CHAPTER 1
My name is Cory Wands.
Some people call me a genius. To be honest, I don't deny it. I know what I am capable of, and I understand things faster than most people my age. Numbers, patterns, strategies, even the way people think—it all comes naturally to me.
But being a genius doesn't always mean having a good life.
In fact, for me, it meant the opposite.
Because the smartest thing I ever learned… was how to pretend I wasn't.
Acting like a fool became my shield. If people think you are useless, they ignore you. If they ignore you, they leave you alone. And if they leave you alone, you survive.
That was how I lived my life.
I am sixteen years old, and I live alone.
I have never seen my parents. I don't know if they abandoned me or if they're gone. I stopped thinking about it a long time ago. Thinking about things you cannot change only makes life harder.
My home is nothing more than a pile of weak cardboard stacked together to form something that barely resembles a shelter. One strong push, and it would collapse like it never existed. When it rains, the water seeps through the cracks. When the wind blows, it feels like the entire place might fly away.
But it was enough for me.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
Still, no matter how much I tried to act like I didn't care, the truth was simple. Being a genius meant nothing in a place like this. Intelligence cannot fill an empty stomach. It cannot replace warmth on a cold night. It cannot give you a future if no one is willing to give you a chance.
A useless genius… that's what I was.
There were times when I thought about giving up. The suffering, the hunger, the loneliness—it all piled up until it felt unbearable. I once asked myself if it would be easier to just disappear.
But even then, a small part of me kept hoping.
Hoping that someday… someone would notice me.
Someone would pick me up from this miserable life.
And on that day, that impossible wish became reality.
I was sitting in front of my fragile shelter, staring at nothing in particular, when I noticed a shadow fall over me. It wasn't like the usual shadows cast by buildings or passing people. This one felt different, heavier, almost overwhelming.
I slowly lifted my head.
Standing in front of me was a man unlike anyone I had ever seen before.
He wore an elegant suit that shined under the sunlight, so clean and refined that it didn't seem real. His posture was straight, his presence commanding, and despite his old age, there was a strength in him that could not be hidden.
For a moment, I forgot how to speak.
It felt as if a god had descended into this filthy place.
The man looked at me with calm eyes, then gently reached out his hand.
"Child, are you alright?" he asked.
His voice was steady, yet carried a kind of warmth I had never experienced before.
I blinked, trying to process what was happening.
"I… I'm fine, sir," I replied, though the lie sounded weak even to my own ears. "I live here… in these cardboard walls."
The man's gaze shifted slightly, observing my surroundings. He didn't laugh. He didn't show disgust. Instead, he simply nodded, as if he understood everything without me needing to explain.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
My stomach answered before I could.
"…Yes."
He gave a small smile.
"Good. Then come with me. I will give you food."
My eyes widened. It sounded too good to be true. In my experience, nothing in this world comes without a price.
"And what do I have to do?" I asked cautiously.
"You will work," he said.
Work.
That was fair.
"What kind of work?" I asked again.
He looked directly at me.
"You will become a butler."
"A… butler?" I repeated, unable to hide my surprise.
"Yes," he continued. "You will serve in my household. You will assist and guide my three daughters. And most importantly… you will protect them."
I stared at him, unsure if I had heard correctly.
Me? A butler? In a noble household?
It sounded absurd.
"Old man," I said, hesitating for a moment, "what is your name?"
He straightened slightly, as if remembering something important.
"My name is Darren Fram."
Darren Fram.
The name felt heavy, like it carried weight in this world.
"Nice to meet you, Sir Fram," I said, trying to sound respectful.
"And you, child?" he asked.
"I am Cory Wands."
For a brief moment, his eyes sharpened.
"Oh," he said quietly. "So you are the one they call the 'ordinary genius.'"
I froze.
So even someone like him had heard of me.
Before I could respond, he turned slightly and gestured behind him.
"The carriage has arrived."
I followed his gaze—and my breath stopped.
A luxurious carriage stood nearby, shining with gold decorations that reflected the sunlight. Even the horses were adorned with golden accessories, their appearance majestic and powerful.
I had never seen anything like it.
"No way… you're that rich?" I blurted out without thinking.
Sir Darren simply laughed.
"Come," he said. "Let us go."
I hesitated for only a second before stepping forward and climbing into the carriage.
As it began to move, I looked out the window, watching the world pass by. Trees, animals, open fields, and clear skies stretched endlessly before my eyes. The air felt different—cleaner, lighter.
For the first time in my life, I felt something unfamiliar.
Peace.
"We're almost there," Sir Darren said.
I turned my attention back to him, then looked outside again as the carriage slowed down.
And then I saw it.
A massive structure stood before us, so large that I couldn't immediately tell if it was a mansion or a castle. Its walls towered high, its gates even taller than any building I had seen in my old life.
The carriage came to a stop.
I stepped out slowly, my eyes wide as I took everything in.
"Cory," Sir Darren said, "this is my home. Please, come inside."
Even the gate alone was larger than the small store I used to visit in the slums.
As we walked in, I felt like I had entered a completely different world.
After a short while, Sir Darren stopped.
"I will return to my room," he said. "The servants will take care of you."
Before I could respond, he had already turned and walked away.
Almost immediately, several servants approached me. They guided me inside, treated me with care, and led me to a bath. For the first time in years, I was able to properly clean myself.
Afterward, they gave me a butler's uniform.
It fit perfectly.
Then came the food.
I ate like someone who had been starving for days—because I was.
When I finally finished, I let out a deep breath.
I was full.
Satisfied.
Alive.
After everything, I walked into the main hall.
My reflection in the polished floor showed someone I barely recognized—a clean, properly dressed boy standing tall.
A butler.
I clenched my hand slightly.
This was it.
A new life.
And this time…
I would not just survive.
I would rise.