"Mmm… huh… what?"
I blinked groggily, the fog of sleep still clinging to my thoughts.
"Did I really pass out after that tea?"
"Oh, you're finally awake," Lily said, standing at the foot of the bed with her usual calm composure.
"Huh…? Why are you here?"
"Master William ordered me to bring you to him the moment you woke up. If you don't mind, please follow me to the hall."
"Oh! Right—okay, let's go."
I swung my legs off the bed, still in yesterday's borrowed clothes, and followed her out.
The hallway opened into a grand hall that stole my breath. Victorian elegance everywhere: soaring ceilings, intricate crown molding, walls lined with oil paintings of stern-faced royals and sweeping landscapes. Luxurious velvet sofas framed a massive round table whose surface gleamed like polished black glass. Three sofas surrounded it—two facing each other, one perpendicular. William sat alone on the perpendicular one, posture perfect, reading a stack of papers.
Lily curtsied. "Master, I've brought him as you requested."
"Hmm. Thank you, Lily. You may return to your duties."
"As you wish, Master."
She left without another word.
I stood there awkwardly, expecting questions. Instead, William simply poured himself a cup of tea, sipped it slowly, and kept reading.
The silence stretched until it felt like a physical weight on my chest.
"Uh… hey," I finally said. "Lily told me you wanted to see me as soon as I woke up.
But you're just… sitting here drinking tea. So… why did you want to see me?"
He let out a low chuckle. "Oh-ho. So you do have a limit to your patience."
He set the cup down and met my eyes.
"Yes, questions—of course. Princess Ruby and I are the ones handling this assassin case. We're trying to uncover the truth. You see, the princess has a very soft heart. She's kind to everyone… and that kindness has caused problems in the past. So I'll ask you plainly."
He leaned forward slightly.
"The one who used Shadow Step back at the scene three days ago… that was you, wasn't it?"
The words hit like a hammer.
Not because he'd figured it out—but because how? My entire appearance had changed. Green hair, golden eyes, a teenager's face. Nothing like the body that had moved on its own that night.
"I… uh… well, you see… I mean… damn it," I muttered under my breath.
Lying felt pointless. Something told me he'd already run that same truth-candle ritual before I even walked in here. I swallowed hard and forced the words out.
"Yes. It was me."
William nodded once, unsurprised.
"Very well. So it was you. Then tell me—who are you, really?"
"Believe me, I don't know." My voice cracked a little. "My memories are all fuzzy. Every time I try to remember my name—or anything solid—my head starts pounding like it's splitting open. It feels like I'm dying."
He sighed, disappointment clear in the set of his shoulders.
"Fine. Then it's pointless to expect you'll be useful."
He raised his voice slightly, speaking toward the empty space behind me.
"There you go, Princess. Useless, just as I told you yesterday."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, William," a familiar voice answered from directly behind me. "But how exactly are we supposed to move forward with the case now?"
I spun around.
Princess Ruby stood there, holding a lit candle whose flame burned unnaturally steady. Kindness softened her eyes as she looked at me.
"What—? When did you even enter the room?"
She smiled gently. "I've been here the whole time. William simply didn't allow you to see me."
"Huh? Wait… so he used hypnosis on me or something?"
"More like an illusion spell," he corrected. "It lets me control what my target sees, hears, smells, even feels."
I stared at her, then at William.
He gestured casually around the room. "To you, there are only two people here. In reality… there are ten."
I looked again.
Maids. Everywhere. Standing silently along the walls, behind furniture, near the paintings—all watching me.
"What the—? How—?"
"Easy, boy," William said. "You're under the my illusion magic. It has limits, though—if the target becomes aware of something, I can't force them to un-see it."
"Huh… huuuuhhh? You're serious?"
"Enough about that," Ruby cut in briskly. "We have more important things to discuss."
"Like what?"
She smiled—bright, almost mischievous.
"Since you've proven useless to the investigation, my first instinct was to throw you out of the mansion. But you have no memories, no past, and you're clearly connected to this case. Your life is in danger. I can't let you walk out there and die—not when I know what's waiting."
She paused, smile widening.
"So I've decided to keep you here".
"Oh! Princess, that's actually a grea—wait. WHATTTTTT? Are you insane? How can you even—?"
William exploded. "Princess! That's—"
SLAP!
The sound echoed. Ruby had smacked the back of William's head—hard.
"Quiet, idiot. I know what I'm doing. Hmph."
"But Princess—"
"I get why you're suggesting it," he continued more quietly, "but why keep him here instead of putting him under strict supervision?"
I answered before she could.
"Because it's easier to keep an eye on me if I'm here than locked in a cell."
William blinked. "What?"
Ruby's eyes sparkled with approval.
"Don't you see, William? If I'm in a prison cell, it's simple for the assassins to kidnap or kill me. Here, I'm surrounded by guards, knights, and magic. I'm safer. And if my memories ever come back, she can use them to crack the case."
"Hmm." Ruby tilted her head. "You're sharper than I expected. Yes—that's exactly what I was thinking. But tell me… how did you arrive at that conclusion so quickly?"
"I… don't know. It just popped into my head and came out of my mouth."
"Interesting," she murmured.
Well, that's what I'm think of it so can you guys tell me who are you two.i asked them.
They exchanged glances.
Then both of them burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA—hahaaa!"
"You're funny," Ruby said, wiping a tear from her eye. "But that's my fault—I never properly introduced myself before making the offer. Allow me."
She straightened, regal once more.
"I am Ruby Red Ivyana, Princess of the Kingdom of Ivyans."
She gestured to William.
"And this is my knight—and husband—William Wilson, fourth-strongest knight in the realm.
William inclined his head slightly.
I realized I'd been talking to royalty—and a top-tier knight—like they were regular people.
Oh gods. I'm in deep now.
Moment later a brief silence ruby spoke."well, kid can you at least recall your name.
My name? Well, i think it's.i try to find some names to tell but my mind didn't help it in the heat of the moment i said.
You can call me Ace, i said.
Ace? What kind of name is that and who gave you that name as well.ruby asked.
I don't know mam but i can only Able to recall it at the time.i replied.
Fine, ace it is,well ace follow me ok,ruby said with calm tone.
They motioned for me to follow.
As we walked down another corridor, I turned to William.
"Hey,Is the case really that serious? I'm still in the dark here."
He kept his voice low.
"Yes. It's serious. They tried to assassinate one of the princess's younger sisters—second in line to the throne. We didn't even know there was a threat until you appeared that day. Honestly, if you hadn't shown up, we might never have learned about the plot in time."
He paused.
"When we raided the scene three days ago, we fought the group. Two escaped. They're still out there—threatening the second princess… and you."
"Oh… now I get why she's acting this way."i said and thought to myself. Well two huh must be vinala and the black hair women.
Hey, ace ell me you look like a kid but your action seems mature, why is that?
William asked.
I said with a blank face, it's because I'm not a kid I'm actually 20 years old guy.
William's eyes widened as he said. What? 20 years old are you saying that your are almost the age as ruby's sister.
"You two are chatting quite back there," Ruby called over her shoulder. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, Princess," William replied smoothly. "Just nonsense."
"Oh? Well, we're here."
She stopped in front of an ornate door and pushed it open.
I looked inside the room is so dark but i saw a glowing blue light on the centre of the room that emitted by a crystal.ruby entered the room and called me and William, as i walks in the door shut closed behind me.ruby then called me and said.
Hey, ace can yu go near the crystal and place your hand.
I said, ok my heart raises as i felt something bad is going to happen,i placed my hand on the crystal, nothing happen,as i try to think what might be all this for, suddenly the crystal starts to vibrate and in a instance a bright white light with black lighting like strip on it begin to appear around me and it lightened up the entire room.
My mind went full blank as i tried to understand what is going , i turned and looked at ruby and William.
There face fewer full of shock and they seemed scared.
I asked them,hey, what was that?
They both stood there is silence there face has no expression at all just blank and eyes widened in shock.