Prologue: A So-So Ordinary Life
It was a more or less ordinary life. Born the bastard son of a viscount who ruled a small but decently prosperous territory, I lived without any major hardships. There was discrimination from my legitimate half-brothers, of course, but nothing like outright abuse. I received a basic education, and in the process, I discovered I had an exceptional memory. My understanding wasn't quite on the same level, but my butler tutor once offhandedly remarked that if I'd been born legitimate, I would have undoubtedly been the heir.
To earn my keep from an early age, I started working in the administrative offices, and the year I turned twenty, the elderly chief administrator retired, allowing me to step into his role. I even married the eldest daughter of the territory's largest general store. Not long after, a son was born who took after me. I was happy. And I thought that happiness would continue forever.
But about a month ago, headaches started plaguing me, growing steadily worse until a few days ago, when they felt like my skull was splitting open. Still, I couldn't afford to rest. My father—the current lord—and my eldest brother were both away. They'd been summoned to the capital by the king. Among those left behind, the butler held the most formal authority, while my second brother carried the most symbolic weight despite lacking an official title. But Father had handed the role of acting lord to me, as I possessed a measure of both.
With my regular administrative duties plus the lord's responsibilities piled on, my workload had doubled. It was then that the vice administrator brought me tea, claiming it was good for headaches. The moment I drank it, I lost all awareness.
For days, I'd been in a haze of pain and drowsiness, mechanically signing off on whatever documents the vice administrator brought me. When I finally snapped back to clarity for a moment, I found myself kneeling before the execution platform in the town square.
"Death sentence for the criminal!"
In my blurry vision, I heard my second brother's shout from his high seat. Looking around, I saw my wife and our five-year-old son hanging from the gallows beside me. Something boiled up inside me and burst, and my eyes flew wide open. The headaches and fog that had tormented me vanished in an instant.
"You bastard!!!"
I screamed at my little brother in a final spasm of rage, but that was it. The knight beside me swung his sword, and my head was severed.
And so I died.
Or so I thought.
Well, to be precise, I did die—but that wasn't the end.