Chapter 1: A Noble Childhood and a Broken System?!

When I first opened my eyes in this new life, I was met with warmth. A soft blanket wrapped around my tiny body, and a gentle light flickered in the background. I could hear muffled voices, soothing yet unfamiliar, speaking words I couldn't yet understand.

I tried to move—only to realize that my limbs were tiny. Weak. Uncoordinated.

A sinking feeling settled in my gut.

I wasn't just reborn.

I was a baby.

And worse—

I was a girl.

I KNEW IT. That damn god had completely ruined my existence.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell, "CHANGE ME BACK!" But the only sound that came out of my mouth was a tiny, helpless wail.

That was the moment I realized I had truly lost everything.

I braced myself for weird magical abilities, overwhelming memories of a past life, or maybe even a sudden romantic encounter with one of my so-called soulmates. Instead, what I got was… a perfectly normal babyhood.

Okay, not entirely normal. I was now the daughter of a noble family.

---

For the first few years, life was… surprisingly peaceful.

As I grew, I learned more about my new life.

I had been reborn as Cecilia von Aetheria, daughter of Count Reinhardt and Countess Elara von Aetheria. We were nobles—not royalty, but still an important family in the kingdom. My father governed a peaceful countryside estate, far from the political chaos of the capital.

And unlike the strict, power-hungry noble families I had read about in fantasy novels, my parents were… ridiculously loving.

No, scratch that. They were obsessed with me.

And that was it. No weird soulmate encounters. No magical system hijinks. Just… normal life.

…Which was honestly terrifying.

---

"Look at her! She's absolutely perfect!" my mother, Countess Elara, cooed as she cradled me.

"Of course she is," my father, Count Reinhardt, declared proudly, as if I had personally accomplished something by existing. "She's our daughter!"

"She has my eyes!"

"And my hair!"

"And the most precious little fingers—!"

Enough! I wanted to yell. But all I could do was gurgle as my parents continued their endless adoration.

---

Growing up as a girl was… weird.

As someone who had lived as a man in my past life, adjusting to my new body was extremely difficult.

For one, I cried way too easily.

No, seriously. Babies cry for everything! If I was too hot, I cried. Too cold? I cried. If I was hungry, tired, confused—tears. It was mortifying.

And don't even get me started on emotions.

Somehow, I was more sensitive than before. If someone praised me, my chest felt warm. If I was scolded (which was rare, thanks to my doting parents), I felt actual guilt.

Worst of all… cute things affected me.

I used to be a normal guy! But now? If I saw a fluffy cat or a beautifully decorated dress, my heart skipped a beat.

Was this biological programming?!

I wanted to fight it. I really did. But some part of me—the part that was now undeniably Cecilia—couldn't resist.

---

Soft sunlight streamed through the arched windows of the Aetheria estate, casting a golden glow across the lavish sitting room. Cecilia von Aetheria, age six, sat primly on a cushioned chair, a porcelain teacup in her tiny hands. Across from her, Countess Elara von Aetheria beamed with delight, watching her daughter sip her tea with perfect etiquette.

"My dear, you're doing so well!" Elara cooed, clapping her hands together. "Such grace! Such refinement! My little star of the Aetheria family!"

Cecilia lowered the teacup carefully onto its saucer, resisting the urge to sigh. "Thank you, Mother."

It was always like this. Ever since she could walk and talk, her parents had doted on her to an extreme degree. No matter what she did, it was met with endless praise.

"Look how perfectly she sits!"

"Her posture is impeccable!"

"She is truly the treasure of our household!"

It wasn't that Cecilia disliked affection. She had been an average guy in her past life, after all. Having a family that actually loved her was a welcome change from the overworked, lonely existence she once had.

But this? This was too much.

The doors to the sitting room suddenly swung open, and Count Reinhardt von Aetheria strode inside, his long silver hair tied neatly behind him. His piercing blue eyes immediately locked onto Cecilia, and a deep frown crossed his face.

"Elara," he said, his voice serious. "Why is Cecilia sitting so close to the window?"

Cecilia blinked.

Elara tilted her head. "Because it lets in such lovely sunlight?"

Reinhardt's frown deepened. "She might get too much sun. What if her skin burns? The sun is harsh today."

Elara gasped. "You're right!"

Before Cecilia could react, two maids hurried in, pulling a delicate lace curtain over the window.

"There," Reinhardt said, nodding in approval. "Much safer."

Cecilia stared.

She wasn't sickly or weak. She was perfectly healthy. Yet her parents treated her as if she was made of glass.

---

Later that evening, Cecilia sat in the grand dining hall, pushing small pieces of roasted meat around her plate. Her father sat at the head of the table, silently watching her.

The intensity of his gaze was suffocating.

"Father," Cecilia finally said, exasperated. "Is something wrong?"

Reinhardt's expression remained stern. "You seem to be struggling with your fork."

Cecilia glanced down. She was holding the fork perfectly fine.

"Perhaps," Reinhardt continued, "we should have the servants cut your food for you. We wouldn't want you to strain your delicate hands."

Cecilia choked. "I—I can cut my own food, Father."

Reinhardt didn't look convinced.

"She's still young, Reinhardt," Elara said gently. "Let her learn on her own."

Her father reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But if you feel any discomfort—any at all—you must tell me immediately."

Cecilia sighed. "I will."

She took a bite of her food, hoping this conversation was over.

It was not.

Minutes later, Reinhardt cleared his throat. "Cecilia."

"Yes, Father?"

"I have noticed your shoes seem a bit loose."

Cecilia glanced down. Her shoes were perfectly fine.

"If they are uncomfortable," Reinhardt said gravely, "we will have the finest shoemaker in the capital craft a pair specifically designed for your feet."

Cecilia closed her eyes. This was her life now.

---

If Reinhardt's overprotectiveness was suffocating, then Elara's love for dressing Cecilia up was a whole new nightmare.

"Cecilia!" Elara's voice rang through the hallway one afternoon. "Come, my darling! We have new dresses to try on!"

Cecilia froze mid-step.

"Mother," she said carefully, "I already have plenty of dresses."

"Nonsense!" Elara took her hand, pulling her toward a large wardrobe in her bedroom. The doors swung open, revealing dozens of beautifully embroidered gowns in every possible color.

Cecilia felt faint.

"Now, let's try this one first!" Elara held up a light pink dress with way too many frills.

"Mother, I really don't think—"

Before she could finish, maids swarmed her.

Within moments, Cecilia found herself standing in front of a mirror, drowning in lace and ribbons.

Elara clasped her hands together in delight. "Oh, Cecilia! You look absolutely divine!"

Cecilia looked at herself.

The dress was massive, suffocatingly heavy, and so pink it hurt her eyes.

Her former self—**a grown man in his past life—**screamed internally.

"I... appreciate the effort, Mother," she said slowly, "but isn't this a bit much for daily wear?"

Elara gasped. "No dress is too much for my precious daughter!"

Cecilia wanted to protest, but when she saw the pure joy on her mother's face, she hesitated.

Elara loved dressing her up. It wasn't just about appearance—she genuinely enjoyed spending time with her daughter.

Cecilia sighed. "Fine. But no more than one per day."

Elara nodded eagerly. "Of course!"

(It was never just one.)

---

Despite her parents' extreme doting, Cecilia's childhood was peaceful.

She spent her days studying, reading, and practicing noble etiquette. She learned piano (because her mother insisted), took fencing lessons (her father's request), and was constantly surrounded by servants making sure she never lifted a finger.

She tried to act as normal as possible, but her parents treated her like a fragile masterpiece.

And while it was suffocating, there was also… a strange warmth in it.

In her past life, she had no family. No one to worry about her, to pamper her, or to insist that she deserved the best.

Now?

She had too much of it.

And despite everything, she couldn't bring herself to hate it.

I though I was the sole heir of the household, but I wasn't an only child.

I had an older sister.

Her name was Selene von Aetheria. Unlike me, she was adopted into the family years before I was born.

She was already an adult when I turned five, so I never saw her. She was away at the royal academy, pursuing a future as a knight and scholar.

From what I heard, she was strong, intelligent, and incredibly disciplined.

She was also… a mystery.

Her letters to our parents were formal and distant. She never wrote to me personally, and I had never seen a single painting or portrait.

I asked Mother about her once.

"Selene is a wonderful sister," she said with a wistful smile. "I'm sure she'll love you when she comes home."

Would she?

I had no idea what to expect. But I hoped—prayed—that she wasn't a soulmate.

---

When I turned seven years old, I decided it was time.

I had put it off for years, pretending to be a normal kid while secretly dreading the inevitable moment my Soulmate System would rear its ugly head. But I needed to face it eventually.

So, one evening, I snuck into my room, locked the door, took a deep breath, and whispered the fated words:

"System, open."

Nothing happened.

"…Uh. System, activate?"

Silence.

"…Status screen?"

More silence.

"…Hello?!"

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, completely dumbfounded.

Where was my system?!

I tried everything.

Waving my hand dramatically. (Nothing.)

Thinking really hard about my stats. (Still nothing.)

Jumping up and down while chanting "Status, status, status!" (…Just embarrassing.)

No glowing screens. No divine messages. Nothing.

At first, I felt relieved. Maybe the system had glitched out? Maybe God had finally realized how horrible his mistake was and deleted it?

But then… a terrifying thought struck me.

What if the system was just waiting?

What if it wouldn't activate until I met a soulmate?!

I froze.

Oh, hell no.

I wasn't ready for that! I just wanted to be normal!

I had to avoid soulmates at all costs.

---

Years passed.

I read books in my family's grand library. I played in the gardens of our estate. I practiced etiquette under my mother's watchful eye.

It was a normal noble childhood. No sudden magical awakenings. No strange system notifications. No absurdly attractive women randomly declaring their love for me.

And I intended to keep it that way.

Until on the morning of my tenth birthday, a letter arrived from the royal capital.

It was from Selene.

And inside was a simple message:

"I'm coming home."

A strange chill ran down my spine.

I didn't know why, but I had a terrible feeling that my peaceful days were about to end.

---

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