Rein's will to survive pushed him to recall the plot of the novel and all the things he might be able to use before his death.
At the very least, he decided to enjoy his life and ease the pain of being Reinhart.
After a conversation with Elie that finally ended in an agreement, Rein wanted to learn more about the original owner of this body and what he had done in the past.
Of course, Elie would know—he had received detailed information about Prince Reinhart's usual schedule. That information had come from Reinhart's former personal servant who had resigned.
「 I need to make my life as comfortable as possible. Hm, at least like a death row inmate, heh... 」
Rein mocked himself silently as he asked Elie to escort him to Reinhart's reading room.
Although his body was weak, he could still walk—it just couldn't be for too long, or he would start to have trouble breathing.
「 Elie feels like Sebastian. Yeah, it's kind of the same—he'll protect me with everything he's got until the scheduled time of death. 」
Rein watched Elie's back as he walked ahead, reminded of a comic he once read.
By the way, he had asked Elie when that "scheduled time" was. Apparently, it was three years from now.
That meant Rein's body was currently fifteen years old, since in the novel, Reinhart died at age eighteen during his coming-of-age ceremony.
Rein had come to accept his situation—there wasn't much choice. With Elie's protection guaranteed, there were still a few things he could do to ease his suffering.
While Rein was lost in thought, they finally arrived at a double-doored room.
"Your Highness, according to the records, Prince Reinhart frequently used this room before his health began to decline," Elie informed him, offering another piece of Reinhart's history.
There was no need to pretend between them now—Elie clearly knew Rein wasn't the real Prince Reinhart.
He took out a key and unlocked the door, adding, "However, it hasn't been used in two years, but there's a special magical device that automatically keeps the room clean, so you no need to worry."
「 A magical device? Like the one that controls the temperature in my bedroom? 」
Rein was curious why magical tools seemed so limited in this palace, despite the world's background being filled with magic and even divine powers.
Still, he wasn't surprised to learn that two years ago, Reinhart's health hadn't been as bad as it was now. His unknown illness had been present since birth, according to the novel, and worsened over time.
He followed Elie into the room. The lighting was decent, and there were two large bookshelves on either side of the walls, with a desk and chair by the window overlooking the garden.
There was also a long sofa and a tea table, clearly intended for resting rather than going back and forth between this room and the bedroom.
Naturally, the quality of everything was top-notch. Prince Reinhart had lived a short but luxurious life.
Just as Elie had said, the room was spotless—not a speck of dust in sight.
"Your Highness, if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave now. I won't disturb you. If you need anything, you can ring the bell over there," Elie said, pointing to a bell-shaped device on the desk.
"Alright," Rein nodded and let Elie go.
「 What an extraordinary personal servant. So professional. 」
He quietly praised the villain who had become so dedicated to serving him.
Once Elie left and closed the door, Rein began exploring the room. He first went to the desk, which had a few stacks of books and writing tools. Then he approached the bookshelves, filled with thick, hard-covered volumes and a few bundles of documents tied together.
「 Why does this feel like a research room? 」
Curious, Rein picked up one of the books on the desk—it seemed to be a notebook.
Strangely, he could read it even though he wasn't sure what language it was. By transmigration tropes, this was likely the "universal language cheat," so he didn't overthink it and began reading the first page while sitting down.
He immediately regretted it—the content was incomprehensible despite being readable. It was filled with various symbols and letters like complex math equations, and intricate circle diagrams with elaborate patterns.
"Is this a magic book?" Rein flipped through the pages, finding everything equally beyond his understanding.
The latest fact slapping him in the face was: Prince Reinhart had been a genius. That much was obvious from the numerous handwritten books here.
There was no way someone else had been allowed to enter this room and scribble in these notes, right?
"What does this formula even mean? And why draw such a complicated circle? Ugh, a normie like me can't understand this," Rein grumbled, pushing the magic books aside to find something he could comprehend.
"...." Rein increasingly felt like he wasn't worthy of being Reinhart.
Even if Reinhart had a bad personality, he was still a prince—he had inherited talent from the emperor.
"Oh no. I forgot something important. The emperor will know right away I'm not his son."
He hadn't thought about that before because he had intended to end his life tonight. What did it matter if the emperor discovered his true identity?
But now it was different—he couldn't die before appointed time. What if that furious emperor killed him for stealing his son's body?
「 What should I do? 」
He thought about Elie's protection, but he wasn't entirely sure he could rely on it. After all, Elie and the emperor seemed to be working together in the novel's story.
There was a hole in Elie's words and their agreement—Elie could break the deal anytime and let his soul be destroyed. After all, Elie didn't seem to be at any great risk.
It felt more like Elie was pitying him and giving him a chance—for entertainment's sake, like watching an interesting show.
"Sigh... Fine, I'll face it honestly," he finally said, not wanting to torture himself by worrying over things that hadn't happened yet.
In his original world, he had survived by doing just that. He always tried to accept things, no matter how hard they were. Not because he didn't want to change them, but because he had no other choice.
At least, that's what he believed.
If he ran away, Elie would chase him, and the imperial guards would catch him anyway. Was there even another option?
Rein patted both his cheeks and braced himself again. He resumed his search through the books and notes.
After combing through one pile, he finally found a thin, small book.
"A diary?"
The format was different—this time, there were dates, moods, and the writing style wasn't about abstract symbols but actual prose.
Each page revealed more about the personality of Reinhart de Elvis.
---
[ || 28th Day, 7th Month, Year 392 – Elvis Imperial Calendar || ]
They're so damn annoying. If not for my dad, how would they even get those high positions?
And now they want me exiled?
---
[ || 16th Day, 8th Month, Year 392 || ]
I hate my dad. Why did he listen to them and exile me to this palace?
He says it's for my health, but I think he's thrown me away.
---
[ || 20th Day, 9th Month, Year 392 || ]
My health is getting worse. Damn this cursed illness!
That idiotic girl is just as annoying as the others—she never stops talking. I can't stand the sight of her. Why the hell did dad give her the authority to become an imperial doctor?
Heh, don't expect me to be nice to her.
---
[ || 18th Day, 10th Month, Year 392 || ]
I think I understand now why he abandoned me. He's not my dad. He's just a cold-blooded emperor.
Mom stopped caring about me after I was sent here. I'm not fit to fight for the throne with my other siblings.
Perfect. Fine then, I'll prepare a surprise for them.
---
[ || 14th Day, 11th Month, Year 392 || ]
That cold emperor summoned me for an audience? He must be dreaming if he thinks I'd go.
There's no way he's genuinely worried about me.
---
[ || 24th Day, 12th Month, Year 392 || ]
New Year's celebration—and I'm not allowed to participate. Locked up in this cursed palace!
Although now I know why I'm not allowed outside. It seems I can only live in this specific environment within the palace.
No one's allowed to see me freely because their energy would affect my body. Only a few, like handpicked servants and the emperor himself.
Of course, I refused to meet him. Even though that cold emperor came here several times, I rejected every visit.
---
[ || 30th Day, 1st Month, Year 393 || ]
I've begun a certain type of research and started ignoring everything outside the palace.
A lot of letters arrived—from my siblings, and even from the emperor. All of them were filtered to ensure no foreign energies or dangerous elements were present.
This mysterious illness I have is strange. It's not a disease—it's a curse.
Though my mind, filled with chaos and hatred, has calmed a bit, I still hate them.
---
[ || 22nd Day, 2nd Month, Year 393 || ]
I found something!
It is a curse! No wonder there's no cure. I've studied formulas from various alchemy and curse books, and conducted personal experiments on this body.
The emperor must've forgotten that I inherited his genius.
The books displayed in this palace are extremely useful—and dangerous.
There's one book in particular that's just... bizarre. Did the emperor really allow such a book in my palace?
This isn't a conspiracy, is it?
The book talks about something utterly irrational. What is "soul transference"?
---
That was where the readable entries ended. The rest of the pages were filled with incomprehensible scribbles.
Rein's eyes trembled violently as an unknown fear surged in his chest. The final entry pierced through the doubts he'd long buried about why he ended up in this world.
That last diary entry had been written two years ago—and today was the 27th day of the 3rd month, year 395. The exact day Rein had awakened in this body… and Reinhart's soul had vanished without a trace.
With trembling hands, Rein flipped through the pages again, hoping to find something—anything—beyond the erratic scribbles. And then he saw them. Scattered phrases etched between the madness, as if the writer had been teetering on the edge of insanity.
[ Dad is in danger. ]
[ My family… ]
[ Brother… ]
[ Fregrace ]
[ Fregrace ]
[ Fregrace ]
[ Save me! ]
[ Don't save me! ]
Rein's eyes froze on the last two lines tucked at the end of the diary. A chill crawled up his spine, and a low ringing echoed in his head.
***