Time flies like an arrow, the sun and moon shuttle like a weaver's loom, and years pass in a flash. In the blink of an eye, another cycle of spring and autumn has come and gone.
Since my fifth birthday, my life has become busy. Sword practice, magic practice, learning to read, write, and do arithmetic, as well as dance and etiquette classes, have continued without interruption.
Under such high academic pressure, I've kindly made time to teach Izoruti magic. Lately, I feel like she's opened up more. Before, I had to be the one to initiate things. Now, when casting magic, she proactively reaches out a hand for me to hold while we conduct mana research.
She really is a thoughtful child.
Another change is that I now take Doris with me to all my classes. Oh! My mistake, she's called Lilith now.
The public reason is that I can better order her around. The real reason is that I'm afraid if she stays at home, Darius might take an interest in her. Additionally, while I'm studying, she can follow along and learn as well. This will make it easier for her to support herself in the future.
Yes, that's it!
When I first asked her if she was literate, I was careless. It turns out she could only write 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. She couldn't even write 6, 7, 8, or 9.
I must have been too tired at the time. I should have realized that even if a four-year-old had learned to write, they wouldn't recognize many characters.
After all, no other child is like me, intentionally learning to read from the moment of birth.
I shouldn't apply my own standards to normal people; I'm really stupid.
But it's not too late to start now. During the reading and writing lessons, the teacher will teach literacy anyway. She can just follow along and learn then.
Lilith's fifth birthday is also approaching. Driven by some unknown sentiment, on her birthday, I found a random excuse to treat every maid to a piece of cake.
Of course, every maid had to eat. It couldn't be discovered that I had prepared it specifically for one of them; that would be too deliberate.
I've analyzed it, and I might feel sorry for Lilith deep down. Although she was sold by her parents, it's also possible that my grandfather's tastes led to this. Even if her parents were willing, it's because a scumbag like my grandfather exists that they would even consider selling her.
Most importantly, I'm looking at this with the mindset of a modern person. After all, in the 21st century, parents abandoning infants is a crime, let alone buying and selling children. As long as a child is born, they have human rights. Now, because of my perverted grandfather, her human rights have been stripped away. This truly makes me feel a bit of pity.
I've considered whether I should integrate into this world and look at things from the perspective of an Asura noble.
But I can't do it.
As a soul transmigrator, my original body is gone. All I have left are the knowledge and moral values from my past life.
If I abandon those, then the 'me' from my past life will be completely dead. That is something I cannot accept; the moral values of my previous life are my bottom line.
In the sixth winter since I came to this world, on the day of my sixth birthday, I received an invitation. The invitation was to attend a ball at the royal palace the following day.
This is truly strange. When I first saw the card, I thought it was to congratulate me on my sixth birthday. However, this world has no custom of celebrating birthdays other than at ages 5, 10, and 15.
It was an ordinary birthday invitation, inviting me to a birthday ball held at the royal palace the next day.
Is it some prince or princess's birthday? The strangest part is that this invitation was sent to me by the King.
The current King of Asura: Leonard Alec Asura. I have no connection with him at all. Because of his health, I've heard he hasn't presided over government affairs for a long time. I can't figure out why he would proactively invite me to a court ball.
However, since this ball is an invitation from the King, I have no power to refuse.
It just so happens my grandfather isn't home, so I don't have to report to him either.
The next day, right on time, I took a carriage to the palace for the banquet.