Kevin couldn't believe that he was stuck in the world of his favorite web novel, not as the main protagonist or a background character, but as the main antagonist of the story. He pondered on the fact he was the villain for hours and days....
He couldn't talk to anyone about the circumstance that he was facing. It's not like he was going to tell them that he was actually reincarnated into the body of Cedric, the main antagonist of his favorite web novel.
The people would think that he's losing his mind and running mad, so that was out of the question.
'What should I do to escape from Cedric's death flags in the novels? Maybe I should try and do something different and not to become the head of the family. Nah, his father would not accept that!'
Kevin didn't know what he should do about being the villain. He felt like the entire world is against him.
'I should probably go out for a walk in the city. According to the web novel, the Miller family territory is a beautiful breathtaking city with wonderful views. I need to go see the city!'
Kevin thought to himself as he walked with a maid. She was terrified of him, and worried about what he would do to her if she mess up in any way.
"Hey," he called out to the maid who was accompanying him. "Get a carriage ready. I want to go out for a stroll around the city."
'I'm so sorry for talking to you in such a way, this body does things on its own.... sometimes without my permission!'
"Y, yes! I will get one prepared with some guards right away."
The thoughts that he had a fiance remained in his thoughts. To him, he didn't even know that Cedric had a fiance or father... 'Well, the story mainly focused on the main character and his struggles to live among the nobility.'
He wanted to take a walk in the city to see if he was truly reincarnated into the body of the story's main antagonist, Cedric Miller.
In the novel, Cedric was an ambitious and delusional man who only cares about his social ranking. Many ordinary people despise him for that reason, and because he usually wasted money instead of helping his subjects.
While riding through the city, he gazed upon the state of the subjects he ruled over, the way they lived and the daily lives of which they go through. The only thing that caught his attention was the state of the city.
Though in the novel the Miller family territory was developed, but it felt like an alternate universe unlike of the novel's portrayal of the city.
Although his father was a decent ruler, he ignored the fact that his subjects were struggling to get buy. An uneasy feeling had came over him.
'This city looks like a poor place.... although this city is abundant in resources, most of it goes to the upper-class the city.'
Kevin couldn't help but to ponder upon the state of the city.
'Wow, this is so awful....'
Kevin had a serious look on his face, as he tried to come up with a plan to move forward. The servants who accompanied him were frightened by his demeanor.
"Is everything alright, Lord Cedric? You have a serious expression on your face."
His butler asked him, trying not to offend him in any way.
"It's nothing... I was at awe at the current state of the city," He mused. "How did the place get to look like this?"
"May I be permitted to speak freely without any consequences?" The butler asked timidly.
The atmosphere in the carriage was intense between the butler Alfred and Cedric. It was kind of a stand still.
"Yes, I give you my permission to speak freely." He answered sternly.
Alfred gulped and swallowed his saliva before he started his explanation. He didn't know where to start from, and all most decided to give up and receive a punishment for wasting Cedric's time. But he persisted. While the other servants were surprised by the actions of Cedric.
"Well, you see, my Lord.... the politics of the territory is quite complicated; with various political rivalries and factions vieing for supremacy within your father's court, with most of them being placed in the position of power because of your doing."
He explained the situation to Cedric who was listening with a puzled look on his face.
'Ah, I almost forgot that this person was an ambitious person who would destroy anyone who stood in his path to one day ruling the territory. To the normal every day individuals, he's a tyrant, but to certain high-ranking officials he is seen as a good leader. '
Kevin couldn't help but to feel pity for the common folks who live in his territory.
"And since you removed most of the valuable talents and replaced them with people who are loyalists, the state of the territory has been going downhill all along."
Before Kevin got to digest the information, the butler continued from where he left off from. That made Kevin feel even more pity for the people.
"Ah, I see," Kevin raised his hand in a motion to tell the butler to stop. "May I know the names of these 'valuable talents'?"
Kevin couldn't help but to ask him that question.
"What made you ask me that question, Lord Cedric?" Alfred inquired.
"I'm just curious, that's all!" He winked.
"Well, the only one who I can think of in this moment is a swordsman known as Ronnie Valentine. He was a Knight captain who rose through the ranks and became a powerful Knight Captain." A maid chimed into the conversation.
"Ah, do you mean...."
The servants had a puzled expression on their faces as if they were caught off guard. Kevin just stared at them in disbelief.
"Please take me to where he is right now! I want to have a talk with him."
"Alright my Lord, I will inform the coachman about it.
The butler said before he started to talk to the person who was driving the carriage. 'I swear that I will mend the mistakes that the original Cedric made and make this city a wealthy place!'