A dim hospital room. The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor. The sterile scent of antiseptic.
Samuel lay on the hospital bed, frail and motionless. His wrinkled hands trembled as he took shallow breaths. His vision blurred, but he could still see the empty chairs beside him.
No family. No friends. No one had come.
After decades of loyalty, hard work, and sacrifice, he had hoped for a peaceful farewell. Instead, he was dying alone.
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "So this is how it ends."
His mind drifted back to his life—years spent being a responsible husband, a devoted father, a man who always did the right thing. And yet, in the end, his wife had grown indifferent, his children had seen him as nothing but a provider, and his so-called friends had long forgotten him.
Regret gnawed at his soul. "If I had another chance… I would live for myself."
Then—
BEEEEEEEP!
The heart monitor flatlined. His vision darkened. His body grew cold.
And then—
Light.
A sharp intake of breath filled his lungs as he jolted awake. Instead of a hospital bed, he found himself lying beneath a canopy of golden silk in a room adorned with ornate chandeliers and velvet curtains. The air carried the scent of perfume, a stark contrast to the sterile hospital he had expected.
'Where the hell am I?!'
Before he could move, pain shot through his skull as memories that weren't his own surged into his mind.
His name was no longer Samuel.
He was Leonard von Ashenheim, the illegitimate son of Duke Ashenheim, a noble in the Kingdom of Roshveil. A bastard. A disgrace. A man doomed to be nothing more than a footnote in someone else's legend.
But the worst part?
He recognized this world.
It was the setting of a fantasy novel, and Leonard was a minor villain destined to be crushed by the protagonist—a stepping stone, discarded and forgotten.
Leonard barely had time to process the information
His heart pounded. He had no cheat abilities. No overwhelming magic. His only advantage? Knowledge of novel.
Leonard sat on the edge of his lavish yet suffocating bed, his fingers pressing against his temples as memories surged through his mind. He wasn't just some noble's bastard—he was a target.
The legitimate heir, Lucas von Ashenheim, his so-called half-brother, despised him. And why wouldn't he? In this world, bastards were nothing more than threats to inheritance. If Leonard didn't act carefully, he'd end up dead before reaching adulthood.
But this time, he wasn't some naive, powerless boy. He was a man who had lived a full life—an old man with decades of experience. If they wanted to destroy him, he would make them regret it.
Just as he was collecting his thoughts—
BANG!
The door swung open without warning, crashing against the wall.
A women strutted in without a hint of respect. The woman had red hair, and Leonard knows she was head maid or personal maid of Duke from the memories.
She crossed her arms, her fiery red hair tied in a messy bun, and clicked her tongue. "Tsk. You finally woke up? Thought you were gonna laze around all day like a useless young master.I thought you were died.
Leonard blinked. For a moment, he almost laughed. 'What kind of maid talks like that?'
He inspected her closely. She was young, maybe thirty eight or thirty nine.dressed in a simple black-and-white uniform, though it looked slightly wrinkled—probably because she didn't care to keep it tidy.But the curve of her backside and the voluptuousness of her a*s made him pause, as she wriggled her hips sensuously.
But her attitude… That was new.
In his memories, Anna had always treated him like an afterthought—never cruel, never kind, just distant. But now? She was openly rude.
Leonard's lips curled into an amused smirk. "Do all servants in this estate greet their masters like this? Or am I just special?"
Anna scoffed, shifting her weight to one side. "Master? Don't make me laugh. Even the dogs in this estate have a higher standing than you."
A sharp glint flashed in Leonard's eyes, but he remained calm.
'Interesting… So now that I'm no longer unconscious, she's showing her real thoughts?'
Leonard leaned back, exhaling slowly.
He could react in many ways—anger, resentment, even violence. But instead, he chuckled and asked so why are you here.
Anna stepped in, her usual scowl in place. "The Duke has summoned you
Leonard stood. "Now?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, next year. Of course now, idiot. Get moving before he gets pissed."
Ignoring her sarcasm, Leonard walked past her and made his way to the grand hall. suddenly he turned towards Anna said,
"Anna."
She froze mid-step. "…What?"
His smile deepened. "I hope you keep this attitude."
Anna narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. "Why?"
Leonard :"Because soon, you'll be calling me 'Young Master' with sincerity."
She snorted. "In your dreams."
With that, she slammed the door behind her.
Leonard chuckled, shaking his head. "This might actually be fun."
-------
Duke Ashenheim's Audience Chamber
The moment Leonard stepped inside, he felt the weight of the ducal family's presence.
Sitting at the head of the table was Duke Reinhardt von Ashenheim, a towering man with sharp features, a neatly trimmed beard, and eyes as cold as steel.
To his right sat Duchess Eleanor von Ashenheim, elegant yet distant, her piercing blue eyes showing not even the slightest warmth.
And next to her—his so-called half-brother, Lucas von Ashenheim. The heir, the favored son, the one who would inherit everything.
and next to him his step sister , Evylen
Lucas smirked at Leonard's entrance, his golden hair and noble attire giving him the perfect image of a protagonist—except Leonard knew he was nothing more than a scheming snake.
The room was silent for a moment before the Duke spoke.
"Leonard." His deep voice echoed through the chamber. "In one week, you will leave for the Imperial Academy."
Leonard remained calm. "…And why is that?"
Lucas leaned back in his chair, smirking. "To be useful for once."
Duchess Eleanor sighed, as if speaking to someone beneath her. "The academy will be selecting heroes from the commoners this year. One among them will become the Empire's greatest champion."
Leonard's fingers twitched. The hero?
In the original story, the protagonist was a commoner who rose through the ranks, gathering allies and defeating every enemy in his path—including Leonard von Ashenheim.
The Duke's gaze bore into him. "Your job is simple: infiltrate his group. Make yourself useful. Gain his trust."
Leonard exhaled slowly. "But I had no talent, How they would accept me.
Duke : that's your problem no mine , I will give you all the things you want
Leonard's mind worked rapidly. This was a trap.
If he joined the hero, he would be nothing more than a disposable pawn. A tool for the Duke to gain favor with the Emperor. If Leonard performed well, the Duke would take all the credit. If he failed, he would be discarded like trash.
And if he refused? His life would end before he even left this estate.
He had no choice.
Leonard slowly bowed his head. "…I understand. I will go."
The Duke nodded, as if this was expected. "Good."
Lucas smirked. "Try not to embarrass our family while you're at it."
Leonard raised his head, a small smirk forming on his lips. "Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure the entire Empire remembers the name Ashenheim."
Lucas frowned, but before he could say anything, Leonard turned and left the chamber.
His fate had been sealed. Now, he just had to find a way to survive.
---