Chapter: 1
It was about five years ago.
“Who are you?”
“KYAAAA! YOUNG MASTER!”
“Doctor, call a doctor immediately!”
“Are you okay, Young Master? Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?”
I was shocked three times in just five seconds. The first time was when I woke up in an unfamiliar room. The second was when I saw a bunch of unfamiliar faces peering down at me. And the third was when I asked who they were, and chaos ensued. That was my very first memory of my possession life.
Even now, thinking back, my eardrums still seem to echo from that incident. But considering how ridiculous it was, I feel a bit sorry for them now. If the eldest son of a noble family collapsed from a horseback fall and the first thing he muttered suggested amnesia, it’s only natural they would freak out. If I had fumbled around just a bit more, several servants would have likely been blamed and sent flying out of the palace.
“Are you really okay…?”
“I’m fine, I said. I just felt a bit dizzy, that’s all.”
Fortunately, the original memories of the body surged back, and I managed to wrap things up as a simple misunderstanding, sending everyone out of the room. Whether it was the former owner’s desire to protect his servants or the leniency of whoever had put me here, I don’t know. But I doubt it was the latter. If they had that kind of kindness, they wouldn’t have put me here in the first place.
“Why me…?”
Reincarnation, possession, rebirth—collectively known as “regressions.” They were a fresh concept when first introduced, but over time, they became so cliché that it’s hard to find a novel that doesn’t feature them. And here I was, tasked with the possession part. Wow! This is so exciting!
The problem, though, was that I had no clue why I was chosen for this role. I hadn’t even followed a light novel to completion, I hadn’t stuffed a 5,700-character draft down the author’s throat, and I certainly hadn’t had a monitor suddenly glow or been run over by a truck. I simply went to sleep and suddenly found myself in this world.
Well, up to that point, it seemed somewhat understandable. Honestly, the phenomenon of possession itself is irrational and sudden. Trying to deduce why I ended up in this situation felt pointless. Do other possession protagonists do it of their own volition?
“Shouldn’t at least an avid reader be selected?”
The real trouble was that I had reincarnated into a novel I knew nothing about. No, to be more precise, I knew the title but hadn’t actually paid it any real attention.
The title was something like “The Esteemed Daughter is in Love”—or maybe that’s not quite right? Anyway, some title like that. I had only skimmed the free chapters after hearing it was being turned into a webtoon, then promptly spat it back out. It was like wandering into a buffet but deciding you’d rather have a protein shake instead.
It didn’t fit my tastes at all, and right after, I quickly moved on to something else. Damn, if I’d known it would come to this, I would have finished it.
“…reincarnation in a romance fantasy.”
I felt frustration bubbling up about being in a story I didn’t know, but upon deeper reflection, it wasn’t necessarily a bad predicament. After all, there wouldn’t be a Demon Lord threatening to obliterate the world, nor would plagues or famines sweep through, leaving corpses everywhere. There probably wouldn’t even be a massive war. Most of the characters would be too busy engaging in sweet romances to worry about world-ending catastrophes.
So basically, I had found myself in a world purposely designed for me to have an easy time as a character, right? And the body I possessed belonged to the eldest son of an imperial earl. I was a proud member of the noble class, blessed with blue blood. Thank you, unknown benefactor, for granting me such a body…!
“Oh, life just got easy mode unlocked.”
The more I sorted through the memories that flooded back to me, the more I couldn’t help but laugh. The original owner of this body was Karl Krasius, a sixteen-year-old. He was the eldest son and heir of the Krasius family. Not a genius, nor a reckless fool, but rather a pretty average noble kid.
In other words, I didn’t need to act a certain way or show any significant change. I could simply enjoy a happy life as a noble.
The only nagging question remained: where had the original owner gone? But I decided to think he had simply died. Even if he hadn’t, I had no means to return this life to him. So from this point forward, I would be Karl.
That’s how I embarked on this thrilling happy life in another world.
“Our family’s riches are all thanks to the grace bestowed upon us by the Imperial Family.”
Just for one year.
On the day after I turned seventeen, I was summoned by the patriarch. I nodded reflexively to everything he said.
“I realized in this year that it’s always best to agree with this die-hard pro-imperial noble when he praises the Emperor and the royal family without hesitation.” As it turned out, the patriarch was so satisfied by my reflexive approval that he continued without any further comments.
“Originally our blood was red, not blue. But three hundred years ago, during the Apels Invasion, our ancestors achieved great merit.”
“That’s how the great Emperor Amanka granted us land and a title, allowing us to rise to noble rank. His successor, Amanka II, elevated the Krasius family to Earls of the Empire. As a descendant of the Krasius family, I have never forgotten that profound grace.”
“Yes, you are well-informed.”
‘If you forget something you hear every week, does that make you human?’
I brushed off the thought while maintaining a smile in response to the patriarch’s satisfied expression. He would likely say something like, “From now on, work hard for the royal family,” and then send me back. It was so predictable.
“An opportunity to repay that grace has arisen.”
“Eh?”
That took me by surprise.
Ignoring my bewilderment, the patriarch pulled out a document and continued speaking.
“There has been unrest in the North. Foolish individuals who dare to oppose the Empire are running rampant without knowing their place. However, the scale of this unrest is significant enough that the Emperor is worried.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Indeed. That’s why the Krasius family, as loyalty to Emperor, has decided to help eradicate these rebels who trouble him.”
“Are you going to the frontlines?”
The patriarch nodded calmly. The Krasius family is one of the direct vassals of the Emperor and holds the title of Earl of Tileglehen.
If the patriarch brought soldiers from the Tileglehen territory to assist in subduing the northern unrest, the Emperor would unquestionably accept it. His goal would be to leave the estate’s administration to me while he was away.
’Oh, it’s nothing big. The butler will handle the majority of the work anyway.’
Being the successor and acting as sketched-out Earl. All I had to do was affix my seal on a few documents. The patriarch delegated most of the estate’s jobs to the butler, too. I had worried for nothing when the conversation shifted gears.
But, as if he could read my thoughts, the patriarch changed topics once more.
“Well, it’s about time for you to step into a government position.”
“Huh? Me?”
“That’s right. At seventeen, one can either enter the Academy or become a government official, you know?”
“If I’m not around, who’s going to manage the Earl’s affairs?”
“Doesn’t matter; the butler takes care of all that.”
‘Hey, you low-ranking noble, you can’t say stuff like that.’
“I’ve already lined up a position for you. Just show up, and they’ll instruct you what to do.”
‘You real die-hard pro-imperial brat…’
It is decidedly feasible to enter the government at seventeen. Still, going to the Academy is the norm.
‘What could a fresh eighteen-year-old possibly do in a government role?’
It’s far more advantageous to attend the Academy, where I can learn various things, forge connections with other noble offspring, as well as with competent commoners, before gaining crucial networking experience.
Yet the patriarch disregarded all of that and intended to send me to the government. Why? Because the Emperor was feeling irritable, and he needed to send extra manpower to help out.
It would also play well into their narrative: “Our family’s heir, who just stepped into adulthood, is eager to serve both the Empire and the Emperor!” It is painfully predictable how such news would be relayed to the Emperor.
‘Is this going to turn out badly… for me?’
But surprisingly, this choice wasn’t necessarily bad. The Academy? In my previous life, I had gone nonstop through all schooling just before getting abducted into graduate school, only to have tap danced my way to freedom. So, the Academy didn’t really sit well with me. Most high-ranking nobles skip it and go for private tutoring, building their connections before and after they even set foot there for three years.
Conversely, this is a chance given by the head of the Krasius family. I’m a direct vassal of the Emperor, the Earl with renowned noble blood. Being only seventeen, I wouldn’t be expected to accomplish massive feats, but I’d certainly be living comfortably with a grave backing…
Oh, this could actually be pretty good.
“I will dedicate my everything to serve the Emperor.”
Having heard that, the patriarch beamed, and I returned his smile. Though we shared grins, our reasons were entirely different.
The patriarch headed off to lead his troops in the North, while I prepared to warm the spot he reserved for me, filled with milk and honey (or so I presumed).
And just like that, four more years passed.
“Dammit, I should have gone to the Academy back then!”
The position the patriarch secured for me was not one filled with milk and honey but rather one overflowing with blood, tears, and cries of despair. Over the course of four years, I experienced chaos beyond mere madness.
Those four years were more than enough to turn a joyful seventeen-year-old anticipating great times into a weary twenty-one-year-old yearning for retirement. I had spent two entire hours with a Minister relentlessly yelling at me just yesterday.
“Ah, this damn civil servant life.”
“Do you think the Academy… will accept someone who’s twenty-one…?”
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