The system window faded, leaving only silence behind.
Sebastian closed his eyes briefly.
Heart steady. Breath controlled.
No panic.
No confusion.
Only analysis.
"…System," he said quietly. "You can speak."
A calm, mechanical voice answered from within his mind:
> [ Affirmative. ]
Sebastian's expression remained unchanged.
He expected this.
Others with systems…
None had ever mentioned a voice.
Which meant—
he was different. Again.
"Why did you greet me as 'Subject 539' earlier?" he asked, tone flat, emotionless.
> [ Because that is what you are. ]
He nodded slightly.
"I died there. In that facility. And yet… I'm alive here."
> [ Correction: You survived. Your existence simply continued in a new vessel. ]
Survived.
He liked that word better.
"So my transfer wasn't an accident," he said, eyes narrowing.
"Who sent you with me?"
The system's glow flickered—like a heartbeat skipping a beat.
> [ Authority insufficient. Information locked. ]
Just as calculated.
Someone powerful brought him here.
Someone who wanted him alive.
"Then tell me what I must do."
> [ Grow stronger. Remove the seal. Break the chains of this world. ]
Sebastian exhaled softly.
"Cryptic," he murmured.
> [ You will understand once you have the strength to survive the consequences. ]
Consequences.
Yes… power always came with a price.
Before he could ask another question—
Knock.
The door opened.
The system vanished instantly.
Rowan — their Master-rank butler — stood there, composed and sharp like an unsheathed blade in human form.
"Young Master," Rowan said, bowing with respectful precision.
"His Grace and the Madam will arrive shortly. Preparations are required."
Sebastian turned his head slightly.
The old Sebastian would have stuttered… lowered his gaze… trembled.
But now—
"I will be ready in a moment," he answered calmly.
Rowan's eyes lingered a second longer than usual.
The change in Sebastian did not go unnoticed.
Maids hurried in to dress him in the Knight family's ceremonial suit — black tailored uniform with silver threads resembling frost patterns.
As they worked, Sebastian thought:
No one can see the system.
No one can know the truth.
Not yet.
Rowan stepped aside, waiting.
Sebastian looked at his reflection.
Same face.
New soul.
Sharper eyes.
His voice was cool, almost bored:
"Let's not keep the Duke and Duchess waiting."
He stepped forward — controlled, confident.
Not the weak son they remembered.
But something reborn.