The Collector's Item

Seventh

Mason Clifford De Clare, one of Yellubia’s living geniuses. At two, he already learned how to read, write, and even speak. He even joined a debate when he was three!

At six, he started his business idea, which made him the youngest billionaire in the empire.

Since gambling was forbidden because of a shitty emperor’s history, he used psychology to wire people’s minds.

It was the lottery.

His parents turned into a statue when he proposed this business idea when they were having a picnic at the beach. Eventually, they agreed to his request under their guidance. The couple bet he would stop if he faced challenges or would get bored halfway.

He stuffed red chips in shops, whether it’s cheese, garments, or even bags of sugar, flour, coffee, and rice. Whoever gets the red chip would receive the prize of their lifetime.

These both targeted the wealthy and even poorest civilians. People buy his products hoping to be rich. Competitively wealthy shenanigans who always brag or FOMO fell into his rat trap.

He made a contract with the Emperor stating he would have a share of his income for his support.

This cruel world made his journey stormy. Other entrepreneurs and noblemen claimed the Duke sold his son’s soul to an evil spirit. He was not a genius at all. He was a puppet of the evil spirit.

His parents hid this from him while the trial was ongoing. They failed, though. The six-year-old boy went to the court, faced the lawyer’s questions, and even underwent the Priest’s examination.

He won the trial when the priest stated he found nothing unusual in him. Not only that, but he also drank the special Holy Water. His body sparkled like stars in the night sky, which meant he had a pure soul.

After the trial, ordinary people and other noblewomen rallied outside the court. They sued those nasty noblemen who made false claims about a six-year-old child. Five days later, their heads ended up at the guillotine.

Though he seemed to have it all, there are two things in this world he couldn’t deal with. It was his feelings and the idea of love.

“What is love?” he asked himself while staring at the starry night.

That’s when three girls appeared in his life.

First was Lady Corrine. He met her when he was nine. His parents didn’t hide the fact that they’ve already chosen his marriage partner.

He wouldn’t forget the day she met this lady. It was hard to contain his laughter, especially when someone’s legs trembled like crazy.

When his parents asked about his first impression of Corrine, he said,

“I wished I could see your true identity next time.”

The next morning, Lady Corrine came to his small office as he requested.

“Oh, it’s you, ghost girl.”

The young lady gave her a curtsy.

“Wouldn’t you be mad because I mocked you?”

He scratched his head. He flipped the pages of his emotion manual. The book entitled “Feelings and How To Deal With Them” stated the reasons people manifested different behaviors based on someone’s feelings.

His Guinea pig’s reaction was different.

It looked down and said, “A good wife should not fight with his future husband.”

“Tsk. Said by whom?”

He closed his book and put it back on the bookshelf in the room’s corner.

“The Countess told me.”

He walked around the little girl.

“You call her Countess, not mother?”

She fidgeted with her fingers. A croak was the only sound her mouth produced. It took another forty seconds before she answered his question.

“It’s quite complicated, Mason.”

For the first time, she saw his dazzling smirk.

“So, the Countess told you not to fight with your husband? Pathetic.”

He pulled out a dagger from his pocket and aimed it at Lady Corrine’s cheek. The lady trembled. She stepped backward. He moved forward. The loop repeated until Corrine reached the door. She turned the doorknob.

“See? Your body knew the truth.”

He hid his dagger and went back to his seat. He invited Lady Corrine to sit on the chair facing his work table.

“Listen. Not everything your parents said was true. A good wife for me is when she knew how to take care of herself.”

“What can I do? I’m just eight. I’m not a genius like you.”

“That’s why I did what I could do.”

Every day, he called for Lady Corrine to keep her away from her hellish home. This development pleased the parents of both parties. In reality, he would let the young lady play while he was busy managing his business.

Day by day, the seedling of love sprouted in Corrine’s heart.

Second, he was ten when he first met his baby sister. At first, he avoided physical touch from her. Everything changed out of his boredom.

One day, he paid a visit to his sister. When he opened the room, maids circled in the baby’s crib. They were shaking toys, but it only made the baby’s cry louder.

“What kind of commotion is this?” Mason asked with crossed arms.

All maids greeted him, and one of them ran towards him.

“Young Master, the Young Lady was crying for almost half an hour. We fed her, changed her underwear, gave toys and one of us even entertained the young lady.”

“I’ll try to appease my sister.”

The baby stopped crying and chuckled the moment he carried her.

“Oh, what an adorable wicked girl,” he whispered while staring at his sister’s small face.

From that day onwards, he embraced the idea of being a protective older brother towards Maximillienne.

He always visited her after his classes.

Because of her, he faced unheard challenges in life. One of these was changing cloth diapers.

He loathed the idea of changing cloth diapers and even questioned the baby on how she pooped so much when she’s a tiny creature.

However, he always slept and even moved his work table inside the young lady’s room.

Corrine carried her, but only 3 seconds had passed he gave a set of precise instructions on how to handle his sister.

“I have a baby brother, so I had more experience than you.”

Mason put his hand on his waist.

“You know how to answer me back, huh?”

“Thanks to you.”

Corrine’s innocent smile was a terrible sight.

He wanted to snatch his sister away, but she was also laughing with her.

When Corrine turned one, everyone in the duchy was excited about what would be her first word. Is it Mama or Dada? The Duke’s secretary was sick of him asking if his only daughter enunciated his most awaited precious word, whether he was in the middle of an important meeting.

On a chilly spring night, the couple gathered in the living room. Maximillienne could already walk at this point. When the adorable tiny critter saw her brother’s figure, she shouted the word “Bwader!”

Mason froze at his stance. He could not make a single step, as if it glued his feet on the marble floor.

Well, he was not alone. Everyone stopped while she ambled until she stood in front of her beloved brother.

“Bwader! Bwader!” with her small hands, she pulled his black pants.

Mason chuckled before he carried her.

“You adorable, wicked girl, since when did you become this demanding?”

“What kind of sorcery did you do to my daughter?” the Duke cried.

He gave him a condescending sneer.

“Father, Maxine had a refined taste. Why don’t you accept it?”

He was about to snatch his girl when the baby chanted “Dada” four times while clapping her hands.

The Duchess stood up. Mason passed on his sister.

“Mama! Mama!” she shouted.

Four years passed in a blink of an eye.

Maxine grew up to be a cheerful, active girl. It would always roll its body on the bed of grass in their backyard. Mason was the one who taught her how to read. He would always brag about her reading skills to his employees.

One day, Mason woke up by his demotion as the top student in Martiniere Academy, the most prestigious school in the whole Empire.

Breaking through the swarm of buzzing students, he looked and blinked his eyes at the paper posted on the announcement board. He kept on convincing himself that this was a nightmare and he would wake up eventually, but... he didn’t.

In Bold Courier New font, he saw his name besides its corresponding number—two.