Title: 011 The Reason Isaac Chose the Flower Bundle
"Returning home is just as annoying as being away," Morgan muttered, staring at the stack of documents on his desk.
"Even so, these are low-priority and not urgent. Handle them little by little," Benjamin, his secretary, said.
Having been entrusted with the household in Morgan's absence, he had completed all essential tasks, leaving only minor matters that didn't require immediate attention.
Morgan, returning from his break, had little motivation to handle trivial work.
"You could do it yourself, you know?" Morgan joked.
"Unfortunately, Your Excellency's return means I no longer have the authority to process these matters," Benjamin replied firmly.
He refused the tasks politely, invoking the limits of his delegated power.
Benjamin was a secretary, not a servant; he prioritized his own will when he could.
Morgan could only respond with a wry smile.
"Then—"
――Perhaps I should grant him authority.
As Morgan sat in his chair, ready to say so, a knock sounded at the office door.
"Who is it?"
"Isaac."
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal Isaac and a maid holding a bundle of flowers.
"What is it? Something about Nathan again?" Morgan asked.
Naturally, anyone would assume the child came seeking intervention regarding Nathan.
But Isaac shook his head.
"No. I have nothing to say about my older brother. I've come on business with Benjamin today."
"With me?"
Benjamin exchanged a glance with Morgan. Any request could be more efficiently handled through Morgan, yet Isaac approached him directly.
――What could this be about?
The answer was clear from the flowers the maid carried.
Isaac accepted the bundle and approached Benjamin.
"Thank you for your work while Grandfather was away. Also, a belated happy birthday," Isaac said.
Benjamin, surprised, accepted the flowers with a smile.
"Thank you... but why now?" he asked.
If it were a birthday gift, last week would have been better. There seemed little reason to deliver it now.
"The first gift had to go to Grandfather and Grandmother. I couldn't give it until they returned," Isaac replied with a smile, prompting Benjamin to return the gesture.
"Please continue to care for Grandfather," Isaac said, extending his hand.
"Of course. You can count on me," Benjamin replied, taking the child's hand.
The warmth of Isaac's small, soft hand reminded Benjamin why he devoted himself to his duties.
The subtle heat from the child strengthened his resolve to serve Morgan faithfully.
"Grandfather has traveled far, so don't overdo it," Isaac said, waving goodbye as he left the office.
Benjamin waved back.
A short while after Isaac departed, Morgan slammed his fist on the desk.
The secretaries in the room flinched; the air felt almost frozen.
"Why did I get ten flowers, and he has over twenty?" Morgan exclaimed.
"...Because it's a birthday gift?" Benjamin offered.
"Damn it!"
Morgan hit the desk again, burying his face in his hands.
"Why isn't it my birthday..."
"Because you were born in August, sir?" Benjamin suggested.
It was simply grandfatherly pride—or rather, a doting grandfather.
Once the reason was understood, the tension in the room eased.
It was clear Morgan's frustration came from envy, not anger.
"Take good care of them," Morgan said.
"Of course. I'll display them properly at home," Benjamin replied.
As Benjamin considered where to place them—by the entrance for visibility or on the dining table—the short lifespan of cut flowers weighed on his mind.
Yes, just as Benjamin pondered placement, Isaac had chosen the flowers for their short-lived nature.
Even if they wilted and were discarded, it would not be seen as disrespectful.
Ease of disposal was a key factor in his choice.
――Like the commemorative plates from friends' weddings, which often become cumbersome keepsakes.
Isaac understood from experience that items that do not spoil remain forever, taking up space, yet cannot easily be destroyed by hand.
Such gifts could become a burden.
Gifts from loved ones might be treasured, but for others, items that disappear naturally are preferable.
Confectionery was an option, but it carried risk—poisoning or spoilage could damage reputations.
――Items like food disappear over time.
――They do not inconvenience the recipient.
――Yet they still bring joy.
――And are available in this world.
After weighing these factors, Isaac selected flowers.
Flowers were appropriate for birthdays or any occasion.
Not extravagant, they could be offered casually to anyone he wished to interact with.
And since he had grown them himself, they carried genuine value.
――Convenience, simplicity, value.
Isaac considered it a perfectly balanced choice.
After giving the first bundle to Benjamin, he distributed flowers to others who had recently celebrated birthdays.
The next day, Adela and Lisa, who had rested overnight, arrived.
They were also minor Nobles, returning from the Royal Capital like Morgan.
Lisa was now sharing stories of her trip with Isaac.
"There are mansions in the Royal Capital as large as this one," she said.
"Wow," Isaac replied.
Lisa described the Wellrod mansion she visited in the Royal Capital.
Not only was it vast, but it was near the royal castle—equivalent, in previous life terms, to a sprawling property in central Chiyoda Ward.
(Even including the garden, this mansion is huge. Owning such a property in the capital—Nobles really are amazing.)
The main Wellrod mansion doubled as a government office, adding to its size.
Its entrance even had a carriage stop and assembly area for soldiers.
Being a child, Isaac felt the grounds even more expansive.
He knew, at least from previous life standards, that living there would be unimaginable.
"And over there, they have so many servants, it must be hard for you to remember them all too," Lisa added.
Lisa knew Isaac remembered the staff at Lucia's Annex, but not the full main mansion.
Remembering the Royal Capital staff as well might be impossible even for him.
"I'll learn them gradually. Hey, did you meet any princes?" Isaac asked, curious.
Lisa waved her hand emphatically.
"No way! His Highness is the same age as you—four years old. Besides, I'm the daughter of a Baron from a rural area. If my mother wasn't a Nanny, I couldn't even meet you. Meeting a prince? Impossible."
Adela had grown up near the town or street supervised by the Halifax Viscount family, originating from a rural Baron family.
She had been friends with Lucia since Early Childhood.
Through that connection, she became a Nanny, much like the relationship Isaac now had with Lisa.
Lisa had been chosen as Isaac's playmate because of their past connection.
Meeting a prince with no such ties was impossible.
Lisa shook her head with a "you don't get it" expression, sighing lightly.
"I see... I was curious what he's like, but I guess it can't be helped," Isaac said.
(Well, that makes sense. The main characters in the game are still four years old—too young to appear in public.)
Isaac reflected that he might have been worrying too much.
Though he wanted to grow quickly as a four-year-old, he knew he needed time to overthrow Nathan.
A restless frustration swirled inside him.
Seeing Isaac look disappointed, Lisa seemed to soften a little.
She decided to share a small bit of information about the prince.
"I've only heard rumors, but His Highness is apparently quite intelligent," she said.
"Eh?" Isaac's eyes widened at the news.
(What if the prince has also been reincarnated...?)
In his previous life, Isaac had been exceptional, but not extraordinary.
If the prince was also someone with a normal human intellect who had been reincarnated, Isaac might not be able to seize the throne.
――A change in strategy might be unavoidable.
Isaac worried, but Lisa's words reassured him somewhat.
"Apparently, he can already do addition... but I guess he still loses to you, who can do multiplication," Lisa added, poking Isaac's head lightly.
She couldn't help but wonder what was inside the mind of this four-year-old.
"I can even do a little division," Isaac said.
"...That's kind of discouraging," Lisa admitted, surprised.
It was natural she would feel that way.
A four-year-old who could handle division was extraordinary.
Being close to him, Lisa felt the stark difference in intellect.
Boys her own age seemed almost childish in comparison.
In this country, Nobles were mainly educated at home.
The Royal Academy, entered at sixteen, merely verified basic knowledge.
It was not a place to teach from scratch.
Support was given only if foundational skills were lacking.
The academy's social aspect dominated, so basic elementary-level knowledge was sufficient.
In the game, academic skill was represented simply by numbers.
Reincarnated into this world, Isaac realized he didn't need to focus on general studies, which brought relief.
Instead, he could focus on studying the history of this world.
"With you and His Highness around, this country's future is secure," Lisa said.
These younger children, smarter than her, sparked both envy and reassurance.
"They're dependable, even if a little intimidating."
"Yeah. I'll make this a good country," Isaac said.
Yet Isaac only thought about becoming king.
(Whoa, almost forgot. I don't know who will be king when I grow up, but I'll do my best. In many ways.)
He hadn't considered what kind of country he would create after becoming king.
But speaking with Lisa now planted the first seeds of thought about the nation he wanted to build.