CHAPTER ONE
[first paragraphs]
Almost everyone must have heard of those classic novels and comics with the ''protagonist getting killed under random circumstances just to get reborn as a royal inside of an unknown universe'' kind of plot. I, too, have read and enjoyed those. Stories like that were popular everywhere, regardless of time and space. Many devoted and loyal readers wished they could switch places with the protagonist to be able to kiss and marry that particular hottie of a prince or some other kind of attractive guy in that story. I, for instance, don't belong to that group. Nope, I'd gladly be reborn as an ordinary citizen. After all, such a life was by far better than that within the palace walls: the high society in which nasty rumours spread like wildfire, those filthy rich nobles who'd do anything in order to gain the Emperor's favour, the arrogant glances, old geezer dukes sexually harassing servants and whatnot – they were all a disgrace to the human race and a pain in the ass. Not literally of course, though there certainly were some noble's sons I'd gladly- okay, stop. Back to the topic. You understand what I'm trying to say, right? Even my 10 year old self had known that fact – which was, by the way, one of the reasons why I ripped my old aunt's ugly dress apart after marinating it in bitter-tasting wine.
Ironically speaking, I was born as a prince. And not just any prince, because the gods wanted to be extra, I happened to be the 6th Imperial Prince of the Alexandrian Empire. Yay. OK, maybe I am exaggerating a little – it's probably not that convincing coming from someone who had spent the last 7 years outside of that palace. Lucky me? Nah, it's a tradition – thanks, great-grandfather for that – for the Imperial heirs. I left home after my 10th Birthday and now, on my 17th, it was time for me to go back. My 7 year long vacation had found it's end. Not happy about that. The only things I was looking forward to were the reunion with my family, messing with nobility and...the handsome faces of certain noblewomen's sons. Who'd blame me though?