Roderick jolted awake, his heart pounding as the last remnants of his past life faded away. He found himself in an unfamiliar room, adorned with luxurious tapestries and opulent furniture that clearly signaled the wealth of his new family. However, disorientation and fear enveloped him more than the comfort of his surroundings.
He scanned the room, trying to grasp his new reality. The memories of his previous life, filled with pain and abuse, still weighed heavily on his mind. Although his body was young and healthy, the ghost of his past remained. It was as if his old self was trapped within the skin of the new Roderick, the son of a wealthy family, but marked by a life of expectations and shadows.
As he got out of bed, he noticed the elegant outfit he was wearing, carefully tailored and decorated with fine embroidery. Through the window, the rays of the sun filtered in, illuminating a lush and perfectly manicured garden. It was a beautiful world, but it offered Roderick no peace. Every corner seemed to mock his shattered dreams and his current place in life.
He approached the mirror and looked at his reflection. He was a handsome young man with refined features that did not match the image of a second-generation villain. His eyes, normally filled with anger and sadness, were now empty, lost in the confusion of his new identity.
When he left the room, he encountered his mother in the hallway. She was a woman of great beauty and sweetness, with a warmth that sharply contrasted with the cold memories of his previous life. He looked at her with appreciation, though also with growing sadness, remembering that his existence now revolved around being just another villain, trapped between the shadows of the heroes and his own fate.
"Good morning, Roderick," she said with a gentle smile. "How do you feel today?"
He forced a smile.
"I feel well, Mother. Just... a bit disoriented."
His mother moved closer and gave him a comforting hug. Although her affection was genuine, Roderick couldn't help but feel that he was playing a role that wasn't his own. He was adjusting to a life of luxury, but the weight of expectation and the role assigned to him as a second-generation villain still crushed him.
As he entered the main hall, he encountered his father, a robust and severe man who exuded an intimidating presence. His father regarded him with an evaluative look before turning and walking toward the library. Roderick knew his father expected him to follow in the family's footsteps in the world of politics and business, but he only wanted to escape that reality.
The first lesson of his new role began unexpectedly. A messenger delivered a letter to Roderick, signed by the father of the main heroine, Alice. The letter was an invitation to Alice's birthday, where important meetings and introductions would take place. The mention of the kingdom's heroine, who was the center of all admiration, made Roderick feel a knot in his stomach. Not only was he trapped in the role of a villain, but he was also the constant target of one of the main heroes.
As he read the letter, Roderick felt the weight of his destiny and the reality of his new life. The desire to be a glorious hero had faded, replaced by the harsh truth of being a second-generation villain. But in his heart, something changed. The idea of seizing opportunities from the protagonist and utilizing the activated villain system became clearer. With a mix of determination and desperation, he prepared to face what was to come, determined to forge his own path in a world that seemed bent on crushing him.