You see, this particular artifact was one that was absorbed by a person, and was then released when they died.

And the effect of it was pretty simple, it gave a person an extra skill based on how strong their deepest desire was.

Knowing that my own desire was pretty strong, I took a look at my new skill, "There Will Be No Tomorrow For You".

Reading over the description, I was pretty satisfied with what the skill would bring to my arsenal.

You see, my first skill would be considered extremely versatile, with many different applications across many different ranges and genres of uses.

But, this new skill, it was a skill that focused perfectly on both protecting and attacking and nothing else.

Finally believing that I had enough to protect my family, I decided that I better get back up to the castle grounds because Char would get really worried pretty soon.

Quickly making my way up, I closed the secret passage by pulling down the wine bottle, before climbing out of the wine cellar.

Walking through the gray hallways, I pretended like I had just taken a walk.

Then, turning a corner, I found one of the little kids, Carmen, who had basically become the castle cook after Char found out about her divine cooking skills.

(A/N: If you don't remember, Carmen is the little demon girl.)

"Big Bro! You're here!"

She yelled this so loud that I bet everybody in the castle heard, but that was fine, as I needed my position to be known anyways.

Immediately, both Gwen and Char appeared behind me, but, seeing that Carmen was hugging my leg, they opted not to question me right then and there, but both of them gave me glares that basically told me that my future wouldn't be so bright.

"Big Bro, can you try out one of my new inventions?"

"Sure, let's go to the kitchen." I said with a very amicable tone, trying to get the glares that were burning holes in the back of my head out of my mind.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Char, Gwen, would you like to try some of Carmen's new inventions with us?" I asked them, hoping that the food would make them more mellow and amicable.

Looking down and seeing the big, gleaming eyes of the child, they really couldn't do anything and relented.

Putting Carmen on my shoulder, I walked and talked with her as she joyfully played with my hair.

It was a really fun time.

But, only Char and Gwen were able to perceive that my hand would twitch every so often.

...

"Ah, that was delicious, wasn't it?"

Both Char and Gwen could only sigh happily with me, as our bellies had been filled to the brim with flavors that one couldn't even imagine.

Somehow, with the bland, gray northern ingredients, Carmen had been able to whip up a 5 course meal full of what could only be described delicacies.

And, although it was bad manners for maids to eat with their master, I had ordered Char and Gwen to join me in eating, using the excuse of not wanting to make Carmen sad as their reason for joining, so they just couldn't decline in fear of breaking the child's heart.

Now, we were all sitting or laying down in my room, bloated, sighing happily in ecstasy.

But, of course, as they were professionals after all, they quickly recovered from their food high, and started asking what I had been doing this afternoon.

"Calm down, all I did was take a walk around the castle."

"Then how come we were never able to sense you?"

"I might have found some secret passages..."

"..."

They both stared at me blankly in disbelief.

"You seriously found those, Young Master? You know those are supposed to be only used by maids and servants right?"

But their disbelief and worry were about something else.

"And why can't I explore those passages, it's fun!"

"We don't even use them, and we're actual maids!" They retorted.

"Again, I'm saying it's fun."

"But you're not fit to do these things, Young Master."

"I'm no longer a noble, so what's the problem?"

"You would still be considered a fallen one if you went to the academy."

"And why would I ever go to the academy?"

"Because your father is going to forcibly enter you into the academy."

"..."

Now, it was my turn to be surprised.

"W-w-wh-why?"

"He believes that a political prodigy like you would be wasting your talents here, and due to the fact that you've been, well, not evil this whole time, he just thinks that you can do better things."

'What a fucking hypocrite.'

That was all I thought of my "dad" now.

You see, at first, he had treated me like a son, loving my unconditionally like any other parent.

But, when I was around 5 years old, I had stopped seeing his face.

I hadn't known why back then, but of course, now I knew.

My mom, still loving me, had taken care of me everyday like a regular mom, but after a while, she let Char do everything and followed my dad, but, at the very least, she still talked to me once a week.

I still wanted to hit myself for not "seeing" these signs earlier, I was such a dumbass back then.

Anyways, now that I was a "Monster" in my dad's eyes, I could tell that he was treating me more like an animal than anything else, kind of like a pet that you showed off to other people.

And I was utterly disgusted.

"I refuse."

"You will be forced to go anyways, Young Master."

Hearing this, I knew I had lost before it even started.

After all, I didn't want to trouble Char with the job of knocking me out and carrying me all the way to the academy.

"I can at least stay here for a few years, right?"

"Yes, you will enter the academy at the same age as everyone else, at the age of 16."

'Hmm... So I still have 5 years, I need to make the best of them.'

"I guess I best start learning how to wield a sword then..." I said, before laughing deprecatingly.

Hearing this, they knew I wasn't in the right state of mind anymore, and so, Gwen just left the room silently whilst Char got me ready for bed.

Tucking me in, Char just stared at my face like a mom would towards their child.

Seeing me in this state, laughing crazily without any signs of stopping, my face contorted past a human expression, she knew what she had to do.

Putting her hand on my forehead, I felt a cool energy enter me, before I passed out.