It was a Drury day in England, and Winston had just finished a day at work, cracking jokes for commercials and not getting the laughter he deserves.
"Fuck, I wish my paycheck was at least 10 more pounds." He said, looking at the 15 pounds he earned today.
His life was sad, he spent a few too many pounds on an otome game, Silver Feathers. You really couldn't blame him, he was tempted by the vibrant graphics, the deep, complicated characters, and the many DLCs. Yet he is still in crippling death, but if there was one thing he still had, it was his good sense of humor. He genuinely took funny business really seriously.
"That intern at that Cereal place really thought he knew humor, everyone knows the chicken crossing the road joke. You have to subvert expectations, how else can you be funny? A more fitting joke would be 'How did the chicken cross the road.' 'He went over it.' Which is true humor, you should make rhe decision to not clarify if the chicken was walking, so people could envision a flying chicken, and chickens can't fly, so it is funny." Yelled Winston, drinking his 5$ coffee, which tasted bitter. He then started to cross the road, albeit slowly since he decided to figure out a joke related to crossing the road and his coffee.
"My life is a mess, my career only takes my talent for granted, I live in a one room apartment, and I'm struggling by a stick. Someone, just end me." And as if the world listened and answered, a Hearse, probably speeding at 50 kilos an hour ran over him, like a stampede of bulls.
- - -
And that was where 12-year old future Viscount Albert Luddovan's memories of his past life ended after he suffered a high fever the month prior. He was surprised that this was his new life, one of privilege, one with kinship, and best of all... some (hot) maids as well.
It's been 4 years since Albert regained his memories of his past life, he didn't expect to be reincarnated. But, the Victorian aura, the way the heirlooms sparkle like they are brand new. This confirms it, he's been Reincarnated in the world of Silver Feathers.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror, there he was, he had straight black hair, red eyes, and his hands were surprisingly meaty for a child.
"Master Albert, your lunch?" Said Kuroba, first of his loyal maids. Her green ponytail glittering in the light as she brings him his lunch, some chocolate pudding with honey on top, with a cup of tea and 3 biscuits on the side.
"Thank you Kuroba. Give my compliments to the chef." Albert said politely. He was raised with good manners as the future viscount, he must always put manners in front of his actions.
"Actually, I made them myself." Said Kuroba. This was a regular occurrence, but Albert didn't have the time to remember Kuroba's delightful cooking since he has spent the month planning his life in this new world. Luckily for him, Kuroba's age is only 2 ages more than him, yet she acts almost like an older sister to Albert. Although this lunch was of course, delicious.
"Your mother wishes to see you." Said Collene, his other maid. This was surprising, since Albert's mother didn't usually have the time to pay attention or notice to him or his 2 siblings. This was so much quite the shock he spat out his tea onto Kuroba's clothes. This wouldn't have been much of an issue, but now Albert can see through her outfit and can see her breasts in their glory.
"Oh, sorry about that." Albert said as Kuroba left his room. After he used his napkin to wipe his mouth, he followed Collene to the entrance hall and he saw his mother, Gisella. "Hello there dear mother, what is the reason for my presence today?"
"Albert, after careful thinking we made the decision to engage you to the duke' daughter, Lucine Nocturne." Replied Gisella. It was clearly intended to be good news. But to Albert his heart dropped.
Lucine Nocturne was the villainess of the Otome game Silver Feathers. She is assertive, attractive, and cunning. Although her most redeeming quality is her good sense of humor, the way it was used in the game only intensified her cruelty. In the original game, he was just a nameless fiance, blindly doing whatever cruel acts Lucine commanded him to do to the heroine. He didn't want that, he would much rather tell jokes or even sign paperwork. He's just imagining her royal blue eyes, her black hair with blue accents staring him down as he's being held by a leash. But he can't just refuse the engagement, his family would disown him and he would most definitely be abandoned in the streets, not even his good sense of humor can save him
In the few hidden lore images in Silver Feathers, there was various images of Lucine as a child smiling, not the cruel smile in the game, but a kind smile, the smile of a child who's joy was untainted by the cruelty of her family and society's expectations of her. He realized he finally has the chance to see that smile in person, and perhaps to protect that smile. Maybe he can, as her fiancee, no, as her jester, give her the happy ending she deserves. But first he has to meet her.
"Wonderful, when can I meet her?" Albert says, trying to still hide his anger and mortification.
"You will be sent off to her estate tomorrow." Replied Gisella. That's good. He has enough time to prepare. After he bowed and bid farewell to his mother, Albert walked back to his room and decided to prepare himself. He luckily trained physically even before he regained his memories, and as of yesterday, he finally knows how to juggle again. So he packed up a total of 8 multicolored balls. Practiced his jokes with Kuroba, who tidied him, and then came the carriage. Albert knew if he couldn't make her laugh, he, no not him, Lucine, and both of their families, would be doomed.
"Master Albert are you ready?" Asked Kuroba, tapping his shoulder as the black doors of the carriage to the Nocturne estate opened.
"What do you call a carriage to my future wife, a Wedding vow-room." Albert joked, and Kuroba chuckled. That wasn't one of his best jokes, but it won't be his last.