Reincarnated With Harem System

"Since when has our family's financial situation been good enough to afford a mansion in a capital-like city like Arsnova?" Lumien was stunned.

He knew that as a Baron, it should have been nearly impossible for his father to afford a mansion this large, especially in the heart of a city like Arsnova.

As the lowest rank of nobility, a Baron didn't hold much power. In fact, compared to some wealthy merchant families, a Baron might not necessarily win when it came to wealth, connections, and influence.

Before anyone could answer, his mother approached him with a worried expression.

"Lumien, how's your body? You're not feeling unwell, are you?" she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders and looking him over from head to toe.

"No, Mother, I'm perfectly fine. It was a pleasant trip," Lumien replied with a bright smile. "You can even ask Sister Azalea if you don't believe me."

"That's good, that's good. Don't forget to take your medicine, and remember to…" Eleanor continued nagging over Lumien for a whole minute and likely could go on for another few minutes. Thankfully, his father stepped in to save him.

"Eleanor, that's enough. Lumien isn't a child anymore. He knows what he's doing, there's no need to spell everything out for him. Traveling all day must have been tiring for him, so let him head to his room and rest."

Eleanor sighed, hesitating, but eventually nodded. "You're right."

She turned to Lumien. "Make sure you rest properly, Lumien. And don't forget to take your medicine!"

"I will, Mother."

Their father, standing nearby, gestured toward a distinguished-looking man. "Azalea, Lumien, your mother and I will be retiring to our room now. Butler Edward here will guide you to yours."

He continued. "Your mother is feeling a bit weak after the long day of travel. We'll leave you in Edward's care for now."

With that, he placed an arm around their mother's shoulder and gently led her away, bidding the children a quick farewell.

At this time, the man their father had referred to as Butler Edward stepped forward with a respectful bow. He appeared to be in his mid-50s, his neatly combed gray hair and calm demeanor exuding professionalism.

"Good evening, Young Master, Young Mistress," he said politely. "I am Edward Claymont, though most people here simply call me Sir Edward. Please feel free to address me however you wish."

"Thank you, Sir Edward. Could you please show my brother and me to our rooms?" Azalea said promptly.

"Of course, Young Mistress," Sir Edward replied with a slight nod.

"If you would follow me, please."

As they walked, Lumien, who couldn't stand an awkward silence, started, "So, Sir Edward, how long have you been working here?"

His hands rested casually behind his back as his eyes took in the building's interior. Naturally, his hands were free since his belongings would be delivered to his room by the servants later.

Sigh, being a noble really does come with privileges. If only I had been born a noble back then, or maybe as the child of some second-generation rich family, I wouldn't have had to lug all my stuff by myself. I still remember dragging everything up five floors when I moved into my college dorm. From the ground floor. By hand...

As Lumien reflected on his past life, Sir Edward's calm voice pulled him back to the present.

"I have been working here for as long as I can remember. It has been over five decades now," Edward said.

"You've been here since you were a child?" Lumien asked, a bit dumbfounded.

"That's correct," Edward replied with a small nod. "In fact, my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and several generations of my ancestors have all served the Ofnir family in this very mansion, starting from when they were children too."

Lumien's mouth twitched.

For a family that had existed for generations, having its ancestor keep passing the same job like it's a family heirloom, can it be considered a form of nepotism? No, this had clearly evolved into something else entirely; a tradition! A full-on legacy tradition!

Suddenly a question arose within Lumien's mind.

But, why would they stick to the same job for generations? Doesn't their family believe in free will? Didn't anyone ever think, "Hey, maybe I'd like to try being a blacksmith or a merchant?" Were they not bored out of their minds doing the same thing century after century?

His curiosity got the better of him. "So, do you have a family, Sir Edward?"

"Yes, indeed," Edward replied with a proud smile. "I have a wonderful wife and two children. One is a sweet daughter, and the other is a bright young boy. My son is only five years old, but next year, I plan to bring him here and start teaching him my job and pass my position to him as soon as possible."

Lumien's mouth twitched so hard it might as well have cramped. He could barely hold back his reaction as a thought screamed in his mind:

Poor boy! Whatever your name is, let me silently light up a white candle for you!

He couldn't imagine how anyone else would deal with a life like this. If it were him, he'd probably rebel, or worse, run away. The thought of having his future completely arranged, with no say in the matter, was enough to drive him mad.

While Lumien was lost in thought, Azalea broke the silence. "So, this mansion has been around for at least a few hundred years?"

"Correct, this estate was built by the first ancestor of the Ofnir family, the late Duke Gilbert Ofnir, several hundred years ago."

"Duke?" Azalea had a puzzled look on her face.

Similarly, Lumien was immediately jolted back to reality upon hearing the information.

Duke? What the hell, my family was originally a Duke?

Noticing their confusion, Sir Edward, smiled knowingly. "From the looks of it, both the Young Master and Mistress seem unaware of this history?"

Azalea glanced at Lumien, her eyes seemingly questioning him. You're always buried in the library, do you know anything about this?

Having practically grown up together, Lumien could more or less read the meaning behind her gaze. He met her eyes and shook his head, signaling that he was just as clueless.

"Yes, we didn't know about any of this. Can you tell us more?" Azalea said.

"Hmmm, where to begin?" Sir Edward paused, stroking his chin. "The late Duke Gilbert Ofnir was originally a noble from the Asura Empire. Not much is known about his life there before coming to Liurnia, but we do know he held an important position."

The Asura Empire was located in the far eastern part of the continent. It was home to four major active churches, one more than those in Liurnia. These were the Church of the Earth Mother, the Church of God of War, the Radiance Church, and the Celestial Church.

"Shortly after arriving in Liurnia, the late Duke earned great merit in service to the newly established kingdom. As a reward, the King granted him the title of Duke. However, the exact nature of his deeds was never recorded."

Sir Edward's expression grew somber as he continued. "But after the Duke's passing, the Ofnir family's influence began to wane. We lost lands to wars. Other estates were sold to cover debts from failed harvests. Gradually, one loss led to another. Eventually, the family's titles were stripped, leaving us only this mansion and another in Milois."

Milois was the name of his hometown, the city he had lived in but had never actually seen for the past ten years!

Lumien and Azalea asked a few more questions, gradually gaining a clearer understanding of their family's history and current situation. At one point, Sir Edward suggested that if they wished to learn more, they should visit the private library here.

...

Once Lumien reached his room, he quickly freshened up and collapsed onto the bed.

Spending an entire day in the carriage had left his body sore and his mind utterly exhausted.