The world was dark.
Ryo felt weightless, as if drifting through an endless void. His body, or whatever remained of it, seemed to fade in and out of existence. Then, like a hammer striking steel, a splitting headache jolted through his skull.
“Ugh…” he groaned.
His senses returned all at once. Warm sunlight streamed through an open window, birds chirped faintly in the distance, and the scent of fresh linen filled his nose. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
A lavish ceiling adorned with intricate golden patterns greeted him.
‘Huh… this isn’t my apartment.’
His memories rushed back like an unstoppable tide. The last thing he remembered—he had been pulling yet another all-nighter at the office, buried under stacks of paperwork. His body had finally given in, and then… nothing.
‘Wait. Did I… die?’
Panic flared up in his chest, but before he could process his situation, a knock echoed from the grand double doors of his room.
“Young Master Ryo!”
A frantic female voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps. The door burst open, revealing a young maid with silver hair tied into a messy ponytail. Her face was flushed, and her brown eyes darted around in alarm.
“You’re awake!” she exclaimed, before quickly lowering her head. “F-Forgive me for barging in, but I heard a noise, and I thought—”
Ryo blinked at her in confusion.
First, he noted her attire—a classic black-and-white maid uniform. Then, he glanced around the room. A massive four-poster bed, rich velvet curtains, bookshelves filled with expensive tomes, and a polished marble floor.
‘This… is definitely not my tiny, rundown apartment.’
Slowly, bits and pieces of unfamiliar knowledge seeped into his mind. Memories that weren’t his own.
Noble family. Third son. Lazy. Useless. A disgrace.
Ryo exhaled, rubbing his temples.
‘Great. I’ve been reincarnated as some good-for-nothing noble.’
“Young Master Ryo, are you feeling unwell?” The maid, Anna, studied him worriedly.
“I… just need a moment,” Ryo muttered, still absorbing the situation.
From what he could piece together, he was now Ryo Valford, the third son of Duke Valford, a powerful noble in the Kingdom of Eldoria. Unfortunately, his new life came with a terrible reputation.
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Lazy. Unmotivated. A disappointment to the family.
Apparently, the previous owner of this body had spent his days sleeping, skipping lessons, and ignoring his noble duties. While his older brothers excelled in swordsmanship, magic, and politics, Ryo had done… nothing.
‘Well, at least I won’t have any expectations to live up to,’ he thought wryly.
Anna hesitated before speaking again. “Young Master, there is… an issue. Your father wishes to speak with you immediately.”
Ryo sighed. “Let me guess—he’s going to yell at me for being useless again?”
Anna flinched. “…Yes.”
‘Well, might as well get this over with.’
The grand hall of the Valford estate was as intimidating as ever. Towering pillars lined the room, and a massive chandelier cast a golden glow over everything. At the end of the hall sat Duke Gerald Valford, a stern, imposing man with graying hair and piercing blue eyes.
His gaze alone could freeze lesser men in place.
“So, you finally decided to get out of bed,” the duke said, his voice laced with disappointment. “I have neither the time nor the patience for your antics, boy.”
Ryo barely suppressed a yawn. “Good morning to you too, Father.”
The room went silent.
Several noble retainers standing in the background exchanged nervous glances. Meanwhile, Anna, who had accompanied Ryo, looked like she was about to faint.
The duke’s eyes narrowed. “Do you not care about the family’s honor? Your brothers train day and night to uphold the Valford name, while you waste away doing nothing!”
Ryo resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Honestly, he didn’t care about noble politics or family prestige. He wasn’t interested in swords, magic, or climbing the social ladder. After spending his previous life as a corporate slave, all he wanted was a peaceful, stress-free existence.
And this was his chance.
“Fine,” Ryo said casually. “If I’m such a disgrace, then why don’t I just leave?”
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
The duke’s expression darkened. “…What did you say?”
“You heard me. I’ll pack my things and go. No need to waste time yelling at me anymore.”
Anna gasped. “Y-Young Master!?”
Even the retainers looked shocked.
The duke, however, smirked. “Hah. You think you can survive outside these walls? You, who have never lifted a finger in your life?”
Ryo simply shrugged. “I’ll figure something out.”
The duke studied him for a long moment, then burst into laughter. “Very well. If you wish to throw your privileged life away, then so be it! From this day forward, you are no longer a Valford.”
A retainer stepped forward. “My Lord, are you certain—”
“Enough!” The duke waved him off. “Let the boy go. He was never fit to be my son in the first place.”
Ryo bowed dramatically. “Thank you for your generosity, Father.”
Anna trembled. “Young Master, what are you—”
“It’s fine, Anna,” Ryo said, stretching. “I’ve got everything planned out.”
That was a lie. He had no idea what he was going to do.
But one thing was clear—this was the perfect opportunity to live the slow, peaceful life he always wanted.
Later that evening, Ryo left the estate with only a small bag of belongings and a modest sum of gold.
Anna, for reasons unknown, insisted on following him. “I cannot abandon you, Young Master! Even if you cast away your noble title, I shall serve you to the end!”
Ryo sighed. “You really don’t have to.”
“I must!”
‘She’s way too dramatic,’ Ryo thought. But he didn’t have the heart to refuse her.
As they walked along the quiet countryside road, Ryo stretched his arms toward the sky, breathing in the fresh air.
“No more endless meetings. No more paperwork. No more nobles screaming at me.”
Anna looked at him hesitantly. “So… what will you do now, Young Master?”
Ryo grinned. “I think I’ll open a tavern in some peaceful village.”
Anna’s jaw dropped. “A… A tavern!?”
“Yep. A quiet place where I can cook, drink, and relax all day.”
“That’s… incredibly irresponsible!”
“I know, right? Isn’t it great?”
Anna clutched her head. “What did I do to deserve this…?”
Ryo ignored her despair and kept walking.