It wasn’t news to him. Faust knew he was a bastard. Whether he was legitimized or not did not matter before, when his condition was serious. But now it was a constant reminder that he could not share the name Dawnfire with all members of his new family.
Truth be told, Faust did not care much about his name. He was still a Duke’s son; his family did not discriminate against him, and his lifestyle was still that of a noble child.
This was amazing.
Maids were at his beck and call, food dishes so numerous and unique he had never even seen before, warm water in a bathhouse which he could visit anytime, a clean and refreshing environment with a breathtaking view outside the castle walls...
Far better than the small apartment his foster family lived in the middle of a noisy city. Of course, his formal education and arms training had not started yet. His parents decided to let him rest for a week.
The best part, however, was that now Koren had to talk to him. Faust smirked.
"Aren’t you glad to serve such a benevolent and handsome master?"
Koren’s deadpan face stared at him as if he were a fly bothering her clean utensils. But still Koren nodded a little and knelt down before him.
"It is an honor to be chosen by young master Faust."
"What...? Fine, fine, get up already." Faust was surprised.
He could have chosen any maid as his personal maid from the dozens of options his mother showed him, but Faust kept Koren with him, not replacing her. A choice that surprised even his stepmother.
He learned from her that Koren was a.. special servant. Two decades ago, their country, Orzeth, and the neighbouring Aurelius Baaz Empire raced to subjugate the area between their western borders to expand them. It was a large forest inhabited by several hidden tribes.
One of these places was brought under the king’s authority by the Duke himself. It was called Unclaimed Hills. Koren was the daughter of the chief there.
Not many natives of the hill had survived; those who did eventually settled in the Orzeth, scattering all over the kingdom. So Koren was a sort of fallen noble. When all maids in the castle were too afraid of Faust to approach his room, Koren stepped forward.
Being a personal maid was of much higher status than just an average castle maid. She only had to look after Faust now.
"It’s no fun if you suddenly start showing respect now..." He murmured.
Koren stood up and looked at him as if he were the weirdest kid alive. It may be true, but she shouldn’t think that! Faust smiled. He was glad that she was back to her usual self. In truth, he felt weird around other maids who showed him utmost respect but acted uncomfortable around him.
Many knights and guards in the palace were the same. The news about him being a spirit-user had spread, even the part that not even the High Archon was sure if the spirit was divine or profane. His family accepted him and treated him nicely, but the same could not be said about the other people.
Six days had passed since his runes were revealed. Other than enjoying his life as a noble, Faust spent most of his time with his older siblings. And when they had lessons to attend, he busied himself in the massive library of his family.
Learning more about this weird world fascinated him to no end. He wished to visit the town below the castle, but his parents refused his request, asking him to focus on his rest. His stepmother was mostly busy managing the massive castle and entertaining a few noble or high-status guests who visited their home often.
The Duke, on the other hand, was busy managing the dukedom with the help of his small council of retainers. He was in his study reading and writing letters, examining reports when he was not visiting the city or having a meeting with some guests.
Every few days, the duke held court to hear petitions of the people of his city. Faust saw this happening twice from a distance, hiding in the shadows of the massive keep. He could take part in the court but refrained from doing so.
Even if his parents permitted him, the reluctance and hesitation in their eyes were clear as day.
Excluding his special uncertain nature and the fact that in his presence all of these powerful magic-users fell uncomfortably vulnerable, he was still a bastard. His parents never had to worry about his status before, but now, when he asked them questions about the kingdom and showed interest in court, their land, the administration and management methods... they were not sure what to make of it.
One evening, when he asked some of these questions and saw his older brother and parents sharing a look, he realized his mistake and stopped asking such things. Even if his parents did not discriminate among their children, there were still some unsaid rules, expectations, and in his case... limitations.
So Faust started spending more and more of his time in the library. Trying to keep his mind busy since there was a serious lack of entertainment in this world.
But today his reading session was interrupted by a knight. His father had summoned Faust to his study.
When he entered, leaving behind the knight and Koren, Faust was surprised to find his mother there as well. They smiled amiably at him, but he could see the hidden tension in their features and body language.
"Faust, how have you been?" his father, the Duke, asked, gesturing for him to take a seat.
"I’m good, Father."
While taking the seat, Faust noticed they were standing just outside the range of his absence field.
"Son, as you know, your lessons begin tomorrow. If you answer some of our questions, we will know how much you know and what the right level of education is for you. You already seem to know how to read. Can you write as well?" The lady of the house asked.