“Greetings prince!” A guard caught Rudolf off-guard as they saluted in their esteem. The guard was wearing the standard armor and equipment given to any normal guard of the kingdom.

  “Ahem, Elias…?” A second guard approached as the previous guard stepped aside to give them the attention.

  “Prince, we are ordered by the Lady to escort you to the air floats and then to the rally where the squadron is to be present for the journey.” The second guard spoke, his words practiced and well thought out as Rudolf nodded in agreement before following them while the guards conversed in between and then with him.

  “My name is Julian and my peer who greeted you before is Elias, prince.” Julian said as he further introduced himself and Elias.

  So, they’re the part of the elite 506th regiment, the armor and stance is that of a normal guard though. Ages, nineteen and eighteen respectively… inexperienced.

  _ “You can drop the title addressing for now, where exactly are we going right now?” _ Rudolf said as the guards, mainly Julian nodded.

  _ “We will be going to your quarters first, where we will have lunch as it is already prepared by Rebecca’s crew. Afterwards, us two will gear up for the journey while you can dress into the formal royal attire.” _

  Rudolf immediately checked his outfit out alongside his hands, the color of his palms was different, and his clothing was nowhere near formal, he was just dressed in pin nightgowns. It was fortunate of him that Lady Agatha was blind otherwise he would have been ridiculed by her.

  Now I get why the servants were quite shy and skeptical of me. I completely forgot to check my body and self, not like there would be any changes but I remember my palms being darker. It does not make it any better for me as I’d have to face that… Rebecca girl again. _ “I must learn to control myself.” _

  As the guards paved the way for Rudolf to follow them, they arrived at the extravagant dining room made just for the prince. The dining room was retively small compared to the other rooms but that’s mainly since the room is shared between the kitchen as well.

  Yet, the size was compensated for by the glorious dispy of luxury. Gold was showered in every sense of the word, even the table being partly structured in gold. The table was rge as well, having around ten chairs, two chairs of seating on both sides and one chair at the ends of the table.

  Rudolf seated himself at the very end of the table as the guards followed suit, seating themselves unevenly. Perhaps they are trying to show respect, even while in the middle of dining?

  Oh shit, oh no. I am losing myself again… Rudolf muttered to himself as Rebecca, followed by a few other maidens behind her was coming towards their table with some ptes, prepared delicacies.

  “I-I hope you like it prince.” Rebecca’s voice was a little shaky, her quiet discomfort lingering back from the moment when Rudolf awkwardly wandered away from her while sweating profusely.

  “Thank you.” Rudolf said while his heart was no longer racing as fast as before. I am able to suppress the urge by controlling my breathing. This is new. He is very disconnected from reality.

  The servants each opened up the lids of the previously covered meals as they id them on the table. The warmth and freshness of the meals presented before the royal and his guards was palpable.

  Each meal that y on the table signified the union of the empire in various ways. The famous button meatloaves from the northern part of the Ayequilterus kingdom or the renowned crab dewellington from the southern region, all types of regional delicacies were prepared every day for the royalty to consume. The leftovers being served to the servants and the needy peasants that owned near to nothing.

  “Hey, um. What exactly is this?” Rudolf questioned to a nearby servant while pointing at the unique combo in front of him as they approached him with calcuted measures.

  The meal was out of the ordinary for sure. It looked like a well roasted chicken body but there was blood coming out from its neck, alongside the obvious oddball, the bck flesh of the chicken. It was well seasoned, yes but the flesh was dark as midnight.

  “Young master, that’s the empire specialty.” The servant said as they took the knife from Rudolf’s hand and severed the ominous bck chickens’ belly in half, revealing a mix of various meats covered in red wine while being surrounded by the tiny pieces of chicken popcorn.

  Rudolf gulped as he took in the sight of the supposed ‘delicacy’ pced in front of him as he was handed the knife back. He reluctantly cut a small piece of the flesh and took a variety of each meat in his fork as he prepared the— “first taste; here goes nothing.”

  “Wow, what is that.” Rudolf did not expect the meal to be bnd, but he certainly didn’t expect it to be this good either.

  “I’m sure you like it; you always take the chicken alongside the meatloaves.” The servant said as they backed off, their eyes etched to the scene of the prince dining.

  I am being forced to consume this garbage, aren’t I? Kingdom specialty, in what—poisoning? Rudolf burped as he barely took another bite of the awful dish before moving onto the meatloaf.

  “I need to act like the prince, before he was, well; repced by my consciousness and got regressed three years back with slight memories still being intact although I haven’t tapped into one of them yet.”

  Rudolf reached out for the meatloaf as the smell and sight of it immediately got him hooked. It was totally different compared to that chicken monstrosity in every sense of the way.

  “It smells delicious… looks delicious…” His mouth drooled as he whispered to himself, I cannot wait to taste it!

  The ‘lunch’ at the prince’s quarters ends as everyone has their fill. The guards y on the chair with their bellies out in the open almost as Rudolf wipes his mouth in the standard nobility style.

  It is such a shame I can’t chow down on everything here. I need to keep the decency of royalty alongside of course, being polite to everyone. The servants eat the leftovers, it wouldn’t have been nice of me to share my saliva on every dish.

  “May I take the ptes away prince?” Rebecca says softly as Rudolf feels himself crumbling a bit before nodding. The red-haired maiden takes the empty ptes away as Rudolf finds himself gncing at her back. Notably, her noticeable feature that sticks out.

  I need to compose myself… Well, considering that the guards will need some time before their gear up, I could go revisit my room again. I need to change out of these pin clothes, they are nowhere near the ethical level of a noble.

  “I’ll be at my chambers, Julian and Elias.” Rudolf says as he accidentally addresses the guards by their names. The guards are surprised by his recognition of their identity as they feel a new sense of loyalty towards him.

  “Prince… thank you for the recognition of our personalities. We’ll meet at the grand staircase.” Julian responded, his words were semi-collected, but his emotions give an array.

  Elias on the other hand already had tears welled up in his eyes as he wiped them off with the back of his hand before nodding in agreement with Julian.

  I guess a slight detail really does make all the more difference. Rudolf whispered to himself while he made his way out of the dining room and into the hallway, guiding himself consistently as he reached the staircase.

  “You know…”,

  “Wow, that’s amazing!”,

  “I know he’s acting weird.”,

  “Is the prince done having lunch, I’m starving.”

  Gossip filled the staircase area as Rudolf reached for the railings. The whispering and slight sndering stopped immediately after the servants each gnced at the prince in his steps.

  “I wonder what the maiden from before… Crity is doing right now.” Rudolf said to himself as he wandered around the hallways of the second floor purposelessly, hoping that by sheer luck; he’d end up at the prince’s chambers.

  Meanwhile, Sakura the higher mistress of the servants had done lecturing the promising maiden Crity on social values and ethics.

  “So, do you get me?” Sakura shouted at Crity as she had lowered her gaze and head, facing the floor directly as she was bowing down on the floor while Sakura was screaming at her.

  “Y-Yes, Madam.” Crity softly spoke as if she was on the verge of tears at this point.

  “You must never, I mean never ever speak to the prince in that manner. It’s our respect that you are upholding, do not ever question the royalty’s intellect or behavior.”

  The door to their room creaked as Rudolf peaked inside, the sound of the door creaking gathered the attention of Crity, who—as taught turned towards the prince and remained bowed, “Young master.”

  “Prince, how may we help you?” Sakura’s demeanor changed, contrasting to her cold attitude towards Crity from before as she leaned down to greet the prince again.

  Rudolf, not being aware of the previous tension simply greeted back before attempting to leave. Yet, he stopped as he focused closely on Crity and her bowed posture. The floor under her face pooling with liquid that seemed like her tears as she had faced away from Sakura.

  “H-hey, are you alright?” Rudolf approached Crity and kneeled as he grabbed her chin to make her face him. Her eyes were teary and her face marked by the free flow. What happened here…

  “Young master, I think it’s best if you left us alone in the re-education.” Sakura said in her cold voice before being interrupted by the prince who left sympathy for the poor maiden.

  “You should not have pushed her so hard. Re-education for what?” Rudolf said as if the realization hit him. “Wow, you are punishing her for the direction she gave me to the ministry?” Even though the directions were mostly useless, she at least tried to help me.

  Sakura the higher mistress felt angry before masking her face with the hint of shamefulness upon being confronted by the prince.

  “I am utterly sorry prince, I did not know you were fine with her behavior. We are merely low servants who are taught to never question or give our opinions to the perfect royals. We are imperfect compared to your kind prince.” Sakura said Rudolf felt a sense of uneasiness and simirity.

  “I’m a human and you’re a human, what’s the damn difference?” Rudolf said as he helped Crity stand up again, wiping her tears off with his hands and smearing them on his pin shirt before continuing.

  “Our titles do not allow us to treat you as lowly beings, just like how the colors of royalty cannot define the king.” He said as he gnced at the grandfather clock behind Sakura and seeing that the time was running low.

  “I-I am taking Crity to serve me, the prince. Is there any objection?” Rudolf directly questioned Sakura as she down casted her eyes and nodded in a no.

  “Thank you…” Crity softly muttered as she followed Rudolf out of the room and into the hallway, wondering how she could serve him.

  Rudolf turned towards her when he sensed that they were far from the old mistress, “So, where’s my room?” I brought her out of there just so I could get to my room and finish dressing up. I’ve had enough of the endless wandering.

  Crity gasped as she thought his request would have been far more hostile or unique, she rexed and nodded while a part of her was a little disappointed. “Please follow me, prince.”

  The great door silently opened as the brilliant sight of the room shone again. “It was all real gold, wasn’t it?” Rudolf remained astounded like the first time he woke up in this room.

  Now, where is the dressing area in this chamber… Rudolf said to himself while Crity cleaned a mirror adorned with jewels and structured in gold. “Mind if I take a look?” He said as Crity stepped aside to allow the prince a look at his face—

  “What the fuck?”