The Hero and His Harem Want Me Dead Just Because I’m the Villain’s Old

Silence.

The kind that didn't just exist in the air but settled deep in my bones.

I sat motionless on the edge of the grand bed, my thoughts tangled in the storm of memories that weren't mine. Every breath I took felt stolen, borrowed from someone who should have been here instead of me.

Alden Astoria.

That was my name now.

The eldest son of House Astoria. A noble lineage steeped in wealth, power, and a fate carved into tragedy. But more than that, I was the older brother of Isaac Astoria—the villain of this world.

Isaac.

The man destined to wage war against the hero. The man whose ambition and hatred would tear apart the kingdom.

And I?

I was nothing more than a fleeting obstacle in the grand story. A minor tragedy in the making. A disposable figure whose death would push Isaac further into darkness.

And it would happen soon.

Because if the memories flooding my mind were correct, Isaac was about to enter the Royal Academy.

The same academy where the hero and his harem resided.

I sucked in a breath, steadying myself.

I needed to move.

With effort, I forced my body up, the weight of my own existence pressing against me like chains. My balance wavered for a moment, but my legs carried me forward. I approached the grand mirror near the wardrobe, bracing myself for the sight I knew was coming.

And yet, it still hit me harder than I expected.

The man in the mirror… wasn't me.

Dark hair, slightly tousled yet elegant. Piercing golden eyes, sharp and calculating. A face that exuded nobility—handsome, refined, but distant, as if he was already accustomed to the burden of expectations.

I was beautiful in a way that felt dangerous.

No wonder they feared me.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a quiet, humorless chuckle. "So this is me now…"

The voice was deep, smooth—Alden's voice.

But I didn't have the luxury of being shaken. I needed information.

Turning away from the mirror, I strode toward the door. My steps were slow at first, but with each movement, my confidence grew. I wasn't the same man from a few minutes ago. If I was going to survive, I had to become Alden Astoria.

And Alden Astoria wouldn't hesitate.

As I reached for the door handle—

Knock. Knock.

I froze.

The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.

I wasn't ready to meet anyone yet. I still didn't know how I was supposed to act.

But the person on the other side didn't wait.

The door swung open, and a young maid stepped inside, her hands neatly folded in front of her. She was dressed in the uniform of House Astoria's servants, her posture stiff and professional. Yet, beneath that mask, I could see it—

Fear.

She wouldn't meet my eyes. Her shoulders tensed slightly as if she were bracing for something.

What kind of man had Alden Astoria been for his own servants to fear him?

The maid quickly bowed. "M-My Lord, the Duke requests your presence in the study."

I kept my expression unreadable. "Understood."

I didn't ask why. I didn't hesitate. That was how Alden would have acted.

As I walked past her, I caught the way she flinched—so subtle that most people wouldn't have noticed.

Alden Astoria had been feared.

But why?

That was something I would have to figure out.

For now, I had bigger problems.

Because if my father—Duke Astoria—wanted to see me, it meant only one thing.

The story was beginning.

And I was already running out of time.