[hr][hr][h3][i]Kaides Main House, 3rd Floor[/i][/h3] 
[img]https://i.imgur.com/l6wMoFi.png[/img][hr][hr]
"...And on TOP of all that, he's barely taught me any [i]actual[/i] swordplay, because he [i]lied[/i] about his qualifications!" The veins in Balbys's neck and forehead were fit to burst. Through bloodshot eyes and a jaw tense enough to crack his teeth, all he could do was stand stoically as Vincent outed every one of the man's flaws---and even invented a few new ones he knew the butler couldn't afford to dispute, because explaining how his young "ward" had twisted the truth would in fact expose more truths. "He might've come from Geviel, but he's never even [i]met[/i] Fors Darkwood! Everything he claims he learned about the Kastell style comes from a treatise he bought in some secondhand shop!"

Vincent had been weak as a child, and clumsy, and a crybaby. All of those things were true. But being caned by his tutors---a smack on the hand when he answered a question wrongly, a stripe across the legs when he failed to perform a technique---and shamed by other members of the family like his sister and that bastard Sylas's brood, as well as the bullying he'd experienced in Collegem, had all done just as much damage to him as his lack of talent. Balbys had often forced him to do ridiculous drills, like performing a basic technique one thousand times, not because he truly believed in the proven power of repetition, but because he only [i]knew[/i] a handful of actual attacks, blocks, and stances. Even if Vincent completed the tasks he was given in a satisfactory manner, the man would only come up with some other excuse not to teach him other things. Even if practicing the fundamentals over and over [i]was[/i] itself a fundamental method, learning through repetition still required using those techniques in different contexts, understanding how they flowed into or interacted against other techniques, or studying the tactics and principles behind them. Just blindly swinging a stick in the air had never done him any good.

So [i]this[/i] time, he was going to [i]get rid[/i] of Balbys, and everyone else who'd gotten in his way.

The man couldn't beat him in front of his own mother, no matter how badly Vincent embarrassed him. Even if Amabilia [i]did[/i] allow him to administer a "punishment," he wouldn't be able to do much more than spank the boy a few times in her presence. And by making every accusation he could possibly remember at once---Balbys's perverted comments towards Sherry; his falsified claims to be an Expert swordsman; his frequent day-drinking; his occasional purchase of illicit drugs from slum dealers (granted, for his own recreational use, but Vincent left that part out); and a hushed-up harassment of one of the younger maids, whose dismissal he arranged when she refused his advances---the heap of crimes would outweigh the demand for evidence that Vincent was, admittedly, lacking. 

But Vincent, even through rose-tinted memories, knew the kind of person his mother was, deep down. More than likely, she [i]already[/i] knew about some of these things. Perhaps she had even covered for Balbys at one time or another. Yet, a [i]noble lady[/i] of her standing absolutely could [i]not[/i] have such bad influences around her precious children. If Vincent [i]knew[/i] about these things, and if it were known that her little baby boy was being mentored by such a [i]scumbag[/i], how would that reflect on [i]her[/i] as his mother?

It simply couldn't be allowed, now could it? It would [i]tarnish[/i] the pristine Kaides [i]reputation[/i]!

"...I see." Amabilia had produced a fan from somewhere, and used it to hide any expression from her mouth or nose. Vincent knew that look in her eyes well enough, though, to see that he'd won. He smirked devilishly at Balbys as his mother turned to face the man. "Balbys."

"M-my lady, the...the young master is m-mistaken!" The butler immediately began to flail as he was going under the water. "He's, he's just a [i]little boy[/i], and he's always had such a vivid imagination!"

"[b][i]Be silent.[/i][/b]" Amabilia was not a warrior; she had never awakened an aura. But, as the sole heiress of a merchant empire known for its ruthless negotiations, and holder of titles that were bought and paid for with silver tongues, her words alone carried the power of a blade. "Balbys, by order of myself as First Wife of the Lord Patriarch, you are to be temporarily relieved of your duties pending an investigation into my son's accusations. Until then, you are to march yourself back to your quarters, and remain on [i]strict[/i] house arrest until I send for you." Her fan fluttered as the butler's face spasmed---he shot Vincent a look that, even without his Aura, the boy could tell held a sickening level of murderous intent.

He smiled wider at the man---and matched that killing intent blow for blow. He had returned to childhood, but on the inside he was still the man who'd fought in the worst war humanity had ever lost, a man who'd carved off his own arm before killing the Wyvern that made it necessary. Balbys, by comparison, was some drift-and-grifter who had lucked into a well-paid position wiping the backsides of nobility--despite his claims to the sword, he had probably never fought anything more vicious than a half-starved highway bandit. Vincent's hateful, spiteful, concentrated malice was projected through his eyes and into the butler's soul.

[i]Go ahead, kill me! I'll drag you through the mud, [url=https://animerants.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/solo-leveling-episode-09-murderous-intent-.png]and into the grave with me![/url][/i]

The man reeled back as if he'd been punched in the face. Blinking like a kicked puppy, Balbys looked back at Amabilia's unflinching gaze--no doubt wondering if she was aware of the monster standing behind her skirts.

"Balbys? Shall I have you [i]escorted[/i], like a proper criminal?" Amabilia demanded, snapping her fan back together and pointing it at the servant, who flinched back from it like an animal retreating from a torch flame. "Or do you have enough dignity remaining to you to do as I say? Surely you, as a [i]loyal servant[/i] of the House, know what will happen to you should you [b][i]run[/i][/b] from me?"

The butler made a choked, high-pitched sound in his throat, before he brought his trembling legs together and managed a shaky bow.

"Y-yes, m-my Lady...buh, by your order, I, I shall...t-take my leave...My, my d-deepest apologies..." He managed to hold himself together until he had backed out of the room...and then his rapid footsteps beat a terrified flight down the halls.

"...Really, Vincent!" Amabilia sighed, before turning back to her son, eyes now beginning to tear up. "What has gotten into you this morning? You [i]really[/i] don't like the outfit Mummy picked for you?" Vincent's wicked smirk immediately turned to exasperation.

[i]That guy's been working for you for ten years, and you're probably gonna have him lashed at the stocks until he can't walk. But you're concerned about some damn [b]shortpants?![/b][/i]

"...Mother, I've had a dream." He turned away from her, folding his hands behind his back as he stood at his bedroom window. "And in that dream, I realized just how...childish, and weak, I've been until now." If he really had come back to the past...if this was Collegem Orientation Day...That meant he was freshly fourteen years old ([i]By ILA's name, if [b]this[/b] was how I looked at fourteen bloody years old I guess I [b]deserved[/b] to get bullied![/i]). Ten whole years before his own death. Almost half his entire lifetime. What could he accomplish, in that span of time, with knowledge no one else had?

"And so I've decided that, from this moment on, I'm going to be [b]different[/b]. I'll train harder, I'll outwork all my brothers and sisters and cousins! I'll study harder than anyone else at the Collegem! I'm going to [b]remake[/b] myself, in the true image of a Kaides!"

[i]And real Kaides don't [b]earn[/b] respect. They [b]take[/b] it--by whatever means necessary! They rise, by stepping on the backs of those beneath them! Isn't that right, dear Father?![/i]

"So, in light of that...I apologize, again, for my behavior thus far." He turned back to Amabilia, having composed himself into the proper, sweet, precious little boy he she expected him to be. He wondered if she was so used to putting on her own masks that she would recognize his at some point, but nonetheless he gave her a bright, dimpled smile. "But, I think, for a moment like this, perhaps it'd be more suitable if I chose my own outfit?"

Her hug surprised him with its genuine warmth. In the unexpected embrace, his head nestled on his mother's shoulder, Vincent again felt emotions he'd thought long dead yearning for life once more.

"Oooh, my sweet baby! You really [i]are[/i] growing up!" The noble woman was practically bawling. "I'm so proud of you! I understand why you were failing now---that terrible, [i]disgusting[/i] Balbys! Mummy's going to [b][i]deal[/i][/b] with him, don't you worry your darling little head!"

[i]"Why [b]I[/b] was failing," huh? Does she even realize she was blaming it on me? Or have I always been just some doll for her to parade around?[/i]

"Very well! You're right, you're a big boy now, getting ready to be a man just like your wonderful father! Oh, you've always looked so much like he did when he was young!" She released him from the hug, and patted his head with one gloved hand. "Why don't you pick something to wear, then, and come show me? I'll go check on your sister, and leave you to it--just remember, don't be late!" Holding her skirts, she flounced out of the room all smiles and waves. The door slammed behind her rather forcefully.

"...Fucking [b]finally[/b]." Vincent let his fake smile fall, and glowered at the contents of his wardrobe. "Alright. Orientation day. Which means..." The corner of his lip rose, exposing a glittering canine tooth that hadn't been knocked out yet. 

"I need something that'll hide [i]bloodstains[/i]..."
[hr][hr][h3]Kaides Estates, Servant's Gate[/h3][@ERode][hr][hr]
As Ferrucio made his way out of the Main House and away from the well trimmed gardens and walkways, as well as any servants or noble siblings who might be out and about on the bright morning, he would find himself on a well worn dirt path. From the servant's doors into the Kaides manor, this road was used to unload carts full of goods for the kitchens and other supplies that the butlers and maids would further sort into their proper places. It passed between two rows of delicately trimmed hedgerows of white cedar, just barely taller than a man, hiding it from the wide open plots of the Estate. But, as he came to the impressively fortified brick walls that surrounded the Kaides properties, he found himself faced with a gate that would, of course, be guarded. Two men-at-arms in the family's employ, barely higher ranked than the household staff themselves and of no blood relation to the Clan, noticed his approach.

"Ah, g-good morning, Young...Master?" The two glanced at each other, then back at the youth who wore a cloak and boots, but still had on his night clothes while carrying a basket of foodstuffs. One raised a gauntlet over his chin as he hissed at the other one, [sub]"Which one is he?"[/sub]

"What brings you out and about so early? Shouldn't you be getting ready for, uh, the Orientation at the Collegem?"

While he could freely roam the Estates themselves, if Ferrucio wanted to leave the grounds entirely he would likely find it more difficult than simply sneaking out of the manor. For their own safety, noble children rarely left their homes without an entourage of some sort. And, in Ferrucio's case, rather than getting permission from his own parents his...unique...circumstances would require that he be allowed to go on whatever journey he desired by his own "young mistress," or--even worse--[i]her[/i] mother.[hr][hr][h3]Anyone between the 3rd and 1st floors might come across--or be nearly run-down by--the panicked Balbys. Normally a man who put on many airs of sophistication (while often subtly insulting others) he now had the look of someone hunted by a Wulver pack.[/h3][hr][hr]