After waiting for a while, Zeldryn finally realized just how dark the room became at night.
Several candles had already been lit by the servants. Their holders looked luxurious, made from polished metal with intricate carvings along the sides.
But no matter how expensive the holders looked, the light they produced was still dim.
The small flames flickered constantly, causing the shadows of the furniture around the room to sway with them. The areas near the candles were still visible enough, but the corners of the room were almost completely swallowed by darkness.
“So damn dark.”
Zeldryn narrowed his eyes as he looked toward a table some distance away from the bed.
As Reka, he had been used to electric lights. All he had to do was press a switch, and the entire room would light up instantly.
Even his cramped rented room had been far brighter than this luxurious bedroom belonging to the son of a Marquis.
“Guess my eyes will need some time to adjust.”
Zeldryn stared at one of the nearby candles.
The light was enough for walking around or seeing large objects. But for reading or doing anything that required precision, candles like these were obviously inconvenient.
Not to mention that he would need a lot of them.
Candles would also burn out, produce smoke, and could start a fire if they fell over.
“Not efficient at all.”
Zeldryn leaned back against the headboard.
“Maybe one day I can figure out electricity.”
The moment he said it, he went silent.
Knowing that electricity existed didn't mean he could suddenly build a power plant from scratch.
Sure, he had graduated in IT, but his job in his old world mostly involved reports, data, documents, and simple technical issues. He wasn't a mechanical engineer, a chemist, or some scientist capable of creating all kinds of inventions from memory alone.
If someone asked him to make a light bulb from raw materials right now, he probably wouldn't even know where to begin.
“At least I know something like that is possible.”
Maybe he could find a blacksmith, a craftsman, or someone who understood the tools and technology of this world. He could provide a rough idea, and they could figure out the technical details together.
But that was still far into the future.
He didn't even understand the state of his own territory yet.
“One thing at a time.”
While Zeldryn was still lost in thought, a knock came from the other side of the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Excuse me, Lord. It's Hera.”
Zeldryn immediately turned toward the door.
“Come in.”
Creak.
The door slowly opened.
Hera entered the room wearing her usual maid uniform. Her black hair was still tied into a ponytail, while her bandaged hands were clasped together in front of her.
Seeing Hera properly dressed again, Zeldryn unconsciously felt relieved.
Good. At least there won't be another misunderstanding.
Hera quietly closed the door.
She then stood several steps away from the bed, but didn't immediately say anything.
Her face was still slightly red. Her gaze remained fixed on the floor, and her body looked stiffer than usual.
It seemed the embarrassing incident from earlier was still stuck in her head.
After a while, Hera finally gathered enough courage to speak.
“W-What did you need me for, Lord, calling me to your room this late at night?”
Her voice sounded nervous.
Zeldryn looked at Hera for a long moment.
Since the afternoon, he had been thinking about the best way to get information from her.
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Continuing to pretend that he knew everything was obviously impossible.
Sooner or later, he was bound to make a much bigger mistake. He might call someone by the wrong name, fail to recognize a member of his own family, or not understand something that should be basic knowledge for a noble.
And if he kept asking questions without giving her a reason, Hera would only grow more suspicious.
So Zeldryn decided to mix a little lie with some truth.
He really had lost all of the old Zeldryn's memories.
The real reason just wasn't a head injury.
“Hera.”
Zeldryn gave her a faint smile.
“If I told you that I lost my memory, would that surprise you?”
Hera slowly raised her head.
Confusion immediately appeared on her face.
“Forgive me, Lord.”
She looked at Zeldryn uncertainly.
“What do you mean?”
Zeldryn didn't answer immediately.
He glanced toward the door before looking back at Hera.
“Before I explain, I want to ask you something.”
Hera lowered her head again.
“Of course, Lord.”
“Can you keep a secret?”
Hera looked slightly surprised.
“Of course, Lord.”
“This isn't an ordinary secret.”
Zeldryn's voice became more serious.
He needed to make sure Hera wouldn't tell anyone about this. At least not until he understood his situation and had some way to protect himself.
“If this secret gets out, your life could be in danger.”
Hera's body immediately stiffened.
Zeldryn continued.
“And not just yours. Your family could get dragged into it too.”
Hera's face instantly went pale.
Her hands gripped the edges of her skirt. Her body began to tremble, and even her breathing became slightly uneven.
Hera had endured living in the mansion all this time because she still had a younger sibling.
Both of their parents had already passed away.
Hera was the only one earning money to support her younger sibling's daily needs. If she lost her job, her sibling might not have enough food or even a place to live.
That was why Hera had continued enduring life in the mansion despite how difficult it had been for her.
She could tolerate all kinds of mistreatment directed at herself.
But a threat against her younger sibling was different.
Hera immediately bowed deeply.
“Y-Yes, Lord.”
Her voice trembled badly.
“Whatever your secret is, I won't tell anyone.”
She took a short breath.
“I'll take it to my grave.”
Hera slowly raised her face. Her eyes were filled with fear.
“But please, Lord, don't involve my family.”
Her trembling grew worse.
“If I make a mistake, punish me. But no matter what happens, please don't touch my younger sibling.”
Zeldryn silently watched her reaction.
In truth, he hadn't even known whether Hera still had a family.
Mentioning her family had only been a bluff to make sure Hera understood just how important the secret was.
But from her reaction, Zeldryn immediately gained a new piece of information.
So she has a younger sibling.
Zeldryn stored that information away in his mind.
He felt slightly guilty for frightening Hera like this. But right now, he didn't have another way to make sure the secret wouldn't spread.
“Of course.”
Zeldryn gave her another faint smile.
“As long as you keep this secret, nothing will happen to your family.”
Hera quickly nodded.
“I understand, Lord.”
“You're my loyal personal maid, aren't you?”
“Yes, Lord.”
Zeldryn slowly took a breath.
Now it was time to explain the lie he had prepared.
“Hera.”
He pointed toward the bruises on his face.
“After I was beaten last night, it seems the injury to my head was much worse than it looked.”
Hera remained silent and listened.
“When I woke up this morning, most of my memories were gone.”
Hera's eyes slowly widened.
Zeldryn continued before she could interrupt.
“I still remember my name.”
He pointed toward himself.
“I know that I'm Zeldryn Giorry. I also remember a few things about myself and the Giorry family.”
Zeldryn touched the side of his head.
“But most of my memories are nothing more than scattered fragments.”
“There are many things I know I should remember, but when I try, there's just nothing there.”
Hera stared at Zeldryn without blinking.
“Lord... lost his memory?”
“That's right.”
Zeldryn smiled slightly.
“That's why I've been asking you so many questions since this morning.”
Hera fell silent again.
Everything that had happened since morning began replaying inside her head.
Zeldryn hadn't even known the layout of his own mansion.
He had asked about the number of servants and guards.
He had even asked Hera to explain where each room was located.
And that wasn't all.
The way he spoke and acted had changed too.
Zeldryn returned the servants' greetings.
He punished Henry and Aeglo.
He hadn't hit Hera even once.
He had even told her to stop waiting outside his bedroom door all the time.
Memory loss?
Hera clasped her hands even tighter.
So that's why Lord has been acting strange since this morning?
All the strange things she hadn't been able to explain were suddenly beginning to make sense.
Maybe Zeldryn hadn't deliberately changed.
Maybe he genuinely couldn't remember his old habits or personality.
His face was still the same.
His voice was still the same.
But without his past memories, he seemed like a completely different person.
So it's true?
Hera looked at Zeldryn again.
There was still a little doubt in her eyes, but her shock was far more obvious.
Zeldryn noticed that Hera was beginning to believe his story.
“That's why I need your help.”
Hera flinched slightly.
“Mine?”
“That's right.”
Zeldryn nodded.
“You're my personal maid. Compared to anyone else in this mansion, you probably understand my daily life better than most.”
Hera didn't deny it.
“I want you to help me fill in the missing parts of my memory.”
Zeldryn began counting on his fingers.
“I need to know about this mansion, the Giorry family's territory, the people I know, the rules among nobles, the currency, this country, and all the other basic things I should already know.”
He looked at Hera seriously.
“Answer every question I ask honestly.”
Zeldryn then smiled.
But under the dim candlelight, the shadows across his face made that smile look slightly unsettling.
Hera stiffened again.
“I don't need answers designed to make me happy.”
Zeldryn continued.
“If you don't know something, tell me you don't know. If something is bad, tell me it's bad.”
Hera lowered her head.
“Of course, Lord.”
Her voice was still trembling slightly, but her answer sounded much firmer than before.
“I'll tell you everything I know.”
Zeldryn raised an eyebrow.
“No lies?”
Hera nodded.
“Not a single one.”
She placed one hand against her chest.
“Whatever Lord wishes to know, I'll do my best to answer.”
Zeldryn smiled in satisfaction.
Finally, he had found a way to gather information without constantly pretending that he already understood everything.
“Good.”
He shifted his position on the bed to make himself more comfortable.
Hera stood straight in front of him, waiting for his first question.
Zeldryn had already prepared plenty of things he wanted to ask.
But he needed to start with the most basic information.
The kind of information that everyone living in this world should know.
Zeldryn looked at Hera through the dim candlelight.
“Then let's begin.”
Hera nodded.
Zeldryn leaned back slightly.
“Tell me. Who exactly am I?”