Ryo sat in silence, staring at the letter in his hands. His fingers trembled slightly, the crisp parchment crinkling beneath his grip. The words were still burned into his mind:
Calm down. Survive.
Easier said than done.
He wanted to believe that this was all a bad dream, that he would wake up in his bed, his phone buzzing with notifications from reality. But the weight of the paper, the cold air brushing against his skin, the scent of aged wood and candle wax—everything was too vivid. Too real.
A sharp breath left his lips as he buried his face in his hands. Think. You have to think.
The letter had been signed by someone who knew him. Someone who knew he would panic. That meant this wasn't entirely random. But the system—his so-called lifeline—had failed. Now, he was alone in a world that wasn't his, in a body that didn't belong to him, wearing a fate he hadn't chosen.
And worst of all, he was Caius Veyne.
The realization made his stomach churn. In Heaven's Wrath, Caius was an early villain. A stepping stone for the protagonist. A man whose pride and power led to his downfall long before the real battles began. He hadn't even been important enough to survive past the first major arc.
And now, that was his life.
Ryo let out a hollow laugh. "I am so screwed."
Just as he thought that, a sudden sharp pain stabbed into his skull.
A burning, searing agony unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was as if something was forcefully being shoved into his mind, like a dam breaking and unleashing a flood of foreign knowledge.
Images. Thoughts. Memories.
They crashed into him all at once.
A childhood spent under the crushing expectations of nobility. The cold, distant gaze of his father. The whispered court conspiracies that followed his every move. The relentless training with the sword, the nights spent drowning in books on warfare, magic, and etiquette. The suffocating pressure of being Duke Veyne, of carrying a legacy that was never his choice to bear
Ryo gasped, his body convulsing as the onslaught of memories overwhelmed him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the cold marble floor, his vision blurring as unconsciousness swallowed him whole.
As he lay unconscious on the cold floor, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the room. A few maids, alarmed by the sudden collapse of their young master, carefully lifted him and placed him onto the grand bed. Their worried whispers faded into silence as they tucked him in and left, unsure of what had happened.
******
few movements ago
In the dimly lit hallway, three maids lingered near the entrance to their young master's chambers, speaking in low voices. The figure leading the group was a tall woman with jet-black hair neatly tied into a bun, sighed as she was wearing an apron. Her name was Elise, and she had been serving the Veyne family for years.
"I swear, ever since Lord Caius returned, he's been acting strange," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"You think so?" The second maid, a petite woman with wavy brown hair named Maria, tilted her head. "He does seem quieter than usual."
"Maybe he's just tired," the third maid, a bright-eyed girl named Lilia, suggested. She was the youngest among them, with soft auburn curls and a hopeful expression. "Didn't the Grand Duke push him to train harder before leaving for the banquet?"
Elise frowned. "That's true, but something feels... off."
Just as she spoke, a loud thud came from inside the room. The maids' chatter died instantly. Their eyes widened, and without hesitation, they rushed to the door.
Elise was the first to push it open. The sight before them made Maria gasp. Caius lay sprawled on the cold floor, his body still and unresponsive.
"My lord!" Lilia cried, hurrying forward.
Elise knelt beside him, quickly checking his pulse. Relief flickered across her face when she felt a steady beat beneath her fingers. "He's alive, but we need a healer immediately."
Maria wasted no time and sprinted down the hallway. Within minutes, she returned with a healer in tow. The young woman was slender, with striking yellow hair cascading down her back in soft waves. Her golden eyes gleamed with intelligence as she exuded an air of quiet confidence.
Elise and Lilia stepped aside as the healer knelt beside Caius, placing her hands just above his chest. A soft glow emanated from her fingertips as she channeled her magic, assessing his condition. A tense silence filled the room as she worked, her brows furrowing slightly before she finally exhaled.
"He's physically fine," she stated, her voice calm yet firm. "There's no sign of injury, nor any traces of poisoning or illness."
"Then why did he collapse?" Lilia asked, her worry evident.
Lilly shook her head. "It could be exhaustion, or perhaps something more... internal. His mind may be under extreme strain." She paused before adding, "For now, just let him rest."
Elise exchanged a glance with Maria and Lilia before nodding. Together, they carefully lifted Caius and placed him onto the grand bed. Lilly lingered for a moment longer, ensuring his breathing was steady before standing. "Keep an eye on him. If anything changes, call for me immediately."
With that, she left the room, leaving the maids to watch over their young master in silence.
When Ryo finally woke up, his body felt heavy, his mind clouded with the lingering remnants of a life that wasn't his. Blinking slowly, he turned his head to see Elise standing nearby, her usual stern expression now softened with concern.
"My lord, since you are awake, I will be calling the healer."
Ryo hesitated before noding his head.
Elise studied him for a moment before nodding. "As you wish, my lord." With a quick glance toward Maria and Lilia, she gestured for them to follow as they left the room, closing the door behind them.
As soon as the silence settled in, Ryo sat there for a long time, unmoving, his thoughts tangled in the weight of everything that had happened. The memories of Caius, the letter, the horrifying reality of his situation—it was too much to process all at once.
After what felt like an eternity, he called for Elise again. "Bring me food. And for the next few days, no one should disturb me. No matter what happens."
Elise raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Understood, my lord."
Despite his request for solitude, Elise, concerned for his well-being, summoned Lilly once more. The healer returned, stepping into the dimly lit room, her golden eyes sharp as she approached his bedside.
"My lord, Elise mentioned your collapse. I'd like to examine you again," she said gently but firmly.
Ryo, exhausted but aware that resisting would do no good, nodded slightly. Lilly placed her hands above his chest once more, her magic pulsing faintly. This time, she frowned.
"There's something unusual..." she murmured. "Your body is fine, but your energy—it feels... unstable."
Ryo stiffened. He had no idea what she meant, but it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Will it pass?" he asked, voice hoarse.
Lilly hesitated before nodding. "It should, but you need rest. Too much strain on your mind and soul could make things worse. If anything changes, call for me immediately."
Ryo muttered his thanks, and Lilly took her leave.
As if his mind had finally caught up with his body, the weight of his reality sank in completely.
And then—
The tears came. Quiet at first, then uncontrollable. He cried for a long time, shoulders shaking as the overwhelming emotions crashed over him. He wasn't just stuck in a novel. He had lost everything—his family, his life, his world. No matter how much he wished otherwise, this was real.
Then came denial. This isn't happening. It's just a nightmare. I'll wake up. Any moment now...
But the truth didn't change. The grand room around him, the unfamiliar body, the memories—it was all real. And no amount of disbelief could change that.
Next, anger. His hands clenched into fists as rage bubbled inside him. Why me? Why did I end up here? Who did this to me? His breath turned ragged. If he could find the reason behind this, maybe he could undo it. Maybe he could fight against fate.
Then, bargaining. His mind grasped for possibilities. Maybe there's a way back. Maybe if I play along, I'll get out of this. Maybe... But there was no answer. No way to undo what had happened.
Depression followed. A crushing sense of hopelessness filled his chest. I'll never see my parents again. My life is gone. Even if I survive, I'll always be someone else. The weight of it pressed down on him, suffocating and unrelenting.
And finally—acceptance. A slow, painful realization. I can't change what's happened. But I can still survive. I won't let this world break me.
With newfound resolve, 'Ryo' no Caius turned his gaze toward the desk. A simple leather-bound book sat atop it, its pages blank and waiting. He stood up, his movements sluggish but determined, and sat down at the desk. Taking a quill in hand, he opened the book and began writing.
Every piece of knowledge he had about Heaven's Wrath, every event, every character, every danger he could remember—he put it all down. His hand trembled as he scribbled furiously, determined to record everything before it could slip away from his mind.
As he wrote, he mumbled to himself. "The rest of the family... they've gone to a banquet for a week. That means I have time. I have time to figure things out."
The game just has began