THUMP.
Alex's eyes snapped open — and immediately slammed shut again.
His head throbbed like someone had dropped a piano on it. His muscles ached like he'd been in a fight and lost. Even breathing felt wrong, like the air was too thick.
He groaned and tried to sit up.
Bad idea.
His whole body screamed in protest. His back, neck, shoulders — even his teeth hurt.
"What the hell…?"
And then the real pain began.
Memories.
Flashes. Voices. Names he didn't know. Places he'd never been. A throne room. A sword. A younger brother crying. A duel. A betrayal. Fire. So much fire.
"Stop—stop—STOP—"
The flood cut off like someone hit a switch.
And then, like salt in the wound, came the voice.
[Welcome, User. System boot complete. Try not to die again — cleaning up your mess once was bad enough.]
Alex opened one eye.
"...System?"
[Technically, I am an Adaptive Role Guidance Interface, but sure. Let's go with 'System.' Makes you feel special.]
The voice wasn't robotic. It was way too smug for that. More like a bored customer service rep who just found a reason to enjoy their shift.
[Congratulations, by the way. You've successfully reincarnated into one of the worst people imaginable. Impressive, really.]
Alex tried to speak. Ended up coughing.
"What… who did I become?"
[Lord Adrien Vale. Age 18. Second son of House Vale. Currently a walking red flag with a 3-star villain rating. Popular crimes include: emotional repression, excessive dueling, family trauma, and getting stabbed in the back… literally.]
Alex rubbed his forehead, eyes still shut. "Of course. Why not?"
[Ah, you're adjusting well. Most users scream for five minutes. Some vomit.]
"Can I uninstall you?"
[Aww. Already bonding.]
He forced himself upright, wincing, blinking through the pain and the leftover fog.
Tall windows. A fancy bedroom. A mirror across the room. Heavy curtains. Everything rich, heavy, dramatic — exactly the kind of place someone like "Lord Adrien Vale" would live.
He dragged himself out of bed and stumbled toward the mirror.
The reflection stared back.
Sharp gray eyes. Short black hair, neat and strict. Pale skin. Way too intense. He looked like the kind of guy who judged you silently at family dinners and was probably right.
Definitely not Alex.
[Now then, let's talk objectives. You'll be dead again unless you change something. And based on your original life choices, I'm not too sure.]
Alex squinted at his reflection. Then at nothing, because apparently the system didn't have a face.
"…You're going to be a problem, aren't you?"
[Already am.]
The voice chirped like it deserved a gold star for sarcasm.
Alex sighed and leaned his hands on the vanity, still breathing heavier than normal. His arms ached. His back was tight. His head was spinning with half-memories that didn't belong to him.
"Okay," he muttered, trying to think. "So I'm Lord Adrien Vale. Eighteen. Second son of some noble house…"
[House Vale. Known for political influence, a history of betrayal, and really uncomfortable chairs.]
Alex ignored that.
From the corner of his eye, the mirror reflected a wardrobe — sharp-lined clothes. They looked like something a prince would wear if he were going through his "I hate my father" phase.
He pulled open a drawer. Gloves. A silver signet ring. A letter opener shaped like a dagger.
Right.
Villain.
"Tell me something useful. Like, when do I die?"
[Depends. In the book? Chapter six. In your current run? That depends on how badly you mess up breakfast.]
"…Breakfast?"
[You're expected downstairs in fifteen minutes. Apparently, you've just recovered from being 'gravely injured in a duel.']
Alex paused. "Wait, that was real?"
[Oh yes. Your older cousin stabbed you. Very dramatic. You passed out from blood loss on marble stairs. Made a scene.]
He rubbed his face.
"Of course I did."
[You also insulted a visiting duke, threatened to duel the crown prince, and made your younger brother cry. All within the last two weeks.]
Alex turned back to the mirror. The face staring back at him really did look like trouble.
He ran a hand through his — Adrien's — neatly combed hair and gave a half-laugh.
"So... I'm basically the guy everyone in the story wants to slap."
[Exactly. You're doing great.]