Catalyst of Enigma

"Young master, please wait here for a moment while we fetch a doctor," the maid said as she bowed her head and moved toward the exit. Before she could leave, Aizer's voice halted her.

"Hey."

"Mary, was it?"

"Yes, young master. Is there anything you need?"

"Yeah."

"As you know, my memory isn't in the best of states right now, so I want you to answer some questions for me."

[This might sound a bit rude, but since she keeps calling me young master, I guess it won't be a problem,] Aizer thought, glancing at Mary.

"Why certainly, young master. What would you like to know?"

Thinking for a moment, Aizer replied, "I want to know who I am, where I am, and how old I am."

[This is critical information. Even though I'm a noble, in the eyes of someone with a higher rank, I'm no better than a commoner. At least, that's how the noble hierarchies work in most of the novels I've read.]

"Young master, you are currently the seventh prince of the Phalsmir Kingdom, the son of the Empress, and, as of today, you are sixteen years old."

"As of today?"

"Yes. Forgive me for not mentioning it earlier; everything happened so fast this afternoon that it slipped my mind."

"Happy birthday, young master!"

[Happy birthday!? Today's my birthday? What a strange way to start a transmigration,] Aizer mused as a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Thank you for the birthday wishes, Mary."

"It is my honour, young master."

"Mary."

"Yes, young master?"

"You said I was a prince, correct?"

"Yes, young master."

"Then shouldn't you be calling me Your Highness instead of young master?"

"Ah, about that… well, before you fell into a coma, you ordered all the servants in the manor to address you as young master. Ever since then, we've honoured that request."

"If it displeases you, we can change the way we address you."

Pondering for a moment, Aizer replied, "No, it's fine. Continue calling me young master. I was just curious."

"As you wish, young master."

[Heh. Being addressed as young master makes me feel like the protagonist of those martial arts Murim novels I used to read,] Aizer thought, his mind wandering.

"Did you say something, young master?"

"Huh? No, nothing. Just mumbling to myself."

"Oh, right—you mentioned it's my birthday. So, where are my parents?"

"I'm sorry, young master, but your father—your father…"

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. I just… I'm not sure it's something you'd like to hear after just waking up, especially with your memory issues."

[Something I wouldn't like to hear? Ugh, don't tell me I have a disapproving, neglectful father who doesn't care about his children.]

"It doesn't matter. Just spit it out already."

"Well… um… your father is dead."

The room fell into a deep, suffocating silence, broken only by the sound of soft breathing.

"Dead? My father's dead?"

"I-I'm sorry, young master, but you told me to tell you—"

"No, no… it's fine. I'm just surprised, that's all. I wasn't expecting to hear that."

"…Mary."

"Y-yes, young master?"

"You said my father is dead, correct?"

"Y-yes."

"Alright. Then do you know who killed him?"

"Ah… th-that would be the Empress, young master."

Again, silence enveloped the room. Mary shifted nervously under Aizer's steady gaze.

"Sigh. So let me get this straight. I had a father, but he was killed by my mother, who is also the Empress. Is that correct, Mary?"

"Y-yes, young master."

"Do you know why?"

"N-no, young master. All we know is that one day the Empress suddenly killed him."

"Does that make me a bastard child, Mary?"

"Y-yes, young master."

"Mary, I have another question. Was I always a bastard child, even before my father's death?"

"Yes, young master, you were."

[Well, this is a twist. Normally, it's the men in these stories who kill their wives and neglect their children. This world's flipped that script. Oh well, not that it matters. They're not really my parents, even if they were. I just wanted to know what kind of household I'd be dealing with. Turns out I only have one parent. Wait… doesn't that mean—]

Pausing for a second Aizer looked at mary before asking.

"Mary, who are the people currently married to the Empress?"

"That would be, um, King Gale and King Vikir, young master."