A soft breeze brushed against my face, carrying a strange yet refreshing scent. My eyelids fluttered open, and a golden glow filled my vision. The air was crisp, almost unrealistically fresh, and the warmth of the sun kissed my skin in a way I had never felt before.
Wait… what?
I shot up, my body moving faster than I expected. The bed beneath me was unbelievably soft, far more comfortable than anything I had ever slept on. I glanced around. The room was grand—walls adorned with intricate carvings, banners with an unfamiliar crest hanging proudly, and luxurious furniture that screamed nobility.
"What… Where am I?" I muttered, my voice sounding slightly unfamiliar to my own ears.
My throat felt dry. An unbearable thirst clawed at me, forcing me to get up. As I staggered forward, my eyes landed on a large mirror standing in the corner of the room.
And then, my breath caught in my throat.
Staring back at me was not my old self.
The reflection showed a tall, lean figure with an otherworldly presence. His silver-white hair shimmered under the morning light, cascading down in elegant waves. His face was sharp, yet regal, his eyes glowing with an unnatural brightness. And his body… Eight-pack abs, chiseled muscles—perfection beyond human limits.
"What the hell…?" I whispered, running my hands over my unfamiliar yet ridiculously sculpted body.
Then, a sharp pain exploded in my skull.
Memories—fragmented and chaotic—rushed into my mind like a flood. Visions of a life I didn't live. The name… Karlous Delimare Kaiser Phoenix.
A noble from one of the most powerful aristocratic families in this world.
And yet, despised. A failure. A disgrace. The trash of the Phoenix family.
I clenched my fists.
What the hell was going on?
Karlous Delimare Kaiser Phoenix - The Forsaken Heir
I am the youngest son of the Phoenix Family, one of the most powerful noble households in the empire. A name that commands fear, respect, and envy. Yet, for me, it has been nothing but a curse.
My father, Lord Aldric Phoenix, a man of influence, holds the family's reigns with an iron grip. He has three wives, and I am the son of the third wife, Lady Elara Phoenix.
First Wife – Lady Evelynn Phoenix The embodiment of nobility and power. Cold, calculating, and ever poised.
Her children:
Nox Phoenix – The family's prodigy, a genius in swordsmanship and magic. The perfect heir.
Sera Phoenix – My eldest sister. Unlike the rest of the family, she has always shown me some kindness. The only one who truly acknowledges me.
Second Wife – Lady Lilliana Phoenix A woman who thrives on political games. She stays in the shadows, manipulating those around her.
Her children:
Karen Phoenix – My so-called sister, always looking for a way to belittle me.
Kaile Phoenix – Just as bad as Karen, arrogant and troublesome. The two of them make my life a living hell.
Third Wife – Lady Elara Phoenix (My Mother) Once, she was a noble of Count Zapleer's family—a woman of prestige, intelligence, and powerful magic. But she gave it all up for love. She and my father defied tradition and married for love, an act almost unheard of among high nobles. But love fades. Their marriage is now nothing more than a cold contract, and they treat each other as strangers. My father barely acknowledges her, and she… she no longer looks at him with the same warmth she once had. Despite this, my mother rose in power, becoming the Vice President of the White Magic Tower, a symbol of magical excellence. She took in many disciples, and among them, her greatest is my blood sister, a prodigy in magic who continues our mother's legacy.
But what about me?
I was born without any notable magic or talent. A failure. A disgrace.
To my father's family, I am the "trash of the Phoenix household."
To my mother's family, the Count Zapleers, I am nothing but a disappointment. My cousins, Eric von Zapleer and Natasha von Zapleer, are among the top pupils of the White Magic Tower. They excel in magic, just like my mother and sister. And because of that, they constantly look down on me, rub it in my face, and remind me of my worthlessness every chance they get.
I have no allies. No place where I belong.
Or at least… that's what they think.
Because the truth is, I have been reborn into this body, and I refuse to be the failure they believe I am.