Five years—It has been five years since I’ve lived in this world called Gaia. Eerily it resembled earth back at my past life, it’s just that it was set in a medieval-esque era where magic is prevalent, and that technology seemed to have stagnated.

I learned that the first kingdom or civilization was recorded around ten millennia ago, judging by the tools mentioned and crude concepts of living according to the article I read, it was at a time where the iron age had just begun.  

Right now, the world is in the midst of the Middle Ages, at least that is what I have assumed since I haven’t been outside the territory of the duchy.

I could tell that it was their overprotectiveness that led to my isolation with the outside world, then again, I was the only child and my mother, who was the duchess, wasn't too keen on revealing the identity of their only child just yet.

But today, that would change since I will be meeting my soon to be fiancé for the first time. 

For aristocrats, arranged marriage are like political marriages and it's a very important matter. To them, it would determine if their lineage would remain for years to come or to elevate their status and wealth—It was kind of like a business proposal in a sense.

Some would use it as a way to get out of debt or to gain more influence within the elitist society.

To me however, it was nothing more than a drag that might derail what I had planned out in my life. Hell, I didn’t even consent to this…Not like I have a say to that considering I’m just a toddler, I’d be surprised if I can though. Mother would probably take it into consideration but my father on the other hand is not the type to just change his mind. 

There’s no compelling point to even argue against him since I’ve found out that he was a very pragmatic and calculative person. I witnessed his brilliance on one of his notes. The paperback was filled with financially related stuff like calculated business expenditures, even though the formulas he used takes longer to show the solution, the results were still accurate since I myself ran the number through my head just to make sure.

He even used comparative analysis to determine whether a business is profitable or not. Just imagining my current father living in 21st century earth would probably leave me in awe, he’d probably be an owner of a large investment firm that rivaled those of Wall Street.

I couldn’t help but sigh knowing that I can’t really do much. So instead of trying to find a way out of this arranged marriage set by two noble families, I’ll instead choose to let things pan out and see what I can do from that point on or until something happens…

Knock. Knock.

“Young master, the lord and madam has called for you.”  I guess it was time for me to go, I dropped the book I was mindlessly reading. It was about the history of magic and the basics of mana manipulation.

To say that I’m disappointed would be an understatement, it was crude in a sense. Like what the hell is this? I feel like the more I’m reading it, the more I sink deeper into the realization that magic is nothing more than the power of friendship bullshit. 

Even though the feel of mana is the same back in my previous life. Who the hell says that the manipulation of mana is purely based on emotions? It’s wrong to assume that—What if I was scared shitless or depressed as fuck while doing a spell? What if I fuck it up? Should I just turn my frown upside down to correct my mistakes? What am I? A fucking idiot?

Tsk! Just that thought alone pisses me off so much. Call me cynical or whatever but spreading your hand out in the open and being told to feel the mana in the air is bullshit. 

In the first place, how would one even know what mana is if they haven’t even sensed it yet? There’s a reason why most people are oblivious to it and it’s all because of mana dormancy, at least that is what I’ve experienced and known so far back in my previous life.

I know that this is a different world and that there are other factors affecting the utilization of mana but not once—Not even a single line in the book I’ve just read have elaborated on that topic so far. Then again, this is the only book about magic so far that I’ve read. I need to read more to make a concrete judgment on the state of magical literacy in this world but that’ll have to wait.

For now, I have a very important matter to attend to.

Pushing back my chair, I stood up and checked my appearance.

Dirty blonde hair that was kept tidy and a bit chubby face with a lanky build. My body compared to my past life was vastly contrasting. Hair that was as black as space and a face that scares most people even though I was scrawny as hell, I was a spitting image of an average minimum wage worker in a factory within that cold and shitty country.

It was an upgrade I guess, but I’m still wondering who and what sent me here and why I was reincarnated to this world…

“Young master, please hurry up. Lest you want your tardiness to displease the duke.” Hellen, my personal maid, reminded me.

I should wrap things up right now, I think appearance-wise I’m fine.

Going to the door and twisting the knob, I was greeted upon the sight of a Victorian style maid. Her face seemed calm as ever, the upright posture and body language just speaks volume of how committed of a professional she is.

“Let’s go Hellen.” I said nonchalantly and began walking but before I could even cross halfway the hall, she stopped me.

“Young master, please turn around.” Why does that sound like an order? 

For some reason I feel tempted to just ignore her and continue my trek. Before that idea even manifested into action, she grabbed me by the collar like how a dam does to her puppies. I didn’t even struggle and just relented on what’ll happen next.

Without saying anything, she grabbed the hem of my collar and began fixing it, then she moved on to the rest that she deemed untidy and needed to be fixed. 

After a couple of tugs and tucks, it was now done.

“Thanks, Hellen.” 

“You're welcome, young master.”

We then set off to the place where I will meet my soon-to-be fiancé for the first time.

I was nervous, even though I’m an adult inside the body of a toddler. This was a first for me, someone who hasn’t interacted with the opposite sex of the same age—Even back in my past life, I barely or maybe even hardly had any meaningful conversation with a woman my age. The closest I got was when I inquired about an apartment somewhere around the block near the institute I worked at.

A realtor I think she was, we even exchanged contact information…For business purposes of course and whatnot…

Damn, I really died as a virgin.

That’s pretty fucking depressing and on that note, l should move on from that and focus on what’s about to go down.

“Greetings, Duke Rudin. It is I, your son, presenting his humble self.” I bowed down to show respect, mimicking the action and mannerisms of nobles in the books I’ve read. 

It was what I practiced in my spare time. I'm not doing this to show off or anything like that rather I just did it so that I could blend in well. It’s not my priority to stand out since I’d already decided to live an uneventful life.

When my father took notice of me, he let out a small smile as I noticed it in the corner of my eyes. Then he proceeded to approach me, with my head still hung low, I felt his arm creeping up to my torso. With his right hand placed on my shoulder, he called out my name.

“August. I am your father, address me as your parent. I appreciate the formality, but I don’t want our relationship to be strained just because of our previous interactions.” I bob my head up and meet his gaze, behind his green dull eyes lies a sense of weariness. 

Ah, he must be tired of dealing with that kind of mannerisms, I should’ve seen it coming but this was like my fourth interaction with him. It’s not like he has a cold personality, it’s just that circumstances regarding his work had led to him not being around that much after I was born, it was only when I was four and a half years old that I first spoke with him and that didn’t go so well.

“I’m sorry, father. I didn’t know how to act so I just chose to do what’s best.” Honestly, I don’t blame him, being a Duke is no joke and the responsibility it brings will certainly be burdened with stress and exhaustion. I could understand and relate to him in my previous life, after all, I have experienced the harshness of being an assistant to a shitty professor.

“You're pretty perceptive my son…Say, how old are you now?” My composure slips up a bit, and I couldn’t help but snicker. Him actually questioning that just makes me amused rather than offended.

“I’m five years old, father. My birthday comes around after spring has ended.” 

“Then that means—His eyes slightly dilating, —I missed your birthday.” He seemed a bit down, so I decided to humor him.

“Mother would be mad if she ever found that out, she’ll definitely give you an earful. So why don’t we keep this a secret?” The remark earned me a weird look at first but as if processing what I just said. Father let out a laugh, a boisterous one as well. 

That reaction was something I was expecting. Even though I had no significant relationships in my previous life, I was a pretty swell and conversable guy to talk with. I know how to read the lines very well—Hell, I can even read the mood of the conversations very well.

Granted, I needed to be like that in order to survive from that coal factory…

“You know, for someone your age to be so clever and perceptive. I can’t help but be proud of you.” He confesses.

That I didn’t expect, and I really have no idea on how to even react but as if sensing my inaction. Father patted my head to show his affection, I felt a bit sentimental since it was the first time that I had a father figure in my life…

Did I finally come into terms that this man, Duke Erwin Rodin, is now my biological father?

Probably yes and honestly, I’m glad that he is my father.

“Why don’t we proceed to the gazebo and wait for your fiancé to arrive.” I nod.

He redirects his sights to the servants and the guards, as if to signal them to move. Then Father faced the direction of the pavilion and began to walk, I followed right behind him like an earnest child.

Hellen was just beside me, accompanied with her is the head butler, sir Cebas, who looked like he just entered his mid 30’s. Even though the wrinkles on his face would suggest otherwise, Hellen on the other hand was older than him by a couple of years but the face didn’t quite match the age.

Sir Cebas was called by my father, and he left our area, leaving Helen and I on our table.

“Is something the matter, Young Master?” My personal maid asked.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just bored out of my mind ever since I’ve waited like an hour for my supposed fiancé to arrive.”

“You sound annoyed, perhaps drinking the tea I prepared will help you.” 

I hate tea, it’s bitter as hell and it tastes like medicine half the time but since the guest is not here yet, I guess I could try this world’s tea.

“Sure, why not.” She takes a cup and pours out the porcelain kettle, holding it at a certain angle.

The hot steam coming out from it seemed to be too hot, so I took the cup by its handle with my pinky finger hanging and blew on it, then I took a sip.

…It was utterly tasteless as much as the palate of British people and bitter as hell like that long green gourd.

Still my face was composed as ever, showing no signs of changes whatsoever. I wasn’t acting cool or anything—Ok I’m lying, I just don’t want to disappoint Hellen. I’m sure her tea is good since my parents always drink it but I’m sorry that I can’t stand tea.

Hmm...Maybe I should practice drinking tea to add a sense of flair to my facade. It’ll certainly make me look cool and mature. That sounded narcissistic but I do have a point, having that kind of image could help me when it comes to conversing with others.

So, I continued to sip the cup of tea until it was empty.

“Do you want me to pour another cup?” She asked.

I nod and say, “Sure.”

Even though the tea reminded me of the bitterness of my past life, I didn’t mind the taste anymore and instead used it to improve my taste bud tolerance.

In the midst of what I was doing, the sound of hurried footsteps alerted me, and I scan to look at what’s up. It was a guard, to be more accurate, the outer guard that was guarding the gate. 

He knelt down on the grass and announced, “The Duke of Margatroid along with his daughter has arrived.”

Finally, the wait is now over.