Arthur Ludwig

Leaving aside Lily's teasing, I realized I needed to get more information about my situation. The confusion swirling in my mind wasn't fading anytime soon.

"Actually, rather than… punishment," I said, sitting up straighter in bed, "I need you to answer a few questions. Where exactly am I? And… who am I?"

Lily blinked, the playful smirk vanishing from her face as she looked at me with concern. "Young Master, are you sure you're alright? You're in your room, of course. This is the Ludwig estate, your home."

Ludwig? The name didn't sound familiar at all.

She continued, "And you are the heir of the Ludwig estate—Arthur Ludwig."

The name hit me like a punch. Arthur Ludwig? That wasn't right. I never came across this name. The only Ludwig I remembered was Emily Ludwig, one of the female characters of "Twilight of Sin". She was one of many women in Alex Stale's harem. She was strong, beautiful, and obviously there for "plot" reasons. But… I wasn't her. I couldn't be her as I am him. And if I am somehow related to her, then am I inside the game. And who was this Arthur?

"And who are you?" I asked, pushing my confusion aside.

Lily's face drooped. "You don't remember me, Young Master? I'm Lily… your personal maid. I've taken care of you since you were a child." She looked genuinely hurt, her voice trembling. "Is this some kind of punishment? How could you forget me? Your maid!"

Her rapid-fire mumbling was filled with self-pity, like she was falling into a spiral of despair. Crap. I couldn't afford to raise suspicion just yet.

"No, no, Lily, of course, I remember you," I said, trying to reassure her. "I just… I just woke up, and my mind is a bit foggy. That's all."

"Really?" she asked, her big eyes looking at me with hope.

"Yes, really. I could never forget you, Lily," I added, forcing a smile.

Her face brightened instantly, her earlier anxiety disappearing. "Oh, thank goodness!"

I inwardly cursed. I couldn't afford to press her for more information now, not after that little slip-up. I had to play it safe for a while and gather as much as I could without drawing attention. But at least I now knew two things: my name was Arthur Ludwig, heir to some estate, and if I was the same Ludwig, that I am thinking of then I am in the same world as "Twilight of Sin."

Ludwig. The name nagged at me. Emily Ludwig was a major character in the game. If I was the same Ludwig as in the game, then was I related to her somehow? Maybe her brother? Or cousin? But why didn't I ever come across my own character in the game? Was I such a minor NPC that I didn't even exist in the main plot? And now, the game's developer had sent me here as some kind of twisted punishment for my rant? How could he do that? Was he God or something?

When the developer said I'd be given a chance to "save Eldora," this couldn't have been what he meant. Suddenly, the idea of saving the world from the comfort of my gaming chair didn't seem so appealing. Inside the game, everything was different. The cute pixelated characters weren't so harmless anymore. People walked around with swords at their hips and magic in their veins, ready to cut you down or burn you alive if you got on their bad side. And that wasn't even mentioning the looming threat of demons.

I was trapped in a world where demons could devour me alive, warriors could cut me down in a fit of rage, and, worst of all, I wasn't even the main character. I wasn't Alex Stale, the chosen one. I wasn't blessed by the gods with overpowered abilities to help save the world. I was just… some extra. Some random NPC in a world where I didn't even matter. How the hell was I supposed to save Eldora? Even the hero couldn't manage it, and now some insignificant side character was supposed to pull off what the chosen one couldn't?

F** this!*

The words exploded from my mouth in a wave of frustration.

Lily, who had been standing beside the bed, jumped, startled by my outburst. "Young Master! Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell? Should I call for a healer?" She looked genuinely concerned, her wide eyes searching my face for any signs of illness.

"No," I replied quickly, trying to calm her down. "It's nothing. I just… I just remembered something unpleasant, that's all."

Lily hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the bed beside me. She leaned in, and before I knew what was happening, she had pulled my head into her chest, her soft body pressing against me. "It's alright, Young Master. I'm here," she whispered soothingly.

For a moment, my brain short-circuited. I couldn't process anything but the soft, warm feeling of her body enveloping me. My head was resting against her cleavage, my face buried in her between her boobs. The scent of her perfume filled my senses—sweet and intoxicating. My thoughts slowed to a crawl, and I couldn't help but marvel at the softness of her… assets.

What was I even thinking about again? I wondered, dazed.

Without realizing it, my hands started moving on their own. They slid down her back, feeling the smoothness of her skin beneath her clothes. Lower and lower until I reached her ass. My fingers squeezed her ass cheeks, and her skin felt like soft, pliant dough under my touch. I let out a slow breath as my mind wandered away from my earlier panic.

"You're certainly different today, Young Master," Lily teased, her voice sultry. "You've always ignored me despite all my advances, but today you're quite… attentive."

Her words brought me back to my senses with a snap, and I jerked my hands away. What the hell am I doing? This wasn't the time to get lost in the moment. I had bigger problems—like being trapped in a dangerous, demon-infested world with no idea how to survive.

But as much as I wanted to focus, my body had a different opinion. For now, I let myself stay in the moment, because who knew what the next day would bring?