Arthur Asvold was a character in a novel he had read just hours before his death.
The book was titled 'The Birth of the Elemental Lord' and was so popular that it made it to the top 10 bestsellers at the time.
However, he found the novel quite boring.
Although the storytelling was skillful and some characters were intriguing, he couldn't connect with the main character, whom he thought was dull and uninteresting.
He couldn't fathom how the author relied so heavily on the protagonist's plot armor.
It seemed like the character could conquer the world with ease, and that irked him.
As someone knowledgeable and talented in literature, the book held little appeal for him.
Consequently, he had not finished reading the entire novel, skipping several chapters until he reached the middle of the story.
Unfortunately for him, Arthur Asvold turned out to be the antagonist of the book, merely serving as a foil for the protagonist's progression.
This revelation only added to his annoyance.
In retrospect, he began to wonder if he had somehow reincarnated into the fantasy world of the novel.
He couldn't be entirely certain, considering it might just be a coincidence that his name matched the characters in the book.
As a result, he felt the need to confirm this and formulate plans for the future.
If it turned out that he had not actually become 'Arthur' in the novel 'The Birth of the Elemental Lord,' he had already made preliminary plans for his future.
However, if his suspicion proved correct, it was clear that he would need to adjust his plans accordingly.
Elizabeth's soft voice abruptly stirred him from his thoughts, and she smiled tenderly as she inquired, "Do you like the name, my little angel?"
"Even though I despise your father, the name he chose for you is quite good," Elizabeth remarked with a hint of coldness in her tone, and her gaze suddenly bore a strong sense of hostility.
This sent shivers down his spine.
"What on earth? How can she suddenly exude such intense hostility? Is this still my gentle mother?" Zayn, who had embraced his new name in this world as Arthur, was genuinely taken aback and harbored doubts about the woman in front of him.
"How could my wretched father in this world cause my mother to become like this?"
"It seems like I'll have to wait until I grow up to uncover the truth," he murmured to himself.
Afterward, he overheard his mother whisper.
"Nevertheless, he is your father and the head of the Duke Asvold family in the Balka Empire."
"So, naturally, I can't dispose of him and execute my ten-year plan anytime soon, can I, my dear?" Elizabeth continued her words, carrying both deep affection and a cutting edge.
He began to question himself: had his mother discerned that he could understand her words and spoken to him intentionally, or was she merely talking to herself while he happened to be present?
However, after considering the possibilities, he leaned more toward the latter.
"Uaaa~ Uaaa~," Arthur attempted to maintain the facade of a baby, fearing that his assumptions were incorrect and Elizabeth genuinely knew that he understood her.
At the very least, he could continue concealing his identity as a reincarnated individual.
After all, this was a world of fantasy where conventional wisdom didn't necessarily apply, right?
"Oh, is my little angel hungry?"
"Alright, let's return to the bedroom, and you can have as much to eat as you desire, my dear." Elizabeth planted a kiss on his tiny cheek and giggled.
"Uaaa~" Arthur raised his little hands and affectionately clasped Elizabeth's face, closing his tiny eyes.
Soon, Elizabeth stood and made her way to the bedroom, cradling Arthur in her arms.
...
In the bedroom
Elizabeth opened her dress, revealing two huge white mountains right in front of Arthur.
"Well, time to eat, my dear," Elizabeth said with a soft smile as she reclined on the bed and hummed a little tune.
Arthur closed his eyes and sucked quietly, but inside his mind, he was in a state of great panic.
He had, in fact, crossed over into the world of the novel "The Birth of the Elemental Lord," a speculation he'd made earlier.
The Balka Empire and Duke Asvold's family were the focal points of his mother's previous words, and he couldn't overlook them.
"I really have crossed into the world of the novel, and, to make it worse, it seems I've assumed the role of Arthur, who suffered a tragic fate." Arthur sighed, pondering something.
He opened his tiny eyes and gazed at Elizabeth, who was nursing him while resting on the bed.
Elizabeth looked back at him with affectionate eyes and a gentle smile.
"Damn! Damn! How could I have been so naive?"
"I should have realized this from the start!" Arthur was horrified within as he observed Elizabeth's gentle smile.
But there was no warmth in that smile—only a smile filled with obsession.
A smile strikingly similar to... Charlotte's!