ISBN 978-5-0056-2536-6

      Created with Ridero smart publishing system

      Chapter 1. Farewell to the past

      Today is a dark day. It’s raining for the third day in a row. The old maple tree under my third-floor windows began to wither. Many things die in this castle. And my mother, the maid Greta, too, from stone sickness. It’s been two weeks now. It’s very hard for me as a fifteen-year-old teenager. I didn’t want to get out of bed. So I lay there. Tossing and turning and whining about his life. But Martha, the maid, entered the room.

      «Young Master Claudius, get up, breakfast is waiting for you.» «She’s the same age as me, beautiful. Dark hair, strong features. Always in high spirits, although there is no reason. – It’s been two weeks. No matter how sad, but we must live on. My father is waiting.

      «He’s a scoundrel,» I said, pulling the blanket over me threateningly. My mother was a servant here for many years. Count Leonid Knut, an old man in his late eighties, warmed up to her when his wife died of a strange stone disease. Now he is almost a hundred years old. He always talks about his grandchildren. His children left the world many years ago. They have the slave trade business, and he has it.

      «You can’t talk about your master like that. He loves you. In your own way. She began to pull off the blanket. How beautiful she is. I’ve liked it since I was a kid. We grew up together. She considers me a friend, and I think more of her. But we can’t be together. «No one canceled my classes, either. Teacher Matvey Ulok does not tolerate truants.

      «He can be patient. There are no other students in the castle. You don’t want to study with me. Like I didn’t ask for. – My dastardly father hired him years ago as a healer, but when I was eight years old and started to develop abilities for magic (from the author of the human race, only aristocrats have abilities and are inherited), he also became my teacher. A lively and cheerful young man of forty-five. I didn’t know his true age, though, because he was a demon. And so it has a blue skin color and small horns. He knows a lot about the world. He says that he was kicked out of the College of magicians for his progressive ideas in the field of potion brewing. What a clumsy fellow. You can’t lose a warm place in this world.

      «I can’t study with you, I’m a servant and a slave. And you are the Count, "she said, pulling off my clothes and beginning to dress me. – And your father was against it when my mother, Ilina the housekeeper, asked for it.

      «That doesn’t surprise me. «My dad’s a big social distance advocate. «The poor and slaves should know their place,» he likes to say.

      With her help, I dressed in a cool white coat and pants. My shyness only made her laugh.

      «We used to wash together when we were kids, don’t be shy. She said, stroking my head.

      «We’re not kids anymore. I said, turning away. You look at her and you can’t say that she’s a child, that’s what kind of breasts she grew, not less than the third size. It’s hereditary in their family.

      She just laughed and took my hand and we went to the «meal hall» as my father used to say. The servants and maids bowed to me on the way. I don’t like it. Until eight years ago, I was just an ordinary kid, living in this castle as the son of a maid. I was preparing to become a butler. But one day the Count had a whim, and he recognized me as his son. This was a complete surprise to me. My mother didn’t tell me who my father was. I personally thought it was Pavel the butler. A handsome, strong man in his late forties, bold. Impudent to the count, about the equality of people says. The Count tolerates him only because he knows how to keep his servants in order and discipline. He’s smart, even if he’s a slave. I wish he was my father.

      «Son, sit down. There’s some good news for you. «My father was sitting in front of a huge table about forty meters away. Various delicacies and viands were placed on it. There’s clearly more food than we can eat together. He liked that after him this food would be eaten by servants and slaves. So he took a bite and licked most of the dishes. I’ve had to eat with him before, too. When I remember, I shudder.

      «Yes, young master, sit down next to your father. And not to your usual place. Pavel the butler said. Dressed as always in a black tuxedo.

      I sat down. Martha, the maid, placed a napkin on my lap. It was so uncomfortable. Her hands are warm. I was sweating profusely. A strange feeling came over me. An alarm or something.

      «As you know. He paused.«I’m old and I want to see my grandchildren. Many years ago, my children son Bendy and daughter Smilga left me after the death of their mother Tamara. My dear wife. He looked sad at that. – So two weeks ago, after learning about the sad events. «Well, the bastard didn’t talk about my mother’s death. – They decided to come with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They have a civil war going on in the neighboring country of Ionia, so they decided to wait it out with us. Their crown Prince Slavio is at war with Uncle Losyon.

      – So I am certainly glad that they will come, I will be able to at least finally get to know them.

      «Here’s the catch. They don’t want you here. That’s why you’re going to the Academy of Miracles. There you will be taught magic, and you will be able to choose your own path in life. Maybe you’ll become a minister or a mage in the guild. Maybe a military officer or an adviser. All doors are open to you. He grinned.

      «But not this house, as I understand it. It is closed for returns.

      «Don’t be so angry. My grandchildren will live here. You didn’t think you’d stay forever. «It’s clear that he wasn’t saddened by my mother’s death. He just wants to get rid of me.

      «How much time do I have?» – I realized that this cannot be avoided.

      «You’ll leave tomorrow, in the morning. Pack your bags and say goodbye to the servants. I know you’re friends with them. He grimaced at that. «Although I didn’t approve of it.

      «Can I take Martha with me?» I’m supposed to be a servant, according to my status. I stared at my father, then at the laughing maid.

      «No, she’s staying here, I have my own plans for this cutie. He smiled nastily. «If you have the money, buy it back. That’s the incentive for you. Its price is three hundred gold pieces. – Although I know that its price in the slave market is a maximum of thirty gold pieces.

      – The amount is too big for her. But I agree. Don’t hurt her, Daddy, before I collect the right amount.

      «You can tell right away that you’re my son. You also notice beautiful ladies. I thought you didn’t notice her.» No, I noticed it. At least you’re not one of them. He began to laugh nastily as he licked his fried chicken. «Just don’t marry her as soon as you buy her. You can be a mistress or concubine. Do not disgrace my glorious name of Knutov. I’ll give you five gold pieces of pocket money a month. If you live modestly enough

      «And thank you for that.

      «They’ll give you free food and uniforms. On vacation, as you understand, do not come to me. Find a part-time job in the city, there are probably restaurants or hotels there. You wanted to be a butler. So get to work.

      «Certainly a father,» I said sadly. You can’t make a lot of money in a job like this.

      «Don’t borrow money, and don’t give it to anyone. Study hard and don’t offend anyone. Stick to the ladies carefully. If she gets pregnant, send the bastards to me. I’ll accept my grandchildren. But don’t sleep with dwarves or mermaids, I don’t like them. Avoid centaurs, too, because they smell. And in general, there are no girls better than people. Although I’ve been with elf ladies before, I don’t recommend it either. They may be cute on the outside, but they’re vindictive and mean on the inside. And most importantly, a seven-hundred-year-old woman can hide under the guise of a beautiful girl. Ugh, that’s disgusting. So here’s my son. If you have any questions, write me an email and I’ll help you as much as I can.

      «Very