Chapter 1: I Tried Reincarnating as a Villainous Noble
The moment I opened my eyes, the feel of silk caressing my skin and the soft sunlight pouring in from the window entered my vision.
“…Huh?”
Before me was an unfamiliar four-poster bed. I couldn’t help but gasp at its magnificence. Next, the regular ticking of a clock and the chirping of birds from outside the window reached my ears.
Am I dreaming? Or did I somehow wake up in some high-class hotel by mistake? Clutching my head, confused and unable to grasp the situation, I sat up in bed.
What jumped into my sight was an unfamiliar face reflected in a mirror.
“Who… is this…”
A handsome young man with large eyes, a well-defined nose, and refined features.
His hair was a platinum blonde, almost silver, and his skin was as white as porcelain. However, it took me a few seconds to realize that it was me.
“No way… Is this…”
As my gaze wandered, something from my past life suddenly caught in a corner of my memory.
Indeed, I… had been working overtime late into the night and was heading home completely exhausted. On the way… right, that truck.
Perhaps the driver was dozing off; it suddenly darted out from a side street.
“Did I… die?”
The moment I said it aloud, a chill ran down my spine. Why am I, who should be dead, here? And what is this situation? Amidst my confusion, there was a knock on the door, and a reserved voice echoed.
“Lord Serios, are you awake?”
Serios? Who’s that? Before I could instinctively reply, the door opened, and a young girl dressed in a Maid’s uniform bowed and entered the room.
Her neat features and graceful demeanor were as if she had stepped right out of a movie.
“…How are you feeling? I heard you were drinking late last night…”
“Eh, ah, no… um… I’m fine.”
I tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. But at the same time, a sense of unease welled up. This situation, I’ve seen it somewhere before.
This is the world of a game.
The world of “Rose of Granthia,” the otome game my younger sister played over and over. I was made to help her with the walkthroughs a few times. And I also recognize the face of the Maid in front of me.
And this face in the mirror, this name… I’ve been reincarnated as none other than the villainous noble of this game, Serios von Aegrid.
“Seriously…?”
At my mutter, the Maid looked puzzled.
“Is something troubling you, Lord Serios?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
To confirm my appearance once more, I headed towards the large full-length mirror placed in the corner of the room.
Reflected there was a young man with a beauty and an intimidating aura that women would undoubtedly find appealing.
I desperately dug through my memories, recalling this character’s settings.
Serios von Aegrid.
In the world of the otome game, he has a feud with the main heroine, Liese (the game’s protagonist), antagonizes the in-game capture targets (male characters), and ultimately plays the antagonist role.
Among players, he was known as a “typical villain character,” and almost all his actions led to his own self-destruction.
In other words, despite it being an otome game, he’s an uncapturable jobber villain noble, and the character most hated by the heroine.
“No, no, why did it have to be this guy of all people…”
But there’s no point lamenting here.
Think calmly. Having knowledge of the game means I also know the future that’s about to unfold. To meet ruin without doing anything is just not an option.
“Alright… First, let’s sort out the situation.”
I took a deep breath and organized the information in my head.
This is a game world, and I’ve been reincarnated as the villainous noble Serios.
Since I know the original plot, I can’t just walk the path to ruin; I need to twist the game’s story.
But how should I do that? Strengthen myself before the game’s story begins? Or perhaps befriend the capture targets and solidify my position to avoid self-destruction?
All of these are things that will happen in the future, so they’re too uncertain.
“…That’s right, gold.”
According to Serios’s settings, his family is a prestigious noble house boasting immense wealth compared to theirs.
Because of that, he’s already seen by the other capture targets (males) as an arrogant and villainous noble whom they despise.
In that case, I should use the power of gold to control territories and commerce, and leverage immense economic influence.
If there’s something to resolve, solving everything with gold is the Serios-like way to do it.
“I will… change the future with gold. I’ll absolutely avoid any ruin end.”
I muttered as if telling myself. The Maid looked dubious, but I didn’t care. There’s only one thing I need to do now.
First, I’ll start by saving Liese, the game’s main heroine.
Saving her will increase the chances of avoiding conflict with the protagonist and the capture targets. Moreover, now that I know her family is in dire straits according to the settings, I should be able to move smoothly using the power of gold.
“Maid… what’s your name?”
“Huh?”
“Tell me your name.”
I probably should know it, but I’m the villainous noble Serios. It wouldn’t be strange for me to forget a Maid’s name.
“It is Fina, sir.”
“I see, Fina! Get ready. We’re going out to the city today.”
“To the city, sir? Lord Serios, you yourself?”
“That’s right. I want to get some fresh air once in a while.”
This might be the first step in resisting my doomed fate. And above all, my new life in this world is beginning.
“Just watch… I’ll crush everything with the power of gold!”
I quietly clenched my fist.
Afterword
Hello, this is the author, Iko.
My spontaneous post was a success, so this time too, there’s no plot.
This is a post to see how far I can go with just an idea.
If the number of readers increases to a decent amount, I think I’ll get motivated and write more and more, so I’d appreciate your support (๑>◡<๑)
Well, it’s a busy time at the end of the year, so please read it at your leisure.