"Where is that retard?" asked the man seated on the throne, his gaze fixed on the servant kneeling before him.
"Ah… Your Majesty, the prince is… sleeping," the servant replied, his voice unsteady.
The throne room fell silent. Tall silver pillars rose toward the high ceiling, and cold light spilled through narrow windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The king's fingers tapped against the armrest, slow and sharp, each sound echoing through the chamber.
"Sleeping?" he repeated, his tone low.
"Yes, Your Majesty. He has not left his chambers since dawn."
A faint murmur spread among the courtiers standing along the walls. Some hid their smirks behind raised sleeves. Others watched carefully, waiting for the king's reaction.
"Then wake him up at once," the king said, his voice cold and final. "And send him with the party already preparing to depart. I want him at the border before sunset."
The servant hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Your Majesty… the investigation team is made up of senior officers. The prince has never—"
"I am aware of what he has never done," the king interrupted. His eyes hardened. "That is precisely why he will go."
...
Dae Silver pressed both hands against his head and cursed under his breath.
"Damn it… damn it…"
The room felt real and not a dream. Silver curtains hung beside tall windows. Sets of dark armor lined the walls. A long sword rested on a rack within easy reach.
Dae looked around slowly. He knew where everything was without thinking. He knew which drawer held clothes, where the hidden knife was, how far it was from the bed to the door.
The knowledge wasn't his.
Images flashed through his head. Faces he didn't recognize. Training yards. Palace halls. Servants bowing. Lessons about war and power.
He pressed his fingers against his temple and shut his eyes.
Battles he never fought. Faces he never met. Etiquette lessons, sword drills, names of nobles, rivalries, political traps. They sat beside memories of crowded streets, late-night screens, cheap food, and a life on Earth that now felt distant and unreal.
He dragged a hand down his face.
"This is insane…"
Dae Silver. That was his name now. Prince of the Silver Kingdom.
He laughed once, sharp and hollow.
"This has to be a dream."
A faint chime rang inside his mind.
A translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[ Demon System Activated ]
[ Host Confirmed: Dae Silver ]
[ Integration Complete — Body Memory Sync: 78% ]
He froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Lines of text moved across the invisible panel.
[ New Objective Pending ]
[ Warning: Dimensional Tears detected along the border.]
[ Threat Level: Unknown. ]
He groaned and buried his face in his hands again.
"Of course there's a system. Why wouldn't there be a system? Demon world, prince body, war coming… sure. Why not."
The body memories gave him fragments of understanding. The Silver Kingdom was powerful but surrounded by enemies. Demons respected strength above all else. Weakness invited death.
And him?
He had zero combat experience.
A sudden knock struck the door, sharp and urgent.
"Your Highness!" a voice called from outside. "His Majesty orders your immediate departure. You are to join the investigation party heading to the border tears at once."
Dae went still.
"…Already?"
Panic rose in his chest.
He had woken in this world only hours ago, and now they were sending him straight into danger.
He glanced toward the mirror across the room. Silver hair. Sharp eyes. A face that looked calm and cold — nothing like the chaos inside his head.
"Okay," he muttered slowly. "Think. Don't panic."
The system screen flickered again, waiting for his response.
Outside, armored footsteps gathered in the corridor.
Dae stared at the floating screen for a few seconds, then let out a slow breath.
"What the hell am I supposed to do…"
No answer came. The system stayed silent.
Another knock hit the door, louder this time.
"Your Highness, we must leave soon."
Dae clenched his jaw. Panic kept pushing up, but he forced it down. The memories in his head weren't just random flashes. They showed him how this body moved, how people expected him to act.
Arrogant. Cold. and a lil bit retarded.. kind of childish like
If he broke character now, someone would notice.
He swung his legs off the bed and stood. The movement felt natural, like muscle memory took over. He walked to the mirror and stopped.
Silver hair fell over sharp eyes. His face looked calm, almost bored.
Nothing like how he felt.
He straightened his posture. Shoulders back. Chin slightly raised. The expression in the mirror shifted without effort, turning distant and proud.
Prince Dae Silver.
He turned toward a wardrobe and opened it without thinking. His hand went straight to a dark coat trimmed with silver. The body remembered. He dressed quickly, fingers moving on their own.
Another knock.
"Enter," he said.
The door opened at once. A servant stepped inside and froze for a moment, then bowed low.
"Your Highness, the escort waits outside."
Dae walked past him without slowing.