KNOCK! KNOCK!
Sophia's mind was hazy with desire. She was ready to take the final step, the one that would make Ethan completely hers. But just as she leaned in, a sharp knock broke through the air.
"My Lady… it has been quite a while. Have you finished?" a voice called from outside.
Both Ethan and Sophia froze. Their faces flushed, breaths unsteady.
Slowly, they pulled apart, their eyes lingering on each other as if reluctant to let go. They hurried to dress, though their hands barged, the heat between them still unbroken.
"My Lady… what about the liquids…" Ethan said quietly, glancing at the spilled saliva from the kisses.
Sophia's gaze followed his, her cheeks deepening in color. She bit her lip for a moment, then met his eyes with a faint blush and embarrassment.
"I'll take care of it," she said in a low, lingering tone. "Go outside… give them a reason for the delay."
Her fingers tightened slightly on his arm, unwilling to release him. She held his gaze for another heartbeat, her eyes filled with a mixture of longing and regret. Then, with a slow push, she guided him out of the door.
Outside, Ethan was met by Head Maid Nina, who gave him a serious, inspecting gaze.
Ethan felt a wave of panic, but he kept his composure. "Miss Nina… Lady Sophia was crying, so her clothes became wrinkled. She also asked to have some time to herself."
Nina's expression softened. Ethan nodded and turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.
"You are assigned to another room. From now on, you cannot stay in the servants' quarters."
Ethan was led to a large, well-furnished room.It was big enough to fit five servant rooms combined. Normally, five servants shared one room, cramped together with no privacy, something he had always disliked.
"From now on, this is your room," Nina said before leaving.
Ethan looked around in awe. There was a large central bed, a sturdy table, a mana lamp, a painting on the wall, and a balcony.
Remembering the system, he jumped onto the bed and called out, "System, are you there?"
[The host is bound to the System.]
[System Task is to support the host.]
Ethan's eyes widened with excitement. Finally, he wouldn't be useless. Finally, he would have the power to protect himself. As for conquering the world… he thought it was better to live peacefully than provoke trouble. If he could grow stronger while lying around, why go looking for conflict?
Ethan could feel excitement rising under his skin, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. "Calm down… calm down," he muttered. He looked ahead and asked, "System, where did you come from? Did the god of this world send you, and can they watch me?"
[Negative.]
[The system came from the blessings of your own universe.]
"My universe?" Ethan repeated in surprise.
[ Your death was caused by an accident during quantum entanglement and spatial distortion. Normally, the world chooses certain people and sends them to other worlds to fulfill their destiny, but you ended up here by mistake. Your body passed through a spatial distortion and appeared in this world.]
"I see… no wonder my sudden arrival felt so strange."
[Whether it is a god or the universe itself, nothing escapes karma. Sending you here was a mistake by the cosmic consciousness, so it gave you this system as a form of repentance.]
"So, have I awakened the system?"
[Affirmative.]
But then he paused. "Huh… is this it? Where is the power and abilities? Shouldn't there be a gift or some kind of package?"
[Please host and finish the process of copulation to awaken the full effect of the system.]
"Copulation…" Ethan repeated, his eyes widening.
[The system originated from a different universe. Granting significant power or allowing someone to level up could make them a target for the gods.
[After analyzing all possible scenarios, it concluded that the best way to grant you power would be through karma entanglement involving your wives and children.]
"I see."
He clicked his tongue. That meant he had been just one step away from fully awakening it.
He started to regret stopping earlier. "Maybe I should have cooperated more actively, but who knew I would awaken a system like this?"
It wasn't that he disliked Sophia or that he didn't know about her feelings for him. He just found it troublesome. A commoner marrying a noble without enough strength would face endless problems and criticism. But now, with the system, his worries could finally be put to rest.
Ethan stood up and patted himself. "For the sake of your own life, you need to put in the effort. Thank the God of the system for this blessing. I promise I will cherish it well."
However, marrying was not as simple as it seemed.
The next day, Ethan was woken up early. Before he could even gather his thoughts, he was taken away to be groomed properly. His hair was trimmed, his clothes adjusted, and every detail checked as if he was some rare item on display.
After that, he found himself sitting in front of a huge pile of books stacked high on the table.
"Huh… all this?" he asked in disbelief.
Oliver adjusted his spectacles and said calmly, "Since you are getting married, you need to know certain things. These are books on etiquette, posture, politics, and other important matters."
"What? I have to study all this?" Ethan stared at the stack with a horrified look.
If it had been history, geography, or any subject that seemed useful to him, he would have been happy to read. But this felt meaningless.
He tried to protest, but Oliver, already at Novice Rank Middle Stage, simply grabbed him by the arm and pulled him along without giving him a chance to escape.
Ethan's heart sank.
'This is bullying,'' he thought.
A month passed like this. It drained Oliver of his sleep and left Ethan exhausted. Every morning, Ethan had to wake up early, practice proper posture, learn formal etiquette, and listen to endless talks about nobles, their habits, and politics. His head felt like it might split apart.
But for the sake of his future, he gritted his teeth and endured.
Finally, the day of the marriage arrived.