Reincarnated as the disaster prince

Theodore leaned back in his chair, savoring the delicate flavor of his tea. The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of Belial organizing documents on a nearby table. A satisfied smirk played on Theodore's lips. The day's events had gone precisely as he intended, and the month-long suspension was a delightful bonus.

Belial glanced at his master's expression, unable to suppress his curiosity. "My lord, I trust you enjoyed today's… entertainment? But tell me, what punishment did the teachers decide upon?"

Theodore's smirk deepened. "Suspension for a month. Convenient, really. Finally, I'm free from those irritating children."

Belial chuckled softly. "But, my lord, you are a child yourself."

Theodore hesitated for a brief moment, his smirk faltering. If only he knew.

"About that," Theodore said, his voice dropping to a thoughtful tone. "Belial, I'm not originally from this world."

Belial froze mid-step, his crimson eyes widening in shock. "What?"

Theodore leaned forward, swirling his tea idly. "My soul came from a place called Earth. A world devoid of mana or magic. Instead, humans there created technology far beyond anything this world has seen."

Belial stared at him, his usually calm demeanor shaken. "Does the God of Shadows know this? And Mr. Roman?"

Theodore nodded. "They're aware. It's likely why the God of Shadows chose me. But there's something strange—when I died on Earth, I felt a presence, something dragging my soul before I could ascend to whatever afterlife awaited me. I suspect it was one of the gods of this world."

Belial's expression darkened. "Do you intend to find out which god dared to interfere?"

Theodore's gaze sharpened. "Of course. And when I do, they'll regret it."

Belial hesitated, then asked cautiously, "My lord, what was your name in your previous life?"

Theodore's hand stilled. He set his teacup down, his expression unreadable. "Why do you wish to know?"

Belial bowed his head slightly. "Because even if this is a new life, your past is still a part of you. I only wish to understand my master better."

Theodore stared at him for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "I appreciate your loyalty, Belial, but that name belongs to a life I've left behind. One day, I may tell you. But for now, it holds memories I'd rather not revisit."

Belial nodded, sensing the finality in his master's tone. "As you command, my lord."

Theodore leaned back, his crimson eyes glinting. "Even the God of Shadows doesn't know my name. Take pride in that, Belial. Few have kept secrets from a god."

Belial's lips twitched into a small smile. "You never cease to amaze me, my lord."

Theodore's gaze turned serious. "Now, tell me—what have you uncovered about Mr. Roman?"

Belial's expression tightened. "Very little, my lord. The academy's records state that he was once a student here, centuries ago. During his time, he exposed a secret cabal of elders and teachers who practiced dark magic. The imperial palace intervened, and the guilty were publicly executed—beheaded in the town square or fed to pigs."

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "What motivated him to expose them? Was he a victim of their schemes?"

"I couldn't find anything concrete," Belial admitted. "But his mana… it's unnatural. Massive, overwhelming. I suspect he's no longer human."

Theodore's eyes narrowed. "A mortal doesn't live for centuries. Either he's made a deal with a god, or he's something entirely different. Continue investigating, Belial. There's more to this man than meets the eye."

Belial bowed. "As you wish, my lord."

At that moment, Mimi entered the room, her expression calm but her voice tense. "My lord, the queen has sent a letter. She's ordered her men to ensure your death—and tonight, under the full moon, her agents are meeting me to discuss the progress of the poison."

Theodore's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "It seems my plan is falling into place. Belial, prepare yourself. You'll witness something entertaining tonight."

Belial's eyes gleamed with excitement. "As you command, my lord."

Under the light of the full moon, Mimi walked through the dense forest, her footsteps soft against the fallen leaves. Behind her, concealed by layers of shadow magic, Theodore and Belial followed silently.

When Mimi reached the clearing, she signaled Theodore. Moments later, several men emerged from the shadows, their leader stepping forward.

"Have you been poisoning the prince as instructed?" the leader demanded.

Mimi nodded, her expression fearful. "Yes. But someone must be helping him. He's still alive."

The leader's face twisted with anger. "And why haven't you dealt with them?"

"I will," Mimi stammered. "Please, just give me more time."

The leader sneered and grabbed her hair, yanking her head back roughly. Mimi gasped, struggling against his grip.

Hidden in the shadows, Belial's fists clenched. "My lord," he whispered angrily. "They're hurting her. Why do you remain so calm?"

Theodore chuckled softly. "Because she's acting, Belial. Don't forget—Mimi is merely a shadow possessing the body of the real maid. Pain means nothing to her."

Belial blinked, then flushed with embarrassment. "Of course. Forgive my short-sightedness, my lord."

Theodore smirked. "No need. Enjoy the show."

The leader slammed Mimi's head against a tree, snarling, "The queen is furious. You'll face her judgment tomorrow at the marquis's estate."

Mimi whimpered convincingly, her gasps and tears earning a flicker of amusement from Theodore. "She's quite the actress," he murmured.

When the men finally left, Theodore stepped into the clearing, his crimson eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Well done, Mimi. You played your part beautifully."

Mimi straightened, her tears vanishing as her face returned to its usual monotone expression. "Thank you, my lord."

Belial draped his coat over her shoulders, earning a faint smile from the shadow maid.

Theodore's gaze turned toward the distant lights of the marquis's estate. "The academy isn't far from their territory. Tomorrow, we'll visit. I suspect things are about to become far more interesting."

Belial grinned. "Shall I prepare the carriage, my lord?"

Theodore's smirk widened. "No need. We'll travel in the shadows. Let the queen think she's won—until it's too late."

Theodore leaned back in his chair, savoring the delicate flavor of his tea. The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of Belial organizing documents on a nearby table. A satisfied smirk played on Theodore's lips. The day's events had gone precisely as he intended, and the month-long suspension was a delightful bonus.

Belial glanced at his master's expression, unable to suppress his curiosity. "My lord, I trust you enjoyed today's… entertainment? But tell me, what punishment did the teachers decide upon?"

Theodore's smirk deepened. "Suspension for a month. Convenient, really. Finally, I'm free from those irritating children."

Belial chuckled softly. "But, my lord, you are a child yourself."

Theodore hesitated for a brief moment, his smirk faltering. If only he knew.

"About that," Theodore said, his voice dropping to a thoughtful tone. "Belial, I'm not originally from this world."

Belial froze mid-step, his crimson eyes widening in shock. "What?"

Theodore leaned forward, swirling his tea idly. "My soul came from a place called Earth. A world devoid of mana or magic. Instead, humans there created technology far beyond anything this world has seen."

Belial stared at him, his usually calm demeanor shaken. "Does the God of Shadows know this? And Mr. Roman?"

Theodore nodded. "They're aware. It's likely why the God of Shadows chose me. But there's something strange—when I died on Earth, I felt a presence, something dragging my soul before I could ascend to whatever afterlife awaited me. I suspect it was one of the gods of this world."

Belial's expression darkened. "Do you intend to find out which god dared to interfere?"

Theodore's gaze sharpened. "Of course. And when I do, they'll regret it."

Belial hesitated, then asked cautiously, "My lord, what was your name in your previous life?"

Theodore's hand stilled. He set his teacup down, his expression unreadable. "Why do you wish to know?"

Belial bowed his head slightly. "Because even if this is a new life, your past is still a part of you. I only wish to understand my master better."

Theodore stared at him for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "I appreciate your loyalty, Belial, but that name belongs to a life I've left behind. One day, I may tell you. But for now, it holds memories I'd rather not revisit."

Belial nodded, sensing the finality in his master's tone. "As you command, my lord."

Theodore leaned back, his crimson eyes glinting. "Even the God of Shadows doesn't know my name. Take pride in that, Belial. Few have kept secrets from a god."

Belial's lips twitched into a small smile. "You never cease to amaze me, my lord."

Theodore's gaze turned serious. "Now, tell me—what have you uncovered about Mr. Roman?"

Belial's expression tightened. "Very little, my lord. The academy's records state that he was once a student here, centuries ago. During his time, he exposed a secret cabal of elders and teachers who practiced dark magic. The imperial palace intervened, and the guilty were publicly executed—beheaded in the town square or fed to pigs."

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "What motivated him to expose them? Was he a victim of their schemes?"

"I couldn't find anything concrete," Belial admitted. "But his mana… it's unnatural. Massive, overwhelming. I suspect he's no longer human."

Theodore's eyes narrowed. "A mortal doesn't live for centuries. Either he's made a deal with a god, or he's something entirely different. Continue investigating, Belial. There's more to this man than meets the eye."

Belial bowed. "As you wish, my lord."

At that moment, Mimi entered the room, her expression calm but her voice tense. "My lord, the queen has sent a letter. She's ordered her men to ensure your death—and tonight, under the full moon, her agents are meeting me to discuss the progress of the poison."

Theodore's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "It seems my plan is falling into place. Belial, prepare yourself. You'll witness something entertaining tonight."

Belial's eyes gleamed with excitement. "As you command, my lord."

Under the light of the full moon, Mimi walked through the dense forest, her footsteps soft against the fallen leaves. Behind her, concealed by layers of shadow magic, Theodore and Belial followed silently.

When Mimi reached the clearing, she signaled Theodore. Moments later, several men emerged from the shadows, their leader stepping forward.

"Have you been poisoning the prince as instructed?" the leader demanded.

Mimi nodded, her expression fearful. "Yes. But someone must be helping him. He's still alive."

The leader's face twisted with anger. "And why haven't you dealt with them?"

"I will," Mimi stammered. "Please, just give me more time."

The leader sneered and grabbed her hair, yanking her head back roughly. Mimi gasped, struggling against his grip.

Hidden in the shadows, Belial's fists clenched. "My lord," he whispered angrily. "They're hurting her. Why do you remain so calm?"

Theodore chuckled softly. "Because she's acting, Belial. Don't forget—Mimi is merely a shadow possessing the body of the real maid. Pain means nothing to her."

Belial blinked, then flushed with embarrassment. "Of course. Forgive my short-sightedness, my lord."

Theodore smirked. "No need. Enjoy the show."

The leader slammed Mimi's head against a tree, snarling, "The queen is furious. You'll face her judgment tomorrow at the marquis's estate."

Mimi whimpered convincingly, her gasps and tears earning a flicker of amusement from Theodore. "She's quite the actress," he murmured.

When the men finally left, Theodore stepped into the clearing, his crimson eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Well done, Mimi. You played your part beautifully."

Mimi straightened, her tears vanishing as her face returned to its usual monotone expression. "Thank you, my lord."

Belial draped his coat over her shoulders, earning a faint smile from the shadow maid.

Theodore's gaze turned toward the distant lights of the marquis's estate. "The academy isn't far from their territory. Tomorrow, we'll visit. I suspect things are about to become far more interesting."

Belial grinned. "Shall I prepare the carriage, my lord?"

Theodore's smirk widened. "No need. We'll travel in the shadows. Let the queen think she's won—until it's too late."