NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3: A New Beginning, A Dark Past
Chapter 3: A New Beginning, A Dark Past
I am Edric Von Ainsworth.
This is my new life now.
And if I want to survive, I need to make things easier for myself.
First of all, my reputation is trash.
I'm a disgrace to my noble family. A man hated by servants, nobles, and commoners alike.
But here's the thing—
I was born into the Ainsworth family, one of the four great ancient families of the empire. That means I must have some talent.
I can tell just by the way my body feels. Strong, well-built—nothing like a weakling.
And my parents?
My father is the strongest swordsman in the empire.My mother is the strongest mage in the empire.
A son born from these two legendary bloodlines should be nothing short of a monster.
Yet, in the novel, Edric Von Ainsworth was utter trash.
There's a reason for that.
But I'll tell you later.
A Walk in the Silent Night
The mansion was silent.
The kind of silence that makes the night feel heavier.
I stepped out of my room, dressed in a comfortable black outfit.
The hallway stretched before me, dimly lit by the faint glow of wall lanterns.
I walked.
Then—
A sound.
Faint, at first.
Then it grew louder.
"Ahh… fuck… fuck me more!"
I froze.
What the fuck?
I followed the noise, my footsteps light on the polished wooden floor.
It led me to the last room in the hallway.
The moaning grew more desperate.
I peeked through the slightly open door—
And boom.
Edric's younger brother, Magnus, was fucking some girl.
Ainsworth Blood Runs Hot
Magnus was 18 years old.
He had the same dark hair and sharp features as me. But unlike Edric, he was actually charismatic and well-liked.
The girl beneath him? A beautiful blonde, moaning loudly as Magnus ruthlessly pounded her.
I blinked.
It was so casual.
Like this was just a normal part of noble life.
I took a step back, shaking my head.
And then—
I stumbled into someone.
A small, trembling figure.
I turned around—
And met Safina's terrified eyes.
Fear and Submission
The moment she saw me, she flinched.
Her body shook so violently that she looked like she might collapse.
Her hands clutched her maid uniform, as if she were bracing for pain.
I sighed. I already knew why.
To her, I was still the same cruel Edric.
The man who had bullied and tormented her every day.
Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.
I kept my voice calm and even.
"Safina, who is Magnus fucking?"
She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"S-She is from the brothel, Master Magnus gave her money to spend the night with him."
Brothel?
I raised an eyebrow. That explained why she wasn't embarrassed.
This was normal here.
"…How old is Magnus?"
Safina trembled even more.
"Master Magnus is 18."
"Eighteen?" I frowned. "Isn't that… illegal?"
Safina quickly shook her head.
"No, Master Edric. The legal age for sex is 15."
I blinked.
Then nodded.
"…Oh. I forgot."
This world had different rules.
I exhaled, looking at Safina again.
"Come to my room in a few minutes."
Her trembling stopped.
But her eyes…
They went empty.
Like she was already accepting her fate.
Like she was a living ghost.
…Well, I'd take care of that.
A Test of Trust
Back in my room, I sat on the edge of my bed.
If Magnus could pay for a girl from a brothel, why the hell couldn't I?
I had money.
Plenty of it.
Why not enjoy my new life to the fullest?
A knock came at my door.
"Enter."
Safina stepped in.
Her movements were slow, robotic.
She stood before me, her hands clutching her skirt.
Her eyes were lifeless.
I sighed.
"Safina," I started. "First of all, you are my personal maid. That means you only call me 'Master.'"
Her body shook violently.
"I-I'm sorry, Master… I didn't know you disliked it… p-please don't hurt me…"
Her voice cracked as she begged.
Tears welled in her eyes.
…Fuck.
I had seen abuse victims before.
And right now? Safina was one of them.
I inhaled deeply and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She flinched.
I guided her gently to sit beside me.
Then, I did something Edric would never do.
I bowed my head.
"…I'm sorry."
Silence.
The room felt frozen in time.
Safina didn't speak.
She didn't move.
She just stared at me, completely stunned.
Her hands clenched the fabric of her uniform.
"Master… Edric?" she whispered.
I lifted my head slightly.
Her face was twisted with confusion.
Like she couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"I'm sorry for everything," I said. "I know I've treated you terribly in the past. I won't do that anymore."
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
So, I pushed further.
I took the sword from my wall and handed it to her.
"Take it, Safina."
Her hands shook as she held it.
"Unsheath it."
She hesitated—then did as I asked.
The blade gleamed under the candlelight.
I bowed my head again.
"If you can't forgive me, kill me."
Her grip tightened on the hilt.
"If you think I deserve another chance… drop the sword."
Silence.
The moment stretched unbearably long.
Then—
Clang!
The sword fell to the ground.
Safina whispered:
"Master Edric… I hope you remember what you said today."
I exhaled, feeling a weight lift from my chest.
"I will remember it for the rest of my life."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then, for the first time—
She smiled.
Just a little.
Then turned to leave.
But before she could step out—
"Safina," I called out.
She paused.
"Take some money from my pocket allowance and arrange a beautiful girl for tomorrow night."
She didn't flinch.
Didn't even react.
"…As you wish, Master."
Then she left.
Huh.
No shock.
No hesitation.
Maybe this was just… normal in this world.
…Well.
Might as well enjoy it.