Darkness.
Silence.
Then—
A sharp breath.
"—Hah!"
His eyes snapped open.
Air rushed into his lungs as if he had been drowning.
For a moment, he couldn't move.
"…Where… am I?"
His voice sounded different.
Softer.
Calmer.
He slowly sat up—
And froze.
This wasn't his room.
Silk curtains swayed gently by a large window. Sunlight poured into a vast chamber filled with luxury—golden walls, polished floors, and furniture that looked far too expensive to be real.
"…What is this place?"
His heart began to race.
He looked down at his hands.
Slim.
Pale.
Unfamiliar.
"…These aren't mine."
Memories flashed in his mind.
The novel.
The battlefield.
Ethon's death.
The name—
Aether Valencrest.
"…No way…"
His breathing grew uneven.
"Don't tell me…"
He jumped out of bed and rushed toward a mirror.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each movement felt strange.
Like he was controlling someone else's body.
He stopped in front of the mirror—
And stared.
Silver hair.
Sharp features.
Calm, noble eyes.
A face he had never seen before—
Yet somehow recognized.
"…Aether…"
His voice trembled.
"I became… that name?"
Silence filled the room.
Then—
A sudden headache struck.
"—Ah!"
He grabbed his head as memories poured in.
A palace.
Servants.
A royal family.
A life of luxury—
And neglect.
"…The useless prince…"
He remembered now.
Aether Valencrest.
A prince who avoided responsibility.
Ignored by nobles.
Looked down upon by everyone.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He let out a dry laugh.
"Out of all people… I became him?"
The one who didn't even matter in the story.
The one who never changed anything.
"…No."
His expression slowly hardened.
"That's not how this ends."
He clenched his fist.
"I know what happens."
"The kingdom falls."
"Everyone dies."
His eyes sharpened.
"But not this time."
A faint glow flickered beneath his skin.
The same runes—
Now etched into his chest.
Alive.
Pulsing.
"…So it wasn't a dream."
He took a deep breath.
"If I'm really inside the story…"
A small smile appeared on his face.
"…then I'll rewrite it."
Knock. Knock.
A voice came from outside the door.
"Your Highness… are you awake?"
He froze.
"…Already?"
Reality hit him.
This wasn't a game.
This was his life now.
He turned toward the door.
"…Come in."
The door slowly opened.
A maid stepped inside, bowing respectfully.
But as she raised her head—
Her eyes showed something else.
Not respect.
Not loyalty.
But—
Disinterest.
"…Breakfast is ready."
She spoke coldly.
Then left without waiting.
"…Wow."
He let out a small breath.
"They really don't care about this prince."
He glanced at his reflection again.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Good."
"Less attention… means more freedom."
But as he turned away—
A strange feeling crept over him.
As if someone…
Was watching.
From far away.
From beyond the room.
From beyond—
The story itself.
Somewhere far from the palace…
On a quiet hill under the morning sky—
A man yawned lazily.
"…So it finally started."
His half-open eyes gazed into the distance.
Toward the Central Continent.
Toward the prince.
"…Let's see how much you can change."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Then—
He closed his eyes again.
As if none of it mattered.