Chapter 4: Newly Acquired Information

A man with blonde hair and blue eyes stood beside me, examining the portrait.

I hadn't noticed his presence until now.

"You are?" I asked, inspecting him from top to bottom.

The basement was a restricted area, reserved only for the children, servants, the duke, and the teachers.

The man wore a suit and didn't appear to be a servant. He seemed unlikely to be one of my siblings, so I concluded he must be a teacher.

"My name is Jasper, Jasper Gest. And you are?"

"Theodore, Theodore Leclair."

Jasper smiled and patted my head.

It was a sudden and unexpected gesture, and my eyes instinctively narrowed. His hand had sugar on it, and I turned my head away, shaking off his hand. I still covered my nose with my handkerchief.

"Your hands are dirty."

Jasper chuckled in response, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the young boy.

'He looks just like him.'

He was curious about the youngest child, said to be the one who inherited the most from the Leclair bloodline. Looking at the boy's features, even Jasper thought he was seeing the young duke.

Jasper retracted his hands with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry about that; I ate a few sugary sweets."

I remained silent, still wary of this unfamiliar teacher.

"Well, since we've introduced ourselves, I'll take you to our room."

"Our room?"

"Yep, our tutoring room. Come."

He turned around and started walking with his hands in his pockets. I followed him, my eyes still fixed on the portraits.

"The portraits are all of the previous Dukes and Duchesses of the Leclair's."

"I know."

Their names were already inscribed under their portraits.

He entered a room, and I followed.

The room resembled a preschool, with pink wallpaper and toys everywhere.

Jasper sat at his seat and clasped his hands together.

"Now then, let's start our studies. You may take a seat."

I nodded and sat down. It was a cute, brightly decorated desk and chair. I had no complaints, given that I was at an age where colorful things intrigued me.

"Once you grow older, your studies will change as well. For the next two years, you will study Leclair History, Mannerism, and the History of the Country. In the morning, you will cover Leclair History and Imperial History, while in the afternoon, you will have classes on Mannerisms. If you have any questions, raise your hand."

I raised my hand immediately.

"What are the studies for the upper years?"

"Hm? After you finish my two-year course, you'll move on to Swordsmanship and Magic Studies. Each will take four years, or longer if you don't easily grasp the practice. If you only acquire aptitude for one, it will increase to eight years. After completing the fundamentals, you will be registered in the Royal Academy for two to three years."

The Leclair family was known for two aspects: their talent in Swordsmanship and Magic.

Each Leclair child would either become a swordsman or a magician.

Before starting their official training, they must be tested for aptitude in both areas. Those with a talent for swordsmanship will be sent to the Military Academy, while those with a talent for magic will be sent to the Tower Institute.

After studying their designated talent, they will be registered in the Royal Academy, like other noble children, showcasing their talents and forming connections with the next generation of noble families.

"So, let's start with our history. First of all, we will cover Imperial History."

Jasper flicked his hand, and a book flew to my desk.

"Open to chapter 1."

I opened the first chapter.

"Read the first paragraph."

Children were taught essential knowledge, such as reading and writing, by their nannies. It was crucial for each Leclair child to get a head start in their education.

"Long ago, the world was covered in blood and tears. The people were ravaged by demons day and night; those without magic and swords to defend themselves were easily killed by the demons."

This was a classic story in this world: the tale of the first hero who later forged an empire and became a king. Even Marie occasionally told me this story at bedtime.

"One day, a boy managed to stumble upon a grave while escaping the monsters who chased him. He hid behind the grave, weeping."

"His cries and pleas for the unknown awakened the deity of kindness. The deity, seeing the world's ruin and feeling pity, gave the boy the power to eradicate demons. He gifted the boy a sword carved from the deity's flesh. Thus, the boy, with powers granted by the deity, wandered the world and defeated the demons with ease."

"He took on companions and traveled the world for fifteen years, eradicating the demons and spreading his glory."

"And at last, he reached the devil himself, the Demon King, Althar."

Althar? That name is familiar. Where have I heard it before?

I paused. The name felt too familiar, as if I had seen or heard it somewhere before.

"Why did you stop? Continue reading."

I shook my head and dismissed my thoughts, then continued.

"Althar was defeated, along with all the demons that plagued the land. The boy, who held the deity's flesh and was blessed by the gods, became the first king and the first Emperor, Gautheir Lagarde."

"After the war with the demons ended, peace prevailed on the land."

"The imperial family, born with the deity's gift, has passed it on through generations."

"And currently, the 57th king, Ernest Lagarde, is known to possess the deity's gift."

Ah, no wonder it was familiar.

The name Ernest Lagarde was the father of the first male lead, Thomas Lagarde. I processed my thoughts, my heart, which had been racing, calmed itself.

So I wasn't born in a new world; instead, I was born inside (Rose Covered in Thorns)

I sighed, flicking back my hair. If it weren't for my personality (Even-Tempered), I would have already panicked with this newly acquired information. To think I had been reincarnated into that damned game.

(Rose Covered in Thorns) is a reverse harem Otome game centered around the female lead, a high schooler who falls into this world and receives knowledge of its impending doom. She eventually gets romantically involved with five men, the male leads:

1. The Crown Prince, Thomas Lagarde.

2. The Playboy 2nd Prince and Thomas's twin, Matheo Lagarde.

3. The Captain of the Lion Knights, Aaron Chaucer.

4. The illegitimate son of a Viscount and a rich merchant, Joseph Durand.

5. The Leader of the Information Guild, Vincent Menard.

These five men become devoted to the female lead.

However, the game is infamous for its demon-like plot: demons everywhere, assassinations, death flags, obsessive male leads, and the constant emergence of portals.

"Theodore, sit down."

I blinked a few times, put down the book on my desk, and sat.

"You've been standing like a statue for over ten minutes. I even told you to sit down many times. You were just out of yourself."

"I'm sorry, teacher."

I had been too immersed in my thoughts, but right now, I'm glad I added (Even-Tempered) to my personality. If it weren't for that, I would have descended into panic multiple times already.

"Anyways, let's delve into the history after the establishment of the kingdom."

I listened intently.

"After the kingdom was founded, Ernest decided to teach people how to wield the deity's powers. However, not many showed promise in acquiring such powers. Thus, some remained normal, while others had the luxury of controlling these powers."

"There are two types of power one can wield: those with a higher amount of mana are stationed to become Magicians, while those with a stronger physical aspect become Swordsmen or any type of wielder requiring a weapon."

Magicians can create elements using their hands by channeling mana through their bodies. Their bodies can store mana, which they use to produce elements or cast spells.

Meanwhile, Swordsmen cannot store mana in their bodies; they must channel mana particles in the air into their specific weapons.

Many can become Swordsmen, but not everyone can overcome the hurdles. Some people are naturally blessed with strong physical capabilities, allowing them to become Swordsmen, while others who try their best may still struggle due to the significant gap.