"Where have you been?" I recognized the voice.
I turned and smiled at my stepsister. "I had to use the restroom," I replied before looking around hoping to get a cup of water.
"You look pale," came my stepsister's monotonous comment.
"I do because I need water," I replied as I looked around but, to be frank, I doubt if I would be able to drink water if I find one in this haunted house.
I certainly do not want to end up in a bar upstairs again and witness the murder of some other.
"It is the king's birthday but he has not been seen," his sister told him after sipping from a glass of cream liquid.
"Uh?!" I asked swiftly turning my head to look at her with my eyes painfully widened.
I don't know why the mention of the king had my heart racing. His unnaturally cold fingers are on my skin. His hands held my waist with the feeling of each finger being different from the other.
He spoke about my scent.
"What are you thinking about, pervert."
I raised an eyebrow and glared at her. What was that supposed to mean? I turned my head back to see a girl in my line of sight.
She was dressed very beautifully in a black silk-looking gown because I don't know if they have silkworms here to make silk.
The girl met my gaze and she smiled to show a set of tiny dimples below each side of her lips. She was an epitome of pure beauty.
I blushed slightly and she began walking toward my sister and me. I adjusted my jacket and smoothened the sleeves in subtle movements with as much charisma I could muster.
"Kate," she called to the lady beside me who happened to be my sister.
I was ignored until they successfully exchanged pleasantries and finally a hug. I pinched my nose and looked away since I was not a part of their conversation.
"Aaron, it is very rude of you not to pay rest to the king's fiancée," I heard the scolding tone in my sister's voice and I turned to face her the pretty woman.
I was still getting used to being called Aaron not Minjun. I would have chosen Minjun if I was asked to pick a name before coming to this world.
Sad fact: people never get to choose their names at birth on earth and beyond.
I have nothing bad against the name Aaron but it was not my name for goodness' sake. I did not want it.
I wanted my name Minjun. Was I whining? Well, who won't when your name has been changed without your permission?
"Are you okay?" I heard a soft voice pull me out of my thoughts.
I faced the beautiful lady and my lips parted but the words I wanted to say could not come out of my lips. I nodded. I bet I looked very sheepish.
She smiled warmly despite how stupid I know I looked. I snapped fast enough to save myself the trouble of self-embarrassment. Well, that is if I had not embarrassed myself enough.
"Yes, I am okay." I was firm with my answer and wore a cold expression, the type I wore among the many girls who were obviously crushing on me.
"It is nice to meet you," the beauty told me with a welcoming smile as she stretched her hand towards me.
I wanted so badly to clear my throat but I ended up swallowing the lump that formed in my throat. So, the handshake was a thing in this world?
Blame me for being too unobservant to take note of the many handshakes that had been done in the hall.
I took her hand for a handshake. It was soft and warm. Warm, not cold. Not cold like . . . not cold like those hands that touched me and made me shiver.
My sister cleared her throat loudly. She blushed when that earned her a few glances from some of the other guests including mine. She moved her gaze to my hand when our gaze locked.
I pulled my hand immediately. The warmth of her hand suddenly felt hot like fire not warm. "I am sorry," I apologized with a deep bow. She was the king's woman for goodness' sake.
If I do anything wrong, I will have to return to the prison world and cause the pretty lady's death.
"No, you must not bow that way to me. that bow belongs to the king alone," the pretty lady warned me softly like she was worried about me.
I swallowed and decided it was right I spend the next night in the restroom away from here to prevent making any more mistakes.
I looked around for that door that will lead me outside, but how was I going to choose the right one among the four doors.
One led into the living area of the king and another led to the exit. Two more left, right? Which of them will take me to the men's room?
I walked back to that door I returned to the hall through. I could simply stay in the corridor until everything is over.
The classical music playing in the hall would have been a major reason for me to stay but with trouble haunting me, I had to hide to save my neck.
I tried to open the door but it did not budge. I concluded that I was not doing something right. I placed my hand on the golden doorknob and turned it slowly to do it right.
I pulled with enough strength to pull someone's arm out of its joint. The door remains fixed unmoving. I just wanted to escape this party and nothing more.
I looked around and sighed in relief when I noticed no one seemed to be looking at me.
The door budged at the fourth trial and slowly opened. I was thanking my luck when I suddenly felt cold and froze.
This whole palace was haunted by trouble. Alas, trouble found me again. The moment you try running away from trouble but ended up before the trouble you thought you escaped.