Ethan's Perspective
The smell of food woke me.
I blinked groggily, sitting up in the massive bed that I still couldn't believe was mine for now. A soft knock echoed through the door before it opened slightly, and a man in an impeccably tailored suit stepped inside, carrying a tray.
"Good morning, sir," he said in a deep, polished voice. His silver hair was slicked back, and he moved with the kind of precision that screamed butler. If he wasn't, then I'd eaten my last slice of pizza.
"Uh, good morning," I mumbled, raking a hand through my hair. "Who are you?"
"I am Alden," he said, placing the tray on a small table near the window. "Lord Kael asked me to ensure you are well-fed and... supervised."
"Babysitting duty, huh?" I muttered, dragging myself out of bed. "I'm sensing a theme."
Alden didn't react, his expression perfectly neutral as he adjusted the placement of the tray. "Your breakfast, sir. Please refrain from touching anything dangerous in the castle today."
"Noted," I said, eyeing the food. It was an assortment of bread, cheese, and fruit, all arranged neatly like something out of a fancy inn. "So, uh, is Kael around?"
"Lord Kael is attending to his studies," Alden said curtly. His gaze flickered to me, cool and assessing. "May I suggest staying within the guest wing today? The castle can be... treacherous for the unfamiliar."
Something about the way he said that made my skin crawl. "Yeah, sure," I said, forcing a smile. "No wandering. Got it."
---
Breakfast was delicious, but it wasn't enough to shake the nagging feeling that Alden didn't like me. His polite words and stiff posture were fine on the surface, but there was something off in the way his gaze lingered just a little too long, as if he were sizing me up.
Still, it wasn't like I could do much about it. I was the outsider here, the weird human in a world that didn't even have Wi-Fi. If Alden wanted to judge me, fine. It wasn't like I hadn't been judged before.
---
Kael's Perspective
The sound of Ethan's laughter carried down the hall, shattering the quiet I'd come to value.
I found him in the courtyard, sitting on the stone bench near the fountain. Alden stood nearby, his posture rigid, holding what looked like a small stack of books. Ethan was gesturing animatedly, his green eyes bright as he explained something I couldn't quite hear.
"...and then she says, 'That's not my staff!'" Ethan burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. Alden's expression didn't change, though I thought I caught the slightest twitch of his lips.
"Ethan," I called, stepping into the courtyard.
He turned toward me, his grin still wide. "Hey, Kael! Did you know your butler has the patience of a saint? I've been telling him terrible jokes for, like, fifteen minutes, and he hasn't murdered me yet."
"I have considered it," Alden said dryly, placing the books on a nearby table.
Ethan gasped in mock horror. "Et tu, Alden?"
I sighed, crossing the courtyard. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Nope," Ethan said cheerfully. "But you like it. Admit it."
I ignored him, picking up one of the books Alden had brought. It was an old tome, the pages yellowed and brittle. A familiar spellbook.
"These are from the restricted library," I said, glancing at Alden.
He inclined his head. "I thought they might be useful for your current research."
"And what research is that?" Ethan asked, leaning closer to peek at the book. "Magic? Spells? How to stop your human guest from wandering into certain death?"
"Precisely," I said, snapping the book shut. "Stay out of the restricted library."
Ethan gave me an exaggerated salute. "Aye aye, captain."
I turned to Alden. "Prepare the study. I'll begin immediately."
Alden bowed slightly, then cast a glance at Ethan. "And what shall I do with your... guest?"
"I can hear you," Ethan muttered.
"See that he doesn't destroy anything," I said, striding toward the castle.
Behind me, I heard Ethan sigh. "Great. Babysitting round two. Lucky me."
---
Ethan's Perspective
Alden wasn't exactly the most entertaining babysitter.
After Kael left, he led me back to the guest wing with the enthusiasm of someone herding sheep. Every time I tried to make conversation, he responded with short, clipped answers that didn't give me much to work with.
"So, how long have you worked here?" I asked as we climbed the stairs.
"A long time," he said.
"Cool, cool. Do you, like, live here full-time? Or do you get days off? Not that I'm trying to pry or anything, I'm just curious because—"
"Do you ever tire of speaking, sir?" Alden asked, glancing at me over his shoulder.
I blinked. "Not really, no."
He sighed, pushing open the door to my room. "Perhaps you could occupy yourself with reading."
I glanced at the small pile of books on the table. They looked... complicated. "Uh, maybe later."
Alden hesitated, his gaze flicking to me and then to the books. "You should be careful, Mr. Wright. This castle has... a way of testing those who do not belong."
It sounded like a warning, but before I could ask what he meant, he was gone.
---
The rest of the day passed slowly. I paced the room, read a few pages of one of the books before giving up, and eventually ended up staring out the window, watching the forest sway in the breeze. It was beautiful, in a way that made my chest ache.
A knock on the door broke the silence, and I turned to see Alden standing in the doorway. "Lord Kael requests your presence in the dining hall."
"Dinner already?" I asked. "Time flies when you're... doing nothing."
He didn't laugh, of course. I followed him down the hall, my stomach rumbling at the thought of food.
---
The dining hall was just as dramatic as the rest of the castle. A long table stretched down the center, lit by flickering candles. Kael sat at the head, his gaze lifting as I entered.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair closest to him.
I slid into the seat, glancing at the plates of food spread across the table. It wasn't as fancy as I expected—just roast meat, vegetables, and some kind of bread—but it smelled amazing.
"Is this normal for you?" I asked, grabbing a piece of bread. "Big empty castle, fancy dinners, grumpy butlers?"
"Alden is not grumpy," Kael said, cutting into his meat.
"I beg to differ," I muttered.
Kael's lips twitched, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned his attention back to his plate, and the silence stretched between us. It wasn't uncomfortable exactly, but it wasn't easy either.
"So," I said finally, breaking the quiet. "What's the plan? Are you just going to... study me forever? Figure out why I'm here and then kick me out?"
Kael set his knife down, his gaze sharp. "Do you want to leave?"
I hesitated. The obvious answer was yes, but... did I? Sure, this place was weird and dangerous, but it was also kind of amazing. And Kael—despite his gruff exterior—wasn't the worst company.
"I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe."
Kael studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Then I will figure out how to send you back."
"And if you can't?" I asked quietly.
Kael didn't answer.
---
Kael's Perspective
Ethan was a distraction.
His presence disrupted the order I had carefully cultivated over the years. And yet, I couldn't bring myself to resent him for it. There was something... endearing about his relentless curiosity, his unfiltered honesty.
But I wasn't the only one who had noticed him.
As I returned to my study that evening, I found Alden waiting by the door. His expression was carefully neutral, but there was a tension in his posture that put me on edge.
"Speak," I said.
Alden hesitated. "Your guest, my lord. He does not belong here."
"I am aware," I said, stepping past him. "And I will handle it."
"With respect, my lord," Alden said, his voice tight, "he is a liability."
I paused, glancing over my shoulder. "Do not concern yourself with Ethan. He is under my protection."
Alden's jaw tightened, but he bowed his head. "As you wish."