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“When you get involved in things beyond your means, trouble is inevitable.”

This was something Aiden’s father, a small-time thief from a back alley with a quick wit, would always drill into him. 

“You’re not cut out for the big leagues, son.”

“Why not?”

“Because aside from being a small-time swindler with a knack for petty tricks, you aren’t really good at anything else, are you?”

“Why do you say that to your own son?”

“Live within your means. Don’t cause trouble by trying to swim in big waters. For people like us, being a small-time crook in the back alleys is just the right fit.”

“Can’t you at least say something encouraging to your son?”

“I’m doing that right now.”

Is that how it’s supposed to work?

At some point, Aiden himself came to accept these words, realizing that he wasn’t particularly good at anything. Average. Neither positive nor negative.

Other than occasionally pulling off small, annoying cons to survive, he was an insignificant criminal, barely memorable. Oh, but never big cons, only small and annoying ones, even for the victims. After all, even criminals have their limits.

This was evident in a conversation he once had with his younger sister.

“Why do you even bother keeping up appearances when you’re a criminal?”

“If you commit major crimes, you’ll eventually get noticed and face serious consequences. If you ever run into one of your victims, the worst it should come to is getting roughed up a bit.”

“Keep the family fed, take care of yourself, and don’t do anything that would make people hold a grudge. That’s how you live long.”

Aiden Kellermain’s life was just that. A typical, insignificant con artist.

Even after a bizarre event where he hit his head hard on the floor and awakened memories of a past life on a place called ‘Earth,’ this fact didn’t change much.

-Status Info-

<Aiden Kellermain>

▶ You do not have the necessary access to view the status!

▶ Your influence on the main story is extremely low!

Contact important characters to unlock special abilities!

These words appeared in a white, rectangular box floating in front of him, confirming that he was a character in a game world. 

After several days of contemplation, he came to a conclusion:

“Is it really necessary to live an extraordinary life?”

Main stories, special abilities—these would be enticing for someone who wanted to stand out. But doing great things often leads to great dangers. Living safely might be uneventful, but it’s also not dangerous.

So, Aiden decided to stay in his place. A petty criminal among petty criminals, committing crimes that were too insignificant to catch the attention of the authorities. His victims felt more pity than hatred for him.

And when living such a life, you’re bound to avoid getting involved with certain people.

[-Lord Noel is entering the Arc de Triomphe!]

[All citizens of the Empire are requested to greet her with thunderous applause!]

At that moment, a woman on the old TV screen proved to be one such person.

“Oh dear,” he sighed, watching the screen. 

The sight of the woman riding her horse through the Arc de Triomphe was enough to elicit such a reaction.

Hair as black as obsidian, as if it absorbed all the light around it, contrasting with her snow-white skin and eyes that gleamed with a red hue so intense it wouldn’t be strange to describe them as dazzling.

Some even called her the incarnation of Carva, the empire’s chief deity and goddess of war. She wasn’t just “beautiful”—her presence exuded an aura.

“… The title of the Goddess of War does suit her.”

Noel Astria Simus, the greatest warrior since the existence of the empire. The four lionhead medals pinned to her chest provided ample evidence of that. 

The Lionhearted Medal is the highest honor awarded by the imperial military. Considering the usual criteria for such honors, receiving four of the highest distinction implies that she is a human-shaped monster capable of single-handedly altering the course of a war. She could crush rocks with her fists, fly through the sky with her bare body, and, when armed, single-handedly breach fortresses. Among the “knights,” who are superhumans, she stands at the pinnacle.

She has rewritten every record in the imperial military, a talent that might only appear once in a thousand years. Her very birth was extraordinary. To someone as ordinary as Aiden, the chance to speak with her even once in his lifetime seemed impossible.

However, Aiden could add a further annotation to this assessment.

“Is she the protagonist?”

This woman was one of the key figures in the world he now found himself in—a ‘fantasy game.’ She was destined to overcome adversity and, alongside the game’s protagonist, lead the continent through an unprecedented crisis to salvation. Among the many important characters, Noel stood out with a distinct trait.

[There are rumors that Lord Noel’s marriage has caused a stir in society-]

[Just the list of candidates is said to be incredible-]

Marriage, yes. One of the most significant turning points that would determine Noel’s fate and the main storyline’s overall arc.

[Whatever the outcome, may the gods of the pantheon bless Lord Noel’s future!]

At the commentator’s words, Aiden let out a small chuckle.

“It doesn’t seem like there will be many blessings.”

Based on what he knew about the game, Lord Noel’s life would take a severe turn for the worse after her marriage. The main story would spiral into chaos around that time, and Noel herself, at this point, wouldn’t want to get close to any of the candidates.

In fact, if he remembered correctly, around this time, Noel would do anything to avoid marriage. 

And honestly, such things were of little concern to Aiden. The marriage affairs of people he’d never have any reason to interact with were just topics for gossip. Whether they saved the world or got married, those were matters for the “protagonists,” not for him.

Yes, that’s certainly what he thought.

Until a few days ago.

“You’re awake.”

Now, however,

“You’re awake,” Lord Noel was saying with a soft smile.

She was so close that he could count the blemishes on her face.

Aiden looked around with a blank stare. It was clearly an unfamiliar place. After all, he had no memory of falling asleep in a dark basement with his arms tied to a chair.

As he blinked dumbly, Noel continued speaking in a calm, emotionless voice while clipping some papers together. A quick glance revealed documents with the imperial military’s watermark, detailing his personal information and a list of his “clients.”

It was clear that his entire identity had been thoroughly exposed.

“Aiden Kellermain. I’ve heard you’re quite the seasoned con artist. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“…Lord Noel?”

“Yes, I’m Noel Astria Simus. I’ve come to you with a special request.”

The emotionless voice continued, falling steadily on his ears, even as he struggled to fully grasp the situation. Why was this person here? What could she possibly want from him?

Before he could fully process the question, his mouth instinctively began to mutter a response. It was likely a reflex, a habit from his profession, where he always had to be quick to react to others’ words.

“…A request, you say?”

“Yes. As a con artist, your job is to deceive others, right? And you’re a skilled con artist. I need to deceive someone too.”

Aiden wasn’t sure if he could truly be called “skilled,” but as he mused over this, Noel spoke again.

“I’m not one for beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct.”

After a brief pause, she said,

“Let’s get married.”

Suddenly.

“For just one year, will you pretend to be my husband?”

“I want you to deceive the entire empire.”

She dropped a verbal bombshell, accompanied by an overwhelming aftermath.

– System Message –

▶ You are in contact with ‘The Lion’, Noel Astria Simus.

▶ This is a key figure in the story. The fate of the world will be determined by how you influence her! Your influence on the main story has increased.

▶ A new special ability has been unlocked!

▶ A new event in the main story has been unlocked!

“If you get involved in things beyond your means, trouble is inevitable.”

That was what Aiden’s father always muttered like a mantra.

– System Message –

▶ The skill ‘Weaver of Fate’ has been unlocked. You can copy one skill from the target ‘Noel Astria Simus.’

▶ Interact with other important figures in the main story to unlock additional abilities!

And now, he was standing on the brink of a life-altering upheaval that would defy the core principle his father had drilled into him.

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