Oliver was still admiring the Avellion XG when the realization hit me like a quiet slap.
'Wait… I don't have a license.'
For a long second, I just stood there beside the car, nodding like everything was still in control. The keys were in my hand—shiny, sleek, and utterly useless. I couldn't exactly roll up to a public road and just start driving without paperwork. Especially not in a car worth more than most people's homes.
[That's right, Cedric. You currently have zero legal documentation to operate a vehicle in this country. Not even a learner's permit.]
'Yeah, thanks for the reminder.'
[You're welcome.]
I turned toward Oliver, who was still circling the Avellion like it might take off and fly.
"Hey," I called out, trying to sound casual, "you drive, right?"
He blinked at me, then gave a small laugh. "Yeah. Why?"
I dangled the keys between two fingers, grinning. "Because I just realized something… embarrassing."
He raised an eyebrow. "Embarrassing how?"
"I may or may not have forgotten one tiny detail," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "I don't actually have a license."
Oliver stared at me for a beat, then burst out laughing. "Wait—you're telling me you own two Aristovaults, and you can't legally drive either of them?"
I chuckled, a bit sheepishly. "Not yet, no. I've been… abroad for a while. Paperwork's still catching up."
[Excellent improvisation, Cedric. Smooth.]
"Unbelievable," Oliver muttered, still smiling as he shook his head. "You're ridiculous."
I grinned. "That a yes?"
He sighed, clearly amused. "Yeah, alright. I'll drive. But only if I get to pick which one."
"Deal."
He immediately made a beeline for the Virella R9.
I couldn't help the smile that crept across my face as I slipped into the passenger seat. Maybe I wasn't behind the wheel just yet—but even so, I was still steering the conversation exactly where I wanted.
[Well played, Cedric.]
'Thanks. Now let's just make sure he doesn't crash a car worth ten mansions.'
As the engine purred to life beneath us, Oliver grinned behind the wheel like a kid handed candy. The Virella R9 roared as he pulled us smoothly onto the road, drawing a few looks from pedestrians nearby. The tinted windows gave us privacy, but inside, I was painfully aware of how out of place I still felt.
While he chatted casually about the car's specs—something about torque and horsepower—I stared out the window, hiding the small sigh that escaped me.
'The real reason I don't have a license?'
It wasn't because I hadn't thought about it. It was because I was broke. Not the 'I'll save up for it later' kind of broke—but the kind where every cent counted.
Back in my old life, I was just a college student trying to make it through each month. Part-time jobs, instant noodles, secondhand shoes. A license was a luxury I couldn't afford.
No parents. No backup. No safety net. Just me, surviving.
'And now here I am, sitting in a car that probably costs more than out entire dormitory... in a city I don't belong to... with people who think I'm something I'm not.'
[You're doing well, Cedric. They believe you.]
'That's not what I'm worried about,' I thought quietly. 'I'm not sure I believe me.'
Oliver shifted gears with practiced ease, clearly enjoying himself. "Man, this thing handles like a dream. I'd kill to have something like this in my garage."
I glanced at him, managing a smile. "Well, enjoy it while you can. I'm trusting you not to crash it."
He laughed. "No pressure, huh, Young Master Cedric?"
'Great. Even he's using that now,' I thought dryly.
[Don't worry. You'll earn it. Just keep playing the part.]
I leaned back in the seat, feeling the soft leather against my shoulders. Outside, the city moved by in a blur. Inside, my head was a little too loud, a little too full of memories I couldn't shake.
Oliver was still rambling about the car's acceleration when I glanced at the dashboard clock. My heart skipped for a moment.
'I can't take him back to the dorm. No way. That place looks like it's about to collapse under a strong breeze.'
I cleared my throat and straightened a little in my seat. "Hey, Oliver—could you drop me off somewhere else instead?"
He blinked, looking over for a second before returning his eyes to the road. "Sure. Where to?"
"Villa Élysée."
There was a pause. A very long one.
He shot me a sideways glance. "Villa Élysée? The Villa Élysée? The one by the cliffside?"
I nodded with a perfectly straight face. "That's the one."
He let out a low whistle. "Damn, Young Master Cedric… I knew you were rich, but that place's legendary. I thought it was some diplomat's summer home or something."
I smiled faintly, even as I swallowed the tight knot in my chest.
In truth, I had never even seen the place in person. The system had handed me the deed through a so-called "lucky draw," bundled with a few other absurdly luxurious items like the Aristovaults. According to the system, it had been fully furnished and maintained by an in-house team. All I had to do was show up.
[Smart choice, Cedric. Always act like it's normal.]
'Yeah, normal. Just another billionaire's villa I won.'
I turned back to the window as the city started to shift around us, buildings growing more distant, the streets quieter, more elegant. Fountains. Gates. Manicured hedges.
This was not a neighborhood for someone who used to survive on microwave noodles and walked to class because bus fare was too much sometimes.
Oliver whistled again as the navigation led him through the last turn. "I gotta admit, I'm impressed. You don't really flaunt any of this."
"I try not to," I replied with a shrug, trying to sound casual. "Privacy is worth more than gold, these days."
He nodded, as if that made perfect sense.
And me? I just sat there praying the gate would recognize my biometric passcode like the system promised.
'Please don't make me stand there like an idiot...'
[Relax. Everything has been pre-set for your arrival. Welcome home, Cedric.]
As we approached the towering wrought iron gates of Villa Élysée, the air around us seemed to shift, as if the grandeur of the place had begun to weigh down on the atmosphere.
Two guards, standing at attention, glanced at the car as it slowed to a stop in front of the gates. They didn't look overly imposing—just typical security—but I could see the practiced calm in their eyes.
They were used to dealing with the elite, the wealthy, the powerful. But the car we were in... well, I could already tell it was making them think twice.
One of them raised a hand to signal us to stop, and with a sharp, professional gaze, he asked, "Name and purpose?"
Oliver, still slightly confused by everything, glanced at me, waiting for me to take the lead. I leaned forward in the passenger seat, clearing my throat.
"Cedric Ravensleigh," I said with quiet authority, my voice steady despite the internal turmoil. I wasn't used to saying that name in this context. "The new owner."
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw a shift in both guards' demeanor. Their postures stiffened, and they exchanged a quick, silent glance. The recognition was instantaneous—perhaps they had seen my name on some exclusive list, or perhaps the authority in my tone triggered something deeper.
"The Cedric Ravensleigh?" the first guard asked, his tone softening just a fraction, revealing an undercurrent of disbelief.
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral, though I was secretly impressed by the immediate change in their behavior. I wasn't exactly used to having my name carry that kind of weight, especially when it was just an alias for a college student with nothing but debts and unpaid tuition behind him.
[Gate authorization accepted. Welcome home, Cedric.]
I barely suppressed a grin as I heard the system's message in my mind. The gates began to open slowly with a mechanical hum, and I could feel the shift in the guards' posture as they stepped back, now standing at attention, clearly surprised by the sudden shift in their treatment.
"My apologies for the inconvenience, Young Master Ravensleigh," the first guard added, giving a slight bow. "We weren't informed of your arrival today."
I nodded, acknowledging the apology with a simple, "No problem. It was a last-minute decision."
Oliver's gaze flicked between me and the guards, a mixture of confusion and awe written across his face. I could feel his curiosity bubbling beneath the surface, but there wasn't much I could do to explain. The truth was still too complicated to reveal.
As we drove past the gate, I couldn't help but feel a bit of relief, even if it was brief. The estate was more magnificent than I had remembered. The driveway stretched ahead of us, winding through meticulously kept gardens, trees trimmed to perfection, and flowers blooming in neat rows.
The villa itself loomed in the distance, its marble columns and glass windows gleaming in the soft light of the afternoon.
I had to admit, it looked even more surreal up close. It was as if I had stepped into another world—a world where I didn't belong, and yet, here I was. For a brief moment, I felt the weight of the place. The grandeur. The power that came with it.
Oliver let out a soft, amazed whistle beside me as the car wound its way toward the villa's front entrance. "I can't believe you own this place. I mean, this is..." He trailed off, unable to find the right words.
I gave him a dry, amused glance. "Maybe you're starting to get the picture."
He shook his head, half-laughing. "Honestly, I didn't expect you to be this—well—this."
"You're not the only one," I murmured to myself. The system's draw hadn't been the wildest part of the story. That was yet to come.
We drove closer to the front, where the villa's golden gates stood open to greet us. The beauty of the place was overwhelming, and I couldn't help but wonder, 'How long will this last?' I didn't belong here—not in the traditional sense. But for now, it was my reality.
[This is your home, Cedric. Get used to it.]
The system's words echoed through my mind, and I allowed myself a brief moment of calm. It felt... strange. But, somehow, I wasn't scared.