Ch 1 – New Knight (I)

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translator: mii

editor: sleepchaser

Leca town, located in the northwestern region of the Lesserhains’ territory.

“What nice weather,” said Vio, enjoying tea in his room as usual.

Two years had passed since that winter day.
The day the real Vio died and Mikumo Yamato’s soul entered his body.
Presently, Vio was fifteen years old.

Together with a few servants, he lived in a hillside mansion at Leca town.

Since Leca town was located at the foot of the Alpé mountain range, the winters stretched long.
Even so, spring had finally arrived.
In the garden, brightly-colored flowers had started their bloom.
Vio took a sip of his tea as he gazed at Ed, the gardener who was diligently tending to the trees. He wondered if he should continue reading until lunch.

He had read through most of the books in his study in the past two years, but there wasn’t anything wrong with rereading them and reviewing the information.

Butterflies danced between the flowers. Ah, right.
Maybe I should improve the technique for this bit of spirit magic.
The one I prepared for entertaining people.
Light shaped like butterflies fluttering in the wind…

His thoughts wandered toward the structural formula of the technique when the sound of knocking broke him free of his reverie.
Vio allowed the person entry.
An old butler with a good physique stepped foot within, an envelope in his hands. 

“Young Master, you have received a letter from Her Grace.”

“I see.
Sorry for the trouble, Jill.”

Receiving the envelope, Vio flipped it over to its back.
There, the words “Viola Lesserhain” stood out in beautiful handwriting.
The name of Vio’s mother.

He then shifted his gaze to the desk in search of an envelope opener.
Before he could react further, however, Jill presented one to him.
“Please use this, Young Master.”

“Thank you,” said Vio, finding Jill thoughtful, sparing no time to open the seal.
“My mother is such a dedicated person.
She keeps sending letters once a week.
Because of this, I don’t even have enough time to reply.”

“Actually, I received a letter as well.
Her Grace ordered me to make sure you replied to her letters.”

“Oh, gee.
Then I’m in trouble.” A wry smile spread across Vio’s lips.
Even if Jill urged him to reply, he wouldn’t.
He had nothing to write anyway.

“Her Grace is worried about whether Young Master is living well.
After all, you are living alone in this place, far away from the Duke’s residence.”

“I feel apologetic toward my mother, but I also feel very much at ease since I don’t have to be in my brother’s presence.
I’m tired of him mocking me all day.
He keeps saying ‘You can’t even leave the house, how shameful,’ or calling me ‘the disgrace of our honorable family.’”

“Please do not mind that person’s abusive language.
It is not Young Master’s fault that you cannot go outside,” said Jill, anger lacing his words.
Then, his tone grew more gentle as he said, “Besides, Young Master excels in spirit magic.
That’s already enough.” Although Jill often kept calm, his countenance would grow frightening whenever Vio so much as mentioned his elder brother, Rupheus. 

Jill was originally Vio’s mother’s personal butler.
That being said, he had been concerned about Vio ever since he was a child. 

Before Yamato’s soul entered this body, Vio was nothing more than the pathetic son of the family.
He was inferior to his elder brother, who was five years older than him, in everything: martial arts, studies, etiquette, and spirit magic.
Because of that, everyone spoke ill of him behind his back and gave him the nickname “incompetent son.” Due to his lack of talent, even Rupheus and his father looked at him with eyes of indifference.

But Jill had watched over Vio even during those times.
When they had driven Vio out of their territory alone, he volunteered to follow suit.
Among the other servants, Vio trusted him the most.

“Thank you, Jill,” said Vio with a chuckle.
“So, what did she write in today’s letter?”

He had expected his mother to complain that his younger sister, Flora, threw a tantrum and wanted to meet him.
But what was written instead made him correct his posture out of reflex.

“Hm? Hmmm?”

He didn’t realize that he was clutching the letter.
No matter how many times he reread the contents, the same thing was written.

“…This is the worst,” muttered Vio, face sullen.

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