Solomon met up with Marvin later that evening per his request.
By the time he arrived at the servants’ quarters, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving the estate bathed in the soft orange glow of dusk.
Lanterns had begun to flicker to life along the stone pathways, their warm light dancing across the walls as servants slowly wrapped up their duties for the day.
When he got to where Marvin was, he could tell from his expression alone that he had probably been informed about the academy situation.
From what he could see, Marvin looked equal parts excited and terrified.
His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve while his smile appeared and disappeared every few seconds.
Solomon wasn’t surprised.
Marvin had probably never left the estate.
He probably was never meant to leave.
He had changed his destiny just by transmigrating into their world.
“I’m sorry, Marvin, but I assure you it wasn’t my fault,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Young master, what wasn’t your fault?”
“Did I say that out loud?”
“Pretty much.”
“Just forget it, please.” Solomon threw his face into his hands dramatically.
Marvin began to laugh while holding his stomach.
When he was done, he wiped some tears from the corners of his eyes.
“You’re quite funny, young master.”
He breathed in, then out.
Solomon watched him quietly.
He felt like Marvin was about to say something important, so he simply waited as the young man gathered the courage to speak.
“My parents were farmers,” Marvin began, his voice softer than usual.
“I didn’t expect his life story.”
“Wait, Marvin, you don’t have to say this if you don’t want to.”
“But I do, young master.”
“You’ve known me for less than a week.”
“I’ve always known you, young master,” he said.
“No, you haven’t.”
“You’re the one who forgot about me,” he muttered, lowering his gaze to the ground.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing important.”
“It is if it made you look sad.”
Marvin remained silent for several moments, the evening breeze stirring his hair as he stared somewhere beyond Solomon’s shoulder.
“I’ll do my best not to embarrass House Ashbourne.”
“I don’t care about that,” Solomon pointed out immediately, waving a hand dismissively.
“You’ll obviously be fine.”
Marvin bit his lip.
“That’s unfair.”
“Why?”
“All you need to know is that I’ve never left the estate before.
I’m glad you’re the one who’s broadening my horizons.”
The smile was sad.
It didn’t reach his eyes.
It was distant, lonely.
And it stayed in Solomon’s mind long after Marvin had disappeared down the corridor.
“Solomon Ashbourne… just how many things did you do that I don’t know about?”
He didn’t have any memories of Solomon’s life.
He didn’t know how he would gain access to them.
So he had to tread carefully.
And now, it seemed that just like his statement that hurt Silvia about their parents’ divorce, he had said something that had triggered Marvin.
He remembered the conversation he had with his father.
“Father, why did you choose these people?”
“Because you’re rather close to them.
I just wanted you to be comfortable.”
He couldn’t ask anything more after hearing that statement.
And it seemed that Miles Ashbourne was right.
The original Solomon Ashbourne had been close to all three of these individuals and, somehow, by a weird twist of fate, he had gotten close to them as well.
“This world is really messing with me.”
He left the corridor where he had been standing all alone.
The sound of his footsteps echoed softly against the polished stone floor as he made his way back toward the main wing of the estate.
Outside, the last remnants of daylight had disappeared completely, leaving only moonlight and lanterns to illuminate the grounds.
After dinner, he retired to his room.
When Silvia asked why he was quiet, he simply told her that he was too nervous because the academy was drawing closer.
He knew she was perceptive and might not have believed a single word he said, but she accepted his explanation nonetheless.
She merely placed another piece of bread onto his plate and told him not to overthink things.
He lay on his bed shortly afterward, staring up at the ceiling.
Moonlight spilled through the open window, illuminating the room just enough for him to make out the familiar outlines of his furniture—the bookshelf in the corner, the neatly folded clothes resting on a chair, and the suitcase waiting patiently beside his desk.
“It’s late, meaning that two more days are left.”
He rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket up to his shoulders.
“I just want everything to be fine.”
With that thought, he fell asleep.
Two days later.
Solomon woke up.
Two days had passed in the blink of an eye, and before he knew it, he had less than twenty-four hours until his departure.
“Sigh, I’m getting nostalgic and I haven’t even left yet,” he chuckled, sitting up and stretching his arms over his head.
After months of training, adapting to a new world, and dealing with an increasingly questionable system, tomorrow he would leave for the Royal Academy.
His room was already looking desolate.
He had spent the better part of yesterday finishing the rest of his packing.
Several shelves sat empty now, while the books he intended to bring had been carefully stacked beside his luggage.
The room that had slowly begun to feel like home was beginning to look unfamiliar once more.
Now, all he had to do was wait for the day to arrive.
When he had freshened up and departed his barren room, he was greeted by the unusual silence of the estate.
“Guess everyone’s preparing for my departure.
The normally lively manor felt strangely subdued.
Even the servants moved more quietly through the halls, carrying linens and luggage with practiced efficiency.
Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the faint clanging of steel from the training grounds, a familiar sound that reminded him that life would continue here even after he left.
Well, it was a big chapter in his life, so he wasn’t surprised.
Before he knew it, his feet had led him to the servants’ quarters.
He stood before Marvin’s room for a moment before knocking lightly against the wooden doorframe.
“Good morning, young master.”
“Marvin… about yesterday.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, young master,” he smiled.
There it was.
The smile that had become his shield and default setting.
“Why do you like smiling?”
“What an odd question.”
“You’re right.”
An awkward silence descended between them, broken only by the rustling of fabric as Marvin moved around the room gathering the remainder of his belongings.
Solomon watched as Marvin packed four blankets, eight changes of clothes, three pillows, cooking utensils, and a cookbook.
He stared at the final item.
“You can’t cook.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you have a cookbook?”
“Hope.”
Solomon blinked.
“Cooking utensils still don’t belong in your suitcase, though.”
“I know.” Marvin paused, his hand lingering over the cookbook before carefully placing it on top of his clothes.
“But if I’m going to accompany you, I have to become a proper attendant and not just a servant.”
“Oh.”
He was left speechless.
The morning sunlight streamed through the modest window beside Marvin’s bed, illuminating the small room and the earnest expression on the young man’s face.
There was no hesitation in his eyes.
No uncertainty.
Just determination.
Solomon couldn’t reply to that, so he left while his heart continued to ache within his chest for reasons unknown to him.
As he stepped back into the hallway, he found himself glancing over his shoulder one final time.
Marvin had already returned to packing.
Carefully.
Meticulously.
As if preparing for the greatest journey of his life.
And perhaps…
For Marvin, it was.
Hehe.