Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 3: The World meets the new Kai

Chapter 3: The World meets the new Kai

The first light of morning came through the cracked windows of the old mansion. For the first time in many years, House Valerius did not feel empty and sad. Kai sat quietly in front of the dusty mirror. He had been awake for almost an hour. Not because he could not sleep, but because every few minutes he would see his reflection from the side of his eye and turn to look again.

Even now, it still felt like a dream. The young man in the mirror looked like he had come from a beautiful painting. His silky white hair fell gently over his shoulders and caught the soft sunlight like fresh snow. His silver-blue eyes held a warm shine that seemed to pull in the light around him. His skin was smooth and clear, almost glowing. Every part of his face fit together perfectly. Elegant. Kind. Without a single scar or flaw.

Kai reached up and gently pinched his own cheek. "...Still real." A small laugh came from him. "If my college roommates saw me now..." He did not finish the thought. There was no reason to think about his old world anymore. He might never go back.

His face became serious. He looked around the room instead. The old peeling walls. The worn bookshelf. The broken fireplace. The furniture had once been fancy, but years without care had left it looking tired and broken. This was how the original Kai Valerius had lived. A noble by name, but trapped in his own home.

The memories from this body played in his mind. Birthday gifts that stayed wrapped because no one came. Meals left at a half-open door so people would not have to see his face. Children yelling "monster" when he went into town. Nobles laughing at him during big dinners. Servants turning away when he walked by.

Kai looked down. "...You deserved better." He was not sure if he was talking to himself or to the boy who had lived here before. But he meant it with his whole heart.

A soft knock came at the door. Three careful taps. Kai looked over. "...Come in."

There was a pause. Then another small knock. A shaky voice spoke from the other side. "You... Young Master... May I enter?"

Kai knew the voice right away. It was Edmund, the old butler. The only servant who had stayed with the family even when things got bad. "Of course," Kai said with a soft smile.

The door opened slowly with a creak. An elderly man stepped in carrying a breakfast tray. His back was bent from age, and deep lines marked his face. His old uniform still looked neat, like he took pride in his work. "...Young Mas..." His words stopped. The tray slipped from his hands.

Crash! The plates broke on the floor. Tea spilled everywhere. But neither of them moved. Edmund just stared with wide eyes. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out at first.

Kai blinked. "...Edmund?"

The old butler took a step back. "N-No..." His voice broke. "This cannot..." His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees with a thud.

Kai hurried over. "Edmund!"

Before he could help, the old man started crying. Years of held-in feelings came out all at once. His shoulders shook. "T-Young Master... I... I finally get to see your smile..."

Kai froze. "...What?"

Edmund kept his head low. "I always prayed... just once before this old servant died... that the heavens would show you kindness." His tears fell on the broken pieces. "You suffered so much. They called you a monster. They laughed. They threw stones... and this old fool could do nothing."

Kai’s chest felt tight. These were not just memories. These were real hurts from someone who had watched the boy grow up. Edmund looked up again. The young master in front of him seemed to shine in the morning light. His white hair glowed. His eyes were warm. Even the gentle way he looked made the old man’s heart hurt in a good way. "...The gods have finally opened their eyes."

Kai knelt down and helped the old butler stand up carefully. "It’s alright."

Edmund looked at the hand holding him. His eyes filled with tears again. His young master was helping him. "I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..."

Kai smiled. "For what?"

"I failed you."

"You never failed me."

Those simple words made the old man cry even more. Kai stayed beside him quietly. Sometimes being there was enough.

After a while, Edmund wiped his eyes and stood straighter. "This old servant has embarrassed himself."

Kai chuckled. "I’ve embarrassed myself plenty of times too." Edmund stared, then laughed. It was a real, warm laugh. The sound filled the lonely mansion and made it feel alive again.

Hurried footsteps came from the hallway. "You heard it too, didn’t you?" "The tray broke!" "Did something happen to the Young Master?" Three younger servants rushed to the door. They had stayed because they had nowhere else to go.

The first maid looked in and bowed right away. "M-My Lord, forgive us for disturbing you." The others bowed too. "We didn’t know there was a guest."

Kai blinked. "...Guest?"

They looked around the room. "Where is the Young Master?" one asked.

Kai smiled. "You’ve already found him."

The servants looked confused. "...Pardon?"

"I’m Kai Valerius."

One of them laughed nervously. "My Lord has quite the sense of humor."

"I’m serious."

The servants looked at Edmund. The old butler nodded with a tearful smile. "It is him."

The room went completely quiet. The young maid stepped closer slowly. She studied his face, looking for any sign of the old scars. There were none. Only clear silver-blue eyes looking back with kindness. "Young... Master?"

Kai smiled gently. "It’s me."

Her eyes turned red. She covered her mouth and dropped to her knees. The other two followed. "Please forgive us, Young Master! We never should have avoided you! We were cowards!"

Kai was surprised. "Please, stand up."

They stayed down. One servant spoke with a shaking voice. "When we first came here, we believed the bad stories. They said you were cursed. So we kept away." Another added, "We never insulted you, but we never helped either. When others mocked you, we stayed silent. That silence hurt you too."

The room was very quiet. Kai remembered the winter day from the old memories. The boy had fallen in the snow with books. The servants saw but did not help because they were scared. The boy had picked everything up himself and still thanked them.

Kai felt a lump in his throat. What lonely days that boy had lived. He breathed out slowly. "The past is the past. You don’t have to apologize forever. If you truly feel sorry, just treat me honestly from today on."

The words were simple, but they touched everyone deeply. Edmund wiped another tear. His young master had always been kind inside. Now people could finally see it.

Before they could say more, faster footsteps came. A middle-aged gardener ran in, breathing hard. "Young Master! The Royal Knights! They’re coming!"

Everything stopped. Kai’s smile faded. "So they’re here."

The gardener nodded. "Hundreds of them! They’ve reached the outer gates!"

The servants gasped. "We have to hide him!" "The cellar!" "We can help him escape through the forest!"

They moved together, not out of duty, but because they wanted to protect him. It was strange. Yesterday they might not have risked anything for the old Kai Valerius. Today they were ready to. His new appearance had made them look at him, and once they did, they saw the good person underneath.

Kai felt comforted by the system words in his mind. The beauty did not trick people. It let them see him clearly for the first time.

A loud horn sounded outside. Then another. The whole house seemed to shake. The gardener peeked through the curtains. His face went white. "There must be over three hundred knights..."

The servants gathered around Kai like a shield. Edmund stepped forward. "Young Master, if they want to arrest someone, let it be this old man. I’ve lived long enough."

Kai put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No. I won’t let anyone die for me." He smiled. "Besides, I’ve already died once. I’m done running."

The servants looked confused by his words, but his calm voice helped them feel less afraid.

Kai walked to the big windows and pulled the curtains open. Rows of knights in shining armor surrounded the mansion. Their horses moved restlessly. Flags with the royal sign waved in the wind. At the front, a stern captain shouted, "KAI VALERIUS! BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY! YOU ARE TO SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY! RESISTANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED TREASON!"

The servants flinched. Kai stayed still and watched.

The system made a soft sound.

[Scanning surroundings...]

A blue window appeared.

[SSS-Rank Husband Candidate Detected.]

[Identity Locked...]

[Distance: 42 meters.]

Kai’s heart beat faster. "...Already?"

Kai knew him. Caelum Draven. The strongest swordsman in the empire and the youngest to receive a title as "sword saint" .

In the games he was a Sword Sovereign who was not easy to play.