Reincarnated Into Two Bodies

I stretched my arms above my head and let out a long yawn as the morning light streamed through the window. The sky was just starting to turn blue as the sun rose.

"Looks like I woke up early today."

After getting off my canopy bed, I walked to my wardrobe and quickly got dressed. As soon as I left my room, a passing knight greeted me.

"Good morning, Prince Julient," he said as he bowed down to me.

"Good morning," I replied, nodding my head at him.

As the knight went on his way to patrol the hallways, I headed towards the dining room.

On the way there, I got reminded of last night's events.

The head of the powerful Sareid family, Kyrat Sareid, had come to the castle with urgent news. While I had not been invited to the meeting, Father had informed me of the situation after it was over.

It seemed that a member of the Muleid family, an often overlooked house, had intentionally drafted a child to go to war, likely to hinder Kyrat's efforts in the upcoming conflict. It was a petty move, and one that was sure to bring repercussions.

I shook my head and chuckled a little bit. I understand having grudges, but did this Muleid noble not think about this 'revenge' of his? Did he truly believe he will get away from doing something this egregious? Or did he believe Father will forgive this kind of action?

Either way, I hope the child will be okay. War is an experience no child should have to endure, which is likely why a group of people is rushing to save him as soon as possible.

Kyrat, along with Munith and her bodyguard, Rene, headed straight to Setus after the meeting was over. I was a bit surprised Munith would go there herself. I have a feeling that she has a hidden objective or two, but I know fully well I can't do anything to stop her from going there.

I finally reached the dining room door. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and bread fresh from the oven seeped through the doors.

Upon entering the room, I was greeted by Father and Sophe, who were already eating breakfast. Maids and butlers stood behind them, ready to attend to their needs at a moment's notice. Key was nowhere to be found; perhaps he was still asleep.

"Good morning, Father, Brother," I greeted them, taking a seat near Sophe.

"Good morning, Brother," Sophe put down his bread and replied with a smile. Father, on the other hand, remained silent.

As I reached for the toast, I could feel Father's gaze on me. He always wore a stern expression, especially towards me, but this morning, it seemed more tense than usual.

I started eating my breakfast, and the dining room remained silent throughout.

My mind wandered off as I took bites of the buttered toast. I still needed to figure out how to deal with the aftermath of the war between Denta and Ortensia. It didn't matter which side won; our defenses would be lower than ever.

I needed to think this through deeply. Perhaps I would head to the library today. Organizing my thoughts in a calm and quiet place should help.

After quickly finishing breakfast, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and said to Father, "Father, I would like to go to the library today."

"...Sure, bring knights to escort you." He answered straightforwardly.

"Of course, Father."

I rose from my chair and bid farewell to Sophe, who was eating his breakfast slowly.

"I'll be heading out, Brother. See you soon."

"Of course, be safe!" he replied casually.

If only I could talk this casually with Key. However, setting aside his infatuation with Munith, our age gap is quite significant. Sophe and I are relatively close in age, with me being 21 and Sophe being 22. Key, on the other hand, is 27, having been born five years before Sophe. Talking with him was never easy, but with the added complication of Munith, things have become even more difficult.

 

I stepped out of the castle's grand entrance and the two knights who were assigned to escort me followed close behind. I carry with me a small bag containing a water flask, ink, a few rolls of parchment and a few quill pens. As I walked towards the castle gates, the effects from the rain last night was still present. The ground was wet and muddy, and the flowers and bushes are glistening from the lingering droplets.

I greeted the gatekeeper, an elderly man who had been working in the castle for as long as I could remember. He usually help take care of the garden alongside the maids, he works from morning to dusk, where a night shift knight will guard the gate, replacing him for the remainder of the day.

The gatekeeper greeted me with a gentle smile. "Good morning, Your Highness!"

"Good morning, George. How's the garden?" I responded with a smile of my own.

"Why, it's lively! Last night's rain made them all shiny, haha!" George replied, a twinkle in his eye.

"That's good news! Sorry, but I need to head to the library right now. I will talk to you later," I clasped my hands together, apologizing.

"There's no need to worry, Your Highness! Just having you greet me is enough," George assured me.

"Haha, good to know. If you can open the gate, it would be great."

"Of course!" George took out a ring of keys from his back pocket and unlocked the gate, he then opened the gate by cranking a lever, the sound of metal on metal ringing out in the quiet morning.

"Safe travels, Your Highness!" George said as I walked through the gate, the two knights behind me followed closely.

"Thank you, George! Have a good day." I replied, waving goodbye as the gate closed behind me.

 

As I walk through the city, I observed the surroundings. The buildings were made of stone and brick, and their roofs were angled slightly to allow the rain to slide off. The streets were lively, with kids running around, stalls opening selling various food and wares, and many more.

I continued on my way, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. I could hear the distant sound of a blacksmith's hammer, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. The city was alive, bustling with activity, and it was a stark contrast to the stillness of the castle.

An elderly woman's voice suddenly shouted my name. "Prince Julient! Good morning!"

I turned my head towards the source, recognizing the familiar face of Anna. She was a kind-hearted elderly woman who had a passion for baking. Our paths often crossed, and we would engage in pleasant conversations during my strolls around the city. "Good morning, Anna! How are you on this fine morning?"

"Oh, just great Your Highness! Would you like to have some of my cookies? I happened to bake too much and have a few leftovers!"

I waved my hand in denial politely, "No, no. That won't be necessary, I do appreciate the offe-"

"Oh come on, just take a few! Wait here!"

She quickly ran inside her house, not giving me a chance to decline her offer. After only a minute, she returned. She pushed a small brown bag containing a few cookies onto me.

"Here you go!"

I accepted it with a smile. "Well, if you insist, then I shall take it. Thank you."

I placed the bag of cookies inside my own bag, alongside my other belongings.

We chatted a bit more before we parted ways as I continue walking my way to the library.

I constantly get stopped by people who recognize me, greeting me on the road. I don't mind them, as protecting their smiles is my duty as a prince, and seeing them makes my day better.

As we continue our walk, I overheard one of my knights remark quietly.

"Prince Julient is really popular, huh?"

I stopped in my tracks and turned my head towards him in curiosity.

"What do you mean?"

"A-Ah!" he stammered. "I-It's just that people readily greet you and approach you without hesitation, Your Highness. I doubt they would do the same with either Prince Key or Prince Sophe."

"Well, I do go for walks more often than my older brothers, so I guess that makes me a bit popular here? Well, I don't venture out as frequently as Munith, though."

For her, she goes out almost every day. On the days she doesn't, she explores the castle, talking with any nobles who are visiting at the time or just with the maids and butlers.

Due to her frequent outings, there's no doubt she's more popular than me with the citizens.

"Ah, it's a bit different than Princess Munith, Your Highness," the knight continued.

"Hm?"

"Princess Munith has a certain... 'aura' to her. I feel like she's a more captivating individual to the people, someone you can't help but admire. You, however, I feel like it's easier to approach and ask things like the weather with you."

The other knight promptly nudged his friend with his elbow. "Did you really address the prince as 'You'?"

"A-A-Ah! F-Forgive my informality!"

The knight bowed up and down profusely.

"Haha! No problem! Feel free to address me however you like. We're all friends here!"

"F-Forgive me!"

So, Munith has that 'captivating' image, huh? She definitely have the appearance for it, her hair being the most prominent. I can understand why people who don't know her true nature perceive her as 'captivating.' However, personally, I can't quite see it.

 

Soon enough, we arrived at the library, and I was surprised to see two knights standing guard at the entrance.

Is there another noble in the library? Why would knights accompany them? Unless they are either paranoid or of royal status like me, there is no reason for them to be present. However, since it doesn't violate any laws, I can't really complain.

I walked up to the knights, and they immediately recognized me, bowing respectfully.

"P-Prince Julient! Good morning!" one of them greeted me.

"G-Good morning, Your Highness!" the other added.

"Good morning to the two of you as well," I replied with a smile. "Say, I have a question, who are you two escorting?"

"W-We're escorting and protecting Lady Carine of the Sareid house as she visits the library, Your Highness!"

Sareid?

The same Sareid who visited the castle last night in a hurry? There's no doubt about it.

But, Carine's not the name of Kyrat's wife. I remember a court case involving Peyna Sareid, something about her causing violence against her own knights and daughter, but the charges are dropped after Munith interrupted it. If Peyna is Kyrat's wife, then Carine would be their daughter.

I look forward to meeting her.

"Very well, may I come in?" I asked the two knights.

"O-Of course, Your Highness!"

One of the two knights who are escorting me spoke up.

"Then the two of us shall stand guard outside."

"Please do, thank you for escorting me."

I opened the library door and walked inside, the knights closed the door behind me.

In front of me I see a young girl with black hair sitting on one of the library's many desks reading, with stacks of books beside her.

I approached her and asked a question.

"Good morning. May I ask, are those two knights outside yours?"

"Y-Yes, they are," she answered reluctantly.

Now that I got closer, I observed her more carefully. She has shoulder-length black hair with green eyes. She has an uptight aura, something befitting that of a noble. It's not with her appearance, but the way she acts. Moreover, now that I paid more attention, I see that the book stack beside her consists of... complex... looking books.

"The Art of Battles"? "To Move Pawns"?!

Those are compilation of war strategies! Why is a kid reading them?!

 

Just then, two women emerged from a door located back in the library. One is wearing a maid uniform, while the other is the librarian. She's holding a tray with a teapot and cups. The moment we made eye contact, she widened her eyes in shock.

"Prince Julient?!" she exclaimed.

The librarian dropped her tray as she raised her hands to cover her mouth. Thankfully, the maid reacted quickly and caught it with speed. I'm guessing she has [Enhanced Agility] if she can catch something that fast, but her reaction speed is commendable as well.

 

After the incident, the maid excused herself to fetch another cup for me, while the librarian quietly walked back to the counter. I took a seat across from Carine, ready to engage in conversation.

However, she seems nervous, neither reading or talking. She is holding a book, but it's clear she can't focus on it.

Perhaps I need to take the initiative.

"Carine Sareid, is that correct? Nice to meet you. My name is Julient Lorelleid," I introduced myself, extending my hand toward her. She hesitantly shook my hand.

"N-Nice to meet you..." Her voice trailed off as she quickly pulled her hand away.

No doubt about it, she's feeling nervous.

I want to learn a bit more about her, it might help me understand this whole Muleid incident a bit more. But it seems asking her directly won't work if she's this nervous.

Let's start with some small talk.

I glanced around, looking for any potential topics to talk about and my eyes fell onto the stack of books beside Carine. I see titles such as "Strategic Symphony", "Lord of Battles", "Leenia's Chronicles", and many more. These were all books related to war strategies in one way or another. Why would a young girl be reading these? Did her parent put her through this? Her father is quite a skilled commander after all, perhaps he wants her to take after him?

"May I ask, what books are you reading there? They seem... interesting."

"I-It's nothing..." she answered reluctantly.

It seems she doesn't want to talk about it with me. It's understandable, having one of the prince sitting in front of you while you are reading will make anyone nervous.

What if I say something the wrong way? Will I leave a bad impression? These thoughts are probably in her head right now.

"There's no need to be so nervous. I won't ask you to be formal or anything," I assured her. "So, feel free to talk if you want, and if you prefer not to, just pretend I'm not here."

However, Carine remained silent.

Just then, the maid returned with another tray, placing an empty cup in front of me and pouring tea from the teapot. After a few seconds, the cup was filled.

"Please enjoy it while it's warm, Your Highness," the maid said.

"Thank you, I appreciate it," I replied, expressing my gratitude.

The maid bowed and walked back to be by Carine's side, she leaned in and whispered something to Carine, though I couldn't catch what was being said.

Carine shifted her gaze upward, glancing at me before speaking up.

"Y-Your Highness, do you not have a personal maid of your own?"

Now she's initiating the conversation? I don't know what the maid said to her, but it seemed it made Carine open up a little. I should take this chance to melt the ice.

"I don't have one, no. Neither do my brothers."

"...Really?" She asked, genuine curiosity painted on her face.

"Yes, it's true, but we each have different reasons. I want to be more independent, so I opted to handle things like waking up and brewing tea on my own. As for Key, he used to have one, but ever since he's engaged to Munith, he no longer has one in fear it might make Munith jealous. As for Sophe, he felt left out being the only one of us with a personal maid, so he dismissed her."

"I see... 'The Modest Prince', huh?"

The Modest what?

"To be modest... S-Should I dismiss Leila...? " Carine whispered to herself, a look of confused distress is clear on her face.

A small look of surprise came on the maid's face. It seemed she didn't expect this reaction.

I see, if my guess is correct, Carine is contemplating self-improvement through modesty, and the maid perceives an opportunity to make her open up by mentioning my own modesty, that would be why Carine initiated the conversation. Carine takes my earlier account of not having a personal maid as a sign that she should dismiss her maid and take responsibility for herself. And now the maid is probably panicking inside at the idea of Carine potentially dismissing her.

What a misunderstanding...

"I assure you, not having a personal maid doesn't necessarily make one modest," I reassured her.

Carine looked at me with surprise, clearly intrigued by my response.

"Besides, it seems that Leila is more than just a maid to you," I continued. "I can tell that you trust her and she plays a significant role in your life."

Carine's expression softened, and she seemed to consider my words.

"I-I guess... Sorry for considering dismissing you, Leila," she apologized, bowing her head to her maid.

"There's no need to worry, Lady Carine," Leila reassured her gently.

"Also, considering she may also serve as your bodyguard, dismissing her might not be a wise decision," I added.

Carine looked genuinely surprised at my remark.

"How did you know?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Just a good guess," I replied with a smile.

Judging from the maid's earlier display of agility in catching the tea tray, it was clear that she possessed skills beyond those of a regular maid. The [Enhanced Agility] Talent alone wouldn't account for such quick reflexes.

Carine stared at me for a while, her eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue.

"Your Highness, do you consider yourself a genius?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

"Yes, I... wait, what?" I was taken aback by her question, not expecting such a direct question.

I was also a bit ashamed for instinctively answering yes...

Carine's eyes widened slightly, perhaps realizing that her question had caught me off guard.

"I-I apologize, that was a strange thing to ask," she quickly added, her voice filled with concern.

"N-No, it's fine," I replied, regaining my composure. "It's just not a question I often hear. Why do you ask?"

Carine hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Well, I'm in need of help right now."

"Help?"

"Yes, it may be bold of me to ask, but..."

Carine rose from her chair and placed both of her hands on the table, leaning slightly towards me.

"Will you teach me about the ways of war?"

"--Eh?"