<{1}> Mirror's Truth
"This doesn't look fake… Maybe a hallucination?"
Nathan tugged at his cheek as he stared into the mirror. The sting felt real. The reflection staring back at him was undeniably his, but not the same body he remembered.
"Yup. It's real, alright. I actually reincarnated."
Ash-gray hair, like the aftermath of burnt wood, framed his face. His eyes glistened with a dark shade of blue, clear and almost too innocent. And his facial features, sharp, refined, and elegant, looked far better than any model or celebrity he'd ever seen back on Earth.
It was surreal. Hard to swallow. But impossible to deny.
Nathan left the restroom and returned to the bedroom where he had woken up. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he let his thoughts wander.
"At the very least… it doesn't feel like I reincarnated into poverty."
He scanned the room again. Everything about it screamed wealth. The silk curtains draped along the walls, the enormous bed that could easily fit an entire family, the polished furniture, and even the little details, the gilded handles on the drawers, the carved patterns on the chairs, they all spoke of luxury.
There was no doubting it. He had woken up rich.
Fantastically rich.
"If I can just figure ou—
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Nathan froze.
"…Was I expecting someone?"
A calm but firm voice followed the knocks. "My prince, may I come in?"
Prince?
Nathan blinked, then quickly straightened himself. "Enter."
The door opened, and in walked a young woman dressed in the classic black-and-white uniform of a maid.
"…I even have a maid," Nathan muttered under his breath, trying not to look too impressed.
The woman bowed respectfully.
"You are?" Nathan asked, his tone carrying a deliberate air of nobility. He figured someone of this body's status wouldn't speak casually, so he followed along, acting the part.
"Ophelia, your Highness. I am your personal maid."
Nathan's eyes widened slightly. 'Highness?'
Now that he could get used to.
"And I am…?" he asked, keeping up the charade.
"Seventh royal born of the Valeria Kingdom, Prince Nathaniel Lockwood."
Nathan nearly choked. 'Seventh prince?! Someone in this family needs to discover birth control.'
Still, he cleared his throat, hiding his inner shock. Ophelia had just handed him crucial information, and she didn't even know it.
Valeria Kingdom… That name… Nathan frowned. It sounded familiar.
And then it clicked.
'Wait a second. Isn't Valeria one of the five kingdoms that make up the Kahrindral Confederation?!'
He shot to his feet in alarm.
"King Adonis Lockwood, he's the current king, isn't he? My… father?"
Ophelia flinched at his sudden tone. "Y-Yes, my prince. That is correct."
Her hands trembled slightly as she spoke.
Nathan pressed further. "And the year, what year is it now?"
"It is the twenty-first year of the Imperial Calendar, my prince."
She sank to her knees, head bowed low, her voice quivering.
Nathan's stomach sank.
"…Damn it."
It lined up. Everything lined up far too well.
"The Dynasty has already fallen to the monsters, hasn't it?"
Ophelia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Yes, my prince. The Human Dynasty is no more. And… the monster army has now set its eyes on the Confederation."
"Damn it!" Nathan cursed again, clenching his fists.
His voice must have been too sharp, because Ophelia's body trembled. She pressed her forehead against the floor. "Forgive me, my prince! I did not mean to upset you! Please, spare me! I have family waiting for me back home…"
Her pleas spilled out rapidly, each word dripping with fear.
Nathan blinked. "…Did I really come off that harsh?"
He hadn't thought his questions were unreasonable. But seeing her grovel like that… it made him feel like some tyrant in a bad drama.
Sighing, he softened his tone. "Arise, Ophelia. I have no intention of punishing you. You've done nothing wrong."
Slowly, she lifted herself but kept her head lowered.
"You may leave," Nathan said, wanting to give her space.
As she retreated, Nathan rubbed his temples. No matter how he tried to explain his situation, it all traced back to the author of Goblin Supremacy. That cursed man had threatened, no, promised to reincarnate him into the novel's world.
And here he was.
"Is that author… some kind of god?" Nathan muttered bitterly.
Whatever the truth, the fact was simple: he was now Nathaniel Lockwood, seventh prince of Valeria. And if he wanted to live, he had to survive the coming war.
Because soon, the monster army led by a goblin that had already undergone two terrifying evolutions would march against the Confederation.
If Nathan didn't do something, history would play out exactly as the book described.
And in the book, the Confederation was set to lost, what with the advantages the Monsters have over them.
Nathan clenched his jaw. "If I want to survive… I'll need to make sure it doesn't happen this time."
It wouldn't be easy. The Dynasty had already fallen. The monsters were strong enough to wipe out the oldest human civilization.
But that didn't mean he'd sit back and watch it happen again.
He drew a deep breath. "I guess I should at least check my magic apti—
The creak of the door interrupted him.
Nathan looked up and nearly groaned. Ophelia was still there, kneeling by the entrance.
"…What are you doing? Didn't I excuse you?"
"I-I have yet to state the reason for my appearance, my prince," she stammered.
Right. She did come here for a reason. He had gotten too distracted.
"Alright then," Nathan said, gesturing lightly. "State your business."
"The king has commanded that all royal children gather at the dining table by noon today."
Nathan's eyes widened. "You—!" He almost lashed out but caught himself. "What time is it now?"
"Almost noon, my prince."
Nathan's eye twitched. "Alright. That does it. I definitely need a new maid."
Still, he waved her away. "Fine. I'll question you later. For now, I should prepare."
This meal with the royal family was an opportunity. If he wanted to understand his new world and his so-called siblings, then this was his first real step.
And Nathaniel Lockwood had no intention of wasting it.
<{2}> A Prince Among Strangers
Nathan rose from the bed and moved toward the wardrobe. Inside were finely tailored robes embroidered with the crest of Valeria Kingdom.
'So this is how a prince dresses, huh?'
He selected a deep navy robe lined with silver trim and slipped it on. The fabric felt smoother than anything he had ever worn back on Earth. It was almost unnerving how naturally the attire fit him.
Adjusting his cuffs, Nathan glanced at the mirror once more. The boy who stared back wasn't Raven Freeman anymore. He was Prince Nathaniel Lockwood.
And soon, he'd be sitting at the same table as a king and six other princes and princesses.
'If I remember correctly from the novel, the royal family wasn't exactly united. Everybody hates each other for one reasons or the other, I'll have to tread carefully.'
A knock on the door came again. This time, a different maid peeked in, bowing quickly. "My prince, the royal family awaits you."
Nathan gave a firm nod. "Lead the way."
As he stepped into the hall, chandeliers glittered above him, and the red carpet stretched endlessly forward. The castle exuded wealth, but behind the beauty, he couldn't shake the looming dread.
He wasn't just walking to lunch.
He was walking into the story of Goblin Supremacy.
And unlike the last time he read it, this time he wasn't just a spectator.
He was part of it.