The heavy silence in the grand hall pressed down on me like a mountain.
Every breath I took felt like a test I might fail.
So many eyes watching. So many blades hidden behind polite smiles.
I sat upon the throne of the Nightreign family — a place that once terrified me as a child — and now, somehow, I was the one sitting on it.
The irony almost made me laugh… almost.
Tap… tap… tap…
My fingers drummed lightly against the cold armrest — a nervous habit from my past life.
At the far end of the table, Agnes Selgor, my uncle — the man who once signed my death — rose from his chair. His presence was overwhelming, his aura heavy enough to make the air tremble.
"The family head finally graces us," he said with a faint smirk. "We feared your… condition might have worsened."
Condition.
So they know the original Selgor was cursed. That's my only cover. If they sense anything else — even a hint of change — I'm dead.
I forced my voice steady.
"I'm still alive," I said slowly. "Unfortunately for some."
A few of the elders chuckled softly, but the rest stayed silent — their eyes sharp, studying every twitch of my face.
I could feel sweat gathering under my collar.
They're predators, all of them… waiting for a sign of weakness.
Then, from my right, a silken voice slid into the air.
Serenya Selgor, my aunt. Her tone was sweet, but her eyes gleamed with poison.
"Brother," she began, "the council awaits your decision on the northern alliance. You've been… unusually quiet lately."
Unusually quiet?
Yeah, because the real Selgor is gone, and I'm a terrified stranger in his skin.
I tightened my grip on the throne's armrest.
"I'll decide soon," I replied, keeping my face blank. "Some matters require patience."
---
An elder with a deep scar across his cheek leaned forward.
"Patience won't stop the demons," he growled. "They've already crossed the western border. Our outer defenses are gone."
Another slammed his hand against the table.
"And those damned fairy magicians! They refuse to aid us, claiming our aura corrupts their mana. What nonsense!"
Murmurs filled the room — a storm of frustration and fear.
Even from the throne, I could feel it. The world outside was bleeding.
Agnes's voice thundered through the chaos.
"We can no longer prevent the demons from breaching our lands. Because of our conflict with the magicians, cooperation is impossible. If this continues—"
Serenya interrupted smoothly, "If all ten Great Families don't unite, this coming war will shatter humanity itself because of those damn demons.
I kept my expression neutral, but inside, my mind raced.
Ten families… demons… Magus Guild… so this world's already on the edge of war.
And I, trapped in this cursed body, was supposed to lead one of those families.
Perfect.
They'll find out… they'll notice something.
I'm not the real Selgor. I don't even know half of what he knew.
Their gazes lingered — too long, too heavy — before the meeting ended.
Even as they left, I could feel it.
They knew something.
Thud.
The door of my chamber closed behind me.
My legs trembled as I leaned against the wall, finally letting the mask fall.
"Damn…" I whispered. "I thought I'd suffocate back there."
My heart still hadn't slowed down. The air in this mansion felt wrong — thick, heavy, filled with secrets.
And then, a faint blue flicker appeared in front of my eyes.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE]
Task Unlocked: Proof of Existence
Objective: Establish your dominance as the true family head.
Reward: [Skill Unlocked]
"Prove my existence?" I muttered. "I can barely prove I'm alive."
I stared out the window.
Beyond the mist, I could see faint trails of energy — mana and aura flowing like rivers in the night sky. Beautiful… and terrifying.
> [Attempting Ability Sync…]
[Warning: Compatibility Unstable]
[Error Detected: Dual Soul Resonance]
"Dual soul?" I whispered. "So even the system knows I don't belong here…"
A sudden surge of heat rushed through me.
"Ahhh—!" I dropped to my knees, clutching my chest as pain tore through my veins.
> [Hidden Ability Partially Unlocked]
Skill: Overseer's Sense (Lv. 1)
Range: 20 meters
Duration: 30 seconds
My eyes burned. The world twisted.
For a brief moment, I saw through the walls — guards pacing, servants whispering, and in a distant room…
Agnes and Serenya, standing together.
> "He's acting strange," Agnes said quietly. "Maybe the curse didn't just weaken him. Maybe… it changed him."
Serenya's voice was calm, but her smile sharp. "Let him play family head. For now. The ritual will fix everything soon."
I froze.
A ritual? What are they planning?
My fists tightened. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.
> "Heh," I whispered. "You killed me once. Let's see who survives this time."
The system flickered.
> [Warning: You are being observed.]
My eyes widened.
"Observed? By who—?"
Knock, knock.
"Master, your night tea has arrived," a voice said softly.
But behind that voice…
I heard another faint breath.
A second heartbeat.