Chapter 2

"Did I… did I return to the past?" Confusion etched on Julian's face. Without much thinking, he pinched his cheeks, only for him to emit a groan, "Argh! It hurts!"

Returning his sight to the mirror, he noticed his left cheek now flushed and throbbing. "This can't be a dream, can it?" he murmured, disbelief lacing his voice. "But… what if it was all just a nightmare, and I've only just woken up?" His voice hung heavy in the air, worsening his already jumbled thoughts.

"No," Julian shook his head, "I need to calm down." Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to ease his mind. After collecting himself, Julian opened his eyes and stared at his reflection in the mirror.

Judging by his appearance, Julian was certain he was in his teenage years. This meant he had returned to the past more than a decade and had yet to awaken his Mana. Shifting his gaze to his hands, his palms were filled with popped blisters. Despite the discomfort, Julian couldn't help but scoff. It seemed he had been pushing himself hard again yesterday.

"Of course," he muttered to himself, a hint of irony in his voice. "Even then, I was determined." Somehow, Julian pitied his younger self. He had been so driven, so eager to prove his worth, yet he was unaware that his life would end under a guillotine. "Poor child."

Suddenly, the sound of the door swinging open cut through Julian's thoughts. Glancing at his bedroom's entrance, he saw a maid pushing a food trolley into the room. 'Didn't even bother to knock, huh?' 

Arriving before him, the maid opened the food cover, revealing a bowl of bisque, two slices of bread, and a glass of milk. "Your repast," she announced briskly.

Shifting his gaze from the food to the maid, Julian recognized her instantly—she was one of the Countess' people. Now he understood why his food tasted strange back then, she was constantly tampering with his meals.

Meeting his gaze, she fearlessly stared back before snapping curtly, "What?"

In the past, Julian might have overlooked the situation and stupidly eaten the unappealing food. But now, things were different. He would not let anyone step on him.

Julian gestured at his wooden cutlery. "There's no silverware." 

She rolled his eyes in boredom, "Yeah, and?"

"Then how would I know if my food contains poison or not?" Though her dismissive attitude grated on him, Julian kept his cool. 

The woman glared at him, her tone rising, "Did you just accuse me of poisoning you?"

Julian shrugged nonchalantly. "Then disprove my suspicion."

"Very well!" With an exasperated huff, she pivoted on her heel and stormed out of the room.

When her figure disappeared behind the door, Julian clicked his tongue in annoyance. He couldn't believe he had to deal with the Countess' lackey the very moment he woke up. Shaking his head to dismiss the useless thoughts, Julian rose from the bed, grabbed a towel and the basket filled with warm water from under the trolley, and began to wash his face.

As he dabbed his face with the towel, the sound of the door flung open caught Julian's attention. Glancing at the entrance, the maid burst in, and from her twisted, ugly expression, he could tell how furious she was. The woman halted before him and threw the silver cutlery into the bowl, causing the bisque to splatter everywhere and stain Julian's nightclothes.

After the brazen act, she smirked smugly. "There's your silverware. Satisfied?"

Ignoring her, Julian took the cutlery from the bowl and carefully examined it. He could tell that it was real silver and not a counterfeit, which also meant that she wasn't the one responsible for poisoning him. Well, if Julian were the Countess, he wouldn't task someone as brainless as her with such a job.

"See? The hue remains unaltered!" The maid interjected, drawing Julian's sight back to her. Folding her arms, she glared at him. "How dare you accuse me!"

Julian offered a smile and nodded. "You are correct." Without warning, he swiftly hurled the cutlery back into the bowl, causing the bisque to splatter everywhere and stain the maid's attire and face.

"Ack! What are you doing?!" the maid protested, quickly wiping the splatter from her cheeks. "Have you gone mad?!" she fumed, frantically wiping her dress with her handkerchief.

Julian simply copied what she did, and now she questioned his sanity? 'Oh, how amusing.' Refocusing on the matter at hand, Julian pointed at the bowl with his chin, ordering, "Eat it." 

"Huh?" The maid halted whatever she was doing and looked at him in disbelief. It seemed she never anticipated this outcome. 

"You heard me well," Julian retorted coldly. Just as he had promised himself, he would not let any disrespect toward him go unpunished, and his mission today was to make sure that she tasted her own medicine.

Quickly regaining her composure, she stared at him defiantly, "And what if I decline?"

Julian smiled and spoke playfully, "Well, forget it, I'll just bring this to my father." Seizing the bowl, he made his way toward the entrance.

"Ha! Do you think the Count will listen to you?" The maid's confident voice pierced Julian's ears, but he paid no attention and continued his way.

Exiting his room, Julian was greeted by the familiar corridor. Turning to the left, he headed toward the entrance hall. By this time, the Count would typically be preparing to depart the mansion for his work. Julian knew this because he often sent his father off, though the Count always ignored him as if he were invisible.

"Tsk," Julian clicked his tongue in annoyance. Maybe he should refrain from thinking about such annoying things; they left a bad taste in his mouth.

When the sound of footsteps closed in, Julian peeked sideways from the corner of his eyes and found the maid walking beside him, matching his step. 

 "The madam will punish you if you report me to the Count!" she began again, a hint of fear lacing her voice.

Deafening his ears, he continued down the corridor. As the stairs leading downward came into view, Julian felt a headache coming on. Honestly speaking, this action was just a bluff; he wasn't sure about this idea either. Given how his father constantly ignored him, talking to him seemed useless, actually. 'I need another plan—' 

But before Julian could dwell on it further, the maid pulled his sleeve, causing him to halt. Meeting the maid's horrified expression, she exclaimed, her voice dipped with fear, "I-I will eat it!"

Suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, Julian maintained his indifferent demeanor and responded, "You will?"

"Y-yes! I swear it! Please don't report me to the Count!" she pleaded, desperation evident in her eyes.

After a fleeting moment, Julian answered, "Very well." Though he had no idea what made her change her mind, he was just glad his ruse worked. With that, he handed her the bowl.

With trembling hands, the maid took the bowl. However, instead of immediately scooping the bisque with the spoon, she stared at it in horror, as if she were about to ingest poison.

"What are you waiting for? Eat it," Julian demanded.

"Y-yes!" With a shaky hand, she scooped a spoonful of bisque and brought it to her mouth, her eyes snapping shut in anticipation.

Julian watched intently as the maid forced herself to swallow the bisque, her face contorted with disgust. Just as she managed to keep it down, her eyes flew open in panic, and she began coughing violently. 

"Cough, cough!" The maid dropped the bowl, its contents splattering across the floor as the glass shattered, and Julian stepped back to avoid the shards. She clutched at her throat, her eyes brimming with tears. "W-water! Wa-cough, cough!"

Julian looked at the maid indifferently, a realization dawning upon him. 'Ah, I see now.' There had been a day in the past when he experienced the same reaction because of the potent mustard seeds, leaving him unable to speak for days. Unbeknownst to him, the corner of Julian's lips tugged up in contentment. 'So, it's today, huh? Serves you right.'

"What is all this commotion?" A familiar voice cut through the chaos, prompting both Julian and the maid to turn towards the source. Two figures approached them, one of them adorned with white hair—it was the Count.