'Am I... Karl?'
Somehow that was all James' mind could think of after hearing his father's words.
He ignored his mother's voice filled with joy and his father's proud expression as he tried to join everything he knew to clarify his doubts.
'Wait that symbol on the priest! And now that I think of it father has white hairs like... No... way. No I need more information. Yeah! I got it!'
James quickly shook his body fervently making his mother turn him a bit but that slight turn was enough as he was now able to look at his father.
His father's waist to be more precise.
And as he did, his breath stopped.
On his father's waist was a simple black sword hanging.
There were no designs on the scabbard and the handle was also solid black.
But what made James' heartbeat faster was not the plain sword. It was a white colored symbol engraved at the edge of the handle of the sword.
A white dragon with its white eyes glistening with wisdom, looked like a god. The symbol was unmoving yet stroked fear in anyone who looked at it.
'Holy... fuck.'
James cursed as he finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
***
Hours had passed since James understood he was, now, Karl.
He was now laying silently in a crib. It was night time, making him, officially, one day old.
At first when he found out his identity, he felt that he had got the shortest end of the stick but as he thought more he understood his situation better.
'This is not at all bad, rather this is the best it could have been!
Even if I ignore all the knowledge I know from the novel that can easily make me the best in the world, my life is already set!
As the eldest son of Duke Hearth, Karl was supposed to become the next family head, which he could not because everyone, including his father thought that he was not worthy but with me becoming Karl none of that is going to be a problem any more.
Talent was something Karl had lots of, even more than Isurt.
So, talent, strong family and last but not the least LOOKS!
The novel had described Karl as a beauty specimen and that was another reason that he was always surrounded by women.
To be honest, I don't really want to change the playboy part of Karl's personality, I mean I died virgin so fucking around a bit is not wrong at all.'
As James was enjoying his new found status, he was suddenly taken to a ball, thrown for him.
The ball room was filled with men and women, all stunningly dressed, mingling with each other.
Most of the men had white hairs, while the women's hair colors were more of a palette.
The main focus of everyone was at James or rather, Karl but none approached, as was the tradition.
Karl was not against mingling with people, rather he was pretty good at it but he did not mind the loneliness as the decoration around the room was enough to keep him busy.
It did not take long before someone entered the ball room and instead of talking to others, strolled towards Karl.
'Oh someone finally approaching!' Karl exclaimed as he looked at the approaching duo.
There was a man with black hairs and black eyes, happiness overflowing from his expression, his face wrinkled yet his vibe was that of an excited child.
Along with the man was a woman with long magenta hairs, her face giving a small yet strong smile as she walked alongside the man.
Everyone in the hall gave a slight bow to the walking couple to show their respect.
'Black hairs and black eyes huh. So that is how most of the people on earth looked like.' James thought unbeknownst to him that these hairs, though black had luster and that many people on earth would have killed to get such hairs.
'Wait, black hairs and black eyes, they are the same as mother's! This is not earth! Eye and hair color is a family trait here. So that must mean that these two are mother's parents, my grandparents!'
Karl excited at seeing his new grandparents, extended his hands towards the couple while smiling cutely.
The duo smiled brighter at the sight and increased their pace.
As they reached him, they both straightened their hands to take Karl in for a hug. Understanding, each other's intentions, they looked at Karl both their hands still pointing towards him.
'Fuck!'
It didn't take long for James or now Karl to understand the dilemma he had put himself in.
'I will just choose the one who will be able to give me more as priority.
If I go with the fact that grandpa has same colored hairs as mother then he must be the family head, so I will choose grandpa.'
As Karl quickly made his decision he shifted his body and faced his grandpa who broke into a boisterous laughter showing all his teeth as he held Karl in his arms.
'Ok plan B commence!'
James now in his grandpa's arms changed the focus and looked intently, making a cute face, at his grandma who was looking at his grandpa with a small frown. His staring made her stop frowning as she smiled and started pulling Karl's cheeks.
As he was enjoying the movement, both his grandparents, parents and everyone in the room turned towards the entrance where a couple was just entering the ball room.
Karl shook his body a little to get on a angle from which he could see the newcomers.
Everyone in the hall bowed other than his grandparents.
His grandpa laughed and shouted some stuff to the man who was approaching.
The man had a cold vibe, a stark contrast to his grandpa along with white hairs and white eyes, just like Karl and his father.
'Is he... my grandpa from father's side? Checks the respect. Then that woman should be... wait is she father's mother or aunt?'
Karl tilted his head as he looked at the woman, who walked gracefully with a gentle smile and had the common white hairs.
'Wait, now that I remember it... cousins marrying is normal in this world. It was also normal in many places on earth so not a shocker. So she must be my grandma.'
As Karl concluded his thoughts, he extended his hands towards his grandma, instinctively shying away from his grandpa's cold aura.
As the grandma happily took hold of him from his mother's side grand, he looked around to everyone's reaction and surprisingly saw the cold grandpa looking at him.
'Does he want to hold me?' Karl wondered as he extended one of his arm towards the man but unlike his expectations, the man just looked away and started talking to his mother's side grandpa.
'Ignoring me? No problem, I will do the same when I grow up. Grandpa is too loving for you, you will be grandfather.' Karl took back his empty hand as he happily looked at his new family chatting with each other with smiles on their faces... with the exception of Karl's grandfather who had a serious expression on his face unlike the grandpa who was laughing heartily.
'Oh yea I will also call father's mom as granny, makes it easier as that is what I used to call my grandma in my past life.'
After a few minutes of talking with each other, Karl's father looked towards the crowd and started speaking loudly, giving a speech.
The speech was short, followed by applause and claps by the crowd.
The party continued for a few hours with different people coming to Karl, saying something and pulling his cheeks but Karl had became too tired to entertain others.
As the party ended, Karl was put in a big and beautiful crib in a new room filled with toys.
'So this is my room.' Karl thought as he looked around.
All around the room, maids were standing... guard.
'From their expressions they want to play with me but I am not in the mood right now.
But it still feels great. Women dressed like maids will swarm me at a single cry. Living the dream life of many men back on earth kek.'
As Karl joked his thoughts went to another direction.
'I am just... 1 day old right now. So... I have to just cry if I feel hungry or want to poop till I become capable of talking... Well not like thinking will change anything.' Karl thought as he slowly closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep.