After eight years in his new life as Killian Graves, sole son of noble house Graves in the kingdom of Valoria, he regained part of his memories from his past life as Malcolm Brown. Ever since then, he had started journaling about his time in this vastly new world. However, his time with the goddess seemed lost on him so far; all he knew for sure was that the memories of his past life were certainly real. Feeling like a missing puzzle piece to who he is or once was.

As he lay asleep in his bed reliving moments from his past life that came to him via his dreams, his body tossed and turned but not to his own volition. A loud thud reverberated across the room as his body hit the floor, waking him up moments after colliding with the ground.

“Oww, what the hell?”

“I know I move in my sleep, but enough to knock me off my bed?”

Confused but now awake, Killian rubbed his head while sitting up from his previously ragdoll position. Before Killian stood a fair-skinned young girl with eyes so golden when accentuated by the sun’s rays almost seemed as if they could freeze time itself, let alone onlooker. Her face, while partially covered by her long and frizzy ivory hair, was noticeably scrunched up into a pout.

“Runa! Did you pull me out of bed?”

“What in the world was that for?”

“You know I only get one day off from my mother’s hellish sword lessons.”

Killian’s bombardment of questions all went unanswered as Runa stood over him silently.

“Get…”

“Up…”

“NOW!”

Runa snapped at Killian, shoving her finger in his face, prodding him to get up. The still disheveled girl bent down at her waist, bringing her face closer to his.

“I’ve been trying to wake you up for 10 minutes now, okay?”

“I was sleeping too, you know.”

“But your mother asked me to get you so she can tell you something important.”

“So will you please get up already?”

Now understanding why Runa seemed so short-tempered, Killian decided to still egg her on. His eyes Narrowed and a smirk formed on his face before giving a rather sassy response.

“That’s it?”

“Couldn’t you, I don’t know, wake me up in a more civilized way or something still?”

“I mean, you could have sat on my bed and gently waited for me to wake up or something.”

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“I would have gotten up eventually.”

Hoping for a more stereotypical wake-up scene more akin to a novel, Killian then remarked they should try this again, attempting to crawl back into bed. However, before his lower body could make it on to his bed, he was swiftly yanked by the collar of his shirt and dragged out of his bedroom by Runa.

Runa Blois, a year older than Killian and the daughter of Lucilia Blois, the house Graves head maid. After accidentally ease dropping on a conversation between his mother and Lucilia, Killian found out that her mother once was a maid of a very prestigious royal house but was forced out by the wife of the head of the house. Seeing as she was fired from such an esteemed house, the only line of work she could find was at a brothel. Her luck got even worse as she ended up getting pregnant by one of her customers, leaving her once again out of a job but now with a child to care for. Although her fortune would turn around as Killian’s parents while out in town encountered her all by herself in the rain. After hearing her story, they elected to hire her, seeing as their previous head butler had recently retired. Their only condition was that she treat their son as if he too were her child and that Runa be raised as a sort of big sister to him. However, the relationship between the two was more akin to childhood friends than siblings, in part to the small difference in their ages.

“You’re finally awake, I see.”

Sat in front of the two was a man with icy blue eyes and snowy white medium-length hair that connected to a goatee. Next to him was a toned woman with coarse black hair, her skin a much darker shade than the man’s lightly colored face. With canary yellow eyes that glowed despite the lack of lighting in the lounge area.

“Sorry to wake you, Ian, dear, but it’s important, I promise.”

“I hoped Runa wouldn’t be too rough with you, but it seems you gave her no choice, huh?”

Jokingly, the women dressed in athletic wear commented on Runa’s hand, firmly grasped around Killian’s shirt collar.

“Sorry, Mr. & Mrs. Graves, but I really don’t get how someone can be such a heavy sleeper.”

Finally letting go of his shirt, Killian slumped into a now-seated position on the floor.

“Oh, that’s quite all right. Runa, I mean someone has to be hard on him so he doesn’t grow soft.”

“Your mother already spoils the boy rotten as is.”

“Oh, and remember, you can just call me Lyn, and I’m sure Lawren won’t mind if you call him Lawrence.”

“Right dear?”

Lawrence nodded his head, going along with his wife’s request for a lessened degree of formality. To which Runa bowed her head, thanking Miss Lyn and Mister Lawrence.

Lawrence Graves, the head of the Graves house. A now-retired marshal mage of the royal army and even a nominee for a spot as one of the eight court mages apart of the king’s cabinet. Said to be one of the strongest Graves in family history, he’s a one-of-a-kind genius ice sorcerer known for his intelligence and battle experience.

His wife Lyn is also a noble herself, coming from her maiden house of Rai, a current matriarchal house run by her mother Sorine. While her husband is a talented mage, she too is no slouch, earning the title The Lightning Blade Princess. Born with a rare familial trait, the Iris of Taro, she rose through the ranks with her lightning magic, eventually also earning a nomination for court mage. However, she promptly denied it in favor of teaching swordsmanship to recruits before retiring.

“Okay, okay, we get it. I’m a heavy sleeper.”

“Anyways, what’s the news, mom?”

Sitting up straight, Lyn cleared her throat before elaborating on why he was summoned so early in the day.

“Your grandmother has invited us to attend your cousin’s ceremony of blessings.”

“Aaand that’s tomorrow….”

Breaking eye contact from Killian, Lyn looked down and away from everyone, feeling them all staring daggers into her back. While unrivaled with a blade and an expert strategist when it came to every day life, she was a bit of an airhead.

“…..Honey… How long have you known about this?”

Although Lawrence was no stranger to his wife's shenanigans, he never exactly got used to them.

“OK LISTEN!”

“I only found out last night, okay?”

“…It also just so happens she sent the invite letter two weeks ago.”

The room filled with an aura of judgment and disappointment as everyone proceeded to stare at Lyn.

Meekly she stated

“In my defense, it was sent along with one of the many gifts she sends Ian, so I didn’t open it.”

Killian’s father face palmed while letting out a sigh.

“It’s okay. I’ll inform some of the help to start preparation now while I figure out what to do about the gift situation.”

“Oh, and Runa, I don’t know if I can survive these two on my own, so please let your mother know you and her will be accompanying us on this venture.”

Defeatedly, Lawrence stood up and patted his wife’s head before heading off towards the attendant’s quarters.

“You got it, Mr. Lawrence, sir!”

A large grin spread across her face as she turned towards Killian. Excitedly, she asked him if he knew what that meant for them. However, before he could answer, she blurted it out herself.

“Were going to see the capital!!”

Hopping up and down, she then grabbed Killian’s shirt collar once more, shaking him along with her jumps for joy.

“C’mon, we gotta get ready and start packing!

Once again dragging Killian Runa happily trotted towards their rooms. Not even trying to signal his mother for help, already seeing her breakout into laughter over Runa’s excitement, Killian simply let himself be pulled away.

“AHAHAHAH.”

“C’mon, Ian, don’t look so miserable!”

Killian, still thinking about the hours of sleep lost today, sighed at his early start to the day, finally giving in before smiling himself.

“Runa, if my collar is stretched out, I’m cutting your hair in your sleep.”

Looking back at him Runa’s wide smile grew wider before pulling his collar harder.

“Yeah, yeah, you know I’d kill you for that.”

With the two laughing, they headed off to start packing.