Elaina stilled, her thoughts stumbling over his words. 'Did he just ...thank me?'
She lowered her head at once, hiding the flicker of disbelief in her eyes.
Count Darian lowered himself onto the chair.
'This is so much food for one person' he remarked inwardly, his gaze shifted from the food and slowly drifting toward Elaina.
His glance made her stiffen.
Her eyes narrowed, expecting dissatisfaction of the food,a swear or something cruel.
"Have you eaten, Elaina?"
Her lips parted. His words had left her suprised. For a moment she just stared at him, unsure she'd heard correctly.
"No… not yet, young master" she said softly.
"Do you care to join me?"
Darian motioned to the chair opposite him, leaving little room for refusal.
Her eyes widened, panic flickering across her face. "N-no, young master… I possibly couldn't. It wouldn't be proper for me to eat with you."
Her words tumbled out quickly, almost desperate, as if saying the wrong thing would bring down his wrath. She bowed her head at once, bracing for the punishment she thought must follow.
"Then go and eat" Darian commanded.
"You shouldn't work on an empty stomach"
Elaina froze, her head snapping up in disbelief. She had braced herself for scorn, for punishment, not this. His words didn't fit him.
'Is he plotting something?'
'Why is he suddenly kind to me?'
She wondered.
Her hands tightened against her apron before she finally lowered her gaze.
"Y-yes, young master… if that is your wish."
She turned and quietly left the chamber.
Something about the young lord felt different
Something Elaina couldn't quite grasp.
...
Her reaction startled me. Just how cruel had the real Darian been?
I picked at the food with slow, deliberate motions. It tasted like heaven. The food itself was richer than what my previous life had ever afforded me.
Who am i kidding? I could never afford something like this. Its true that my clan was the strongest but we were definitely not the richest.
We avoided trade with other clans because of their hostility. Even when they were outwardly kind and friendly, we knew better. They would backstab us the first chance they get.
And we weren't wrong. They all did join forces to destroy us in the end. To think that they put aside their differences just to destroy a small clan such as us is just a joke.
It was true that we were the strongest because of our deadly swordstyle, but we were the smallest clan and it wasn't like we were causing havoc.
We just didnt participate in political disputes or clan wars. We just kept to ourselves.
Turns out in doing so we were considered a threat.
What a joke
...
Three minutes.
Thats how long it lasted.
The food only lasted three minutes before it was completely devoured.
I showed no mercy. Not even the crumbs left my notice. The plate and bowl cleaned.
How can one blame me? the meal was amazing.
Now for the problem at hand. Where in the world am I ?
I walked toward the large window of the chambers and stood before the glass plane.
The view of the estate was mesmerizing.
Beyond the gates of the mansion, lay the province of Redmond.
Rows of houses followed the main road, their stone walls and slanted roofs neat and uniform. Smoke rose from the chimneys, thin and steady, carrying the scent of morning firewood.
Merchants were already setting up their stalls, their voices faint but lively even from this height. Beyond the town, fields spread across gentle hills, and windmills turned slowly in the wind. A river cut through the valley, its surface catching the sunlight like a strip of glass.
It was larger than any clan land I had known — too large, almost unreal.
In my past life, even the largest clan couldn't match this kind of scale. For a moment, i simply watched, trying to understand the kind of world I had awakened into.
Wherever I am, I'm definitely not in the same country or region.
I try to recall Darians memories but its all like puzzle pieces. Jumbled and some maybe missing. Its all just vague. Most blurry with only a few memories clear.
Even so, recalling them takes a toll on my brain.
But, hey.
Its better than being dead, right? Right!?
Being trapped in a teenage boy's body isn't really what I was going for after death.
I was hoping for peace.. maybe paradise.
Or nothingness.
But this.
Is this really what comes after death? Another life? Or am I just special? Did the gods bestow upon me a second chance at life?
Is this a really a good thing?
And why Darian of Redmond?
Why did I wake up as him?
Questions swirled in my mind without mercy.
But whatever this world intended for me, it would reveal itself soon enough.