"What? you just want me to walk out in the hallway with this blanket?" I asked, looking down at it and then back at the maid.
"No, I expect you to put it back on the bed and follow me. For a male, you are a bit squeamish," the maid said, putting a hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle.
I did as she said and followed her out into the hallway, feeling a bit embarrassed by my modesty. It wasn't like I had anything to be ashamed of, but this was all new to me. I had also forgotten that the castle was empty. There was a lot going on in my head right now.
The maid led me to another room down the hall and gestured for me to enter. "These are your clothes," she said. "Take your time and decide what you want to wear, and then I will be back to help you."
Before I could argue to tell her that I could get dressed alone, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the room. I looked around and saw that there were several sets of clothing laid out on the bed, along with some shoes and other accessories. I walked over to take a closer look, not sure what to make of it all.
I had no memories, so fashion and what was supposed to go together made no sense to me. So, instead of looking at the clothing laid out for me, I walked over to the window. I was on the second floor, and I could see the run-down castle yard below me.
The yard looked like it had once been a beautiful garden at one point, but it was now overgrown and filled with weeds. I watched as the wind blew through the trees that lined the yard, and I sighed. This really wasn't the life I wanted for myself.
I looked away from the window and decided to try on a few of the outfits laid out for me. After putting on some black pants and a white shirt, I then added a blue blazer and some shoes. I stood in front of the mirror and assessed my outfit, feeling slightly more confident than before.
Finally, I grabbed a leather belt and fastened it around my waist, completing my look. I had no idea where this newfound confidence came from, but I liked it. I took one last look at myself in the mirror and smiled, satisfied with what I saw. Then, I heard the maid come back into the room.
"You were supposed to wait for me. How am I to serve you if you are going to do my job?!?" she said, shaking her head in disapproval.
"I'm sorry," I replied sheepishly, feeling embarrassed once again. "I didn't really think that I needed help with this. All my arms and legs are functioning properly, right?" I said, but the maid just rolled her eyes.
"You are my King, and I am your servant. My job is to look after you and make sure that everything you need is taken care of," she said with a more gentle tone. "I also have not formally introduced myself. My name is Fiona, and I can take care of any needs you have."
I thanked her for her help and then followed her back out into the hallway. We walked together down several flights of stairs until we reached the entrance hall. It was clear that this was the main area where guests were welcomed. The walls were decorated with paintings of former rulers that I had never seen before, and large chandeliers hung above us.
The maid led me through a door off to the side, which opened up to a grand dining room. There were two long tables in the center of the room, draped with fine linens and surrounded by chairs. An elegant fireplace burned brightly in the corner, adding a cozy warmth to the space.
"This is where you will take your meals," the maid said as she motioned for me to sit down at one of the chairs. I nodded my head, feeling overwhelmed by all of the changes taking place. I had no idea what being King really entailed, but it seemed like a lot more responsibility than I was used to.
"So, what now?" I asked, not sure why I was being brought here since I had already eaten in my room.
Fiona just laughed and shook her head. "You really are new to all of this, aren't you?" she said. "It is cute to see you so confused and in amazement," Fiona smiled, but then it faded. "We need to wait here for Lachlan. Melodious will be meeting with him first, but you have to be careful with him."
"Melodious said the same thing. She said he hated monsters, but then why is he helping her?" I asked.
"That's because sometimes it takes a monster to kill a monster. Melodious has been planning for your arrival for a long time, but there is a catch," Fiona explained, and I frowned.
"Catch?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Don't worry about it for now. Melodious will probably come and see you soon because it seems that the Lord is running late. It will be hard for her to keep away from you now that you have made it here," Fiona giggled.
The thought of that beautiful woman being excited to see me made my heart sing, but I pushed it out of my mind. I really needed to stop getting so excited about things like this, or I was going to seem like a child to Melodious.
"This is all so much," I said, rubbing my head, and Fiona nodded.
"It will be for a while, but in time you will get used to it. The sooner we can get rid of the fog that is over your mind, the better," my maid said, and I nodded as I heard footsteps getting closer to the dining hall.