David studied the maid before him, his smile slowly hardening into ice.
"I want to know one thing…" His voice was calm, yet the weight in it made her swallow hard.
"Who gave me the wine I drank last night?"
The maid trembled. "T-the w… wine…" Her head dipped slightly. Does King Caelan not remember? That wine came from his uncle, she thought in panic.
David leaned forward, his gaze cutting like a blade.
"Answer."
"It… it was your uncle's gift, Your Majesty. As always… that night, it was also offered to your mother and younger sister," the maid stammered.
David froze for the briefest moment. Mother and sister… drank it too?
His thoughts raced. If the wine was truly poisoned… then they…
"And… they are well?" His voice slipped rougher than he intended.
The maid nodded quickly. "Y-yes, Your Majesty. They drank before retiring. Your uncle said it calms the mind… helps one sleep quickly."
Fear loosened her tongue further, spilling details David had not asked for.
"Your Majesty… they said they would wait to dine with you this morning."
"Very well." David turned toward the dining hall he recalled. The maid remained frozen, watching him leave.
"King Caelan… why do you feel like someone else now?" She stared at his retreating back, then at the paper he still clutched. "What… is that paper?" she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, David strode quickly through the halls. Was the wine poisoned? Or was I the only target? His hand tightened around the paper, its ink nearly dry.
He slipped it into his pocket and pushed open the dining hall doors—only to be greeted by an oppressive silence.
Why so quiet? Is this a trap? Were they threatened? In the memory… they were warm, lively. Or… are they still mourning the king who died before me?
David glanced at his mother and sister, both frozen in their seats. …Weird. Why do they look like they've just seen a ghost?
He walked to his seat without uttering a word, the tension dragging behind him like a cloak. Around him, the servants exchanged uneasy glances, unsettled by the strange air shrouding the royal family.
Queen Regnia finally broke the silence. "C… Caelan," she whispered, her voice trembling in the stiff air. Velia swallowed hard, her hands clutching the hem of her dress beneath the table. "Brother…" she breathed, barely audible.
David turned to them slowly. No smile. Only a gaze that froze them even further. He picked up his spoon and began to eat without a word.
Silence. Only the soft chime of spoon against plate filled the cavernous hall.
The servants lined along the walls dared not lift their heads. Even breathing sounded loud in the space between each clink of silverware.
One servant trembled, nearly spilling a glass under the crushing weight of the new king's presence. Velia glanced at her brother now and then, wanting to speak—but her lips wouldn't move. Queen Regnia gripped her cup tightly, eyes darting for words that felt safe to say. None came.
David ate slowly, letting the silence hang… pressing down on everyone in the hall.
…Why does it feel like the three of us are just strangers trapped at the same table?
One of the usual servants found herself quietly unsettled. Is this… still the same family? she wondered, keeping her head bowed.
The tense meal finally reached its end. David stayed silent for a moment, then cleared his throat.
"Servants… leave us. Just the three of us."
They bowed in unison. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Moments later, the hall emptied.
The air grew even heavier. David forced himself to keep playing Caelan's part. A smile crept onto his face as he broke the silence.
"So… how did my uncle's wine taste?"
"D-Delicious, Brother," Velia stammered, fiddling with the edge of her fork with her thumb.
Their mother, the queen, nodded and smiled faintly. Her hands pressed together on the table, the right thumb anxiously pressing against the left wrist.
Are they pretending? Were they replaced? David's thoughts spiraled.
Magic is real in this world… what if they're not even the same people anymore?
David studied their gestures more closely. These movements… strange. They might be nerv—
His eyes widened.
No way…