I'm not scared. I'm just hesitant to cause her any discomfort.
One by one the wives showed up to the throne room. Each with their own degree of surprise at my appearance and my mother on the throne.
Hadrian surprised me the most. Of course, Meng Jialin was sympathetic and enraged.
I am her favorite out of all of her husband's other children. I didn't assume that by the way. She told me that to my face a while ago. In front of all the other kids including her own.
Hadrian however has always behaved like the cool unbothered aunt who couldn't care less about me.
Which is why I was so surprised when she climbed the steps and examined me herself. Her eyes turned gold and her entire body glowed in the same color.
Wow. That's so cool. She's like a living nightlight.
Niathe reminded her to regain her composure."Calm sister."
She gritted her teeth and tried to control the glow. It dimmed intermittently but didn't go away. I looked between them and placed my hand on Hadrian's face.
She's burning up.
"It's fine. It doesn't even hurt. Don't worry. I'm fine. This is all just—"
Druvis spoke up. "Please! I'm so sorry. He'll repent! I've already made the—"
Oh no! Hadrian roared at Druvis. "Shut your lying mouth! You incompetent wretch!"
The glow came back in full force and burned my fingertips.
Druvis cried out pathetically."Sister!"
Before anyone could tell her to be quiet again. The doors were knocked on and then a guard shouted.
"Entering! Sir Jovian! The eldest young master, the second young master, the third young master, the fourth young miss, the fifth young master, the sixth young master, and the seventh young master."
The doors opened a final time and a herd of guards dragged in Derrick. Behind him were all of my siblings and a new addition to the party. A tall hulking man who was on the leaner side. At his waist was a sword.
Jesus fucking Christ.
This is definitely going to be a big deal.
My mother trembled and I could feel her stroking my head harder in an attempt to calm herself.
What an actress.
Hadrian stood to my mother's right. Father stood to her left. And the other women were standing a step below us.
So dramatic. Silence choked the room in her embrace.
My mother broke the silence. "Assault of a woman. Assault of an infant. Assault of a noblewoman. Abuse of a family member. Attempted homicide."
My father completed her sentence.
"How do you plead to these charges Derrick Duccanes?"
"Innocent father! I didn't do anything wrong!"
My mother added another charge."Lying before a greater noble."
The idiot shouted."Shut up!"
The Duke bristled and Dorothea stepped up to place a hand on his arm.
Dorothea spoke up."Bring in the witness."
Gillard was brought to kneel before the stairs and he shivered.
Dorothea ordered. "Testimony."
"I was searching for the young master. He was late to his swordsmanship lessons. The last sighting of him was near the entrance to the kitchen. I searched for him in the kitchen until I heard his voice. I went to the door and saw him…Kicking the young miss. I yelled at him to stop and he kicked me away. He stalked off through the kitchen door and I started to look for him again. Instead, I found the young miss crawling down the hallway. Lady Helen found us and brought us both before your grace."
"Where were her guards?!"
Lady Helen spoke up."It was my mistake. Please punish me."
She knelt and held out her sword in her hands.
They ignored her and continued with the trial. They compared the shoe that Derrick was wearing to the imprint on both Gillard and me.
It matched.
While I was being dressed in newer softer clothes. I suddenly felt a sharp sting in my eyes. I whimpered and Niathe asked me what was wrong.
"I don't—"
Tears left my eyes as a headache equipped with barbed wires ravaged me. My brain turned into mush and was shredded to bits.
Niathe tightened her grip and her voice grew an edge laced with urgency.
"Druvis!"
Soft hands landed on my burning head as a fever racked me. Physically tortured me.
So much…too much.
My mouth opened in a silent scream and I lost consciousness. A bright blue light consumed me and I fainted.
Calibrating…
Hidden Quest completed…
Award…Searching for reward…Reward authenticity?… Reward authenticated.
System 701 Rewarded.
"Hello Host! My name is 701! I am your system admin. Welcome to the Reincarnation Society!"
Fatigue clouded my blurry vision and clogged my ears. What?
My elbows pushed against the wet floor I was lying on and helped me sit upright.
I blinked.
"…"
What is this place? I slowly stood up and noticed how tall I was. How familiar this body looks. Isn't this...
This is me. I'm me again! My dark long hair brushed my face and back. Did I go back?
Did I die again?
I stared at my teenage hands and brought them to my sides. It's cold here.
"Hello?"
Where's that voice? It's so dark here. Wait.
I can see light coming from behind me. My bare feet turned on its heel so I could see the source.
In a blank space, I stood barefoot. With a floating blue screen.
What's going on?!
That voice rang out in the space again."Host, you have a mission and a quest in progress. Would you like to leave the soul space?"
"What are you? Why did you—What is this?"
"I am your personal system administrator. I pulled you into this space so I could inform you of your current position. This is a soul space. You and I exist here."
"What? Where are you?"
A tiny little white robot with blue eyes appeared in front of me. It looked vaguely reminiscent of a penguin. A creepy robotic one.
"…"
It waved its flipper at me and my eyes twitched. What the hell?
"What system? Who are you? What's a reincarnation society?"
"…"
It's not talking anymore. Is it broken? My position. What did it say about that?
"What about my position? What do you want from me?"
The creepy penguin replied."I exist to assist you in completing your tasks. Would you like to see your mission board?"
That's not an answer to any of my questions. I'm getting nowhere with this thing. Maybe if I humor it a little it'll answer my questions.
"Fine. I guess so."
A new blue screen popped up. Bright white words appeared on its face.
English words. Holy shit. It knows English.
On its screen were four blue folder tabs. Only one used grey-colored letters.
Why is that one and one of the other missions labeled Quest? What is any of this even for?
Whatever. It wanted me to do something and I did it. It's Q&A time now. I'll start with what I can see.
"What's this mission for?"
The tab labeled Side Mission was clicked on and expanded so I could read the summary of the text. I sat crisscross applesauce with the robot and read its contents.
Newbie Mission!
Set up a system status and become familiar with your available system functions!
Reward: Hidden Lineage activation, One hundred experience points, One skill point, and a Newbie Gift bag.
I have no idea what most of these things are and why I have them.
My best guess is that this system is based loosely on ordinary game mechanics. That explains most of the lingo.
But why? What's it for? And why me?
"Please complete the mission as soon as possible."