The sun rose slowly over the sea, casting a warm glow across the Dentor Estate. Its light spilled into rooms gilded with quiet luxury, touching stone, silk, and glass with gentle orange hues.
Servants bustled cheerfully through the corridors, chefs flourished in the kitchens, caretakers tended the gardens like artists perfecting their canvas, and knights preened and sparred under the watchful eye of their instructors.
The estate was abuzz with anticipation. Today was no ordinary day-the first young master was returning from the Academy.
Finally, their only master who spoke in full sentences.
"Fuck," Kacian muttered, bracing himself against the mirror as he adjusted to the sight of his new body. His once-scorched scalp was now crowned with thick, luscious brown hair. At least he wasn't bald anymore.
His gaze slid to the strange creature on his shoulder.
"You're saying my older brother is one of the male leads?"
"Yes!" it chirped, clapping its stubby appendages. "You must win his heart and destroy his love for the heavenly son!"
Kacian recoiled. "That's disgusting."
"You're not related by blood. You're officially adopted. And morally flexible!" the creature insisted. "Your past life files clearly support a high tolerance for manipulation-"
"Fuck off."
He tried to flick the fluff ball-he'd privately nicknamed it Pricky-but it clung to his fingers with unsettling enthusiasm.
The system had forcefully bound itself to him, whisking him from a junk star into what it called a love-brained world. A downgrade, frankly. At least in amongst the trash of the interstellar, he knew the rules.
"Sigh. Player," Pricky - now calling itself Rose - perched on his curls like a smug hat. "Let us work hand in hand for the advancement of society and your strategic supremacy!"
Kacian rolled his eyes.
A knock on the door interrupted his brewing existential crisis.
"Young Master!" a chipper voice called.
Right. He was supposed to act like a noble. He could do that easily, he'd done it before.
Kacian took a breath, straightened his robe, and summoned the voice he imagined a dandy would have. "Enter."
A red-haired teenager with green doe eyes and a lopsided smile stepped in, bowing deeply in his crisply tailored butler's uniform. "Young Master Cassian, the Viscount requests your presence for the morning meal."
Cassian. That was the name of this body. Kacian adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves with a nod.
"Shall I assist you in dressing today?" the boy asked hopefully.
"No," Kacian said flatly.
The butler - Rowen, apparently - nodded with cheerful acceptance. "I shall inform the kitchens of your approach. Please summon me should you need anything. I, Rowen, am at your service!"
And just like that, he was gone.
Kacian turned back to the mirror and glanced at Rose, still nestled smugly on his shoulder.
"Great acting!" it beamed. "You're nailing the quiet, dreamy, cold-yet-noble archetype! An interstellar award awaits!"
Kacian summoned the system menu in his mind.
[ CUPID LOVE 101 SYSTEM
Identity: Interstellar Explorer
Affiliation: Ghovas Kingdom
Name: Kacian Waters
Current Character: Cassian Dentor
Traits: Quiet, bookish, daydreamer
MISSION OBJECTIVES
A) Conquer the 7 male leads of Arciana
B) Destroy the heavenly son
C) Expand influence and conquer land in the name of Ghovas Kingdom ]
How greedy, Kacian thought. Whether high or low level star citizen, everyone was clawing for resources. If both had one thing in common, they wouldn't even give up on one star coin.
"You should get dressed now!" Rose chimed. "I, Rose, shall assist you personally!"
So it does have a name, Kacian thought sourly.
He cursed the system again.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Viscount Cassius Dentor was neither strikingly handsome nor forgettably plain.
Average in build and height, with a soft middle his wife affectionately teased, he was the quiet center of a loud, lively household. His wife and their two biological children were boisterous, passionate, and endlessly energetic. Only his adopted son mirrored his calm silence - a fact that endeared the boy to him, though Cassius rarely said as much.
"Son..." he began, watching the boy across the breakfast table. The child sat straight-backed, eating neatly, his expression unreadable.
It had been weeks since they'd sat together like this. Cassius had missed it, though he would never say so aloud. Only his wife truly understood the depths behind his silences.
Most others mistook him for cold.
"Father?" the boy replied softly. He resembled his biological father, his features fine and sharply drawn, with blade-like brows and curved brown eyes that always seemed a little... distant.
Cassius hesitated. "Tyorl returns from the Academy today."
Cassian put down his fork and took a breath. "Would you like to accompany me to greet him?"
Cassius blinked.
"He'd appreciate it," Cassian added, voice steady, eyes flicking upward from beneath his bangs.
A pause.
Then: "Of course, Father."
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Kacian stood beside the Viscount at the grand entrance of the estate. A sea of black-and-white livery surrounded them, servants and knights assembled with military precision. He and the Viscount were clad in aqua, the Dentor family color.
The sound of hooves rose over the hill as a formation approached.
Knights in gleaming white armor rode in synchronized formation, their horses proud and sure-footed. At the front rode a man who looked like he'd stepped out of a painting-long golden hair flowing behind him, piercing blue eyes surveying the estate with calm confidence. His sun-kissed skin and battle-worn armor only added to the effect.
Kacian could practically see the golden halo above him.
The procession halted. The man dismounted-and then, without hesitation, swept Kacian into his arms.
"Cassi!" he bellowed with joy. "Oh, how I've missed you!"
Kacian's bones groaned under the strength of the hug. Fuck, this body really is fragile.
Tyorl turned and did the same to their father, who endured the affection with stoic resignation.
The servants didn't blink. Apparently this was normal.
Kacian mentally called up the system.
[ Alert: KEY CHARACTER IDENTIFIED ]
[ Name: Tyorl Dentor
Status: Firstborn of the Dentor Estate
Traits: Boisterous, Honest, Battle-Driven
Skills: Shotel, Archery, Martial Arts
Mana: 4th Circle
Loyalty: 80
Affection: 82
Relationship: Adores Younger Brother ]
Rose's voice piped up softly in his mind. "You must maintain or strengthen this bond. Based on Ghovas projections, the heavenly son will arrive soon, and this relationship will fracture. You're expected to dominate him, of course. He's a crucial resource."
Kacian turned his head slowly to glare at the fluff ball.
It grinned.
"Oh, I'm so excited for your path to world domination!"
Kacian nearly face-palmed.