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Chapter 9
“Ahem. It’s only natural that you’d think that. But I simply haven’t been able to tell you—I’m actually quite wealthy. I have more than enough money to pay your salary, so don’t worry.”
Hibiscus, the herb that cured the fever, had become so valuable that merchants could charge whatever price they pleased. Part of the profits had already been deposited in the bank, and she also owned the land where a hot spring would one day emerge.
“Besides, I already told you—I’m hiring you because I see your talent and potential. But if you get lazy later on or neglect your studies, I’ll terminate the contract without hesitation and make you pay the penalty.”
Kardian quietly looked at Roselia as she tried to sound intimidating.
“But… why is the contract period five years?”
As expected, he notices every detail. That’s because there’s no guarantee I’ll even be alive until I’m twenty…
Of course, she couldn’t tell him that.
“I only set the five-year term provisionally. When those five years are over, we can discuss renewing the contract.”
Though Kardian still looked somewhat unconvinced, he eventually signed the contract. Fortunately, he could at least write his own name properly.
Roselia signed it next, and they each kept one copy.
“So, from today onward, I’m Lady Roselia’s temporary aide?”
“That’s right.”
“Then please stop speaking so formally to me. You’re my employer now.”
“You want me to speak casually because I’m your employer? N-no, it’s fine. I’m much more comfortable speaking politely.”
Roselia smiled as she declined.
Kardian stared at her for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. Speak however you’re comfortable. Then, as your temporary aide, what should I do first?”
“Before that, I have something to ask. Who wrote the sign saying the blacksmith shop was closed?”
Her question made Kardian freeze.
“I… wrote it.”
“I thought so. It was written pretty well, but there were a few spelling mistakes.”
Before my regression, Kardian disappeared when he was eight years old. He must have learned basic reading and writing before that… even if his spelling wasn’t perfect.
“In that case… shouldn’t we start with reading and writing? Ta-da!”
Roselia placed a book in front of him.
“What is this?”
The title read:
You Can Do It Too! Fun Reading and Writing Lessons
“It’s the textbook I used when I was little. I thought it would help you.”
Kardian accepted the book and silently looked down at its worn, frayed cover.
“And these are your writing supplies.”
Roselia took out a thick stack of paper, a quill, and an ink bottle from her bag and placed them on the table.
“For the time being, I’ll teach you using this book.”
“You mean… you’ll personally teach me how to read and write?”
He looked at her in surprise.
“Why? Would you rather learn from someone else?”
“No. It’s just… you’re a noble lady. I find it strange that you would personally teach a commoner.”
“I’ll only teach you the basics. After that, someone more qualified can continue your education. Shall we begin today? We’ll start with simple words and sentences.”
As soon as Roselia began teaching Kardian in the space beside the forge, Mark and Mary tactfully excused themselves and left the workshop.
In the quiet room, only Roselia’s clear reading voice and the scratching of Kardian’s quill filled the air.
Before they realized it, two hours had passed.
The sheets Roselia had brought were now filled with words and sentences she had written for him.
“I can’t come here very often, so let’s have lessons once a week for about two hours. Until then, repeatedly copy and memorize all the words and sentences I wrote down. I’ll check them the next time I come.”
“I understand.”
“Next time, I’ll also bring you a basic arithmetic book. Oh—I almost forgot.”
Roselia took a small leather pouch from her pocket and placed it in Kardian’s hand.
“What is this?”
“It’s your first salary as my temporary aide—ten gold coins.”
To a commoner, ten gold coins was enough to cover about six months’ worth of living expenses.
“Even if we’ve signed a contract, I’m still only a temporary aide. I don’t know if it’s right for me to accept as much as ten gold.”
“Don’t think of it that way. Temporary or not, you’re my aide according to the contract. You’re one of my people now.”
“One of… your people?”
“That’s right. So you should accept it without hesitation. From now on, I’ll make sure you walk only on flower-filled paths.”
Roselia smiled brightly at him.
Kardian’s eyes widened before he quietly lowered his gaze.
* * *
On the table inside the blacksmith shop lay the copy of the contract Kardian had kept, the pouch containing ten gold coins, and the literacy book and writing supplies Roselia had left behind.
Kardian stared silently at them, deep in thought.
When he had been a child, the blacksmith Mark had found him unconscious in the depths of a forest with no memory of who he was.
According to Mark, although the clothes he had been wearing were torn to rags, they had clearly been made from expensive materials.
If the clothes he had worn when he disappeared were so luxurious, then he must have been born a noble. And if such a child had been found abandoned alone in the forest, it was likely he had been discarded.
Believing he probably wasn’t a commoner, Mark searched everywhere for any noble family that had lost an eight-year-old child.
He found none.
Instead of sending the memoryless boy to an orphanage, Mark adopted him.
Mark and his daughter Daisy, who was two years older than Kardian, treated him like true family.
Thanks to them, Kardian never considered himself unfortunate despite remembering nothing before the age of eight.
In fact, he had reached the point where he thought he didn’t need to recover those lost memories or even find his biological family.
That was how much Mark and Daisy loved him.
Then one day, a baron commissioned Mark’s forge to make a suit of armor and a shield.
Mark completed the work with great care and delivered everything as promised.
The baron, however, never paid him.
He kept making excuses and delaying payment.
Eventually, Mark personally visited the baron’s estate to collect the money.
He returned having lost one of his eyes.
As a mere commoner, Mark had no way to demand compensation or seek justice from a noble.
That was simply the reality of their difference in status.
From that day onward, Kardian came to despise and resent nobles.
Mark himself was unable to run the forge for nearly six months because of the severity of his injury.
The family’s finances deteriorated, and afterward he accepted commissions almost exclusively from commoners rather than nobles.
That remained the case…
…until the silver-haired girl appeared.
Her name was Roselia Hylen.
The only daughter of Count Hylen, the current lord of the territory.
Since she, too, was a noble, Kardian had disliked her from the very beginning.
He kept his distance, treated her coldly, and even felt irritated whenever his adoptive father warmly welcomed her.
Yet…
Roselia was different from every noble he had ever known.
She never became angry despite his disrespect.
Instead, she freely gave them expensive medicinal herbs and saved his sister’s life.
She even hired a commoner like him as her temporary aide, paid him a salary, and personally taught him how to read and write.
Although he was only a commoner, she treated him with genuine dignity.
That left Kardian both confused… and strangely not displeased.
He still remained suspicious.
He couldn’t understand why she treated him so well or what her true intentions were.
For now, he decided he would simply accept her kindness and watch carefully.
After all, he intended to remain by her side only until he had repaid both the debt of saving his sister’s life and the cost of the medicinal herbs.
Even so…
He still found it difficult to look directly at Roselia’s bright, seemingly sincere smile.
* * *
The Noble Council Chamber, Imperial Palace of the Ortia Empire
A luxurious purple carpet covered the floor of the spacious conference hall, while a long white marble table stood at its center.
Gathered around it were the heads and representatives of the noble families that upheld the Ortia Empire.
At the head of the table sat Emperor Rasis Ortia.
Though only in his early fifties, his white hair made him appear much older.
Seated close beside him was High Priest Beleno.
Despite being in his mid-fifties, his youthful and sacred appearance made his age difficult to believe. Clad in immaculate white priestly robes, he occupied a seat even closer to the Emperor than the heads of the Spirit Master families and the other great noble houses.
“Today’s agenda,” announced Count Ikera, who was presiding over the meeting, “is to determine the theme of this year’s Founding Festival, which will be held in a few months.”
“Since it is a celebration of the founding of the Ortia Empire,” said Duke Gail Chesshui, head of one of the Spirit Master families, “I believe the festival should honor the Spirit Masters who were the founding heroes of the empire.”
“I agree completely with Duke Chesshui.”
Viscount Jansen, seated beside him, voiced his support.
Following his lead, nobles throughout the chamber echoed their approval of Duke Chesshui’s proposal.
“Your Majesty,” Count Ikera asked as he turned toward the Emperor, “what are your thoughts?”
The Emperor, however, did not answer immediately.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward High Priest Beleno.
“And what is your opinion, High Priest?”
Having remained silent until now, High Priest Beleno wore a graceful, saintly smile as he looked toward the small group of nobles who had voiced differing opinions.
For just a brief instant…
the warmth vanished from his eyes, replaced by an icy chill.
Then, just as quickly, his gentle expression returned.
