Vol. 14 Ch. 5: Secret Friends

Servants would normally sleep several to a room, but Isaac, having been chosen as Felix's attendant, was given a private room relatively close to Felix's as a special privilege.

This unusually generous treatment was probably in consideration of the day Isaac would eventually become Felix's double.

Isaac spent his days attending Felix, receiving lessons in self-defense and horseback riding in between, and completing the enormous assignments the duke had given him after returning to his room at night.

The reason he served as Felix's attendant was so that he could imitate Felix's actions and mannerisms.

The self-defense and riding lessons, as well as the mountains of assignments, were all for the day he would serve as Felix's double.

As this life continued, Isaac came to understand why Duke Clockford was so eager to prepare a double.

Felix was simply far too physically weak. His bronchial tubes were probably weak, and he was likely anemic. He would become dizzy and collapse after running around even a little, and his strength was overwhelmingly poor compared to other children his age. Even slight changes in the weather would give him a fever.

The adults around him had vaguely realized that the second prince would not live long...

Around the time Isaac's first summer as Felix's attendant had passed and the mornings and evenings began to grow chilly, Felix came down with a high fever and took to bed.

He could barely eat, and the sight of him breathing painfully with his cheeks flushed bright red was simply heartbreaking...