Alexander rose before dawn, his mind sharp despite the unfamiliar body. The original Alexander rarely woke before noon, but today was too important for lazy habits. Today, Claire Aquamarine would arrive at the Academy, escorted by Lucas Stoneheart.
Their carriage would be attacked in Ember Woods around midday—the perfect opportunity to rewrite his role in this story.
He dressed methodically, choosing the standard Academy uniform over the flashier custom attire this body's wardrobe offered. The original Alexander had favored ostentatious clothing, drawing attention to his family name. The new Alexander understood subtlety's value.
"Young Master?" A knock accompanied the servant's voice. "Breakfast is prepared."
"Coming," he called, adjusting the flame emblem pin on his collar. Every noble family wore their elemental emblem proudly, though few could activate their full potential. Alexander recalled that in the novel, his character's fire abilities were mediocre at best.
[Morning, handsome! Ready for your dashing hero moment?]
The system's flirtatious voice made him flinch. He'd half-hoped it had been a fever dream.
"I'm not trying to be a hero," he muttered. "I'm establishing my cover."
[Tomato, to-mah-to. Either way, you'll need some firepower. Try activating your emblem.]
Alexander raised an eyebrow but focused on the mark on his hand. In the novel, nobles channeled their elemental power through these emblems, though the specifics were vague. He concentrated, imagining heat flowing through his veins.
Nothing happened.
[Ah, performance issues. Happens to many men, I'm told.]
Alexander glared at the empty air. "Very funny. The original Alexander was weak—a plot point explaining why he resorted to perverted behavior rather than strength."
[True, but you're not him anymore. Try again, but this time...]
The system's voice dropped to a sultry whisper, explaining a visualization technique that made Alexander blush despite himself.
"That's ridiculous," he protested.
[Trust me, honey. This world runs on different rules than your old one.]
Sighing, Alexander closed his eyes and followed the lewd visualization. Immediately, warmth sparked in his chest, flowing down his arm. The emblem on his hand glowed amber, and a small flame danced above his palm.
"Fascinating," he breathed, examining the fire. "The original Alexander never discovered this technique?"
[Nope! Too busy thinking with the wrong head. Speaking of which, you should head to breakfast. Your father has announcements.]
At breakfast, Lord Flamingo—a stern man with crimson hair streaked with gray—barely acknowledged his youngest son. Alexander's two older brothers, Marcus and Julius, dominated the conversation with talk of their advanced emblem training.
"Alexander," Lord Flamingo finally addressed him, "today you begin at the Academy. Try not to embarrass our family name further."
"Yes, Father," Alexander replied meekly, playing his expected role.
Lord Flamingo frowned at his uncharacteristically respectful tone but continued. "The Aquamarine heiress arrives today. Your brothers will attend the welcoming ceremony as family representatives." He didn't extend the invitation to Alexander—exactly as expected.
After breakfast, Alexander slipped to the stables while his family prepared for official duties. He saddled the plainest horse available—a sturdy brown gelding instead of the flashy white stallion the original Alexander preferred.
"Young Master, where are you going?" The stable boy looked confused. "The Academy procession isn't for hours."
"Just a morning ride," Alexander replied with a disarming smile—an expression foreign to the original Alexander's face. "Clear my head before the big day."
He rode casually until beyond the estate's view, then urged his mount to speed. The Ember Woods lay fifteen miles east—he had to reach the ambush point before Claire's carriage.
[I love a man who takes initiative! Now, about your combat capabilities...]
"Limited," Alexander admitted, recalling the novel's details. "The Flamingo family specializes in fire magic, but the original Alexander neglected his training."
[Yet you managed that little flame earlier. I wonder what else this body can do with proper...stimulation.]
Alexander ignored the innuendo, focusing on strategy. "In the novel, Claire's water magic ultimately proves stronger than the hero's earth abilities. I need to impress them both, but not reveal too much power."
[Playing the long game. Clever boy. Oh! First quest update: We're approaching the ambush site. Fifteen bandits, armed with mundane weapons plus one rogue mage—a wind-emblem user kicked from the Academy last year.]
This detail startled Alexander. "That wasn't in the novel."
[Maybe the author skipped some juicy details. Or maybe things aren't exactly as you remember. Narratives can be...flexible.]
This unsettled him, but there was no time to dwell on implications. He reached the dense woods and dismounted, tethering his horse away from the road. According to the story, bandits would attack Claire's carriage at the sharpest bend, where the road narrowed between two cliffs.
Alexander positioned himself on the higher ground, overlooking the perfect ambush spot. Now he just needed to wait.
[While we have time, let me explain more about your potential harem points system...]
The system rattled on about compatibility metrics, charm allocations, and "special event bonuses" that made Alexander question his sanity. Yet the flame emblem on his hand was proof enough that this world operated on its own rules.
"Quiet," he finally interrupted. "They're coming."
A polished carriage bearing the Aquamarine family's blue wave emblem rounded the distant bend. Right on schedule. Alexander tensed, scanning the trees for movement.
There—shadows shifting unnaturally among the foliage. The bandits were in position.
[Showtime, handsome! Remember, first impressions matter when building a harem!]
The attack happened exactly as described in the novel. The carriage halted at a fallen tree blocking the road. When the driver dismounted to investigate, arrows flew from the woods, striking him down. Bandits emerged from both sides as a young man leapt from the carriage—Lucas Stoneheart, the novel's hero, his earth emblem glowing green on his hand.
In the original story, Lucas fought valiantly but was overwhelmed until Claire unleashed her water magic in a desperate moment, revealing her immense potential. Their combined effort defeated the bandits and forged their bond—the first step in their canonical romance.
Not today.
Alexander's mind calculated the perfect moment, watching as Lucas faced the first wave of attackers. The young man was skilled for his age, redirecting the earth beneath two bandits' feet, sending them tumbling. But the rogue wind mage hung back, preparing a cutting gale that would, according to the novel, slice through Lucas's defenses and create Claire's moment to shine.
Alexander focused on his emblem, visualizing the lewd scenario the system had suggested. Heat surged through him, stronger than before, the emblem burning bright.
He waited until the wind mage raised his hand, then released a precisely aimed fireball. Not too powerful—just enough.
The flame struck the wind mage's extended hand, disrupting his spell and igniting his sleeve. The man's scream drew everyone's attention as Alexander leapt from his position, landing with deliberately flashy flames cushioning his fall.
"Ambush from behind too!" he called to Lucas, fabricating a reason for his timely appearance. "I saw them while riding to the Academy!"
Lucas, momentarily stunned by this unexpected ally, nevertheless adjusted quickly. "Watch the carriage!" he shouted, turning to face three bandits approaching from the rear.
Alexander positioned himself near the carriage door, where he knew Claire watched from within. He deflected a bandit's sword with a small flame shield—nothing too impressive, nothing that would overshadow Lucas's abilities.
The skirmish lasted minutes, Alexander carefully measuring his contribution, ensuring Lucas still appeared heroic while establishing himself as a valuable ally rather than the perverted nuisance he was meant to be.
When the dust settled, seven bandits lay subdued, the others having fled into the woods.
[Quest completed! Saving the protagonists: +50 Charm Points awarded! Basic Charm Enhancement unlocked!]
Lucas approached, breathing heavily, earth emblem still glowing on his hand. "That was... unexpected. Thank you, uh..."
Alexander offered his hand, along with his most genuine-looking smile. "Alexander Flamingo, first-year at the Academy. Just happened to be in the right place."
The carriage door opened, revealing her—Claire Aquamarine, the novel's protagonist, her long blue hair and piercing azure eyes exactly as described.
"You have my gratitude," she said, her voice melodious yet commanding. "Both of you."
Alexander bowed respectfully—nothing like the leering original Alexander would have done. "The honor is mine, Lady Aquamarine."
Inside, he smiled coldly. The first deviation from the plot was complete. The perverted villain had just become an unexpected hero.
The story was already changing.
And no one but Alexander knew what was supposed to happen next.