They were having fun.

A gladiator had just been killed in front of my eyes. I had dreamed of watching such a show all my life. I’d always been interested in sword fights, but I didn’t realize how different it would feel to witness someone being killed right in front of me. My whole body trembled as the man plunged the sword into his opponent’s chest and slowly dragged it into his stomach. It wasn’t the first time I had seen someone die, but normally, when someone was killed, people tried to help or ran away screaming. They didn’t cheer.

Normally…

Was this the new normal?

“It seems Altevia enjoyed them.

Should we have him choose a gladiator from my Ludus?” My uncle was laughing as he spoke. I was sitting on his arm again; he was like a grandfather who liked to take care of the children.

“Do you have someone in mind?” My father raised an eyebrow, looking at him in surprise.

Uncle smirked. “Davos, come here.” He looked at a bald man and signaled with his head for him to approach. The man came up to us. He had sharp, light brown eyes and a body that I could easily call a Greek god.

“What do you think?”

My father looked the man up and down. “I don’t know, does he fight well?”

“DOES HE FIGHT WELL?!” Uncle’s eyes widened. “Have you followed any tournaments lately?

You’re looking at the man who beat Crexa himself. Mila and Vicius too.

The battles were so good that Jupiter himself watched from the heavens, drank barrels of wine, he pissed on us 4 day straight, rain never stopped.

Does he fight well… Watch some games, brother.”

“Sure.” Father shook his head with a funny smile, and my uncle laughed again.

“35 gold coins are enough for his monthly feeding and rewards.”

“Is he eating dragon meat?”

My uncle just laughed, and Father continued,“If he dies before his 5th match?”

“I’ll repay the double.”

Had we just ‘rented’ this guy? They were killing each other just to create a fun show for my birthday. Were people’s lives really that worthless? If this was how the nobles entertained themselves, what did the common folk do?

Anyways, I just needed to get used to these new ‘shows.’

As people were having fun, suddenly the door opened, and in walked one of the most normal-looking men I had seen in the world since I was born. He was out of breath. His long, light brown hair was tied in a bun, he had a stubble beard, and he had a more relaxed posture compared to the noble posture of most people here. He was wearing a thin, loose white shirt and black baggy pants—a pirate outfit, I’d call it.

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He came running up to us holding a small black rectangular box and took a deep breath.

“Yunus?”

After my father looked at the man, whose name was Yunus, in surprise, Yunus tapped my father on the shoulder twice and handed him the box.

“I guess I'm not late.”

“Yes… but?”

Yunus shook his head with a strange smile and took me from my uncle’s arms. “Don’t worry, Solonius will take care of the shipment.”

“Solonius?” WWhen my father looked at Yunus with a frown, Yunus raised me up in the air. “Look at the little captain, he looks just like his mother! Could I miss your birthday ? Of course not !”

My father sighed, and Yunus turned to Pedro. After bowing his head, he asked,“Good to see you my lord, but where is everyone?”

“Orea is here.

And Julian is now with his mother in Capsa.” Pedro answered.

“Is Lady Elanoir still sick?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Yeah…”

As Yunus was saying “I saw Sergius in-”, I saw Nazir coming.

And as soon as Yunus noticed him, his eyes widened. With a smile on his face, he sat me on one arm and shook hands with Nazir in a way that echoed around the room.

“You son of a b-” Yunus fell silent as Nazir's eyebrows rose and his eyes turned to me.

“He learns very fast.”

“A genius like his father? Are some of his screws missing, too?”

“Na.” As I tried to say ‘No’, Yunus turned to me and laughed.

“We'll have a lot of fun with you.”

I realized that Yunus was a very talkative person. He chatted with my father, Pedro and Nazir for a while then he carried me around like a VIP card, drank most of the drinks at the tables and ate dessert after dessert. I don't know exactly who he is and how close he is to my father, but most people didn't seem to like his presence.

Not everyone seems to hate him though.

A man with white hair and interesting yellow eyes approached us smiling and touched Yunus on the shoulder. Yunus turned quickly, looked like he was going to say something, but his eyes widened and he put the glass down on the table behind him and stood straight.

“Hello.” The man started the conversation and Yunus answered immediately. “Hello.” And the man continued.

“What are you doing here?”

“Eating.”

“Eat, but drink some ale too.”

“No, thank you.”

“Okay, would you drink some wine?”

“I will drink some wine.”

“Okay.”

After this awkward conversation, the man took 2 steps away and suddenly he turned and said “You won’t try my ale, right?”

“No, my emperor, with all my respect, please do not ask again.”

Emperor?

“If you don’t like the wine?”

“There is water.”

The emperor took a deep breath and then walked away.

That was… Never mind.

“Maniac.” Yunus muttered.

“Eliar! Your man is making me sad.” The emperor shouted at my father and then went to them and I saw my mother and a tall woman with short black hair coming towards us.

As soon as Yunus noticed them, he took a handkerchief from the table and wiped his mouth.

"Is he still messing with you?” After the woman giggled and said this, Yunus smiled and looked at my mother and then at her and bowed his head.

“My lady, my empress.”

The woman looked at me silently for a while and then turned to my mother. “How can he be so quiet?”

“He is Eliar’s son, what were you expecting?

I think he's only cried three times so far.”

“Can we swap babies?”

After my mother laughed, Yunus gently give me to her arms.

“How are you, Yunus?”

“I'm fine, my lady, thank you for asking.

I have to go to Mirstone again in 2 days, I won't be back for a long time. I wanted to see the little captain while I had the chance.”

“You did good.”

As Yunus bowed his head and was about to walk away, my mother called out to him. “Before you go…” One of the guards of our house came up to us and handed Yunus a brown pouch.

As far as I could see, there were only 6 guards in our house, I don't know why, but it seems too few for a family like ours, but maybe these 6 people were incredibly strong warriors or something, I don't know. The guard who came to us was named Alwyn. He normally wore a full plate armor and cape in gray and blue like the other guards, but now he was wearing a white shirt and gray trousers. With his short blue hair and blue eyes, I don't know if he was a nobleman, but he stood out among the dozens of nobles here.

“What is this, my lady?”

Yeah, what's that? As I tried to raise my head, Yunus opened the pouch and I saw that it was filled with dozens of different precious stones like rubies and sapphires.

“Can you distribute these to people in need?

Say ‘Lord Eliar wishes that the week of his son's first birthday would be a good time for everyone.’”

It's so nice to be rich.

Yunus took an emerald and a sapphire from the pouch, put them in his pocket and nodded after closing it.

“If there's nothing else?”

“No, you can go.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

"Is Eliar planning a rebellion?" The empress giggled and my mother answered. "He doesn't even know." My mother looked at me for a short while and then quickly kissed me on the cheek. "I want people to feel good when they think of his name.”

Thanks mama.

Mama turned toward papa.

“Let's go to them.”

After that, nothing much happened. As my family and the other nobles chatted amongst themselves, they cut me a small piece of my birthday cake and I ate it with my hands.

It was a good day, even if I was a little annoyed that everyone was gathered around me like watching a puppy.