A young lady lay on a bed in a luxurious chamber, lit by the soft glow of flickering candles and wearing lavish fabrics. The air in the room buzzed with tension and urgency as a small group of women moved calmly, attending to the soon-to-be mother.

"Push, Your Highness," encouraged an elderly woman, her hands expertly navigating the contours of the young lady's distended abdomen, guiding her through the pain of labour.

"I'm trying!" the young lady exclaimed, straining with each push, sweat forming on her brow.

One of the assistants spoke concernedly,

"Madam, we must act. She lost too much blood. If this continues, she will die."

The elderly woman's face showed worry, acknowledging the situation's gravity.

Meanwhile, the young lady silently urged her unborn child with love and desperation,

'Come on, kiddo. Don't cause your mom more pain.'

The room held its breath as the elderly lady continued to guide the labour, her experienced hands orchestrating the delicate dance of birth. A joyful cry pierced the air as the baby's head emerged.

"One last push, Your Highness!"

Summoning her remaining strength, the young lady gave a final, resolute push. Her cry of pain echoed through the chamber, bringing new life.

"AHH!"

"The baby is here," the elderly woman announced, relief and joy mingling in her voice.

With the collective tension dissipating, a renewed sense of urgency emerged. The reality of the young lady's weakened state loomed, prompting the elderly lady to act swiftly.

"Quickly, cast healing and stop her bleeding."

A large, complex magic circle appeared, bathing the young woman in a soothing, green glow. The magical energy danced around her, weaving its healing embrace.

The room, once a battleground of labour, transformed into a sanctuary of restorative magic—a testament to life's delicate balance between trial and triumph.

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'What are those sounds?'

I questioned confusedly, my senses slowly returning. I struggled to open my heavy eyelids. After several attempts, my eyelids relented, revealing a world covered in vivid colours, dominated by an intense red. I struggled against this visual assault, wondering why everything seemed shrouded in this crimson haze.

As my eyes adjusted, confusion clouded my thoughts.

'Am I back in my old body?'

A melodic female voice gently grounded me,

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on giving birth to a prince."

My gaze turned toward the voice, but the red hue blocked out details, leaving only her outline visible. As anticipation swirled, a comforting warmth enveloped my body.

'What is this feeling?'

In an instant, my vision cleared as if a veil had been lifted. The thick red faded, revealing a world of sharp clarity. I could now see nearby objects in detail, though distant ones remained blurry.

My gaze focused on the elderly woman, her features coming into view as the red haze dissipated. Silver-grey hair framed a face bearing the marks of age yet adorned with timeless beauty. Piercing blue eyes, pure and vibrant, captivated me. Strangely, her ears were long!

'Wait! Is she an elf?'

My mind raced as I tried to comprehend the extraordinary scene. The angle she held me and her otherworldly features...

'But why do I still remember Chirtagupta and my past memories?'

'Is it because of the side effect?'

As I grappled with my confusion, the elderly woman gazed at me with warm, affectionate eyes.

"He has His Majesty's eyes," she remarked in an unfamiliar language, leaving me bewildered.

'What is she saying?'

Though her lips moved, the meaning was lost on me.

I surveyed the lavish room, filled with sparkling objects and lit by unconventional candles emitting an otherworldly glow akin to neon tubes, casting a dreamlike atmosphere.

A delightful aroma wafted through the air. I tried to move my head, but my muscles seemed unaccustomed to my commands.

'It looks like I'll have a difficult time ahead,'

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I mused silently as the other ladies diligently tended to the young mother, changing bed sheets, meticulously cleaning the room, and refreshing the space.

Once everything was in order, the elderly woman handed me to my mother, who is now sitting up with support.

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'So beautiful!'

Despite the weariness etched on her face, her beauty remained unchanged. The lines of fatigue only enhanced her strength and resilience. Her brilliant ruby-red eyes sparkled with warmth and wisdom. Her beautiful face, adorned with a delicate nose, was enhanced by long, sleek black hair cascading like a waterfall.

Her beauty transcended mere physical appearance as she cradled me, reflecting the profound experience of bringing new life into the world.

"You sure took your time," she remarked teasingly.

Though I couldn't understand her words, the warmth in her voice surpassed language barriers in this gentle exchange between a mother and her newborn.

Suddenly, several figures entered my view. A striking man with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes dominated the scene, his face a mix of worry, relief, and joy.

'Yep, that's gotta be my father. Man, he has that face made to break women's hearts.'

Beside him stood an elderly man exuding a mature and friendly aura, his long grey hair neatly tied back, a well-groomed beard adorning his face.

'So, I have a grandpa, huh?'

Adjacent stood an elderly butler, distinguished by his black hair and well-set beard, adding an air of formality.

Surprisingly, everyone except my mother and the butler had long ears and supernatural features.

'It seems I'm half-elf and half-human.'

To confirm my thought, I tried moving my hands to touch my ears, but these newly acquired hands seemed to have a will of their own.

'Well, this is frustrating,'

I thought, resigned to the limitations of my infant body.

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Four months passed in gradual self-discovery. I found myself reclining comfortably, contemplating the beautiful ceiling patterns. Even though it was tough at first, I now had some control over my hands and head—a small victory in mastering this unfamiliar body.

My surroundings and the people attending to me made it clear I was born into nobility. Little did I know that my reality extended beyond mere noble; I was, in fact, a prince.

Over the past four months, my body seemed on autopilot, responding to infancy's needs without conscious input, and because of that, my desire to control my movements intensified.

"AHHH!"

In a sudden burst of frustration, I started crying loudly. Within moments, a beautiful maid hurried to my side.

"What's wrong, young prince?" she asked gently, assessing my condition. Upon discovering a wet diaper, she swiftly and tenderly changed it.

"There we go,"

As my discomfort eased, my cries stopped—a frustrating yet familiar cycle of my body acting on its own accord.

This beautiful woman, whom I regarded as my nanny, was crucial in my daily care. While my mother visited for feeding, play, and conversation when time allowed, the nanny was responsible for day-to-day care.

Regarding feeding, I learned the marvels of breast milk—an experience both nourishing and, on a more playful note, unexpectedly enjoyable. There's nothing quite like it for a child (or a man (￣┰￣*)).

But the most frustrating thing was not understanding a word everyone spoke. My mother and a young woman, whom I assumed was my aunt, often conversed with me, helping me gradually pick up the language. At my current rate, I needed a few more months.

"What is my little gem doing?"

A deep voice caught my ear, causing my eyes to sparkle and a smile to spread across my face. A shadow fell over me, revealing an elderly man with sharp yet warm, deep blue eyes, long grey hair neatly tied back, and a well-groomed beard.

'Grandpa.'

Seeing my excitement, he asked,

"Did you miss your grandpa?"

I only understood the word 'miss' from his words and nodded in response. Seeing this, he smiled.

It was a little secret between us. He knew I understood bits of what he said and responded accordingly, so he tried teaching me more, which was one reason I always looked forward to his visits.

The main reason for my excitement was that Grandpa always took me outside for a stroll. For a few precious hours, I could see beyond the boundaries of my room, which I had grown weary of over the months.

He scooped me up in his arms and began to leave the room.

'Let's go,'

Minutes later, we were in a garden as vast as a villa, filled with countless beautifully maintained flowers. The first time I saw it, I was stunned by its size, beauty, and impeccable maintenance.

This was my playground, though not literally, as my undeveloped muscles prevented me from sitting properly. I sat on Grandpa's lap with support as he used his tablet.

As always, I looked around, but an unfamiliar noise caught my attention this time. I tried to turn towards the sound, but my body wouldn't cooperate. After a few tries, where I almost fell over, Grandpa helped me find my balance.

"Curious about those noises?"

Once again, I only understood 'curious' and 'noise', but it was enough. I nodded.

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Moments later, we stood before a gate leading to some arena. As we neared, I could hear the noises more clearly—clashing metal and voices.

With each step Grandpa took, my excitement mounted. I had an idea of what was happening, but the thrill of seeing things in reality that I had only read about or heard of in my past life was incomparable.

Upon entering, I was mesmerised. Two men wielded swords of different sizes, yet when their blades clashed, it displayed no difference in strength but a sense of harmony. There was something unique about their fighting style beyond the varying sword sizes. My ability to perceive these details was most exciting despite never having held or seen a real sword in my past life.

"I greet..."

Someone noticed us arriving and began greeting Grandpa, but he signalled them to stay silent, not wanting to interrupt my moment of excitement. The look of excitement on my face brought a small smile to his.

Everyone gradually became aware of our presence except the two sparring men, who remained focused.

The sparring lasted a few more minutes before they stopped to rest. As they stopped, countless thoughts raced through my mind.

'Is this also a side effect?'

I had stupid questions like these, and I could not shake off the side effects stuck in my mind. I was trying to push it out, afraid of creating a defence mechanism where I blamed everything good or bad on side effects rather than finding the real cause, potentially hiding my true potential in this life.

"Did you enjoy it?"

Grandpa's voice broke my reasoning, drawing the two men's attention. He signalled them to stay calm and silent.

I refocused and nodded excitedly. Everyone was shocked.

"Did the young prince just nod?" one person asked.

"Did you see that too?" another questioned.

"I'm not the only one," someone else remarked.

"Looks like our little secret is out," Grandpa smiled. Though I didn't understand, his smile and tone suggested he was teasing me.

"Don't be so surprised; what else would you expect from my grandson?"

Silence fell in the arena.

"Ahem!"

"He doesn't understand everything we say; he only recognises a few words and responds accordingly,"

"Oh!"

I looked at Grandpa, puzzled. His explanation's words, tone, and pacing were much longer, sharper, and faster than he usually spoke to me—with short words, soft tones, and slow pacing. In short, I didn't understand a thing.