It's been seven years since I was born as Isak Baumgartner.
I've had memories of my previous life since I was born. But it didn't add to my mental age, I just realized it was a memory of a previous life as I grew older. Even though I realized it, nothing changed in my life, and I never told anyone about it.
So that day, I just came to the Duke Ernst's house for the first time as an apprentice gardener.
Since I was going to be entering the ducal premises, my father brought me there to show my face to the master, Duke Ernst.
I heard that the duke was busy, so he gave me some time before I left to greet him at the large entrance hall. I thought, "What's wrong with a glimpse like that? But apparently, for security reasons, it is a rule that anyone who enters or leaves the residence must first see the Duke.
If it were me, I'd forget it as soon as possible.
There's no way I could remember the faces of all the employees in such a large mansion.

"Well, there's a pretty girl here.

Is that me?　Oh, you mean short. Well, you're seven.
I recognized the Duke at once as he came down the arched staircase with his thick blond hair swinging. He was not slow, but he was walking slowly, giving off the air of a nobleman. I wonder if this is called graceful movement.
She also has the kind of beauty that would look at home with a rose on her back.

"Good morning, Mr. Gerald. I apologize for taking so long to see you today. I'm a young man, but I'll be showing up here as your apprentice, so please say hello.

Just as the Duke took notice of me and stepped forward, my father hung his head and introduced me.
I didn't know my quiet father could talk so much. And I've never heard him use honorifics before.
I was so stunned that I couldn't help staring at my father.
He kept his face turned toward the duke and looked at me sideways as if to scold me. Oh, hi. You want me to greet him quickly, right?
I hurriedly straightened my back, turned to the Duke, and bowed.

I am Isak Baumgartner. It's nice to meet you.

"I'm Gerald. Nice to meet you.

"I'm Gerald. Nice to meet you," he said, offering his hand naturally.

What? A handshake?
I don't know, but is that allowed in your status?

When I glanced at my father, he wasn't staring at me, so I decided it was okay and shook his hand without hesitation.

You're so young. How old are you?

I'm seven.

The gardener's job requires a lot of physical strength, so it's normal to become an apprentice when you're old enough to do it. Even ten years old is probably too early. It's no wonder the duke is curious.

He's a clever boy. Dennis, you have a bright future ahead of you.

He's just being cheeky. ......

The duke smiles, and the father replies with a stern face.

"Two years older than my daughter. Two years older than my daughter. She'll still want to play.

No, I want to be able to guard the duke's garden as soon as possible.

I know that my eyes are telling me that I want to be like my father as soon as possible. My father is amazing, tending the vast ducal garden almost single-handedly. He is recognized by his fellow gardeners, and there is no shortage of people who want to become his apprentice. Well, he's hard on himself and others, so there's no shortage of people who break him. ......
I was prepared to be strict, so I begged my father to make me an apprentice as soon as possible. After about a year of begging, he reluctantly made me an apprentice.
Seeing me full of longing for my father, the Duke narrowed his eyes dazzlingly.

"That's nice, I want a son too.

He said with an amazingly sparkling smile. I'd rather squint myself. Or rather, I want to meditate.
My father's expression is still sullen. I was hoping he'd let go of my hand.
He probably liked this, right?
It's like a job interview, first impressions count. I'm relieved that I didn't offend my employer because I'm not good at honorifics.

"Father!

A very high-pitched voice came down. At the same time, the Duke's hand finally released his grip and he turned toward the voice.
From the stairs beyond the duke, a small figure in a bright red dress came scurrying down. She looks like a chick who found a parent bird.
Oh, her face is a little red too. She's angry. He's all red. The only thing that's easy on your eyes is probably your father's fluffy, light golden hair. Is that hair color from your mother or father?

"Hey, you came to see me off?　My little angel.

The Duke opens his arms to catch his daughter as if she is about to charge at him. This is the first time I've ever seen anyone say such a line with a straight face. Aristocrats are amazing.


The daughter paused and looked up at her father.

"Father, listen to me!　It's terrible.

"Oh, what is the matter with you this morning?

She was so mad that all she could think about was what she wanted to say, and she began to ramble on about what the Duke had said. The duke's pockets are big enough to listen to him.

The maid is terrible. The maid was awful! She gave me such a shabby haircut, and it hurt to have it caught in the brush so many times!

Her hair was twisted lightly on both sides and held back with a cameo barrette. She probably combed it carefully so that the fluffy cat hair would not swell above the fastened part. Children's hair is so fine.
I think A-line is a good silhouette. I don't understand the nobility of it, though.

"Well, Dear's hair is delicate. It must have hurt.

The Duke pats her head as if to console her. But it seems that her father's sympathy is not enough to make her feel better.

Please fire this rude maid!

That's probably what she wanted to say when she caught her father busy before work. The butler (provisional), who has been giving off an aura of "roll me up" diagonally to the right from the time he was shaking hands with me for a long time, is getting weaker because it seems to be taking even longer. I don't see it on his face, so I'm not sure.
The maid, who may have been following her, is pale and frozen behind the butler. Did she do her daughter's hair?
I mean.

"You have a very ugly personality.

Before the duke could react, my thoughts spilled out.
Everyone in the room froze.
In particular, the Duke's daughter, who had never been called ugly before, widened her eyes as if she had never seen anything like it before.

Gosh!

The stiffness was broken by her father's merciless fist.

"......? !

The pain left me speechless. I cowered with both hands on the spot where I was hit.

"Apologize.

He scolded me simply and mercilessly. Now," my father's intimidating voice says. I'm in too much pain to talk.
And I just plain hate it. It's not my fault. Because he's a kramer.
Being hired by a duke's gotta be hard. And you're asking me to fire him so easily. He doesn't understand that it takes time, money, and effort to fill a vacancy, including resignation procedures and background checks on the new person.
I look at the girl who is smaller than I am with teary eyes, still speechless. Under my disapproving gaze, she seems to have correctly understood that I was the one who said it. Her cheeks turn red and she raises her eyebrows.

"What did you say, ......?

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

Who do you think I am, ......?　Who do you think you are?

It's the kind of thing a small-time crook would say.

"The Duke's daughter.

That's right!　It's a good thing you're a nobleman.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm an aristocrat or because I'm gifted, but for someone younger than you, you talk a lot. I'm impressed in a strange way by the girl who is wincing.

"Is your father a great man?

Of course he is!

Is he a big man?

Yes, he is.

Are you a great man?

That's what I'm saying!

Why?

Why?

I know you're a great man, Duke. He's an employer, he's working, he's busy, he's got responsibilities. But why are you so important?

I'm Duke Ernst of .......

Are you really so great that you have to rely on your father to fire one of your maids?

".......

The more I ask, the more my words lose momentum, and finally, as if I couldn't think of anything to say back, I get a silent stare.
I stare back into his eyes and wait for his response. Then, the other person's right hand lifted up.

Then his right hand shot up.

He slapped me on the left cheek, but it didn't hurt. You're not used to violence, and you haven't trained your muscles that hard.
When I returned my gaze, which had been diverted by the slap, I was frightened, wary of a counterattack.

If you resort to violence, it's like admitting defeat.

What?

I'm not playing with you, but in this case, if you can't answer my question, it means you've admitted that you're not great.
You know what I'm talking about, but I'm going to make sure you know what I'm talking about," he said, turning red and running away on his heels.


After beating the little guy to the punch, I noticed that my father's fists hadn't reappeared. I looked up and saw the Duke holding up one hand to stop my father from raising his fist. The Duke, who had been watching our argument until the end, smiled bitterly.

"Thank you, Isak.

No,......, I'm sorry for saying what I want to ...... your daughter.

I'm rather grateful. I've warned her about it from time to time, but she doesn't seem to be afraid of my scolding.

The duke shrugged his shoulders weakly. Yeah, it's easy to imagine. He's sweet on his daughter.

"But I like the idea of asking back. I think I can do that.

The Duke smiles, "That's helpful. Yes, I didn't raise my voice at all, I just asked him back. The lady just destroyed herself on her own. When my sister was annoying in a previous life, I used to do it this way.

"...... Master Gerald, it's time.

The butler seemed to have lost his nerve and rushed him. The duke replied with a smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm going to go now. ...... Oh, yes, Isak. Just one thing.

"Yes?

The duke steps out to leave, but turns around.

My Dear is as pretty as an angel. Of course she is.

He nailed me with a wink.

"Oh, hi, .......

Apparently, that bouncing back and forth is part of the charm of parental stupidity. At any rate, I apologized and said I would correct it.
After the duke disappeared, I heard a long sigh of anger from next to me.
I looked up at my father in fear, and he looked down at me with an intense look in his eyes.

I'm sorry.

The duke had stopped me, so it was unlikely that I would be hit a second time, but I was still afraid of the silent pressure, so I apologized in reflex.
Still, the pressure didn't stop, so I thought about it and added a few words.

"Dear? I'll apologize to you next time I see you, too, Death.

I was relieved when he finally looked away.

I was relieved when he finally broke his gaze. But what could an apprentice gardener possibly do next?