Reincarnated as the disaster prince

It was the day Theodore was to return to school. As he donned his school uniform, the royal butler was present to ensure all preparations were perfect. Soldiers who had once mocked him now saluted and cheered in admiration. Theodore's relentless training with them had earned their respect, as his progress was undeniable. The new maids, watching from the sidelines, prayed for his safe journey, their faces filled with awe. The old maids, however, were mysteriously gone—victims of Theodore's machinations, though none suspected him.

Theodore climbed into the royal carriage. As the driver urged the horses forward, the shadows within his own shadow stirred silently, and Belial, his loyal butler, sat beside the driver. Mimi, a maid assigned to accompany Theodore at school due to his status as a crown prince, sat nearby.

Inside the carriage, Theodore closed his eyes and began training his abilities. Entering his illusionary realm, he conjured multiple shadow entities to spar with, honing his skills. The journey was uneventful, as Belial had already dealt with any potential threats.

The massive school gates came into view, adorned with towering statues of lions. The entire campus radiated mana, and Theodore's anticipation grew. Though the body he now inhabited had attended this school before, this was his first time experiencing it, his soul being from another world.

The carriage passed over a grand bridge, joining the steady stream of noble carriages. Servants bustled about, unloading luggage. Theodore's carriage, bearing the royal insignia, drew everyone's attention. Mocking laughter erupted among the crowd, a testament to the poor reputation of the body's previous owner.

When the carriage stopped, Belial stepped down, opened the door with a bow, and announced Theodore's arrival. Theodore exited gracefully, ignoring the stares and whispers. His sudden air of confidence shocked the onlookers. Belial, simmering with fury, murmured under his breath, "Soon, you will all bow before my lord as he conquers the world." Theodore shot him an annoyed glance and walked forward with dignified composure.

Among the crowd, Lady Elisa, the South Duke's daughter, stole glances at Theodore, whispering to herself, "This semester will certainly be interesting."

Floating his luggage beside him with magic, Theodore proceeded through the gates. Belial followed, glaring at everyone, his disdain for humans evident. Using a map, Theodore located his dormitory. The room was small yet lavishly furnished. Satisfied, Theodore lounged on the bed as Belial meticulously arranged his belongings.

Suddenly, a loud knock shattered the calm. Theodore, irritated but composed, allowed the intruders to enter. Three nobles, boys around ten or eleven, stepped in, clearly his classmates. The leader marched up to Theodore, grabbed his hair, and sneered, "Curse boy, why are you back? You can't even use magic. Disappear, why don't you?"

The other two laughed mockingly.

Belial's fury flared, but Theodore raised a hand to stop him. Calmly, he gripped the leader's wrist and broke his arm with a sharp twist, sending the boy into agonized screams. When the others lunged at him, Theodore used wind magic to hurl them out of the room, slamming them against the hallway wall.

Belial beamed with pride, lavishing Theodore with praises. Theodore, unamused, instructed him to lock the door and ensure no one disturbed him again. Once alone, Theodore reflected on the memories of the body he now inhabited. The boy had been relentlessly bullied—a stark contrast to Theodore's former life as Akira, where he had endured similar torment. A dark resolve ignited within him: he would never be looked down upon again.

To distract himself, Theodore meditated, focusing on breaking through to the fifth star. When progress stalled, he consulted the ancient book in his mind. The book suggested alchemical methods to accelerate his advancement. Excited, Theodore made a mental note to gather the necessary ingredients.

As night fell, Theodore ventured out to explore the school grounds. Sneaking past guards, he reached the dense forest on campus, where mana was thick in the air. Absorbing the ambient energy, he sent his shadow entities to patrol the area. Just as he was about to issue more orders, a young girl with white hair and blue eyes appeared.

The girl, oblivious to the shadow entities, regarded him neutrally. Her tone was haughty as she said, "So, you're finally healthy enough to return to school."

Theodore instantly understood their relationship was strained. Keeping his expression neutral, he curtly told her to leave.

Her shock was evident. "Are you still mad about my father's decision?" she asked.

A surge of memories overwhelmed Theodore. He clutched a nearby tree for support as he recalled the original body's history: the girl, Vivian Stirling, was his ex-fiancée. Her father, Duke Antony Stirling, had annulled their engagement, deeming Theodore a failure, and arranged for Vivian to marry someone else.

Theodore laughed bitterly at the revelation. "I should thank your father," he said coldly. "I have no interest in marriage, least of all to a child."

Vivian was taken aback. As she tried to sit beside him, Theodore stood and walked away. She followed persistently, her behavior testing his patience. Finally, he turned and snapped, "Children like you should focus on studying. Don't involve yourself in my life."

Her playful demeanor faltered. "Why have you changed so much?" she whispered. "You were weak and timid, but now… you're different."

Theodore smirked. "From now on, pretend we don't know each other. You're irrelevant to my plans."

Vivian's confusion turned to hurt as Theodore left her alone in the forest. Her sobs echoed in the quiet night, and a spectral figure resembling her emerged, comforting her. The entity, a manifestation of her cursed split personality, grinned wickedly and whispered, "Make him yours, Vivian."

Theodore, watching through his shadow entities, smirked at the revelation. Vivian's darker side intrigued him. "A useful tool," he mused. For now, he would let her be, focusing instead on his own growth.

Back in his room, Belial served tea, laughing at the possibilities. "Will you hide your power, my lord?"

Theodore's smile turned sinister. "No. Let the world see my strength. Fear and respect will be my legacy."

Belial, overwhelmed with devotion, knelt and kissed Theodore's feet. "I will serve you forever, my lord."