---

  Kieran woke up, his head throbbing slightly as he tried to sit up. He held his temple, massaging it in hopes of easing the dizziness. Once the pounding subsided, he glanced at the wall clock—5 PM. No wonder he felt disoriented; he’d been out cold for quite a while.

  He climbed off the sofa, intent on taking a shower, only to realize he had no idea where his room was. The mansion was massive, with far too many doors to check one by one. As he stood pondering which direction to go, a flicker of memory surfaced in his mind—vague, but oddly specific. It showed him the way to his bedroom. He followed it instinctively, and sure enough, he found himself in front of a door with a wooden nameplate that read: *Kieran*. He turned the knob and stepped into a room that was far too luxurious for a child. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the bath.

  Later, standing on the balcony outside his room, Kieran stared at the breathtaking view. This—this was what he'd dreamed of in his previous life. A quiet place. A beautiful landscape. He never imagined that wish would come true in this new life. After soaking in the scene, he closed the balcony door behind him. It was time for dinner.

  As he walked through the mansion, he noted again the unique lighting: candles, lanterns, and softly glowing mana stones. But he didn’t need to light them manually—he only had to speak, and the entire hallway would illuminate at his command. The magic tech of this world fascinated him. Maybe it was time he started learning it.

  A chime echoed through the mansion. As expected, Erick would be checking in on him. The moment Kieran responded, a dinner tray materialized before him.

  "Erick, I need more books," Kieran said without preamble.

  "Of course, Young Master. What kind of books are you looking for?" Erick asked, ever efficient.

  "I want basic magic books, books on magical technology, and anything else related to magic," Kieran replied.

  "Young Master… are you sure? Those books may be too advanced for a five-year-old," Erick asked, bewildered. Truth be told, he was shocked—those materials usually required a mentor just to understand the basics.

  "No. I want them. Now," Kieran snapped.

  "Y-yes, Young Master. I’ll get them right away," Erick stammered, scrambling off to fulfill the order. He’d nearly incurred the young master's wrath.

  Kieran carried his tray out to a garden table and devoured his meal with gusto. But Erick still hadn’t returned.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  *Is it really that hard to find those books?*

  Possibly. But with the power of the Lavoisier family, it shouldn’t be. He waited, staring up at the night sky—so full of stars, unlike the smog-choked view of the modern world. The moon hung high, brilliant and solemn. One word echoed in Kieran’s mind: *Luna*. He remembered her—the girl who shared that name. Would they ever meet again in this world? He didn’t know. But he vowed to never forget her, not even a single moment from their time together.

  The chime rang again—Erick had returned. Kieran stood up, carrying his empty tray.

  "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Young Master. Some of the books were rare—it took time to gather them," Erick said apologetically.

  "It’s fine. Hand them over," Kieran ordered. His tray floated away through the gate, and moments later, a basket filled with books appeared. Kieran took it without delay.

  "Thank you. I’m going back in," he said.

  "May fortune always favor you, Young Master," Erick bowed.

  Back inside, Kieran brought the books to the sofa. He also gathered the ones left on the table earlier and carried them into his room. He arranged them neatly on the bookshelf. One title caught his eye: *The Lavoisier Family*. That was his family now. He took the book, leaned against the headboard, and began to read.

  The book detailed the bloodline of the Lavoisiers, stating that they were directly related to the Imperial Family of Lysander. The first head of the Lavoisier family—Kieran’s grandfather—was the younger brother of the Emperor at the time. That man, Kedrick von Lavoisier, had been granted the title of Grand Duke.

  His father, the current family head, was Grand Duke Austin Liam Lavoisier. His wife, Evelyn Sharma Lavoisier, was the only daughter of Marquis Dimitri Ari Hastings—Kieran’s maternal grandfather. The Lavoisiers had four sons:

  * Kazeo Stein Lavoisier

  * Kristof Dean Lavoisier

  * Kieran Louis Lavoisier

  * Kairos Hel Lavoisier

  Kieran studied the family portrait. He looked nothing like the others. The Lavoisier bloodline carried red eyes and silver hair from their maternal ancestry. The Imperial Lysander line had golden eyes and blonde hair. His mother's side had red eyes and red hair.

  But Kieran? He had violet eyes and jet-black hair. A complete anomaly compared to his siblings—his eldest and youngest brothers looked like their father, while Kristof resembled their mother.

  *Could it be just a coincidence?* Kieran didn’t know. He wasn’t well-versed in genetics. He closed the book, feeling unexpectedly sleepy. It was only 9 PM, and he’d already napped earlier. Still, he pulled a thick blanket over himself and drifted into a deep sleep.

  ---

  In a study filled with documents, a man sat at a desk buried in papers. He was reviewing them intently when a knock at the door broke his focus.

  "Come in," he called out.

  The door opened, and Levan entered, carrying a tray with coffee.

  "Your drink, sir," Levan said, carefully placing the cup on the crowded desk.

  The man—Austin Liam Lavoisier—paused his work. Exhaustion etched his face, but duty didn’t wait.

  "You should rest, Lord Austin. It’s late," Levan urged.

  Austin shook his head. "I would, but any delay will slow the disaster relief."

  A natural catastrophe had struck within Lavoisier territory, and aid requests were flooding in. As ruler, Austin had to ensure aid was delivered swiftly.

  "How were the children today?" Austin asked.

  "The young masters began their etiquette lessons under Countess Edana’s supervision," Levan replied.

  Austin nodded. *Edana was strict, but she was the best. My children are in good hands.*

  "And the third one?" he asked again.

  "Young Master Kieran requested history books and magical literature," Levan answered.

  Austin fell silent. His third son… always with his nose in a book. He still remembered the day he’d been forced to confine Kieran to the mansion. The boy had cried, begged not to be left alone. But it couldn’t be helped—Kieran’s death aura made it too dangerous for him to be around living beings. Austin had consulted both the Mage Tower and the Temple of Life, but no cure had been found.

  Some nobles had even proposed killing Kieran to prevent future danger. Austin had been furious. Thankfully, both the Mage Tower and Temple of Life opposed the idea.

  Instead, they recommended isolation. Kieran’s power over death was unprecedented, and no known methods existed to control it. Only Kieran himself could learn to master it—so they said.

  *My son… I pray to the Goddess of Life that you’ll one day live a normal life. No matter what the world says, I’ll always stand by your side.*

  ---