"Aah…!"
A strangled gasp escaped the lips of the man lying on the bed.
His body twitched violently as if dragged out of a nightmare, and after several agonizing seconds, he finally forced his eyes open.
"Dammit… my head…"
His voice came out weak and uneven.
Pressing a trembling hand against his temple, he slowly pushed himself upright while a sharp throbbing pain pounded inside his skull.
"Is this headache trying to kill me or what…?"
The pain gradually subsided enough for him to breathe properly again.
Only then did his eyes wander around the room.
"…What?"
His expression froze.
The room surrounding him was completely unfamiliar.
White marble walls stretched elegantly across the spacious chamber, decorated with intricate golden patterns that reflected the morning light pouring through massive curtains. Every piece of furniture looked expensive beyond reason—from the polished wooden desk near the bedside to the finely crafted chandelier hanging overhead.
The entire room radiated wealth and refinement.
For a moment, he simply stared blankly.
"Have I gone insane from the pain…?"
Even as he muttered the words, doubt crept into his mind.
Nothing about this felt real.
To make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him, he rubbed them hard before looking around once more.
"…No change."
The luxurious room remained exactly the same.
Silence filled the air.
A slow breath escaped his lips.
"First things first… where the hell am I?"
Carefully, he observed his surroundings again.
The room itself carried an oddly pristine atmosphere. The white-and-gold interior wasn't merely extravagant—it was calculated. Every decoration looked deliberately chosen, every piece positioned with precision.
Even without touching anything, he could tell the owner of this room was someone obsessively particular.
"The owner must be pretty picky…"
Assuming he had somehow ended up in someone else's room, he prepared to stand—
But then his attention stopped on a photo frame resting neatly atop the bedside table.
"…Hm?"
Curiosity overtook caution.
Reaching forward, he picked it up carefully with both hands.
"Finally, something useful."
Inside the frame was a picture of three people.
An elderly man.
An elegant woman.
And a young boy standing between them.
The moment his eyes landed on their faces, a strange feeling stirred inside him.
Familiar.
Far too familiar.
"…What?"
His brows furrowed.
"What is this feeling…?"
It was as though he were staring at a memory he couldn't fully recall.
Confusion spread across his face as his thumb brushed lightly over the frame.
"Hm… the older man and woman are probably husband and wife."
His gaze shifted toward the boy.
"And this kid must be their son."
The boy looked refined beyond his age, carrying sharp features inherited from both parents.
"I have to admit… he's pretty handsome."
A faint snort escaped him.
"Well, with parents looking like that, I guess it's expected."
After another glance, he carefully placed the frame back exactly where it had been.
"It's still someone else's property. Better not touch things unnecessarily."
With that thought, he slowly rose from the bed.
The moment his feet touched the floor, however, his body swayed slightly.
"…What the?"
His limbs felt unnaturally sluggish, almost as if he hadn't moved in weeks.
"First the headache… now this body."
He frowned deeply.
"Just what the hell is going on?"
While adjusting himself, he suddenly noticed something else.
Something very wrong.
"…This…"
His expression stiffened.
Slowly, almost mechanically, his hands moved toward his stomach.
"My st—"
His eyes widened.
"My stomach…!"
A horrified look spread across his face as he grabbed the noticeably swollen belly beneath the loose clothing.
"When the hell did it get this big?!"
His stomach growled loudly in response.
"…Seriously?"
He stared downward in disbelief.
"Can't I get one peaceful moment after waking up?"
Immediately, his eyes darted around the room in search of a mirror.
Spotting a nearby door, he rushed toward it, assuming it led to the bathroom.
Tck!
He shoved the door open in panic and hurried inside.
The bathroom was just as luxurious as the bedroom, but he barely noticed any of it.
His attention locked onto the massive mirror ahead.
He quickly approached it—
But as his reflection gradually became clearer, his footsteps slowed.
Then stopped completely.
"…."
Silence.
His pupils trembled faintly as he stared at the unfamiliar face reflected before him.