Lionel slowly stood up from the bed.
For a moment—
he simply stared at his mother quietly.
Alive.
Still alive.
In his previous life…
he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.
The memory alone made his chest tighten.
Elena noticed immediately.
"You're thinking too much again."
Lionel clicked his tongue softly.
"…Can you blame me?"
"A little."
She smiled gently before fixing his collar.
The same way she used to when he was younger.
Lionel froze slightly.
Damn.
He really missed this.
The system suddenly spoke quietly.
[…Okay this family stuff lowkey hitting.]
"…You getting soft?"
[Don't ruin the moment dumbass.]
Elena stepped back slightly after fixing his clothes.
"There."
Lionel looked down briefly.
"…Thanks."
The empress blinked.
Probably because Lionel almost never thanked people directly.
Then she smiled again.
"You really are acting different today."
Lionel looked away immediately.
"…Maybe I matured."
[That one sentence alone almost gave me psychic damage.]
"…Shut the fuck up."
Elena tilted her head.
"You've been talking to yourself a lot lately."
"…I'm hilarious."
[Debatable.]
Lionel ignored the system and walked beside his mother toward the dining hall.
The palace corridors were quiet tonight.
Moonlight shined through the massive imperial windows.
Knights bowed respectfully as the empress passed.
Lionel walked calmly beside her while silently thinking.
Three years.
That was how long he had before everything started falling apart.
Before wars started.
Before William began rising like some blessed main character chosen by the damn world itself.
And before his mother died.
Lionel's eyes darkened slightly.
Not this time.
This time—
he would protect everything.
Even if he had to become a monster to do it.
The system suddenly whistled.
[Yeah that mindset definitely villain-coded.]
Lionel smirked slightly.
Good.
Then the giant dining hall doors slowly opened.
And immediately—
"HAHAHAHA SHE THREW THE CHAIR AT YOU?!"
"IT WAS A TACTICAL RETREAT!"
Lionel closed his eyes slowly.
"…I forgot this family loud as hell."
[Welcome home.]
The imperial family was already gathered around the massive dining table.
At the center sat Emperor Aldric Ashbourne himself.
Golden hair.
Massive body.
Absolute monster aura.
Even while sitting casually—
he looked like the type of man that could punch a dragon unconscious.
Beside him sat two concubines calmly drinking tea while pretending not to watch the chaos.
Prince Kael was laughing like a complete idiot.
Princess Aurelia looked one second away from throwing another chair.
And Crown Prince Lucien sat there calmly like the only normal person in the room.
Honestly suspicious as hell.
The emperor noticed Lionel immediately.
"…You're late."
Lionel sat down calmly.
"I was recovering mentally."
Kael instantly burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA—from what?"
"From being related to you."
"DAMN."
Even Fenrir looked impressed.
The system immediately spoke.
[Clean hit.]
Kael pointed aggressively.
"You definitely changed overnight."
Lionel grabbed a glass calmly.
"Maybe I unlocked character development."
[Highly unlikely.]
"…I hate you."
[And yet you still talking to me.]
Before Lionel could answer—
a tiny blur suddenly jumped onto his back.
"BIG BROTHER!"
Lionel nearly got slammed face first into the table.
"…AMELIA."
The youngest princess laughed happily while hanging onto him like a tiny demon.
"You look less scary today."
The room became silent briefly.
Then Kael completely lost it.
"HAHAHAHA THAT'S FOUL."
Aurelia nodded seriously.
"She really said that to your face."
Lionel stared blankly at Amelia.
"…Why are you like this?"
"Mother says honesty important."
Empress Elena immediately looked away while hiding a smile.
Lionel sighed deeply.
This family genuinely exhausted him.
And somehow—
he missed it badly.
The system suddenly spoke quietly.
[You smiling again.]
Lionel instantly fixed his expression.
"…No I'm not."
[Brother fighting happiness like it owe him money.]
Before Lionel could respond—
a servant entered nervously.
"Your Majesty."
The emperor looked over calmly.
"What."
"The Academy has sent confirmation."
Several people immediately looked interested.
Silverwind Academy.
The strongest academy on the continent.
A neutral nation standing independent from every empire, kingdom, and race.
Humans.
Elves.
Dwarves.
Beastmen.
Demons.
Even dragons sent their geniuses there.
Nobody dared challenge its authority.
Because every terrifying monster the continent produced somehow came from that damn place.
And in Lionel's previous life—
it was where everything started falling apart.
The servant swallowed nervously.
"Prince Lionel Ashbourne has officially been accepted for this year's enrollment."
Silence.
Then Kael slowly grinned.
"…Oh this gonna be funny."
Lionel narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you sound excited."
Kael leaned back smirking.
"Because little brother…"
Lightning crackled around his body slightly.
"…Second years love bullying first years."
The system instantly screamed.
[OH SHIT.]
[ACADEMIC VIOLENCE ARC STARTING.]
Fenrir immediately laughed loudly.
"HAHAHAHA—he right though."
Aurelia smirked slightly.
"Try not to embarrass the empire too badly."
Lionel clicked his tongue.
"You people got zero faith in me."
Kael looked him dead in the eye.
"Correct."
"…Damn."
Even the emperor looked mildly amused now.
Only Elena looked slightly worried.
"You should still be careful."
Lionel looked toward her quietly.
"…I know."
Because this academy…
was where everything started.
Future heroes.
Future villains.
Future monsters.
Future betrayals.
And somewhere there—
William.
Lionel's eyes darkened slightly.
This time would be different.
No obsession.
No humiliation.
No losing everything.
This time—
he would take what he wanted first.
And if somebody stood in his way—
well…
that sounded like a them problem.