My Second Life with Seria
My second life with Seria began more ordinarily than I'd expected. When I opened my eyes, I was wailing like a baby—waaah—and by the time I got my bearings, I'd become the son of a rural frontier lord. The isekai possession I'd only heard about in stories. Actually, reincarnation fits my situation better. Anyway.
An unfamiliar world, and not even as an adult—I'd truly been born as a newborn infant. Anyone in my shoes would've thought, Where am I? Who am I? But not me...
This seems pretty livable, actually.
Martel Barony. A cold, barren land in the northern reaches of the empire. Maybe it was because I was just a baby, but accepting this world came easier than I'd imagined. After all, I had plenty of time ahead of me. And for a guy like me, scraping by on a measly 2 million won a month in my past life, this quiet, peaceful rural existence was honestly a dream.
And so, I grew up healthily. I started talking a bit earlier than other kids and learned to read sooner, but I played the part of a normal child just enough to keep things peaceful.
Then came the winter I turned five.
"Kalian, say hello."
Father brought a grubby little kid into the study. A blizzard raged outside the window. The child, dressed in nothing but thin rags, was shivering violently. Messy black hair, dirt-caked face, and crimson eyes brimming with wariness. She looked a couple years older than me.
"I found her trembling at the edge of the village. No parents, all alone, so I brought her here."
Father stroked his beard, looking troubled. Our family was poor. I'd heard my mother had died giving birth to me, so Father handled the territory's management single-handedly. Adding another mouth to feed was no small burden, but he had a soft heart.
"What's your name?"
Father asked. The girl clamped her mouth shut and just glanced longingly at the stove hidden behind me. Well, she was in a strange place, after all.
I closed the book I was reading and stood up. Grabbing a thick blanket from beside the stove, I approached her.
"Hi."
She flinched and backed away.
"I'm not gonna hurt you. You just look cold."
I smiled as gently as I could and draped the blanket over her shoulders. As the warmth seeped in, her stiff shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
"I'm Kalian. Kalian von Martel. And you?"
"......"
She hesitated, then mumbled in a tiny voice.
"...Seria."
"Seria? Pretty name."
Her red eyes widened at the compliment. It must've been the first time she'd ever heard one.
"Hungry?"
I offered her the plate of cookies on the table. She swallowed hard but didn't reach out, eyeing me cautiously.
So I popped one into my own mouth.
"Mmm, delicious. No poison or anything. Here."
"................."
Finally, she gingerly took one and shoved it in, devouring it like she hadn't eaten in days. She choked a little but didn't stop.
"Slow down. You'll get a tummy ache."
I handed her a mug of warm milk. She clutched it with both hands and drank, leaving white foam on her lips. She looked a mess, but watching her eat so earnestly, she was kinda cute.
Is this kid gonna be my first friend?
There weren't many kids my age in this backwater. Especially not in the Lord's Castle. You'd be surprised how much it matters to have peers, even after just five years.
"Dad."
I looked up at him.
"Let her stay here."
"Hm? But Kalian, with our situation..."
"Make her my personal maid. Or my playmate. I'll eat less."
Father's eyes went wide. Pretty mature words for a five-year-old, huh? But he chuckled heartily and ruffled my hair.
"Heh, already trying to play head of the house? Alright, if you're that set on it, we'll do it your way."
He called the head maid to bathe and dress Seria. As she was led away, she paused and looked back at me. I waved.
"See you tomorrow, Seria."
That was our first meeting.
-
Seria adapted quickly. Or rather, she was desperately working to survive.
To avoid being kicked out of the Lord's Castle, she did every chore she could. Up at dawn to scrub the halls, weeding the garden, making my bed. She was seven—two years older than me, my big sis. But five or seven, who cares? Still just kids.
One afternoon, I was reading in the shade of a garden tree.
"Man, this is surprisingly fun."
A novel lover in my past life, and now isekai books? I could read all day and never get bored.
"Nngh..."
Then I heard grunting from afar. It was Seria, hauling a water jug as big as herself. She wobbled, on the verge of collapse.
I closed my book and went over.
"Seria."
"A-Y-Young Master!"
She startled, trying to set it down—and lost her balance.
Splash!
Cold water soaked her clothes.
"S-Sorry! I've committed a grave sin! I'll clean it! Right now!"
She paled and prostrated herself on the floor. Ignoring her wet clothes getting muddy, she tried to scoop the water with her bare hands.
I got it—she probably thought one mistake meant getting thrown out.
"Haa."
I sighed and grabbed her wrist.
"Stop."
"I was wrong, Young Master. Please forgive me just this once..."
"What's to forgive? It's just some spilled water."
I pulled out my handkerchief and wiped her wet face. She froze solid.
"Why are you working so hard?"
"...Pardon?"
"Nobody told you to carry something this heavy. Not Dad, not me."
"B-But... I have to earn my keep... so I don't get kicked out..."
She answered, voice trembling with tears. My heart ached. A seven-year-old worrying about meals in this world? Thank goodness I was born into this family.
"We won't kick you out."
I said seriously.
"I promise. Even if you do nothing but breathe here, you're safe."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. I'm the next lord of this territory. My word is law."
I puffed out my chest with mock dignity. Her expression finally softened a bit. Well, who'd trust a five-year-old? Still.
"Seria."
"Yes?"
"Wanna come with me for a sec?"
I brushed the dirt off my butt and stood. She hesitated, then followed cautiously.
We slipped behind the Lord's Castle, past crumbling walls, to a secret corner of the garden. There, defying the blizzard, stood a single flower blooming proudly.
Our Martel family's symbol: the Blue Rose.
I carefully plucked one and held it out to the dazed Seria.
"Here, for you."
"...This, to me?"
Her eyes shook.
"It's our family symbol. Accepting it means you're family now."
I grinned.
"Looking forward to it, Seria."
She took it with trembling hands, blinking between me and the flower.
"Hm? What's wrong? Don't like it?"
"N-No!"
She panicked, clutching it to her chest, then nodded shyly with a small smile.
Man, up close, she's really pretty.
Only seven, but I could tell—she'd grow into a stunning beauty.
Whoa!
"D-Did I... get something on my face...?"
"Nah, nothing."
Her blushing fluster was cute too. That day, amid the biting northern winds, a tiny spring seemed to arrive.
-
A week after Seria joined us, she'd started looking more human. Her dry hair now shone, and her cheeks had filled out just a tad. Plus, our mansion's maids were the sweetest. Far from bullying the new girl, they doted on her like a cute little sister.
"Seria, try this honey bread."
"Want Auntie to braid your hair, Seria?"
But Seria herself was the problem.
"Th-Thank you..."
She was still stiff as a board. Unfamiliar with kindness, she'd roll her eyes like a hamster wondering if it was okay. When Father passed by and tried petting her head, she'd tremble like a condemned prisoner.
This won't do.
I rested my chin in my hand, thinking. Too much tension stunts growth. Kids need to make mischief, roll in mud—that's how they thrive.
Perfect timing came.
"Kalian, Dad's heading out."
Father left for territory inspection. The kitchen ladies went to market for ingredients too.
What did that mean? The mansion was a free-for-all. My world.
I dashed to Seria, who was mopping the hallway end.
"Seria."
"Eek, Y-Young Master!"
She jumped, hiding the mop behind her.
"Now's the time."
"P-Pardon? What do you mean...?"
Her eyes went round. I glanced around dramatically, then whispered.
"Dad's out inspecting. Kitchen ladies are at market. Know what that means?"
"What... does it mean? Thieves?"
She asked, scared. I clicked my tongue.
"Nah."
She tilted her head as I paused. Hands on hips, I declared:
"It's the perfect time to cause some trouble!"
"Yes!?"