Pain was the first thing he felt. A sharp pang that ran through his entire body as if he were being torn from reality itself.
Ethan's eyes snapped open, gasping. But what he saw wasn't the dull white ceiling of his apartment, nor the fluorescent lights of a hospital. Instead, he was surrounded by a luxurious room with dark wood carved furniture, vibrantly colored tapestries, and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
-Where am I? —he murmured, his voice sounding strange even to him.
A flash caught his attention from the mirror across the room. His reflection was not his. The face in the mirror was that of a young man with jet black hair, eyes of an intimidating gold, and a beauty so refined that it bordered on the inhuman. The pieces fit together suddenly, like a cruel puzzle.
-It just can't be! —he gasped, putting his hands to his face—. I'm Leonard Valefor!
Leonard Valefor, the infamous villain from Light of Eternia. The same villain whose arrogance, cruelty and obsession with the heroine led him to a tragic end at the hands of the protagonist, a virtuous knight destined to save the kingdom.
Ethan dropped to the edge of the bed with his hands shaking. He remembered perfectly how the story ended: Leonard was betrayed, humiliated, and finally killed in the most brutal way possible.
—This is not happening... it can't be happening...
As he tried to calm his breathing, a translucent screen appeared in front of him, floating in the air.
[Villain's Redemption System Activated]
Welcome, Leonard Valefor. Its original destiny is destruction. To avoid this outcome, complete quests and change the fated events. Rewards awarded based on performance.
—A system? Ethan blinked, trying to process the information. Is this like a video game?
A new window appeared.
First mission: Survive the Engagement Party
Description: Avoid insulting or provoking Lily Astren at the engagement dinner.
Reward: +10 reputation points with Lily Astren.
Penalty for failure: -20 reputation points with Lily Astren.
Ethan felt a chill. I remembered that scene. It was one of the first major events of the novel, where Leonard, with his arrogant attitude, had insulted Lily in front of everyone, planting the seeds of hatred that would lead to her eventual downfall.
—What if I fail? —he asked out loud, although he already knew the answer.
The system didn't respond, but it didn't need to. Ethan knew that if he didn't take this chance, he would be digging his own grave.
Before he could process further, a female voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Young Master Leonard, dinner is ready." —A maid with light brown hair and timid eyes appeared at the door, bowing respectfully.
Ethan nodded, trying to stay calm. He couldn't act like a complete stranger, or he would raise suspicions.
-Understood. I'm on my way.
The maid looked at him with surprise, as if she had not expected such a polite response. Ethan remembered that Leonard was known for being cold and callous toward his servants. One small change at a time, he thought.
When he reached the main dining room, his gaze immediately met Lily Astren's. The heroine of the story was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her silver hair shone like moonlight, and her blue eyes were like two sapphire crystals. But his expression was cold, distant.
Ethan felt a knot in his stomach. I don't blame her... after all, Leonard was always a jerk to her.
The silence in the room was awkward as everyone sat down. Duke Valefor, Leonard's father, was present, as was Lily's father, Duke Astren. The two talked about politics, but the tension between the young people was palpable.
As dinner began, Ethan remembered the system's words. "Avoid insulting or provoking Lily." Easy to say, but not so easy to do when everyone expected Leonard to act like the arrogant nobleman he was.
Lily took a sip from her wine glass, not even looking at him. His indifference was like a slap in the face, but Ethan wasn't going to fall for it.
"Lady Lily," he said, his voice soft but firm, "I hope this engagement is the beginning of a lasting alliance between our families."
The comment was simple, but enough to make Lily look up in surprise. He clearly didn't expect Leonard to be so…polite.
"I hope so, Young Master Valefor," she replied, though her tone was still distant.
Ethan let the conversation flow, maintaining his polite and measured demeanor. Every word and gesture was calculated to avoid any conflict.
When dinner was over, a new notification appeared in front of him.
Mission completed: Survive the Engagement Party.
Reward: +10 reputation points with Lily Astren.
Ethan breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew this was just the beginning. Changing his destiny would not be easy, but he was determined to try.
As he walked towards his room, an idea crossed his mind. If he played his cards right, maybe he could not only avoid her tragic ending… maybe he could even write his own happy ending.
And if that ending included Lily, and maybe a few other girls, who was he to complain?
He smiled to himself, feeling for the first time that he had a real chance to survive.