"Fredrick..." Minjae called out as he placed the invitation on the nearby table. "You may take your leave now."
"Yes, Young Master."
Fredrick bowed respectfully before quietly leaving the room. A moment later, the door clicked shut behind him, leaving Minjae alone.
Silence immediately filled the bedroom.
Minjae remained standing for several moments, staring at the invitation resting atop the table. Countless thoughts raced through his mind, each one more troublesome than the last.
Eventually, he let out a long sigh.
There was no point standing around worrying about the future.
Not yet.
Turning away from the table, Minjae made his way toward the bathroom. After stepping inside, he began removing the clothes before turning the faucet. Hot water steadily poured into the large marble bathtub. Once the bathtub had filled sufficiently, Minjae stepped into the water and slowly lowered himself into it. A relieved sigh escaped his lips, leaning back against the edge of the bathtub, Minjae slowly closed his eyes and allowed the warmth of the water to wash over him. The steam drifting through the bathroom created a comfortable silence, yet his mind remained anything but calm. Ever since waking up inside Edric Montclair's body, he had been too busy dealing with the shock of his reincarnation to properly think about the future. Now that he finally had a moment to himself, the memories of Lords and Love's Deception began resurfacing one after another.
The story began on the morning of April 15th, the eighteenth birthday of Lady Seraphine Delaire.
Everything started when Ahn Yoon suddenly found herself inside Seraphine's body. Along with her new body came Seraphine's memories, allowing her to adapt to noble society far more quickly than most people would have expected. Although the memories helped her navigate her new life, they did little to ease her confusion. She still found herself trapped in an unfamiliar world with no idea how she had arrived there.
As the daughter of House Delaire, Seraphine naturally stood at the center of noble society. Her birthday celebration marked the beginning of her encounters with several individuals who would eventually play major roles in her life.
Among them was Cassian Von Everhart, the perfect noble heir whose reputation was admired throughout the kingdom. To outsiders, Cassian appeared flawless, but the closer Seraphine grew to him, the more she discovered the immense pressure and loneliness hidden beneath his polished exterior.
Then there was Henrik Von Ainsworth, a noble known for his cold demeanor and intimidating presence. Most people avoided him whenever possible, believing him to be arrogant and unapproachable. Yet behind that icy exterior was someone burdened by responsibilities he had never chosen for himself.
Tristan Voss seemed entirely different from the others. Charming, witty, and constantly surrounded by admirers, he rarely appeared serious about anything. However, as Seraphine spent more time with him, she gradually uncovered the secrets he carefully concealed behind his carefree smile.
Elias Crowe stood apart from the rest. Unlike the nobles who dominated high society, Elias came from commoner origins. His exceptional talent as a mage earned him recognition, but his status constantly placed him at odds with the aristocracy. His route focused heavily on the divide between nobles and commoners, as well as the sacrifices required to overcome it.
As Seraphine became involved with each of them, she slowly began uncovering hidden conflicts throughout the kingdom. Noble families competed for influence behind closed doors, political tensions threatened the stability of the realm, and dangerous secrets lurked beneath the elegant façade of aristocratic society. Every route revealed a different side of the kingdom, exposing mysteries that remained hidden in the others.
Yet despite the different romances and storylines, one figure appeared in every route.
Edric Montclair.
Handsome, intelligent, and dangerously ambitious, Edric was one of the most influential young nobles in the kingdom. Depending on the route, he acted as a rival, an obstacle, a manipulator, or sometimes even an unwilling ally. Many players considered him one of the most fascinating characters in the game due to his unpredictable nature and complicated motivations.
Unfortunately, every route shared one unavoidable truth.
No matter who Seraphine fell in love with, no matter what choices the player made... Edric Montclair always met a tragic end.
And now that Minjae had become Edric himself, that particular detail was far more concerning than any of the romances.
".... My life will be screwed at this rate." Minjae mumbled to himself
Minjae got out of the bathtub, water dripping from his body onto the marble floor below. After drying himself off with a nearby towel, he slipped into a robe and stepped out of the bathroom. Warm steam followed him through the doorway before gradually dispersing into the cool air of the bedroom.
The moment he emerged from the bathroom, he found himself face to face with a butler. The man appeared to be in his twenties, with neatly styled light brown hair and a pair of light green eyes that reminded Minjae of polished emeralds. Upon noticing Edric's arrival, the butler immediately bowed respectfully before straightening his posture. After clearing his throat, he finally spoke.
"Young Master... I've come to inform you that the Duke has arrived."
The statement immediately caught Minjae's attention.
Arrived?
The word sounded strange to him. Had the Duke gone somewhere and only returned now? If so, where had he gone? Nothing regarding such a trip had ever been mentioned in Lords and Love's Deception. Then again, the game had always followed the perspective of the female lead. Events unrelated to Seraphine were rarely explored in detail, especially matters concerning the private affairs of noble families. It was entirely possible that the Duke had left during the events of the game as well, but since it had never affected Seraphine, the information had simply never been revealed to the players.
Curious, Minjae decided to clarify his doubts.
"Had Father gone somewhere?" he asked, his tone polite and respectful, befitting the heir of a ducal household.
"Yes, Young Master," the butler replied without hesitation. "The Duke and Lord Sebastian departed for the South not long after your departure to the North."
The South.
Minjae silently stored the information away. He still had no idea why the Duke had traveled there, but it was useful knowledge nonetheless. Now that he was living inside this world rather than merely playing a game based on it, even seemingly insignificant information could become important later.
"Ah... I see."
With that, Minjae walked toward the closet and pulled open its doors.
The sight that greeted him instantly left him speechless.
The closet was enormous.
No, calling it a closet honestly felt inaccurate. It was practically a room in its own right, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate ten or even twenty people. Rows upon rows of clothing stretched before him, neatly organized according to style and purpose. Elegant noble attire, formal suits, tailored coats, riding outfits, boots, gloves, and countless accessories filled the space. The sheer number of outfits was enough to overwhelm an ordinary person.
For several moments, Minjae simply stared.
Although the game had repeatedly mentioned that House Montclair was absurdly wealthy, witnessing that wealth firsthand was an entirely different experience. Reading a line of text that described the family as rich was one thing. Standing in front of a closet larger than some apartments was another.
As he continued staring at the endless selection of clothes, an old memory suddenly surfaced in his mind. The closet somehow reminded him of a cartoon his sister had forced him to watch years ago. It took him a few seconds to remember the name.
Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse.
The comparison was so ridiculous that he nearly laughed.
Of course, now wasn't the time to think about Barbie's closet. The real issue was the fact that Edric's closet looked just as absurd. If a mere closet was this large, Minjae didn't even want to imagine the size of the rest of the Montclair estate.
His gaze slowly swept across the countless outfits hanging before him.
'Hm... What should I wear?' he thought to himself as he carefully examined each and every outfit.
"Ah... Young Master, I've forgotten to inform you that the Duke wishes to meet you."
Minjae paused in the middle of looking through the countless outfits hanging before him. His hand lingered on the sleeve of a dark coat as he turned his head toward the butler.
"Ah... I see. Thank you for informing me," Minjae replied politely before returning his attention to the closet.
His eyes moved across the endless selection of clothing. There were simply too many choices. Noble attire, formal suits, expensive coats, and countless accessories filled the spacious closet. Having grown up as an ordinary person, he still found it difficult to adjust to the absurd luxury surrounding him.
After a brief moment of silence, a question surfaced in his mind.
"Why is it that Father wishes to see me?"
The butler immediately lowered his head apologetically.
"I must apologise, Young Master. I myself am not quite sure. His Grace only requested me to inform you of this much."
Minjae nodded thoughtfully.
The answer wasn't particularly surprising. The servants likely weren't informed of every private discussion the Duke wished to have with his son. Still, he couldn't help but wonder about the reason behind the summons.
Was it related to his recent journey to the North?
Or was it simply a routine conversation between father and son?
Unfortunately, there was no point speculating endlessly.
"It's quite alright," Minjae replied. "I'll see to it myself then."
The butler respectfully bowed his head once more.
Meanwhile, Minjae returned his full attention to the closet. His gaze swept across the countless outfits hanging before him one final time. There were garments embroidered with gold, elaborate noble coats decorated with jewels, and formal attire that looked far too extravagant for a simple meeting with his father.
After a few moments of consideration, his eyes settled on a particular outfit.
It consisted of a fitted black noble coat with a high collar, the edges embroidered with subtle silver thread. Unlike the more extravagant garments surrounding it, the design was clean and refined, carrying an understated elegance that felt appropriate for the heir of House Montclair. Beneath the coat was a crisp white dress shirt accompanied by a dark waistcoat fastened with polished silver buttons. A pair of tailored black trousers completed the outfit, while polished leather boots rested neatly below.
The outfit wasn't flashy.
It didn't need to be.
Everything about it radiated quiet confidence and nobility.
Looking at it, Minjae could easily imagine the original Edric wearing something similar. It was the kind of attire that drew attention not because it was extravagant, but because the person wearing it naturally commanded attention.
After several minutes of indecision, Minjae had finally reached a conclusion.
"This should do."
With that, he reached out and removed the outfit from its place.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the dressing area fully dressed.
The black high-collared coat fit him perfectly, its silver embroidery subtle yet elegant. Combined with Edric's handsome features, black hair, and naturally aristocratic bearing, the outfit gave him the appearance of someone who belonged at the top of noble society.
Minjae glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror.
'...Still weird.'
No matter how many times he looked at Edric's face, he couldn't completely get used to it.
Shaking his head, he turned away from the mirror.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Young Master."
The butler immediately stepped aside and began leading the way. The two exited the room and proceeded through the halls of the Montclair estate. As they walked, Minjae couldn't help but observe his surroundings. Luxurious paintings decorated the walls. Expensive vases occupied various corners of the corridor. Even the carpets beneath his feet looked as though they cost more than an average person's lifetime earnings. The game had described House Montclair as wealthy. It had severely understated the truth. Several servants they passed immediately lowered their heads in greeting.
"Young Master."
"Good afternoon, Young Master."
Minjae awkwardly responded with small nods. Despite now possessing Edric's body, he still wasn't entirely comfortable being treated like nobility.
Eventually, the butler stopped before a pair of large wooden doors.
"The Duke is inside."
Minjae nodded.
"Thank you."
The butler respectfully stepped aside.
Taking a deep breath, Minjae reached forward and knocked.
"Enter."
A deep voice immediately sounded from within.
Minjae pushed the doors open.The office beyond was enormous, rows of bookshelves lined the walls while large windows allowed sunlight to stream into the room. Various documents were stacked neatly across a massive desk positioned near the center and behind that desk sat a man. The moment Minjae saw him, he instantly understood where Edric had inherited his looks from.
The Duke of House Montclair was an exceptionally handsome man, his sharp features carried an air of authority that naturally commanded respect, even while seated, his presence dominated the entire room.
For a brief moment, Minjae found himself staring, then he quickly cleared his throat as he spoke.
"You wished to see me, Father?"
The Duke looked up from the document he had been reading. His crimson eyes settled upon Minjae, several seconds passed yet the duke hadn't spoke a word. Minjae suddenly felt a strange pressure.... Had he done something wrong? No, that couldn't be why the duke didn't utter a word. He'd only arrived recently, so.... Perhaps it's not the case.
"You seem healthier."
"...Pardon?"
The unexpected comment caught Minjae completely off guard.
The Duke set the document aside.
"I was informed that you appeared exhausted when you returned from your trip to the North."
Minjae blinked.
So that was what this was about? He worried that the duke was angry at him for doing something he shouldn't have.... Which meant that he was worrying over nothing.
"I suppose I was a little tired."
"A little?"
The Duke raised an eyebrow.
"Ah.... I'm fine now father."
"Hm...If you say so."
The Duke leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Sit."
Minjae obediently took the seat in front of him.... then came the question he hadn't expected.
"Tell me about your journey to the North."
Minjae immediately felt a headache coming. He had expected that the duke would ask the question, but he never expected it to be so sudden. Seeing as he didn't know about what the original Edric did in the North.... it'd be best to tell half-truths and the best way to do that would be to use his knowledge of Lord's and Loves Deception. In one of the routes, Seraphine Delaire had visited the North, so it'd be best to explain the scenery and add some lies to make it seem convincible.
Minjae spent the next several minutes speaking with the Duke, fortunately, the conversation wasn't particularly difficult. Whenever the Duke asked about his journey to the North, Minjae carefully mixed truth with fiction. He spoke about the scenery, the weather, and various incidents that had occurred during the trip while deliberately omitting anything related to his reincarnation.
Not that he could exactly tell the truth.
"Father, I've actually died, reincarnated into your son's body, and possess knowledge of the future."
That conversation would probably end with a physician being summoned or either they'd think that he's lost his marbles.
Eventually, the discussion began winding down, realizing that the opportunity might not present itself again anytime soon, Minjae decided to ask the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind.
"Father..."
The Duke looked up from the document he had been reviewing.
"Yes?"
Minjae hesitated briefly, he wasn't sure of how the duke would react on hearing his request.
"If it is not too much for you... would you please double my allowance?"
The room fell silent, for a brief moment, Minjae wondered if he had made a mistake..... Perhaps asking the duke to double his allowance was too much, Minjae felt that he'd been selfish enough to ask someone who wasn't his father for money.
Then the Duke simply nodded.
"Hm."
The man returned his attention to the document.
"I'll see to it."
"..."
"..."
That was it? Minjae had expected to be questioned or either lectured on why he needed his allowance doubled, maybe since the Montclair family was rich..... they don't care to ask questions.
The Duke continued reading as though nothing significant had just been discussed.
A few moments later, he spoke again.
"You may take your leave."
"Ah... Yes, Father."
Still slightly confused by how smoothly everything had gone, Minjae rose from his seat before respectfully excusing himself. Twenty minutes later, he was back in his room. He was currently seated on a nearby sofa when a knock sounded from the door. At that moment, a knock sounded from the door.
"Enter."
The door opened shortly afterward, the same young butler stepped inside carrying a silver tray... Upon approaching Minjae, the butler respectfully bowed.
"Young Master."
"What is it?"
"The Duke instructed me to deliver this to you."
Minjae glanced at the tray. Resting atop it was a cheque, assuming it contained the adjustment to his allowance, he casually picked it up. After all, there wasn't much reason to be nervous, he had only asked for his allowance to be doubled. At most, he expected to receive two thousand gold sovereigns.... then his eyes landed on the number written on the cheque.
"..."
Minjae blinked.... Maybe, he had seen the number wrong or maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him... He wasn't entirely sure of it, but.... what he was sure of was that the duke wouldn't have given such a large amount as allowance. Minjae rubbed his eyes, not once but twice. However, the number hadn't changed
The amount that the duke had given him was 700,000 Gold Sovereigns.
"..."
Minjae knew that the Montclair family was filthy rich, it was mentioned in the game itself, but.... To give out 700,000 Gold Sovereigns as allowance is crazy even for them. Perhaps there'd been a mistake on the duke's end, maybe he hadn't meant to give out such a ridiculously large amount.
"...There appears to be a mistake."
The butler blinked.
"A mistake, Young Master?"
"Yes."
Minjae immediately pointed at the cheque.
"My allowance was one thousand gold sovereigns."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I requested that it be doubled."
"Yes, Young Master."
Minjae slowly lowered the cheque.
"...Then why does this say seven hundred thousand?"
The butler glanced at the cheque before answering calmly.
"Because that is the amount approved by His Grace."
"..."
"..."
Minjae felt a headache coming.
"No, I don't think you understand."
The butler remained silent.
"I asked Father to double my allowance."
"Correct."
"Double."
"Yes."
"One thousand."
"Yes."
"Not seven hundred thousand."
The butler considered this for a moment.
Then he politely replied:
"His Grace appears to have felt that two thousand gold sovereigns was insufficient."
"..."
For the first time since arriving in this world, Minjae discovered that there were people who genuinely believed two thousand gold sovereigns was an unreasonably small amount of money.
Unfortunately, one of those people happened to be his father.
Slowly lowering his gaze toward the cheque, Minjae felt his soul leaving his body.
What kind of household considered increasing an allowance by six hundred and ninety-eight thousand gold sovereigns a reasonable adjustment?
At that moment, Minjae finally understood why the original Edric had developed such a distorted perception of money.