For the rest of the morning, Ethan was unable to cope with his encounter with Princess Alice. Deep inside his tunic pocket, he had his hands tied around the delicate silk handkerchief she had given him.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
One of the main characters was Alice, who played a crucial role. However, she had taken notice of him despite the game's initial storyline as an NPC.
And that terrified him.
The Whispers Begin.
By noon, the impact of his encounter with Alice had already begun to permeate the area.
The other servants' eyes caught Ethan's attention.
A few scowled in disbelief, while others muttered from behind. Certain individuals directed sharp gazes at him, as if his actions were truly indecent.'
It wasn't long before Anna grabbed him by the collar and yanked him behind the kitchens.
"You. Are. An. Idiot."
The question was raised repeatedly by Ethan, "Why does everyone keep saying that?".
"Because you are!" she exclaimed, gesturing to Anna's chest. "Do you even realise what you've done?".
Ethan rested his face on the chilly stone wall, contorting his temples."Haaah here we go again,Is it about Princess Alice"
Anna smacked him on the arm.
"It's all about Princess Alice!" she yelled, gesturing. "You spoke to someone from the royal family.".
Alone. Now, the entire caste is talking about it! ".
Ethan's stomach twisted. He hoped the encounter would go unnoticed, but he should have been more informed.' The princess didn't just pause to talk to a servant without anyone else noticing.
He asked, "What is the meaning of this?".
With a firm sigh, Anna ran bare-headedly through her untidy brown hair. "The usual absurdity.". Some believe she was admonishing you. "She accused you of trying to win her favor and gave him a hard look. He suggested that you may have done the same." She hesitated and grumbled.
Ethan nearly choked. "What?! ".
"I told you it was a stupid move," Anna said with arms folded.
Ethan wiped his face with his hand. "That's completely insane.". She talked to me for just over a minute"
"Doesn't matter," Anna muttered. "You know how the nobles are. Even the smallest rumour can get someone killed."
Ethan stiffened.
She was right.
The castle was full of power-hungry nobles, each jockeying for favour and influence. If one of them thought he was gaining the princess's attention, it could be very dangerous.
"Great," he muttered. "As if my life wasn't already difficult enough."
Anna gave him a sharp look. "You need to be carefull, Ethan. Servants who stand out too much don't last long in places like this reminder this"
Ethan nodded slowly, a cold feeling settling in his stomach.
He needed to lay low.
At least until things calmed down.
Unfortunately, fate has had other plans.
Later in that afternoon, while carry a tray of fresh linens across the palace corridors, Ethan felt a chill run down his spine.
A noble was watching him.
He didn't need to look up to know it.
His instincts screamed at him to keep walking, to act as if he hadn't noticed.
But before he could take another step, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"You. Servant."
Ethan stopped. Slowly, he turned.
A tall, slender noble stood before him, dressed in fine navy robes trimmed with gold embroidery. His blonde hair was neatly combed, and his piercing blue eyes bore into Ethan with an expression of thinly veiled disdain.
Ethan immediately recognised him.
Lord Julius Varrel.
He was one of the game's secondary antagonists an ambitious noble who sought to increase his influence within the kingdom. In the original story, he had always been obsessed with Princess Alice.
Which meant...
Ethan's pulse quickened.
He knows.
Lord Julius regarded him with cold amusement.
"I heard have an interesting rumour today," he drawled, taking a slow step forward. "Something about that a lowly servant was speaking with Her Highness in the gardens."
Ethan swallowed.
He needed to choose his words carefully.
"Herh ... Her Highness simply asked me a question," Ethan said, keeping his voice even. "I answered and left."
Julius slightly raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Hmm! Did you?" He glanced down at the Ethan's hands. "And yet, I hear she gave you something."
Ethan's breath hitched.
How did he?
No. It didn't matter how. The fact that Julius knew meant this situation was worse than he thought.
Ethan bowed his head low. "I would never presume to take anything from Her Highness, my lord."
Julius smirked. "Good. Then I do expect you to remember your place."
His gaze darkened.
"Haah ! A mere servant should not dream beyond their station."
The veiled threat in his tone was clear.
Ethan clenched his fists.
He wanted to say something, to push back against this arrogant noble, but he knew that would be on sight suicide. He was an NPC. He had no power, no influence.
For now, all he could do was endure.
"I understand, my lord," he said quietly.
Julius seemed pretty much satisfied with the answer. He turned without any another word, his fine shine robes billowing as he strode away down the corridor.
Ethan let out a slow breath.
That was close.
Too close.
He needed to have get rid of the handkerchief.
That night, as Ethan lay on his thin straw mattress in the servants' quarters, he pulled out the silk handkerchief given by the Princess Alice from his tiny pocket.
Even in the dim candlelight, the embroidered royal crest shimmered faintly.
A part of him wanted to keep it to hold onto the proof that, for a brief moment, he had existed outside the bounds of a mere NPC.
But he could not.
Not when it could get him killed.
With a quiet sigh, he folded it neatly and hid it beneath one of the loose floorboards.
Out of sight. Out of danger.
For now.
As he was laying back down, staring up at the wooden ceiling, he made a silent promise to himself.
He would definitely survive.
No matter what this world holds for him.