there something I should do?」Me

「You don’t have to do anything. Just behave yourself and remain on this room.」Riza

「What do you…」Me

I wanted to ask something because I got curious with the Riza’s way of talking but I gave up due to that cold gaze.

「How should we deal with you is yet to be decided. Because no matter what Lord Vincent and Lady Ariel says, the one who decides your fate would be the master of this house.」Riza

「Then if I stay here, I have no choice but to be their pet?」Me

Aside from becoming a toy, this turn of events is favorable for me. I am not like those naïve young boys back on Earth who dreams of being transported to another medieval era world.

Reality is brutal.

If I will be thrown out of this house, what awaits me is hell.

Even if I use my modern knowledge to get some sort of livelihood, I will either be accused as a heretic, a child of a witch or demon spawn for having an out-of –this-world knowledge and most especially with my Heterochromatic eyes.

As a child of the slum having some sort of modern knowledge that isn’t natural for the current era will likely be burned to a stake.

And as child with no name or standing in this world, I will not be able to safely conduct actions even if I use my modern knowledge. I am not capable enough to defend myself against those who will try to harm or exploit me.

Also, the modern knowledge I got was just about what I gained from school, mostly economics, minor historical advantage and office work. No redeeming knowledge that will help me gain some sort of powers or technological advantage to create things like cars or guns.

Unlike those stupid generic shows and novels I have read and dropped, there is no cliche “Meeting with a god to get a cheat-like ability” here. Or a generic, cringey scenario where I met a god and told me “Oh I have killed you in accident, I will give you a cheat like ability as an apology” or the overused “Stat window + 9999 increase”. Or that transferring to another world and “accidentally killing an army of monsters and then instantly leveling up into an Overpowered character”.

Or an awkward, also cringey “You have died, we will now give you a chance to have a second life and as a gift we will allow you to bring one thing from your world.” And the typical trash scenario where “I was summoned by a cat girl and an elf where both argued later on which of them is my master”.

By the way, who the fuck is that even? Clearly those who had written those novels and read those with great interest had a real problem in their social and real life that they were desperate to escape reality.

Okay back to the topic, the man I killed was named Daqn and he had also some loyal underlings in the slums. The slums is a small place that they may have already found the dagger I used to stab Daqn. They also knew that I have deep hatred towards Daqn and will be able to narrow down the suspects who killed him. It will be just a matter of time before they found out that I was the one who did it. Seeing that I escaped with the boy they captured, it wouldn’t be much of a wonder if they come to that conclusion easily.

So if the parents of the boy that I saved will not give me money or some sort of help to get me out of my potential predicaments before casting me out of this house, I will likely end up in hell.

「I fear that an existence such as yourself should’ve never been allowed to enter these grounds.」Riza

I can obviously see that she said this to me not because of loyalty to the family of this house but due to personal disgust. The source of disgust towards me was...

「Is it about… these Heterochromatic eyes?」Me

I pointed to my eyes.

「Yes.」Riza

「Is it detestable to that extent?」Me

「It’s as you say. For most of the people in this kingdom, particularly for the aristocrats.」Riza

「Why?」Me

「I came here to tell the real reason, although it’s for the sake of Lady Ariel, I should convey it to you as well.」Riza

「Please do so.」Me

「I’m sure you already knew that the person’s eye color represents an individual’s natural affinity with the elements, right?」Riza

「No.」Me

I know nothing about the nobility of this kingdom, much less the name of the current king. Even though I lived in the capital city of this country, I was never given the opportunity to know more outside the streets of the slums. She can only sigh in annoyance at my reply.

「…Fine, let us start from there. First, the aristocrats and nobles of this kingdom were blessed with very high affinity with the elements. The blood that flows within them contains mana. This mana is needed as an offering to the elemental sprites that surrounds us in order to cast magic. This is also why peasants or common people are not capable on using magic. The higher quality of mana means stronger magic.」Riza

So this is the reason why no one else can use magic other than those with the blood of the nobility or someone related to them. So the quality of the blood flowing in every person is different. It’s something hard to understand for a modern man like me who had no idea about the existence of magic and for an orphan like me who never even encountered the so called magic back in the slums. I wonder if it is the same as the different blood types back on Earth?

While I was thinking this, she continued.

「For example, in the Royal Family and the Three Great Nobility, as the name indicates, the attribute of the Grandfram royal family is FIRE. That’s why their direct descendants had red hair and red colored eyes. Naturally, the eyes of the King is the most beautiful with scarlet colors.」Riza

Because it’s fire, the color is red. Thankfully it’s easy to understand. Though the other colors have yet to be explained too, there’s still a part of that explanation that I didn’t understand.

「As the name indicates…?」Me

「You… you don’t even know that much?」Riza

「It’s because I was raised in the slums.」Me

With another sigh, she gave it a little thought, dismissed it right away and continued explaining.

「That’s right isn’t it. You probably never even studied too. In ancient Antezcu language, Grandfram came from the old words “grundelt fraham” which means【Great Flame】 fitting the FIRE attribute.」Riza

Or isn’t it because the royal family’s attribute was flame that they’ve decided on that name– is what I thought but I didn’t put it in my mouth. I don’t want her to stop her explanation due to displeasure after all.

「And by the way, the Royal Family and the Three Great Nobility completes the four elements. That’s how special these families are, their names were also derived from the old words of the Ancient Antezcu;

Aquismeia which came from the old words “aquisi aldi meiartan” which means 【Holy Water】, while Fatillas comes from the old words “fahtis la flamms” means 【Sacred Earth】.

And this family’s name, Windhill was also derived from the old words “whund heilem” that means【Divine Wind】.」Riza

So the elemental attributes of magic are fire, water, wind and earth. Do they have light or darkness, or more elements, or is it that they are just unaware of it? I will reserve this question later and just let her finish her explanation for now.

「Together these families were also the same ancient families who founded this kingdom. But enough with history and lets go back to the topic at hand. In accordance with those attributes, they all have different eye colors that are respectively according to their own family’s elemental affinity. Do you understand now?」Riza

「Yes.」Me

「Now then, because you already understand the concept, let’s return to the topic before. About the source of the thought that people with “Heterochromatic” eyes brings misfortune.」Riza

「…」Me

「Although the color of the eyes indicates the attributes of an individual, any person that has two different eye colors cannot or never be blessed with the affinity from both of the elements.」Riza

「W-wha…」Me

「That’s right. The two elements would contradict each other. It is said that “Having two elements will result into not being loved by either.”」Riza

Again, another odd representation. What does she mean by “not being loved” , even though Riza has a disdain look on her face again, this time I decided to ask her about it.

「By not being loved, you mean…?」Me

「So you don’t even know this as well… The effectiveness of magic is affected by the intervention of the world, in other words the four elements. Being loved by those four elements will result into stronger effectiveness, the lesser affection means weaker effectiveness and if the affection is poor then it will result to none at all.」Riza

「... So it means that the four elements have will on their own?」Me

「The world itself has a will on its own. And for these elements composing that world, having a will is a matter of course.」Riza

「Does this mean that there are only four elements?」Me

「No, there are six elements that I know of… who knows if there are a lot more, but within this kingdom, its people were blessed with the proficiency of the four elements. The other elements were the light and shadow attributes which is proficiently practiced in a faraway empire.」Riza

Perhaps these elements are like spirits that were mostly mentioned in the fantasy novels back on earth, like undines or salamanders. However, it seems Riza doesn’t know much about the existence of spirits. But if she knows them, then maybe that she is hiding it from me. She may be disclosing only that is on accordance with the rules of the aristocrats and circle of nobles. I feel that their society is even more complicated than that of the medieval era Earth due to the presence of magic.

「So… you who have blue eyes, means you can use water magic?」Me

「Aah?」Riza

It was my comprehensive blunder. She raised her brow at my question. Judging from the way she reacted, this person cannot use magic at all.

「I’m sorry. It seems I’ve misunderstood something. You don’t belong to a noble family right?」Me

「I have noble’s blood!!」Riza

「I’m sorry.」Me

Another blunder. It seems I’ve completely made her angry this time. I had to be careful about what I ask this time.

「…Ignorance is really tied to impoliteness. Even though it doesn’t concern you who will soon leave this place anyway. Just in case let me tell you this, I came from a family that is given the rank of a baron.」Riza

「Baron?」Me

Although my memories from the slums isn’t familiar about this, I already have an idea about the word from my modern knowledge, but I still to confirm it from her that what I learned back from Earth is the same as on this world.

「*sigh… Nobles were separated from each other by duties, responsibilities, power and influence. You may interpret this as a hierarchy of some sort. The king is on the top obviously, followed by the Dukes, Royal Family and the Three Marquises. Although the baron belongs to the bottom, there is still a peerage rank that is even lower and that is called a baronet...」Riza

From there, Riza’s explanation of this country’s aristocratic system felt like it went forever.

The aristocrats have a hierarchy and aside from the special rank Duke that is directly connected to the royal family, the second highest rank would be the Marquises. I can’t really understand these parts properly but the Dukes were the retainer of the royal family.

However, although the Duke has the highest rank in regards to the vassal status, there’s an explanation about it being outside the realm of aristocratic system, but I couldn’t understand that part anymore.

Anyhow, the highest would be the Marquis followed by the Count, Viscount and Baron. There were three Marquises and each of them have their respective dominion which was on the north, west and southeastern territory. Marquises have the duty to defend the kingdom from any foreign invasion that will enter near their respective territories. Thus their territories and positions were the vital point for the protection and defense of the country.

The Count or also the equivalent of an Earl, have their own respective territories, they were either vassals of a Duke or a Marquis. They have the duty to answer the call for war from their overlords. It seems that the landmass difference between a Count and a Marquis are enormously huge, even compared to the Dukes.

The Three Marquis Families were special indeed in so many aspects.

The Viscount on the other hand has lower power, territory and influence than that of a count. They were usually under the supervision or ruled by a Marquis, Duke or a Count. The size of their territory is much smaller than that of a count. And same as the Count, they also must answer the call for war from their lords.

So the marquises would be similar (but not equal) to the metropolitan governors, the earls were prefectural governor and the viscount would be town mayors. I manage to understand it by putting them in this manner.

Then about Riza’s baron family, it was not regarded as part of nobility in the truest sense and has neither town nor territory because it is merely granted in honor. It’s an honorary position only granted due to achievements, the hereditary of this rank peerage are only allowed for one generation and will become a baronet.

And the most important of all is that, the higher your affinity in magic, the higher chance you will also be given a higher rank. For example, if you belong to a lower rank like a third son of a baron, but was discovered to have high quality mana or affinity, there will be a lot of offers from the higher ranking nobles on asking for your hand, if you are a female. Or you will be receiving a lot of letters offering their daughter’s hand in marriage if you are a male.

People on the rank of Barons were usually not blessed with the affinity of magic or had a low quality mana. This is why the lower ranking nobles were desperate to be connected to a higher ranking family through marriage with a high quality of mana or affinity.

Unfortunately, Riza had already let go of such opportunity after becoming a maid of this house. Maids can still marry, but usually from within the house or fellow servants only. Maybe due to the strict security of her employer, I don’t know. Although quite displeased, she explained up to that part. It’s probably because she actually has a gentle heart… or she just wanted me to know my place.

「By the way, are we still on the capital?」Me

「Yes, why are you asking?」Riza

「I just wondered because most of the high ranking nobles have their own castles in their territories. So why would they be here in the capital?」Me

「Hoo, so you had a small understanding about nobles huh.」Riza

「Its common sense even for a child in the slums that most nobles have their own castles. Am I wrong?」Me

「The Marquis and his family were attending a Royal Ball that was held last week. But due to Lord Vincent’s disappearance after the ball, we stayed. Right now we are on Sepherald Villa, House Windhill’s own property here on the noble quarters of the capital. The Marquis have returned yesterday and Lord Vincent was already found so we may be leaving on the day after tomorrow.」Riza

「Ah, huh… so the reason why people with Heterochromatic eyes were considered a sinister existence is because of having a contradiction on our bodies?」Me

「Not just that, Heterochromatic people were also a believed to be the reincarnation of the Devils.」Riza

「Wait, what?」Me

「Know your place while talking to me! Even though I am not the lady, you still have a lower standing than me.」Riza

Being told that my existence is connected to a Devil made me forget my place and unconsciously talked with an impolite tone.

「I-I am sorry.」Me

「Hmmph, your kind was considered to be highly vulnerable to being possessed by the Ancient Evils. In the past, the devil cults tried resurrecting their dark gods. Countless heroes and great warriors tried to stop their nefarious schemes. And through various conflicts with them, there was a single connection that was common in their demonic rituals. 」Riza

「And that is Heterochromatic children…」Me

「Yes, it was found out those children with Heterochromatic eyes were perfect vessels for the devils. The last time a devil was successfully resurrected, almost half of this kingdom fell. But thanks to the efforts of the former king Varangold VII, we were able to take back and repel the demons. It was his son Algwyn the Rageblade and the famous Warmaiden Estella who sealed the devil for good. After this, King Varangold issued a royal decree to slay every infant that will be born with Heterochromatic eyes.」Riza

「...then, why?」Me

「Why you were still alive? Because after the death of King Varangold, his son and the current king, Algwyn rescinded the royal decree and stopped the killing of the Heterochromatic infants when he took the throne. Although it stopped, the memories of demons and the barbarism of the attacks were still fresh to the minds of the people. Your kind was one of the reasons why the devils were resurrected. And misfortune always follows to any family or people who keeps a Heterochromatic child due to its strong affinity with evil.」Riza

「But you said-」Me

「There were countless people in the past that suffered greatly in sheltering your kind. As such it became common sense to avoid the source of troubles and problems. Not just this kingdom but also entire lands of Aeygerian suffered countless attacks and destruction from these evil beings.」Riza

「…」Me

「Hmpph, that’s why even if you did save Lord Vincent. Your kind is not welcome here especially to this house.」Riza

I just looked down to the floor, silent.

「Stay here and behave while I am gone.」Riza

Seeing my silent state, she must have satisfied herself from insulting me. She went to the door and exited the room.

To be honest, I don’t know what to feel after knowing the real reason why I am being discriminated. I now know why my parents have abandoned me after I was born.

Ignoring such potential depressing thoughts for now, the conclusion of this talk is that the thicker the bloodline the better effectiveness of magic they have. And the better magic they have the better life they will get.

Unfortunately, I was born as an orphan child in the slums who have lower status than commoner or peasant. Adding also my Heterochromatic eyes which colors symbolizes fire and water that obviously contradicts each other. These two combinations is the worst thing a person can get in this kingdom.

My short lived dream of using magic had vanished.

While I was feeling down, I heard Riza telling familiar phrases to someone and that someone is getting louder outside the room. It’s the arrival of the selfish little lady, Ariel. As was before, she just loudly opened the door without any concerns of the possibility that someone is standing behind them.

「Rion! Come with me immediately!」Ariel

「Eh?」Me

「Quit being absentminded! This is urgent you know!?」Ariel

The selfish little lady seems to be in a hurry.

「Lady Ariel, just what is happening?」Riza

「It’s about father and the others deciding the fate of Rion without even a meeting!」Ariel

「Ah… that is...」Riza

For me this is not really something new after all, I’ve already heard about being driven out from Riza. And after knowing the real reason why I am discriminated in the past, I would not wonder anymore if they decided to kick me out of their house. It’s part of my life even back in the slums.

「They said that the only way to deal with such sinister existence is disposing them! I won’t permit such a thing!」Ariel

「…Eh!?」Me

「If they see how Rion looks, surely they would reconsider! Because Rion is such a beautiful pet after all!」Ariel

「…」Me

Surely what they meant by the word “disposing” is getting kicked out of the house right? Like how you dispose garbage by throwing it on a garbage can, right? I just escaped the slums to avoid getting killed and now, death seems to be infatuated with me.

「Come with me immediately!」Ariel

「O-okay.」Me

With the complex feelings coming to my mind, I followed the back of Ariel. I don’t like becoming a pet but I hate getting killed more. We exited the room and just left Riza who was still trying to stop Ariel.

It seems that the destination room is quite far and on the other side of the building because we had to cross the wing. Walking towards it feels to take forever. Maybe because the room I resided in was probably one of the furthest rooms for the servants.

With that in my mind, we kept on running in the hallway. The little lady in front of me seems to be having a hard time; I wonder why this girl is this desperate? For someone like me, running to the point of being out of breathe. I am sure that she can still find someone else to be their pet. I feel that there is something else she wanted from me.

I thought she is just a bratty selfish girl noble–

I don’t have any particular good memories with aristocrats. As such it is no wonder that I have come to hate them. For those who have nothing, harboring unpleasant feelings towards those people who were given everything is natural, both here and on Earth.

It’s about resenting the unfairness of the world.

「W-We should be near…haa…」Ariel

The gloomy feelings were instantly extinguished by her voice, although she had the face of someone in pain, she still won’t stop running. We just passed other servants and guards who seemed concerned about why the girl is running on the hallway with an unfamiliar child. But she completely ignored them, grabbed my hand and increased her speed.

Am I really that much important as a pet– while thinking about it, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the irony. I just stopped thinking things and focused what’s next by simulating possible scenarios once again in my head until we stopped at a certain large double door guarded by several armored knights.

「We’ve finally arrived…. haa, haa, haa...」Ariel

She let go of my hand as she had to adjust her breathing by using the door as a support. The knights just looked at her indifferently then at me and went back to their stoic expressions. They give such intimidating aura that made me feel of not wanting to linger in front of them much longer.

She on the other hand just stopped in front of the door and stared at it for a few minutes. I don’t know the reason why she won’t immediately enter the room. She seems to be grumbling something then turned around. She walked towards me with a frown on her face.

「How is my appearance? Is my hair disheveled?」Ariel

「Your clothes seems fine but your hair is a little crumpy.」Me

Maybe it became like that after running without care earlier.

「Fix it.」Ariel

「Okay…」Me

It seems she was concerned about her appearance. I thought she is going to meet her father so is it something that needs a good appearance?

Although having a little bit of hesitation as I am not that confident in my grooming skills, I tried fixing her disheveled hair in order. Sweat was also starting to show on her forehead. After finishing her hair, I tried wiping her sweat using the hem of my clothes.

It seems this kind of manner is no good because she frowned at my action.

「Have you not brought a handkerchief with yourself?」Ariel

「Handkerchief? Ah-no, I’m sorry...」Me

「Well then, use this instead.」Ariel

She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to me.

As I was wiping the sweat on her face, she was quietly keeping her eyes closed. With the way she closed her eyes tight, her childishness has seemingly increased. After sensing that I am done, she just opened her eyes and asked.

「So now how is it?」Ariel

「Yes. It’s adorable.」Me

「I-Is that so?」Ariel

「Yes.」Me

「…」Ariel

「…?」Me

「*ahem…Well then it’s fine. Let’s proceed.」Ariel

With one final deep breath, she went towards the door. Gesturing her hands as she was about to knock. But she stopped when we heard a voice yelling inside.

「Don’t kid around! Something that I have picked up belongs to me!」???

The familiar voice belongs to the boy of long ago.

However, saying that a person belongs to him, why are these two siblings capable of such thoughts?

「Lord Vincent, this is not the time to be selfish.」???

「Which part of this is being selfish!? You are tossing out my property of your own accord! This is something to be angry about!」Vincent

So his name is Vincent. I never got his name back when we were together at the slums.

「However, there is a problem about the thing you’ve picked up.」???

「There’s no such thing!」Vincent

「That thing is an orphan of the slums. And what are you even going to do, in feeling obliged to such a thing? You should normally think that you are being taken advantage of.」???

Yeah it’s no wonder. Most children in the slums were willing to deceive lost travellers that entered the slums or even the unsuspecting virtuous nobles who gave out charity. Kindness doesn’t exist in our vocabulary. It is only one of our ways to exploit people to get food and survive. So it’s no wonder if they will suspect an orphan child from the slums.

Deception and Violence is the number one language in the slums.

「I don’t feel any obligation at all!」Vincent

「But, however weren’t you saved by that slum child?」???

「I never said something like that! I was not saved! I carried that kid here so I was the one who saved that child!」Vincent

「…That is-」???

「That’s why I don’t feel obliged in the slightest. The one who should feel obliged was that kid.」Vincent

Though the reasoning is absurd, perhaps this is the way of the boy to protect me by putting me under his wing.

「And not just that, but that thing has a Heterochromatic eyes.」???

「It’s not like it’s contagious!」Vincent

「It’s not about that!」???

「Well then, what is this about?」Vincent

「It’s not safe to just easily get close to that thing whom you know neither its name nor origin. Especially someone who carried those eyes.」???

「That thing is Rion of the slums.」Vincent

「That’s not what I meant-」???

Without even waiting to hear his reply, Ariel proceeded to knock on the door and entered.

「Lady Ariel… that is-」Butler

The man who seems to be the one talking to Vincent spoke with a troubled voice after seeing Ariel enter the room with the child they are talking about earlier.

「I have brought Rion. I am sure you already knew where this child came from, right?」Ariel

The declaration of Ariel beat down the argument.

「Lady Ariel, please pardon me but that is not what I really meant.」Butler

「It is wrong to judge a person without even looking and knowing the person by yourself.」Ariel

「Well that indeed is correct, however-」Butler

His line of sight went towards me. Not just him, but attention of everyone else in the room focused on me.

Is the man comfortably sitting on the sofa the marquis and the beautiful lady next to him is his wife? Because the two resembles the little lady, there’s no mistake.

Sitting in front of the two was the boy and three others were standing at the back of the marquis. They seemed to be knights because of their full plate armor.

「You, what are you called?」Butler

「Rion, is what the girl named me.」Me

「What I’m talking about is your real name.」Butler

「…Ryou.」Me

I decided to use my other name again just for safety, security and a less troublesome future. Then maybe, I will be able to change my name other than “Rion”. I actually didn’t like it a little as it sounded the same as the name of that generic goody-two-shoes protagonist of a novel which I regretted on wasting my time reading it.

「W-what?」Butler

「Ryou.」Me

「…」Butler

「*sigh… just call me Rion.」Me

「Hmm.」Butler

I wonder why my name “Ryou” is hard to comprehend.

「Where are your parents?」Butler

「I don’t have one…」Me

「What do you mean by not having one?」Butler

「I was found in the sewers of the slums. Then the people who found me took me in.」Me

Even in this world, disposing new born is easy. There are no laws that protect the infants from being abandoned by its parents. These were mostly done by prostitutes, maidens who don’t want to carry the burden of being a parent, servants who were impregnated by their lord or a mother who wanted to reduce the mouths to feed.

And most especially now that I realized the real reason why my parents had abandoned me. After hearing what I said, the marquis and his wife seemed to accept it as a norm. It seems that abandoning an infant with Heterochromatic eyes in the sewers is not uncommon.

「Who are these people who found you?」Butler

「An elderly couple with no children.」Me

Mentioning that I was found by those who worked in a brothel would obviously have bad results so I lied. I am sure no loving parent would allow their child near a child who lived with the people who could have venereal diseases. I need to increase the possibility of getting rewarded as much as possible. I must squeeze everything out to get the best possible result.

「Where are they now?」Butler

「They are dead.」Me

「Hmmm… And how did you live after that?」Butler

「Consuming garbage, I still can’t work with this age after all. Even if I found one, it is not a work for someone as skinny, bony and thin as me.」Me

I lied again, can’t have them know about my past livelihood in the brothel, of course.

「So, you have never worked before?」Butler

「I have done home chores but it’s not an occupation.」Me

「Well then, where did you learn to speak that way?」Butler

The man threw that question as if he had triumphed. It seems he thought that he had obtained proper evidence. It seems thinking that using polite, respectful words and tone would give better result, was a mistake on my part.

「From those who took care of me who died.」Me

「…」Butler

For the time being let’s lie with an innocent face.

「*ahem…And what did these people- who took care and lived with you, do for a living?」Butler

「I do not know. Because we’re in the slum area, they have never spoken about their jobs.」Me

This is the truth and not just me. The jobs of those in the slums are most-likely shady so not telling their jobs to their children seems to be the norm for the parents due to that.

「When did you lose these people?」Butler

「I was around 7 years old but I don’t really remember the exact day.」Me

「Are you telling me you do not remember the day they died?」Butler

「Even if you tell me that, I do not even know what the current day is.」Me

Due to being raised in the slums, fabricating your identity is really easy.

「What’s the cause of their death?」Butler

「I don’t know, when I woke up they are already died. It’s not something unusual in the slums.」Me

「What do you plan to do after this?」Butler

Although his wariness has increased to me who didn’t show even a little bit of being shaken to the intense interrogation exchange, it seems he had arrived into a stalemate or it’s probably around that. I already simulated the possible questions they will ask of me with best answers before I even entered this room.

「I have never thought about it. I did not have the time to think about it yesterday.」Me

「…then how about thinking about it now?」Butler

「Right here? Is it really needed?」Me

「What!?」Butler

My reply is obviously rude, no wonder… but it is actually on point especially if they are talking lightly about on what to do with me. I must also make it known to them that I may be a slumborn but I am neither a slave nor will cower as a pet.

「The things I want to do is my own problem. Though it may seem a bit rude, it doesn’t concern everyone here.」Me

「… Do you mean, you don’t want to be meddled by this family?」Butler

「I do not understand the question. What kind of answer do you wish for? If it’s about not wanting to be involved, then that is my answer.」Me

「That is…」Butler

This man probably has no authority. I can conclude that he is just finding faults in my every answer and to let the people around us decide the judgment. Anyway, I don’t want things to go his way.

The worst case scenario is where they decided to execute me. It may sound illogical as Ryou and the people from Earth, but in here I have come to know as Flay that summary executions are not uncommon for nobles.

「It seems that my son has been in your care.」Marquis

Suddenly, I heard a voice coming from the man sitting on the sofa. It seems that I was right that he is the marquis after saying about the boy being his son.

「I don’t think so. Even if I am not aware at that time, your son did carry me to safety. So the credit goes the same to both of us.」Me

「The same?」Marquis

「I have saved your son from being taken again by a thug and as I fell unconscious when we were about to escape, the one who saved me was your son.」Me

「I see. So it was a give and take.」Marquis

「Yes.」Me

I must not appear arrogant in here also. Making it seem that his son and I were equal in terms of saving each other is one of the ways to get their sympathy and good will.

「Then you have the freedom to do what you want next. I can even give you reward money and send you home. Do you want that?」Marquis

It seems I was able to succeed in getting the good side of the marquis.

Previously, after hearing the butler’s arguments and the siblings’ banters, I had two choices: First, is to run away if they decided to kill me, Second is to become the sibling’s pet as they have planned.

But now there is a third one, accept the marquis’ offer of money and use it to escape the capital.

Welp, it’s already obvious on which option I will choose. I will just accept the reward money. But being sent back to the slums is the last thing I want as it is practically a suicide. I have no choice then but to leave this house… but it is still the best outcome for me. The probability of my survival in living outside the capital is a hundred times greater than going back to the slums.

「Ah, no… just the reward money is enou-」Me

「「Father!!」」Ariel & Vincent

When I thought that the matter is already settled by accepting the reward money and be on my way, the two siblings have simultaneously voiced out. I have forgotten about the two who opposed it. I am deeply annoyed by their interruption.

「This thing belongs to me!」Vincent

「That is correct, this is already our pet.」Ariel

My life has already been spared; I want you to stop that talk already.

「However… for her to be your pet, isn’t she too big already?」Marquis

Marquis, even you!?

Wait, I felt that I missed to clear something very important.

「Ah no-」Me

「It’s fine. Since she always does what I say and the most important of all… she’s this beautiful.」Ariel

「…Well, that is indeed correct. However, it’s too early for Vincent. You must grow a little bit more.」Marquis

「Why?」Vincent

「That’s…that’s just the way it is.」Marquis

I feel like all of them are misunderstanding something.

「Ah, wai-」Me

「That’s right. Besides, the partner must not be a child of the slums or I cannot approve of such a thing… but well, I could probably agree if she already reached the marriageable age while living in this household.」Marquis’ Wife

「Huh?」Vincent

「No, wait. I-」Me

From here, the words of both parents were complimenting each other. However, I must clear something first. Even Vincent had sensed that something is wrong.

「Indeed, if it’s like that. Well however, even if she did grew up to be beautiful, for her to become Vincent’s concubine, she must have a certain degree of peerage first.」Marquis

「If it’s just a mistress then it’s all good.」Marquis’ Wife

「Eh? Ummm…」Vincent

「I see. Mistress huh? If that’s the case-」Marquis

Were they convinced now? Or rather, what’s the difference between concubine and mistress? Wait, this is not the time to think about that! There’s an even bigger problem. Thankfully I was able to interrupt their dangerous talk this time.

「Umm...」Me

「What is it?」Marquis

「I am a boy though...」Me

「…」

Silence soon ensued at my revelation.

「Eh?!」Ariel

「Wha-」Butler

「「?!!」」Marquis and his Wife

I didn’t make my gender clear but is it actually not that obvious to that degree?

Or is it that the gender of the orphan they picked up doesn’t really matter?

「W-wait… you are a boy? You don’t… look like one…」Butler

「Eh? Why are you all surprise? Isn’t it obvious?」Vincent

It seems that Vincent is the only one who knew my real gender.

「Well-」Marquis

Before he can continue, he was interrupted by a sudden whisper from one of the guards behind them. Even Marquis’ Wife even joined in listening what is being whispered by the guard. I can’t hear what the guard is whispering so I was quite nervous after I realized that the Marquis and his wife were looking at me with great interest which was quite different from their previous indifferent eyes.

「Well…*ahem, that is quite surprising, just seeing your countenance will make everyone confuse about your gender…Hmmm... Well then, what are you going to use her-I mean him for, Vincent?」Marquis

「E-Eh? What for… ummm, on a lot of things! Yes! 」Vincent

「….is it… as an attendant?」Butler

「W-Well, something like that. 」Vincent

「I see. However, we already have an attendant for you and I cannot allow a boy to be Ariel’s attendant. 」Marquis

「Ahh, if Lord Vincent desires it as such, I will withdraw from being his attendant. It seems that it may be good also for the growth of the young lord to have an attendant that is the same age as him. 」Butler

The guy who was interrogating me before said so.

So this guy was an attendant.

Considering that, he’s quite ahead of himself and besides, what is he being so happy about?

「And where would you be then?」Marquis

「Because I would be troubled on losing a job, if possible I’d like to be Lord Erwin’s attendant instead. 」Butler

「Erwin? Being a full time attendant of Erwin… 」Marquis

I heard an unfamiliar name from the mouth of the Marquis. Because this is a talk about attendants and the like, is he perhaps another sibling of the two?

「Well, that’s fine I guess. However, this child must undergo first a training to be Vincent’s attendant and as to whom we will leave that into….」Marquis

「In that case, I shall also see to that. I will be the one handing the position over after all. 」Butler

「That would be good, Well then….」Marquis

The marquis began steadily staring at me, as for the reason… I already know.

「It’s Rion.」Me

「That’s right. Rion, from today onwards you are now Vincent’s attendant. Endeavor yourself in Vincent’s well being.」Marquis

「Yes…. Eh?」Me

How did it end up this way? Isn’t this talk was about driving me out of the house.

「The gold that was intended to be your reward will be given to you later. I am sure you don’t want to return to the slums and for someone who only lived in the slums, you are still quite ignorant of the world.」Marquis

「Yes…」Me

「Then as the savior of my son, accept this job. This chance was never given to someone like you, even among the commoners. But on our honor as nobles, we always pay the favor ten times. So will you leave the house with your reward money and bet your life on the unknown world outside the slums or accept the job as an attendant of my son.」Marquis

By being an attendant, doesn’t it mean that I would be residing here forever? But he is right; I have better chance of surviving this world by being on this house. I would rather take the opportunity in front of me than select the option of gambling my life.

「Yes, I accept the job. Thank you very much.」Me

I bowed as I accept the Marquis’ offer. Ariel and Vincent seem to be quite happy about the result of the discussion. After that, the butler dragged me outside the room with Vincent and Ariel following us.

I was still quite ignorant at that time; not knowing that this decision of mine had started the change in the world.