The sunlight streaming through the castle window was too bright, too real. Yumi groaned as she rolled out of bed, her new reflection in the gilded mirror catching her eye. The realization hit her again—she was still a boy. Still trapped in what she stubbornly believed was a dream.
"I must have eaten something weird before bed," she muttered, ruffling her dark hair, which fell perfectly despite her efforts to mess it up. "But wow, I look so...hot. Like, main-character-hot."
Before she could admire herself further, the door creaked open, and in came Eliott, the knight-in-training she'd met the day before. He looked even cuter in daylight—soft, freckled cheeks, messy blond hair, and big, trusting eyes. He was holding a tray of breakfast but nearly stumbled when he saw her still half-dressed.
"My Lord! P-Please cover yourself!" he squeaked, his face turning bright red.
Yumi smirked. "Dream or not, this is too fun." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Hey, Eliott… do you like boys?"
Eliott's eyes widened in horror, and he nearly dropped the tray. "M-My Lord! That's improper to ask!"
She laughed, patting his head. "Relax, I was just joking. Kind of."
Before Yumi could tease him further, the door slammed open. A tall figure stood in the doorway, dressed in regal clothing that screamed "danger." His sharp, golden eyes pierced through her as a dark smile curled on his lips.
"Ah, so you're the 'Lord' everyone's talking about," he drawled, stepping into the room. "I expected someone more… competent."
"Excuse me?" Yumi shot back, crossing her arms.
Eliott quickly bowed. "Prince Ren! I-I didn't know you were visiting today!"
Prince? Yumi raised an eyebrow. Ren was undoubtedly handsome—sharp jawline, silky black hair, and a dangerously cocky smirk. But there was something unsettling about the way he looked at her, like he was deciding whether to toy with her or destroy her.
"You must be the Lord taking over this manor," Ren said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He stepped closer, his fingers brushing Yumi's chin. "You look more like a stray someone picked up."
Yumi swatted his hand away, her heart racing. "And you look like someone who needs an attitude adjustment."
Ren's smirk widened. "Feisty. I like that."
Before Yumi could retort, a cold chill swept through the room. The candles flickered, and the shadows seemed to move.
"Ah, and here comes the magician," Ren muttered, his voice laced with annoyance.
From the darkness, a tall figure emerged, his mismatched eyes—one icy blue, the other a haunting red—fixated on Yumi. His silver hair gleamed in the dim light as he tilted his head, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
"So, you're the new toy," he said softly, his voice both mesmerizing and chilling.
Yumi blinked. "Toy? Excuse me, who are you calling a toy?"
The magician chuckled, stepping closer until he was uncomfortably close. "I can sense it. You're not like the others. There's something… wrong about you. And I love things that are wrong."
Yumi gulped, her playful demeanor faltering. For the first time, she felt a twinge of fear.
Ren rolled his eyes. "Enough, Alaric. Don't scare him too much. He's fragile."
Alaric leaned even closer, his breath ghosting over Yumi's ear. "Fragile things break so beautifully."
"Okay, that's enough!" Yumi snapped, shoving him away. Her heart was pounding, but she forced herself to stand tall. "I don't know what your deal is, but I'm not some toy, and I'm definitely not fragile."
Ren chuckled, clearly amused. "You've got spirit. Let's see how long that lasts."
Eliott, who had been quietly panicking in the corner, finally found his voice. "M-My Lord, perhaps we should go for a walk in the garden? It's… safer there."
Yumi sighed, giving the two unnerving newcomers one last glare. "Good idea. Lead the way, Eliott."
As she followed the flustered knight out of the room, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and dread.
This wasn't just a dream anymore. It was something far more dangerous—and far more thrilling.