Chapter 4

Julian closed the door of his chamber and made his way to the bathroom. With a resigned sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair, muttering, "What a headache."

After everything that transpired, he desperately needed to refresh both body and mind. Finished with his shower and dressed in fresh clothes, Julian approached the mirror, revealing a young man wearing a flowing brown robe.

He touched the glass and the figure in the mirror mimicked his action. Somehow, it still felt like a dream to him. Julian had no idea why he was sent back to the past, but if God truly listened to his last wish, then he had nothing to lose.

Staring determinedly into the cerulean eyes before him, Julian vowed, "This time, I promise, you will live a happy life." And in order to accomplish that, he had to awaken his Mana as soon as possible, no matter what.

Letting his hand fall, Julian marched toward his bedroom's entrance. Normally, he would be training at this hour, but today he decided to visit the town.

Just as Julian opened the door, he found a new maid standing in the doorway, her hand hovering in the air, ready to knock.

As their eyes locked, she flinched in surprise and immediately bowed. "Greetings, Young Master!"

Julian's gaze shifted behind her, where a food trolley was visible. Without beating around the bush, he stated, "I don't have an appetite." Not bothering to wait for the maid's response, Julian closed the door behind him and walked away.

Since he hadn't been able to determine who, how, or when the poison was placed into his food, it was safer to avoid all drinks and meals in the house.

The sole reason why Amelia didn't kill him outright was that this region belonged to his father. If she killed him, his father would easily identify her as the culprit. Instead, she poisoned him slowly, preventing him from awakening his Mana and reducing his eligibility to become the next Count.

But funnily enough, whether in his past life or now, Julian never aspired to succeed his father. The only difference was that he wanted to leave this place immediately rather than seek his father's acknowledgment. To him, this house was no different from hell; there was no point in staying in such a toxic environment.

As a thought kicked in, Julian whirled to face the maid and asked, "What year is this?"

She inclined her head and replied, "It's LYC 591."

"I see. Thanks." With a nod of gratitude, Julian resumed his stride. 'If that's the case, I'm around 18 years old; 15 years younger than my original age.'

Walking down the hall, Julian noticed two maids who bowed upon seeing him. Without breaking his stride, he acknowledged their presence with a nod. However, as he passed them, he couldn't help but overhear their murmurs.

"Did you hear? The maid who serves him and the chef almost got fired because of him!"

"Yeah, I heard it too. If not for the Countess begging the Count, they would have been dismissed by now!"

"I know he always craves the Count's attention but isn't this too much? Just because he's the Count's son doesn't mean he should act so arrogant!"

"Yes, I agree. If he wants attention that badly, he shouldn't be a disgrace to this family and should awaken his Mana!"

Julian halted and pivoted, startling the maids, who instantly bowed toward him in panic.

"Raise your heads," Julian ordered.

The moment they obeyed, he pinned his indifferent gaze on them. But as Julian didn't say a word, the fear on their faces intensified, and he could discern their growing discomfort amidst the oppressive silence.

After firmly imprinting their faces in his memory, Julian eventually spoke, "Never mind." Turning on his heels, he continued on his way. Though it might not be today, Julian swore they would pay for their disrespect because he had no intention of letting it slide.

Descending a flight of stairs, Julian was greeted by the lush green scenery, marking his arrival in the garden. With a confident stride, he entered the towering hedge maze.

Upon reaching a dead end, Julian carefully scanned his surroundings. After ensuring he was alone, he slipped through the hedge, and a corridor made of white marble came into view.

Approaching one of the knight statues standing by the wall, Julian twisted its helmet and the ground trembled as the wall beside it slid open, showing a secret passage. Warm light from the torches lining the walls bathed the corridor in a soft glow.

Wasting no more time, Julian grabbed a torch from the wall and entered it, his footstep echoed in the air. This passage led to the woods near the town, he discovered it while searching for a hidden spot to cry when things became overwhelming.

Julian chose to sneak out because if he went openly, at least two knights would need to accompany him, and once they returned to the mansion, Julian was certain they would report his every move to the Countess.

While the Count was absent, Amelia built a network of supporters, filling the household with her lackeys. Since he had no allies, Julian decided to trust only in himself.

After a few minutes of walking, Julian arrived at a dead end. He placed the torch back on its hanger and twisted the helmet of a knight statue once again. Instantly, the wall in front of him slid down, revealing a wooded landscape. The musty smell gave way to a refreshing pine scent.

Emerging from the passage, Julian pulled his hood over his face and marched toward the town's entrance. The rustling leaves and melodious chirping of birds provided a soothing soundtrack as he walked along the trail.

When the buzzing sound pricked his ears, Julian lifted his head and the bustling street entered his sight. However, what caught his attention were the guards stationed at the town's gate, their armor glinting in the sunlight, spears held at the ready.

As Julian neared the gate, he picked up a medium-sized stone before hiding behind a nearby tree. With a deft throw, he aimed for the bushes near the guards.

The moment the rustling leaves drew their attention, Julian stealthily vaulted over the iron fence. Landing quietly on the other side, Julian resumed walking as inconspicuously as possible.

Passing by a bread stand, Julian snatched a loaf and tossed a silver coin to the merchant before taking a hearty bite. Fortunately, despite the Count's habitual disregard, Julian still received his allowance.

Continuing along the bustling street, Julian observed the lively scene around him and his mind raced. Now that he thought about it, if he wanted to leave the mansion, shouldn't he consider starting a business or two?

With over a decade of future experience, several business ideas came to Julian's mind that could help him stand independently without his father's money. Julian thought that… maybe living as a merchant was better than living as a noble.

However, before he could dwell on it, the sign for the 'Rebirth' mercenary agency caught his attention. Swallowing the last piece of his bread, Julian entered the building.

After speaking with the receptionist at the front desk, Julian was led to a room. Fifteen minutes later, the creak of the door caught his attention. Emerging from behind it, was a man with brown hair and eyes in his late sixties.

When their eyes met, the man offered him a smile and spoke apologetically, "Ah, I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Settling on the couch across from Julian, he asked, "So, how may I help you?"

Without beating around the bush, Julian began, "I'm looking for a drug that can slow Mana's awakening. It needs to be odorless and tasteless."

As there was no evidence proving the Countess poisoned him, Julian decided to create some.