Chapter 3: Jest Calm Down
"Ah, you are finally awake." the woman said as she moved a bit closer to me to help me sit properly. Due to the closeness, I got a clear look at her features.
She had bright red eyes and silver hair which worked great in contrast with each other but had a wholly unatural feeling, as both the colours were not prominently present back in my own world— especially the red.
She was wearing some kind of old-fashioned gown dress, which was covered in red embroidery working along with the prominent black.
For one thing, she looked quite stunning.
"Excuse me? are you feeling fine now? you seem dazed. Here have some water." the woman called out my spacing out while giving me a glass of water. Upon looking at the water, I was suddenly washed over with a lot of thirst. I drank all of it in one go. How long was I passed out to have my throat dry this much?
I asked for more water, and the woman smiled and poured me some more from a vessel, which, you guessed it, was also embroidered with silver touches. What was this obsession with embroidering everything with precious metals?
Rich people thing probably.
I noticed the woman looking at me with an expecting look. "Sorry, just a l-little bit thirsty. And yes, I am feeling fine. Can you tell me where exactly am I? The last thing I remember was getting slashed by a swordsman, which— actually, who saved me? was it you?" I asked.
The woman still had a soft smile which she had kept all this time. It was getting kinda creepy to be honest. The smile was a bit unsettling but I couldn't feel any malice in it. She must be a cheery person, I concluded.
"Why yes! that would be me! though if you are asking for the person who brought you here along with Sigmund— which was a horrible sight might I say! both of you were bleeding like there was no end. It almost gave me a heart attack! you don't see these kind of injuries in such a peaceful principality like Velceri! and involving the prince of Velceri on that. Which actually reminds me, I haven't even asked who our prince's saviour is, can I ask for your name?" She said - no - she blabbered, though sensibly. Also she didn't tell me who brought me here.
She is cheery alright.
"Um, I am Marques Jester and..." I trailed off after that as I didn't quite know what else to say. Should I have showed her my status screen or something? Can I even do that?
I can't obviously tell her that I am from another world, and I don't have a fucking clue if Marques existed before me. I mean it's pretty weird considering I don't remember my real name, so Marques in my mind is my name, but there is a strong possibility that I just possessed the guy's body after he died or something. It's a pretty common trope, it's probably true in my case too.
"Hello? are you still here? hellooo, you seem dazed again." Dammit, what should I say? should I just be partially-honest with her? I could just tell her that I don't remember anything before waking up in that alley. I would be technically telling the truth and it would save me a lot of trouble.
.
.
.
Yup, I can't think of any other way.
"Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. Um, can I be honest with you?"
"Yes yes, feel free to talk about anything!" she said nodding her head.
"Ok, thank you. What I am about to say might sound not so believable but trust me it is the truth. I actually don't remember anything prior to waking up in the alleyway near where I saved the injured man, Sigmund I believe you said his name was?" the woman nodded in affirmation, "You have to trust me, I have no idea where am I or why am I here, the only thing I can recall is my name." I gave my best altered version of my story while sounding as genuine as I could.
I looked at the woman for her reaction. The happy smile that she had put up till now melted into one filled with pity. "Oh Leir! that is such a heartbreaking situation! But that explains why you did not recognize Sigmund or me." She showed me a little smile and then continued speaking, "But still loosing your entire memories? Who could have caused such a cruel thing?" the question was rhetorical surely so I didn't answer but just nodded.
"Well we won't find out by just sitting here. You can move now right?" I nodded "Good, come on let's go to the dining, Sigmund recovered just a few hours before, he must be there with Harrison. I am sure you must be hungry too." She chuckled and offered me her hand to stand up. I took it - it was soft, a little too soft if I am being honest - and with some struggle stood up.
It was long walk to the dining, so I got a pseudo-tour of the 'mansion'. It was as expected, luxurious. Like any typical fantasy-medieval mansion. Paintings were littered all around the hallways, small expensive vases along with other trinkets were present every 10 or so steps. And a soft carpet was laid all along the pathways and rooms.
As I said, luxurious.
We finally reached the entrance of the dining which had two big doors, and some guards, well guarding the room— no hall. The woman, whose name I still didn't know, was ahead of me and I trailed behind her slowly, towards the table.
I stopped on my tracks when I looked towards the occupants of the table. It was the man that I saved and.. the man that tried to kill me.
Shit. Was this a trap all along? Luring me with a beautiful lady and then killing me? on top of that I'm even in the dining hall. Are they going to kill me and then eat me!? Fuck are they - are they cannibals!?
.
.
.
Deep breaths, deeep breaths.
Just calm down Marques. Just calm down. Th-there is no way the sweet lady is a cannibal right? Yup, that's just too far off.
"Marques? hello? Marques! you seem dazed again." I heard the voice of the woman. I looked up to see her worried face. This is the third time I have spaced out in front of her. She must think I have some sort of disorder now.
Past her I saw the man who had tried to kill me, stand up and start moving towards me. Shit this is truly it huh. I also started backing up slowly. Seeing this the woman called me out.
"Is there some problem Marques?" she asked
"Uh, th-that man-" I said pointing to him
"Ah! this is Harrison, Sigmund's personal knight, he was actually the one who brought you and Sigmund to me." She introduced the man.
"Bu-But he was the one tried to kill me!" I shouted the glaring problem.
"Wait what!? Is that the truth Harrison?" the woman shouted at Harrison in disbelief.
Harrison looked down at his feat and suddenly quickly paced to in front of me and knelt down. The hell? I was flabbergasted. He then started speaking in his heavy voice.
"I apologize truly from the bottom of my heart, sire. I-I was mistaken, when you were actually helping my injured master by bringing him to us. I misinterpreted it and attacked you— though I must say you dodged my first swing quite skillfully, not many can claim to do so-" Sigmund cleared his throat interrupting Harrison, "Ah, sorry, I tend to digress. Either way, I am truly, truly apologetic of my actions. If there is anything I can do to make up for it, I will be more than willing." with that Harrison stood up and extended his hand towards me.
As I said, I was flabbergasted.
I should probably not offend him, he has already shown what he can do. Without thinking much, I shook his hand. Then I heard slow clapping. It was Sigmund, he was smiling as he walked to me.
"Wonderful! you are dismissed Harrison. Go do whatever you usually do." Sigmund ordered Harrison. Harrison in return nodded and quickly scurried out of the hall.
"Now, I believe introductions are in due," he said looking towards me, "I would very much like to know who my saviour is."
"Um, Pleased to meet you, I am Marques Jester." I was once again in loss of words. What was I suppose say except my name? I didn't know shit about 'me'.
"Yes, it's a pleasure indeed Marques! I am the first prince of the principality you are currently in. I am known as Prince Sigmund Jean Kariehem. Though please drop the prince when you are talking with me."
Just as he introduced himself, I heard a ding in my head, and a screen appeared in front of me.
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Attention!
A person has revealed there identity to the bearer. The bearer can now access the character sheet related to the person.
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Oh?
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Arianuri
Arianuri So, firstly yes I know I said that this chapter was going to 'introduce the world' a bit— which it does, albeit a little. The thing is that was what this chapter was originally going to be, but then the dialogue just took so much space that the chapter was getting quite away from my limit of 1000. It currently stands at 1500 and if I went on it would probably be 2200~. So, the proper introduction of the world is gonna be in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading. If you like, add to library.
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