The next day, I woke up feeling a bit disoriented. My mind was still tangled in a mess of etiquette, luxurious behaviors, and the fear of failing my task. But something felt different—something subtle, like a shift I couldn't quite explain. I tried to shake it off as I got out of bed, stretching my sore muscles and rubbing my eyes, but it lingered in the back of my mind.
As I made my way to the dormitory's common room, still groggy from lack of sleep, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My posture was... different. My back was straighter than usual, my shoulders squared, and there was an odd kind of confidence in the way I stood, like I was supposed to be there, like I belonged in this space.
I blinked, confused. Had the system's constant lessons been sinking in this quickly? It couldn't be. But I couldn't deny it—I felt like I was carrying myself with an aura I had never had before.
It wasn't long before Ethan, Luke, and James walked in, talking amongst themselves about their day ahead. But as soon as they caught sight of me, they stopped, their eyes immediately fixing on me.
"Hold up," Luke said, squinting slightly as he studied me. "Cedric, is that you?"
I glanced at him, not sure what he meant. "Uh, yeah? What's up?"
James raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Dude, what happened to you? You're standing so... so straight. Like you're some kind of noble or something."
I froze, not sure how to respond. Had I really been holding myself like that? It wasn't something I was consciously trying to do—it just... happened. But I couldn't tell them that. They would think I was losing it.
Ethan snickered from the side. "I knew it," he said, pointing a finger at me. "Cedric's gone full nobleman on us. Look at him! All high and mighty, like he's royalty or something."
"Seriously, man," Luke added, grinning. "I'm waiting for you to pull out a monocle or a cane next. You've got this whole 'I'm better than you' vibe going on."
I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment, but at the same time, I couldn't stop the way I was acting. It was like I had learned to move and speak this way without even trying.
"I—uh—don't know what you mean," I said, trying to shake off the awkwardness, but my voice came out more formal than I had intended. "I'm just... standing, I guess."
Ethan and James exchanged amused looks. "Oh, you're standing, alright," James teased. "Standing like you own the place."
Luke laughed, clearly enjoying the teasing. "At this rate, you'll be holding court by the end of the week, Cedric. Don't forget us little people when you're sitting on your throne."
I let out an exasperated sigh, trying to play it cool. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll... I'll try to tone it down."
But deep down, I was a little freaked out. I hadn't meant to act like a noble, but it was happening without my control. Was this the system's doing? Was I becoming what it wanted me to be?
It didn't help that I couldn't shake the feeling that I was slipping further into a role I hadn't fully understood. And now, my friends were noticing. Every movement I made, every word I spoke, seemed to give them more fuel for their teasing.
But even as they joked, I couldn't deny the strange satisfaction that came with it. They might think I was acting weird, but deep down, I felt like I was starting to get it. Starting to look the part. Whether I liked it or not.
Later that day, Luke returned to the dormitory, the Velviora watch back on my wrist. But there was something else in his hand: a small, neatly wrapped package.
"I didn't forget," Luke said, grinning mischievously as he handed it over to me. "Lily wanted me to give you something. A little gift for being so generous with the watch."
I looked down at the package, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Luke's grin widened. "It's some skincare stuff," he said, leaning in a bit closer. "Lily thought you might need it, seeing how you're all... 'noble' now." He winked, clearly enjoying the teasing. "You know, for your new fancy lifestyle."
I blinked, taking the package from him. Inside, I found a set of high-end skin care products—creams, serums, lotions, and some facial masks. It was all very... well, luxurious in its own way. I could only laugh awkwardly, unsure what to say.
The others, seeing me holding the products, began to tease me in unison.
"Oh, now he's got skincare too?" James said, feigning surprise. "What's next? A personal masseuse?"
"I'm telling you, Cedric," Ethan added with a grin, "You're really pulling off this noble thing. A little pampering never hurt anyone."
I sighed, setting the skincare products down on the table, my mind racing. I hadn't even realized I was acting this way, but it seemed like my friends were more and more convinced of it. Luke's gift, though meant as a joke, felt oddly fitting. Maybe I was turning into someone I didn't recognize.
But before I could overthink it, the others had already begun to move.
"Come on," Luke said, picking up the skincare products and tossing me a small bottle of face cleanser. "Let's get you cleaned up, man. You've got the looks. You just need to show it off a bit."
Ethan and James nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah," James said. "We've all been wanting to give you a makeover anyway."
I rolled my eyes but didn't protest. What was I going to do, refuse their help? They were already practically pushing me into the bathroom.
It didn't take long before I was sitting on the edge of my bed while they fussed over me, applying different lotions, creams, and the occasional face mask. It felt strange to have them taking care of me like this, but I couldn't help but laugh along with their antics.
"You've got a natural glow to you, Cedric," Ethan remarked, inspecting my face. "I mean, look at you. If you dressed like this every day, you'd be mistaken for a celebrity."
I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. "You're all crazy. I'm not a celebrity. I'm just... me."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "That's the problem, man. You're just you. But you've got all this potential that's going to waste if you keep dressing like... well, this." He gestured to my worn-out clothes, which had certainly seen better days. "I mean, no offense, but you've got this perfect skin and features. If you just put in a little effort, you could be walking around like you own the place."
I glanced at myself in the mirror after they were finished applying the skincare products. To my surprise, I did look a little different. The skin on my face was clearer, smoother, and somehow... brighter.
I'd never paid attention to how much potential I had. I had always just been the guy who didn't stand out, who was more focused on surviving than making a splash.
But standing there now, after a few minutes of self-care and some new grooming, I couldn't ignore the fact that the mirror was showing someone who looked better.
Not just better in a sense of being well-groomed, but in a way that could easily be mistaken for someone much more refined. If I dressed the part, I could definitely see how I might pass for someone with a higher status.
"I guess you're right," I muttered, taking in my reflection. "I do look a little different."
James smirked. "See? We told you. All you need is a little help from your friends."
Luke patted me on the back. "I told you, man. This is how you start acting like a noble. You've got the looks, now you just need to wear the right clothes. But hey, one step at a time."
I couldn't help but laugh again, though it was a little nervous. "Right. Noble. I'll work on that."
It felt strange, but at the same time, I couldn't ignore the flicker of excitement deep down. Maybe, just maybe, there was something to this new path I was walking.
The system had already set things in motion. And if I could master this new role, maybe I'd start to feel like I belonged in a world I'd never thought I'd be a part of.
---
As I stood in front of the mirror again, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and anxiety.
The 72 hours of intense training with the system were officially over, and it was time for my assessment. I had spent days studying etiquette, posture, speech—everything that supposedly would transform me into someone capable of acting noble. And today, I would find out if all that effort had paid off.
I looked at myself in the mirror, still a little surprised by how different I looked now. The skincare routine had worked wonders, and I was dressed in a more refined version of my usual clothes—still simple, but a definite step up from my usual t-shirts and jeans.
I had a button-up shirt, dark trousers, and polished shoes, all fitting better than anything I'd ever worn before. The watch Luke had borrowed and returned was also a part of my ensemble, an unexpected symbol of wealth and sophistication I hadn't fully appreciated until now.
In a way, I couldn't help but feel a little proud of my appearance. Not just for how I looked, but for how much I had learned in such a short time. My posture was straighter, my movements more deliberate.
When I spoke, I felt like the words had a certain weight to them, like I was saying things with purpose, rather than just speaking because I had to. It was as if I had truly started to embody the noble persona.
The thought brought a small, satisfied smile to my face, but then the reality of the assessment hit me.
I wasn't just dressing like a noble or learning etiquette to look good. The assessment today would determine if I passed the task the system had set for me. If I passed, I'd receive a reward—a draw to gain something useful for my journey toward wealth. But if I failed, the debt I'd accumulated would double. The pressure was real, and I couldn't afford to mess this up.
Focus, Cedric, I reminded myself. This is just another part of the plan.
I took a deep breath and adjusted my tie, trying to calm my nerves. There was a part of me that still doubted I could pull this off—after all, I wasn't actually a noble, and everything I had learned felt so new. But then again, I had made it this far, and I wasn't going to let the fear of failure stop me now.
I glanced over at my phone—it was almost time for the assessment. My friends were probably out and about, busy with their own plans, but for now, this moment was all about me. I had to prove that I could act the part, that I could step into this new role, even if it was just for this task.
The system's voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
[Your 72-hour training period has ended. It is now time for your assessment. Please prepare yourself.]
I took one last look in the mirror, straightened my shirt, and nodded to my reflection.
"Let's do this," I whispered to myself.
As I made my way out of the dorm, the weight of the upcoming test felt like a constant companion. It wasn't just about passing—it was about showing myself that I could make this change, that I could grow into someone different, someone who could really make something of himself.
No matter how noble or fake I felt, this was my chance.