It had been six months since he came to this world.
Was it because of the mana he now possessed? His soul, which had grown stronger and recovered considerably? Or perhaps the effects of his ability, Ephemeral Soul Rebirth?
Ellis didn't know. But one thing was certain… he had already learned the language of this world.
He could even speak now, at least simple words, despite his small tongue making articulation somewhat difficult.
And what about his body? He could walk… though clumsily.
His progress over these past six months had been rapid. Not only in adapting to this new world, its language, and his surroundings, but also in his physical development. More than that, he had made advancements in his mana sensing and skill creation.
There were many things.
But beyond all these developments, there was one thing he never expected to happen.
Yet, it did.
… And it was related to Silas, his maid.
He had grown too attached to her, something he truly hadn't expected.
Especially considering that when he first settled into this body, into this world, and grasped his situation… the very first thought that crossed his mind was that he wouldn't be staying here.
This world didn't seem to offer much in terms of strength.
And if that was the case, then there was only one logical course of action.
He would LEAVE.
Christian never intended to develop personal relationships. How could he? He couldn't take them with him… right?
Especially when the quickest method to reaching another world, when he reached a bottleneck in raising his strength, was simple.
Death.
And reincarnation.
Ellis fully intended to abuse his ability, to make the absolute best use of it.
But now, with Silas in the picture, things had become… complicated.
He was already in a difficult position, constantly assaulted by thoughts of his mother and sister back on Earth, wondering what had happened to them. Wondering how they were handling his death.
And now…
There was someone else he was starting to worry about.
Someone he would likely need to take into consideration when formulating his future plans.
And that… was troublesome.
So, how had he ended up in this kind of difficult situation?
Why had he grown so attached to her?
Was it actually because of her appearance?
She was beautiful, after all.
But, no… that alone wasn't the reason.
The real answer once again, lay not in her looks but in her conduct, her behavior—the way she treated him.
The way she lowered herself in his presence, behaving as though he wasn't just some abandoned noble child but seemingly an EMPEROR, and she was nothing more than a lowly maid who had the honor of serving him.
The care she took in her every action—when she touched him, when she fed him, when she carried him—always gentle, always precise, as if he were something fragile, precious… a treasure to be handled with utmost delicacy.
How she cushioned him against her soft, enticing, big breasts, holding him with an affection that never wavered, never faltered.
All these kind of small things… if they could be considered small in the first place, become something he couldn't separate from.
… He wouldn't deny it.
Had the same actions been done by a woman with an unattractive appearance, his thoughts might have been different.
… But so what?
It was human nature to be drawn to beautiful things.
And more importantly, she was the only one who had treated him with such affection since he came to this world.
The only one among all the maids who, from the very start, had served him like this.
And now, Ellis couldn't imagine living without her care… without the warmth her presence provided.
It was too easy to get used to this kind of life.
And once you got used to it…
It was almost impossible to let go.
…
"It's mealtime."
Absorbed in thinking about her, Ellis didn't notice when she came, until he suddenly heard Silas's voice.
"Silas." He turned his head toward her as he called her name, his gaze settling on her familiar figure.
She stood there demurely, a natural warmth radiating from her, something she hadn't displayed when she first began taking care of him.
And as he saw her extend her hand to carry him, something he had already grown accustomed to, he found himself instinctively reaching out as well.
He had the choice to try and eat on his own now, to drink milk without assistance. He was probably capable of doing so.
Yet, even knowing that…
Even knowing that he didn't need to rely on her like this anymore…
His arms still reached out.
Was it because he had lived in the body of a baby for six months? Had that made him too childish?
He didn't know.
But he didn't care, either.
He was doing his best at every moment—pushing forward, growing stronger, preparing for the future.
So if he indulged in something this small…
There was no problem, right?
Not to mention, time was something he had plenty of.
So much time, in fact, that he didn't mind taking a few detours every now and then.
What mattered was that he stayed satisfied…
That he remained true to himself.
To his own desires.