Should he be grateful that the synopsis gave away a few important things off the chart? Like the name of the kingdom and the name of the main character? Most of all, the synopsis clearly mentioned there was a serial killer targeting nobles, and the main character was one of the leading investigators for the case.
Being in a boy's love web novel is dangerous enough already, but there's also a killer coming for my throat?
He had quizzed his personal maid in private and gotten useful information out of her. The kingdom of 'Hartmere,' he felt like he had heard the name before, and when he pinned down where he knew the name from, he came to the synopsis of the web novel called The One in the Shadow. The most popular BL web novel on the app, and that he was poisoned in the streets by literal water and died in a few seconds by the same serial killer mentioned in the synopsis of the web novel...
The reactions made sense now. He woke up after being declared dead by poison, of course everyone was taken aback. Now that he had revived somehow, what were the chances of the killer coming back to kill him again? The killer would definitely come back to finish his unfinished business, and on top of that, he obviously posed a threat to the serial killer as a saint.
No, no, just because he said he was a saint doesn't make him one. There was no way anyone would believe him. The few people who were fooled are probably seething with anger right now over their idiocy.
Is there really no way for me to go back? I don't want to live in fear of my life from a serial killer!
Ellis buried his fingers in his hair, clutching it in tight, trembling fists as though trying to ground himself against the chaos in his mind.
"So I'm just forced to live this new life? What about my previous life?"
"All my 21 years of progress, it's all gone?"
Is this how it feels to play a game for 21 years and suddenly wake up to the game being reset in just a simple blink of the eyes? He thought people were overreacting about that thing, but he understood them now. It's really devastating...
"Young master..."
The bedroom door was open just for her personal maid's head to pass as she muttered solemnly. He closed the book where he had written the synopsis as he asked.
"What is it?"
"Young master, my lord is calling for you in his office."
†††
"Father, you called for me."
"Yes."
The man took off his delicate glasses and rubbed his weary eyes with his fingertips. Besides the tired eyes, the man didn't have any wrinkles, not even a single white hair, yet this was his father—Viscount Montfort.
"I needed some time to compose myself, and you also had the time to think through about what you just said."
His father began and glanced at him from behind the large wooden desk.
"Why are you just standing there? Take a seat."
Ellis gulped nervously and stepped forward to sit on the sofa near the desk with a straight posture as he heard his father speak again.
"So tell me now, why did you say that?"
"Say what?"
Foreigning innocence, he lifted his head to gaze at his father, half confused.
"That you're a saint."
He didn't reply immediately; he was thinking whether he could just say that he was trying to get away and that was just him lying.
"... because it's the truth?"
At the end, he lied again. He couldn't possibly explain why he did say that he was a saint; he had doubts his father would believe that his son was gone and there was another person inside his son's body now.
"It's the truth? Very well, prove it yourself then, because if I deny the claim you just made in front of the high priest, our little family will have to face severe consequences. I have already received a letter from the high priest. Starting next week, you'll have to go to the church under his wing. He'll be the one to make the final decision. If you're a saint, you'll be granted the title."
As his father explained, he appeared totally unconvinced by his son becoming a saint overnight. He rested his head by the support of his fingers at the side of his forehead as he overlooked the quiet Ellis for a moment.
"Ellis, how much do you remember? Do you still not remember me?"
"No father, I do. My memories are just a bit foggy. I'm sure with rest I'll be fine."
"Mm. I had planned to get you married next year."
His father spoke, but didn't finish his words until a few seconds later.
"I think it'll be better for you to get married soon."
Listening attentively to his father, Ellis's eyes widened unconsciously. Wasn't he too young for marriage? No, he just woke up from the mouth of death, and his father's first thought was to get him married?
But...
"Who am I getting married to?"
"Didn't we previously select your partner? It's the count's second son."
Ellis's eyes further widened, almost bulging out of their sockets. He was so alarmed his soul was practically flying overhead.
"S-Son?!"
"I don't want to marry a man. I want a wife."
He hurriedly said in an anxious voice. There was no way he could have a husband as a straight guy, and with his new feeble body, who knew if he would even be able to top the man. At best, he would be thrown on the bed as the bottom!
"Ellis, the noble ladies all want an Alpha as their husband. No one wants to marry an Omega, despite them being rare."
His father sighed breathily and explained. Ellis's face contorted as he heard the terms. What is an Alpha and an Omega now? The synopsis did say something like that the MC was an Omega pretending to be Beta, but what did that mean?
"Father, I'll just marry a commoner if the noble ladies don't want to marry me."
"You can't marry a commoner. It has to be someone of a higher status than us."
"If I can't marry a woman, then I don't want to get married!"