And apparently, I'm the only one who knows that.I tried not to breathe too loudly and to remain conscious.
"What did you say at the beginning?" I asked John.
"Your Grace," he repeated, "The Emperor has summoned you."
'Oh, great. Why does he want to see me?' I thought, panic instantly setting in. Then another thought crossed my mind — 'Wait, was this how the game started?'I wasn't really sure either.
Still lost in my thoughts, I slowly looked around at the knights standing in silence.Then my gaze fell on John again. The soldier was still waiting, eyes down, completely still.
Not knowing what to do, I turned toward the window. Outside, snow howled against the northern fortress walls.I suddenly remembered — this place was one of the coldest, deadliest parts of the map: the North.Ruled by a single family for generations. A land of silence, secrets, and monsters.Including, apparently… me.
"Is something wrong, Your Grace?" John asked carefully.
I wanted to scream, 'YES!'Everything was wrong.I wasn't a duke. I didn't own swords. I cried while watching shōjo anime and once lost a fight to a housecat.
But instead, I just nodded once — like a proper noble would — and stood.(Or at least I hoped that's what a noble would do.)
"When is the meeting?" I asked.
"You are expected today, Your Grace," he replied, hesitating. "His Majesty has been waiting for you."
My brain froze. 'His Majesty'.That meant the Emperor himself.Oh no. Why?!
With too many questions swirling in my head, I left the room.
It felt strange — walking like this. The boots were heavy, the cloak swished dramatically, and I couldn't help but feel like I was cosplaying a final boss.
I waited until I was alone in the hallway before slipping into a dark, empty room and closing the door behind me.
For the first time, I looked at myself properly.
The mirror reflected the illusion: tall, cold, male perfection.But beneath that reflection, I could feel it — magic buzzing under my skin.It wasn't just an illusion spell. It felt… alive.Like it was hiding more than just a face.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered to myself,"Okay… let's not die in chapter four."