"Huhh..." Eugene let out a long sigh, his breath slightly fogging the mirror in front of him as he stared at his reflection.
He had to admit—the new body, with its perfectly symmetrical facial features, made him look quite handsome.
The sharp jawline, ink-black eyes, nose, and lips that were perfectly placed on this small face, without realizing it, he flashed a subtle smile as he gazed into the mirror.
"If only I had a phone, I'd definitely take a lot of pictures of this handsome face" he muttered quietly.
It had been a week since he woke up in this new world, but he still hadn't gotten used to this sudden change in appearance.
He had just graduated from college and was planning to find a job. But out of nowhere, a cargo truck appeared and collided with him, throwing him into another world.
Now, here he was—unrealistically, in the body of a character from a novel he had read during breaks from his thesis research.
But thankfully, it was a romance novel, not a horror or action novel. Otherwise, he would have been dead in the first chapter, for sure.
"Prince Eugene, His Majesty requests your presence at the altar for your coming-of-age ceremony," said a golden-robed aide, bowing respectfully before him.
"Huhh..." Eugene sighed again. Reluctantly, he rose from his seat. "Lead the way."
The aide bowed once more and began walking toward the altar. Eugene followed behind him, passing through hallways that were both intricate and magnificent, causing him to stop in awe repeatedly.
It made him want to kneel before the architect who designed this place.
This palace looked like a castle straight out of a manhwa or manhua, with European-style architecture. The walls were covered in gold that sparkled under the light of candles.
"I wish I could gouge out some of that gold and sell it at the pawn shop," he muttered, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Did you say something, Your Highness?" asked his personal servant, Golgi, who had been walking quietly behind him.
"Nothing," Eugene answered nonchalantly, speaking a foreign language that he somehow understood and could speak.
As he was lost in thought, he didn't realize he had already reached the towering golden doors, each about four meters tall.
"Open the doors! Prince Eugene Leopold von Habsburg has arrived!" one of the guards shouted.
His voice echoed loudly throughout the room, even though he wasn't using a microphone. This both confused and intrigued Eugene.
When the large doors opened wide, the sight inside was breathtaking.
Numerous people dressed in luxurious and colorful attire, resembling the 18th century, were gathered in the room. Their flamboyant styles almost made his eyes hurt. It felt like watching a parade.
But with the memories of the original owner, he walked gracefully and then slightly bowed before the Emperor sitting majestically on his throne.
"I have come to present myself, Your Majesty," he spoke smoothly with a tone of respect.
The Emperor raised his hand, his authoritative voice cutting through the silence. "Happy birthday, my son. Now, thirty princes from neighboring countries will be here for you to choose from as your consorts. Choose a few."
Eugene bit his lip, frustrated as he looked toward the right where many princes stood. "Damn it, I'm not gay, why are all the men here? Where are the beautiful women?" he thought, frustrated.
He raised his hand, and his servant, Golgi, who had understood the gesture, quickly approached. "Golgi, why are they all men?" he whispered quietly.
Golgi frowned, looking confused. "Aren't they all men? What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"Where are the female consorts?" he growled, frustrated with the sight before him.
"Your Highness was born on an odd day, according to the priest. It is better for you to choose a male partner," Golgi replied, confused by his master's behavior.
Eugene felt his blood boil hearing that explanation. "What nonsense is this!" he hissed, nearly shouting, but he tried to calm himself considering the crowded situation.
Eugene took a deep breath to steady himself. Slowly, he composed a smile on his face so he wouldn't be suspected.
"How many should I choose?"
"Five, to accompany you, Your Highness," Golgi replied, his tone flat and calm.
"Son of a b****," Eugene cursed inwardly, his heart heavy.
Suddenly, the Emperor's voice broke the silence, startling him. "Prince Eugene, what do you think? Have you decided?"
Eugene quickly responded, "I'm still thinking about it," trying to sound calm even though his heart was racing.
The Emperor simply nodded; it was difficult to choose a partner, and the prince needed to choose the best.
"Golgi, who is the smartest among them?"
Golgi looked up, as if trying to piece together an answer in his mind.
"According to my observation, the eighth son of Duke Neuro is the most outstanding among the candidates. He has been known to memorize the scriptures at the temple in a short time since childhood. Unfortunately, he is the son of a lowly concubine, so he is disliked by the Duchess, and thus he could not take the imperial examination."
Eugene nodded in understanding and then ordered Golgi to return to his previous position. "Your Majesty, I wish to choose the eighth son of Duke Neuro."
Upon hearing the prince's declaration, several nobles around them began whispering to each other, covering their mouths with their fans.
"Why did the prince choose that lowly child?" one of them whispered, with a sneer.
"Though the prince is known to be ruthless, does Ergios really deserve to be a royal consort?" murmured another.
"Ergio is too low-born," added another nobleman, shaking his head as if the decision was an embarrassment.
"Listen, Ergio is diligent in his temple duties. Maybe he's using magic to influence Prince Eugene," another whispered.
Amidst the whispers, Ergio, the target of their gossip, could only stare silently with an expressionless gaze.
It made no difference whether he was at home or in the palace; he was still seen as a disgrace, born only of a murderous concubine.
However, there was a glimmer of hope in his blue eyes as he wished that at the palace, he might finally get some decent food.