Then…
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
Without waiting for a reply, Silvia stepped in.
Solomon simply turned in her direction and stared at her.
The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun spilling through the open windows, painting the wooden floorboards in shades of gold and orange.
A cool evening breeze drifted through the curtains, causing them to sway gently.
For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other.
Solomon focused his line of sight on anything but his darling sister.
“Can we talk?”
“You already barged into my room,” he teased while staring at his desk.
“Well, you could have declined if I didn’t?”
“Still, violation of privacy, sis.” He threw his hands up in the air while shrugging his shoulders.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Silvia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“If that’s what lightening the mood is called these days.”
“Very funny.”
“I love to please.”
Silvia rolled her eyes.
“I’m sorry about earlier.” She used her right hand to hold onto her left arm.
Solomon leaned against the windowsill.
“It’s still technically my fault.” He walked toward her, then stared into her eyes.
“It’s my lost memories that are to blame after all.
It was an important event for both of us, I presume.”
He had decided to convince everyone that anything he didn’t understand was due to his lost memories.
Thankfully, everyone believed it because of his new mannerisms.
It also helped that this world didn’t have cloning magic.
Well, if it did, it hadn’t been written in the book.
Silvia hugged him.
“Don’t forget Father.”
“Yeah.”
Solomon returned her hug.
He ran his hand through her hair.
It was as soft as ever, carrying the faint scent of lavender from whatever soap or shampoo the women of this world used.
He could feel the warmth of her small back beneath his hand, the same back that carried the burden of a forgotten dream.
Outside, the sounds of servants finishing their duties drifted in through the window, accompanied by the distant chirping of evening insects.
He heaved a sigh.
“Is something the matter?” she asked, her head still resting on his shoulder.
“It’s fine.
Just thinking about the future,” he reassured her.
“You’re only seventeen.”
“Almost an adult.”
“Almost.” She smiled.
“So keep being my younger brother till then.”
“Silly, you can’t get rid of me.”
“Was hoping that would be the case.”
Her soft laughter filled the room, blending with the rustling of the curtains and the fading sounds of the estate settling down for the evening.
Solomon realized he wanted to have more moments like this.
“Ahh, why do I have to leave for the academy?”
“Hey.” Silvia’s face suddenly appeared before his.
“Huh, what?”
“For a minute there, I lost you.”
“I guess.”
“You don’t have to carry everything alone.
I’ll always be here for you.
The last rays of sunlight caught her silhouette, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.
“Always remember that…
Solomon.”
With that, she was out the door before Solomon could even process his emotions and give a reply.
The door clicked softly behind her, leaving him alone with the fading light and the thoughts she had left behind.
“Could this be the heroine effect?” he muttered.
“For a second there, I felt like she could save the world.”
Solomon shook his head.
He had enough of the melodramatic thoughts that had plagued his mind all afternoon.
He spent the rest of the day in the library, taking a stroll through the gardens before eventually sharing dinner with Silvia.
The library was as quiet as ever, save for the occasional turning of pages and the faint smell of old parchment lingering in the air.
Outside, the gardens were beautiful beneath the twilight sky.
Small lanterns had been lit along the stone pathways, illuminating the colorful flowers and neatly trimmed hedges that lined the estate grounds.
Dinner was uneventful in the best possible way.
Silvia talked about sword forms while Solomon pretended to listen despite understanding next to nothing.
Their laughter occasionally echoed through the dining hall, earning amused glances from the servants standing nearby.
THE NEXT DAY
Solomon woke up feeling energetic.
He left his room and walked toward the kitchen, hoping to have a morning snack.
“It’s probably because I ate early yesterday.”
The mansion was unusually quiet at this hour.
Pale morning light poured in through the windows, while a cool breeze swept through the corridors carrying with it the scent of dew and freshly cut grass from the gardens outside.
A few maids could be seen beginning their morning duties in the distance, their footsteps soft against the polished floors.
When he got to the kitchen door, he stopped in his tracks.
In front of the kitchen stood Marvin.
Solomon didn’t understand how he knew it was Marvin’s back since Marvin’s head was currently inside the kitchen, but he just knew.
Ding.
Host Can Always Identify The Special Targets.
“How wonderful.” Solomon rolled his eyes.
The system was beginning to act dormant as of late, only popping up to give him relevant information when necessary.
“I guess I really am on my own.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“For now, at least.”
“Good morning, Marvin.”
“Good morn—”
Marvin’s head immediately returned to his body.
He watched Marvin gasp in shock before bowing.
“A very good morning to you, yo—”
“Is something wrong, Marvin?” Solomon tilted his head.
“I seem to have bitten my tongue,” Marvin replied slowly this time.
“Good morning, Young Master.”
“Oh, sorry about that, Marvin.” Solomon crouched down and angled his head to meet Marvin’s eyes.
“Does it hurt?”
Marvin immediately raised his head and avoided eye contact.
His fingers began fidgeting with the hem of his apron as a faint blush spread across his face.
“Not anymore, Young Master,” his voice came out slightly higher than usual.
“You don’t need to be so formal.
It’s only morning.” He pointed at the pale blue sky through the nearby window.
“Besides, not everyone has woken up yet.”
Marvin breathed a sigh of relief.
“By the way, what were you doing with your head in the door?” Solomon inquired.
“You could have just gone inside.”
There were dozens of servants, maids, and guards.
Yet, ever since he found out Marvin was a Special Target, they kept running into each other.
“Well…” Marvin blushed.
“I thought about my dream yesterday.”
“Really?” Solomon asked excitedly, taking an involuntary step forward.
“Did anything come to mind?”
Marvin moved backward until his back met the wall.
“I’m sorry.” Solomon immediately stepped back.
“Personal space.”
Marvin took a deep breath before speaking.
“I think…”
He looked up at Solomon’s face before continuing.
“I used to like watching the cooks.”
There was a brief moment of silence.
Even Solomon’s expression softened slightly.
“Then what happened?”
Marvin smiled softly.
“I don’t remember.”
The soft smile hurt more than sadness ever could have.
Solomon didn’t know what to do after hearing that, so he did what he thought was best at the moment.
He opened the kitchen door.
The rich aroma of freshly baked bread, simmering stew, and roasted vegetables immediately greeted him.
Morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, reflecting off hanging pots and polished utensils.
Several chefs and assistants moved about preparing breakfast for the household, though many slowed down upon noticing the Young Master.
He talked to the head chef and asked him if Marvin could try cooking.
The head chef glanced between Solomon and Marvin before agreeing.
“I don’t mind.” The head chef turned back to the pot of stew he was stirring.
“It’s still early.
He could try something.”
Solomon beamed.
“Thank you, Head Chef.”
The head chef nodded.
Solomon turned toward Marvin and gave him a thumbs-up.
Marvin walked into the kitchen slowly.
He put one foot in front of the other at a snail’s pace, but his eyes darted around the room with unmistakable curiosity.
His gaze lingered on the cutting boards, spice racks, and various ingredients laid out across the counters.
“Is this really…
okay?” Marvin looked around nervously.
Solomon flicked his eyes toward the other chefs, who had clearly been pretending not to eavesdrop.
“You all don’t mind either, right?”
“Whatever your desire is, Young Master, we will accept it regardless.”
“Quite eloquent, aren’t you?”
“I simply speak for all of us.”
The other chefs nodded in agreement, though one of them had to quickly look away after being caught staring.
Solomon smiled.
“Have fun, Marvin.
I’ll be back.”
Marvin looked like a lost puppy, but Solomon merely ruffled his hair before stepping toward the door.
Instead of closing it completely, he looked back one last time.
“If anyone can do it, it’s you, Marvin.”
Then he disappeared into the hallway.