He was handsome. Very, very handsome.
He touched his face and then pinched his cheeks.
"Damn."
His hair was white and shoulder-length, and his eyes were a striking crimson.
'Eyes the color of blood. Damn.'
He liked it. It was different.
The only one he knew who had natural red eyes in his world was the mythical hero Prometheus.
But this guy looked like a typical rich person in his world, except they used advanced technology to enhance their beauty.
This guy seemed naturally striking.
'I look cool. Damn, Kayden, you are cool.'
'Well, he's a noble, so it's only expected to look so damn cool.'
Ryuu was starting to like this Kayden guy.
'If only he had any knack for talent at all.'
"Young master, are you finished yet?"
Emilia's voice echoed inside the bathroom.
For a moment, he worried he would see a head peeking from the crack of the door, but he was relieved that she at least had the decency not to do that.
'I didn't even ring the bell. Tsk, tsk, so annoying.'
"Ah, coming."
Kayden quickly wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out.
Emilia was standing near his bed with a selection of outfits.
"Choose one, young master. You're handsome enough to wear anything."
Emilia said with a wink, and Kayden rolled his eyes.
"Sure."
He randomly picked an outfit: a grey jacket with a red vest inside and black pants.
A stupid combination.
But what could you expect from a bottom dweller who only had a single pair of clothes to wear?
It's not like anybody cared about your attire back in Rusty Ridge. All that mattered was survival, with or without clothes.
He waited for a moment, and clicked his tongue.
"Huh... Emilia?"
"Yes, young master. I can call the maids now--"
"Get out. Now."
Kayden pointed towards the door, and Emilia seemed taken aback for a moment, but then she nodded and hurried away.
He quickly put on the outfit. It was simple, the basics were the same.
"Young master, you need to wear a belt, too."
"What the hell!"
Emilia appeared out of nowhere again and circled around him.
There was no mention of her being a magic user in the novel.
Even if she was, it was unlikely the real Kayden knew about it. And even if he did, it would be another reason for him to punish this woman.
After all, he was insecure towards anyone with even a hint of talent.
'Ah, there were those kids he adored...when he's drunk.'
"You're handsome, young master. But a belt is a must. It completes your look."
Kayden sighed.
"Whatever, get out now."
Emilia nodded her head vigorously.
"As you wish, young master."
'I need to put a bell on this woman.'
'Or maybe I should get some implant to track this woman's movements.'
'Tsk, tsk, so annoying.'
After making sure he was ready, he followed the woman to his supposed father's room.
'Damn. Everything here is luxurious.'
He marveled at the architecture while the woman chattered on.
He also ignored the scared expressions on the faces of the other maids and servants.
"Here, young master."
She knocked on the door, and a man's voice resounded.
"Come in."
Emilia opened the door to reveal a large room. It was another luxurious space, but this time it seemed to be an office.
At the center of the room, there was a large table, and behind it sat a large man who looked like Kayden but stronger, bigger, and a bit older with white beard and moustache.
'He must be in his fifties or something.'
He couldn't recall the exact age, though.
Kayden walked inside, and the maid closed the door behind him with a bow.
The air was heavy with tension.
'He's incredibly powerful. I can feel it to my core.'
The Duke of Ashbourne Duchy, Alexander Ashbourne, was said to be one of the most powerful people in the entire kingdom of West Reach.
Despite this, he never engaged in war with anyone.
His ideology was to amass enough power to defend oneself. No need for useless wars—just live a long and happy life.
'I wholeheartedly agreed with you, sir, until you went all berserk.'
'For what? Family, huh?'
Despite his strength, he gave in to his emotions, leading to one of the most tragic storylines in the novel called, 'the night of the Ashes.'
This man went full berserk on a church that harmed his elder daughter, only to learn that it was a ploy to get this man arrested by another dukedom, essentially weakening the Ashbournes themselves.
'That was a sad arc to read.'
'Well, the author was stupidly biased towards the Stormborns and the Sunblades anyway.'
'It was blatant favoritism.'
Despite being strong, the Ashbournes were the first ones to fall in the war.
Not to mention, their fall ultimately lead to West Reach losing the war.
'Tsk, tsk. Bad author.'
'Can't let that happen this time if I want to live comfortably.'
The man leaned back in his chair and looked straight at Kayden.
His crimson eyes were deep and intense, unlike Kayden's. It was evident he had seen some serious things.
That much was certain.
'He is scary. So scary.'
"Sit."
The man's deep voice resonated throughout the room.
Kayden gulped and pulled back a chair, sitting down.
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be alive?"
'Whoa, condescending. Very, very condescending indeed.'
"The whole kingdom is on alert because of the monster running loose. Nobody knows where it will appear next, and here you are, happily drinking and getting wasted in a bar filled with thieves and murderers who wouldn't think twice about slitting your throat for a copper."
'That was indeed true, sir.'
'Your son is stupid.'
Like, having all that luxury, where you can chill forever without needing to lift a finger, with servants at your beck and call, and this dude just chucks it aside to be a total mess, insecure and acting all high and mighty, but really, just a plain old drunk.
'People will kill for this kind of life back at home.'
'Tsk, tsk.'
Then he heard a heavy sigh.
He looked up to see the man relaxing in his chair.
He had a complicated expression on his face, like he was under a lot of stress.
Well, that was true.
As one of the important personals of the kingdom, he too was stressed with the ongoing monster rampage.
'Do not worry, sir. Your whole world is going turn upside down in two days.'
That doesn't sound good. That's because it isn't good at all.
People would rather live with the stress they currently have than get a new one. That's just simple psychology.
"Son, I'm not here to lecture you about drinking or anything. You're grown now, capable of making your own choices."
'Whoa, that escalated.'
"But if you do decide to indulge, do it here within the castle walls. Call your stupid uncle if you want. That way, your mother and I can rest easy, knowing you're safe under our roof."
'That's a good advice, sir.'
"Don't forget about me too, my lord."
Both father and son jumped, their heads snapping towards the door where Emilia was peeking in.
"Out, you wicked woman!"
Alexander grabbed a paperweight from the table and hurled it at the intruder.
But she had already vanished before it could find its mark.
'It looks like Kayden isn't the only one bothered by Emilia.'
"That woman..."
The large man shook his head, his muttering carrying a storm of curses under his breath.
But Kayden was certain that Emilia had a great relationship with the family.
She had been in this house since birth and had grown to be one of the most trusted individuals in the castle.
He took a good look at the man in front of him.
'He seems ordinary and... and... what was that word used to describe someone who looks after someone?'
Kayden forgot it. It wasn't like he had any use for that word at all.
At Rusty Ridge, parents even sold their kids for a few Credits.
But it seemed like this man... cared for his son.
'Was that the right word?'
"So... what's your decision?"
Alexander suddenly leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table before resting his head in his hands and fixing his gaze directly on him.
"I'm done with being drunk."
"Yes, yes, I understand you're addicted—wait, what?!?"
The man was taken aback by the response.
'What did he think? That I'd become an alcoholic?'
"I mean I won't be a drunkard anymore."
The Duke wore a shocked expression, as if he were hearing something entirely alien to him.
Leaning forward, he raised his brows and whispered in a low voice.
"It's only morning, and you're already drunk?"
"Huh?"