Chapter 1: Rebirth as a Prince

“Ugh…”

I couldn’t open my eyes. The world around me was nothing but darkness. It wasn’t the usual kind of darkness, though. No, it felt deeper like I was sinking into an endless abyss. My body felt weightless, yet heavy at the same time, as if the air itself was pressing against me from all sides.

Was I dead?

That thought floated through my mind. It wasn’t an unfamiliar thought. After all, my life had been anything but easy. I was a genius in a world where being poor meant being worthless. I had outshone the rich, the privileged, the so-called “elite” students of my school. But instead of admiration, all I got in return was hatred. Hatred from teachers who resented my intelligence. Resentment from classmates who couldn't stand the fact that a poor kid like me had surpassed them.

And in the end, that same hatred led to my death.

A sharp pain, the cold steel of a blade, and then darkness.

But now… this darkness felt different. There was something wrong. I wasn’t sure what, but my senses were off. I tried to think, to focus, but the only thing I could feel was a dull pressure, and the sound of my own heartbeat… no, two heartbeats.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

I froze. It was like hearing the pulse of two hearts, beating in sync. I was… alive? But that didn’t make sense. How could I still be alive? I had been killed, hadn’t I?

And yet, as if on cue, I heard voices.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

It was a deep, powerful voice. A voice filled with pride and joy.

“Your son… He’s a fine boy.”

A woman’s voice followed, soft and filled with warmth. “Yes… my precious son. My little Kol.”

Kol?

That name wasn’t mine. I was Kaito Asakura. Or at least, I had been Kaito Asakura. The top student in Japan, the one who excelled despite being poor. How had I ended up here?

As if sensing my confusion, the soft voice continued. "My dear Kol... You will be the future king. I will make sure of it."

The sound of a kiss on a forehead. Wait. My forehead? I tried to move my hands, but they didn’t respond. I couldn’t even turn my head. Everything felt wrong strange. And then it hit me.

I wasn’t just dead. I wasn’t in the afterlife. I was… reborn. The weight of the realization slammed into me. The memories of my past life of my betrayal, my death, and my despair flooded back. But now, they were being replaced with something new. A new life. A new body. A body that wasn’t mine.

I was no longer Kaito Asakura. No, now I was Kol Regalias, a newborn prince of the Kingdom of Valtaris.

I felt the soft fabric of what I assumed was royal bedding beneath me. The warmth of my mother’s arms. The scent of something… regal. Expensive. I could feel the power in the air, the strange magic that hummed just beneath the surface of everything around me.

“Kol…” my mother whispered. “You will be special. I know it. You will grow strong.”

I didn’t understand. None of this made sense. But as my tiny body began to stir, I could already feel something an overwhelming sense of power, like an endless reservoir waiting to be tapped. Magic.

I had been reborn into a world of magic, a kingdom where sorcery was as natural as breathing. And in this world, I was the son of a king. The genius who had been killed for his brilliance was now the heir to a throne.

The sensation of being reborn didn’t just end with the realization of my new life it was overwhelming. There was something almost… surreal about the entire experience. My body felt unfamiliar, and yet, I could feel the wisdom, the memories of my past life, lingering within me. My mind was sharp sharper than it had ever been, despite my current form as a helpless child.

As I lay there, cradled in my mother’s arms, I couldn’t help but notice the gentle hum of magic in the air. It wasn’t just around me; it was within me. Every breath I took seemed to pull more power into my very core. The magic flowed effortlessly through me, as natural as blinking. It was as if I had always belonged to this world, as if I had always been meant to wield this power. Magic.

In my past life, I was a genius at everything I touched math, science, even the piano. But magic? That was something entirely different. My knowledge didn’t help me here. I was still just a newborn with no understanding of how this world worked. But I knew, deep down, that I had an edge. An advantage.

As my mother continued to rock me in her arms, I noticed the room around us soft golden light filtering through tall windows, ornate tapestries hanging on the walls, and the unmistakable air of royalty. I was in a palace. It was a fact I couldn’t deny. I was no longer a poor student in a school that had crushed me underfoot. I was in the lap of luxury, surrounded by wealth and power.

The woman holding me my mother, the queen was a beautiful woman, with long, flowing auburn hair that shimmered like the finest silk. Her eyes were the color of emeralds, warm and full of affection. Her smile, though faint, was filled with love as she gazed at me. But there was something else in her eyes—a kind of determination. She was no ordinary queen. And this was no ordinary kingdom. Valtaris.

The name of this kingdom had been whispered in my mind ever since I had opened my eyes. Valtaris was a place known for its magical prowess and its rich, royal bloodlines. The Regalias family, my family now, had ruled for generations. And I, Kol Regalias, was the heir to this kingdom.

But was I ready for this? Ready for the weight of a crown that I had never asked for? Ready to rule a kingdom? As the thought passed through my mind, my mother spoke again, her voice soft but filled with an intensity I couldn’t quite place.

“Kol… You are special, my son. You are destined for greatness. The magic that courses through you... It’s something I have never seen in anyone else. You will surpass even your father one day.”

I was caught off guard by her words. Surpass my father? The king? Was she serious? I could barely move my fingers, let alone challenge someone who had spent his entire life honing his strength and leadership. But her gaze, filled with conviction, left no room for doubt. She believed in me.

I didn’t know how I felt about this new reality, but one thing was clear I had been given another chance at life. Another chance to make something of myself. Another chance to prove I was worth more than they had ever thought. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. The door creaked open, and a tall man entered my father, King Regalias.

I could feel his presence the moment he stepped into the room. His power was palpable, exuding an aura of strength and authority that seemed to fill every corner of the room. His dark, short-cropped hair framed a stern yet noble face, and his piercing blue eyes cold, calculating locked onto me immediately.

“Is it true?” The king’s voice was deep and commanding.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” my mother responded, her voice unwavering. “Kol is strong. I believe he will exceed our expectations.”

The king remained silent for a moment, staring at me as though appraising me me, a helpless baby in my mother’s arms. His gaze softened ever so slightly, but there was no mistaking the doubt in his eyes.

“Hmm.” He stepped closer, his boots clicking against the marble floor. He bent down, and for a brief moment, I thought he would speak again. But instead, he reached out and lightly brushed a finger against my forehead.

“You are my son, Kol,” he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. “But do not think that the world will bow to you simply because of your blood. Power is earned, not given. Remember that.”

His words were harsh, yet strangely motivating. He wasn’t going to coddle me. He was preparing me for the harsh realities of the world I had been born into. The world of politics, magic, and power.

I would have to earn my place in this kingdom, and that meant proving myself in ways I had never imagined. But I wasn’t afraid. In my past life, I had been betrayed, cast aside, and killed by those I trusted. I had learned the cruel lesson of powerlessness. But now… now I had power.

The king’s hand gently brushed my head, and for a moment, I wondered if he was finally showing me some fatherly affection. But the moment passed, and he straightened up, stepping back.

“Make me proud, Kol,” he said simply, his voice carrying the weight of a command.

I could only nod though it was a small, almost imperceptible movement in my infantile state. But inside, my mind was already racing. I had to learn. I had to grow. And I had to do it quickly. This world wouldn’t wait for me to catch up.

The path ahead was unknown, but one thing was certain: I would never allow myself to be weak again. Not in this life. Not when I had the power to shape my future.

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