The tense silence in the room was soon interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Ruby and Silvia shared anxious looks as I got up to respond. Four in royal garb stood there, solemn and official. "Adventurer Party Eternals, his majesty, King Castillon summons you to the royal palace," one of them declared. "Damn it, Ruby! What the hell did you get us into this time?" Silvia hissed.

I sighed; this was much worse than I had thought. Castillon must've spotted us, but it was more likely me. I shouldn't have used Frightful Presence. Not going now would only make it worse. "Silvia, Ruby," I said calmly but firmly, "let's do what we're told." They knew right away. Fighting here was not going to happen. We had to do what we were doing.

Minutes later, we were at the royal palace, kneeling before Renford Castillon. His mana was so thick that it felt like an oppressive heatwave was coming from his body. There was no doubt—his Merlin Syndrome was genuine. Beside him stood his adviser, who shot us looks but stayed mute. "Leave us," Castillon said suddenly, his voice steady but undeniable. The adviser stammered in disbelief.

The guards seemed equally unsure, but no one was brave enough to question the king. Moments later, they filed out of the throne room, leaving the three of us alone with him. "Please, stand up," Castillon said, smiling slightly. We did as we were told. He gazed at us with sharp, knowing eyes. "Silvia, the Elf Swordsman. Ruby, the Cambion Mage. And Santiago Savvy, the Otherworlder. What a colorful bunch," he said, with a chuckle in his voice.

"How do you know who we are?" I said, suspicion tinging my voice. Castillon's smile widened. "Appraisal ability," he answered simply as he stepped closer to me. It felt like he was stripping my secrets from me with his gaze. "Especially you, you have extraordinary abilities. I say — what in the hell those do?" My jaw tightened. I was not in the mood for his curiosity.

"Cut to the chase. Why did you bring us here?" I asked impatiently. He laughed, undeterred by my tone. "Oh, don't get mad now. I was just curious. I wanted to meet another Otherworlder," he said, one of those explanations that only adds more questions. My eyes narrowed. "You're from Earth?" "Really?" I asked, my suspicion sharpening.

"A world of cars, phones, and billboards?" he replied casually. "I think that checks out." My chest tightened. He was being truthful — or at least as honest as you need to be to be believed. "Why don't we go somewhere a bit more comfortable?" Castillon suggested, waving for us to come. Moments later, we were seated in an ornately furnished living room.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

One maid came in and set down a tray with tea and delicate cups in front of us all. "Do you like tea?" breaking the silence, Castillon asked. "No," I responded bluntly, looking at the steaming liquid. What surprised me was that the tea darkened, and it smelled different — like coffee. I took a tentative sip, and sure enough, it tasted like the coffee I used to drink back on Earth.

"What kind of magic was that?" I wondered silently. Castillon leaned in, propping his chin on his hand. "So … how did you get into this world?" he asked. I hesitated before feeding him the bare truth. "Divine Intervention," I said flatly. "And a motorcycle accident when I was 18." His eyes brightened with recognition. "Ah, so you met Anello, too, the god who brought me here!" I frowned. "... Never heard of him."

His excitement subsided a little, and he paused. "Oh, I see. So it must have been a different god, then." Sitting quietly, sipping their tea, Ruby and Silvia kept their faces inscrutable as they watched the exchange. Neither had uttered a word since we arrived. "What about you?" I looking to redirect the attention. "How did you die?" He softly laughed.

"I was, in a previous life, a company worker at the age of 55. I got caught up in a shooting on my way home. It was just the wrong place, wrong time, I guess."

A few moments later, the door to the chamber creaked gently as a young girl entered. Her charmed features were framed under a wash of blonde hair that seemed to flicker under the warm sunlight pouring in through the windows. Her bewitched violet eyes swept across the room and landed on Castillon.

“Renford,” she said quietly, a smile lighting up her face. “Do you want to go for a walk in the garden?” We were taken by surprise by her sudden entrance. Castillon nearly choked on his tea. There was no menace in the girl’s placid demeanor — in fact, it was rather disarming.

When she finally looked up and saw us sitting there sheepishly, her eyes bulged with recognition. “Oh! I had no idea you had company,” she said, taking a slight bow as an act of apology. “Pardon the intrusion.” “It is quite alright, Diana,” Castillon laughed off her apprehension.

The young lady stepped forward gracefully, gave a polite smile, and said, “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Diana Yelarien, the third princess of the Yelarien Kingdom and the fiancée of King Renford Castillon.” “You two are engaged? That’s so sweet!” Ruby complimented. “Since when?” Silvia inquired smilingly. Diana blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “We’ve been engaged since we were thirteen,” she said tersely.

“That’s adorable! ” Ruby replied, obviously taken with the romantic idea. I held my tongue, cradling my coffee as the disparate pieces of information in my brain slowly cohered. The more I took it in, the clearer it became — something disconcerting. Something about all this left me feeling wrong. Finally, I set my cup down and looked at Castillon.

“Your Majesty,” I said, my voice cutting through the festive mood, “how old are you?” Castillon tilted his head, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked, a note of both caution and inquiry in his voice. “Well, both Diana and I are fifteen. Why?” I paused, and the temperature in the room dropped as my expression grew serious. “I see…” I said, seriousness in my voice.]

Ruby and Silvia had both noticed the change in my attitude. Silvia also leaned in a bit closer and whispered, “Savvy, what’s wrong?”, but I stayed quiet. Castillon also noticed the change in my expression and curiously asked, “Is there something —”