THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
"Huh...?"
I suddenly woke up, finding myself in a room I wasn't familiar with. The sheets felt too soft, too clean, like they belonged to someone who hadn't killed before
The architecture was oddly European, like a combination of the Renaissance with a fantastical flair, with a hint of the Industrial Revolution.
A mix and match of tones and themes, one that I know one story had.
The Crown of Thorns.
This was its exact setting.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
"Master Cael! It's time for you to wake up, you will have to depart soon for the academy!"
Cael... Cael Arden? It was a character I had a vague interest in in the novel, but surprisingly, I remembered every detail about him, from the most minor description to the most absurd fun fact.
I had always loved the novel, to the point I could likely recite all of Lady Evelina's dialogue, but this? This was another level of memory...
"I'm awake, Miss Rose!"
The name left my lips on instinct, and before I realized it, I had all of the memories of Cael Arden...
The character who served as Lady Evelina's first pawn in her plans to take over the empire, but one that was squashed before the novel had even reached its tenth page.
And now I was living as him, with my memories intact, and with the added memories of this new vessel.
Is this...? Was I transmigrated?
But why? What did I do to deserve this? Was all my killing somehow justified? Were all of my targets just so evil that I managed to gain positive karma and be reborn in my favorite world?
Or was my love of Lady Evelina just so powerful that I transcended dimensions?
Either way, I absolutely love it!
"Hehe... this is real, isn't it?"
I looked at my hands, feeling the weight of my new and weaker body, its frailness enough to disgust me; a body like this wasn't fit to serve.
Cael Arden, you bastard, why the hell didn't you work out!?
Whatever, at least I didn't start without memories; I didn't have to slowly integrate and slowly form a bond with my new household.
'And this isn't my first rodeo...'
I stood up, quickly heading to my in-room showers, my memories already being useful as I already have the layout of my entirely new mansion completely memorized.
As for Cael Arden himself...
Son of a baron, first heir to a fairly wealthy clan with parents who are way too busy to even visit me.
As for Cael Arden's talents, he has none, a fodder character meant to help Julius Lionbright, the main character of the novel to showcase his overwhelming power.
And if everything goes exactly as the novel, the first day will be my last, as Lady Evelina will have me try to sabotage Julius, a plan I fail and immediately get expelled, disowned even.
And that was the end of my character.
Which meant... I was a blank slate; I don't have a great destiny, nor am I important, which meant I can do anything I want as long as I survive.
And the fact that I'll be Lady Evelina's first pawn? It's so, so much better.
"I need to make sure I'm as presentable as possible..."
I whispered, making sure to use every single possible mixture of soaps to make myself smell as good as possible.
A good servant must always uplift his master. If I serve her in a terrible condition, then I will surely dishonor her.
"Master Cael! Are you almost done?"
"Coming! Miss Rose!"
I reply quickly, realizing that my inner monologue likely made me lose count of time, and I surely couldn't be late; if I'm late, it would ruin my chances of getting into the top class.
The same class as Lady Evelina.
FWOOSH!
I quickly finish up out of the bathroom as I change quickly, already knowing everything I need prepared as I exit my room in a rush.
"Master Cael! What about breakfast!"
"Not enough time! Miss Rose!"
I quickly descend the stairs to the foyer, my previous skills transferring neatly to the new vessel, albeit at a weaker state due to the body's frailness.
But I'll take it, better than having to relearn all my old skills, skills that would surely be useful in this new world.
As I entered the outside world, I was met with a breathtaking sight. I knew that I had read its description countless times already, but seeing it firsthand was entirely different...
The sight of airships, trains, and even more steam engines populating a Renaissance-era city was incredible; it was enough for me to slow down a bit, to let me admire the sight.
It was something that shouldn't work, a dissonance, yet it surprisingly blended so well, leaving me in complete awe.
"My memories of this vessel say I have already seen this sight countless times... but... it's still impressive..."
I briefly take a look at the piece of paper I have in my pocket, a train ticket, the basic currency for the most basic form of transportation in this world.
It was surprisingly modern in its logistics and mechanics.
"Let's see..."
I look in the distance, remembering that there should be a huge clock tower that was positioned just in the middle of the city, one that should be visible from my current location.
"8:13..."
I take a look at my ticket, seeing the ticket only viable until 8:30, but it wasn't a problem, the train station was just a few meters away from my home.
"I guess I should calm down... let myself enjoy this for a bit..."
I laugh. If I am really to live in this world and allow myself to change its fate, then I have to be attached to it, more attached than I already am.
"Let's take a small tour..."
The words were quite amusing. I already know the entire layout of the city, so calling it a tour was dumb, but I couldn't really explain the feeling.
It's like having deja vu for a place you have never even visited before.
"Let's get going then..."