I found myself in a pretty strange situation, bleeding, and surrounded by people who really didn't seem to trust me. To calm everyone down, I tried to explain, “Sorry for that, I’m stress testing my body. Being covered in glass only slightly hurts. Either that's very good or very bad. Who knows? Maybe it's just a mental thing and I only imagine the pain.”

“You call bleeding all over the ground ‘slightly’?” one of the girls said.

I recognized the person who said that; it was Aini, the geisha girl whom I had met while I was still a slave. Also, the girl whose journey Ioine had shown me in the last few chapters. (If you guys read them.)

So, she was queen, or empress, or whatever; the ruler/leader of this place. Pretty high rank for a girl her age; if she was human. She did look like one and if she really was, then she must have been around eighteen or so.

I'm nineteen and even I haven't had to fill such big shoes. I wonder what's going on inside her head now.

It was clear that Aini, or her interior designer, had a taste for luxury, but her expression suggested that she was not pleased with the current situation, which is understandable given that I had significantly stained her carpet during my unexpected visit.

I looked around, while picking away at the glass on my face.

Considering how it looked, with lavish chandeliers, fine, stained rugs and intricate details on the walls, it was probably a throne chamber.

As the supposed queen, she ought to have maids or other staff to clean up after her, although common decency dictates that I should try to bleed as little as I possibly can.

There are three people here, myself not inculded: Geisha Girl, Four-eyes, Spear-Man. None of them seemed pleased with the situation.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I said, "Let's all calm down."

Spear-Man scoffed and questioned, "And who are you to give orders?"

I didn’t know what he was so upset about. It was more of a suggestion than an order.

With a dramatic bow, I introduced myself. "My name is Asher Burell. I'm uncertain why I'm here, but who knows what may happen in the future? I come as a representative of Chauk and Crown Rike himself."

There was a moment of silence.

"You're Asher Burell?" Spear-Man laughed. "I saw him and you don't resemble him at all. What evidence do we have that you're connected to Chauk or Rike? You're just a person who jumped through a window, nothing more."

“That’s true. Without any evidence, it would be stupid to take anything I say at face value. Wystus, will you please pop out for a second to prove to them that I am, in fact, the real deal?”

Before the smoke snake appeared I told them, “don't worry, the smoke is harmless and not poisonous or anything. Well- actually, I'm not really sure if breathing in Wystus' parts has any hazardous effects. I tell you what. Better to back off; it will be for the best.”

From the smoke, a face formed. It was Rike’s, and he even talked.

How on earth smoke produced any kind of sound is beyond me, but who am I to question the logistics of magical smoke?

“Greetings to you all, Your Imperial Majesty Wo Aini, Imperial Bodyguard Baohu Ta and Royal Secretary Youdian Haipa. How do you all fare this day? Asher Burell, my herald, would be able to help Alaran, as I am aware that difficult times lie ahead. While he has only recently attained the title, I think he will be extremely useful to you and everyone else, provided he behaves. Fortunately, this won't be an issue, will it, Asher?”

“Yeah, yeah. I swear I’m up to no mischief.”

“Empress Aini," Rike followed, "It would be a tremendous honor for me and my country if you brought him along with you on your journey to the House of Ghosts, and I would also advise you to do so. Queen Aini, on my word that he can be trusted.”

Aini looked hesitant, but eventually replied, "I will consider your request, Crown Rike. However, I must warn you that if Asher behaves in any way that is not acceptable, you and the country of Chauke will be held accountable for his actions."

"I understand, Your Imperial Majesty," Rike responded, and even though he was just a head, it was clear that he bowed, and the smoke dissipated.