To his surprise, the taste was excellent.
It was far better than he had expected, enough to make his eyes widen slightly.
Just as Luinael had said, the salmon was incredibly fresh and flavorful.
The tangy-sweet salad dressing paired wonderfully with the crisp vegetables, perfectly complementing the salmon.
This might even be better than the food in the royal palace… Isaac, astonished, took another bite of the salad.
“How is it? Do you like the taste?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“I’m so relieved to hear that.”
“…”
Luinael exhaled a long sigh of relief, as if he’d been fretting over whether the dish would suit Isaac’s palate.
Perhaps it was because no one had ever paid such close attention to his preferences before, but Luinael’s every action felt strangely unfamiliar.
In the original story, Isaac, as the villain, had been surrounded by enemies and trusted no one, maintaining a cold demeanor.
There was no one who genuinely cared for him.
Even as Isaac now, adhering to the role, he had always kept others at a distance.
Would things have been different if Isaac’s parents were still alive?
The previous duke and duchess had died in an accident when the real Isaac was still a child.
Though calling it an accident was dubious.
They were said to have perished in the mountains after their carriage broke down—a rare event, especially considering the meticulous care given to the duchy’s carriages.
The novel had hinted at deliberate foul play, though it didn’t delve deeply into Isaac’s tragic backstory.
After their deaths, young Isaac had inherited the dukedom.
At just fifteen, he had to fend off scheming relatives while protecting the duchy.
In the original story, the villainous Isaac crushed their plots without batting an eye, securing the duchy’s stability.
The death of his parents had likely been orchestrated by those same relatives.
It was little wonder Isaac had turned out so twisted.
Chewing his salad slowly, Isaac pondered these thoughts.
‘Come to think of it, losing my parents early is something I have in common with him.’
‘Though in my case, it really was an accident. Despite not having been here long, memories of my past life already felt distant, like something from a lifetime ago.’
“Try this as well.”
“Oh, yes… Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Luinael, as if enjoying himself, began piling more dishes onto Isaac’s plate.
It was too late to protest about the quantity, so Isaac sighed softly.
“Haha, your eating habits haven’t changed at all, Isaac.”
“…Pardon?”
“Your left cheek puffs out when you chew. It’s adorable.”
“…?”
Startled by Luinael’s observation, Isaac froze mid-chew.
It was true—he had a habit of chewing with the food gathered in his left cheek.
It wasn’t an imitation of the real Isaac; it was purely coincidental.
A shiver ran down Isaac’s spine, and he instinctively straightened his posture.
“…Apologies. It’s a habit I’ve had since childhood.”
“Oh no, I didn’t mean it as a criticism. I think it’s endearing.”
“…Right.”
Despite Luinael’s reassurances, Isaac couldn’t shake his unease.
Luinael’s memory was alarmingly sharp, to the point of recalling habits the real Isaac probably hadn’t even been aware of.
“Even the way your pinky lifts slightly when you hold a fork and knife—it’s exactly the same.”
“…”
He remembers things like that?
Isaac, unnerved by Luinael’s keen observation, subtly curled his pinky downward.
Thankfully, his mannerisms matched the real Isaac’s down to the smallest details.
If there had been even the slightest discrepancy, Luinael might have discovered he was an impostor long ago.
No one had ever scrutinized his every move this closely, let alone compared them to someone else’s.
This kind of attentive gaze, no matter how excessive, stemmed from a sort of affection.
Most people in Isaac’s vicinity had been too terrified of him to even make eye contact.
Luinael’s interest, though slightly overbearing, was something Isaac had to tread carefully around.
If he wasn’t cautious, his true identity might be exposed.
Isaac swallowed nervously, feeling the tension rise.
“Why aren’t you eating more?”
“Oh… I’m full.”
“That can’t be. You’ve barely eaten.”
“Haha… I suppose I’m just eager to rest. It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”
“Ah.”
At Isaac’s words, Luinael blinked in surprise, his concern evident.
The worried look in Luinael’s eyes made Isaac feel a slight pang of guilt for lying.
Still, he maintained a weary expression, as if burdened by the weight of the day.
“My apologies. I’ve been inconsiderate.”
“No, it’s fine.”
In truth, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
While the events didn’t affect him personally, aiding a rebellion, getting caught, and nearly losing his title was no small matter.
He had narrowly escaped execution in the royal palace.
Under such circumstances, losing one’s appetite was perfectly reasonable.
The real Isaac would’ve likely collapsed from the stress.
This gave him ample reason to cut the meal short.
Isaac put on a convincing display of weariness, which Luinael quickly accepted, sending him back to his room.
Looks like my acting skills are still sharp!
Feeling triumphant, Isaac silently celebrated as he finally returned to his quarters, releasing a quiet sigh of relief.
“Um…”
“…?”
But he wasn’t alone just yet.
The servant who had escorted him hesitated, speaking cautiously.
Isaac, puzzled, turned to look at him, causing the servant to flinch and quickly lower his gaze.
“What is it?”
“U-um… Is there anything you need me to do…?”
“No, you may leave now.”
“Yes, yes…”
When Isaac spoke in an even colder tone, the servant grew even more terrified, stepping backward in a hurry.
Then, without another word, he turned and quickly exited the room.
“Hmm…”
‘Did I scare him too much?’
Isaac raised a hand and scratched the back of his head.
Anyway, at last, he was alone.
Isaac threw himself onto the wide bed.
“Sigh…”
Who would have thought there would be a room more extravagant than the Duke’s residence?
Isaac looked up at the ceiling as soon as he lay down.
The intricate depiction of Lepeter, the God of Love and Family, and the angels following him was beautifully painted, covering the entire ceiling.
One would have to go to a temple to see this level of artistry.
But here it was, painted in a townhouse in the capital, not even a temple.
Isaac wondered what the original owner of the mansion had been thinking.
“…”
Well, what does it have to do with me?
Isaac tore his gaze away from the face of the God of Love, Lepeter, who wore a gentle smile.
Then he summoned his status window.
[Current BL Points: 12]
“Ugh…”
Afterward, Isaac hadn’t had any significant physical contact with Luinael, so his points remained stuck at 12.
For just a day’s worth of points, it could be considered a lot, or perhaps little, as he still didn’t know exactly how many points he needed to become the protagonist.
Lost in thought, Isaac poked around his status window, but there was no new information.
Even Maximilian, the protagonist, had very little to go on when he first possessed this body.
But as his level increased and he began to interfere with the story, more information became available.
So, for now, Isaac’s priority was to gather points and work toward becoming the protagonist.
He clenched his fist again, reaffirming his resolve.
And then, he drifted off to sleep.
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