Claimed by the deranged Archduke of the North

The Poor Xion

Xion's body felt oddly light as he drifted back to reality from sleep. His muscles were loose and relaxed from the first proper rest he had had in almost a month.

Xion blinked his long eyelashes in a daze. He subconsciously glanced at the ceiling where he could see the time at the corner of the system interface. Ten full hours.

It was almost a miracle, considering he had spent the past week darting from shadow to shadow just so he could avoid Soren's penetrating gaze and anyone else who might notice him skulking around the estate.

With a sigh, he allowed himself a moment to sink into the comfort of the bed, letting his mind wander.

The Marquis must be busy with all the guests, he mused.

However, important people would arrive on the second and third day...Important people like Viscount Hale and his perverted son, Caspian Hale.

Caspian, Xion muttered. Oh, how he hated the way the name left a rotten taste on his tongue. It was the person who would become the source of his death.

Xion had managed to recover his health to some extent. The original Xion was far too weak and malnourished that even a strong gust of wind could have taken him away.

His now fragile body was Xion's foremost concern and also the reason he had not fled the moment Soren first molested him.

But after spending a month on eating properly, he had managed to deduce a few important things.

Firstly, his system, "The Super Mall," was a literal mall operating on a concept of Merit. Merits were points he could earn by helping others, functioning as a special currency.

Secondly, he had unlocked a new feature after collecting fifty merit points: the ability to see the time.

So, there was hope that with enough merits, he could unlock more valuable features. It was almost like moving from a regular to a VIP customer in his original world.

He had studied nearly everything in the Mall during his free time, feeling utterly giddy when he saw an actual laboratory option.

Even if the lab's price seemed to mock him for being poor in fifty different languages, he was still enthusiastic.

With a lab, he could research medicines that didn't exist in this timeline!

It was his dream to become a doctor so there was no way he was going to let some Marquis and some Caspian to ruin it.

There was an option for buying teachers with various options on the subjects. Whether the real person would appear, or it would appear in his brain like something in those sci-fi novels, Xion could not tell.

However, there was one thing for sure. His future definitely looked good!

Considering every benefit and his situation, he realized it would be best to run away on the last day of the banquet.

Even the royal prince would be there, causing enough commotion to keep his dear father, Roberto Vaelis, busy. That would clear all the obstacles from his path.

There was another pressing reason he had to stay put for just one more day: his merit points.

Why am I so poor even after transmigration? Where is my promised wealth and power?!!!

Sadly, for Xion, the animes he had seen where the main character would get isekied into a new world and get cheat like powers did not happen to him.

The silly Xion sighed at his poor luck. Throwing his wish to get rich and powerful at the back of his head, he focused on the present.

Xion needed to gather more points today to put his plan in motion. With that thought, he jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he set out to find Eli.

He walked around the empty corridors of the southern wing without fear. There was not a soul in sight, not even a servant, let alone any family members to block him.

With a small soft smile, he descended the stairs and made his way toward the kitchen. The servants were busy rushing here and there which gave him enough leisure to steal ...Ah, no, he meant to take a few things before leaving.

All this time, he did not find Eli. She must be busy with those nobles, Xion muttered while hiding in the corner of the kitchen.

He browsed the system mall to find something to hide himself. His face was deadly enough to make a noble fall let alone the normal people on the street.

There was no way he was going to risk getting caught and possibly getting sold as a sex slave.

He scrolled around the screen and his oceanic blue eyes lit up. An Ageless Cloak was displayed on the screen.

According to the instructions written below, he could be in his two hundred, or in his early teens, the onlookers would not be able to tell as long as he was wearing the grey clock. It had a feature of hiding his body, voice and even scent.

However, the price of the cloak was 1000 merit points!

This was the first time he had felt this poor!

'Welcome to the Super Mall system. Xion Aijawa can use his beginner's package for his first purchase.'

A mechanic female voice rang in his ear, jolting Xion from his internal drama.

Only then did Xion recall that he seemed to have heard something about the beginner package when he first opened his eyes in this new world.

But at that time, he was so utterly disoriented, that he almost forgot about such an important thing!

Xion excitedly clicked on the small envelope and a burst of colorful confetti covered the screen.

"Congratulations to the host, Xion Aijawa, for getting the benefits under the beginner package~

Ninety-nine percent discount on your first purchase.500 Merit points.A special medical box.

We wish you good luck with your future endeavors~"

Xion, "..." So, I am not poor but an idiot?

Author's note- Hi there, lovely readers. I hope you guys can leave your comments and votes as a form of encouragement for me to continue writing.

It is very easy to lose motivation when there is no one appreciating it. Even if there is one vocal reader, I will be immensely pleased to upload early, or daily even. It all depends on the response I will get.

This chapter is for that very sweet reader who voted the earlier chapters. Thanks a bunch, sweetheart~