Chapter 1

"Ahh, morning!"

Awakened by the light streaming in through the window, I hastily jumped out of bed. After quickly getting dressed, I grabbed the pouch I had placed by my pillow and rushed out of the room. I ran down the corridor, where a soft green carpet was laid over the white stone floor.

"Riz! Good morning, your ribbon is crooked."

I was stopped by a servant who was cleaning and had my ribbon, which was about to slip, adjusted for me. With my wavy, cherry blossom-colored hair and the red ribbon swaying, I hurried out to the garden.

I shivered in the cold autumn wind. A gardener, who had been pruning roses early in the morning, called out to me.

"Good morning, Riz. You're up early for someone so young."

"I woke up a bit early today!"

While responding, I couldn't help but smile wryly. I look around twelve, but I feel like I'm being treated like a child more than I should be.

I went to a spot in the garden I had marked and placed a bottle I had taken out of the bag on the stone pavement. The bottle, which I had taken out of a blue bag, began to bubble when exposed to the morning sun. Gradually, the reddish-brown carnelian powder and the oil inside began to mix...

"Alright, I'll draw the diagram to concentrate and trap the power of the fire rune..."

Using the ink, I drew a magic diagram on the paper I had brought. I placed the crystal from the bag on top of it and added a bit of gold leaf.

"The finishing touch is this."

The lamp I had brought. Even though it wasn't necessary because it was already morning, I needed it for this. I set the paper on fire with the lamp. As the paper burned, the stone was enveloped in flames. I waited, heart pounding, for the result...

"What are you burning?"

Suddenly, a cold voice called out, and I turned around in a panic. There stood a young man with gray hair and ash-red eyes. I don't know his exact age, but he must be around twenty.

"U-um, Lord Dears, good morning."

I bowed, trembling inside.

Lord Dears nodded silently. I thought he would still be sleeping since it was early morning...

Judging from the fact that he was holding a sword and was only wearing a shirt despite the chill, he must have been practicing swordsmanship.

(He won't be angry, right?)

It was this person who told me to try making things with alchemy. We have a relationship like that of an employer and a hired craftsman.

But this person is the notorious Duke of Cruelty, famous even in my homeland. With his overwhelming sword skills and magic, he is said to have single-handedly annihilated an entire army and refused to listen to any pleas for mercy.

Stories of his mercilessness, such as how he wouldn't show mercy to an enemy and would behead even his closest aides if they displeased him, had even reached the neighboring country where I was from. If he didn't like what I was doing in the garden, what would I do? With a feeling of wanting to prostrate myself, I explained what I was doing.

"I, I was making a stone to warm the room."

"Stone?"

"Yes."

A crystal with the power to gather sunlight, infused with the morning sun's energy to gradually raise the surrounding temperature. To achieve this, I wrote a magic diagram and sealed the power of fire within it.

"Oh, it's done."

The burned paper had vanished, leaving behind a single, round crystal. The gold leaf was stuck to the crystal like stars, creating a beautiful object.

"Here it is. It will become warm enough to hold in a little while, so I'll collect it..."

I pleaded, hoping he wouldn't be angry, and Lord Dears sighed.

"Do you plan to wait here all day?"

What reason could there be for me not to wait? My only plan for the day was to have breakfast with Lord Dears... For some reason, he insisted on checking the health of the children himself and made sure to see me once a day by having me join him for breakfast.

"I think I can make it to breakfast on time."

After saying this hesitantly, Lord Dears was silent for a few seconds, then took off his black cloak and gently draped it over my shoulders.

The warmth on my shoulders and back. It wasn't just the wind being blocked; it was probably also the warmth of Lord Dears' body.

After being surprised, a wave of embarrassment washed over me.

--Because I'm actually seventeen.

I just look like a child due to certain circumstances. In my mind, I can't help but imagine myself as a seventeen-year-old... Even if it's the terrifying Lord Dears, who thinks of me as a child, I can't help but be a bit aware of him.

Seeing my face turn red, Lord Dears calmly said,

"You'll catch a cold. At least wear it."

"Yes... but, the hem..."

The cloak was too long for me, who was only a little over half Lord Dears' height. The hem was dragging on the ground, and I was wondering what to do when Lord Dears said,

"Don't worry. Unlike blood, dirt can be washed off."

Then Lord Dears left.

"Well, it's certainly easier to wash off than blood, but..."

I muttered to myself as I watched his back, which had moved out of earshot.

"He's gruff and indifferent, and still scary. But, basically, he's kind..."

On that day, Lord Dears saved me without knowing anything about me or my background. Because he took me in, I can now live a peaceful life.

I'm still scared because of my preconceptions... No, I've actually seen his scary side. And if I hadn't taken on the appearance of a child, I would have definitely been killed... I recalled a recent event.