The gardens of House Avish stretched like a dream beneath the morning sun. Dew clung to roses in full bloom, each petal shimmering as if kissed by starlight. White lilies lined the stone path, their fragrance mingling with the crisp scent of grass. A gentle breeze stirred, carrying with it the quiet rustle of leaves.
And in the heart of that beauty stood Serenya Lux Darknorth.
She was radiant in the simplest way, her long silver hair flowing like strands of moonlight, catching glimmers of gold where the sun touched it. Her violet eyes were bright, yet soft, like gems hidden beneath water. The lavender dress she wore moved gently with the wind, giving her the air of a rose swaying in its own rhythm. She was not just beautiful—she was graceful, composed, and impossibly alive.
For a moment, Rishi simply watched her.
In his memories, Serenya had always been close—more sister than cousin. She had been his companion through countless summers in these very gardens, his comfort when childhood shadows grew too heavy, the hand that reached for his when nights felt endless. Of all bonds in this family, theirs was the most genuine.
When Serenya noticed him, her eyes lit up. She closed the book in her hands, the faintest smile softening her lips. "Rishi… you're finally up."
Her voice was clear, carrying both relief and worry.
Rishi approached, his steps steady across the stone path. "Yes," he said lightly. "It seems my body has finally decided to stop making trouble."
Serenya tilted her head, studying him with the kind of gaze that looked past the surface. "You say that," she murmured, "but I can see you're putting on a front. You always do."
Her words gave him pause.
"In front of me, you smile," she continued softly, "but when you think no one is watching… I know how much you've been hurting, Rishi. The sadness you carry, the loneliness. You've always been good at hiding it—but not from me."
He looked into her eyes, the inherited memories of this body stirring. The old Rishi had indeed been fragile, shadowed by grief and doubt. Serenya had been the only one who noticed, the only one who cared enough to ask.
But the Rishi standing here now was different.
Gently, he shook his head, a calm smile touching his lips. "You're right. I used to hide too much. I thought it was easier that way." He met her gaze fully, his voice steady. "But I'm not weighed down anymore, Serenya. Truly. Whatever storm there was, it's passed. I feel… free."
Her eyes widened slightly, searching his face for any crack in his words. What she found instead was quiet strength, a steadiness she had never seen in him before. Slowly, her shoulders relaxed, and the tension in her expression melted into warmth.
"…You really do look different," she admitted. "Not just stronger… lighter. Like someone who's finally stepped out of a shadow."
Rishi chuckled softly. "Perhaps that's exactly what happened."
A silence settled, but it wasn't heavy. It was the kind of silence that belonged only to those who were close, the kind filled with unspoken understanding. Serenya reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she smiled at him.
"I worried so much while you were unwell," she confessed. "I even prayed, though the gods rarely listen."
"I know," Rishi said quietly. He looked at her—the cousin who was closer than a sister, the girl whose heart was far kinder than the nobility around them deserved. "And for that, I'm grateful."
Her cheeks tinged faintly pink, though her gaze never wavered. She only gave a small laugh, soft and genuine.
"Then, you owe me one," she teased gently. "Stay well this time, Rishi. Don't make me worry again."
Rishi smiled, the expression reaching his eyes. "I'll do my best, Serenya. That's a promise."
And in the quiet of the garden, surrounded by roses and sunlight, the two cousins stood together—not as heirs to a great house, not as figures in some grand story, but simply as themselves.
Yet when Serenya finally turned her gaze back to her book, Rishi's thoughts darkened.
Serenya Avish… one of the heroines. In the novel, she was nothing more than another jewel in the so-called hero's harem. Not this time. I won't let her become just a piece in his collection.
His jaw tightened, though his smile remained gentle on the surface.
Damn that protagonist. Born with monstrous talent, gifted with power that defies reason, and a system that bends the world itself to his will…
He exhaled slowly, envy burning quietly in his chest.
But even without those cheats, I will carve my own path. And this time, I will decide who Serenya belongs to—not him.
He is going to do just because Serenya is his sister or maybe... he wants to pay back original owner of the body in some way.
Even if protagonist is the monster among the geniuses, he is going to tame that monster and put a leash on it.
He is going to do this not because of saving the word.. heck! he doesn't even know the ending, he is going to do this because it will be fun.
An evil smirk spread on the face of Rishi.