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chapter 6
In the western Ersioni Duchy of the Empire, there is a grand mansion where the ruling family resides.
Perhaps because it was built by demolishing the castle of a long-destroyed kingdom, it exuded the atmosphere of an ancient fortress.
Rumor had it that the last tyrant of that kingdom had gone mad with dark magic and became a lich, and thus, the world nicknamed the Ersioni mansion:
“The Demon King’s Castle.”
And that wasn’t all. Everyone living in the mansion was far from ordinary.
The duke had a commanding presence and immense magical power; the duchess, beautiful yet radiating a villainous aura just as strong.
Even the children inherited their parents’ traits.
This villainous family was extraordinary in every aspect.
“Lirian, it’s morning. Time to wake up.”
Of course, even a special villainous family had daily routines similar to ordinary people.
Their day began, as usual, with waking up a child who had overslept.
Lirian squirmed under the covers at the gentle urging.
“Nnn… just five more minutes…”
“It’s been fifty minutes since you said that, my daughter,”
Resa said, placing her hands firmly on her hips as she looked at Lirian, who had curled up like a plump caterpillar.
If it were Caesar, he might have thought, “Well, a child can sleep a little longer…” and left her be even if the sun was high in the sky—but not Resa.
No matter how young her child was, she couldn’t tolerate her still being in bed at this hour.
“There’s no choice then.”
She ultimately decided to use her secret weapon.
“Lirian’s portion of cocoa fries will all go to Jeril.”
“Eek…!”
At that nightmarish threat, Lirian shot up from bed.
“My cocoa!”
“Did you sleep well, Liri?”
Suppressing a laugh, Resa kissed Lirian lightly on the cheek, who was still half-asleep.
Lirian looked at her mother with a dazed expression.
“M-Mom? Why are you… here?”
“You ask ‘why are you here’ at a time like this,” Resa said, smiling through a mixture of apology and sadness as she patted Lirian’s head.
“From now on, Mom will always be by your side.”
She’d eat with Lirian, buy pretty clothes, and go on outings. Sounds good, right?
Lirian, unsure if this was a dream or reality, blinked clearly.
“Really?”
“Of course, really.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. Would you want it to be fake?”
Lirian shook her head vigorously.
“No! I want to be with Mom.”
Soon, the room was filled with the cheerful laughter of mother and daughter.
That morning was far more lively than usual.
“Did our princess sleep well? Mwah!”
As always, Caesar gave his morning kiss.
“Good morning, Lirian,”
Her eldest brother greeted her kindly.
“….”
The second brother, Yuri, who stared at her for a long while, poked her plump cheek and then disappeared.
Lirian, who always found her taciturn little brother the hardest to read, could only look confused.
“Heh. Tiny one!”
And Jeril… was the same as ever.
“Who can finish their cocoa fries first? Let’s compete!”
“I won’t lose!”
“Let’s see who wins!”
“Don’t play around with your food, kids.”
The third and youngest children glared at each other with burning eyes, each holding a tiny child-sized fork.
Seran gently admonished the two.
“I was faster!”
“No! I was faster!”
Watching the impolite younger siblings at the table, Seran’s gentle smile gradually darkened.
“Children.”
Seran quietly rose from his seat.
Yuri, who had been silently eating, flinched and moved slightly away from his siblings.
Was that dark aura behind their elder brother’s back a trick of the eyes?
“I won!”
“No, I did!”
Meanwhile, the youngest, with a head full of flowers, remained oblivious.
Seran’s smile deepened.
“…We’re supposed to eat quietly, right?”
Thunk.
Without a sound, Seran stood behind them and grabbed Jeril and Lirian by their shoulders.
“…!”
“Hic!”
“How are we supposed to eat?”
“Quietly…”
“Yes. Eat quietly. Got it?”
“Yes…”
“Y-Yes…”
And so, breakfast returned to peace.
Yuri, who had narrowly avoided Seran’s wrath, muttered softly:
“Mastermind…”
Watching this, Caesar chuckled and said to Resa,
“Seran definitely takes after you. The way he scolds with a smile—it’s the same.”
Do you know how terrifying that is?
Resa glared at her husband, pouting.
“If you want, I could show you the original version right now.”
“…Sorry. I was wrong, okay?”
Of course, she didn’t get her way entirely.
After breakfast, Seran prepared to go to the academy.
The academy was for noble children aged eight and above, and Seran, of age, attended.
“I’m off.”
“Have a good day, Seran.”
The family gathered to see him off.
Seran, the exemplary student, adjusted his shirt collar neatly, tied his tie perfectly, and wore his beret at exactly 45 degrees. He reminded his siblings before boarding the carriage:
“Don’t climb high places or go near fire. Chew your snacks properly so you don’t get sick…”
“Yes! You can trust me!”
At the youngest’s energetic shout, the eldest’s expression slightly darkened.
Yet he finished gently, patting Lirian’s head.
“Alright, I’ll be back.”
“Have a good day.”
“Bring melon sherbet when you return, brother!”
Seran departed. Yuri, now with pronounced dark circles, said,
“I’ll head inside first to work on my research.”
“…Isn’t he seven? Why does he look so world-weary?”
“Yuri, make sure you sleep well. I know you love reading, but you must come for meals.”
“Yes.”
The second child nodded and trudged back into the mansion.
The duke and duchess reminded the remaining two children:
“Jeril, Lirian, don’t get hurt while playing, okay?”
“Yes.”
“Y-Yes!”
Four children lived in the Demon King’s Castle.
They were so unique that just by looking into their eyes, one could distinguish their characteristics.
The eldest son, Seran, who led the siblings, charmed everyone with his gentle smile.
But that wasn’t all.
Anonymous evaluations revealed a slightly different, secret side of the boy:
“My brother… is a control freak.”
“A smiling mastermind…!”
“Big brother gives lots of chocolate, so I like him. But if I eat it and don’t brush my teeth, he squeezes toothpaste until I do!”
Next was the aloof second son, Yuri.
This always-expressionless boy was known for his brilliant mind, so much so that geniuses of the Magi Tower took notice.
Anonymous evaluations again:
“Yuri loves caffeine too much. His sleep is irregular. He doesn’t exercise. Should we make him a schedule?”
“A scientific mastermind…!”
“Little brother keeps poking my cheeks! Every day! Gelatin…? Jelly? My cheeks feel like jelly! Yum, looks tasty.”
Although the evaluations seemed almost signed, let’s assume they’re anonymous.
The first: gentle but controlling.
The second: genius with poor physical strength.
And the third and youngest:
“They’re gone?”
“Yeah, I can’t see them.”
The six- and five-year-old duo.
Once the parents disappeared from view, the two looked at each other.
“Hey, tiny one.”
“Idiot.”
They giggled at each other.
“Wanna climb a tree?”
“Of course!”
“Let’s go!”
“Yeah!”
With seemingly endless energy and extraordinary athleticism, no one could stop these six- and five-year-olds.
They were little disasters in the truest sense.
“Ah, young master! Young lady! Be careful!”
The two clung to a massive tree, too large for even ten Lirians to hug, and raced each other to the top.
They climbed with ease what even adults would struggle to scale.
The anxious staff could only watch.
Regardless, the two argued over who would reach the top first.
“Move! I’m first!”
“No! I said I’m first!”
Jeril grabbed Lirian’s cheek, while Lirian grabbed his hair.
Their eyes blazing, the two stopped fighting simultaneously when their hands reached the top.
“Hmph!”
“Hmph!”
“Guess there’s no choice. This round is a draw, tiny one.”
“Agreed.”
“Then?”
“Of course, next round!”
The two jumped from the tree simultaneously.
“Ahhh!”
“You two!”
Staff screamed.
Of course, nothing truly dangerous happened.
One child hopped down the tree trunk, while the other performed a wall-run.
The staff watched in stunned silence.
“Now, a race to the kitchen!”
“Yaaah!”
The two dashed off, creating a whirlwind.
The butler, inspecting the mansion, saw this and calmly said:
“Tell the head chef to extinguish the oven immediately. Right now.”
“Yes, sir!”
It was only natural.
After all, Lirian had almost set the mansion ablaze at age four.
The staff’s collective sighs grew heavier.
