Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

As Moriss-jii had said, my mother indeed stayed for one night before leaving.

She didn’t want to come here. It was impossible to make her feel welcomed. Maybe, due to societal pressure, or pressure from the royal family or the Viscount Spinning household, she reluctantly took came. Was it because I was designated as the heir, and she felt that her chances were lost? Depending on the presence or absence of a covenant, there was a possibility that my younger brother might inherit the house.

“Lord Lyon, where do you intend to go?”

Even at the main residence, everyone is kind. They are still kind of overly polite, but the atmosphere is not stifling. However, my current worry is that it’s challenging to be alone. I’m still a child, and although my health has improved, I still don’t have much stamina, and I can’t say I’m robust.

So, I still need adults to protect me. I understand that well, but I really want a little more me time.

“Um, I wanted to go to the castle gate… Could you guide me there?”

“The castle gate? I will check and get back to you, so please wait a moment.”

Oh, this might not work.

The main residence is incredibly vast. However, my actions are usually restricted to a very narrow range.

If it’s a place I can enter and exit only from inside the building, I can go with a guard. But for places where outsiders could slip in, permission is not easily granted unless there’s a special reason like visiting the mausoleum.

I’ve heard stories about covenant holders being kidnapped in the past, so it’s understandable, but I really wanted to go to the castle gate.

“Lord Lyon, why do you want to go to the castle gate? Did someone recommend it to you?”

Jasper asked with a guarded look in his eyes.

“No, it’s not that. I want to go to the castle gate because I’m interested in the gate itself. If the castle gate is not possible, even a smaller gate will do. Do you know any good places?”

Everyone looked at me with a puzzled expression after my answer.

Well, I guess that’s understandable. They don’t know that I have the class of a [Gatekeeper].

I’m not the only one; it’s a rule not to disclose the results of the [Rite of Manifestation] carelessly. Therefore, other children don’t know my class, and I don’t know theirs.

“If that’s the case, how about the old main residence? Although it’s confusing because the drawbridge is always down, there should have been a gate at the entrance.”

“Really? Then, let’s go there.”

“May I accompany you?”

“Of course. If anyone else wants to go, feel free to do so.”

And so, with me and three other children, we set out for a walk.

The other children are relatively busy with activities like observing the knight order, participating in actual training, learning etiquette and literacy, and if they are older, assisting their parents in their jobs. So, it’s more common for three children from each branch family—Elsie (Casper family), Claire (Lloyd family), and Jasper (Morris family)—to be together.

We crossed the drawbridge to the old main residence and proceeded to the main gate and arched passage. When I looked up at the entrance of the passage, I could see pointed stakes at the end of metal drop grates, reflecting the sunlight.

In the past, when this building was still active, these would have been dropped mercilessly in the event of a siege. Now they are raised, but it feels like passing under a guillotine.

Inside the drop grates, there is a wooden gate that opens inward, and at the exit of the passage, there is another drop grate.

Hmm. It’s undoubtedly a gate, but it felt different, like it wasn’t the one.

Even though the appearance was somewhat similar to what I imagined when I heard the term ‘gatekeeper.’

I tried tapping the gate and walking back and forth along the passage, but nothing flashed in my mind, and nothing happened. Well, it can’t be that easy.

A gatekeeper. The gate’s guardian.

In games, it was just a person who says, ‘Welcome to ◯◯ Village!’

I don’t get it. I secretly asked Moriss-jii, but this class is surprisingly mysterious.

“Since we’ve checked the gate, I guess it’s fine. Let’s go to the Sky Garden.”

Previously, the small spirits of the wind were desperately trying to convey something. In addition to the wind, light spirits were also gathering there. I wonder what’s there?

We went up to the rooftop and explored the garden together. Walking along the water channel, we naturally arrived at the basin.

『My only one』『I vow eternal love to you, my noble lady.』

The plate with the vow of love is still reflecting the sunlight today.

I thought the fantasy and elegant sculptures of girls, unicorns, and gorgeous flowers would make the girls happy, but their reactions seem different.

“Why not just break this?”

While saying that, Elsie was staring at the sculpture in the center of the basin.

“Why do you say that?”

I found it curious. Elsie, frowning, wasn’t the only one; even Claire had an unsmiling face. Only Jasper, as usual, maintained his cool demeanor.

Why do they dislike this sculpture? I wanted to know the reason for the obvious change in attitude from the girls who are usually smiling and having fun.

“Because this is the reminder from the curse of the witch.”

“A curse? Isn’t it just a decoration?”

Some unsettling words popped out.

“The witch’s figure is reflected in this.”

“The witch’s symbol. An ill-fated flower that became the origin of the witch’s name.”

No way, what’s going on?

“Witch? Can you explain?”

“Lord Lyon, you don’t know? The flower on that sculpture is Flor Blanca. It’s the arrogant and malicious witch’s flower.”

“Then why is the design of such statues and flowers here?”

“Of course, it’s the work of the witch. She destroyed the  flower beds and tombstones that were originally here, and even moved the buried remains.”

“She covered it with a cursed flower sculpture, placed her own likeness, and even wrote that false vows. It’s unforgivable.”

So, this basin originally had a different appearance when it was installed?

Witch and curse. It’s a child’s words, but many dangerous words came out. If the story is true, I don’t understand why such actions were allowed and left unattended.

“Destroyed tombstones and moved remains? Whose remains are those?”

“Of course, it’s Lord Hugo’s.”

“The 5th head’s? There was a grave in the mausoleum… come to think of it, there was one tombstone whose position was strange. But why did this happen?”

Originally, there was a grave here. In that case, it makes sense that the place where it was placed was off for only one person. However, the words that came out successively from the two young girls were alarming.

“Conspiracy.”

“Perpetrator.”

“Hostage.”

“Blackmail.”

Oops. Suddenly, I smelt a conspiracy.

Hearing the word said alternately, I recalled stories I heard in history class.

Is it related to that?

If so, it might be an unofficial story not mentioned in official history. What exactly happened in the past? Shall I dig a bit more deeply?