Roman walked steadily through the dim corridor, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. The silence felt heavy, as if the very walls of the mansion were watching him. He knew something was waiting inside the Duke's office—something more than just a conversation.
Finally, he stopped before the tall oak doors. He lifted his hand and knocked twice.
"Come in," came the cold, commanding voice of Duke Jacob.
Roman pushed the door open and entered. The office smelled faintly of ink and old parchment. Shelves lined with books towered behind the Duke's desk, and rays of light slipped through half-drawn curtains.
Jacob sat on a large chair, his back straight, his expression stern. On the desk lay several documents, but Roman's eyes caught on something else—a framed family portrait.
In it stood Duke Jacob and his late wife, Veronica. Beside them was their eldest daughter, Selena, dressed neatly in a child's gown. And in Veronica's arms was an infant—Roman himself, barely a year old.
A pang of emotion struck him. So even this body… once belonged in a family like this.
"Sit down," Jacob ordered.
Roman obeyed, settling onto the chair opposite his father. The Duke's eyes bore into him with sharp intensity.
"I will not waste time," Jacob began. "Tell me, were you hiding your skills all this time… or are you truly not the Roman I know?"
Roman smiled faintly. "Father, I've already said it before. You were too busy to notice me. Left alone, I simply practiced in secret. I didn't want to trouble anyone, so I kept it hidden. That is all."
"Enough!" Jacob's hand slammed onto the desk. His voice was cold as steel. "Do you take me for a fool? From birth, your body was frail. Even the best physicians could not help you. Do you think I have forgotten? It was your birth that cost Veronica her life. And ever since that cursed day, you have been weak—too weak to even lift a sword properly. And now you dare to claim that you have two magical cores and wield the sword like a seasoned knight?"
The room fell silent.
Inside Roman's mind, the familiar black screen flickered.
[System Alert: Recommend deception strategy. Use "Soul Identification" suggestion. Your soul cannot be detected by church magic.]
Roman's lips curved slightly. "If you doubt me so much, Father, then summon the priests from the church. Let them perform soul identification magic. If I am some impostor who has stolen your son's body, then you will know the truth."
Jacob froze. His eyes narrowed, his thoughts racing. For his son to so calmly offer such a test… either he was bold beyond measure, or he truly had nothing to hide.
Before Jacob could reply, a knock came at the door.
"Master," said Butler Adam from outside, "your eldest daughter, Lady Selena Crowell, has arrived. She awaits you in the main hall."
Jacob exhaled slowly, his gaze lingering on Roman. "We will continue this later. For now, let us meet your sister."
He rose from his chair and strode toward the door. Roman followed, his expression calm but his heart steady with silent anticipation.
The corridor stretched long and quiet as they walked side by side. Soon, the grand doors of the main hall opened.
There she stood—Selena Crowell.
She was dressed in a gown of deep sapphire, embroidered with threads of silver that shimmered under the golden chandeliers. Her tall figure radiated poise, her every movement refined and deliberate.
The servants standing along the walls bowed deeply as she entered, whispering in awe.
"The jewel of the Crowell family…"
"So elegant… truly the Duke's pride."
Her presence filled the hall. Selena was not only beautiful but carried the aura of accomplishment—renowned across the empire for her mastery of advanced magic and her political influence despite her youth. She was the kind of person who stood naturally at the center of attention.
Roman's eyes lingered on her. So this is my elder sister…
In his past life, he had stood at the height of power, commanding armies and ruling as a tyrant. Yet, in this life, in this moment, his elder sister's presence overshadowed his own.
She doesn't just look like a big shot… she truly is one. A star meant to shine. While I… I was meant to fade into obscurity.
But then, his hand clenched. No. Not this time. I will not be forgotten. Not by Father, not by her, not by the world.
Selena's gaze finally turned toward him. Her eyes, calm yet piercing, lingered for a long moment. It was as though she was searching for something within him, weighing and measuring her younger brother, who until now had been nothing more than the family's fragile shadow.
The air between them shifted, heavy with unspoken tension.
And thus, the long-awaited reunion of siblings began.