Chapter 2
Hey, Mom. People don’t usually call a person “authentic.” While I was silently admiring my mother’s word choice, which seemed completely unconstrained by common sense, a hand gently settled on my head.
“And he’s also the one who will make you an empress.”
My mother briefly kissed my forehead and took a step back.
“Oh, and I didn’t mention this yesterday, but don’t bring up this child’s name.”
“…Huh? Why not?”
“He doesn’t even know he’s the emperor’s illegitimate son. This is a secret known only to you and me.”
Just where did you even learn something like that?
“I’ll tell him when the time comes. Until then, keep it well hidden. It’ll make him more intriguing, don’t you think?”
“Mom…”
“Oh, I think he’s waking up.”
While I was replying slowly, my mother let out a soft exclamation. Turning my head, I saw Claudiell frowning as he slowly began to open his eyes. Seeing that, my mother patted my shoulder.
“Well then, Mom will step out for a bit. You two get along.”
“Get along… with what?”
“Why, what else?”
My mother kissed my forehead and smiled faintly.
“I mean you should try taming your future husband.”
“W-What?!”
Amused by my flustered reaction, my mother waved her hand and said, “I’ll be outside, so come out when you’re done,” then left the room. I reached out toward the closing door, trying to stop her. But the door shut with a cold, indifferent thud before my hand could even reach it. What on earth…?
“Ah!”
Right—Claudiell. Turning back around, I looked at the boy again. Claudiell, who had been grimacing in pain, slowly opened his eyes. Amber-colored irises, like beautiful gemstones, came into view. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, then rolled his eyes toward me.
“Ah, um, hello?”
The moment our eyes met in midair, the greeting slipped out reflexively. However, Claudiell said nothing in response. Could he not speak? Or were the effects of the sedative still lingering? While I was thinking that, Claudiell slowly opened his mouth.
“Mom…”
“‘Mom’?”
At his voice, I looked around the room, but my mother had already left. Wait—was he talking about me? I’m only ten years old…
“…Where am I….”
Just as I was thinking that, a slightly sharp voice cut in. I snapped back to attention and looked forward. The eyes that had been staring blankly at me regained their vitality. More precisely, hostility directed at me.
“Who are you? I clearly….”
The boy frowned as he spoke, then looked around the room before clutching his temple and grimacing. His body, which had been trying to sit up, wavered as if losing balance and collapsed onto the bedside table with a dull thud. He let out a low groan. Thinking something might be wrong, I quickly stood up.
“Are you okay?!”
I approached Claudiell, who was holding his head. What’s going on all of a sudden? As I reached out to check on him, Claudiell, as if waiting for me to come closer, suddenly grabbed my wrist with his arm and pressed the fountain pen that had been on the bedside table against the front of my neck.
“Where is this? And you—ugh!!”
The sharp voice pierced into my ears like a spike, and at that moment, a groan echoed out. Claudiell, who had been gripping my wrist, collapsed back onto the bed, writhing in pain. What was happening? Then I noticed a faint light emanating from his shoulder. That glow was coming from a very small slave brand on Claudiell’s body.
“Aah… it hurts… it hurts so much!”
Startled by the sudden threat, I hesitated and couldn’t approach the suffering Claudiell. For a moment, I even wondered if this might be an act. But as time passed and his pain only seemed to worsen, I cautiously stepped closer.
“Cl— Mom!”
As I slowly reached out and placed my hand on Claudiell’s shoulder, he suddenly froze with his eyes wide open. The screaming stopped, but his eyes were half-lost, unfocused. What’s wrong with him? Could it be because of the brand? I once read in a book that a brand isn’t just a mark of slavery—it also carries a force that prevents disobedience to the master. Could this be what’s happening?
“Are you okay?”
I carefully asked while examining his face, and his eyes rolled slightly as he looked at me silently with a lifeless expression. Just as I was thinking I should go call a doctor, Claudiell finally opened his mouth again.
“…Where is this?”
Where is this?
“Kallstadt. You’re currently in the Kallstadt family estate.”
“Kallst—…”
“More importantly, are you okay? You looked like you were in a lot of pain earlier.”
Claudiell nodded calmly, then frowned. As he slowly tried to sit up, I took a step back, and he bit his lip tightly.
‘Sigh…’
I watched him in silence and let out a small sigh.
‘I didn’t expect him to suddenly attack me like that… that really startled me. More importantly, is he really okay?’
I was shocked by his sudden aggression, but what disturbed me even more was the sight of Claudiell writhing in pain. It was the first time I had seen someone my age rolling around in agony on a bed like that. Because of that, I didn’t even feel like asking why he had pointed a fountain pen at me. Even if I did ask, he would probably just say he wanted to escape or that he was trying to threaten me to get away, so there wasn’t much point.
“…So I was sold, huh.”
A self-deprecating, resigned voice reached my ears. I felt something strange. “Sold.” That wasn’t a word usually used to describe a person—especially not someone our age. The irritation that had been slowly building inside me seemed to melt away at those words. Right… waking up and finding yourself in a strange place like this must be confusing. I even found myself empathizing with him.
“Um… hello?”
“….”
“Uh… how old are you?”
Ah, unable to overcome the awkwardness, my mouth ended up blurting out the last thing I should have asked. Of all things, asking his age in this situation…! I should have been comforting him instead! Contrary to my thoughts, Claudiell spoke bluntly.
“…Twelve.”
“You’re two years older than me?”
That didn’t mean I intended to treat him like an older brother. With my mother’s early education and the unimaginable worldview I had been exposed to, I was certain my mental age was older than twelve. While I was lost in my own thoughts, Claudiell, who had been watching my reaction, cautiously spoke.
“You’re the one who bought me?”
With a sharp tone as if confirming something, I shrugged.
“No, my mother bought you.”
“Your mother…”
Biting his lip as he thought, Claudiell let out a small sigh. Then he tilted his lips slightly and looked up at me.
“Then you must be my master.”
“Master?”
“They said that the first person a slave sees upon waking becomes their master. Since you were the first face I saw when I woke up, you must be my master.”
It was a resigned complaint about a situation he didn’t particularly welcome.
“Then do you also give me my name?”
“My name?”
“Slaves don’t have names. Or rather, to be precise, I can’t remember mine. Who I was, what my name was, where I came from… nothing.”
It almost sounded like amnesia. They say the brand prevents slaves from escaping—is that why? But judging from how he had been looking for my mother earlier, he seemed to have some memories intact.
“You…”
As Claudiell murmured with a troubled expression, I started to speak but hesitated. Wait, my mother said not to tell him. Honestly, I didn’t fully understand that. What’s the big deal about telling a kid his name when he doesn’t even remember his past? It didn’t seem like it would matter much, but I decided I’d ask my mother in detail first before revealing anything.
“You’re Rigel.”
“Rigel?”
“Yes. Rigel. As it is, my mother bought you, and I don’t know the details. I was only told that you were purchased. I’ll tell you more once I hear from her.”
“I see…”
I felt a sense of guilt, like I was deceiving him. But there was no helping it for now. I couldn’t tell him his real name without first understanding the reason from my mother. I’d tell him later when I had the chance. With that thought, I left room for future explanation. Rigel seemed to struggle accepting the situation, closing his eyes tightly. I did feel sorry for him. Being dragged to a place like this and suddenly becoming someone’s slave…
‘But what should I do now?’
Is it really okay for me to keep him here? If he truly is the emperor’s illegitimate son, wouldn’t we be in serious trouble? Should I secretly take him to the imperial palace? But what about the brand? While I was lost in thought, Rigel suddenly opened his eyes and let out a small groan.
“Ah—!”
“What’s wrong?!”
“The brand…!”
Grinding his teeth, Rigel muttered those words in a low voice. As I stood there unsure how to help, I noticed a faint glow flickering from his shoulder. Carefully pulling back his collar, I saw that the small brand was slowly spreading, reaching up toward his neck.
“It hurts… so much!”
Rigel, his face twisted in pain and drenched in sweat, collapsed onto his knees. I didn’t know why he was suddenly in so much pain, but it was clear that it had something to do with the brand. Seeing that, I quickly realized there was nothing more I could do here.
“Wait here! I’ll go get my mother and a doctor—!”
As I turned to leave the room, Rigel grabbed my hand. He struggled to kneel, his face contorted in agony.
“I… ahh!!”
“Rigel?! Are you okay?”
“I… I….”
Between gritted teeth and strained breaths, his voice came out broken, as if being crushed by something. His eyes were filled with confusion, as if he himself didn’t understand why this was happening. His face burned bright red as he resisted with all his strength.
“I, your… your slave…!”
At last, after enduring until the end, Rigel forced out the final words.
“…swear that I will serve you as my master…”
With those words, even his groans faded, and Rigel collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
