Ethan woke up the next day to sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains in the room. It took him a moment to remember where he was. It was not his small apartment in the city, but the opulent mansion of the Valefors, surrounded by luxury, but also danger.
"I'm in the world of Light of Eternia," he murmured, stretching and letting out a sigh.
The previous night's mission had gone well, but Ethan knew that this was only the first step on a path full of mines. Every decision he made could be the difference between life and death.
[Villain's Redemption System Activated]
New mission: Win the Hearts of the Staff.
Description: Leonard Valefor was feared, not loved, even by his own servants. Generates trust and sympathy among the castle staff.
Reward: Special ability unlocked: [Empathic Sense].
Penalty for failure: Greater staff distrust, possible sabotage.
Ethan stared at the floating window in disbelief.
—Greater distrust? Sabotage? —he repeated sarcastically—. Fantastic, as if I didn't have enough problems already.
But he couldn't ignore the mission. If he had learned anything from games and novels, it was that the systems didn't offer meaningful rewards for insignificant tasks. "Empathic Sense" sounded useful, especially in a world where intrigues and betrayals were the order of the day.
He got up, decided to dress in something simpler than what Leonard would usually wear. Instead of the pompous suits he'd seen in the closet, he chose a white shirt and dark pants. He didn't want to look like the arrogant aristocrat the servants were used to seeing.
As he left his room, he met Clara, the maid who had called him the night before. The young woman jumped slightly, surprised to see him out so early.
"G-Good morning, Young Master Valefor," he said, bowing hastily.
Ethan raised a hand to stop her.
"Good morning, Clara, right?"
The maiden blinked, clearly confused that he knew his name.
"Yes, young master...
"How are breakfast preparations?" He asked, trying to sound relaxed.
Clara looked at him as if she were speaking in a foreign language.
"Hey ... Everything is ready in the dining room, young master." If you want, I can take breakfast to your room as usual.
Ethan shook his head.
"No, I'll have breakfast in the kitchen with staff."
Clara was frozen, with her eyes open as dishes.
"E-in the kitchen?" With the staff?
Ethan nodded, smiling.
"Yes, I'm curious to see how they work." Also, it's always good to change routine, don't you think?
The poor maiden seemed to debate between disbelief and fear, but finally nodded.
"Very good, young teacher." I will accompany him.
When Ethan arrived in the kitchen, the bustle received it as a wave. Boiling pots, knives cutting vegetables, and voices mixing in an organized chaos. However, chaos stopped at the moment he crossed the door.
All eyes turned to him, and the silence filled the room. The chefs, assistants and servants were still, as if they expected a punishment.
Ethan smiled nervously, raising a hand in greeting.
-Hello, everyone.
No one responded to the beginning. Finally, a corpulent man with a flour -spotted apron took a step forward. He was the main chef, Bertrand, known for his strong character.
"What should the honor of your visit, young teacher Valefor?" He asked in a deep and cautious voice.
Ethan took a deep breath. This was his moment to gain the trust of the staff.
"I wanted to see how they work," he said sincerely. I've always been curious about what happens behind the scenes. Also, I thought it would be interesting to have breakfast here, with you.
There was a murmur among the servants, and Bertrand raised an eyebrow.
—With us? —he asked, with a mixture of disbelief and distrust.
-Why not? Ethan shrugged. After all, you are the ones who make the mansion run. I see no reason not to share a meal with those who work so hard.
The chef looked at him for a long moment, as if trying to figure out if this was a joke. Finally, Bertrand grunted and turned around.
—If you insist, young master. But don't expect special treatment here.
Ethan smiled internally. That was exactly the reaction I expected.
He sat in the corner of the kitchen, watching as the staff slowly returned to their tasks. Clara brought him a simple plate: freshly baked bread, cheese, and a cup of hot tea.
"Thank you, Clara," Ethan said, with a smile that made the young woman blush slightly.
While he ate, he listened to the conversations around him, capturing the small details of the lives of the people who worked in the mansion. Bertrand even began to talk to him about the difficulty of getting fresh ingredients in winter, something Ethan listened to with genuine interest.
When breakfast was over, the system appeared once again.
Mission completed: Win the Heart of the Staff.
Reward obtained: Special ability unlocked: [Empathic Sense].
Ethan blinked as a strange feeling took over him. It was as if he could sense the emotions of the people around him, not overwhelmingly, but enough to pick up on their intentions.
He smiled. This was definitely going to come in handy.
However, as he left the kitchen, a new window appeared in front of him.
New mission: First Meeting with the Hero.
Description: The protagonist, Arthur Brightwind, will arrive today to negotiate an alliance with the Valefor. Your relationship with him will determine the course of the next events.
Reward: ???
Failure Penalty: Increased hostility with Arthur Brightwind.
Ethan stopped dead.
—Arthur already? This is going faster than I expected...
He knew the hero didn't hate him yet, but any misstep could change that quickly.
"Well..." he murmured, with a tired smile. I guess it's time to meet the protagonist.