"Hmm… this is?" A pale thin youth with long black hair had his thoughts trailed off as he opened his eyes.
He was lying on a big luxurious bed, one that has rails and curtains on the sides. The place was dark, almost. The youth looked to his side and there, a window was slightly open. Sunlight peeked and illuminated a portion of the darkroom he lay dormant in.
"Kuhaha.." The youth chuckled and soon he gently got up. It didn't take long for his chuckle to turn into a mad laugh.
"HAHAHAHA!" exclaimed the youth in pure joy and bliss as memories of his future life poured inside his mind. His head hurt like crazy but he didn't mind it and jumped on his big bouncy bed like a little boy.
"HAHAHahaha…ugh"
*thud*
An unbearable head rush took over like a tsunami and soon he fainted and dropped face down back onto his king-size bed. Blood oozed out of his nose and mouth while his eyes rolled back inside his head.
—--
'I was on my way to the top! I had everything, money, fame, power and authority. Everything was going as planned but then… Fuck!'
'If only- if only those Otherworldly beings didn't appear! They hunted me like a beast and butchered like an animal! Good thing I managed to transfer-'
*Cough! Cough! *
The pale youth coughed his lungs out as he stared at a white ceiling.
"Ugh… "
It has been an hour since he woke up. It was only now that he opened his eyes. Seeing that there was no one else inside the room he gently got up. An hour ago he was silently meditating and comprehending his current situation. He had indeed traveled back to when he was sixteen. Memories of his current and future life rushed to his brain and his already weak body became weaker, especially his mind. The lifetime's worth of information caused him to be hospitalized.
According to what he heard when he was pretending to lie unconscious, he was rushed to a privately owned hospital after his maid found him lying in a pool of his blood early in the morning. He almost didn't make it if he was a bit late. A chill ran down his spine when he heard the shocking news and made a mental note that he wasn't in his prime and should be careful.
The room was dark, but his eyes managed to adjust quickly… his sickly and pale complexion couldn't hide the vicious glint in his azure eyes. 'In 5 years, they will descend. I have to be ready by then' He clenched his hands and soon got up in bed. Unlike earlier he was careful this time. He took the IVs off that were attached to him and walked slowly towards the only window in the room. He parted the curtains and gently slid open the window.
"Haaa " he breathes out a breath of full air as he relishes the view outside. City lights twinkled like fireflies and the moon shines in full bloom like a solitary flower in a dark pond…
"I, Arthur Severus Rory have returned!" The youth's long hair fluttered as the cold wind embraced his body.
*achoo!*
"Indeed, I have returned… to the time when I was a nobody and weak." The youth uttered dejectedly as he closed the window and laid back on his hospital bed. But before he could cover himself with the warm blanket…
*Bam!* The door opened abruptly and a suave-looking man rushed inside. He was wearing a butler's uniform. He looked disciplined and strong… a calm aura envelops his entire body and his movements were flawless.
"Young Master. It's not good to strain yourself." Uttered the butler as he made his way to Arthur's side. He fixed Arthur's messy hair and crumpled hospital gown before tucking him in. It happened so fast Arthur wasn't able to react. "The Madam will arrive soon… I have already informed her that you are conscious and have the strength to stand."
Arthur calmly looked at the man beside him that was standing straight as a pencil. Slick back brown hair coupled with a nicely trimmed beard and mustache. He looks very well-groomed.
It didn't take long for a name to pop into his mind. "Donovan…"
"Yes, Young Master. Is everything alright? Do you feel unwell?" Donovan asked, seeing the boy looking at him with interest. This greatly puzzled him. 'Typically the boy would look at me coldly. His eyes contained unwillingness all the time. Like an untamed beast.' Donovan thought, he was a bit caught off guard. The disdain Donovan typically had was buried after seeing Arthur looking calmly straight into his eyes.
"Nothing… " Arthur smiled slightly, a smile that was hard to notice. He knew Donovan didn't like him the slightest bit. He had seen and experienced the length this butler will do to retain the dignified image of the Rory Household. He just remembered some distant memories and got lost in thought after seeing Donovan's face.
'Let's play again like old times.' Arthur thought as he closed his eyes and held himself back from grinning.
He was being monitored.
Arthur thought as he saw a security camera from the corner of his eyes. 'I need to familiarise myself more with my current situation' Arthur contemplated.
After the short exchange, Arthur quietly lay on the bed with his eyes closed. He was preparing for what was about to come…
The butler just stood by his bedside while glancing at him from time to time. Looking at his relaxed and carefree vibe, Donovan feels utter contempt. 'What a pity. While your siblings achieve and reach greater heights you lie here pathetically. Truly a waste. I don't understand why the family still keeps you' The butler thought inwardly.
Even though Arthur has that unwilling look, Donovan knows deep down the boy feels great despair. Everyone knew it was his last attempt to not be looked down upon. A useless sense of pride and show of strength. Donovan had watched this youngster grow up… from an early age his mind was brilliant. He had a lot of potentials. He could've been one of the future pillars of the Family yet he now lay here like a corpse. The more he thought about it the more Donovan wished Arthur didn't wake up. He was a proud member of the family and seeing Arthur take up resources without contributing anything makes him feel bitter.
The clock ticked in the quiet hospital room and time passed by. All of a sudden the air became heavy and the atmosphere became cold. Donovan straightened his posture even more. The door slowly opened and with it, footsteps.
A woman in her twenties with long black hair walked in. She was wearing crimson business attire covered by a long black fur coat which greatly emphasized her hourglass body. Full chest and round ass. Her eyes were sharp and if one looked closely, her hazel eyes had slits instead of round irises. Behind the woman was a group of six men and women dressed in dark tuxedos with black capes on their backs. An insignia of a sword with a white snake coiled around it was embroidered proudly on top.
Without any greetings, the woman slowly walked toward Arthur who opened his eyes and clenched his jaw. This was the moment he was preparing for…
*Pahh!*
A resounding slap echoed… Arthur's head involuntarily swayed to the side after a palm smashed against his cheek. Blood dripped down on the pearly white sheet, a clear sign that blood was spilled. Even though he was slapped hard Arthur knew the woman in front of him greatly held back.
He then played his part and looked down with a defiant look. He even clenched his fist and trembled as if unwilling to be treated like this but still had no courage to talk back or even look at the woman who slapped him.
"Take him back to the Manor and tell Dian to watch him closely next time." The woman commanded Donovan who replied with a "Yes" She turned around without even bothering to spare Arthur a glance but then stopped when she reached the door. She looked over her shoulder with unfeeling cold eyes and said "Your life isn't yours, it belongs to the family, remember that. It's best that you behave yourself and just stay put and don't do anything that will strain your body." The woman gritted her teeth as she remembered how she was scolded because Arthur almost didn't make it.
Arthur still maintained that defiant glare.
What she said might sound like caring advice but it was far from it. They just didn't want to spend precious resources on Arthur so she said those words. Arthur had a weak constitution so they had to resort to injecting him with Rejuvenating Serum which cost millions every time he strains his body or else he really might die..
"I will arrange the transportation, please prepare for the departure," Donovan said with a slight bow and left without waiting for any response.
Anyone who witnessed the preview scene would think Arthur was feeling depressed. After all, everybody seemed to think his existence was a waste of space.
After being left alone, Arthur's body shook as a chuckle left his mouth. He licked the blood on his lips before a serene expression took over. He sighed and thought about the woman who slapped him. Her name was Carla Rory and she was the one tasked to look after him since she was the only one available. 'It's good to see you too, cousin'
He calmly closed his eyes not minding the burning pain on his cheek.
—--
At night, 7 pm. A black car stopped outside a small manor. Arthur got out of the car alone and with the support of a walking stick, proceeded to enter the manor. Donovan didn't see him off and just drove off and went back to the main state. There were two guards outside, but they just stood still like a statue, not even looking at the sickly young boy who entered the manor.
The manor was situated below a mountain, some few kilometers away from this place was the main household, which stood proudly above the mountain. The manor was an old building that used to be where the Head Maid resided to train new maids, but now it serves as a prison for an unwanted descendant. Walking through the halls of the manor Arthur was unperturbed by the darkness and eerie silence. His unsteady footsteps echoed as he looked around enjoying the feeling of nostalgia. There were none here except for Arthur and his maid. The guards that surround the property had a different lodging and they would rarely go inside the building.
Arthur explored the manor briefly, he fumbled and inspected the place. He did so in a manner that made it hard to be noticed. He then stared out the window of the living room with a deadpan look. After that, he sat on the stair leading to the second floor. He seemed to be tired from all the walking. After a moment he trembled and threw his walking stick away. He then pulled his hair as he screamed. He made it look like he was genuinely frustrated by his current situation. He then bent his head down hiding his expression. 'Everything is in place.'
He was glad that nothing was out of place. The furniture, the books, even the smallest of scratches were identical to the one he used to remember, even the cameras. It had been a month since he was transferred here but he already knew every nook and cranny of the building thanks to his future memories. 'Now If I could only access that hidden room without being noticed.' He pondered as he thought of ways and conditions needed to accomplish it.
…
Inside a small room, two people wearing black uniforms were looking at the screens, multiple screens showing different parts of the manor.
"Look, he survived. He's quite tenacious." Commented one of them as he watched Arthur walk through the corridors.
"Tsk! He recently got back from the hospital, he should be resting. I don't want to get an earful again from the Miss because he fainted all on his own again." One of them commented remembering how furious Carla was.
"Oh, look at him screaming now. Haha, he looks so pathetic. I can't believe he's one of the main descendants."
"He probably went mad. Took him long enough."
"Or he's just mentally ill.."
"Probably hahaha."
The two laughed as they watched Arthur's pitiful display.
…
After seemingly coming back to his senses Arthur slowly walked up the stairs and locked himself in his room. Nobody disturbed him since there was nobody here besides him and his maid. Being locked in his room like a good-for-nothing was not new. But unbeknownst to everyone, Arthur wasn't just lying on bed like he normally does, no, he was busy doing something else.
After showing signs of tiredness Arthur locked himself up to reinforce the idea that he was going to rest. But in reality, he carved and drew runes on the walls and floor of the room. His frail body made him rest several times but he never stopped until he was finished. There were no cameras installed inside this room since this used to be the Head Maid's room before. Arthur had already doubled checked and sure enough, there were none. If there was, the monitoring team would've seen him collapse and rushed him to the hospital immediately.
…
Midnight-
After finishing what he was doing, he stood naked in front of a huge mirror looking at his current body. Waist-length black hair, thin and frail physique paired with a sickly complexion. He was almost the very definition of skin and bones. The only redeeming quality he had was his deep blue eyes. But his sunken cheeks and dark eyebags made his eyes lose their luster.
In this world where strength is the law, his existence inside a powerful family was simply a joke. The only reason he was still able to live in this luxurious place was that he was still part of the Rory Household. His efforts and birthright still managed to afford him clothes and food. "For six years I've suffered and lived like an unwanted pet."
Arthur reminisced…
When he was young his bright mind used to dazzle the family, they had great expectations for him. But on the day of his Awakening, he collapsed and stayed comatose for 3 months. Then it was revealed that he was born with a cursed physique. After the news spread he was thrown aside and left to fend for himself. His brilliant mind lost its dazzle. He was only ten years old at that time and after losing everything he gradually succumbed to the feeling of numbness. He lost his emotions and depression took a toll on his mind. His sense of existence gradually faded away but it didn't last long since deep inside he refused to suffer. After noticing that his Father, the Family head still wants to keep him alive, he tested the waters…
He took a huge gamble, slit his wrist, and ordered his maid to report it. To his surprise, he was immediately taken care of and healed. Realizing that the family was looking out for him made him worry even more since clearly they weren't doing it out of love. The realization made him cautious but at the same time, he made efforts in making them believe he had no idea. He acted recklessly like someone who doesn't have anything to live for. He made sure people looked at his actions like a last desperate attempt to not be bullied.
He made a front, a fake personality that made the other members in the household lose their interest in him and made the maids and butlers not look down on him. An elaborate aggressive personality that he used to have a stable life.
Although he couldn't get what he wanted all the time, no one made it difficult for him and just left him alone. Unfortunately, since his existence tarnishes the face of the Family, it was decided to send him away from the main Manor.
"Two years from now I will be sacrificed," Arthur whispered silently but instead of dread, he was feeling excited. It's because he already knew the outcome. He experienced it once and the result will not be different from the first time.
'She's late.' Arthur thought and as if on cue…
*Knock Knock… Creek*
The door opened after a knock and a maid with a cold expression walked in.
She was Dian, Arthur's maid. She was a 20-year-old beauty with lustrous black hair and purple eyes. She also had a thicc body but her scarred face makes it hard for anyone to feel comfortable staring at her. A scar that runs vertically from her left jaw to her forehead. Apart from her scarred face, there were also bruises and signs of beating all over her body.
Arthur felt warm and happy seeing her face after so long. But it didn't last long when his eyes landed on her beaten-up body. 'That bitch!' Arthur cursed as she knew who was the cause of Dian's freshly inflicted injuries.
'And this fool…' he looked at Dian with complicated eyes because instead of taking care of her wounds first, she immediately came to check up on him.
"You'll catch a cold if you stay like that Young Master" Dian quickly covered Arthur's body with some clothes, her cold expression was now replaced by a caring one. Dian was used to seeing Arthur naked and Arthur didn't react and just let Dian do her duty as a maid.
He was lost in thought once more after seeing the woman in front of him.
After getting dressed Arthur stood in place while staring at Dian for a while. He then took Dian's hand and led her to the bed a moment after. She was caught off guard by the sudden act of the youth. He sat on the bed and observed Dian who was standing in front of him from top to bottom.
"Young Master?" Dian was puzzled by Arthur's out-of-character behavior. "Is something wrong? Are you still feeling unwell?" She inquired knowing that Arthur bled and lost consciousness earlier. She should've been there, she thought.
No amount of self-blame would turn back time so she promised herself to never leave his side from now on.
Arthur ignored her question and just looked at the woman in front of him. He reminisced about a certain memory…
In the memory, a woman with a scarred face was kneeling on the floor. She had no emotions in her eyes… She was completely broken. After a year she perished as she sacrificed herself for him… that was her fate. A sad and pitiful fate.
'Master is sorry for being incompetent' Arthur thought as he looked at Dian and thought about her miserable end.
'But that all changes now'
"Strip…"