3 Ch 2: The New Life

"Is that you Lucius? If so then come in."

Lucius opened the door to find a woman combing her hair in front of a mirror. Her clear blue eyes could be seen from the reflection of the mirror as she had her back to the door.

"Mother, I've heard that you were bothered by my absence." Lucius asked. His eyes wandered around the room still being amazed by the interior design along with the uniquely detailed furniture.

"Lucius dear, could spend more time outside the study? Soon you'll be at the age fit to enter the most prestigious school of all the continent, how would the othe nobles react to your lack of social skills." She stopped her combing and turned around. Her expression had the word concern written on it with large capital letters.

'Once an introvert, always an introvert.' Lucius inwardly thought. He no longer had his shyness or the feeling of being uncomfortable with people he did not know. "I prefer to keep my distance from nosy and unnecessary people. Being well known will only attract unwanted attention." Lucius replied with his expressionless face.

"I agree on your statement regarding unnecessary attention. However, you cant continue isolating yourself even from your own siblings." She turned back and leaned closer the mirror carefully placing her hair ornament which had the shape of a snowflakes.

"I prefer the world "closed door cultivation" rather than isolation." Lucius muttered in a low voice. Of course half of what he said was true the other half a lie. He did "cultivate" his knowledge inside closed doors but he focused more on the magical and mystical aspect of the world rather than subjects regarding kingdoms and etiquette. "I understand. Then perhaps i should hold a ball for my 12th birthday?" Lucius didn't like large parties or balls because of the time and effort he had to use both as a guest and a host. However, in this world when children reach the age of 12 they were gifted with unique abilities. Lucius was nearing his 12th year, perhaps with the help from other may he celebrate a better occasion than solitude.

His mother had already finished and was about to place her comb done but her hand become stiff and dropped it instead. She stared straight into Lucius eyes from the mirror with utter disbelief, her eyes were widened and her mouth was half open. "Is something the matter?" Lucius was surprised by his mother's as he slightly took a step back.

"Sorry... i was just surprised that's all. You normally avoid parties, when i told you to 'spend time outside the study' i did not expect you would interpret it as this." She slowly bent down and took her fallen comb.

"It would be a few month from now and i don't expect it to be grand. However, you know full well my competence in managing events like these are poor so i would like to leave the planning to you." Walked over to a table with multiple envelops. "As for the next few months... i'll be 'befriending' a few individuals." Lucius knew that befriending with other children from noble families were hard and down annoying. Most of the children of noble families from the news and rumours he heard had inflated egos or a thirst for superiority. If needed he would "youngling" his way like the walker of the sky.

"Alright then, this is an improvement." She had already finished and was preparing to leave. A sudden knock came from the door, it was a man slightly younger that Laurence.

"Madame, Young master, I have come to notify you that breakfast will soon be ready." He bowed and left just as he had arrived.

"Well then, off we go Lucius. This will be an interesting topic to discuss with your siblings and father."

"Alright then." Lucius and his mother left after closing the door. The distance between his mother's room and the dining hall was longer than from his room. 'Why do people like big houses, it takes like 10 minutes to get from one place to another.'.

****

It was mid noon and Lucius was taking a stroll around the large garden behind the mansion. Flowers and exotic plant life were planted in multiple sections. The general shape of the garden was a circle made of multiple rings. The first and outer ring had red roses with hidden venus fly traps, anyone who knew nothing of the garden and tried to pick up a rose would be welcomed by a sudden surprise. The middle layer was a hedge with red, orange, and yellow leaves, it was bizarre sight to see as it was currently spring. The last and final layer had pure white roses that had sky blue pigmented bodies and leaves. Lucius found the garden interesting and unique everytime he saw it, however beyond a small gate which was the owner of the garden.

The garden had four entrances and from the top the shape reminded Lucius of a target, and between the middle layer of all entrances had a gate. In the middle of the garden was a gazebo, unfortunately for Lucius it was not empty.

"Oh? Looking for me so soon Lucius~." A woman older than Lucius sat besides a table filled with pastries, a teacup, and a pot. She looked exactly like Lucius' mother except instead of his mother's calm smile, a joyous smile that seemed to laugh at him was glued to her face.

"Sister... I still find your ability to arrive here without anyone noticing you as amazing." Lucius walked up and sat across her.

"Oh my~ Why must you always visit. Well it could not be help, a younger brother wanting to see his grand and beautiful older sister is pretty common among nobility." Her expressions and actions were all exaggerated even giving Lucius a wink.

Lucius gave not an ounce of care as he took out a small book from his pocket. 'Where was i again? Oh yeah, gravity.' After opening the book to a certain page, Lucius placed it down on the table. "Charming, sister, I almost fell more in love with you." Lucius' did not change his expressionless face and his voice only sounded robotic. He took out his reading glasses from the small case he carried with him.

"I'll get a reaction from you soon. It seems as if no matter what i try, your face remains the same." She spoke while filling an empty teacup and placing it besides Lucius, her face still remaining the same.

"You'll get one eventually..." Lucius still remembered how his older sister, Lucia, had teased him and tricked him when he was still unfamiliar to his new surroundings. It had not been pretty when she tricked him into assuming false ideas which completely embarrassed Lucius.

"Have you thought more about it?" She asked.

"About what?" Lucius mused. 'Did i forget something?'.

"Your 'befriending'?"

"Oh... I plan to visit the city nearby first." Taking a sip of tea, Lucius arranged his thoughts on his matter.

"Then i presume you have no specific individual you want to meet? If so then why not join me on visiting the royal palace next week." Lucia was slightly exited to invite Lucius. Her smile turned to a devilish and playful smile.

"Royal palace... I guess i don't mind. Are you having a small tea party with the princesses again?" Lucius had known that his sister had a good relationship to the third and fourth princesses of the kingdom. 'Hmm... Maybe i can try disguising myself and try out the rumoured steak house.' He had never gotten to the capital of the kingdom, although his sisters and brothers had, he chose not to. However, rumours from maids and news from his butler Laurence had intrigued him.

'Hmmm~ Steak...' Lucius was a fanatic for good food. Not a critique nor a chef but as a consumer, eating different delicacies from around the continent was a hobby of his. Unlike his siblings which often expressed their wants and needs, Lucius was more reserved. But now the capital had multiple shops and restaurants which had gained fame for multiple years now, it was too tempting to ignore. Back then he really had no reason real reason to travel and to Lucius, it seemed wasteful to journey across the kingdom for a piece of meat. But now he had a viable reason, a popular restaurant will surely attract the attention of the nobles inside the capital. He could talk and 'befriend' them while enjoying himself on the large food.

As for the royal princes and princesses, Lucius already knew how 'incredible' they were. They had the thickest of skin and largest of pride. He remembered his encounter with the 3rd prince which led to a heated debate on newton's laws. After hours and hours of constant verbal battle both Lucius and third prince choose to stop, they never met each other after that.

'Alright, i need to make operation: Bravo going dark.' It was today that Lucius would use most of his braincells other than his natural two.