Leon Bastier's eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he thought he was still in his kitchen. The sharp, metallic smell of fresh herbs, the sizzling of something in a pan, the clink of a knife against the cutting board—everything felt so familiar.
But then, it all came crashing down. The luxurious bed, the silk curtains, the golden chandeliers—this wasn't his kitchen. This wasn't his world.
He sat up, his head spinning. This wasn't right.
Leon's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. His thoughts felt like a chaotic jumble, a mix of old memories and new ones. He blinked rapidly, feeling the sharp pain from an unholy headache that was making his brain feel like it was melting. What the hell just happened?
That's when the memories hit him.
Not just his memories of being a five-star chef, but… something else. Something entirely different.
Lucien Valmont.
Wait, Lucien?
He gasped. His breath hitched in his throat. Leon wasn't just a top-tier chef anymore. Oh no. He was… a prince?
He looked around, his confusion growing by the second. The room was opulent—too opulent. Silks and velvets adorned the space, and a large mirror caught his attention. He stumbled out of bed, swaying from the dizziness, and immediately caught sight of his reflection in the mirror.
This wasn't Leon Bastier anymore.
It was a completely different face—one he couldn't quite recognize. A young, handsome man with silver hair, sharp features, and piercing blue eyes. The face of a prince.
"Okay… this is too much," Leon muttered, hands grasping his head. "This is like one of those damn isekai stories. Am I in some fantasy world now?"
As if on cue, a floating window appeared in front of his eyes.
[Welcome to the Kingdom of Faeos Leon Bastier or should I say Prince Lucien Valmont.]
[Status Screen Activated.]
Leon blinked, his mind struggling to comprehend. He looked at the screen as it hovered in front of him.
[Status Screen]
Name: Lucien Valmont
Race: Human (Royalty)
Level: 1
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 2
Cooking Skill: 0 (F) [Unachieved]
Royalty Status: Useless Prince
"Cooking Skill?" Leon groaned. "This is ridiculous."
A little irritated at this unexpected turn of events, Leon swiped at the screen, trying to make it go away. The status screen vanished with a soft click, and he immediately rubbed his eyes, hoping this was just a bad dream.
But the silk sheets, the ornate furniture, and the heavy weight in his chest all told him otherwise. This was real.
"Your Highness, you're awake!" A female voice broke through his daze.
A maid, young and flustered, rushed into the room. She was dressed in a formal but simple outfit, and her eyes were wide with shock.
"W-Wait, what? Who are you?" Leon demanded, his voice still rough from his sudden awakening. "Where am I? What happened to me?"
The maid froze, her expression morphing from worried to confused. She blinked rapidly, almost as if trying to process his words.
"Y-Your Highness, it's me—Elise! You've been in bed for days. You… you were ill."
"Ill?" Leon echoed, shaking his head. "No, no, no… I'm supposed to be dead! I had a cooking accident. A kitchen accident! I died!"
Elise's eyes widened at his outburst, her face flushing a deep red. "No, no, no! Your Highness, you didn't die!" she stammered, stepping closer, her hands nervously twisting the fabric of her apron. "You've just been recovering. Everyone thought you would be fine soon. They said you would wake up today."
Leon looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. This was all too much. A prince? A royal family? Was this some kind of elaborate prank?
"Wait," Leon said, narrowing his eyes. "Lucien Valmont. Who the hell is that?"
"That's you, Your Highness!" Elise blinked in confusion. "You are Lucien Valmont, the third prince of the Kingdom of Faeos."
"Third prince?!" Leon's mind was racing now. "No, no, no, I'm just a chef! I cooked! I sliced and diced my way through life! I didn't sign up for this prince nonsense!"
The maid looked at him, her face frozen in a mix of concern and bewilderment. "Are you… are you feeling okay, Your Highness? Should I fetch the physician?"
Leon rubbed his temples, the headache intensifying. "Physician? Oh, you better fetch them. Because I'm about one step away from throwing myself out that window."
"Should I call the physician now?" Elise asked, still uncertain whether he was serious.
Leon sighed and flopped back onto the bed, groaning dramatically. "Yeah, go ahead. Get me checked out. I'm clearly having some kind of mental breakdown here."
The maid, still unsure whether he was joking or not, scurried to the door. She paused for a moment and then asked, "Shall I tell them to come quickly, Your Highness?"
"Please. Or I might do something stupid like attempt to cook something in this state."
Elise nodded and left the room. As the door clicked shut behind her, Leon rubbed his face in frustration.
A prince? Royalty? He couldn't cook in this damn body, and from the looks of it, he wasn't exactly a model citizen either. This was going to be a long ride.
And if the food here was terrible? Well, that will be an absolute crime.