It’s been ten years since my childhood friend and I ended up in this world.

### It’s been ten years since my childhood friend and I ended up in this world. Ten years. That’s how long it took for him to finally tell me, “If you die, you’ll go back.” And with that, he jumped from the tower without hesitation. Blood splattered across his wife’s ivory dress. The woman who had been screaming at him just moments ago fell to her knees, wailing in anguish. I stood silently, my face expressionless, watching the scene unfold. My gaze shifted to the woman huddled in the arms of her so-called “true love.” That woman was my wife—this world’s empress. I sighed. It’s time to go home. When Zach leapt from the tower in front of me, I thought I was prepared for it. But the sight of his blood pooling on the ground still burned into my eyes, sharp and unforgiving. That night, my dreams were full of his face. He smiled at me like he always did—bright, carefree—until the blood began to pour, streaking his cheeks like crimson tears. I woke up drenched in sweat, my shirt clinging uncomfortably to my skin. The maid waiting outside my tent came in to help me change, but I waved her off. “Bring me some hot water. I’ll do it myself.” I remembered when we first arrived in this world, how Zach would constantly complain about how inconvenient bathing was here. “It’s nothing like back home,” he’d grumble. “A quick shower, and you’re good to go. This whole ‘bucket and basin’ thing is barbaric.” Now, he’s the one who left clean. Zach and I grew up together. Our parents were so close they used to joke there was something more between us. Little did they know, we both had our own romantic interests. We’d spend hours swapping stories, trading advice, and laughing at each other’s missteps. One evening, after work, we decided to hit a bar. But we never made it. The car accident came out of nowhere. The next thing I knew, we woke up here, in this strange, foreign world. Bound to the same system. The system told us that if we completed the “main storyline,” we could return home. It even let us choose our own roles. Zach, of course, was immediately smitten with Sophia—the ethereal beauty in white—and insisted on making her his target. That left me with Olivia, the exiled princess, beaten down and clinging to the scraps of her former life. The journey wasn’t easy. There were times when Zach and I barely escaped with our lives. But Sophia and Olivia were close friends, and our goals aligned. Eventually, we succeeded. I helped Olivia reclaim her throne, giving up my position as General of the Western Front to remain in the palace as her advisor. Zach married Sophia, and together they opened the most successful inn in the capital, a place called Evergreen Hall. They became the wealthiest couple in the entire empire. We thought we were done. But the system had other plans. “Your mission isn’t complete,” it told us. Zach and I were stunned. We’d done everything it asked of us. Then came the twist. Sophia and Olivia’s “true loves,” their long-lost childhood friend, Nathaniel, returned to the capital. Zach and I had never even heard of this Nathaniel before. When we pressed the system for answers, it explained that Nathaniel had been a childhood companion to both women. Years ago, he’d nearly died saving Olivia, his meridians shattered beyond repair. The Nathaniel we’d never known had been sent away to the southern mountains to train in seclusion. He hadn’t been seen in the capital since. Even the system couldn’t explain why he had suddenly returned. “Maybe it’s to advance the main storyline,” it said in that cold, mechanical voice. “You should wait and see. Complete the story, and you may finally return home.” I didn’t trust it. From the moment Nathaniel appeared, I knew he was going to turn our lives upside down. But Zach didn’t see it that way. He shrugged it off, spending his days doting on Sophia, completely unconcerned about Nathaniel. I remembered the look in his eyes just before he jumped. Zach had always been terrified of pain. But in that moment, he didn’t even hesitate. I never expected him to take such a drastic step. Honestly, I don’t even know if his plan will work. The system never mentioned anything about dying being a way to return. If it doesn’t work… I can’t bear to think about it. But one thing is certain. Someone will have to pay for this.

“Luke! Luke! Tell me—what were Zach’s last words to you?” I had just finished my bath and was in the middle of getting dressed when Sophia barged into the room uninvited. Her usually delicate, doll-like face was now ghostly pale, her wide eyes brimming with a kind of desperate pain, as though she might start crying blood. She stared at me like I held the answers to everything. I adjusted my collar slowly, letting out a cold chuckle. I didn’t bother to respond. “Luke! Say something!” She dared to grab my arm. I shoved her off with ease—though, unfortunately, she didn’t fall. Nathaniel, who had followed her in, caught her before she could stumble. “Luke,” Nathaniel said, his tone calm but tinged with fake concern, “I know you’re upset about Zach’s death, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out on Sophia. What kind of man does that make you?” I glanced at him, my expression icy. His gaze wasn’t exactly kind either. If I looked closer, I could see the challenge in his eyes, like he was daring me to retaliate. “And who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?” I sneered. “Get out.” “You—” “Luke! Have you lost your mind?!” Before Nathaniel could retort, Olivia strode into the room, her presence commanding as always. It seemed my courtyard had become the morning gathering spot for drama. Ever since Nathaniel returned, it had been nothing but chaos. “Olivia, don’t get mad,” Nathaniel said, putting on his best innocent smile, the kind that made my stomach turn. “Luke’s just grieving. Let’s not hold it against him.” I turned away, disgusted by his theatrics. “Luke, please…” I had almost forgotten Sophia was still here. She clung to my sleeve with trembling hands, her desperation clawing at me like nails on a chalkboard. “Tell me,” she begged, her voice cracking. “What did Zach say? Please, I need to know.” I sighed, her touch filling me with nothing but irritation. “Zach said,” I began, my voice cold and deliberate, “The one thing I regret most in this life is choosing you.” I didn’t wait for her response. I pulled my sleeve out of her grip and turned toward the door, ready to leave this suffocating room. Behind me, Sophia let out a broken, disbelieving whisper: “No… no, that’s not true. That’s… that’s impossible!” Her voice rose into a scream as she stumbled out, muttering to herself like she’d lost her mind. But before I could take another step, Olivia grabbed my arm. “Luke,” she said sharply, her voice filled with authority, “you still owe Nathaniel an apology.” I froze, stunned at her audacity. “An apology? To him?” I asked, disbelief dripping from every word. “Olivia, it’s fine,” Nathaniel said smoothly, his tone dripping with false humility. “Luke is a decorated general, a hero of war, and your partner in ruling this empire. I would never expect him to treat me as an equal.” His words were laced with mockery, the kind that was just subtle enough to make it infuriating. And Olivia, of course, fell for it completely. “I am the Empress,” she said coldly, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. “There is no ‘partner in ruling.’ And Nathaniel saved my life—his worth is beyond question.” Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I stared at her, her striking face as cold and beautiful as ever. Memories of the first time I met her flooded my mind. It had been a month since I was thrown into this world. Zach had already crossed paths with Sophia, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Meanwhile, the system had been hounding me to get close to Olivia. At the time, she was nothing more than a fallen princess. Her mother, the former Empress, had been unloved by the late Emperor, leaving Olivia powerless and forgotten. When I first saw her, she was in the palace gardens, being bullied by servants. Her face was smeared with dirt, but her eyes—her eyes burned with defiance, like a cornered wolf ready to strike. In that moment, I felt a spark of satisfaction. The system had chosen well. I saved her that day, pulling her under my protection. Using my grandfather’s influence, I paved her path to power. Step by step, I helped her ascend the throne. For her, I fought countless battles, spilling blood and sweat on the battlefield. Even Zach had nearly died protecting her once, taking a blade meant for her. His injuries were so severe that we thought he wouldn’t make it. Even Sophia, who usually avoided conflict, had argued with Olivia over it. At the time, I thought Sophia truly cared for Zach. How wrong I was. And now, standing here, listening to Olivia’s cold dismissal, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to destroy everything I had built for her. “You’re right, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice sharp with sarcasm. “Nathaniel’s heroics truly set him apart. Unlike Zach, who only nearly died taking a blade for you. Now, at least, he’s dead and out of the way. Convenient, isn’t it?” I yanked my arm free from Olivia’s grip and walked out without looking back. Let them stew in their self-righteousness. I was done.

I returned to the estate. The same estate where Zach and I had first arrived after being thrown into this world. This place had been our home. Now, Zach’s lifeless body had been brought back here at my command. I would bury him here, in the place that had been ours. And I certainly wouldn’t give Sophia another chance to defile his memory. As I stood by Zach’s coffin, my hand resting on the polished wood, a deep ache settled in my chest. Zach had always been like a little sun. Bright, carefree, full of life. He’d always had a thing for women who were strong and commanding, the kind who could keep him in line. And Sophia? She was his perfect type—adorably sweet on the outside, but with a sharp, dominant personality underneath. Eventually, Zach fell for her, hard. I still remember the way he’d grin and tell me that he didn’t want to go back to our old world anymore. “Stay here with me, Luke,” he’d say, laughing. “We can make this place home.” But now? Now Zach was gone, and I didn’t even know if he’d truly escaped this hellhole—or if he was just lost forever. How could I not hate the people who pushed him to this point? Zach and I were nothing alike. He was the forgiving one, always brushing things off with a laugh. But me? I was the kind of kid who’d destroy someone’s backpack just because they stepped on my shoes. And now someone had trampled all over me—and over Zach. Did they really think I’d just let that slide? Let’s see if they can handle the storm they’ve unleashed. “General, Sophia’s at the gates, demanding to be let in,” one of the guards informed me. I’d been expecting her. Of course, she wasn’t going to leave this alone. But late apologies are worth less than dirt. Sophia had already lost her chance. I walked out into the courtyard, keeping my expression cold as I faced her disheveled figure. “Sophia,” I said, my voice sharp and unyielding, “I’m not letting you disturb Zach again. Stop making a scene.” “Luke!” she screamed, her voice raw with desperation. “Zach was my husband! You can’t keep me away from him!” I tilted my head, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “If I remember correctly,” I said, my tone cutting, “you tore up your marriage contract, didn’t you?” Her face twisted, but before she could respond, my mind drifted back to Nathaniel—the man who had been a thorn in Zach’s side ever since he returned. Nathaniel had made it his mission to provoke Zach at every turn, subtly stirring up trouble behind his back. Zach, being Zach, kept his temper in check for as long as he could. But one day, after Nathaniel crossed the line, Zach finally snapped and gave him a well-deserved beating. Of course, Nathaniel ran straight to Olivia to play the victim. Sophia and Zach had fought bitterly about it afterward, and Zach, true to form, didn’t defend himself. Instead, he came to me, drank himself into oblivion, and went right back to doting on Sophia the next day. I wanted to step in, to put Nathaniel in his place, but Zach always stopped me. Then came the palace banquet. Zach had gone with Sophia, and at some point during the night, Nathaniel cornered him in the palace gardens. By the time I got there, both of them were being dragged out of the fountain, soaking wet. Nathaniel immediately dropped to his knees in front of Olivia, his voice trembling with fake humility. “Your Majesty,” he said, “this was all my fault. I shouldn’t have upset Zach. I lost my balance and fell into the fountain—it wasn’t his fault.” More of his carefully crafted lies. Zach just stood there, staring at Nathaniel with a coldness I’d never seen on his face before. Before Olivia could say anything, Sophia stormed over and demanded to know what had happened. I’ll never forget the way Zach’s voice cracked as he asked her, “That jade pendant—did you give it to him?” Sophia froze, and I felt a chill run down my spine. That pendant wasn’t just any piece of jewelry. It was Zach’s family heirloom, something he’d given to Sophia as a symbol of their bond. “It’s just a piece of warm jade,” Sophia said at last, her voice dismissive. “Nathaniel’s health is poor, and I thought it might help him. You gave it to me, didn’t you? So it’s mine to do with as I please.” Zach’s laugh was bitter, hollow. “Do you even remember,” he said quietly, “that I’m your husband? And you gave our keepsake to another man?” The tension was suffocating. Olivia stepped in before things could escalate further, ordering them to settle their issues at home. I don’t know what happened after that. All I know is that the next day, Zach came to me looking like a man who’d lost everything. “She tore up our marriage contract,” he said, his voice empty. As expected, the moment I mentioned the marriage contract, Sophia froze. Her face twisted with pain, but I didn’t care. I was just about to call someone to show her out when she suddenly started muttering, her voice frantic and desperate. “Let me see Zach… He has the system, doesn’t he? He’s not really dead, right?” Her words made my heart skip for a moment. I almost wondered if Zach, in one of his lovesick moments, had accidentally spilled the secret about the system to her. “I know! He was mad at me because I tore up the marriage contract! He said back then that he’d make the system send him away!” “Luke, tell me—where did he go? I’ll go find him!” Hearing this, I was sure of it. Zach, that idiot, must’ve let something slip, and Sophia had pieced things together from there. But it didn’t matter. I had no intention of entertaining her any longer. “Sophia, please leave,” I said coldly. “You’re not welcome here.” And with that, I motioned for someone to escort her out. But before the guards could even step forward, Olivia strolled in with Nathaniel trailing behind her, as smug as ever. “Sophia, what are you doing here?!” Olivia exclaimed, feigning concern. “I told you not to bother Luke right now—he’s obviously not in the mood. Why can’t you just listen to me?” Nathaniel, predictably, chimed in with his usual syrupy tone, “Sophia, you should’ve stayed back. Luke’s clearly upset, and you’re only making things worse.” His voice was so grating I wanted to plug my ears. But something in Sophia snapped. Her eyes locked onto Nathaniel like a predator eyeing its prey. “It’s you! Zach’s mad at me because of you!” Nathaniel’s eyes widened in mock disbelief. “Sophia! How could you accuse me of that?!” he said, turning to Olivia as if for support. “It’s Luke, isn’t it? He’s been poisoning you against me again!” And, of course, he made sure to throw me a wounded look, like I’d actually done something to him. Olivia stood silently, her cold gaze fixed on me, not saying a word. I didn’t spare her a glance. I wasn’t interested in their little drama—I just didn’t want them disturbing Zach’s peace. “You’ve misunderstood me completely!” Nathaniel said, reaching into his pocket with a theatrical flourish. “Look, I even brought the jade pendant. I thought it should be buried with Zach, to honor him.” The jade pendant. Sophia stared at it, her whole body trembling as she took a hesitant step forward. But before she could get any closer, I drew my sword in one fluid motion and brought it down on Nathaniel’s hand. The blade sliced through like butter. “AHHHHHHHHH!!! MY HAND!!!” Nathaniel screamed, clutching the bloody stump where his hand used to be. “Luke, have you lost your mind?!” Olivia shouted, rushing forward to grab Nathaniel. “Someone get a doctor! NOW!” “Your Majesty,” I said coldly, stepping in front of her with my sword still drawn. “If you want him treated, I suggest you head back to the palace. Your presence here is no longer welcome.” Olivia’s face darkened, her expression like a storm cloud ready to burst. “Luke,” she said, her voice low and dangerous, “you’ve gone too far this time. Do you really think I won’t act against you?” “Your Majesty!” Nathaniel’s wails interrupted her. “It hurts! My hand! Why, Luke? WHY?!” I glanced at him, his face contorted in agony, and felt nothing but disgust. “You don’t deserve to touch that pendant,” I said, my voice sharp and unyielding. “That jade belonged to Zach. It was his lifeline. And Sophia—” I turned to her, my anger boiling over. “I’m taking it back on his behalf. Now get out. All of you. Leave this place.” I signaled for the guards to escort them out. The estate gates slammed shut behind them. This estate, the General’s Estate, was a gift from the late Emperor to my family. The stone pillars at the entrance bore his inscription: Pillars of the Nation. No soldier was allowed to set foot inside without permission. Which meant Olivia had no power over me here. She had no choice but to leave, dragging Nathaniel and Sophia with her. But this was far from over. My revenge? It was only just beginning.

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