Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 349 (Part 1):

Thwack!

“Ouch!”

This time, it was Asuka who got hit. Sian, who rarely lost his temper, was visibly angry.

“You crazy bastard, so you’re saying it would’ve been better if he had no sense of responsibility and just abandoned you and your mother?”

“You’re pretty quick with your hands. You might have some talent in swordsmanship.”

Asuka looked surprised. It seemed he was more shocked by the fact that Sian had managed to hit him than by Sian’s anger.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“No, I’m just saying. And if he had a sense of responsibility, wouldn’t that mean he’s responsible for me growing up as a commoner? I was a commoner, raised as a commoner. But then, overnight…”

Asuka protested. Suddenly, his home had changed. It wasn’t a palace, but it was a grand mansion in the capital. The path leading to the mansion was incredibly long.

His status had changed too. He could no longer freely play with the commoner children outside.

Going out alone was impossible. He was told to always have knights accompany him. He had to behave in a manner befitting his status.

As a member of the royal family, the restrictions piled up, and everything he had been able to do before was now out of reach.

His mother was busy. She had a lot to learn too. To be recognized as the Grand Duchess of Farnese, she needed to put in her own effort.

Compared to that, Asuka’s struggles were trivial.

He had tried to be friendly with the young servants his age, speaking casually and playing with them, but he was scolded for it.

‘What did I do wrong?’

‘They are commoners, and you are a member of the royal family. You must accept that fact now.’

The butler, his father’s subordinate, was strict. He said Asuka needed to adapt and removed all the young servants and maids his age from his surroundings.

Now, only adults were around him. His mother was busy, and his father, who was close to the emperor, was also occupied.

Having lived apart for most of his life, their relationship was distant, and even attempting to converse felt awkward.

After one incident where Asuka flipped his desk in refusal to attend lessons and ran off to the garden, his father finally took notice of him.

His father offered a simple solution. He assigned a few children who would be suitable companions for Asuka.

‘If you’re lonely, try making new friends.’

And so, three new friends appeared. They spoke politely, using honorifics, and their demeanor was aristocratic.

They were polite, but there was an air of arrogance about them. The Grand Duke of Farnese wouldn’t have assigned just anyone.

They were exemplary, well-behaved children of high-ranking nobles, meant to be role models for Asuka.

Asuka was the Grand Duke of Farnese’s only child. A member of the royal family. They knew exactly what that meant.

Nobles learn these things from a very young age.

From the very beginning, their hierarchy was established. Even though they were only ten years old.

‘Asuka, sir.’

‘You can drop the formalities. Why are you being so polite to me?’

‘If you wish, we can speak casually. The Grand Duke wants us to be friends, after all.’

Those three gave Asuka an uncomfortable feeling. They seemed to shrewdly observe his actions and constantly tried to please him.

Sometimes they went along with Asuka’s suggestions, but when he proposed something risky, like climbing a tree in the garden, they would dissuade him, saying, ‘The Grand Duke wouldn’t approve.’

They constantly reminded Asuka of what he could and couldn’t do, trying to restrict his actions, just like everyone else. It was uncomfortable.

They were supposed to be friends, but Asuka couldn’t see them as such.

But Asuka was lonely, and spending time with them when they visited was his only pastime.

Then, a decisive incident occurred. They were gathered in the study, playing chess. Asuka was surprisingly good at chess.

A maid brought in some tea, and as she set down the teacup, she accidentally bumped into the hand of one of the boys who was moving a chess piece. The teacup spilled, soaking his lap. He immediately shouted.

‘What are you doing!’

‘Y-young master! Are you alright!’

Tea that’s too hot ruins the flavor. The tea in the cup wasn’t scalding, but it was still hot.

The boy’s eyes flashed, and he slapped the maid across the face.

Smack!

‘How dare you!’

As the maid clutched her cheek, he picked up the teapot and poured its contents over her head. The maid screamed.

‘Aaaah!’

‘That’s way too much!’

Asuka finally stepped in to stop him. The scene was shocking, and Asuka, still naive at the time, couldn’t react quickly enough.

Seeing Asuka’s expression, the boy hesitated. The maid was crying.

He quickly softened his expression and spoke to Asuka in a soothing tone.

‘It’s a serious crime for a commoner to harm a noble. But since she’s a servant of your household, we’ll let it slide.’

‘That’s right, Asuka. You need to show servants who make mistakes like this in front of guests what’s what.’

‘You’re too soft-hearted. It’d be best to either fire or severely punish that maid.’

The other boys also took his side.

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