The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

There are seven ducal families in this country.

To begin with, the Kingdom of Mataisa is a monarchical state where the direct line of the royal family inherits the crown.

There is a kingdom law stating that the king must be served by the direct descendants of the royal family. If there are only daughters in the direct line, a son-in-law is taken from a ducal family or from royalty of another country to become king. Incidentally, "direct line" refers to children born to the king's official wives, excluding children of concubines or relatives.

In the two thousand years of the country's history, the direct bloodline of the royal family has never died out. However, to preserve the bloodline in case of emergencies, or in the event that the direct bloodline is completely cut off, it is said that the ducal families must crown a new king.

The Flinrad family.

The Akuninaru family.

The Lunatia family.

The Istomurk family.

The Barehill family.

The Muuteru family.

In the event of the extinction of the direct line, these six ducal families bear this responsibility.

Therefore, the number of ducal families neither increases nor decreases. Originally, these were families headed by the first king's siblings, so ducal families have royal blood flowing through them.

There is one more ducal family, but its name has been kept secret for two thousand years.

This is the seventh ducal family, with the special role of preserving the royal bloodline even if it means fleeing to the outside world should the kingdom itself perish due to famine or war.

However, unlike other ducal families, they have no status or honor within the kingdom and live as commoners. No one even knows they are nobles. Only the head of their family and His Majesty the King know of their existence. Even if someone knows of their existence, it is taboo to investigate or publicly speak about it.

Gavin Muuteru also knew only that such a family existed. He has never pursued the matter as his father strongly instructed him not to. Even if he did, no one would know anyway.

That aside, the Muuteru family has been a family of knights for generations.

Unlike other ducal families involved in politics, the Muuteru family places its family precepts solely on physical strength and loyalty. The next to inherit the family was the eldest son Lalahaine, who excelled in both strength and wisdom among the sons. He also had a good personality.

Gavin, sixth in line for succession, was from a bloodline that originally lacked ambition for advancement and was allowed to be relatively free as long as he maintained the appearance of a ducal family. He had rarely felt dissatisfied being born into this family.

"...But this is too much."

One early morning.

Gavin, who had woken up early, was complaining while lying in bed in his room at the mansion in the royal capital.

He didn't understand the truth behind the recent arrest drama.

He had been told that something had happened within the court, and that Gavin and his father had been used as bait to gauge the movements of the culprit. However, he was told that the details couldn't be discussed.

In other words, Gavin and those around him had just been deceived, and they were completely innocent. Since he was informed that this was on His Majesty's orders, he couldn't openly complain after that. Gavin had accepted it as being for the sake of the country.

"But house arrest is going too far..."

After that, he had been ordered to stay at home for two weeks.

Although it was for an important mission, Gavin had been suspected of something that would become a special trial case. Moreover, the detention was on His Majesty's orders. His Majesty's plan was unofficial, but the detention itself was official. Simply saying it was a mistake and releasing him would mean admitting His Majesty's error.

Therefore, it was house arrest as a grace period observation measure. In other words, it was just confinement to save His Majesty's face.

Of course, waiting is waiting, and he would be considered on duty while at home. Going out to play or training on his own was forbidden.

And this mansion in the royal capital doesn't have a large training ground.

Gavin could only train in his room.

All his frustration was due to this.

He couldn't even hold a sword, let alone go for a run.

As befitting a family often ridiculed as muscle-heads, Gavin felt like he would explode from stress if he didn't move.

"If only Lilith were here..."

Gavin's face softened as he thought of his beloved sister.

He opened the window to breathe in the morning air and gaze at the sky.

A girl passing by happened to see Gavin with his nostrils flared and a slovenly expression, and she hurriedly ran away, but Gavin himself didn't notice.

He was lost in thought, remembering the last time he met Lilith.

Yes, the last time was... the last time was... Wait???

When did he last meet Lilith?

Thinking back, he couldn't remember having a proper conversation with Lilith since graduating from school. Even as he tried to dig through his memories, all that came up were close-ups of Princess Maple's face filling the screen, saying "Gavin!", "We're going to get married!", "Wait for me, Gavin!".

It's no use, he wanted to remember his beloved sister, but his memory was occupied...!

No matter how much he dug, his vivid memories were only of days spent with Maple.

That's because Princess Maple, who should soon be acquiring the refinement of a lady, was only becoming more energetic day by day.

In the first place, Gavin didn't quite understand how he became Maple's personal knight. He couldn't help but wonder why His Majesty had allowed it. Normally, a personal knight - especially one in close attendance - would be either a married, experienced royal knight or a female royal knight.

Either way, only those who have received a knighthood directly from His Majesty (i.e., royal knights) should be able to take on this role. It's definitely not a position that a mere novice knight could fill.

So... why was it again?

"At first... it was at the royal castle..."

It was a little over a year ago, during his student days, when he visited the castle with his father.

On the day it was decided that he would graduate from the Knight School at the top of his class, he went to greet the knights at the knight quarters in the castle.

To become a royal knight, one must serve as a regular knight (holding a normal knight title) for more than three years, and if judged to be a person of sufficient ability and trust, a recommendation is sent to the king. If His Majesty grants permission and directly bestows the honor, one becomes a royal knight. Royal knights are the elite.

All those who graduate at the top of their class from the Knight School eventually become royal knights, barring accidents resulting in death. His elder brother Lalahaine was one of them. Gavin was told he would likely become one too, so he was making the rounds to introduce himself in advance.

It was when he was resting in the courtyard after finishing his greetings. It was a nice day, and when he happened to look up at the court, something fell from an upper window.

By the time he realized it was a girl, Gavin was already running at full speed.

Using magic, he barely managed to catch Princess Maple, who had slipped and fallen from the balcony. His quick judgment, speed, and loyalty in breaking his arm to save Maple greatly impressed His Majesty the King.

Incidentally, at this time, Gavin became able to activate the wind magic "Wind Boost" without chanting.

After that, until graduation, he occasionally visited the castle to be Maple's playmate. It was honestly embarrassing for a knight to be a partner in playing house, but as it was Princess Maple's order, he couldn't refuse.

As time passed, he graduated from school, and just as he thought he would first join the guardian squad of the royal capital as a knight— a direct order came from His Majesty. It was to join Maple's personal knight squad— and moreover, as one of her close attendants, which was quite an honor.

This bought him much envy, jealousy, and antipathy, but his father advised him that dealing with the reactions of those around him was also part of his duty, so he desperately continued to serve Maple.

A little over a year passed.

Just as he was finally getting used to the knight quarters in the royal castle, that incident occurred.

Looking back, it had been such a tumultuous year of experiences that he couldn't remember properly returning home or even conversing with his family, let alone Lilith. If he hadn't been put under house arrest like this, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to properly face his mother.

Thinking about it that way, even this standby order that felt like a vacation might not be so bad. Tonight, he'll give his mother a shoulder massage. From tomorrow, he'll return to the knight quarters, and life in the royal castle awaits.

Just as he was thinking this—

"Lord Gavin, there's an urgent message!"

The door opened without a knock.

A female servant with a pale face held out a message. She was a servant of the Muuteru family, meaning one of Verugana's subordinates. Though not as skilled as Gavin, she was capable. She had the authority to open and screen basic deliveries due to her high ability to handle dangerous situations. Judging by her expression, she had probably read it already.

Gavin asked without opening the letter:

"What happened?"

"W-well—"

The servant, her voice choked, said clearly:

"Princess Maple has been attacked and kidnapped by someone."