Yan Chen, or rather, the body of Duke Ashford Grey, stood frozen in front of the mirror, taking in the sharp, regal features of the man staring back at him. His fingers traced the cold marble of the vanity as he tried to process the reality of his situation. "Well," he muttered under his breath, "this is new."
It wasn't just the appearance. No, it was the weight of it all—the long, flowing robes, the heavy, oppressive aura of authority. The life of a Duke was clearly not one of relaxation and snacks. He half expected to feel like he was wearing a costume, but no, everything felt real, from the cool touch of the mirror to the stiffness of his luxurious outfit.
"Right," he sighed, leaning back against the vanity. "So I'm a Duke now. Great. Absolutely no way this is going to end badly." His voice dripped with sarcasm, but there was a subtle spark of amusement in his eyes.
A voice broke through his thoughts. "Your Grace!" The door flung open with a dramatic flourish, and a man in servant attire hurried in, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the ground. "The council is waiting! Please do not keep them waiting!"
Yan Chen blinked at him, then glanced at the reflection of the cold, imposing Duke Ashford. "I see..." He wasn't quite sure how to react to this frantic servant, but he couldn't help but feel the faintest pang of humor. "So, I'm supposed to be a high-ranking, stern Duke, huh?"
The servant looked up at him, his eyes wide with worry. "Your Grace, please, the ministers are growing restless! They fear you will... execute them for their insolence!"
"Execute?" Yan Chen raised an eyebrow, a slow grin tugging at his lips. "That's... an extreme response to bad manners."
The servant seemed too flustered to notice his sarcasm. "You have built a reputation for being ruthless, Your Grace. They are... anxious." His voice trembled slightly at the mention of the word "ruthless."
"Ruthless, huh?" Yan Chen mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "I can work with that."
He turned to face the door and walked with calculated steps, his robe flowing behind him like it was part of a grand stage production. He had no idea who these ministers were, or why they were so terrified of him, but it seemed like his new identity demanded he at least put on the façade of an intimidating ruler. After all, he had an important mission to complete, and he didn't intend to let it slip through his fingers.