Chapter 1

@Sookim - tcafe

#001 A Sudden Landing (1)

"Jung Eunseo!"

I shouted, jumping up from my bed.

I usually slept soundly without even talking in my sleep, but I had no idea why I called out my younger sister's name.

Although I woke up abruptly, my body felt refreshed.

It didn’t seem like I had been crushed by a nightmare or slept in an uncomfortable position.

"Prince."

I was startled, my shoulders involuntarily tensing.

Turning my eyes to where the voice came from, I saw a stranger.

"Who are you, and why are you in my house...?"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Excuse me?"

It wasn’t just one person.

Strangers with various skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors stood there, looking at me.

Some held shiny trays, others white towels, and still others...

"You need to have breakfast in an hour. First, wash your face and brush your teeth."

"Excuse me?"

When someone is truly bewildered, the only word that comes out is "Excuse me?"

The only sentence that pops into my head is "Excuse me?" Just like me right now.

Is this a hidden camera show? Did Eunseo apply to a TV station or something?

My just-awakened brain creaked as it searched for the best answer.

"You still seem half-asleep."

"Well, I guess I am..."

"You must still be tired from the long journey. It’s natural after traveling such a distance."

Tired? What is he talking about? Do they really do hidden camera shows this elaborate nowadays?

This is too detailed a setup for someone who only goes between work and home.

Where is Eunseo? Is she watching me from some control room?

"Umm, where am I?"

I tried to sound as calm as possible.

There weren’t many options for questions. The room I was in wasn’t my bedroom or the living room.

It was a space about the size of our house, with a bed the size of a friend's studio apartment, and around it, furniture that looked expensive no matter who saw it.

What’s that on the wallpaper? It can’t be real gold, right?

"You seem very tired."

The middle-aged man who spoke to me first answered in a businesslike tone.

He nodded to one of the people standing beside him, and a young boy quickly understood and handed me a glass of water.

"First, calm your nerves."

"Oh, thank you."

I took the glass and drank half of it without thinking.

Only then did I realize how foolish I had been.

What if it wasn’t water? What if I had just been kidnapped?

*

To cut to the chase, it was just ordinary water.

And this wasn’t a kidnapping or a TV show appearance.

It was a possession.

"Ah."

The face in the washbasin was completely different, and the fact that I said "Ah" to get through the situation was almost a miracle.

Inside, I was jumping, screaming, and in a state of chaos. Cold sweat soaked my palms.

"Would you like to change your clothes now?"

"......Yes."

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I answered obediently.

Acting strangely and raising suspicions, or throwing a tantrum about going home, are things even elementary school students wouldn’t do.

I could have blamed it on being half-asleep earlier, but not now.

The most important thing was to accurately understand my situation and come up with a plan.

"Excuse me, Prince."

A few young attendants came over and started changing my clothes.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have let strangers touch me, but the absurdity of the situation made me just accept their service silently.

In novels where the protagonist is possessed, there’s often a description like, "It felt too real to be a dream."

But it really did feel that way.

I didn’t need to pinch myself to know this was real.

The texture of the fabric against my skin and the sound of the collar brushing against me were all too vivid.

"Is there anything uncomfortable? These clothes were made by the royal tailors of the New Kingdom, referencing the casual attire of the royal family."

"They fit perfectly. I’m fine."

I touched the well-fitting shoulders and chest, gathering clues in my mind.

From the interior decoration and the people’s clothing, it was clearly a "medieval fantasy" setting.

I ruled out the web novel I read at home yesterday, <I Thought I Was Dead, But I Became a Conquering Monarch>. The protagonist in that story possessed the body of an ancient Roman emperor.

"Here’s a mirror."

The middle-aged man had the attendants bring a large full-length mirror so I could see myself in the new clothes.

I took a deep breath.

The reflection only confirmed that this body wasn’t mine.

If I could see the specific details, maybe I could figure out where I was.

"......Hmm."

"Do you like it?"

A well-built body, bright blonde hair, and violet eyes. When I smiled, my lips curled up pleasantly.

A young man who anyone would call handsome was looking back at me from the mirror.

No, what is going on here......

"Yes, thank you."

I mumbled.

If I liked the appearance, and if someone looked this good, they were likely the protagonist.

But none of the protagonists in the works I read had blonde hair; most had black hair.

So, the probability was high that I was a main supporting character, like the protagonist’s best friend, rival, or a mid-level boss.

The situation was complicated, as I had to play an important role without knowing the plot.

"Then let’s go to breakfast. I’ll lead the way."

I nodded quietly.

Before moving, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror one last time.

Is this height similar to mine......? Oh?

"......I’ve seen you somewhere before."

"Prince?"

"Ah, sorry. It’s nothing."

I brushed it off and followed the middle-aged man. The attendants followed behind me.

As I passed by a huge window that overlooked a vast garden, I organized my thoughts.

First, the body I possessed is a 'Prince' from the 'New Kingdom.'

It feels strangely familiar, but I don’t know who he is.

I haven’t heard the prince’s name or the name of the New Kingdom.

I don’t know why I’m here or what my purpose is.

Since there’s a 'royal palace,' this must be an empire with an emperor, but I don’t know the name of the country.

"This way."

The middle-aged man opened the dining room door, led me to a large table, and pulled out a chair for me with a graceful gesture.

"What beverage would you like? We have a variety of coffee beans from the southern continent and tea leaves from the northern continent."

The middle-aged man, who has been leading all the conversations and schedules since I woke up, introduced himself as 'Benzamain Girard.'

"I lead the attendants of this Juliette Palace, though I am not worthy."

Both the name and the palace were completely unfamiliar. Damn.

"I’ll have an herbal tea, please."

Only after speaking did I realize I was in someone else’s body.

My original body suffered from severe gastritis, so I couldn’t digest caffeine, alcohol, or even carbonated drinks.

That’s why I always ordered herbal tea when I went to cafes, but would this body be okay?

I briefly considered asking for a glass of wine.

"......I was careless. I understand."

A crack appeared on Benzamain’s face, which had been unreadable until now.

Thinking I might have made a mistake, I glanced at the other attendants, but their expressions were strange.

They seemed to be both impressed and surprised.

Is a cup of tea really that unusual?

"Here’s your chamomile tea."

"Thank you."

After the attendants bustled around, a teapot and teacup appeared, steaming hot.

"Does the food suit your taste?"

"Yes, it’s delicious. The seasoning is just right."

It wasn’t a lie.

Freshly baked bread, creamy soup, a dressing I had never tasted before, and well-seasoned meat with fresh fruit.

It was a delightful and satisfying breakfast.

Since the people who woke me up, washed me, and dressed me in new clothes didn’t seem like they would poison my food, I enjoyed the meal without worry.

A full stomach would help my brain work better and give me the motivation to get home.

"You’ve eaten well."

Benzamain’s tone suggested surprise.

I realized I was scraping the bottom of the salad plate with my fork.

Even though I’m from another world, this isn’t right, so I quickly put down the utensils.

"Ha ha, I must have been tired from the long journey. I ate more than usual. It was delicious."

I quoted what I had heard from Benzamain.

I don’t know how far it is from the New Kingdom to here, but if a local called it a long journey, it must be.

"Then shall we have dessert?"

"No, I have a separate dessert stomach."

*

For dessert, I drank warm rooibos tea and devoured an egg tart filled with custard.

When I took a bite of the third piece, the attendants let out a "Wow."

"Full......"

When I returned to the room and buried myself in the sofa, covering myself with the blanket Benzamain handed me, I heard the attendants chuckle.

I didn’t intend to, but I probably didn’t make a very charismatic first impression.

"Prince, would you like some books to read?"

"Yes, thank you."

A young attendant spoke to me in a friendly manner, and I readily accepted. I love books.

If I could get any clues about this place, I would take anything.

I had a feeling it wasn’t a completely different type of content, like a webtoon or manga, which I hadn’t read much since high school.

I occasionally watched movies and dramas with my family, but I hadn’t seen a period drama like this recently.

After turning twenty, I had distanced myself from literary works, and musicals seemed too far-fetched.

I didn’t want to assume I had fallen into a real 'different world' that wasn’t someone’s creation.

In the end, the only option left was a web novel, but I hadn’t read many on my commute, so I still couldn’t figure it out.

"What’s the next schedule?"

I asked Benzamain.

While going back and forth between the room and the dining room, I carefully examined the decorations and inlaid patterns in the corridors, but found nothing helpful.

The inscriptions on the spoons and knives were also unfamiliar.

I needed to be more proactive.

"......There is no next schedule."

What? Didn’t he look a bit perplexed just now?

"The Emperor ordered you to rest well today since you arrived late last night."

"I see. What about tomorrow’s schedule?"

Silent. There’s definitely something.

His flawless attitude, typical of a butler character, showed a moment of hesitation.

On the contrary, my mind gradually cleared.

"Will I be resting all week?"

"Yes."

"But staying in this palace will be boring. Can I look around other places?"

The last question came almost instinctively.

It seemed suspicious that a foreign prince staying in the palace had no diplomatic schedule.

Benzamain’s expression was also unsettling.

"I’m sorry, but that’s not possible, Prince."

"Why?"

When our eyes met, he quickly looked away.

"If you’re really bored, a walk in the garden might be acceptable."

"Thankfully. Do you know when I’m scheduled to return home?"

"......"

I see. This prince is trapped here.

He came alone from a distant homeland and was probably imprisoned in an empty palace.

The treatment isn’t bad, but even for a walk, he needs the attendants’ permission.

Then there’s only one answer.

"I want to take a walk to digest my meal. The garden looked very beautiful from the window earlier."

I’m a hostage.

"......I’ll inform the higher-ups first."

I nodded, and Benzamain quietly told one of the attendants.

"Go to Capuson of the Romero Palace and tell him that Prince Yeseo has requested a garden walk."

I jumped up from the sofa.

I couldn’t believe what I just heard.

The answer I had been searching for finally clicked.

"Yeseo" is my name.