Do you remember what I said some time ago about the accumulation of good deeds?
If someone were to ask when I would finally feel the results, I think I can answer that now.
Currently, I am in a rather large tub made of arranged wood—held together by interlocking circular iron bands.
I lean back comfortably, half my body submerged in warm water. Both arms rest on the edge of the tub, the rough texture pricking against my skin.
Steam rises freely from the surface, thickening the air around me.
My gaze shifts upwards, seeing the white ceiling that aligns with the long corridor I had passed. My eyes don't blink for a few moments.
"…"
I didn't expect to experience something like this.
What I'm getting now feels like a blessing in my life, something I probably couldn't have obtained in my previous life.
I sigh, then my gaze falls downwards. From the reflection of the slowly moving warm water, I see myself completely soaked. My golden eyes narrow, with my brown hair dripping a drop of water—making the reflection of my face blur instantly.
My hand slowly enters the full warm water, then lifts it, scooping up an amount the size of a bowl in my hand. A comfortable warmth touches my skin.
I remain silent for a moment, staring at the water pooled in my palm. Then I pour it over my brown hair.
It runs back along my combed hair, down my face, tracing the lines of my trained chest before returning to the tub.
I let out a long breath afterwards, trying to enjoy it, before I get out of that comfortable tub.
My eyes, which had been closed when the water ran over me, begin to open.
One second, two seconds, pass. When my body feels ready, without further ado, I immediately get up. My right foot comes out first, before being followed by the other foot.
I take the white towel that is draped not far from me, bring it to my hair, and rub it slowly.
In the midst of that activity, I immediately plan to open the door. My hand touches the round handle, turning it to the right, a click! sound is heard briefly, and I pull it slowly after that sound comes out.
A long creak is heard—slowly disappearing when the door leaf reaches its limit.
My steps begin to cross the threshold, the steam in the bathroom begins to disappear slowly, and afterwards, the rubbing from the towel has stopped completely.
I take another long breath. The towel that was on my head begins to be lowered. Then I look around me. The room is spacious, with a fairly large bed in the middle.
Next to the bed stands a small cabinet with a bedside lamp on it, while a two-door brown wardrobe is attached to the wall. An oval mirror with a brown wooden stand stands not far from there.
From the single-door window, slanted sunlight falls into the room, sweeping across the mattress—on it, a set of clothes has been prepared.
"…"
I didn't expect to get here.
I thought I would end up like the slaves in that cell.
Seeing my struggles so far reminds me of an old saying in my old world, "If you have to play, decide three things at the beginning: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the time to stop." And I managed to get through all of that.
My gaze falls downwards. My hand clenches. Puddles of tears begin to wet the corners of my eyes and end up falling to the patterned wooden floor below me.
"I… I… succeeded… I… I… managed to survive…"
For my father—and for my mother, who left when I was still in high school.
"I… I managed to survive…"
The tears spill before I can stop them. Words refuse to come.
My arm wipes away the tears. A stiff smile, then a thin smile appears afterwards.
I know this is only the first stage. Whatever comes next is already waiting.
My eyes slowly turn towards the clothes on the bed. I remain silent for a moment, before finally my feet step forward steadily.
I pass a few steps, until finally in front of me is a set of clothes that has been waiting for me.
I bent down, picked it up, and without further ado, immediately put it on, starting from the pants, shirt, black cloth belt, long black tie, up to the final stage—the long-sleeved black suit jacket.
I walk hastily towards the oval mirror that stands upright not far from me.
After arriving, my gaze is held back by my reflection in the mirror.
A handsome man stares back—straight brown hair with a strand of bangs falling in the middle of his forehead, wide eyes with striking yellow pupils.
My gaze then lowered. A long black tie wrapped around my neck, neatly arranged beneath the long black jacket that covered my white shirt, paired with black trousers fastened with a belt—everything neat and perfectly aligned with my outerwear.
And the clothes I'm wearing are not loose or tight, but—fit perfectly.
I don't know how they measured my body, to know the size of my measurements. Because it's impossible that all of this is just a coincidence.
My eyes widen instantly.
"…"
Or was it from that moment?
What I mean is when the servant who brought me here was holding my lower back.
My eyes narrow. My fingers are raised to my chin. … At that time, I also felt a touch on my back.
"…"
Never mind.
I let out a short breath. "I'll find the answer later—"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A knock—quick—is heard from behind the door not far from here.
I turn to that door. I remain silent for a moment before finally stepping closer and pulling both leaves of the door.
A short creak is heard, and the door opens wide.
"…"
In front, the servant who had brought me here is standing upright in the doorway. His hands are folded behind his back, with his sharp gaze directed directly at me.
I try to smile sincerely. "… Is it—"
"Yes. It's time," he interrupts.
… I just realized that the person in front of me is that cold.
I slowly come out of my room, crossing the threshold. The door that had been opened, I pull its handle, a short creak is heard.
Brak!
And the door closes again.
I look back at the person in front of me. His face is still expressionless now.
"… Alright. Let's go."
Our steps return to tread the spacious corridor. The red carpet below, as if it had been waiting for our arrival from that moment.
***
In front of me, there is already a large brown wooden door that is still closed. Maybe compared to my room door, this is bigger.
"…Sir Servant." I turn to the person next to me. "Is—"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"…Eh?"
I am startled and silent. It turns out that the person next to me had already knocked on the door first.
"Sir, I'm here." His voice sounds flat, with his head slightly forward, brought closer to the door.
"…"
I can't say anything.
I get a little closer to him and try to persuade him. "Sir... Could you..."
"Oh... you've come, huh. Please come in!" A heavy voice comes from inside, making me know that everything is too late.
I turn my body back to the front. My gaze is slightly lowered. … Damn. I wanted to ask about a few things first before entering.
What I want to ask is certainly very important. It's related to the first impression.
My hands are clenched tightly, then my gaze returns straight to the door. Screw all that. The important thing is I'll do what I know first!
The person next to me slowly approaches the big door in front of me. His body blocks my view. His hands begin to reach for the two door handles. He pulls them; light with high intensity comes out directly, making my arm lift, blocking the light.
For a moment my vision is blurred by the light before slowly returning to focus.
My arm begins to be lowered. And I can see it.
"… What is—"
There, someone sat on one of the long, dark-blue sofas positioned opposite another. Its color echoed the mansion's exterior, set against the white wall behind it. Sunlight streamed from behind him, casting his face in shadow and making his figure seem larger—more difficult to read. He leaned back casually, one leg crossed over the other.
His long eyes narrow, showing the dominance of his blue pupils, behind his face that is still swallowed by the shadows.
"… Please come in."
My eyes widen. My gaze slowly shifts to the person who was next to me, who is now gesturing for me to come in.
"…"
My gaze returns to the front. My steps begin to move afterwards. I don't know what's waiting for me.
I swallow my saliva. A thin smile is plastered on my face. … I'm braver than I used to be.
I begin to enter the doorway, heading to the back of one of the sofas facing him, and stop right there.
The servant retreats from the doorway after seeing me there. A moment later, the door closes slowly, almost silently—as if knowing who is now left in the room.
The gaze of the person in front of me is now looking at me without blinking, as if waiting for something.
I feel that gaze. It makes my lips bite for a moment before finally I bow ninety degrees—performing Seikerei.
"GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE DUKE!"
I give him the first greeting with enthusiasm.
The Duke, who saw it, immediately fell silent for a moment. His eyes widening afterwards.
One second, two seconds, pass. Until the third count, a roaring laugh escapes from him.
"HAHAHA! HAHAHA!"
My eyes widen too.
"…"
Did I make a good impression?
The servant outside holds his head with his fingers close together, then lets out a long breath. "That guy," he mutters.
I didn't expect the person in front of me to laugh so loudly that his laughter echoed throughout the room.