Volume 1: 01 - Virtuous Old Man, Learn Characters With Your Fiancée

I woke up to the sunrise, sat up on the bed and stretched my body.

Yes, my small body and pudgy limbs.

I just turned three years old, memories of my previous life have not been erased, and my body is developing well and normal like any other person’s.

Last time I saw the angel woman, was on the day I was born, she had shown an expression of worry and defeat, and quickly vanished.

She has not appeared to me, ever since.

The only thing that remains of her is that one memory I have of her.

I am a reincarnated soul in a body of a child, with knowledge of my previous life, knowledge that spans decades.

Alexander Carlisle.

That’s my new name.

I am the eldest son of a prominent Imperial family, the Dukes of Carlisle. So far since my birth, I have had a very convenient life that is free from any worry.

There is a girl my age that lives with us now. She was brought to our house by the time I could barely walk.

Her name is Angelica Silva.

She is the only daughter of the emerging nobleman Baron Silva and she is my fiancée.

Father had been very intent on getting me a suitable fiancée.

Due to my previous adult life, I am very aware of the power relationship that applies between a Duke and a quasi-baron.

Anything a Duke insists, a quasi-baronet cannot refute.

I’m relieved that my fiancée is the same age as me though.

Even if the Duke wants a girl who has just learned to walk marry a lolicon, the quasi-baron cannot say no. The difference between the two says it all.

I am a waddling child now, but my soul is much older than my father.

She is my bride-to-be, but of course it’s hard for me to see her in that light.

I’m practically looking over her and have even developed a good friendly relationship with Anglica – Angie.

「Good morning… Alec-shama 」

Angie woke up next to me.

It’s her habit, to crawl up into my bed. She’s still half asleep which makes her less timid than normal.

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「Good morning Angie, do want to go freshen up? 」

「Alec, go together with you…. 」

「Okay then, let’s go 」

I held Angie’s hand as we walked out of the large bedroom, of the size of a playground, into the hallway.

There is Amelia, whom I have gotten very familiar with.

Amelia is one of the people who are dedicated in taking care of the house; she bowed profusely when she saw me.

「Good morning Alec-sama, are you preparing for the morning? I will help you 」

「Don’t worry, we can do it ourselves. I’ll be having a morning greeting with my father later, so please report to him. Otherwise, my father will come over here 」

「Yes, the Master is very fond of young master Alec-sama, isn’t he? 」

「However, my father is a Duke, and if he shows an undignified face in such a place he might lose respect of the people 」

「Ah…. Such unparalleled intelligence… Understood! Leave it to Amelia, I’ll persuade him to meet with you 」

「Is that right? 」

「Indeed! All I have to do it tell him the truth about Alec-sama. That Alec-sama, who is the most caring and loveliest person, wants to come see him, Master will have to await your arrival! 」

Amelia snorts as she makes this bold statement.

I almost feel worried by the momentum she is showing, but my father seems to share her bravado.

「All right, I’ll leave it to you 」

「Yes! 」

*

This afternoon is I and Angie’s first lesson with our assigned tutor.

We have our lessons in the study room of the mansion, where two study desks and a blackboard are placed.

Our tutor is an eager young man.

「We will begin our lesson with learning to read and write 」

「Yes, that will be most appreciated 」

「Yes, thank you 」

I bowed lightly, and Angie who is sitting at the desk next to me, panicked to do the same.

「All right, I’ll pronounce the characters for you first, and then you’ll be the one to read it afterwards 」

The young man wrote the letters on the blackboard and read them aloud to us with flawless articulation.

I and Angie read it as we were told, imitating the tutor.

After being taught how to read the characters, we were instructed to write them down in the notebooks we had before us.

It is a refreshing experience to learn characters from scratch. It has been decades since I’ve done something like this.

I take my time writing them down, Angie on the other not so much, she is earnestly working at it.

It is adorable to see Angie looking so passionate when she is only three years old. She is so cute I want to reach out and pat her head.

By the way this study room is not a secluded room.

All the windows are closed, only the door remains open.

Father and mother are in the hallway, watching us study.

What they think they are doing is peeking, but they are in plain view.

They’re both overly attentive to us; this is normalcy of my odd parents.

「Then, let’s see what you’ve written 」

After completing the oral test, the tutor collected our notes and graded them with a red pen.

It wasn’t much work, so they were immediately returned to us.

「Whoa… A hundred percent 」

「That’s impressive, Angie 」

「Yes! Thank you! Alec-sama! 」

Angie’s appearance was so adorable that I gave in and reached out and rubbed her head.

Angie was embarrassed but smiled cutely.

I glanced at her notes, her handwriting shows dedication.

I believe it’s a talent to write characters neatly, but I think it is a human ability to write detailed characters.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what Angie will grow up to be like.

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「Oh, Alec, are you studying – 」

Father came into the room.

He asked in a remarkably whimsical voice whether「I was studying 」.

He wants to pretend that he was just passing by.

「Let’s see. Alec’s score is…. Mmm…」

My father’s expression changed.

「What are you doing here father? 」

「Ninety-five… no… it’s good enough for your first time, hmmm. More than that, your handwriting it is good… Mmm 」

「95 percent? 」

This surprised me as well.

There’s no way I could have made a mistake on a test given to a three year old.

「Father, let me look at it 」

「No, this is Alec’s first test, it’ll be regarded as an heirloom– 」

「Let me see it please 」

「Hmmm? 」

With a curious nod of his head at my unusually slightly strong tone, father handed me the notebook.

I inspected the notebook.

Most of the answers were marked correct except for one, which had an X mark next to it.

「…. Teacher」

「Yes, what can I do for you, Alec-sama 」

「It’s about these character 」

「Yes, that was close. We don’t splash this part 」

「No, it’s a splash. It’s a bit old — and written in a rigid way 」

「Eh? 」

My tutor was puzzled.

Father, who had been listening to me, snatched the note from my hand. When he saw the part that was marked with an X, he nodded with a straight face and not a delirious parent fool mode.

「Hmm, you’re certainly right, Alec. I’ll make a conscious effort to use it in my official documents, too 」

「Oh, I see. It’s trivial thing though…. 」

The tutor tried to cover it up his blunder with a dry laugh. My father’s straight face had its moment, but he quickly reverted back to his odd self.

「I know this… But Alec’s brilliance still amazes me 」

「Dear, show me 」

「Mm 」

「Wa…. He has such a good handwriting. Alec is so bright 」

「Mm-mh! Such intelligence, I have no problem handing over the governorship to you right now! 」

「Eeh!? 」

「Dear, that’s not wise 」

What he said took me by surprise. Fortunately for me, my mother began to rebuke him.

「I want Alec to have a fulfilling childhood before he has to set out into the world to make a name for himself 」

I have to make a name for myself Mother…..?

「Mm, that’s true too. I’ll have to hang on for a few years then! 」

No, father, good luck waiting for a few decades, not a few years.

You are not that old, if I recall correctly, you are not even 30 years old yet.

「Anyway, this is now the family heirloom. It’s imperative we take it to the church to sanctify it 」

「That’s an excellent idea, dear 」

My parents discussed this as they were walking out of the room, taking my notebook with them.

Isn’t… this too ridiculous.