Darkness was all I could feel... It was dark, and it was cold, my body felt numb... I couldn't move my arms, nor could I move my legs... It was as if I were a statue. The last thing I remembered was being impaled by that... righteous and self-proclaiming bastard. Gradually, the cold feeling faded away only to be replaced by warmth. There was something soft beneath me... It felt similar to a mattress.
Curiosity gnawed at me. I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by the warm embrace of sunlight filtering through sheer curtains. Golden rays danced across an unfamiliar ceiling. I blinked, sat up slowly. I started to inspect my surroundings. Upon further inspection of the room I was currently in, I noticed that it felt oddly familiar... familiar, in a way that was not good, but also familiar in an eerie sense, which made my blood run cold. As I was in deep thought, the sound of knocking on the door broke me out of my reverie... I heaved a big sigh as I buried my face in my hands
*KNOCK KNOCK*
'You may enter.' I spoke in a soft, yet audible voice, weird... Why does my voice sound like it decreased in age?
The door opened, and a person entered the room. He had blonde hair and green eyes that glistened like emeralds. It took me a while to recognize that the person in front of me was none other than Albert... My personal butler back when I was still alive and in power, but... How is this even possible? As far as I'm concerned... I don't think Albert has died yet. During the siege at the Aegis Manor, most of the servants that were involved with my plans died, and when the Council of Kings found out that Albert wasn't involved with either of my plans, they assigned him to another major noble family, they also warned him that if he were to ever go against the family...he would be executed, but... It's not like Albert, who is generally a calm and collective person, to go off killing the family that he was assigned to. Besides, I saw him in the colosseum amongst the audience during my execution, so... That alone is my evidence that Albert isn't dead, but then again... How come he's in here with me? I originally wanted to ask Albert how it is that he died, but I decided against it... I still have zero information whether Albert was truly dead or not. So I decided to ask Albert one of the many questions that I had in mind.
'Albert... What brings you here? I spoke as I stretched my arms, letting out a yawn.
'My Lord.. I've come here to give you the speech. Albert spoke as he held out a silver plate covered with a red velvet cloth edged with gold hangings, and in the middle, on top of the cloth, laid a a scroll ready to be read.
'Ah...Ok', I replied as I took the scroll and kept it on the table, then it hit me, 'Wait... What speech?
'My Lord... Are you ok? Albert asked with pure concern for his lord
'Yes... I'm fine, just answer my question. I replied to Albert's question with a tone of irritation.
'A few weeks ago, you gave a warning to the Council of Kings that, if they choose not to appoint you as king of the upcoming unified continent... You will have no choice but to wage war against them'. Albert replied as he fixed the tie on his suit.
'...' I was momentarily shocked and couldn't find the right words to say... This isn't possible... This already happened years ago.
'My Lord...'. Albert spoke in a concerned tone.
'Albert... Which year is this? I asked as I began to calm down, this shouldn't be possible... Unless....
'Hm., Albert hummed, seeming to be lost in his thoughts, 'It's the 99th year of the royal calendar, my lord.
"W... What," I muttered to myself, my mind a spiraling vortex of thoughts. Is it possible that I went back in time?
'My Lord... Is everything alright? Should I call a physician to check up on you? Albert spoke as he noticed that his lord was spacing out.
'No need to call a physician.. You can take your leave now. I spoke as I gave him a dismissive wave.
'Of course, my lord.' Albert spoke as he bowed down and straightened himself before leaving.
As soon as Albert left, I went into the bathroom... If I'm not mistaken, there should be a full body size mirror in the bathroom... which I had gotten set up in the past just to admire myself. I went over to the mirror and caught a sight of my reflection... My reflection had black hair and red eyes that glistened like rubies... Only after looking at my reflection did I finally believe that I was back in the past. I turned on the hot water, got into the bathtub, and started to recall everything that happened in my previous life. Back in my previous life, I guess it's applicable to this life as well... A series of events occurred, which led to guilds being formed within the territories of Dukes and the kingdoms. With the formation of guilds, heroes started rising in power within every single continent. The major event that will shape the world into a war zone will be the war that I started... just because I wasn't elected as the king of the Unified Continent. The Council of Kings decided to unite all seven continents under a single flag, in just a few years.... I would wage war against the seven continents only to lose to them in the end. After years in the dungeons, I was executed at the age of 35, but... Since I'm back in the past... I can change to avoid the war, and all I've got to do to avoid the war is not deliver the speech. I started to relax in the bathtub, now filled with water. After a while of relaxing, I got up from the bathtub, put on a robe, and went into the bedroom... I went over to the wardrobe and opened the door to pick an outfit. As soon as I opened the door, my heart stopped.
'What the fuck?', I thought to myself as I looked at my own wardrobe, 'Why does everything look so fancy?'
I mean... I wasn't wrong when I said that all the outfits looked too fancy. There were different types of clothing styles, but all of them had one thing in common, and that was the fact that most of the shirts were black; one of them had a coat with gilded buttons. The coat was a dark color except for the red on the sleeves and at the bottom of the coat as well.
'Everything in here looks so goddamn fancy... Was this truly my fashion sense back in the past?' I thought to myself as I got into one of the outfits, I felt a tad bit annoyed, and it was mostly because the clothes looked way too fancy and slightly uncomfortable.
I called for a maid who was working near my room and told her to bring the royal designer. After a few moments of waiting, the door opened, and a man entered the room. He had light blonde hair and light blue eyes. He had a sketching pencil put in between his ear and his hands clutched a sketch pad... his eyes fell onto the floor as soon as he had made eye contact with me... his voice came out with a soft quiver, but... I could clearly make out what he said.
'You called for my lord. The man whose name was Louis spoke as he bowed to Leonhart.
'Ah, yes.. I did. I said as I took a piece of parchment and a quill from the study table.
'What is it that my lord wishes for?' Louis spoke, not able to contain the curiosity as to why the 'Demon Duke' had personally called for him.
'I noticed that all the clothings are too fancy... I want a simple attire that would suit my style... not something too fancy. I replied to Louis's question while writing a list of choices and a rough sketch of how the outfits should look.
'Of course, my lord, but... It will take some time to deliver your attire since our main store is located in Rivermont, so... I'm afraid that you'll have to wear the clothes that you have. Louis spoke as he avoided eye contact with me. Louis started to tremble as he spoke, even though it was a slight tremble, I took notice of it, and it only made me sigh, right? I was famous among the servants for my short-temper, well.. I didn't outright hit people, ok well... I guess I did threaten to hit them if they got out of line. Louis must have thought that I would threaten to hit him.
'It's alright... take your time'. I replied as I gave him a small yet visible smile.
'Eh..' Louis could only gape at Leonhart... never did he expect the 'Demon Duke' to have such a beautiful smile... his face would have been considered ethereal, if it weren't for the fact that he had black hair and red eyes which were said to be the features of those who are the descendants of the primordial demons, it's mostly considered as a myth by many. He had black hair that resembled the night sky but without stars, and his eyes reminded Louis of the color of blood, due to its uncanny red color, and it sent a shiver down Louis's spine, but all Louis could think when he saw the small yet genuine smile was My lord is truly so handsome.
'Is everything alright?' I asked with a confused look as I tilted my head to the side.
'No.. I mean, everything is fine, my lord. Louis blurted out quickly without thinking, as Leonhart kept staring at him... He couldn't form his sentences correctly.
'You may take your leave now. I replied as I gave him the list
'Yes, my lord.' Louis bowed down and left quickly.
After Louis left, I went over to the bedside table and took the scroll that Albert had brought, untying the ribbon and unfolding the paper. My eyes carefully scanned the contents of the speech. Every word made me feel disgusted, not at the speech, but... at myself. Was I truly that arrogant to think that I had the chance to defeat seven continents in a war? That too all by myself without an army... That sort of thing would only be possible in dreams... THIS IS REALITY FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! Not even a high-level mage could defeat seven continents all by himself. Feeling rather frustrated with myself, I crumbled the speech and threw it onto the table, stuffing both hands into the pockets of my pants. I left the room and started to walk through the endless hallways of the Aegis Manor.
I walked through the endless hallways of the Aegis Manor, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional creak of the ceiling beams or the distant flutter of curtains in the wind. It was eerily peaceful compared to the chaos of my previous life, and yet... it made my chest feel heavier.
How many mistakes did I make back then...? I thought as I ran a hand through my black hair, watching it stick slightly to my forehead. I had been so blinded by ambition, by pride... and all of that had led me to a gruesome death.
You're back, I muttered under my breath. But this time, you're not allowed to fuck it up.
I continued my walk, my mind racing with possibilities. The first step was clear: I had to prevent myself from giving that speech. That alone would change the course of history and...hopefully stop the war that had ruined everything. But... Could I trust anyone to help me with this?
No... trust is a luxury I can't afford.
I stopped in front of the balcony that overlooked the main courtyard. Below, servants bustled about their tasks, oblivious to the calculations and schemes swirling in my mind. I leaned on the railing, letting the wind brush against my face. The sun was warm, but it did little to chase away the gnawing unease in my chest.
If I do nothing, history repeats itself. If I act... I might survive.
A soft voice broke my thoughts.
'My Lord?'
'Yes?' I asked, my tone calm but authoritative.
'The... the soldiers... they're gathered in the courtyard,' she said, twisting her hands nervously. 'They... they want to know what your orders are...'
I gave a small nod. 'Lead the way.'
We walked together until I stood before the formation of soldiers. Armor glinted under the sun, spears and swords at their sides, faces alert and attentive. I let my eyes sweep over them slowly, letting them feel the weight of my gaze.
'Everyone... I have an announcement to make,' I said, my voice carrying across the courtyard. Heads snapped toward me, anticipation mixed with fear.
'I've done a lot of thinking,' I continued, letting my words roll lazily but with authority, 'and I've come to two decisions:
1 )I've decided to retire from being a villain, and
2) I've decided to hand my powers over to the bureaucrats.'
Silence followed. Whispers began to ripple through the soldiers, low and uncertain.
I thought I mentioned that they speak their minds if they have any objections.
Just as I was about to turn and leave, a young soldier—barely twenty—stepped forward. His hands fidgeted, and his voice trembled.
'M-my Lord... It's not that I don't respect your decision... I... I just have a question.'
I crossed my arms, letting a faint grin curl on my lips. 'And what might that be?'
'It's just... um... what happens to your estate and your allies if you give your powers to the bureaucrats?' he asked, eyes darting nervously.
I tilted my head, savoring the moment. How cute... they think I'd stick around
'I'll make it simple,' I said, voice smooth and teasing. 'My estate will remain intact. My allies... well, anyone who wishes to follow me is welcome to leave immediately. I have no intention of keeping anyone nearby.'
The soldier blinked, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
'In fact,' I continued, voice dripping with charm, 'I intend to spend the rest of my life in peace at my private villa at the far end of the Northern border. Beautiful scenery, fresh air, absolute solitude... anyone who values their life will stay as far away from me as possible.'
'Yes, My Lord...' the soldier muttered, nodding frantically.
Exactly as it should be. Obedience without lingering questions.
I straightened, letting the sunlight glint off my black hair and red eyes. With a small, satisfied grin, I turned sharply, robes swishing behind me as I walked away from the courtyard. Whispers followed, but I ignored them.
I found Albert standing in the corridor just outside my chambers, his posture as straight and flawless as ever. His hands were folded neatly behind his back, expression calm, composed—too composed for someone serving a man with my reputation. If I didn't know him better, I would have thought nothing in this world could shake him.
That assumption lasted exactly three seconds.
'Albert,' I called out.
He turned immediately, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. 'Yes, my Lord?'
I studied him for a moment, silently noting how normal everything felt. The quiet halls. The lack of screaming. No urgent reports, no war councils, no blood-stained letters demanding my attention. It felt... strange. Peaceful.
'I'm retiring,' I said.
Albert stopped breathing.
At least, that's what it looked like. His eyes widened slightly, his lips parting as if he wanted to speak, only for no sound to come out. For a brief moment, his perfectly maintained composure cracked, frozen mid-expression like a statue carved halfway through.
'M-My Lord...' he began carefully, clearing his throat. 'You didn't... by any chance... suffer a blow to the head?'
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. 'No. I'm perfectly fine. Why? Is something the matter?'
Albert inhaled slowly, then exhaled, straightening his posture as if bracing himself for impact. When he spoke again, his voice was calm, respectful, and chosen with extreme care.
'My Lord... please forgive my honesty, but it's not that you aren't allowed to retire. It's just... well... someone like you, someone who has left such a memorable impression on the world, suddenly stepping away. People might find it hard to believe. They may question it, even if it's true.'
I let out a quiet breath through my nose, amused. 'Memorable impression,' I repeated. 'That's one way of saying I terrified half the continent.'
Albert wisely chose not to comment.
I stepped closer and gave his shoulder a light pat. 'Relax. You're coming with me.'
Albert stiffened instantly.
'...Pardon?'
'I'm taking you with me,' I repeated calmly. 'To retire.
His composure cracked again, this time more noticeably. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like he genuinely considered pretending he hadn't heard me.
His eyes widened again, this time more noticeably. 'My Lord, forgive me, but... where exactly do you intend to retire?'
'To my private villa on the Northern border,' I replied casually.
'The... Northern border?' he repeated carefully.
'Yes.'
I crouched slightly so we were at eye level, my tone calm and almost reassuring. 'Think of it as a vacation.
Albert straightened again, clasping his hands behind his back. His expression remained polite, but there was a clear struggle behind his eyes.
'A... vacation,' he repeated carefully, as if testing whether the word truly applied to me.
I nodded. 'Exactly. And if you complain while I'm enjoying my peace, I'll assign you to reorganize my library.'
Albert froze.
He didn't say a word, but his expression made it painfully clear that of all the threats I had ever made, that one was by far the most terrifying.
I straightened, hands resting behind my back, feeling lighter than I had in years. The weight of wars, executions, and ambition no longer pressed down on my shoulders.
Albert glanced at me again, resignation settling into his eyes.
He's serious, Albert realized, his gaze lingering on my expression a moment longer than before. Completely serious.
'We are to leave for the northern border within a few weeks... I have some things that need to be taken care of.
'Yes, My Lord.' Albert replied quickly without questioning my intentions