I awoke in a different room in a different body. I flexed my toes, working my way up to my head and neck. It felt like being in clothes that didn’t quite fit. I could tell that I was taller than before. I sat up to stretch and look around the room. Extravagant was an understatement. The bed itself was larger than any bed I had ever dreamed of or in. I lay in the middle of the four-poster frame, so I awkwardly scooted to the edge of the bed to escape my comfortable trap.

After I reached the ground, I took a closer look around me. Gold trimmed the walls and ceiling with custom-painted walls showing extrinsic detail that blended the furniture and the empty space. Several portraits of a blond handsome man hung on each wall. A full-length mirror in the corner confessed that I was that handsome man. I shuffled over to the mirror, adjusting to my longer legs.

In my old body, I was never overly confident with my appearance. I knew I stood in the middle of the spectrum. This new body was definitely better on the eyes. I was dressed with a strong jaw, stern blue eyes, and toned muscle all over. I did not agree with the outfit choice though. Was I wearing a dress or a gown? I felt like I needed a long sleeping cap to form a full outfit. Oh, there it was. I put the sleeping cap on and felt embarrassed for anyone that would have found this comfortable or fashionable.

The door inched open as a man butlered into the room. “Ah, King Donovan, you’re awake! And looking as fashionable as always. I will go fetch the doctor.” He left the wheeled cart of food that his body had been blocking and exited the room. I walked over to investigate the serving tray. There was enough food for my own all-you-can-eat continental breakfast. I grabbed a pastry and bit down while pacing the room, waiting for the doctor.

Between bites, I practiced my first words and excuses with the new voice. “Oh, hi doctor, how are you? No. Too informal. Old body has four portraits. Four. Ugh. What about… Doctor, what happened here?? No, I need to be more royal… My kingdom for a horse?” Despite the absurd practice, this kingly demeanor did not come to me at all. I understood I needed to hide my new personality until I knew more about what was going on around me, so I needed to wing it. I ranted a bit more until I heard voices rush down the hall approaching. I sat in a gold and red chair next to the window I overlooked earlier.

I was so focused on myself and breakfast I hadn’t considered peeking outside. The full window could open up to a balcony, overlooking a grassy land with scattered villages in the distance.

My bedroom door flung open with an accompanied knock. “Your highness, I came as soon as I could. Please forgive my insolence for not being here for your awakening.” He bowed deeply.

I was taken aback by the implication that the former me would be so demanding. My brain worked hard to figure out their king would have responded. “See that it does not happen again.” Adding to the illusion, I continued to face out the window, pretending they were not worth my time. I told myself that I just needed more information and I would have to play mean until I get it.

“Thank you sire,” the new man stood back up from his bow. “Allow me to check your vitals if you would. It is necessary in order to-”

“If you must.” I cut him off and silenced him immediately. I stood up and finally faced the physician. He was a shorter and rounder man, with a mustache that rounded his mouth the same way his dark brown hair rounded his face to his shoulders. He wore a pristine white smock over gray clothes. With my interruption, he claimed a workspace quickly, making use of the ground.

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“Sire, if you could remove your sleeping gown, I can proceed.” I complied and threw the gown to my previously occupied chair. I was left in my undergarments, which felt just like an awkward striped jumper. It was not comfortable, physically or emotionally. The doctor proceeded to take measurements all over, noting them down on paper kept in his smock’s center pocket. As he worked on me, I decided to fish for information.

“Name?” I prompted.

“Tebbons, sire.” He responded, not breaking from his task.

“How long have you been under my employ?”

“About a month, sire.” He eyed me carefully with the second question.

“I see. And do you like it here?” I hoped the question would give a glimpse of my role as an employer.

“I am honored to be able to serve his highness, King Donovan. I could not ask for a better calling.” This practiced response told me enough. I sucked, or I should say my body’s old tenant sucked. A nod was all I could manage in return, not wanting to give more of myself away. “Your highness, the next portion is to determine your mental state. Please humor me, as I work to confirm no lasting damage.” Great, there goes me trying to not give myself away.

“Do what you must.” I held a strong exterior, but nervousness held me interiorly.

“Yes, sire. First, what is your name?” He waited eagerly with his notepad.

“Donovan.” At least the first question was easy.

“Next, what is your father’s name?”

I paused with a frown. MY father’s name was Bed Gerdy, but I doubt that had any weight in my new body. I sat in contemplation for a moment, until a thought flared into my head. It came in the same foreign way as the Identifier object given to me. “Auburn,” I said through closed eyes. I knew it was correct, but it left me wondering where the identifier had gone. Could it have fallen in my collision? Or was it part of me now, allowing identification of King Donovan’s past? Either way, I needed time alone, to look around or look inside myself.

“What is the name of your kingdom?”

This one took a longer moment to parse my memories. “Grelmad.” The name came with paralleled information that a kingdom’s name grew with each ruler, adding a letter of each king to the name. Here, I was the seventh king, being the D in Grelmad. I searched my memories for ridiculous names and was given one with easily over two dozen letters. I couldn’t even dream to pronounce its name.

“And finally sire, what is the last thing you remember from the night of the incident?” Searching my mind took a while, but eventually led to an answer.

“Yes. I remember. I was at a meal with someone, I can’t see who, that’s still hazy. We were laughing until my body began to sweat with pain. I collapsed from my chair and my guest came closer with a smile. He put his mouth to my ear and told me, ‘This is what you get, your lordship,’ and left with a sarcastic bow. Pain overtook me until someone… no, until YOU found me, declaring it poison. I don’t remember anything before or after that snippet. I may have to meditate to get a clearer picture.”

Tebbons scribbled down everything he could in his notebook. After he caught up on the paper he closed his notebook. “It looks like physically you are fine, however, there is a slowness surrounding you mentally. If I may suggest as your physician, your highness, please stay in bed to rest another day.”

I nodded slowly and tested the waters of authority. “And if I discounted your suggestion, Tebbons?”

“You are the king after all, and have the final say,” he said in a deep bow. “But you do not seem to be yourself, your highness. I would ask you to reconsider.”

“Thank you, Tebbons. Please leave me as I recollect myself.” With that, he took his exit. I was alone once again, and I supposed I wouldn’t be interrupted again until the next tray of food came. Not that I needed more food, since I still had many remnants from my catered breakfast. Food would come often, not leaving me wanting at all.

I needed a way to slyly import myself in to replace the old king without causing such a whiplash of difference to everyone around me. Luckily with the doctor’s note of alone time, I had time to search back through key memories of the young king.