Lucien didn't feel much of a physical change after awakening as a heretic, but he did feel a massive change in his mental space.
His mind became clearer, and his perception of the world suddenly changed, it was like a veil had been removed from his eyes and a layer of the world had crumbled right before him.
Lucien felt that feeling of extreme euphoria once again.
"In my previous life I awakened at the age of fifteen, now I'm a year earlier, this will give me an advantage over Elizabeth, and who knows, I might be able to prevent my mother from dying this time".
Lucien's eyes gleamed darkly.
"Evil god nirvana system, what is my virtue?".
[System Notice: Heretic Virtue… Feast of a Blackened Heart.]
Description:
Each heart carries a sin… devour too many, and the boundary between man and god begins to rot.
Lucien nodded lightly, it seemed like he had awakened a devouring type Virtue, they are not flashy like attack type Virtues but they do aid in the growth of an awakened, exactly what he needed at the moment.
The first virtue an awakened gets usually determines how far and fast they can grow, a devourer type like lucien can just absorb other people or awakens to strengthen himself, while attack type virtues will have to hunt, train and equip themselves with weapons before they can focus on growth.
Of course the person themselves will determine how useful their Virtues are to them, like if a saint awakened a devourer type virtue, he or she wouldn't want to use it, but if a heartless wretch like lucien awakens one, then its true potential will be unearthed in no time at all.
Whoosh.
The doors to Lucien's room suddenly sprang open, two young women dressed in white and black maid attire walked in with their heads bowed.
Lucien glanced at them, but didn't move from his position, if his memories served him right, then they should be his personal maids, Lily and Esther.
One was a human and the other a beast kin.
The moment they both came in, they bowed lightly and said in unison.
"Greetings young lord!".
Lucien smirked smugly. "How dare you barge into my room without prior consent, do you wish to die?".
The both of them suddenly went stiff.
Esther, the beast kin stepped forward and bowed lightly.
"My apologies young lord, I remember you mentioned we could come in for you if you sleep in, please recall young lord".
Lucien glanced at her, she was sizing him up as well, it was clear she's realized that he had awakened.
"You may leave".
"Thank you, your grace!".
"Not you". Lucien said to the human maid as she was about to leave the room. "Stay with me".
The girl's face instantly went pale, Lucien's reputation wasn't exactly worth bringing home to, rumours of him taking advantage of young women on the streets or even beating maids to death never ceased in high society.
"Your grace… how may I serve you?". Her knee bent slightly, as she performed basic etiquette.
"Come help me change".
Lucien said coldly as the beast kin maid shut the door behind as she left.
Lucien stared intently at the brown haired young woman, she should be about my age, he thought to himself.
Lucien raised his arms to shoulder level as Lily began to help him undress, she was skillful and efficient, displaying the skills of someone that has repeated the same pattern for years.
"The beast kins perception is incredibly high, not to mention she was loyal to Elizabeth in my previous life, sadly I only found out after she poisoned my wine… It's been over five minutes since she left, Elizabeth should be aware of my awakening by now, as for this young lamb".
Lily trembled lightly as Lucien's gaze fell on her once more.
"She has the potential to awaken, although due to being a commoner, she only awakened by the time she turned nineteen… with my support she can do so within the next few days, or at least before she turns fifteen".
"Her Divine Virtue was incredibly useful to father in my previous life, it was how he managed to kill the emperor without living behind a trace. I need it for myself, but first…".
Lucien's gaze trailed her every move as she buttoned his black tonic.
"You're from a small village outside the city, are you not?".
Ahh
Lily was stunned for a moment.
"Ye-yes your grace".
Lily went pale. "Why is he asking about my home town, is he planning to raid us for slaves, I heard him and his corrupt noble friends did that to the nephew of a cousin sister of my friend once".
"I heard there was a small plague around that part, I hope your family is doing well?".
Lily's eyes immediately became unfocused as all the colour drained from her skin, it was as if she turned into a husk of a person.
"Why is the evil young lord asking about my family, is he trying to buy me off, worst, buy my whole family so he can turn us into his personal sex slaves, I heard… arr, well I heard nothing, but he could definitely do it".
Lily quickly calmed her racing thoughts and responded sharply.
"Not so well I'm afraid, my baby sister has just been diagnosed with a sextually transmitted disease, my brother fell off a cliff while hunting, and now he's practically paralysed, no value to be found there… ahem, my mother was hit in the head by a rock, and now she's a vegetable and can't even feed herself, as for my father, well the plague got to him, I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left".
Lucien's eyelids twitched uncomfortably.
"Damn, the whole family huh".
"I'm afraid so".
Lucien wasn't sure if she was actually telling the truth or not, but if he wished to turn her, he needed to assist her in a way she would feel indebted to him.
And what better way to do so than helping her unusually sick family, so he walked over to his desk, pulled a drawer and under her watchful eye, handed her a sack of coins.
Lily was perplexed, what was the evil young lord doing?