Free Web NovelChapter 3: Chapter 3 – A Noble Family
The morning sun shone through the curtains of the Queens estate, giving it a gentle golden light.
Unlike the opulent mansions of high-ranked nobles, the Queens family house was a modest one. The walls had survived through many winters; the furniture was well kept, yet not fancy; and everyone serving in it knew everyone in the family by name.
It was not a house of riches.
It was a house of warmth.
In the nursery, a small bundle lay peacefully inside a wooden cradle.
Jennie Queens.
Almost three months had passed since her birth.
Even though her body was that of an infant, her mind was that of Leonis KingHeart, the legendary king who had once reunited Seraiya.
"..."
She lazily opened her eyes and gazed at the ceiling.
"Another peaceful morning."
"No politics."
"No council meetings."
"No reports awaiting on my table."
A soft smile appeared on her lips.
"This life is great."
The nursery’s door opened.
Gently entering the room was a woman holding a bottle of warm milk in her arms.
Chestnut-colored hair was neatly tied up behind her ears; and despite being tired from raising an infant, her kind smile never left her face.
This woman’s name was Elena Queens.
Jennie’s mother.
"There you are."
"You’re already awake."
Elena picked up Jennie in her arms.
Jennie instantly calmed down.
She had spent enough time observing her mother to know one thing for sure.
Elena loved her children completely, without a trace of doubt.
Not because of their surname.
Not because of her obligation.
Just because of how much they meant to her.
Elena smiled.
"How did you sleep?"
Jennie responded in the only possible way.
"...Baa."
Elena laughed softly.
"Serious today?"
"I am trying to respond in an intelligent manner."
Unfortunately...
She couldn’t make her mouth do as she wanted.
Instead...
"Buu."
"..."
"Close enough."
---
A few minutes later...
The sound of footsteps was heard in the corridor.
The door of the nursery opened.
Entering the room with several documents in his hands was a tall man with dark-brown hair.
His clothes were neat, yet plain; and he did not have the aristocratic appearance of a powerful noble. But there was an undeniable grace in the way he held himself.
This was Arthur Queens.
Head of the Queens family.
A low-rank noble.
Loyal subject of the Kingdom.
Most importantly...
Jennie’s father.
The moment he laid eyes on his daughter, his expression softened instantly.
"The little princess is awake."
Elena smiled.
"You say that every morning."
"Because it’s true."
He gently poked the tiny nose of Jennie.
She stared at him without any trace of emotion in her eyes.
"If you called me that one thousand years ago, every minister would faint from shock."
Arthur laughed.
"She’s staring again."
"I swear she understands everything."
Elena shook her head.
"She’s only a baby."
Jennie looked away.
"Indeed."
"Keep believing in that."
---
Several hours later...
Someone ran to the house.
"Mother!"
Echoing steps were heard in the hallway.
Running into the nursery without even knocking on the door was a little boy who could not be older than ten.
Messy black hair.
Bright-blue eyes.
Unlimited energy.
Wooden training sword was hanging from his belt.
"Can I hold her?" freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Before someone responded...
He was standing beside the cradle already.
This was Lucas Queens.
Jennie’s older brother.
A joyous disaster.
Elena sighed.
"Wash your hands first."
"...Right."
Lucas ran off somewhere.
Three seconds later...
"I’m back!"
"You didn’t wash them."
"..."
Quietly turning around, he said:
"...I’ll be right back."
Jennie observed the whole conversation.
"At least he’s honest."
--- frёeωebɳovel.com
At last...
Lucas sat calmly beside the cradle.
All his enthusiasm was gone; nervousness was shown on his face.
"Can... can I really hold her?"
Arthur nodded.
"Carefully."
Lucas carefully lifted Jennie in his arms.
He looked like he was carrying the most precious treasure in the world.
"So tiny..."
"So warm..."
Jennie looked at Lucas.
He gave her an extremely bright smile.
"I’m your big brother."
"I will protect you."
Jennie’s expression softened.
This phrase...
She had heard it many times before.
But not from Lucas.
From various knights.
From devoted companions.
Many of them had died trying to protect her.
Many of them had never returned.
Yet this child’s promise sounded different.
It did not contain any ambitions.
Just sincerity.
Jennie stretched out her tiny hand.
Her fingers wrapped around Lucas’ thumb.
Lucas stopped.
"M-Mother!"
"She grabbed me!"
Elena laughed.
"She likes you."
Lucas’ face became red.
"I’ll become the best knight ever!"
"I’ll protect Jennie forever!"
Jennie blinked.
"You have great confidence."
"We’ll see about your swordsmanship later."
---
Days were passing peacefully.
Jennie spent most of her time observing the world.
But something odd kept happening to her.
Mana.
She constantly felt it.
Every breeze was carrying streams of magic power.
Every living creature was emitting its own flow of it.
She did not even try to grasp it.
Yet...
Mana seemed to gather around her naturally.
Flowers bloomed faster near her.
Birds settled near her window.
Even pets of the family could not separate themselves from her.
Once, Elena was gently rocking Jennie’s cradle.
Suddenly...
Mana surrounding the room started rippling.
Jennie’s eyes opened by reflex.
She looked towards the door of the nursery.
Her tiny body tensed.
"...?"
Elena noticed.
"What is it?"
Jennie did not know what to tell her.
She just felt...
Something.
Mana.
Very far away.
Chaotic.
Violent.
Unstable.
Completely unlike anything she ever felt.
Peaceful flow of mana surrounding the whole kingdom suddenly started trembling.
Instinct inside her screamed.
Danger.
---
Hundreds of miles away...
The sky suddenly darkened.
Clouds twisted unnaturally.
Mountains started shaking.
Ancient forests fell completely silent.
Birds flew away from here.
Magic creatures hid in caves.
The air itself seemed to be scared.
And then...
A roar.
It echoed across half of the continent.
It was not very loud.
It was absolute.
An ancient voice carrying a weight of long-forgotten history.
Even in the Queens estate...
Windows started rattling.
Lucas dropped his wooden practice sword.
Arthur turned his eyes towards the horizon.
His face was completely pale.
"...Impossible."
Elena clung to Jennie tighter.
"What happened?"
Arthur whispered one sentence only.
"No..."
"It can’t be..."
Outside...
Beyond the capital...
Something huge suddenly appeared over the mountains.
Dark-black scales were shining with the light of red lightning.
Its huge wings covered the sky, blocking the sun.
Its golden eyes were looking down at the world, as if nothing alive under them mattered.
An ancient being.
A creature described in myths only.
Calamity Dragon.
Monster that once devastated the whole world.
Its awakening was shaking mana of Seraiya.
In the nursery...
Tiny crimson eyes of Jennie widened.
Overwhelming pressure of the creature was covering the land.
Any other infant would cry now.
Any other person would collapse in terror.
Jennie...
Smiled.
And then...
She grinned.
Grin far too confident for a baby.
In her mind, Leonis KingHeart laughed.
"So..."
"The world is not as peaceful as it seems."
"Excellent."
"It seems my second life is going to be interesting enough."
An idea started forming in the mind of the former Sword King.
An idea so absurd that no sane person would even think of such thing.
Her grin widened.
"A dragon..."
"One thousand years passed..."
"I wonder..."
"How strong have dragons become?"
In the sky, hidden from the mortal world, Miasa was watching the laughing infant.
The Goddess put her hand in front of her face and sighed.
"...Leonis."
"You’ve been reincarnated for a few months."
"...Don’t even think of fighting with a Calamity Dragon already."
Jennie smiled innocently.
Only Miasa knew the truth.
This smile...
Was a smile of a battle-loving swordsman who just discovered the greatest challenge of his life.
