Maru had soon realized something, he was now the duke’s son. And he wasn’t maru, but rather Varkhaz. Obvious as it may be, it hadn’t fully been realized by Maru until now. 

“Aghh~...” he groaned, he couldn’t navigate the mansion by himself, as such he’d always need the help of Alf. 

Though Maru decided that he’d find out what actually happened in the past year, he didn’t understand why the things that happened, happened. It was strange to him. Why was it that even the household of the duke is afraid of him? Why was it that only Alf and a few others were in this mansion? Why did the duke tell him that Varkhaz didn’t do those things? Wasn’t he the one who killed all of them? 

Only the questions would pile on and on. 

“I’m sorry, okay... I don’t remember the directions either...” Maru said in a regretful voice to Alf.

“It’s fine, master.” said Alf.

“Hey Alf... were you always with me, like right now?”

“No... I was not, master. It was my dad, who was.” Alf replied with a sad expression.

Maru didn’t ask a single thing more, and put his hand on Alf’s shoulders. Maru said “I’m sorry Alf.”

“It’s fine, master.”

Soon the both of them had reached the dining room’s entrance.

However it only looked alone, it was as though the room itself cried of it’s own loneliness. There were only two people standing. A maid at the corner of the room and the chef who had prepared the food. No one else used the dining room, as such it looked empty.

The two of them walked into the room. Maru sat at the end to eat food, eager to eat he held the fork and spoon, however he looked to his side and saw Alf standing. He asked “Why aren’t you all sitting?”

But no one answered.

“Alf, why aren’t you sitting?”

“Because we can’t, master.”

“Just sit, already?”

“Master, we can’t sit with you.”

It was as though a nail were being hit into his head. His status prevented him from eating with Alf, whom he considered his friend. 

It was the plain truth of the world. Nobles were different from the peasants who had no mana. 

Even maru had mana now.  This was the power of mana. 

Soon my body recovered well enough, before I wasn’t able to walk for very long. But now I can.

Though I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Is it okay for me to live as Varkhaz? Am I fine with this?

... Well whatever, I’ll think about this later. It’s frustrating.

However there is one thing I started to get addicted to. It was chocolates. I’ve never tasted something so sweet and good. It was as though my mouth had experienced bliss.

Just putting a tiny chunk into my mouth, it’d melt and the sweetness would spread all over, the soft texture that made me feel happy about it. It wasn’t something I could eat daily, but now I could. 

However there was just one problemー

| Maru! Stop eating them! They’re unhealthy! |

‘It’s fine isn’t it? It’s really good, and I really like them, so what’s the problem?’

| No! They’ll cause problems for you, don’t eat them! |

‘Ugh.. Fine. But I’ll take one last snack.’

“Hey Alf... Can we go to the kitchen again..?” - “Is it for chocolates, master..?”

Alf looked confused. Not understanding why, I asked him,  “yeah , why?”

“Well- No, it’s just... You can just ask me to bring it, you don’t need to go to the kitchen again.”

Oh. It suddenly made sense again, I’m supposed to be a noble right now. And most nobles don’t go to the kitchen to eat.

“Ah.. Well it’s fine isn’t it? We have to provide company to Mickael afterall.” Mickael was the head chef who would specially make food that I’d ask him. I only approached him because I wanted to thank him for the food, and ever since then we’ve both been hitting it off. He’s a really good guy, and he had a dark and dull face before whenever he was near me, but now that’s gone. So it makes me a little happy.

“Understood Master.” Alf bowed and smiled at me.

He started walking toward the door and said, “If you would, master.” he pointed to the path out the door, however when he tried to follow behind me, “Agh! This damn door!” he hit his head on the door.

And suddenly I bumped into something... or rather someone? It was a little girl. She had fluffy black hair that was short. She had big red gem-like eyes. Her clothes weren’t exactly good either, they were the bare minimum. She suddenly fell on her knees and started apologizing to me, why was she so terrified?

“Hey...” I tried to give her a hand, but scared of my hand she crawled back. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Alf then stepped up and said, “Young lady, what would you be doing here?”

 “Hey Alf. Who is she?” - “H-huh..? Oh yes master... Sorry, the young lady is your sister, master.”

“Why’d we need her to go somewhere? Also how come you didn’t say anything to me?”

“It... was you who ordered us to do so master. Your previous orders told us ‘Keep that thing out of my sight.’ So we couldn’t do anything.”

“Ahhh! Not this again! I told you already Alf! I don’t consider myself a noble! Just tell me if something is up!!”

“With all due respect, master, even if you do not consider it. That does not mean you are not.” He bowed and said so.

“If I have offended you, then please just execute me!” Does he think I’ll execute him?

*Slap*

“Shut up! I thought we were friends and this is what you think of me?! Ahhh!! I’m not in the mood to do this, leave me alone!” I shut the door behind me and ran into the room.

Why does it hurt so much? Even though this is ‘normal’. The fact that no matter what he’ll only see me as Varkhaz the son of the duke, it hurts me. 

It’s been the same with everyone else here. I tried to talk to the maids but they would just bow and run away. And that was only if I could even catch them unexpectedly. If they even saw me, they’d go away. Why? Because I’m Varkhaz?

Even though I... 

Everyone looks at me like a monster. Even Alf. Even though I’m not Varkhaz. Even though I don’t want to be. Even though I just want to die. Why?

No.. this makes sense. Afterall I took over Varkhaz’s past as well. I can’t just sit here sulking, I have to redeem myself.

Haah~ I should apologize to him. I can’t blame him for this...