"So system what kind of functions do you have?"
I asked as I walked towards the corridor. Now I was much calmer to understand my situation better. I could no longer waste my time on my death. I had to deal with this mission first.
Just like all the systems, I am sure this system would also have some features.
"Host I am very useful in technical issues, such as finding the protagonist's information and tracking them. Also, I can record, and show you the main leads in HD view and more".
"So say system my mission is to break up the main couple right?"
"Yes, host you need to break up the main leads".
"So I can also do it without having to get together with the male lead?"
"This. um. Host it's advice as the best strategy is to get together with the male lead as then it would be impossible for the female lead and male lead to be together since once the male lead gives his heart to someone, he loves that person forever".
I was surprised by this, "Oh! Is that so? He won't fall in love twice".
"No host, the male lead is the centre of the world, the world revolves around him that's why when he loves, he loves them forever that's also the reason why once the female lead is dead the male lead would go crazy which usher's to the end of the world".
"So, It would be alright if I broke the couple in another way like letting the male lead fall in love with someone else or letting the female lead fall in love with someone or maybe I get together with the female lead".
"You can do such a thing host but it would be more of a difficult route to complete and wouldn't you feel bizarre to get together with the female lead?"
"It would be but it should be better than me going to the male lead and saying,
'Hey male lead, let's fall in love even though I am a man, my soul is of a female and even though the world will call you gay we can still be together since I am a female at heart but man in body only'
In the end, if the female lead fell in love with me I wouldn't have to do the sexual thing, she may understand me and a female lead falling in love with a man is easier than me bending the male lead".
"Okay, host, whatever you think is right for the mission you can do so but the main couple should be not together".
I hummed in response, it agreed with me so I wouldn't have to be gay for the world, fortunately. Just then I thought of something and smiled, " System do you have a name?"
I asked with amusement laced in my voice, yet I heard no reply back from the system.
I waited patiently as I walked to the dining hall in the royal place. It was pretty early in the morning, that's why the hall was in silence.
After a minute or two, the system spoke with its cold mechanic voice, " No host, I don't have a name but you can...name.me".
I could hear the unwillingness in the voice to allow me to give him a name. I chuckled and spoke, " Ok then I will call you 666 or Liuliuliu".
The system seemed to be angry with me as it didn't speak until I heard an 'okay'.
As I was about to open the door leading towards the dining room, I heard a voice behind calling me, " Evan, I see you are early today".
The voice was sharp like a stone, I could also detect coldness in it. It was a man's voice, an old one too as it was a horse voice.
I turned around to find an old man standing behind me, he had the same blue eyes as Evan yet his hair was raven in colour.
He wore extravagant and splendid robes, inlaid with gems and gold in it. The mighty crown was laid upon his head suitable for a king. It was very glamorous and spectacular with its large frame.
One could infer that this man was no other than the King, the father of Evan. I paused as I looked over at him before I spoke like the original owner, " Morning Father, yes I woke up early today in anticipation of having breakfast with you and Mother".
The King looked at me with a weird and disgusted expression, since he and Evan's mother already had a terrible relationship with each other, only for the fact they are together. Yet Evan hated this and never was on time for breakfast in this fake event.
It didn't matter to Evan to have a better relationship with his father but to me, it did in the end it would be more valuable in the future.
As we entered the dining hall, he motioned for me to sit down.
The dining room consisted of a long table spread out that had 3 chairs only.
The King took the seat in the middle which was the head seat, while I took the seat on the left while the seat on the right was for the Queen.
The King spoke, " Have you prepared for the ball?"
He spoke as he grabbed the napkin on the table. I looked at him before I spoke, " Yes Father, I have done so".
The King nodded at me as breakfast was presented at the table. The various knife, spoons and forks were placed beside the plates. That's when before I could start the breakfast the king spoke to the butler standing by," Where is the queen?"
"Your Majesty, the Queen said she won't be able to make it". The butler looked quite old as he had various wrinkles on his face and hands.
The King bobbed his head as he told me to start the breakfast without the Queen.
I took the utensils and started eating with elegance, fortunately, I still have all the knowledge and things done by the original owner in my memory and this body. We ate in silence before the king spoke,
"The Duke would be there at the ball, try to befriend him, having him as a foe would only bring disaster that's why it's best to get him on our side".
I simply nodded at this in happiness in my mind while coldness on my face as I spoke," Yes, Father I would befriend him".
The King nodded at me as he got up and left while I still sat there and are.
"System, do you have a shop? I see that most of the systems have one".
"Yes host, we do have one but it can't be open till the next world".
"So I am helpless in this world?"
"No host, you still have me and the beginner pack".
"Beginner pack?"
"Yes host, it's a gift from our main system for you to join us".
"I see, open it up then who are we waiting for?"
I spoke as I got up from my seat, the maids rushed forward to clean the table as I walked out of the dining hall.
Before I could take a step outside, I heard in ting in my mind as a screen lit appeared in front of me.
Beginner Pack
Contain:
Healing medicine
Magical Sword
Facial Beauty lotion
Invisible cloth
Mind Reading ability
"That's all? Only five things? And what's with the facial beauty lotion? What in the world would I need as a male? Except for the mind-reading ability the others are no good".
"No host, the beauty lotion is very useful if your face is ugly or has scars, it can heal all and it can also make your skin healthy and white, while the sword and cloth are also very useful in the martial arts world and you should be happy because you are so lucky".
"Lucky? From where? I am a female trapped in a male body? Where is this good?"
"Not that host, the mind-reading ability is one of the most wanted skills which other hosts would have to buy with lots of points while you got it free! And it's also a permanent skill".
I hummed in response, As I strolled out of the hall, I saw Robert standing outside the door and beside him stood another man. He had dark blue hair and blue eyes. He wore gold-rim glasses. He was holding these documents in his hands.
He seemed to know Robert as they both were talking. This time I didn't directly go and question who he was, in the end, I had to act like Evan or similar to him.
I searched my memory before I found that he was Evan's assistant who served him. He was also loyal to Evan but later he betrayed Evan since he was a commoner and started to hate royals because of all those people who spread out that 'royals were evil' or so.
I spoke, "You both have been waiting for long? Let's go to the throne room, Father is already there".
They both nodded at me, as the assistant of mine spoke, "Your Royal Highness, for today we have lots of things on our agenda, first we need to attend the court early morning, then the garments for tomorrow's ball have come so need to just try them and at last talk with the commoners".
I nodded at him as I looked at him for a second and spoke, "Justin, just call them people of our nation instead of calling them commoners".
Justin halted to a stop at that, he gazed at me in shock at my words. Evan didn't hate the commoners but he also didn't show goodwill towards them that's why everyone didn't feel anything much when Evan died and we're happy when Richard became the King. This was also the first for Justin to witness. While Robert was a noble, Justin always was bullied for being a commoner and had to be compared to Robert for being a noble even though he was better at his work than Robert.
I strolled towards the throne room as Justin came back to his mind and ran to catch up with me while Robert also looked at Justin with concern.
If you ask why I am different from before this morning, is because my mindset has changed, I want to live, survive and for that I would do anything even marry a woman or be called gay( even though I prefer to avoid it). When I do my best, anything is possible.
We walked straight into the throne room. It was very glamorous with a big chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall while nobles of different factions sat on the left and right of the throne seat where the King sat.
The nobles were divided into 2 factions-
Nobles forever- does that think nobles are everything and think commoners are lowly creatures
Nobles + Commoners ( equality)- those who believe nobles would not be able to live without the commoner's hard work.
The Equality faction didn't have many people in it but after Richard became a part of it many nobles from the noble faction joined it. Since they knew Richard was not to be taken as an enemy.
As everyone noticed me, all nobles rose and got on their knees to greet me, "May the empire's sun shine forever".
The empire's sun was me only, the crown prince. I nodded my head as I waved my hand to them to sit down.
As they all sat down, I took my seat near the King's throne. I looked into the crowd for Richard but I already knew he was not here.
It has been a long time since he became the Duke, he became the Duke at the age of 18 since then he already has the empire wrapped around his fingers yet he is a force against the royals. In the start when he was the new Duke, he visited the court often even though he lives in the north, a place where it's always cold and nothing else.
Coming from it is difficult, he had to do it since he didn't have any power but now since his power matches the royal family he doesn't have to come anymore. That's why I would get to see him tomorrow only at the ball.
What I fear the most is that Richard does not like the royals or the nobles and that is also the reason I don't want to try to get close to him. What if he kills me?
My first step will be to improve my reputation, by supporting the commoners, I could attract the heroine's attention and maybe some goodwill from Richard.
As the court commenced, I straight A's my back and listened.
"Your Majesty, the commoners in the south have been starving due to the famine, they are asking for some resources". This was Equality noble faction member. Who spoke for them often.
"Nonsense! They can still feed themselves what about us? If they don't work then how would we eat? If they are dying let them die! Is our life, of nobles important or of these lowly commoners?"
I frowned at this, I remembered that this was an important event in the novel which angered the commoners more including the heroine, as of this she had a negative impression of the imperial family. Evan met her after this event when the heroine already hated him.
This event caused anger towards the royal family in everyone's hearts. As no one stopped this event from happening and even the ones who wanted it to be stopped had no choice but to go with it.
Just as the King was about to respond to this, I raised my hand and spoke, "Would it be alright your Majesty, if I make a suggestion?"
The King looked surprised since Evan never really took part in the decisions but only came to the court.
"You may go ahead, Crown Prince"
I took a deep breath and spoke with confidence, at the end the future King cannot be weak, "I think it's best to send resources to the south".
The King looked at me with a smirk and asked, "Why do you think so crown prince?"
"As if we don't do it then it would spread anger among the commoners and since the noble faction did say that 'our food depends on them' then we should take care of them otherwise we wouldn't get our food and they may also try to stop our food from reaching us, that's why I think it's best to send the resources that they need".
The nobles nodded at my point and opinion while the King smiled at me for once and mouthed good, which only I could hear. While I maintained a cold expression, I clung my hands in happiness.
Before the King could announce this final approval, the same member of the noble faction spoke, "I object! We don't need to care about them, we make them listen to us!"
Many other nobles agreed with this, the king looked at me. I spoke, "We sure can do it now but what about the future? Are you sure they wouldn't rebel against us for not listening to their demands? If you think that couldn't rebel then you should also know the majority of the empire consists of them! If they wanted to rebel, we would surely be at a loss".
The noble faction was left baffled by my remark, as the King proclaimed, "Resources to be sent to the south for the famine faced by the commoners by the order of the Crown Prince".
I looked at the King with astonishment as he made this order in my name instead of his. I beamed at him, at this he conveyed it back too.
With that, the morning court ended, and as everyone left, I was about to go as well when I person stepped in front of me. If I remembered it correctly this was the King's adviser.
He spoke with a smile, "Your Royal Highness, his Majesty has told me to inform you to wait for him".
I nodded at him as I sat back down in my seat. Somehow I feel like I have gained a bit of goodwill from the King after this.
After a minute or so the King appeared with his advisor behind. I smiled as I spoke, 'Father'.
While the king nodded at me and spoke, "Today, you have impressed us, you never took part in the court decisions, and it now seems like you have realized your duties as the crown prince, we would see you at the ball".
With that, the king walked away, I smiled as I also walked out to see Justin with glossy eyes looking at me. I was surprised by his looks as we started walking to my study.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Your Royal Highness, your speech was so good for the people of the nation, you helped them".
I looked at him as I hummed in response, "Of course, they are my people who would speak for them other than me?"
Justin's eyes were really too much, his eyes were filled with admiration for me. At least that was good, maybe he won't betray me now. One thing I am sure about is, by looking after the commoners my mission may become easier.
"Where is Robert?" I asked as I opened the door of my study which was located on the second floor of the royal place.
"He went to get the garments for the ball" I nodded at it as I glanced at the study. It consisted of a giant bookshelf on the left and a study table on the right. There was also a sitting area consisting of sofas and a chair. The colour of the room was overall red.
I guess Evan like red a lot otherwise why is everything red, the bedroom and even the study?
I sat down on the chair as Justin stood there and uttered, "Your Royal Highness, I would wait outside for Robert, I would let you know when he comes, you can rest now".
As he walked out of the study, I was left alone in this huge study. I glanced out the window to see the view of the whole city. This city was the capital of the whole empire called Rhode where Evan grew up and where the world's story revolves around. Somewhere here only the heroine resides while the male lead is far away.
Tomorrow I would get to see the male lead, how am I supposed to befriend a person who hates me?
Ahhhhhh
I closed my eyes to rest till Robert comes.
I wish I could live without worrying about anything. I tried to calm my mind and rest for now at least.