The carriage passed through the massive gates, revealing a castle that dwarfed anything Kieth had ever seen before. Its towering spires cast long shadows, giving it an ominous, dark presence compared to the lively city it overlooked.
Soldiers drilled in the courtyard, their movements crisp and synchronized. Kieth glanced back into the carriage. Paulina sat elegantly beside Serel, who was mimicking her every move, sitting straight with a composed expression.
"What are you doing?" Kieth asked, raising an eyebrow.
Without sparing him a glance, Paulina replied, "People will be watching. You'd better make a good impression."
Kieth leaned slightly to the side and realized she was right—crowds of curious onlookers lined the streets, their eyes fixed on the royal carriage.
"What? Have they never seen people before?" he muttered.
"Rarely," Paulina replied smoothly. "The royal palace doesn't get many guests in Thelaria."
"And the reason for that is?"
"Assassination," Paulina answered casually. "The king is deeply afraid of being killed."
"Has there been an attempt before?"
"No… not that I know of."
Kieth turned to Serel. "And why is Serel copying you?"
Paulina smirked faintly. "She's taking inspiration to look graceful—unlike your childish habits."
Kieth scowled internally. Why does she always mock me?
The carriage came to a stop, and the doors opened. Paulina picked up Serel and stepped out gracefully, followed by Kieth. He noticed the gazes of several guards and servants lingering on him—likely drawn to his visible injuries. Feeling self-conscious, he instinctively tried to cover his wounds.
Paulina, noticing this, shifted closer, her robe subtly shielding him from prying eyes. Her serious demeanor as she looked ahead made Kieth smile softly, grateful for her quiet support.
As they entered the castle, a maid approached, speaking in a formal tone. "Are you Lady Paulina and Sir Kieth?"
"That would be us," Paulina replied curtly.
"Follow me, please," the maid said, leading them through grand hallways.
Kieth's eyes scanned every corner of the castle without drawing attention to himself. Something felt… off. The servants moved with an unnerving precision, almost mechanical in their coordination. Serel, sensing the tension, buried her face in Paulina's chest.
"Hey," Kieth whispered to Paulina. "Something's wrong."
Without turning, she muttered under her breath, "Whatever you do, don't speak to anyone."
Suddenly, Kieth felt a cold hand on his shoulder. He turned slowly, his heart pounding. A womman stood behind him, grinning unnaturally wide, her sharp teeth gleaming.
No one else seemed to notice her.
Kieth broke free of the grip, trying to act normal. The woman moved ahead, now blocking his path, her eerie grin never faltering.
Ignore it, Kieth thought, just walk through it.
He stepped forward, intending to pass through the figure like a ghost. But instead, he bumped into it.
The woman's head tilted downward before slowly rising again, locking her gaze onto Kieth. The grin stretched wider.
Cold sweat ran down Kieth's back. His breathing quickened. Shit. What the fuck is this thing? It's not a ghost? No… no fucking way. I bumped into it. It's real. What do I do now?
The figure loomed closer, its presence suffocating, as Kieth's mind raced with panic.
The man opened his mouth, hee long tongue slithering toward Kieth. Kieth froze, fear gripping him as the icy tongue brushed against his neck. Cold and slimy. The woman leaned in closer, locking her wide, unnerving smile with Kieth's eyes.
The grin faltered. Kieth's gaze, unwavering and burning with sudden defiance, met his.
"You disgusting prick," Kieth growled, his voice low and venomous.
Without hesitation, Kieth swung his fist, connecting with the woman's jaw and sending her sprawling to the ground. Realizing the woman could be hit, Kieth wasted no time. He stomped on her repeatedly, his kicks landing with relentless force.
Hearing the commotion, Paulina turned, her eyes widening in shock. Serel, who had been laughing moments before, froze mid-giggle.
"Kieth! What are you doing?" Paulina demanded, rushing toward him.
Kieth glanced back at her, his face pale but determined. "Paulina! It's a ghost! A ghost is here!" he shouted, his foot still slamming into the woman on the ground.
Paulina's brow furrowed, confusion replacing her earlier alarm. "What ghost? There's nothing there! You're acting like an idiot!"
Kieth stopped abruptly, his breath heavy. He looked down, his heart pounding in disbelief. The woman—the grinning, twisted woman—was gone. There was nothing there but empty space.
"What...?" Kieth whispered, his voice barely audible. His eyes darted around the corridor, searching for any sign of the figure.
"Kieth," Paulina said firmly, her tone edged with concern. "Are you alright? Do you have a fever or something?"
Ignoring her question, Kieth swallowed hard and fell into step behind her as they continued down the hall. His mind raced, the unsettling encounter replaying over and over.
They arrived at a large door, where Paulina knocked briskly. "Wait," Kieth said suddenly, frowning. "Wasn't there a maid we were following?"
Paulina paused, glancing back at him with a puzzled expression. "No... What maid? Kieth, what is wrong with you?"
"Huh..." Kieth murmured, his stomach churning with unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply, horribly wrong.
The door opened, and they stepped inside. Raphenia sat gracefully beside Veliern, who greeted them with a polite smile. Both seemed calm, normal—too normal, Kieth thought, given the strange events swirling around them.
"Oh, there you are," Raphenia said warmly, her eyes lighting up. "That must be Kieth, the one I told you about! He's been helping me improve."
Veliern nodded. "Ah, yes. Nice to meet you again, Kieth. I believe we've crossed paths before."
"Yeah..." Kieth managed a weak smile, his mind still clouded by doubts. The tension in his chest refused to ease. Everyone around him was acting as if nothing was wrong—Paulina's strange behavior, Serel's sudden laughter, the grinning woman—it was all too much.
Trying to steady himself, Kieth turned to Raphenia. "Hey, can I talk to you privately? I've got a secret technique for perfecting the final touches on your portraits."
Raphenia's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh? Alright, let's go!" she chirped, rising to her feet.
Veliern looked up, hopeful. "Can I come too?"
"Of course not," Raphenia said, waving him off with a playful smile. "It's something Kieth wants to show me."
Defeated, Veliern slumped back in his seat as Raphenia followed Kieth out of the room. He shut the door behind them, sparing a glance back at Paulina and Serel, who were now watching him with unsettling intensity.
"Alright, Raphenia, listen—" Kieth began, but his words caught in his throat. His eyes widened in horror as he saw it again: the grinning woman, her face battered from earlier, standing just behind her.
Kieth reacted instantly. He shoved Raphenia aside and lunged at the figure, slamming her to the ground. His fists flew in a frenzy, pounding into the woman's face with raw desperation. He pressed the figure's head against the wall, using his body to shield Raphenia.
"Raphenia!" Kieth shouted, his voice shaking. "Look! Look at this thing! It's right here!"
Raphenia, wide-eyed and pale, stared at him in utter confusion. "Kieth... there's nothing there," she whispered.
Kieth froze. His grip loosened. Slowly, he turned his head. There was nothing. No woman, no smile, no sign of the struggle. Just empty air.
"What the actual fuck..." he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.
Kieth froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He stared at his hands, trembling slightly. There was no one there—no woman with a grin, no eerie presence. Just the cold, empty hallway.
Raphenia took a cautious step back, her face pale with confusion and concern. "Kieth… are you okay? What's going on?"
"I swear… I saw her," Kieth muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "She was right here—grinning, mocking me. I—I smashed her face, I felt it!"
Raphenia frowned. "There's no one here, Kieth. Are you sure you're not… imagining things?"
Kieth clenched his fists, trying to make sense of the situation. He wasn't hallucinating. He knew what he saw, what he felt. Yet, every time he turned, the figure vanished as if it never existed.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at her. "Raphenia, something is wrong in this castle. The servants move like puppets, the air feels heavy, and that… thing… keeps appearing and disappearing. You have to trust me."
Raphenia hesitated, her expression torn between disbelief and concern. "Kieth, maybe you're just tired? You've been through so much lately—"
"Listen to me!" Kieth's voice rose, startling her. "This isn't exhaustion or stress. There's something wrong here. I can feel it."
Raphenia stared at him for a long moment before nodding hesitantly. "Alright… I'll trust you. But what do we do?"
Kieth exhaled, trying to think clearly. "Stay close to me. If anything seems off—anything—tell me immediately. And whatever happens, don't trust anyone unless we're both sure they're real."
Raphenia nodded again, though she still seemed unsure. As they re-entered the room, Kieth couldn't shake the feeling that the walls themselves were watching.
Paulina glanced up as they entered. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah," Kieth lied, forcing a smile. "Just a little… creative advice for Raphenia."
Paulina gave him a suspicious look but said nothing.
Kieth's gaze swept over the room, lingering on every corner, every shadow. The man wasn't here—for now. But Kieth knew he wasn't imagining things.
Kieth thought about the figure he'd seen. It had to be a ghost, haunting this palace. That unsettling smile... it wasn't human.
He rubbed his face with his hands, frustration bubbling to the surface. Nothing made sense anymore, and now Serel and Paulina were acting weird too.
"I don't know what the fuck to do," he muttered under his breath, his voice lost in the cheerful chatter of the others in the room.
The thought of seeking help nagged at him. Maybe Veilern could be of use—he was strong, capable. But would he believe Kieth?
The conversation eventually wound down, and Kieth found himself alone in the guest room. Serel had been taken away to sleep with Paulina, leaving him restless. He lay there, staring at the ceiling, thoughts swirling in his head.
He couldn't shake it. The figure, the smile, the unsettling feeling. Sleep wasn't an option.
Kieth sat up. Fear wasn't the issue—he wasn't scared of the thing, not anymore. Sure, it was creepy, but he'd hit it before. That was all he needed to know. If he could fight it, then it wasn't as scary as it seemed.
"A ghost's only terrifying if you're powerless against it," he muttered to himself, pulling on his boots.
He slipped out into the dimly lit hallways. The maids and guards were still awake, moving about, but none of them paid him any attention. He moved quickly, systematically, checking each room. Nothing stood out.
Floor by floor, he searched, the monotony of it burning the palace's layout into his memory. Eventually, he descended to the lower levels, reaching the basement.
That's when he saw it—a grand door etched with stars, its intricate carvings shimmering faintly in the faint light.
"Cool door," Kieth muttered, stepping closer. Then his eyes widened. "Wait... That's it! That's the door from my dream!"
His hand reached out instinctively, but before he could touch it, a chilling sensation crept over his shoulder.
A hand.
Cold, unnaturally so.
Kieth froze. Slowly, he turned his head, his heart pounding as he braced himself.
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