"A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY WAS FOUND DEAD."
The palace was filled with various rumors. There's someone who said that it was the assassins. Some stated that it was poison. Some said it was a natural death.
But no one knew the exact reason why that person died. Some maids from other palaces began questioning the maids working for that person. But no one knew the answer. All they could say is that, that person was found dead by her maidservants on the next day, after the crown prince's coronation.
Some people suspect that it was the crown prince who instigated the murder of that princess, but some believe that it was the other royal members. Thus, the crown prince conducted an investigation, proving his innocence in the process.
But he can't fool me. Those actions weren't enough to prove that he is completely innocent.
My eyes shifted to the princess that was lying on her bed. Princess Racia sol Elestrea. Her blonde hair is well tamed, and she's wearing a very simple dress. She isn't wearing any jewelry, and her dress wasn't adorned even by a single pearl. Even her hair has nothing but flowers. She doesn't have any extravagance in her body.
"Carina was a poor soul, wasn't she? To think that she'd be targeted this early." she commented after I shared the news about her death.
In the palace, rumors spread faster than a wildfire. So it wasn't a surprise that everyone knows of her death this fast.
Princess Carina Raelle sol Elestrea. She is one of the countless princesses of this kingdom. Unlike Racia, this princess was born from a concubine and is of noble blood. Unfortunately, her mother was just a viscount's daughter, making her powerless compared to the other princes and princesses.
I guess if Dria and I failed to protect the princess, then the topic of the rumors would be Princess Racia. However, these rumors can be easily dismissed because of her standing in the royal family. Even her own maids disrespect her, so what about the ones serving another royalty? It would be worse.
"You know you shouldn't be too complacent about it. Sooner or later, that person will send another batch of assassins to deal with you," Dria stated with her blank face.
Racia, who was reading a book, stood up and walked towards the window where I was cleaning. Dria, who was preparing her tea, followed the princess with her gaze.
"Well, they can come anytime," Racia had this strange smile on her face while staring at Dria. The other woman just stared at her blankly.
Is it a sign that she trusts Dria that much?
I guess so. Otherwise, she won't be that calm in the midst of threats on her life.
Time passed, and it's my third day in this world. I woke up early today and proceeded with my cleaning duties. Then, I served food to the princess.
It was an ordinary day until the Duke mailed something to me. He commanded me to take the order of the princess a week ago.
After showing those letters to the princess, she agreed without hesitation. But she commanded me to leave at night, without anyone noticing. In addition to that, she said that I should return at dawn. So I obeyed and lied to my roommate. I even took a different route to escape from the palace.
When I arrived at the guild, someone guided me to where the Duke was. There, he handed me a vial. He didn't provide me any explanation of what it was, but I took it. Though I'm quite curious what it was, I remained silent.
After that, he began questioning me about the world I live in. So I explained that the world I live in was not much different from this world. The only difference is that my world relies more on technology. I told him about the existence of things like airplanes, submarines, cellphones, televisions, and many more. His eyes were shining with excitement as he listened to my stories. That's why I enthusiastically describe to him those things that exist in my world.
"That's amazing! Oh, how I wish I could come to your world! " he exclaimed, and I froze.
His excited face made me feel guilt. Because I know that it won't be possible. This world exists in a different dimension and a world within the novel, my very own novel. And he is the main character of that novel.
"Maybe you can, in the future," I lied. I can't cruelly crush his dreams with the truth.
And it made me feel guiltier when he smiled sincerely.
If Xior was already incomparably handsome when he was serious, then he became even more handsome when he smiled.
I froze in my seat, and I could hear my heart beating faster.
Damn.
What's this?
Did I suddenly contract a disease after seeing his smile?
Just how ridiculous was that?
I shook my head to erase these nonsense thoughts. I have no time to entertain these unnecessary thoughts.
Maybe I'm just affected momentarily by his godlike looks, or is it because he resembled my crush?
Never mind.
Although this feeling isn't normal, I'm certain that it'll just pass after a few days. And it isn't normal to fall in love with someone you met a few times, so this can't be considered love. It's just a fleeting feeling.
"Well, I hope so."
I smiled unconsciously at him, and then it's time for him to tell about this world.
"Long ago, this world was barren. The ones who lead this world are dragons and immortals. Ordinary humans are nothing but their slaves. But there was a woman who changed the destiny of humanity." Xior smiled strangely, as if he remembered a certain friend while sharing the history of this world.
Or am I just mistaken? Maybe he's just like that because of his obsession with knowledge.
"That woman has proven the human's abilities. She fought dragons and rose as the king of the humans. However, she was betrayed by her beloved, who has another woman. And that beloved and his mistress became the ancestors of this kingdom."
I blinked, unable to think what to reply to his story. I thought it would be fairy-tale-like past, but to think this kingdom has that kind of history.
The audacity of that man to have a mistress when he had an amazing woman by his side. Is he perhaps insecure about his wife's achievement? Is that why he betrayed her?
"But you know what? This story was twisted by the first king. He stated that it was he who drove away the dragons and freed the humans from slavery." There was bitterness in his voice. "Good thing the ancestor of the dukedom has hidden all these facts and only shared them with its descendants."
"Huh? Then why did you share them with me? "I blinked.
My mind couldn't help but overthink.
What if he suddenly kills me, saying that I know too much of the kingdom's secret?
Or is this another way to say that 'dead people tell no tales'?
Since there is no valid reason for him to share this secret with me.
But... "I swear I won't tell anyone about this secret, so please spare me! "
I was about to kneel when he raised his eyebrows and muttered.
"What are you talking about? I told you this secret since I hold your secret, too. I only said that so we'd be even," he reasoned out.
Then he continued his tale.
"Aside from his mistress, the first king marries countless women. But every time a succession happened, countless princes and princesses were sacrificed in the process. The last royal standing would succeed to the throne. And that culture has been carried out till today." He sighed and looked straight in my eyes, as if reading my response to his tale.
While he's staring at me intently, I remain calm, but deep inside, my mind is in turmoil.
No one would be spared. Even the princess that I'm serving. Unless she creates a miracle to save her life.
"As you know, the king has many wives and children. And I know you know that he is sick. It was a common topic of the servants in the palace. So once he dies and the crown prince ascends to the throne, every remaining royal member will die. So is the princess that you were serving. I heard that there was one prince that already died, right after his coronation as a crown prince. Then it would become worse once he ascended the throne. The palace would be bathed in blood."
Fear crept into my heart. And he probably noticed that; that's why he stated it.
"My intention isn't to scare you. I'm just warning you, you who are new to this world. Your life in this world isn't similar to the ones you have in your world. Sooner or later, you'll get dragged into the schemes in the palace." His face was dead serious, but then he smiled and changed the topic.
When dawn arrived, the Duke escorted me back to the palace. A side of him that I didn't expect.
"Don't trust too much in the people around you. They are not the kind of people that you expect them to be. Even the princess," he warned before vanishing in the darkness.
When I arrived at my room to change, someone blasted the door open. Then, countless knights greeted my gaze.
What are they doing here? And what kind of atrocities is this?
"Capture the criminal! "A knight commanded, and the knights rushed towards me, much to my confusion.
What the hell is happening? Why did I suddenly become a criminal? What did I do?
"Search for the evidence in her room! "
When they checked my clothing, a knight raised the vial that the duke gave me earlier.
"I found the evidence! " he shouted, and I paled in fear.
Just what the heck is happening??