The bead opened slowly with the room dark, the moonlight being the only illumination. he hands held his head, which felt dizzy.
he beady eyes wandered, finding Albert the faithful servant asleep in a sitting position.
"I think I'm dehydrated," Arkanza said, his gaze falling to a tablet on the nightstand.
The slender fingers grabbed the rectangular object and began fiddling with a screen, the face detector being the key to unlocking it.
"Face detection huh, hm let's see what we can find here." he muttered.
His gaze began to trace, from the time to the note icon on the front display.
"Other than the name, there's nothing..., hold on. What is this?"
That's the gallery, Arkanza observed the portrait taken along with the date of the photo.
"Why do I feel something is wrong?" he muttered again.
Because the obsolete tablet had been in use for too long, the back end had overheated and crashed.
"Who can use an obsolete object like this, doesn't he love his life?" he muttered again.
A note opened due to the overhead on the electronic device, and that's where his bead was perfectly aligned.
"Diary... Digital... "
Arkanza blinked, he couldnt digest. his chest felt tight, his stomach was in knots, "What the hell is this!?"
Arkanza painstakingly read each sentence, but the images in he brain became more and more real. Until the note directed his to a small book on the nightstand.
"Sunny weather, October 18, writing made with greater pressure until it penetrates the sheet behind it. And...."
his fingers traced each of the words created there, until his bead was seized by a smudge of smudged ink."Like drops of water, leaking?"
The tone of her voice asked to no one in particular, the head snapped up.
"It's a pretty cozy house, how could it leak. That means there's only one source." Arkanza added in a probing tone.
"This boy, he's crying."
he stared for a long time, each sheet beginning to thin until a voice interrupted his activities.
"Young master, are you awake? I overslept..." Albert half-asked.
Hearing this, Arkanza suddenly put his diary and tablet back in its original place, his eyes closed again, calmly Arkanza watched the faint sound of steps from Albert and not long after that the room was lit up with dazzling lights.
"Ughh, who turned on the lights? So dazzling..." Arkanza whispered.
"Ah I'm sorry sir, I thought you were awake!!! Sorry!"
Arkanza was again shocked by the servant's behavior, why was he so stiff and looked scared of him.
"Did my voice frighten you? I was just a little startled, oh yes! How long have I been asleep?" Arkanza said distractedly.
Hearing the master's words, Albert ventured to approach Arkanza's bed.
"Master, I was so worried when you contacted me! Huhuhu! Especially when I arrived, you were with Miss Lilian. I've never seen you that close to a woman before because of that incident-I mean I'm glad you've come to your senses! Huhuhu!"
Arkanza could only sigh resignedly with Albert's explanation, he could clearly remember if the man was so overprotective of his and seemed excessive. But the last sentence made the 30th soul man interested, 'incident? What does that mean?' he thought.
"So what are you feeling now? Do you need to relieve yourself? Do you want to take a shower? Or do you feel pain in any part of your body? Just tell me sir!" Albert added with no less excitement.
Arkanza paused, "Uhm, I want to eat something."
His hand rubbed his stomach which felt so empty, he just remembered that he hadn't eaten anything since he realized he was in the body of the poor young man he was occupying.
Albert looked changed, which made Arkanza raise one eyebrow.
"What's wrong, are we out of food?" Arkanza asked probingly.
Albert shook his head weakly, "Ladies and gentlemen, they've gone home. I mean, they came home just as the news of your collapse at school reached their ears.
He struggled to keep a sly grin from etched on his face, making Arkanza clear her throat.
"So what? It's not that good, I haven't seen them in a long time. Let me greet them and eat together."Bu-but sir!"
Albert looked worried but Arkanza's next step made Albert more surprised as the man who was still so limp almost fell down due to unsteady balance.
"Are you alright? Did I bring food to the room like usual?" Albert said in a worried tone.
his body already being carried by the servant, Arkanza again babbled. 'As usual, huh?' he thought. his face was covered with bangs due to the dizziness that stopped by her head. Making his expression faint for a moment.
"No, All. I miss them, let me eat with them. You please help me prepare myself..."
Arkanza made his voice sound soft and desperate, making Albert feel that the awkwardness of the past few days had disappeared and returned his young master back, making his heart also broken but there was relief there.
"Yes, sir!" he said firmly and sat Arkanza on the edge of the bed. Meanwhile, he began sorting out clothes, preparing water and washing Arkanza's body with a wet towel.
Albert himself spent half of his life with Arkanza, giving up all his dreams to fulfill his obligations. Well, at first Albert was not willing, he hated Arkanza. But gradually he understood, if being an Arkanza was also not an easy matter. Learning basic manners and other basics, learning medicine, treatment and defense, and that's just to be a servant of a child who is not wanted by his family.
Albert's family had been serving Arkanza's family for decades, but not all.
Albert painstakingly helped Arkanza prepare, "If you look, they are probably still enjoying the meal. That means there is still time, if not then the kitchen boys must have prepared a meal for the master."
It was just a murmur, but Arkanza understood how seriously Albert took it all.
. Dining Room...Silent, there was only the gentle sound of spoons and forks. With several waiters standing behind, a man in his 50s stared down the aisle with fork and spoon in hand, unaware that the woman on the right side of his seat was also looking at him worriedly.
"Honey, what are you looking at? Is the food not good?" said the woman who was adorned with thin wrinkles on her face, while beside the woman was a young couple.
"He won't come out, I heard she fainted at school. What a nuisance." muttered the young man.
"Keep your voice down, he's still our brother. More so papa's legitimate child," said the woman who was quite good at reading the atmosphere.
The woman, the mother of the two, glanced sarcastically and gave the eye code to stop arguing, her bead looking back at the adult man.
"Honey, don't you eat the food? It'll get cold--"
Her words were interrupted by a faint voice.
"You guys ate without waiting for me? No one even looked in my room, hahaha!"
And Arkanza's voice successfully made his father turn to him.
"Good evening daddy, did I interrupt your dinner?" he said, giving Albert the code to release his grip on his arm.
The man called Daddy sighed, not a sigh to hold back emotions, no. A sigh of relief. A sigh of relief.
"Your mouth is the same as before, like an uneducated person."
And as the man looked down at his food and began to fiddle with his cutlery, Albert stepped forward to pull out a chair to make it easier for Arkanza to sit right beside his father's left.
While the three people in front of him grew more and more cynical, Arkanza just blinked innocently.
"You have to pull the chair first, you lowly noble." muttered the young man who looked older than Arkanza.Meanwhile, the two women there no longer said.He recognized the man on his right side. Who would have thought that the body he occupied would be that of the son of his nemesis? The son of Adam Smith, the business partner who betrayed him? What kind of coincidence is this? And he could conclude that Arkanza had been thrown into the world with time advancing. 'That means the old woman is Isabella? Wait, but it doesn't look alike. Has it changed? Then Albert, I don't know if the Smith family has a companion, except from his mother? But this woman looks familiar' Arkanza thought as she waited for his food to be prepared by Albert right in front of him.Norman Sukamta for the umpteenth time chuckled at Albert who cared so much for Arkanza, even Albert's suspicious feelings made Norman look at Arkanza even more with hatred."Did the servant even taste the food first? Does he consider
If it was only sent to a private forum containing the extended family, then the body reaction shown would not be this severe. "Hi guys, it's me again. Can you see what this person is doing? Wait, are you sure it's a living entity?" said Norman in a very cheerful voice. His feet pointed to the young man who was eating his food in silence, in a deep bow. But unfortunately Norman did not stay silent, together with his sister Amber, he continued to disturb Arkanza's peace in enjoying his food. Amber stepped forward and poured a lot of hot sauce into the plate, making Arkanza's food contaminated with the hot sauce. "Come on, eat greedily like livestock, hahaha!" said Amber with her hand pushing Arkanza's head to touch his food with her mouth. Then Norman continued to record the scene, Arkanza was forced to eat his food. The sound of sobs and nausea echoed until the food was gone without a trace. "Good, eat until finished. Don't waste the food that the chef has worked so hard to make, f
"Mom, dad is calling you." A teenage girl looked so careful in calling an older woman. Amber didn't get the answer she wanted, thinking of calling her mother back. "Mom--" "I'll catch up with you later. Is Norman in his room?" Maria rebutted in a low voice. The hand took a small towel that she used to wipe the body of the young man who looked sound asleep, put the object in a small basin filled with water and wrung it out. "He's in the room. Mom, dad--" "Can't you read the situation? Something hurts here." Amber was surprised to hear her mother's words, Maria usually didn't act like this. It felt like Amber was so far away from Maria, and her mother was like another person in a short time. Amber kept thinking, the last time she was scolded because her actions had gone too far in teasing Arkanza that he was punished. So did her younger sibling, not to mention her actions that made the whole school treat Arkanza badly. All of that was done by Amber and Norman, inciting, and so o
"Why did you two take so long to arrive?" asked a woman with two braids to Amber who got out of the car. Followed by Norman who had been greeted by his friends. "Is this the work of that damn brat again?" asked a young man wearing the same uniform as Norman. "Shut up idiot, I don't want to talk about it!" Norman replied curtly. Norman was indeed known to have a bad temper, his friend was seen looking into the car. "You two didn't go together this time?" asked his friend again. "We left him, we haven't even put on the uniform yet." said Amber who was disciplined about time. It was also because today's duty schedule made Amber and Norman rush too lazy to cause trouble, the Killer teacher named Isla was too strong to be defeated. Luckily Adam had gone to work, so they didn't need to cause more trouble for his mother. "I don't care if he walks to school or something." said Norman in a mocking tone. Because Norman and Amber often left Arkan on the road for unclear reasons, and tha
"What's going on!? Who are you!? And you--Mr. Bodgan, why are you wearing casual clothes to class?! Don't you want to go to school here anymore!?" Hearing the interruption of a more mature voice, made Milan release his grip. "Forgive me Sir, I'm the one who caused the commotion. I'm only here to deliver my master's uniform, I apologize profusely for this commotion. But allow me to help Mr. Arkanza change into his uniform." Milan bowed his body respectfully, hearing Milan's explanation made one of the educators straighten his gaze towards Arkanza. "You brought him here, Mr. Bodgan? He hasn't been to school for a long time and then he comes in and acts up? How dare you are, Mr. Bodgan." continued the teacher. With a receding forehead and a bit of hair, the man glared at Arkanza in annoyance, he also helped Anagata who had mocked Arkanza earlier. "Maybe Sir has misunderstood, I say it again--" "I don't care about what a subordinate like you says, I only believe in what I see. You can
The evening sky glowed golden-orange as Amber forcefully pushed open the large gate of their family home. Her long hair, usually sleek and regal, was disheveled, mirroring the fury etched across her face. Her loafers clicked sharply against the marble floor as she stormed into the house. “Mom!” she shouted, throwing her school bag onto the sofa in the living room. Maria, who was enjoying a cup of warm tea, looked up calmly, though a knot of worry began to form in her chest. “What’s wrong, Amber? Why are you stomping in like that?” Maria asked gently. Amber stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “It’s Arkanza! He made me so mad at school today!” Maria set her teacup down slowly, forcing herself to remain composed. “What did he do this time?” Amber took a deep breath, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “He embarrassed me in front of my friends! I was talking to them in the cafeteria, and he walked by and *spilled his drink* all over my table. I know he did
The old swing creaked softly under Arkanza’s weight as he continued to gaze at the dark night sky. The warm orange hue of the sunset had faded, replaced by the cool shadows of the evening that filled the garden. Maria sat next to him, patiently waiting for her son to be ready to speak."Maria," Arkanza finally spoke, his tone calm but carrying an unusual weight. "There’s something I need to tell you. But I don’t know if you’ll want to hear it."Maria turned to him, her heart racing at the seriousness in his voice. "What is it, Arkanza?"He fell silent for a moment, gripping the swing's chain tightly. Then, like a floodgate opening, the words poured out."It’s true. Those kids are turning things around," Arkanza thought to himself with a smile he couldn’t suppress. Thankfully, Arkanza had agreed with what Maria said and managed to get an explanation from the woman."Actually, mother, something even crazier happened there. I’m afraid you might find it hard to believe," Arkanza said, trai
The night breeze swept across Arkanza's face, carrying the fresh scent of the calm lake water before him. The lake, which should have been a peaceful place, now reminded him of a dark past. It used to be his favorite hiding spot, a place where he could reflect, away from the gaze of others. But now, the lake was a silent witness to the events that had stolen his happiness.Arkanza sat at the edge of the lake, staring at his reflection in the still water. He gazed at the figure of the unfortunate young man whose body he now occupied—a body constantly filled with humiliation and suffering. This body had become a tool for shameless people to mock, prank, and belittle the poor man.His thoughts drifted back to that day—the day when Arkanza first felt the painful injustice. A teacher, who was supposed to protect him, forced him to stand in front of the class and humiliated him in front of everyone. His classmates only laughed at his suffering. All of this happened here, by the lake, around
Mistaken Identity on the Seashore The afternoon sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. The sun shone brightly, casting its golden rays over the sparkling ocean waves. The rhythmic sound of crashing waves echoed across the shoreline, blending with the cries of seagulls circling in the vast blue sky. It was a perfect day at the beach—a picturesque scene for the Smith family's vacation. Yet amidst all this beauty, Norman Smith's mood remained sour. Frustration lingered from the morning, fueled by his annoyance at Arkanza, his aloof stepbrother. Arkanza’s cold demeanor and distant nature irritated Norman to no end. Today, Norman had decided he’d had enough. While Arkanza was in the upstairs bathroom, Norman seized the opportunity. Sneaking into Arkanza’s room, Norman’s eyes landed on a dark jacket hanging lazily over a chair by the window. There was something odd about the jacket—it bore a faint, mysterious emblem on the inside lining—but Norman paid it no mind. “Perfect,” Norman mu
The morning sun shone brightly, warming the streets that were starting to crowd with families heading off for vacations. Arkanza sat quietly in the back seat of the car, leaning against the window and staring blankly outside. Today, the entire Smith family had decided to go to a villa by the beach. The villa not only offered a stunning view of the vast ocean but also a lush atmosphere with tall, shady trees surrounding it.In the middle row, Amber and Norman, his step-siblings, sat with bored expressions. Amber was busy polishing her nails with bright red polish, while Norman, her 18-year-old brother, kept playing games on his phone with a volume loud enough to be annoying.“So noisy,” Arkanza muttered softly.“What did you say?” Norman turned sharply, but Arkanza remained silent.“Enough, stop fighting!” Maria, Arkanza’s stepmother, broke the tension with her soft but firm voice. “Arkanza, don’t let him provoke you. And Norman, turn the volume down on that game.”Adam Smith, their fa
Arkanza took a deep breath as he stared at the stack of old cardboard boxes in the corner of the room. Some of the boxes were worn out, covered in dust, and had been left untouched for years. He rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, walked closer, and carefully began opening the boxes one by one. Old belongings began to scatter—worn-out books, nearly crumpled documents, and a few forgotten trinkets.It was Sunday, and he needed to retrieve some tools and ornaments from his room that had been stored in the warehouse following its renovation.Amidst his busy hands, a small silver box caught his attention. It was hidden beneath a pile of old fabric, as though it had been deliberately forgotten for years. Arkanza picked up the box, blew off its dusty surface, and noticed beautiful engravings—strange symbols that adorned every side of it."Whose is this?" he muttered softly.His hands brushed over the box's surface, feeling the engravings that seemed to tell a silent story. Slowly, Ark
The evening crept silently over the Smith family estate. Outside, the sky slowly faded from a warm amber to an inky black, leaving traces of sunlight shimmering faintly behind the clouds. The sprawling house was nearly silent, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock echoing from the drawing room.Albert stood at the end of the corridor, staring into a dimly lit empty room through the narrow gap in the door. His right hand clutched a wrinkled cloth, though his thoughts wandered far beyond the present. That shadow returned again—the one he had tried to ignore for so long, yet it lingered persistently in every corner of his mind.Something was different. It was a feeling that had nagged at him for days now, though no words could quite capture it. Arkanza—the figure who had once dominated his life with an iron presence—seemed suddenly distant, even though his body still inhabited this house."Why are you standing there daydreaming like that?" Milan's voice broke through the silence. He
That night, the atmosphere at the Smith residence was unusually quiet, though not in Norman’s room. The space that was usually serene was now filled with strange sounds—the soft echo of footsteps and whispers barely audible. Arkanza, his step-sibling, was sitting at the edge of Norman’s bed, glancing around with hesitation. She was wearing a loose t-shirt and sleep pants, her hair slightly messy after a day full of exhausting events. Her house was under repair after the attack a few days ago. As part of the recovery process, she was temporarily moved into Norman’s room, which was quieter and more isolated from the bustle of the main house.Norman sat at his desk, staring at his phone screen without focus. He already knew what had happened; he had heard all the speculation about the Smith family that was circulating in the city. But that day, his heart felt heavier than usual. Arkanza was in his room—the place where he had always found solace. Now, it had to be shared with someone he n
The bright morning did not immediately bring peace. The sound of news reports echoed through every corner of the room. A reporter stood in front of the large gates of the Smith family residence, now surrounded by bright yellow police tape. The screen was filled with images of damage—shattered windows, a slightly damaged main door, and several armed officers moving around the area.“This morning, we’ve received shocking reports regarding an attack on the Smith family residence, one of the most influential families in the city,” the reporter’s voice sounded serious. “The incident is believed to have occurred around two in the morning, just after the coming-of-age ceremony for the Smith family’s son was still underway. Authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation.”The TV screen displayed drone footage. The Smith residence appeared grim, surrounded by police and ambulance vehicles. Officers were busy talking to each other, while other media crews were busy taking photos and
Here is the English translation of your text:“Feel this…”A faint voice broke the silence, echoing through the corners of Arkanza’s consciousness. His head felt heavy, his body sinking into the soft mattress that enveloped him. Yet the voice continued to disturb him, forcing his eyes to slowly open. The dim light from a small oil lamp in the corner of the room greeted his vision.“Where am I…” Arkanza mumbled weakly.His breathing felt heavy, as though an invisible weight pressed on his chest. Slowly, he tried to move his hand to wipe his face, but a sharp pain shot through his entire body. Arkanza groaned softly, then forced himself to sit up. The room looked unfamiliar despite its luxury—thick burgundy curtains adorned the windows, and polished mahogany furniture reflected faint, shadowy images. Only then did he realize this was his own room in the Smith residence.But his attention quickly shifted to something on the floor near his bed. A piece of clothing—his shirt—lay there, cru
Milan walked briskly down the hallway toward Arkanza's room. The grand Smith residence was a masterpiece of classic European architecture—high ceilings supported by massive pillars, ornate carvings decorating the walls, and gilded frames displaying priceless paintings. Despite the grandeur, the atmosphere tonight was unsettling. Most of the lights had been dimmed, and the flickering glow of small oil lamps cast long, dancing shadows across the hall.His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his instincts sharpened since the incident at the party hours ago. Arkanza remained weak in his room after the mysterious poisoning attempt, and Albert had tasked Milan with ensuring the surrounding area was secure. Yet something about the silence felt wrong—a prickling in his senses that urged caution.Milan’s footsteps echoed faintly on the marble floors, the only sound in the empty hallway. Then suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a movement—a shadow darting quickly at the fa
Vikram had begun his search earlier that evening, particularly after spotting a suspicious figure moving swiftly through the crowd of guests before vanishing. Trusting his instincts, he stepped out and made his way toward the back garden. The area was dark and silent, illuminated only by faint oil lamps hanging in several corners. The night breeze whispered softly, causing the leaves around the garden to rustle gently.At the far end of the yard, Vikram noticed a figure standing with his back turned, draped in a long black cloak that stood out starkly amidst such a festive occasion. His movements were uneasy, as though he was waiting for orders or ensuring something. When the figure turned around, Vikram froze in surprise—the face was one he recognized. “Roy!?” Vikram’s voice cut through the silence. The figure flinched, instinctively stepping back as his hand reached for something hidden beneath his cloak. Under the dim light, his face was now unmistakable—Roy, Vikram’s comrade f