Chapter 1: What a Life

Kevin, who's now named as Jerome, stared at his own tiny baby hands as he tried to calm down. Especially after his supposed to be mother calmed him. He is now in his crib, trying to think.

'I was in bed, sick... How come I'm a baby now? This can't be real...' Kevin tried to think, 'And how come my name's Jerome? What a side character name!' His own thoughts interrupted himself.

'Jerome... I think I heard of that name from a story... But that's just impossible...' To outside perspective, Kevin looked like any other baby staring at nothingness as if they're entertained by the whole existence of everything.

'Nah... I can't be THAT Jerome Wright from 'The Most Eccentric King', right?' Kevin tried to convince himself.

'Maybe I really just died and was reincarnated with his previous life's memory in him. Yeah... that's just it.' Kevin, who now accepted himself as Jerome, giggled as a baby.

What he believed in was soon proven wrong as he grew up.

First, he learned that his full name was really Jerome Wright. Kevin convinced himself that it was probably just a coincidence other than his family is poor and his father is a miner.

Which was entirely Jerome's background in the manhwa but anyways, Kevin still ignored it.

Second, he noticed that the era he reincarnated to is very much like the Victorian Era in Europe. Scarily coincidental with the manhwa's timeline.

Third, the royal family has red hair. Which Kevin himself cannot defend anymore.

Lastly, his parents died and he's the only one who have to care for himself.

Jerome Wright, Kevin finally accepted that he's the side character from the story. That he reincarnated as the man who was awfully jealous of Rowan's status and hated him for being so carefree that he executed a plan to assassinate the crown prince.

This, of course, wasn't successful. Jerome Wright died as he was arrested and was executed for his actions.

Jerome Wright was a commoner who worked hard to become a noble. Nobles looked down on him and never acknowledged his deeds, leading his remorse towards the born nobles even deeper. In the story, Jerome tried to save his jewelry business by bidding at an auction to buy the first and largest diamond mine which Rowan won.

Rowan who already had everything, who could do whatever he wanted because he's the crown prince. Rowan who never had to experience hard work and labor as everything is served in a golden spoon and platter. Jerome hated every being of Rowan.

Jerome was driven by envy despite his hard working attitude and kind heart. In the end, he was driven by hate that swallowed him and caused him his death.

Kevin didn't want to hate Rowan but him as Jerome felt angry. 'How come Rowan lived a wonderful life while I had to eat dirt and look for gems that'll never be mine?'

Jerome clenched his fist, tears brimming in his eyes as he stared at his parent's grave, "Ah... What a life..." He frowned and let his tears fall.

As Kevin, he don't want his anger to lead his path but as Jerome, he wanted to prove to anyone that he could stand by anyone's side may it be a noble or a commoner.

He don't want this kind of life if he was the one to be living in it. He could understand Jerome now in terms of what motivated him to work hard and become a noble.

Since that day, at the age of 18. He worked day and night to save up, selling the gems he himself was mining.

Was this legal? Jerome don't know but he knew there's a possibility of being punished by his employers once they found out. He can't even let his fellow miners know since who knows when crab mentality kicks in or even do the same as him and put the blame on him once discovered.

Jerome has to be careful, especially since there are guards hired by his noble employers at the entrance of the cave. They always check their bodies and belongings if they're hiding something.

"Halt." The guard told him as he finished his shift. Jerome let himself get checked, his clothes and bags were thoroughly being rummaged for any stolen gems.

"What's this?" The guard saw a few candies wrapped in paper with designs inside Jerome's pants pockets.

"Candy. Want some? I have lemon and strawberry flavors." Jerome smiled as he took the candy from the guard and gave him a few from his left pants pocket.

"They good?" The guard asked, confused as to why the young man need to change the candy he was already holding but he ignored it, eyeing the candy Jerome already gave.

"The best. They're my favorite." Jerome grinned and took his belongings, walking away with a triumphant look on his face.

"Thanks kid." The guard opened and popped one right into his mouth, oblivious of what happened.

Once Jerome got home, he pulled out the candies from the right pocket of his pants. "I'll only be able to steal bits and pieces but it's okay. A few years and I'll be able to buy my own mine." He doesn't mind mining for his own mine alone, if in the end it'll be for his success, all his hard work would pay off.

Jerome opened one candy and just as he expected, it was a tiny gem that he managed to sneak off. From what he know, a gem could cost 300-500 gold coins. His income from mining was 50 gold coins alone, it was enough for his basic needs and he could save more from the gems he will sell.

At the moment, he already managed to steal five gems. If he compute it, he could already buy a small shop. The thought already made Jerome excited but he always remind himself that he has to be patient. "Okay, Jerome... Calm down... I have to save up first or else I'll fail." He told himself, taking a deep breath before looking at his gems.

He placed it in a bag before thinking out loud once again, "Does this world have a bank?" He asked himself, it'll be easier for him to hide his money and to avoid any suspicion. For all he knows, he's already accused of stealing (which he actually did).

"Okay Jerome, save up for a mine then buy a shop then buy a title and it'll go smoothly from there... I think." He gave himself a pep talk before preparing his dinner.

He was thinking deeply while he did. For now, he needs to be careful since he wouldn't know when he'll be caught by his fellow miners or the guards and report him to their noble employers.

In that case he would be imprisoned or worst, executed earlier than he anticipated.

During the time he was saving up, there wasn't always a smooth moment, of course, he was almost caught now and then.

One of those moments was when Jerome was doing his usual work, mining and all. He was about to put a bit of gem inside the candy wrapper when a coworker of his sneaked behind him.

"Was that candy?" Out of shock, Jerome immediately popped the gem into his mouth and slightly cringed at the dirt from it.

"Y-Yeah...? Want some?" He asked and gave the man some candies from his left pocket.

"Nice! Thanks!"

Jerome could only sigh in relief as he was left unscathed that day, but he became more wary of his surrounding.

Another moment that almost made his heart jump was when he was about go home and the guard he usually sees, asked for some candy.

He became quite known for having some after all.

Out of fatigue, he fished one out from his right pocket and he only realized his mistake when he already gave it.

"THAT'S MY FAVORITE!" He immediately exclaimed and took the candy from the guard's hand which left the man shocked and flustered.

"O-Okay... Geez..." The guard muttered.

Jerome took some candies from his left pocket and gave them to the guard, blushing in embarrassment as he walked away.

He could still remember eyes on him that day but he was just glad that he was seen as the kid who was crazy about his candy rather than being accused of stealing.

After a year, Jerome managed to save enough money to be well off. He bought himself a humble house and had quit his job as a miner.

For a moment, he worked for taverns not only to earn money but to also build connections and gain information.

That's when he met Liao Feng, an Eastern entrepreneur who roams around kingdoms to find interesting businesses.

At first, Liao never really cared much for Jerome. He's just like any other server who smiles and serve their order but then, one day, he heard a conversation while he was at the counter.

"So, why are you working at this dusty old tavern, young man?" A woman, older than Jerome, asked. She was obviously trying to flirt with him.

The black haired boy with lean physic chuckled awkwardly before answering, "Oh... I was just saving up."

"What for?" The woman even traced Jerome's chest with her finger, smiling slyly as she never really cared for whatever he say.

Liao on the other hand was slightly interested. Jerome looked like a fresh man, clean and tidy and looked quite educated. One could mistake him for a noble if it wasn't for his commoner clothes.

"I want to be a noble." Jerome answered which made the old woman chuckle as if finding it ridiculous.

"Dream high kid."

"I will become a noble." Liao looked at the young man and he never saw such dedication from other people unlike what he see in him.

Liao smirked, thinking that he might've seen a talent he never seen before.