You know you're old the moment you say the phrase, "Back in my day", but that's kind of the point with me. At this point, I've lost count as to how many years it's been since I was cursed with immortality. If you call endless reincarnation while retaining memories "immortality", don't forget the added bonus of being young forever, quite literally since I never make it past 18. I might as well curse you to hell or whatever resembles it in your religion or belief. If you're an atheist, I hope at the very least you are accused of a witch and burned at the stake.
I opened my eyes and stretched my stubby limbs, almost as if I was emerging from a cocoon. But rather than gracefully emerging like a butterfly, I am hit with the all too familiar feeling of recollecting memories equivalent to that of a dump truck emptying its load on you, causing your body and mind to their limits.
After a short hesitation, I brought myself back together. Now how did I end up in this mess again? Let me refresh my memory. I'm going to do this every time I reincarnate, just to remind myself of what I should do the next time I see "it".
Oh yeah, now I remember. After stumbling across a mysterious typical fairy tale lamp from a thrift store, doing it just for fun, I brought it back home and rubbed it. Satiating my 5-year-old curiosity and childishness, I was disappointed that nothing happened. I still made 3 wishes anyway.
First, I wished for immortality, after seeing one too many short videos that theorize what happens after death, back then I was not about to find out. Next, I wished to be young forever, you know like social media filter well, I sure didn't want to end up looking like those 2000-year-old Taoists from the countless martial arts manhwas I've read. Last but definitely not least, I wanted to live in a fantasy world. Everyone has had that dream of one day being hit by truck-kun and isekaiing. All of a sudden, the next thing I knew, my wishes came through.
With the above wishes, nothing could possibly go wrong, right? Sounds like some otaku-wet dream, right? Oh, how I wish I could go back in time, back when I was just born, and tell my parents to never let me get close to any electronic device that had access to the internet. Cause if it were not for, I don't know maybe around a hundred worth of chapters from any manga, manhwa, manhua my lazy ass could find every night, with a phone hidden under the mattress as my backup. Maybe I would've had the sound of mind to have wished for world peace, the ending of world hunger, infinite money, anything but what I had wished for.
Unfortunately, look where I am now. Endlessly reincarnating with my memories, doesn't sound too bad right?
Yeah, unless you take into account the fact that one, I'm human I don't have the mental fortitude of some male lead protagonist in some romance story. I wince at just bumping my elbow, I scream as if it's my last when I come across some cockroach, though for some reason anything else is fine, just not those abominations.
Two, I don't have plot armor, if I die, I die, whether I like it or not. Oh, I could try and prevent my death you ask? Wow, I'd like to see you try. Lock yourself in a cage or safe when you turn 18? Suffocated to death. Stay in a public setting with nobles surrounded by guards for safety? Got caught up in an assassination attempt. Sail away to an abandoned island? Got bit by a venomous snake. Whatever crazy plan of survival you've thought of? Been there, done that.
Three, magic can save me you say? What a genius you are, you must be the next Albert Einstein, what's next, you invent gravity or realize that humans breathe? I'm in a fantasy world, you think I haven't tried that?
I've done it, I've gone crazy, and I'm now talking to myself. Well at least I keep myself company, just me, myself and I, and that one life from countless ones ago which I wish could wring the neck off. But as my economics teacher said from my first life, let bygones be bygones, wise words from a kind woman.
Now let's see what life I am living now, "X" times the charm right? Surely this life has got to be better than being reborn in a family that only ends up sacrificing themselves to some nameless god or being dirt poor cause of a gambling mother.
I look around and I breathe a sigh of relief. Phew, I've either been born as a gold or at the very least a silver spoon. Judging from the decorated ornaments around my room, the quality of the cot I was lying in, and the eerily creepy row of maids at the other side of the room still like statues, but you could tell they were breathing, the veils on their faces moving ever so slightly. The lavish and excessive mural of angels and clouds littered the ceiling. And if I squinted my eyes ever so slightly, I could notice the shining of jewels among the eyes and stars of my fake sky. Seems a bit excessive don't you think?
Okay at least I'm rich in this life, please let me be born with strong magic, cause that would be amazing. If I'm going to live I might as well live in luxury, right? Plus, I should be rich enough to put resources into finding another magic lamp, using my first wish to teleport the genie that somehow horrendously misinterpreted my wish to this hell. Next, I'd wish to be human, by that have the lifespan of a human, last but oh ho ho definitely not least, I'd wish to forget all my past lives. This blessing you think I got is a curse, a curse I say.
As I had an existential crisis, along with being delved into the thoughts of what I would do to that genie from the magic lamp. I snapped out of my trance as I heard the doors to my room open and a voice could be heard.
"His Highness would like to see the first young master."
The source of the voice came from a man in a fitted black suit. He showed off silver hair and fair skin, with a voice that was deep, almost grunting. The way the maids bowed to him and said: "Yes sir". I'd assume he was the butler of the household I was in, though judging from the referral of someone wanting to see me, I was of royal blood. Pity, wish I could've been born into some rich baron family or even a viscount. Dukes and Royalty always have too much bloodshed and politics. Well, I'll just deal with it. To live or not to live, that is the question. Wait, is that how the saying goes?
One of the maids picked me up from my crib and proceeded to hand me over to the butler. Up close I could see the intricate patterns on the maid's veils, completely covering their faces with an ivy pattern, the parts where the eyes were supposed to be were replaced with black roses. The way their attire was I would say was too goth and moody. If I do get any power, the first thing I'd do would be to have these maids burn their clothes so such tacky clothing could never be seen again, and replace them with more modern ones. Much like how I do in every world, though I won't do it too excessively lest I be burned at the stake for witchcraft and meddling in the dark arts. I'll just have to be slow and steady.
Now that I was in the arms of the presumed butler, I could dedicate my time to observing him as we walked across the typical over-the-top halls toward our destinations. I was already used to such luxury so no "I'm rich and I'm going to show it off crap" is going to phase me.
He had a sharp chin, and green eyes, judging from his face I'd estimate him to be sixteenish. I still have yet to see myself, so judging by the way he held me, gauging my weight, I'd be around a year old. His silver hair complimented his forest green eyes, with the perfect backdrop of warm tanned skin. Why mister butler you will be my first match-making victim. Ever since I've always had a nose for match-making. I will help you good sit to find your love, be it male, female, or even a monster. I am accepting whatever choice you make. Love is love and I won't interfere.
We soon came before a set of large doors, covered in gold, wrapped in silver and ivory vines. I say my parents sure have great tastes. If they worked at a winery.
As we stood before the door, I was able to catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror to our right. Its frame was made of gold, and its leaves appeared to be shining with sapphires, as again more vines. But that's beside the point of this royal family having a kink for vines.
I had blue eyes, jet-black hair, and snow-white skin. Wow really, did the universe random generator really have to make me look like some knock-off snow white?
Just before we entered through the doors, I thought to myself, okay Leo, like you always say. X times the charm, break a leg, wish you luck, and pray to God or whatever deity allowed me to be in this mess that I have a good family. Fingers crossed. And with that we entered the room.