The sun rose, painting the sky with a soft pink hue. A rooster crowed somewhere in the distance, breaking the quiet of early morning.
Alexander—or Alex, as he now thought of himself—stirred in bed, rubbing his eyes vigorously. His hair stuck out in every direction. Clearly, mornings were not his thing.
For a brief moment, he could have sworn he was back in his two-bedroom apartment, hearing his mother call him to the kitchenette for breakfast. But it was only a memory. He was here—reincarnated into a world that was just as unforgiving as the life he had left behind. This new life would not be easy, but it was a second chance, and he intended to make the most of it.
Though the body he now inhabited was seven years younger, he was fourteen in experience and knowledge. That was his advantage, and he planned to use it.
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Planning for Survival
First, he would build connections with the servants, especially in the south wing under his stepmother, Duchess Leah. He knew the original owner of this body had been distant from them, focused solely on mana, and had neglected those who truly cared—like his mother's personal maid and wet nurse, Cecilia Hans. That mistake would not be repeated.
Next, he wanted to mend his relationship with his younger brother. Memories revealed that the boy had never treated him badly but had only longed for affection and approval. Any past neglect had been the original owner's doing, not the boy's. He would correct that now.
Repairing his relationship with his estranged father would be slow and difficult, but Alex intended to try.
Physical training would be another priority. The original owner had focused only on mana, leaving the body weak and fragile. Alex planned a rigorous routine: 100 push-ups, 100 pull-ups, 100 sit-ups, long runs, jogging, and brisk evening walks.
For his mana, he would take a new approach. Memories of martial arts films from his past life inspired him—training internal force by drawing energy from the environment. With his fire affinity, he could absorb energy from a source like an open flame, carefully rebuilding his broken mana pillars and core. Physical strength would support him in this process, helping him endure the backlash from rebuilding his mana.
Finally, he would build connections with nobles his age, despite the likelihood of ridicule due to his damaged mana. He would choose friendships wisely and even welcome alliances with commoners, who could offer brief respite from his "prison" at home.
As for his stepmother, Alex knew that plan-making would continue as new challenges arose.
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Morning Training
Dressed in exercise clothes, Alex began with push-ups.
"One… Two… Three… Fifty," he counted, already panting.
"Just fifty, and I'm this tired?" he muttered. "I've started slacking. This isn't even close to my past routine."
He straightened, determination flashing in his eyes.
"It doesn't matter if I only do a hundred this morning. It's my first time using this body. I'll improve little by little."
He pushed through:
Fifty-one… Seventy… Ninety… One hundred!
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Sir Luke's Surprise
Sir Luke entered, expecting his young lord to still be asleep. Shock replaced his usual composure. Physical training? Using this fragile body? He could hardly believe it.
For years, he had worried about Alex's weakness, fearing how the late Duchess would have viewed it. But now… joy flooded his chest.
"Young Lord, I am so pleased you've decided to strengthen yourself physically!" Sir Luke exclaimed, a bright smile lighting his face.
Alex wiped sweat from his brow. "I am pleased with myself too, Sir Luke."
Sir Luke hesitated, then added, "The late madam… she would be so proud of you now."
He almost regretted mentioning her—Alex rarely liked hearing about his mother. But before he could correct himself, Alex quietly said, "I hope she would."
Relief washed over the butler, and a smile returned to his face. "I know she would."
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Author's Note:
I wanted to release this chapter next week, but I thought, why not give you a surprise—two updates in one week!
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