Chapter 6

It's been one week since Gian ordered some knights to guard his library. No one knows the reason behind his orders. They are just simply following their young master's orders. In normal cases, the knights should not follow an order aside from their leader. But Young Master Gian is different from the other young masters. Viel specifically orders the knights under his commands to follow Gian's orders unless it concerns about killing or hurting other people.

When Frederick and Viel learned about it, they asked Gian the reason behind his order. Gian told them that he is currently doing a private research and he's afraid that someone might see his research before he can even get the result he wanted to achieve. When they heard this, Frederick and Viel are no longer suspicious about it. Gian is a curious child and to gain more knowledge and experience, he sometimes conducts an experiment and records its result in his journal.

Gian decided to visit the library after one week. Whoever was inside the library was probably dying in hunger. When the knights saw him, they reassure their young master that they didn't let anyone go inside their library. If Gian was wrong and no one was really inside the library, then he will only think that he's simply tired and had an auditory hallucination at that time.

These past few days, Gian was already used as being a noble again. He didn't hesitate when asking a maid or servant to do something for him anymore. He was also used in his usual routine of doing nothing aside from studying or reading a book. Compared to his poor life as a commoner, Gian thought that being a noble suit him more.

He also did a lot of things these past few days. One of them is memorizing the names of the nobles in the whole kingdom once again. Even if Gian didn't show himself much during the banquets or parties, it would be inappropriate if there will be an unexpected chance where Gian will meet them in the future and be unable to recognize them.

Gian also wrote a reply letter sent by Lady Shannen. To be honest, Gian doesn't have any memorable impression of Shannen. He can only remember that Shannen used to be his playmate when he was still a kid. The last time Gian saw Shannen was when she visited and informed him that she would attend and stay at the academy. After that, Gian didn't have a chance to meet her again until his family got killed.

After Gian read the long letter from Shannen, he only wrote a few sentences answering her inquiries about his health. Gian also added in the letter that he will be busy for the next few months, so he may not be able to send letters to her anymore. His purpose for writing it is to let her indirectly know that Gian doesn't want to exchange letters with her anymore. Since Gian can't clearly remember anything about Shannen, it will be better if he'll cut their ties between them.

Gian has more important things to do than befriending a childhood friend. Gian wants to know the truth behind his family's death. It's easy to point fingers at the Royal family since they're the ones who gave the order to execute them. But Gian feels that there was still more hidden truth behind it.

The Cres Val family has a good and stable relationship with the Royal family. It is because the former Queen was Lady Margarette Cres Val, his father's younger sister. But unfortunately, Queen Margarette died. Since Queen Margarette died without leaving an heir, the King remarried the young lady from a Duke family.

Even if the former Queen died, the two families maintained a harmonious relationship with each other. But Gian can't understand why did the Royal family suddenly changed their attitude towards them and even inflict them with a heavy crime that they never dared to commit. Just thinking about it gives Gian a headache. He still needs to research a lot if he wants to uncover the truth.

Gian spends his time reading the documents regarding the nobles that his father lends to him. He lied to his father with an excuse for learning a little bit of politics. The documents don't have enough information, so Gian thought of his library. Then he also remembered his absurd order with the knights. Letting out a sigh, he decided to visit his library again.

Gian dismissed the knights guarding his library and thanked them for their hard work. When Gian entered the library, the first thing he noticed was it's too quiet. The sound of his footsteps is echoing in the library.

Maybe he's really tired from that time. The voice he heard that day was a fragment of hallucination because he was tired. Shrugging his shoulder, he starts looking for the books he needs and start his research again.

As he scans the books displayed on the shelf, a sparkling light on the floor catches his attention. It was the mysterious thing that he saw last time. When Gian picks it up, he suddenly heard a loud voice talking to him.

"You're back!"

Gian drops the mysterious thing again on the floor. He's surprised when he heard the same energetic voice the moment he touched it. Gian turns his head from left and right just to make sure he's really alone inside. Taking a deep breath, he picks up the mysterious thing on the floor again.

"Fucker! Why do you always drop me on the floor?!"

"You... You're really the one who's talking to me?"

"Oh! Praise the heaven! You finally realized it!" The voice, or rather the thing he's holding says sarcastically. "I told you, didn't I? But you never believed me!"

Gian opens his mouth, but close it again. And the thing on his hand continues talking.

"You even left me alone! You didn't know how cold and lonely I was during these days. You're heartless! How can you let a pen to feel this way? You should compensate me! You better bring me with you and treat me well. Got it?"

"Wait, wait wait." Gian said. He suddenly gets a headache so he massages his temple using his fingers. Aside from being talkative, it is also talking nonsense. "You can talk? How come a metal stick like you can talk?"

"Stupid! I've been talking to you ever since we've met. And I told you! I have a name! It's Russel! Russel!"

"Russel? A metal stick like you has a name?"

"I'm a fucking pen! Where on earth did you live that you didn't know what I was?"

"Pen? What's that?"

"...Are you serious?"

Russel thought that Gian is trying to mess up with him for being rude. But Gian has a confused expression and it doesn't seem like he's joking at him.

"Well... A pen is something you use to write." Russel explained at Gian.

"You're lying." Gian said as he narrowed his eyes. "What you are describing is a plume."

"Holy cow! You are using a real plume to write?!" Russel exclaimed. "What year is it now?"

"It's Sixty-Seven Year of Red Lunar Moon." Gian said.

"Sixty what? Hells. My head is hurting even if I don't have a head."

Everything is so weird. First, Russel died. Second, he met a woman who claimed to be a goddess or something and said she changed his destiny. Third, Russel became a pen who can't do anything aside from complaining. Lastly, this young man in front of him who looks like an antique guy from another world.

"Forget it. I don't care about the year anymore. By the way, you're Gian, right?" Russel asked. "Since you can hear me, you must be that guy who had a miserable fate."

"Can you speak politely?" Gian asked as he narrowed his eyes. "You had been very rude to me ever since we've met."

"Oh yeah?"

Gian pursed his lips as he feels displeased with this abnormal 'pen'. Gian can't understand some foreign words he's using. But he's not naive. Gian can feel this 'pen' was actually cursing him. And even if Gian was being confused by this situation, he still can't tolerate talking to someone or something while being rude and disrespectful of him.

"Who wants to be polite to someone who keeps on dropping me on the floor?"

"Speak politely or else, I'll throw you again."

"..."

"Your answer?"

"...Fine." Russel concedes defeat for now. He better be good with him for a little while if he still wants to survive.

"Let's go to my room first. You better explain to me everything." Gian said as he carefully holds the pen named Russel.

"That's actually a good idea." Russel said. "Place me on a soft pillow later, okay? I'm actually tired since I stayed on a cold floor for a long time."

"...."

Thinking about this new weird situation, what Gian can do is to let out a sigh.