The sun had barely risen, but Jack had already been awake for hours. The sounds of servants moving outside his room reminded him that, while this world was foreign to him, disdain sounded the same in every realm.
He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples.
'So I'm Jack… but not that Jack. And apparently, that Jack was a complete bastard.'
Yesterday's revelations still hadn't sunk in completely. A powerful general wife. Three children he hadn't even seen. A noble family that despised him. A ruined reputation. And now, he was living in the lap of luxury under watch — not protection, but surveillance.
**Knock.**
"Sir Jack," came a cold voice. "The Duke has summoned you."
That voice belonged to his 'babysitter', a knight named **Damon**. Jack didn't know much about him, other than the fact he was assigned by Elsa before leaving for the war. Probably to make sure Jack didn't gamble the house away.
---
The walk to the Duke's study was long, not in distance but in tension.
Inside the grand chamber sat **Duke Aldric Valorin**, Elsa's father. His back was straight, posture like a blade, every word measured.
Beside him stood **Lady Mireya**, a woman whose gaze could slice colder than steel. Her judgment was silent, but brutal.
Jack stood awkwardly before them. He had tried to smile — mistake.
"You know why you're here," Aldric said. His voice wasn't raised, but it carried authority sharp enough to wound.
"I honestly don't," Jack replied, honestly. "I don't remember anything from before. I'm… not the same man."
Aldric narrowed his eyes. "A convenient amnesia. How many lies must you spin?"
"None," Jack said, more softly this time. "But I can't prove it to you. I can only act better now."
Lady Mireya finally spoke. "Your words mean nothing. You embarrassed our daughter, ruined our name, and nearly killed our grandchildren with your irresponsibility."
"Wait—what?" Jack blinked. "What happened?"
Aldric leaned back in his chair. "When Elsa was seven months pregnant, you dragged her through a public scandal. She was injured. One of the children nearly died before birth."
Jack's blood turned cold.
'I… I didn't do that. But they're not wrong. That man… did.'
"I'm sorry," he said, and he meant it. "Even if it wasn't me… it was my face. My name. I'll take responsibility."
Mireya looked at him for the first time — not as a nuisance, but as something more complicated.
But Aldric shook his head. "We're not interested in your apologies. We've tolerated your presence only because Elsa insisted. She's fighting a war to protect this kingdom — and perhaps, your sorry life."
He stood.
"You will not embarrass us again. You will not approach the children without permission. You will not make decisions without supervision. Until Elsa returns, you are under this house's leash."
Jack swallowed the bitterness.
"Understood."
---
Outside, Damon walked beside him in silence for a while. "You took that better than expected."
Jack gave a dry laugh. "What were you expecting?"
"Crying. Screaming. Running away. You know, like before."
Jack looked up at the estate's towers, his voice flat. "Well… I guess I'm not him anymore."
---
Later that day, Jack wandered the outer garden, the only place no one seemed to mind his presence. A familiar voice rang from ahead.
"You again?"
It was a young woman in a military-style riding outfit — **Elenora Valorin**, Elsa's younger sister. Beautiful, fierce, and very much disapproving of him.
"I thought they banned you from this side," she said.
Jack shrugged. "They banned me from most sides. But I figured walking in a circle might confuse the guards."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't try to be funny."
"I wasn't," he said. "Just… trying to breathe."
She studied him for a moment. "You're different. Less pathetic. But I still don't trust you."
"Fair," Jack said. "But can I ask you something?"
Nora raised an eyebrow.
"Why did Elsa marry me? Why not the crown prince? Why not… literally anyone else?"
Nora's face turned hard.
"You think she *wanted* to? She had no choice. You both were drugged during a royal banquet. Scandal. Pregnancy. The crown prince withdrew to save face. So our family *salvaged* what reputation we could."
Jack stood silent, absorbing every word like a punch.
Nora stepped closer.
"So don't ever think this marriage was earned. It was endured."
She turned and left.
Jack stood in the garden, his chest heavy, his thoughts spiraling.
'So that's it. A drunken scandal. A forced marriage. A war general stuck with a liability. No wonder they all hate me. Hell, I'd hate me too.'
Still… something stirred inside him. Not anger. Not grief. But grit.
'Fine. I'll live like a man who doesn't need their pity or permission. Not to gain love. Just to be worthy of it… someday.'