The dining hall was even more grand and intimidating than James had expected. The room was enormous, almost absurdly so, with a ceiling so high it felt like it belonged to a palace.
A massive crystal chandelier hung above the centre of the room, dripping with sparkling lights that reflected off the glossy, polished floor.
The walls were lined with intricate carvings and paintings that seemed ancient yet impossibly expensive.
At the heart of it all was a dining table that stretched out long enough to seat at least twenty people, though tonight, only four places were set.
James felt small, like a child stepping into a king's court. His gaze travelled to the man seated at the head of the table, and his breath caught slightly.
The man was larger than life, both figuratively and literally.
He was chubby but carried himself with such authority that his size seemed to enhance his presence rather than diminish it.
His green eyes were sharp and calculating, like he could see straight through James with a single glance. His neatly combed hair, streaked with silver, gave him a dignified, almost regal look.
Beside him, to his right, was a stunning woman with flowing black hair that shimmered in the light.
Her green eyes, the same piercing shade as the man's, were softer, full of warmth and a kind of gentle love that made James's nerves ease, just a little.
She was the picture of elegance, her dress a delicate blend of simplicity and sophistication.
Of course, this was his mother. A.K.A the lioness that had almost strangled him some minutes back in his room.
On the left, however, was someone far less inviting—a girl, probably thirteen or so, who was clearly the younger version of the woman.
Her emerald eyes, though just as striking, were narrowed in a glare aimed directly at James.
Her lips were pressed in a tight line, and she drummed her fingers on the table like she was waiting for someone to annoy her—and James was clearly that someone.
James froze at the entrance, his heart pounding. 'So these are my parents and... a sister?' He assessed them quickly.
The father was clearly someone he had to tread carefully around, a man who commanded respect but could also be reasonable.
The mother seemed loving and kind, which was a relief, but the sister? She looked like she was plotting how to ruin his life.
What did the old owner of this body do to her? Steal her dessert? Hide her dolls? Kick her puppy? He decided he'd better watch his step.
"Father," James greeted politely, bowing his head slightly. His voice was calm, steady—a miracle, considering the lump in his throat. "Mother."
The woman's face immediately lit up, her eyes brimming with affection. "Oh, James, my darling!" she said warmly, her voice soothing.
"Don't just stand there. Come, sit beside me." She patted the chair to her right, and James obediently made his way over.
As he shuffled over, he stole a glance at the younger girl. Her emerald eyes narrowed at him, her small lips forming a tight line.
He mustered a weak smile, hoping it might thaw her icy demeanour, but she only huffed and turned her attention to her plate.
James tried not to sigh as he slid into the seat next to his mother. His attention was immediately stolen by the spread of food on the table.
It was unlike anything he'd ever seen, a feast straight out of a dream—or maybe a fantasy novel.
There was a roasted bird, its golden-brown skin glistening with some sort of glaze, surrounded by colourful fruits that almost seemed to glow.
A steaming bowl of soup swirled with vibrant purples and greens sat nearby, its aroma so rich it made his stomach growl.
There were bread rolls, but they were blue, their surfaces shimmering like they'd been dusted with tiny crystals.
Plates of jiggling cubes that sparkled in the light sat next to dishes of meats he couldn't even name. It was overwhelming in the best way possible.
'What even is this stuff? It smells amazing!' James's fingers twitched with the urge to dig in, but he kept his composure, waiting for the others to begin.
His father cleared his throat, his deep voice drawing James's attention. "It's good to have you back," he said, his tone firm yet not unkind.
James straightened up. "Thank you, Father. It's… good to be back."
The man nodded, his sharp eyes watching James carefully. "Do you remember anything from the hunting expedition?"
James froze, his mind spinning into overdrive. 'Hunting expedition? What hunting expedition?! Think, think!'
He considered lying but quickly dismissed the idea. One slip-up and he'd be done for. Honesty, or at least partial honesty, seemed safer.
"I'm afraid not," James said carefully, his eyes darting to his father's face to gauge his reaction. "Everything's still a bit hazy."
His father frowned, his expression thoughtful rather than angry. "That complicates matters," he said, stroking his chin.
"But don't worry. I'll handle it. For now, focus on resting. Your Awakening ceremony is tomorrow, and you woke up just in time."
Awakening ceremony? James's heart skipped a beat. He forced himself to nod. "Of course, Father. I'll be ready."
As he reached for a piece of glowing fruit, the younger girl muttered something under her breath. It was barely audible, but James caught it.
"Maybe if he stopped being a useless sex freak, he'd remember more," she said with a sneer.
James froze mid-bite, his hand trembling. He choked on the fruit, his eyes bulging as he struggled to swallow.
He pounded his chest, coughing violently. His mother gasped, leaning over to pat his back.
"James! Are you alright?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "Marta! Quickly, come clean this up!"
He waved her off, still hacking, as a maid rushed over with a cloth to clean up the table. James barely noticed her at first, but when he did, his breath hitched for an entirely different reason.
She was young, maybe eighteen or nineteen, with soft auburn hair that fell in loose waves around her flushed face.
Her figure was… distracting, to say the least, and the faint blush on her cheeks only added to her charm.
As she leaned closer to clean up the mess, James's gaze flickered downward for just a second—okay, maybe two. His brain immediately betrayed him.
'Don't look. Don't look. Oh no, you looked. Think pure thoughts, James. Pure thoughts!'
But his thoughts were anything but pure. 'Is this what life here is like? Stunning maids blushing while they clean up your mess? This can't be real.'
His mother continued fussing over him, oblivious to the war raging in his head.
Meanwhile, James sat there, red-faced and sweating, feeling both embarrassed and oddly victorious.
He suddenly wanted to try something crazy.
_____
Power stone Goal!
20 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
50 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.