Max stirred.
The light seeping in from the wooden window slats painted golden streaks across his skin. His breath caught in his throat as sharp pain stabbed at his chest and legs. He gasped, blinking several times, then sat upright.
But this body… wasn't his.
Memories—foreign, unfamiliar, yet painfully vivid—flooded his mind. A name surfaced: Jaden Viont, the only son of the once-mighty General Carlos Viont and the graceful merchant heiress, Claudia Viont. His parents… both dead. Betrayed and murdered.
Carlos had led the elite Black Knight Soldiers to a glorious victory in a faraway land called Aethia, but glory turned to tragedy. A dark rumor had spread: that Carlos had discovered a mysterious black stone capable of granting immortality. Greedy eyes turned toward him—nobles, generals, even the king himself. His most trusted subordinate, Mose Frick, colluded with the crown and struck Carlos down.
Claudia, with desperation etched into her soul, had forced the orb-sized Black Stone down Jaden's throat moments before Mose stormed their estate. Her last act of love. She'd given her son money, ordered him to flee, but Mose arrived too soon. He slaughtered everyone—servants, animals, even the family cat—leaving Jaden alive only because he believed the boy still held the legendary stone.
For years, Jaden was imprisoned, interrogated, and beaten within his own home—his former sanctuary turned into a cage. And in his final, bloodied breath…
Max Blake was reborn into another man's body.
Max—now Jaden—looked down at the chains biting into his ankles. His body was smaller, his muscles weaker, and pale bruises painted his arms. But something inside him pulsed. Then came the voice—mechanical, calm, seductive.
> [Uploading and Upgrading - Completed]
[Initializing Sweet Harem System...]
[Build: Complete. Welcome, Host.]
[You have been chosen. As compensation for your past life's misfortune, you have been gifted a second chance...]
[Abilities Unlocked:]
• Soft Touch – Your touch leaves a lasting hunger. Once felt, no other will satisfy them.
• Dual Cultivation: Copy Body – By sleeping with cultivator women, you absorb their power and skills. They grow stronger with you.
[New Mission Available]
Seduce your maid: Ella
Time Limit: 1 Day
Reward: Charming Eyes – A gaze that enthralls. Once used, the victim becomes deeply loyal.
Max stared at the screen. A strange blend of curiosity and disbelief rippled through him. Was this real? He looked toward the small bronze mirror across the room. As far as the chains would allow, he hobbled closer.
And he stared.
The boy in the reflection was beautiful.
His skin was pale and smooth, almost ethereal. His hair fell in long, midnight-black locks past his shoulders, the bangs framing a delicately handsome face. Eyes deep as obsidian shimmered with quiet intelligence. Lips—soft and full—gave him an androgynous charm, and his nose had the sharp elegance of noble blood.
Though his body bore the marks of torment—scars, welts, and bruises—his beauty had survived, refined by pain rather than erased by it.
A click echoed through the room.
Max turned. The heavy door creaked open, and Ella entered—his target, his first mission.
She carried a silver tray with simple food, a soft towel slung over her shoulder. She was dressed in a plain maid's uniform, but the fabric clung to the subtle curves beneath. She wasn't overly voluptuous, but her figure carried a kind of natural elegance, like a gentle curve sculpted by moonlight.
Her skin was smooth and pale, glowing softly under the dusty light. Long, honey-brown hair was tied loosely at the nape of her neck, and strands framed her delicate face. Her lips were naturally pink, her cheeks lightly flushed from the midday heat. Her lashes were long and fluttered as she glanced around, her blue-gray eyes locking onto Jaden's.
There was a fragility in her beauty—an innocence—but behind that, Max sensed something else. Curiosity. Hesitation. Perhaps even repressed desire.
"Here's your lunch," she said quietly, placing the tray beside him. Her voice was gentle but firm.
Max offered her a pained smile. "Ella… will you help me eat? I don't have the strength to lift my arms today."
She frowned. "You should be recovering."
"I wish I were."
He let his head droop, exaggerating the exhaustion. He could feel her hesitation, the way she bit her lower lip. Then, she sighed and picked up the spoon.
"Just this once."
As she brought the first spoonful to his lips, he gently touched her hand.
"Thank you," he whispered, eyes locking onto hers.
Something in her flinched—just a flicker of reaction—but it was enough. The Soft Touch had begun its work.
"Are you wearing face cream?" he asked innocently, reaching toward her cheek. She pulled back, surprised, but he showed her his fingertips—there was indeed a faint, creamy residue.
Ella's face burned with embarrassment.
"I… must've applied too much this morning."
"I can help wipe it off, if you'd like." Jaden said and Ella hesitated a little ,then gave a tiny nod. Jaden reached up slowly, cupping her cheeks. Her skin was soft, warm, and porcelain-smooth. He gently caressed the residue away, fingers lingering slightly longer than necessary. The air between them grew heavier.
She let out a quiet, barely audible sigh. Not discomfort—something else.
"Your hands are warm," she said softly, almost to herself.
"Would you like a shoulder massage in return?" he offered. "You've helped me, let me help you… just a little."
She blinked, surprised. "A massage?"
"I'll be gentle."
She chewed her lip, then turned and allowed him to sit behind her. "Just a little."
Max moved closer, and as she loosened her uniform slightly to bare her shoulders, he caught his breath.
Her skin was flawless—milky white and smooth like silk. Her collarbone dipped delicately, and her back curved gently toward her waist. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began to massage.
She exhaled softly, almost melting into his touch.
Jaden's fingers worked carefully over Ella's bare shoulders.
At first, his touch was gentle—respectful even. But each press of his fingers sank deeper, drawing sighs from her parted lips. Her breathing changed. What began as relaxed exhalation turned to soft, shaky inhales.
She was losing herself in it and Jaden knew.
His eyes stayed fixed on the way her shoulder muscles twitched beneath his hands, how her back arched ever so slightly, how her body leaned unconsciously closer to him. The Soft Touch was in full effect now, a gentle magic that turned something innocent into something profoundly intimate.