Chapter Text
The humid air clouds his lungs as Mikage Reo takes an apprehensive breath, and he’s not sure whether or not he’s imagining the rust he breathes in. Somehow, when he cannot see them, the heavy walls around him feel even more oppressive.
Still, he prefers the blindfolds they have on him miles over the freedom of using his eyes. He fears he may lose his mind if he has to bear with seeing through only a singular eye for too long. It was an upset commoner who had injured it beyond repair as he was being taken into custody.
There’s a constant sound of dripping water coming from his right that he had found grounding when they first brought him here. A way to count the time. Now it only feels like a mockery of his misery, there to remind him just how long he’s been in this dungeon.
He focuses on his senses to distract himself. The too-tight rope around his wrists which is definitely breaking and bruising them, and the countless cuts -old and new- across his body.
Mikage Reo cannot move, and he cannot see, but he recognizes. He will always recognize Nagi Seishiro’s presence regardless of the surroundings. He’ll know him by his voice, by his steps, and by his breath.
Thus as his best friend -if he can still call him that- approaches him, Reo feels both disgust and sorrow bloom within him.
He hears soft breaths, and then, a heat near him. Someone crouching before him. Before anything can be said, the blindfold is pulled off of his eyes. The first thing he sees is the brilliant white of Nagi’s hair, and then the deep dark void of his eyes. Reo looks away. He has a lot to say, too much. More than he should.
It seems Nagi isn’t willing to give him that mercy though, as he harshly grabs a hold of Reo’s chin he forces the purple-haired man to stare at him through his only eye that still sees. The look on his face reads apathy. Indifference. And Reo can feel his heart shattering.
He would take anything over this. Most look at him in hatred, some with disgust. But Nagi Seishiro cannot spare him any emotion. Reo would have preferred either over this empty look. He’s asking for too much.
It is the one on his knees who breaks the silence first. “Why?” Reo’s voice comes out hoarsely, not having spoken in who knows how many days.
The other stares, but doesn’t respond.
Despite his usual affection towards the white-haired man, Reo feels he can no longer keep the bubbling anger in his throat still. “Why did you keep me alive? Was taking all I have not enough?” his lips turn into a sneer as he says the next bit
“Did you need to make a fool of me as well?”
He thinks back to his father, to the severed head rolling across the platform until it was caught by an exhilarated crowd. To the loud, deafening cheers.
It was definitely Nagi who pulled some kind of string to make sure only Reo was kept alive when even the Mikage household servants were executed. He doesn’t know what kind of sick pleasure the other derives from it.
A cold chuckle makes it out of Nagi Seishiro’s lips. “Why? You still ask why?” he seems exasperated like there is something Reo is clearly not catching up on.
“Say, Reo, maybe if you admit you’re the one who’s tainted your own name, I'll give you the merciful death you wish for.”
Reo bites the inside of his cheek, hard. Blood pools in his mouth. He wants to comply, he really does. And yet, alongside the droplets of blood painting the floor red the words that fall out of his mouth drip with venom.
“You made me promise, you did, and I gave you my bleeding heart on a platter” he chokes over his words as his voice breaks at the last moment. Then, in a small whisper “Yet you broke your own pledge.”
Finally, Nagi Seishiro’s indifference seems to turn into a mild, quietly burning anger. he lets go of Reo’s face and stands back up. Looming above the other, he speaks.
“It is you who broke it first.”
A desperate tone adds to Reo’s next response “I gave you my everything! my life and my soul..” His hands hit the pavement weakly, it doesn't have much effect. “How could you” he chants quietly.
There’s a moment where Nagi’s face twists with what almost looks like regret, brows furrowing softly before evening out again.
“I’m sure you genuinely believe that you truly did sacrifice a lot. But tell me deep within Reo, did you not have a part of you that kept me around for your benefit? Sure, we’ve had a lot of special moments. Memories I’ll never forget.” Despite his heartfelt words, Nagi’s voice cut through Reo like icy blades.
He crouches again to get a final look at the other's dirty and injured face.
“But somewhere within me, there will always be a bitter part that will never forget the way with which you stared at me.”
With his final line, Nagi Seishiro turns his back to him and once again leaves him alone in the quiet underground prison. And Reo knows now, that this is the cruelest thing Nagi has ever done to him.
To not have the heart to kill him, and yet be cruel enough to not help him.
–
Knocking.
“Master Mikage? Are you up my lord?” A muffled sound coming from outside of his room. It’s probably his servant Baya. It’s a pleasant surprise that even in this universe he’s graced with her care.
It was only one night ago that Mikage Reo awoke in a room completely different from his own, along with some recognizable and other completely new faces.
He wasn’t immediately aware of where he was, or what was going on. Though he had the mind to play along as if nothing was wrong, playing along proved difficult in a world that seems like it’s parallel to what he’s used to. Whether it’s the people he’s surrounded by, or the very time period he’s in.
The first thing he experienced was the nightmare he once again saw this night. His initial reaction had been utter shock, followed by confusion. The day before they had received an invitation letter to an elite training program, and when he woke up the only assumption he could make was that he must be in a coma.
Whether coma or not though, it feels awfully real. And the nightmare starring his best friend has actually helped him deduce where he is as well. Thrones of Gambit. The setting of the universe he’s in is decidedly similar to the historical fantasy novel he’d read for a literature assignment at some point. Short for the fact that the cast has changed to people he knows in his real life.
When he picked this book off the shelf he uncharacteristically didnt think it through much, and it really wasn’t all that remarkable. It was a typical male fantasy book. Now thinking back he wants to curse himself out, because soon after realizing which character he’s meant to be he also realised he’s pretty much doomed. The aforementioned nightmare speaks for itself.
The hero of this novel is without doubt Nagi Seishiro, who’s Reo’s childhood best friend in this case. Though originally having been close, Nagi eventually betrays Reo by collaborating with his future love interest in a rebellion against the oppressive emperor and all of his supporters. Including the Grand Duke Mikage.
Not realizing the severity of his situation whilst the rebellion was secretly brewing in the background, the young master Mikage spent his time terrorizing his best friends new eyecandy without realizing the reason he was being kept around was so his family could be used as a stepping stone to get to the emperor. Getting exposed in a shameful human trafficking scandal the majority of the residence gets evicted and executed so the emperor can save face and dislodge his association with them.
Meanwhile, the young master Mikage is kept alive as a prisoner of war for his future ridicule once the rebellion eventually takes over the imperial palace as well.
Reo feels a headache coming on just thinking about it. It’s not like he doesn’t understand the sentiment. The Mikage household in this universe is questionable at best and cruel at worst. even in his modern reality, he wouldn’t be able to claim they’re all too righteous.
It’s obvious that the role he plays in this story is that of someone who is a stereotypical cartoon villain, someone who had it coming. The cause of the rebellion was noble, and a well-deserved vengeance.
A part of him still can’t help but feel bitter.
The young master of Mikage household was thin faced, and a sour person. But, he wasn’t pure evil. He didn’t pick the family he was born into, just as Reo didn’t pick to wake up in this novel.
Fear and nausea pool in his stomach recalling his fate within this story.
Without a doubt, he’s already decided that first and foremost his priority is his own survival. Followed by finding out how he can leave this place and never look back. Of course, that’s easier said than done. He’s still busy equating all the new names to the characters he remembers. First that, then survival.
“Young master? Your carriage is ready, I urge you to accept this servants assistance”
Right. Back to reality.
“Please call someone over to help me dress” He calls out to Baya.
If his original life had been considered lavish, the experience here is outright outrageous. He can understand why the emperor’s supporters, known as the imperial faction, are not very well liked by commoners.
He stares at his reflection within the mirror, sporting gold adjourned and intricately embroidered attire made of the finest silks, he looks nothing lesser than the son of a Grand Duke.
The medieval attire makes him appear as though he stepped right out of a Western period drama.
The servant who had just assisted him in getting ready appears beside him with a grin “How about you wear this emblem of the family crest by your shoulder”
He stares at the golden pin depicting a phoenix with eyes of sapphire. It proudly proclaims a heritage unattainable to most, quietly mocking those who are of lesser fortune.
“Alright”
-
“Ah” he quietly grabs the back of his head, having hit it against a window amidst the bumpy carriage ride. As flashy as his ride had been, it doesn’t hold a candle to modern engineering.
“Are you alright my lord?” Baya speaks attentively.
“Don’t mind me.”
His destination is a teahouse slightly east of the Mikage residence, about half an hour’s worth of distance.
The event he’ll be attending is a private one, disguised as merely a group hangout. While the original young master seemed to act like a lovesick teenage girl on the surface level, it seems he still has some useful connections.
Among hushed voices, they call themselves the genius society. It’s merely a culmination of young lords mostly of neutral standing occasionally meeting up to discuss matters of society and economy. It seems pretty boring, but can actually become a big advantage to his survival.
These are all future heads of their families, and hold the power to sway public opinion in crucial moments. Mikage Reo himself is no small fish even within this secretive group of essentially gossipping teenage boys.
A meeting like this is a high-risk choice considering how likely it is to expose his lack of knowledge of the world he’s in. After all the protagonist Nagi had never experienced one of these meetings in person and only ever heard about it through his best friend. Meaning Reo can’t fall back on his knowledge of the novel.
Still, it is an opportunity that is too good to give up. And it’s not as if he’s completely unprepared.
In the past two days he’s been here, Reo has done his best at investigating his surroundings and after some digging was able to apply a name to all the characters he faintly remembers.
Theres a few people who will be attending this time around,
“My lord, I’ve prepared a few sweet treats for the road, would you like one?” Baya opens a pouch, which is inlaid with a small assortment of treats that are light on the stomach.
Reo picks out a vanilla flavored tart “Thankyou, Baya.”
One of the most notable attendees is Karasu Tabito, a regular. Well connected, and one of the eldest of the group. The Tabito family is mostly known for their contribution to infrastructure and transport.
They reach the city gates, and a guard opens the door to check the identities of the people within. Baya hands over both of their identifications. The guard’s eyes widen slightly. “Sorry for bothering you on this clear day. I hope the lord has a comfortable stay”
He leaves following a deep bow. Typical.
It’s like the tides of fate are trying to paint him out to be a spoiled young master, regardless of whether he shows any behavior resembling that or not.
Another person he can expect to be there is Yukimiya Kenyuu. Especially popular among women for being a gentleman, and a famous heartthrob. His family is leading in the textile industry, so he’s always well-dressed.
On a similar but slightly different note, Aryu Jyubei stems from a line of famous fashion designers and architects. Always ahead of the fashion trends. While it sounds frivolous, it means the world in high society.
“We’ve arrived” The coachman announces from outside the carriage, and one of the attending knights immediately steps out to open the door for Reo.
Most carriages are high above ground, so he holds on to the knight’s arm gently while stepping off the stairs. The surrounding citizens stare in awe, even for most nobles the Mikage carriage is undeniably mesmerizing.
Reo dusts off his cape, straightens his shoulders, and takes a deep breath. He can do this.
Otoya Eita. Despite his reputation of being a womanizer, he’s generally well respected with a family being known for banking.
The teahouse is surrounded by elegant and colorful plants, making a path towards the entrance. The walls of the multiple story building are a clean white and well kempt. From one look at the exterior, one would never guess just a few blocks ahead there’s a busy shopping street full of minimum wage workers trying to make ends meet.
He makes his way over to the reception.
“Hello sir, may I get your name?” the short woman speaks.
“There should be a private reservation under the Mikage residence.” This is his first time speaking with anyone outside of the Mikage household, and he’s hoping he’s pulling off the lofty young master look as well as possible.
The face of the woman dawns with understanding, and she steps down the platform she’s on to give a small bow.
“I apologize for not recognizing earlier. Please follow me to the VIP lounge”
As she leads him through the building, he considers whether he’s gone over every single person. Only one left to consider, Tokimitsu Aoshi. His family isn’t remarkable, but he got lucky that the emperor’s younger sister is his sister in law.
Besides himself, he’s pretty sure Tokimitsu is the only other person in attendance today who is also associated with the imperial faction rather than being of neutral standing.
“Here we are” the softspoken woman remarks. There’s a waiting area outside of the VIP lounge. “Some of the other lords have already arrived, please enter whenever you please”
As the lady departs, he takes one last moment to gather his thoughts.
Since everyone got an introduction, he may as well give himself one too.
Mikage Reo, future heir of the Mikage Grand Duchy, the second highest ranked family within the empire and leading the mining industry. From materials for daily use to luxury goods such as gold, silver, and just about any gemstone a person could think of.
They stand overwhelmingly above most other noble families and are known to be avid supporters of the emperor.
Here goes nothing.
As Reo enters, a group of heads turn to look at him. He finds himself recognizing most of the attendees, but a slim boy with cyan hair stands out. Seated close next to who he assumes is Karasu Tabito, is Hiori You. Not a regular, but has attended before.
That makes three people within the imperial faction now.
“Look who’s finally made it, fashionably late, eh? As expected of the Mikage heir” raven dark hair and glistening eyes stare at him with a lazy smirk on his lips.
“Delight to see you once again, lord Karasu”
–
Water splashes around the walls, the clear and pristine droplets gliding down matching the soft unblemished skin adorning the young lord. What a pampered life he must have led.
Reo stares at his long and slender fingers -a stark difference to his calloused hands back home- with a curious appreciation.
He dunks yet another bucket of water over his head. Despite the fancy bathtub with gold rims, the inventions of this place have yet to find a replacement for showerheads. Apparently, the original young master would often have his servants assist him in bathing, but he really doesn’t have the mental fortitude for that right now.
Reo goes over all the topics they talked about within one day. His brains feel like mush, but he was able to determine where along the timeline he is. Which means he also immediately determined he may be in bigger trouble than he’d estimated he was.
The quietly brewing rebellion has already progressed far enough that Nagi Seishiro feels comfortable enough to publicly associate with Isagi Yoichi. That’s another thing he found out through some unassuming questions, the other protagonist of this novel is named Isagi Yoichi.
They haven’t quite had a public falling out yet, but with that event right around the corner, he fears it may be too late to change the narrative of the upcoming big milestone in the timeline.
Right around the corner might be a bit too generous to describe the moment he’s mentally noted as D-day. Tomorrow is the opening banquet held to kickstart the upcoming season, and this year many young lords have been invited to partake in a social competition to introduce themselves and their signature business strategies to high society.
To dumb it down, It’s all pretentiousness that comes down to the forming of cliques and alliances.
Tomorrow is also the day Mikage Reo will brace himself, and try to walk into the banquet hall of the Imperial Palace with his shoulders held high as if he doesn’t care for the humiliation of arriving there all on his own. As if he doesn’t care for the humiliation of his own best friend having announced not him, but another man as his teammate-to-be.
And he certainly won’t throw a fit the way the original reo had done.
–
As the sun departs from the sky, countless young lords get themselves ready for the deciding event of their reputation.
Long braided pink hair, diamond cufflinks, some bearing ceremonial swords others wearing their crown getting ready to oversee others. Everyone has their own tastes, but in their own way, they all want to show off their best selves.
And while somewhere within the capital a certain white haired person is making his way over to pick up his new friend, Mikage Reo stands before his mother who’s looking up at him in approval.
“You know I’ve always been told you’re a spitting image of me, but you have never resembled your father more than right now”
She isn’t half wrong, the large deep purple cape decorating his black attire with colour makes his shoulders appear a lot more imposing than they usually do. The silver shoulder guards and haughty belt add to the allure of an imposing aristocrat, ready to evoke doubt within any of the bugs small enough to fit below his shoe.
His mid length hair is pinned back with decorative hair accessories depicting the signature phoenix of the Mikage household. An elegant picture of a delicate jaw and soft facial features -exposed by the absence of hair covering it- conflict with the masculine silhouette.
He appears to be the very essence of nobility and influence. Of privilege.
This young master may have been a vulgar person in reality but he sure as hell knows how to pull off a fearsome look, Reo thinks. Perhaps it’s a perk of being the villain. If only he felt half as confident as he looked.
“Mother you’re making it sound like I’m departing for war” He’s not used to addressing her this way, but he’s found this is the way it goes in this world.
Without a doubt, his parents here are the same people as back home.
“Are you sure you want to attend alone?” she asks even though her expression betrays she already knows the answer. “Everybody will be attending alone, if I can’t do this much you should just disown me” Her face sours, but she relents.
“Whatever you say” As he’s departing with his servant and knights in tow, he hears her call out “And Reo. Don’t make foolish jokes like that again.” He grins back at her, while something tugs at his heart knowing the most likely outcome his parents will face.
Despite his nervousness, he decides he’s determined to not fuck this up. If not for himself, then for his parents.
The carriage ride feels like a haze, and by the time Reo arrives the surroundings of the imperial palace are already bustling. No matter how exquisite the Mikage Residence is, it doesn’t hold a candle to the magnificence of the palace.
All white, with golden roofs and a flower garden surrounding a large water fountain. This is probably the only place that has the technology for a constantly working fountain.
Reo walks ahead, with the two accompanying him respectfully waiting outside.
As he stands before the entrance of the banquet hall he hears his own name be announced. Then, the doors open, and bright lights shine into his eyes.
Chin up, shoulders straight. No matter how nervous he’s feeling, he’s vowed to himself today is not the day he loses face. With the air of someone completely unbothered by the fact that the atmosphere immediately turned secretive and hushed the second he stepped his foot into the hall, he walks down the stairs.
Intending to settle somewhere quietly Reo slowly makes his way through the crowd, occasionally stopping to greet familiar faces with a bow. It’s when he’s nearly made it to an empty area to occupy that he hears someone call out his name.
It’s so faint he almost convinces himself he had just been imagining it. Still, the young lord takes his time to turn his head over his shoulder to see where it came from.
Reo thought he was ready for this, thought he could do it. But the moment he locks his eyes with Nagi Seishiro, he feels his breath knocked out of him.