Eisenhart Mansion.
Sunlight kissed its long, echoing halls.
Polished boots clicked sharply against the floors, silver trays clinked with fine porcelain, and the scent of roasted lavender tea sweetened fresh morning air.
But above all, it was gossip that flowed best through these corridors.
"I can't wait to see Young Master Lucien today!"
One of the younger maids exclaimed as she tightly hugged her feather duster to her moderate chest with a dreamy sparkle in her eyes.
A guard stationed nearby gave a dry cough and then clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
He eyed her with visible disgust.
It was ridiculous.
Utterly shameful, even, to be jealous of a five-year-old.
And yet here he was… envious.
Because while the maids fluttered and gushed like he was some second coming of a romantic bard, he — a fully grown, sword-trained man of grit and honor — was barely getting nods. Meanwhile, the Young Master was apparently winking, flattering, and giving all sorts of flowery compliments.
Disgusting.
"He's not that special…" the guard muttered.
The maid whipped around so fast her frilly cap nearly flew off. She leaned in so close the poor guard actually recoiled as he clanked against the wall behind him.
"Don't be such a fool!"
She scolded, wagging her finger right under his nose.
"Young Master Lucien could speak after birth! After birth! By the time other babies were still gurgling and drooling, he was correcting grammar!"
Excited, one maid fired at the same guard—
"Let's not forget he preferred reading spellbooks and ancient history books — even the really thick ones with over five thousand pages! Most kids his age would've gone for picture books instead!"
Another maid clasped her hands to her chest to add—
"And he stopped drinking breast milk after a month! A month! Only legendary men of sheer will could reject the bosom of a beautiful woman so early!"
She raised both fists dramatically.
"That child is a prodigy in the flesh!"
The other maids nodded vigorously like a cult chorus.
This drove another guard over the edge.
"HEY! Don't act like we don't all know why they stopped breastfeeding him! It wasn't 'willpower,' it was because he kept biting Lady Mirella teats with that evil smirk until her chest swelled up like cursed melons! It's the same reason they had to rotate wet nurses like changing horses in war!"
The room fell quiet.
One of the maids looked away with an awkward smile.
"Same thing, right? Ehe… ehehe… (￣▽￣*)ゞ"
"IT'S NOT!!"
The bald guard shouted, veins popping like fireworks as he hyperventilated.
---
Lucien was dressed in his usual noble attire, seated behind a grand wooden desk that dwarfed his tiny five-year-old body.
In his past life, he'd been used to endlessly sitting behind a monitor and the mind-numbing rhythm of nine-to-five office work.
But now… everything was just so big.
The chair was polished and high-backed, the desk wide enough to host a banquet, and even the quill in his small hand felt comically oversized.
Still, his little legs swung back and forth as his fingers worked with quiet efficiency.
A complex network of glowing blue runes spread across the parchment, drawn in meticulous strokes with a special brownish ink. His tongue peeked from the corner of his lips in concentration until the last rune connected.
Lucien beamed.
"Finally!"
He declared triumphantly, lifting the book up as though he had just penned a divine scripture.
"My new water spell is perfected!"
He set the massive tome down with both hands and quickly leapt to his feet atop the chair, mimicking exaggerated hand gestures like a battle-crazed shōnen protagonist.
"AHAHA! It's gonna look so awesome! I've always wanted to shoot out a dragon! A huge, roaring dragon! Dragons are so freaking awesome!"
He posed dramatically, grinning from ear to ear.
Suddenly his face shifted into something gentler.
"Hmm…"
He was in deep thought.
"Still…"
He stepped down onto the floor softly.
"Five years ago, when I first opened my eyes in this world, I thought I'd have a hard time fitting in… the language, the food, the hygiene… it all felt so alien."
A small smile kissed his lips.
"But so far? It's been good. Surprisingly good."
He gave a long stretch, arms reaching skyward, then tugged his long noble coat into place. It slipped slightly off one shoulder, but he ignored it as he padded over to the tall doors that led out to his private balcony.
Pushing them open, he stepped out and gripped the intricately carved rails.
The Eisenhart Manor stretched out before him.
Far and wide, it was a sea of gothic spires, rose gardens, training fields, and wide cobbled paths patrolled by shining knights.
Beyond it, rolling hills shimmered beneath the sun.
This was the Zestrian Empire.
The dominant power of the Eses Continent.
"I've read so many of this world's history books, but not a single map matches what I know. This world is at least five hundred times the size of Earth… actually, it might even bigger than Jupiter."
He let out a small laugh.
"The Eisenhart Duchy alone is already home to over a million people."
He crossed his arms, his smile widening.
"There are maids begging to take showers with me… chefs who go all out just to impress me with lunch… guards who practically trip over themselves to swear loyalty… noble daughters visiting with suspiciously 'innocent' gifts… and even more maids fighting over who gets to be with me or take care of me."
Lucien shook his head dramatically.
"I'm… a celebrity."
He glanced up at the clouds, pouting thoughtfully.
"Well, I guess in medieval times they'd just call it a 'public figure' or somethin', yunno…"
With a sigh, he turned away from the view and made his way to the standing mirror in his chamber.
He stared at the reflection.
White hair, blue eyes, dressed like a princeling straight out of a storybook.
"One more thing…"
He lowered his gaze slightly.
"As the sixth child, I shouldn't really have much of a claim. In normal cases, I'd be treated like background furniture. But because of this hair…"
He touched a strand.
"People born with white hair are considered touched by the gods. They're destined to become archmages, emperors, great rulers…"
He puffed his chest and planted his fists on his waist as he nodded at his own reflection with smug pride.
"Young Master Lucien…"
"Huh?"
Lucien blinked.
The voice was warm—deep, feminine, and velvety, like molten honey poured over ice.
His reflection shimmered for just a moment… and then, there she was. Standing behind him.
He yelped and stumbled forward in surprise, but before he could hit the ground, a gentle yet firm hand caught his coat and pulled him upright.
Standing behind him was a tall, beautiful woman with long white hair that flowed down her back like falling snow. Her eyes were half-lidded, watching him with a look that was somewhere between affection and mild annoyance.
"Were you really just staring at yourself in the mirror this whole time? I've been waiting at the shooting range for your magic lessons."
Lucien gave his best innocent smile.
"Ehehe… I was just practicing humility and hardwork like you always say!"
"Oh?" she arched a brow.
"Yup! So I can grow up and marry sweet, curvy beauties like you, Luna-sensei!"
She blinked.
Then leaned down to his level as her silken hair fell around his small face like curtains. One hand scooped it aside while the other reached out and grabbed his cheeks with a sharp pinch.
"Tch, honestly! You really mustn't say things like that so casually, young master!"
She scolded, cheeks slightly pink.
"OW, OW, OWWWW!!"
She finally released him while her face softened as she smiled with teasing affection.
"You naughty boy…"
This was Luna Engris.
Lucien's personal guard-maid and magic instructor.
She was a tall lady, beautiful enough to make most noblewomen jealous.
Her long white hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and thick bangs covered most of her forehead. She was really pretty, and her bright blue eyes made her even more stunning.
She wore an elegant maid outfit with long sleeves, a black corset, and a flowing skirt. The outfit showed off her slender, curvy figure well—she was clearly a well-endowed young woman with the kind of tempting body many people could only dream of.
Placing one hand on her curvy hip, she tilted her head and huffed.
"Alright, you little rascal. Since you tried to ditch class and broke my heart in the same morning, magic lessons will go on extra long today."
"Huh!? That's unfair!" Lucien slouched.
She folded her arms under her generous bust and looked away dramatically.
"Honestly, young master, I didn't know you could be so cruel… you know how much love I have for you, and yet you tease me so…"
Lucien scratched his cheek, awkward.
"You're not actually mad, right…? (;一_一)"
"Why would I be mad?"
Hmph! She huffed.
"I'm not a fish. Honestly, your grammar is getting worse every day."
Then she smiled mischievously.
"Fufu~ maybe I'll ask Lady Sophia to give you language lessons…"
"NOOO! NOT HER!!"
Lucien practically screamed.
･･･
A short while later…
Lucien walked out of his chambers with his spell tome strapped to his side.
Luna followed behind with head low, eyes gracefully closed, and a smug smile.
The maids along the hallway lit up like flowers in spring.
"Oh my, the young master looks so studious today!"
"He's always studious! Look at that massive book—he's been studying runes again, hasn't he? At just five years old…!"
Lucien closed his eyes and chuckled stiffly.
『They really go overboard sometimes…』
One of the guards nearby frowned and muttered—
"Tch… must they praise him so much?"
Luna's eyes opened just slightly.
A single look.
The kind of look that makes demons hesitate and seasoned knights break into cold sweat.
The guard immediately swallowed his words as he turned pale and sweaty.
Luna closed her eyes again, content.
"Hmph!"
━ ━ ━ ━
Meanwhile…
In a far-off royal chamber.
A middle-aged king sat silently on his ornate throne.
In his hands, he held a parchment.
Kneeling before him was a knight, head bowed low.
"You've been watching the boy?"
"Not… directly, Your Majesty. He hasn't left the manor since his birth. Not once."
"I see."
The king let out a breath… and then tossed the parchment aside.
On the parchment, painted in exquisite detail, was the face of a silver-haired child.
Lucien von Eisenhart.