The rain outside tapped softly against the window.
Kyle leaned his chin on one hand, staring at the math worksheet spread across his desk. Numbers blurred together into meaningless symbols, mocking his tired brain. His room was dim except for the small desk lamp casting a warm circle of light.
It was already past midnight.
Kyle rubbed his eyes and sighed.
"Why did the teacher give so much homework…"
He flipped the page again, trying to focus. The numbers looked like they were dancing.
His phone buzzed on the desk.
Kyle glanced at it lazily.
A message from his friend.
"Did you finish the homework yet?"
Kyle typed slowly.
"No. I'm dying."
Another message popped up.
"Same."
Kyle chuckled softly before tossing the phone aside.
The rain grew heavier.
Outside, the world felt quiet and distant.
Kyle stretched his arms above his head, yawning.
"I'll just rest my eyes for five minutes…"
He leaned forward, resting his head on his folded arms.
The numbers on the page slowly blurred.
The ticking clock on the wall echoed softly in the quiet room.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Kyle fell asleep.
---
Darkness.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then—
Pain.
A sharp pounding sensation erupted in his head.
Kyle groaned.
"Ugh…"
His eyelids felt heavy.
Something was wrong.
The desk beneath his arms was gone.
The familiar smell of his room had disappeared.
Instead, a strange scent filled his nose.
Something like lavender… and old wood.
Kyle slowly opened his eyes.
A golden canopy stretched above him.
Silk curtains hung from carved wooden pillars.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
His brain struggled to process what he was seeing.
This was not his bedroom.
Kyle shot upright in bed.
"Where am I?!"
His voice echoed in a large, unfamiliar room.
The bed beneath him was enormous, covered in soft silver blankets.
The room itself looked like something from a historical drama.
Tall windows.
Marble floors.
Intricately carved furniture.
A chandelier glittered faintly above.
Kyle stared around in disbelief.
"This… this has to be a dream…"
He slapped his own cheek.
Smack.
"Ow!"
The pain was very real.
Before Kyle could panic further, the door to the room suddenly opened.
Two maids rushed inside.
Both of them wore long black dresses with white aprons.
They looked startled when they saw him sitting up.
"Your Highness!"
One of them gasped.
"You're awake!"
Kyle froze.
Your Highness?
The maids hurried to his bedside.
"We were so worried! You collapsed during yesterday's banquet."
"His Highness Prince Kyle must still feel unwell."
Kyle's brain stopped.
Prince?
Prince Kyle?
His heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Wait.
Prince Kyle?
Why did that name sound familiar?
Kyle stared at the maids.
"Uh… sorry… but… who am I?"
The maids froze.
Both of them stared at him in horror.
"Y-Your Highness?!"
"You are Prince Kyle Gray of the Levicious Empire!"
The name struck him like lightning.
Kyle Gray.
Levicious Empire.
His memories suddenly stirred.
Kyle had read a fantasy web novel a few weeks ago.
A long political fantasy story about princes fighting for the throne.
And in that story…
There was a character named Prince Kyle Gray.
A useless prince.
A lazy prodigal who spent his days drinking, gambling, and chasing pleasure.
A prince everyone mocked.
And worst of all—
A prince who died.
Executed for treason in the story's later chapters.
Kyle felt cold sweat run down his back.
"No way…"
He whispered.
"No way…"
The maids looked confused.
"Your Highness?"
Kyle slowly lowered his gaze.
His hands looked different.
Longer.
Paler.
More elegant.
He scrambled out of the bed and ran toward a tall mirror standing near the wall.
When he saw his reflection…
Kyle froze.
A young man stared back at him.
Silver-gray hair fell softly over his forehead.
His eyes were a striking shade of steel blue.
His features were refined, almost too beautiful.
He looked like a prince straight out of a painting.
Kyle's heart pounded.
"That's… not my face…"
His breathing grew uneven.
He remembered now.
The novel.
The world.
The characters.
Prince Kyle Gray.
The useless second prince of the Levicious Empire.
And the most pathetic character in the entire story.
Kyle slowly pressed a hand against the mirror.
"Did I… transmigrate?"
The maids looked increasingly worried.
"Should we call the royal physician?"
Kyle turned toward them quickly.
"No!"
They both jumped.
Kyle forced himself to calm down.
His brain was racing.
If this was really the world of that novel…
Then things were bad.
Very bad.
Prince Kyle's reputation was terrible.
The emperor hated him.
The nobles mocked him.
His two brothers despised him.
And eventually—
He was framed for treason and executed.
Kyle swallowed hard.
"I don't want to die…"
He whispered.
One of the maids spoke nervously.
"Your Highness… are you feeling unwell?"
Kyle slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.
He needed to think.
In the novel, Prince Kyle spent his days wasting money and embarrassing the royal family.
He offended powerful nobles.
Insulted the church.
And constantly caused trouble.
By the time the political struggle between the princes intensified…
Kyle had already made too many enemies.
Which made him the perfect scapegoat.
Kyle rubbed his temples.
"This is insane…"
But the room around him was too real.
The soft silk sheets.
The cold marble floor.
The distant sounds of palace servants moving through the corridors.
This wasn't a dream.
Kyle looked up.
"What day is it?"
The maids exchanged confused glances.
"It is the 12th day of the Spring Moon, Your Highness."
Kyle's eyes widened.
The 12th day of the Spring Moon.
That meant the story hadn't progressed far yet.
Prince Kyle had not yet offended half the empire.
There was still time.
Kyle slowly exhaled.
"Okay…"
He whispered to himself.
"Calm down."
If he wanted to survive…
He needed to change Prince Kyle's fate.
He couldn't act like the original prince.
He needed to be smarter.
More careful.
Kyle looked at the maids.
"What's your names?"
They blinked in surprise.
"M-My name is Clara, Your Highness."
"And I am Livia."
Kyle nodded slowly.
"Alright. Clara. Livia."
He stood up.
"Prepare some clothes for me."
They both looked stunned.
"Your Highness is leaving the palace today?"
Kyle stretched his shoulders.
"I need some fresh air."
More importantly…
He needed information.
If this was really the world of the novel, then several important figures should already exist.
One of them was the famous knight commander.
Luis Stark.
An omega commander feared across the empire.
And another important character…
Joshua Violet.
A slave who would appear in an underground auction soon.
Kyle remembered something.
In the novel, Joshua eventually became a powerful figure.
But he suffered horribly before that.
Kyle frowned slightly.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
He could change that part of the story too.
Clara returned with a set of elegant clothes.
Kyle stared at them awkwardly.
"Uh… how do I wear this?"
The maids giggled softly before helping him dress.
Soon, Kyle stood before the mirror again.
He wore a dark royal coat embroidered with silver thread.
A white shirt with a high collar.
Black trousers and polished boots.
He looked…
Dangerously handsome.
Kyle scratched his cheek.
"This guy is way too good-looking…"
Livia smiled politely.
"You are known as the most handsome prince in the empire, Your Highness."
Kyle blinked.
"…Really?"
He hadn't expected that.
Then again, the original Prince Kyle had many lovers in the novel.
Unfortunately, that reputation also made him look irresponsible.
Kyle sighed.
"Great…"
The prodigal prince.
He glanced out the tall window.
Beyond the palace walls stretched the magnificent capital city of the Levicious Empire.
Stone streets.
Towering buildings.
Golden banners fluttering in the wind.
Kyle felt a strange excitement stir in his chest.
A new world.
A dangerous one.
But also… an opportunity.
Kyle turned toward the door.
"Well then."
He smiled slightly.
"Let's see how a prodigal prince survives."
And with that—
Prince Kyle Gray stepped out of the palace.
Unaware that his sudden change…
Would soon shock the entire empire.