Raised in the Art of Death

It's already been five years. Just last week, I turned five years old.

"Arius!! Time to eat!!!" Ellie yelled from the kitchen.

"Coming!!!" I responded as I rushed out of my room.

I ran down the stairs and into the dining area, excited to eat.

"Good morning, Auntie Ellie! Good morning, everyone!" I greeted, hugging Ellie and the other workers at the orphanage.

"Good morning!!" they all said, though their energy felt forced, especially the three men who worked here alongside Ellie. They seemed more interested in their food than in me.

(Tch! Can't believe they still have the energy to eat after using the orphanage's money—money that should've been for us—on alcohol and girls at the pub! All while leaving Auntie Ellie with hardly any funds to take care of us!) I thought bitterly, giving them a hard stare.

After we finished eating, the quiet was broken by a knock at the door.

Knock knock.

"Coming!" Ellie called out, quickly running to the door to see who it was.

I furrowed my brow. Who could it be? I wondered, while I played with the other kids.

When Ellie opened the door, her face went pale.

"Oh my God, Duke, why are you here?" she stammered.

The man standing outside looked cold and aloof. "Why? Am I not allowed to be here?" he said with a chilling tone.

"Of course, you're welcome, Duke Nyx. Please, come in," one of the three guys said eagerly, pushing Ellie aside.

(Duke Nyx? The head of the second most powerful family in the empire? And an infamous assassin? Why in the world is he here?!) I thought, running out of the playroom to the living room to listen to their conversation.

I crouched down by the wall, peeking around the corner.

"But Duke, what brings you here?" one of the men asked nervously.

"I'm here for adoption," Duke Nyx replied coldly.

The room went silent. Everyone stared at him in shock.

"ADOPTION?! What do you mean?" Ellie exclaimed, her voice trembling.

"You already have five sons, Duke!" one of the men added.

"Why do you need another?" asked another one.

"Why not?" The Duke's voice was firm. "I have the wealth and the power to take care of another child. Now, are you going to help me, or not?"

"Of course, of course!" the three men said in unison, their faces lighting up with greed.

"Alright, name your price," the Duke said.

"How about 900 gold?" one of the men suggested, his eyes gleaming.

"Done." The Duke's assistant, Claude, stepped forward, handing the money over without hesitation.

"Now, I want the list of all the children. I want to meet them," the Duke ordered.

"Ellie! Get the list!" one of the men called out.

"Yes, yes, right away!" Ellie rushed to the second floor to fetch the list of the children.

I stayed hidden, a sense of dread creeping in as I listened to the conversation. What is going on? Why do they want to adopt one of us?

When Ellie returned with the list, she handed it over to the Duke, who looked over it with a piercing gaze.

"Did you list all the children?" he asked coldly.

"Yes, Duke. Everyone's there," one of the men answered nervously.

"Then bring them to me. One by one," the Duke ordered.

Ellie hesitated for a moment but nodded. She went to gather the children, starting with the girls.

The kids lined up, and their excitement was palpable at first, but as they came back from meeting the Duke, their faces were tear-streaked, and their spirits were shattered. One by one, they ran upstairs, sobbing.

I watched from the back of the line, confused and anxious. What's going on in there?

After all the girls were seen, the boys were called next. They came out the same way—crying, scared, and completely broken.

And then, it was my turn.

I stood at the door of the living room, watching everyone else cower in fear. It was strange—no one had called me yet, and I wasn't listed on the adoption papers. Was I invisible? Was there something wrong with me?

"Is there another child?" the Duke asked, his voice suddenly sharp. He turned to look at the three men, his cold gaze freezing them in place.

The three men were taken aback. "W-We don't—"

"Then why is there a child standing there?" the Duke said, his anger rising.

The assistant, Claude, remained calm. "That child isn't listed. He's not on the paper."

"How dare you! You're trying to deceive me?" The Duke's anger was palpable now, and his hand hovered near his sword.

"Duke, please, don't get mad!" one of the men stammered, trembling in fear.

Ellie, still shaking, stepped forward. "I-I'm sorry to say this, but they really did leave Arius's name off the list... They think he's cursed because of how he looks," she confessed, her voice small as she hugged me tightly.

The Duke looked at the men with disgust. "How dare you treat a child like that! Look at yourselves before you judge anyone else!"

The three men cowered, apologizing profusely. But the Duke wasn't interested in their apologies.

"Enough," he said with a smirk. "I'll adopt him, then."

"Wait, you don't have to!" I blurted out.

But it was too late.

"Your name is Arius, correct?" the Duke asked as he approached me.

"Yes," I replied, still unsure of what was happening.

"Alright. You are now Arius Nyx." He gave me a brief smile.

(I didn't ask for this,) I thought to myself. (What is he planning to do with a five-year-old like me? And why adopt me if he already has five sons of his own, all skilled assassins?)

"Alright, we're leaving now," the Duke said, turning to walk out.

"Wait! I have to pack!" I protested.

The Duke turned around with a glare. "There's no need to pack. I'll buy you whatever you need. But if you insist on bringing those things, I'll burn them once we arrive at the estate."

I lowered my head. "I... if you say so."

"Let's go. Don't just stand there," the Duke snapped, gesturing to me.

I scrambled into the carriage, trying to get comfortable.

"S-Sorry. I was lost in thought," I mumbled.

The Duke smirked. "And what could a kid like you be thinking about?"

I hesitated for a moment. "You… You're investigating the orphanage, aren't you?"

"That's right," he said. "I suspected something was off here. My men have been keeping an eye on the place. But it looks like Ellie is the only one who's decent. The others… not so much."

I nodded seriously. "I'll tell you everything I know. But don't hurt Auntie Ellie or the other kids."

The Duke chuckled softly. "I won't harm anyone, as long as you cooperate."

As we left the orphanage, I looked out the window. (I'm not sure what's going to happen now, but this is just the beginning of something much bigger.)

To be continued.....

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Character(s)

Kaelion Michael Nyx (Duke)

Age: 40

Height: 188 cm

Appearance: Long silver hair, golden eyes, white skin, and an imposing, regal presence.

Characteristics: Cold, authoritative, commanding, strategic, visionary, protective but can get demanding, mature, and perfectionist.

Hobbies: Doing paperwork, reading, assassinations with his sons, hunting, swordsmanship.

Dislikes: Failure, Laziness, Disobedience or incompetence, Pointless conversations or emotional drama, Weakness or hesitation in his family.

Claude Alcides (Duke's Assistant)

Age: 37

Height: 185 cm

Appearance: Short dark brown hair, piercing green eyes, tan skin, and a lean but strong build. Wears practical yet noble attire, reflecting his dual role as a noble and a servant of the Nyx family.

Characteristics: Confident, charismatic, witty, loyal, and perfectionist.

Hobbies: Practicing swordsmanship, studying military tactics, organizing the library, and sneaking Arius small treats when the Duke isn't watching.

Dislikes: Bureaucrats who prioritize politics over the welfare of the people,

Dishonesty or manipulation

Overly formal events with nobles.