Morning sunlight leaked through the tall windows like liquid gold.
For the first time since I woke up here, I actually felt the weight of the crown I wasn't wearing.
Three months to survive.
A cursed bloodline.
And a system that wanted me to "change the script."
I dragged my fingers through Kael's midnight-black hair and exhaled.
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's see what this thing can do."
The faint blue box blinked back into existence.
[SYSTEM MENU]
— Status
— Missions
— Fate Points: 0
— Achievements: None
"Figures," I said. "Even my reincarnation came with a tutorial level."
I tapped "Status."
[Kael Darcan — Level 17]
Title: The Blood Prince
Attributes:
Strength – 78
Intelligence – 91
Magic – 65
Curse Energy – Locked
There was a faint line below:
Potential Path: Villain (Fixed)
I frowned. "Fixed? We'll see about that."
A knock echoed through the chamber.
"Enter," I called.
The door creaked open, revealing a young woman in a crisp uniform — dark hair tied back, eyes sharp as daggers. She bowed deeply.
"Lord Kael," she said, her voice steady. "The council awaits your presence."
The council. Right. In the book, this was the scene where Kael publicly threatened a noble for questioning his authority — the first real moment that made everyone fear him.
If I played that scene the same way… I'd just speedrun my execution.
"Tell them I'll be there shortly," I said, forcing a calm smile. "And… remind the kitchen I prefer tea today, not wine."
Her eyebrows twitched. "Tea, my lord?"
Kael never drank tea. He drank wine for breakfast and blood for dinner.
"You heard me," I said, sharper this time.
She hesitated, then nodded and left.
As soon as she was gone, I whispered, "System, how do I earn Fate Points?"
The blue box flickered.
[Fate Points are earned by diverging from the original story.]
"So… every time I break the script, I get rewarded?"
[Affirmative.]
I smirked. "Then let's start rewriting."
---
The council chamber was a cathedral of arrogance — high ceilings, golden banners, and nobles who smelled like perfume and greed.
Twelve of them sat around a long table, all staring at me as if they expected me to kill one of them just for breathing too loudly.
"Lord Kael," said Duke Randal, his voice oily. "We were just discussing your… methods of governance."
In the book, Kael burned this man alive with a single spell. The crowd loved it. The readers, too.
But me? I needed to survive.
I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands. "Methods of governance? That's a polite way to say you don't like me, Duke."
A few nobles flinched.
Randal smirked. "The people fear you. Fear breeds rebellion."
"Fear," I said softly, "also keeps you alive."
Silence.
Then, I smiled. "But perhaps it's time we tried something different."
The room went dead quiet.
"I'll open the city gates this week," I said. "Let the people trade freely again. Lower the taxes for a month."
Gasps. Murmurs. One man nearly dropped his quill.
Randal's smirk disappeared. "That's… not what you usually—"
"Exactly," I cut in. "Change is overdue."
The system chimed softly in my mind.
[Fate Divergence Detected.]
[+10 Fate Points Earned.]
I hid a grin. "Meeting adjourned."
I stood and turned to leave, the nobles whispering behind me. Some confused. Some afraid.
But one pair of eyes followed me with quiet curiosity — the young maid from before. She'd stayed near the door, watching me too closely.
And just before I stepped out, she whispered under her breath:
"You're not a
cting like him anymore, are you…?"
I froze.
When I looked back, she was already gone.
---
⚜️ End of Chapter 3