Chapter 2 – Buttered Bread and Soft-Boiled Eggs, Master Style
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Knock knock knock.
"Khun Warun, are you awake yet?" The voice of one of the attendants sounded politely, gently rousing the young man from his comfortable sleep.
"Still sleepy…" I mumbled, my voice thick with drowsiness. I slowly pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes and looking around with a dazed expression. As my vision adjusted to the light, I noticed the three attendants bustling around me, each focused on their tasks.
One was folding the mosquito net with careful precision, another carried a bowl of water and a cloth for washing my face, and the third was choosing an outfit from the wardrobe. She turned to me with a polite smile.
"What shall Khun Warun wear today?" she asked softly.
I glanced at the clothes and thought, How the hell am I supposed to know? I haven't seen any of this before. I sighed and answered lazily, "Anything is fine. As long as it fits, that'll do."
One of the attendants, who seemed familiar, stepped closer with a slight bow. Her tone remained polite.
"Warm water is ready, Master. You can freshen up now."
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "Water? What water?"
She giggled lightly. "To bathe, of course. Khun Warun will feel refreshed."
I blinked, scratching my head in disbelief. "A morning bath… already?"
All three attendants looked at me with a hint of surprise. "It's normal at this time, Master," they said.
I exhaled heavily, feeling like a child forced to wake up early, powerless to refuse. Fine, fine, I thought, following the middle-aged woman. Once I dismissed the others, I approached the wash basin. My eyes caught the toothbrush here.
"What the hell kind of brush is this…" I muttered under my breath. I squeezed the powdered paste onto the bristles. It was rougher than the toothpaste I used now, with a herbal aroma mixed with salt. It smelled refreshing, though the texture felt strange and unfamiliar. Not smooth like modern toothpaste, that's for sure.
"Well, even back then they had things like this…" I murmured to myself. As I brushed, I realized that while it felt different, it had a certain charm—simple, connected to nature. I smiled slightly, rinsing my mouth. The salty taste lingered, but the herbal freshness made me feel clean.
Lost in thought, I let out a soft sigh. If this is the life I'm stuck with, maybe I'll have to get used to all this…
I stripped down and stepped into the bath, glancing nervously at my skin. The tattoos… I'd almost forgotten about them.
"Shit! I forgot about the tattoos!" I cursed in my mind, shifting uncomfortably. What if the attendants saw? The cold water ran over my arms and legs, refreshing, but my mind was still restless. If they see the ones on my wrist or behind my ear… that's gonna be trouble.
I sank deeper into the bath, pondering how to deal with this situation without explanation. Should I cover them with a cloth? I muttered, scanning the room for anything that could help. Nothing.
"Shit!" I groaned, frustration mixing with annoyance.
Realizing I had no way to hide them, I decided to let it be. I leaned back, whispering to myself, "Whatever… mornings always bring enough annoying stuff anyway. Just deal with it."
Some of the smaller tattoos were easy—hidden at my hips and ankles—but the ones on my wrists and behind my ears were dangerously visible. If anyone sees those, I'm screwed, I thought.
Finally, I chose to stop worrying, trying to calm myself. "Nothing's gonna happen… just be careful," I whispered, lightly tracing my tattoos with my fingers.
Wrapped in a towel, I shuffled to my room. The attendants had laid out clothes neatly on the bed. I looked at the outfit, feeling slightly bemused. No comments…
The set was far too formal for me. A crisp white long-sleeve shirt, clean and sharp, made me appear much more polished. The subtle trim added a touch of sophistication.
Comfortable home wear? I wondered, slipping the soft, lightweight shirt on. It felt like preparing for a big office meeting, and I couldn't help chuckling at the thought.
Then I glanced at the underwear prepared for me. Oh wow… they even had underwear like this back then? I muttered internally. Loose cotton, white, like modern boxer shorts. Not bad… but maybe a little small.
Next, I noticed the brown cotton trousers. They screamed elegance, perfect for a formal meal. Paired with polished leather shoes and a dark tie, my legs looked longer and sharper. Okay, I really do look like I'm going to an important event now, I thought, both impressed and slightly amused.
"Isn't this gonna be hot?" I muttered, still a bit reluctant as I finished dressing.
Once ready, I checked myself in the mirror. Do I really need to look this good? I smiled, acknowledging that despite my weird feelings about it, the outfit suited me.
Not as bad as I thought… I said to myself, stepping out with confidence. No idea what awaited me outside, but I'd face it dressed way too nicely for my own comfort.
I looked around the room, unsure where to head. As I hesitated, the middle-aged woman, named Yoi, approached with a warm smile.
"Breakfast is ready, Master," she said cheerfully.
"Breakfast?" I asked, confused. Does she mean food?
Yoi looked slightly surprised but smiled. "The main hall, of course."
I squinted, more puzzled. "Main hall?" I thought as I slowly followed her. The air felt strange, unfamiliar, and yet beautiful.
Just like a dream… is it really this nice? I thought, excitement bubbling under my calm exterior.
⸻
I followed the servants into the main hall. As I stepped inside, everything looked both unfamiliar and oddly timeless. While some elements seemed modern, others gave off a sense of the past—the furniture and decorations had a classic European style. I smiled like a fool at first, then quickly closed my mouth when I saw the dining table set in the center of the room. "Whoa… what is this pressure I'm feeling?" I thought to myself.
Immediately, everyone in the room turned to look at me, their faces full of surprise and curiosity. I shivered—not from any bodily discomfort—but from the sheer awkwardness. In my head, I muttered, "Can I just bite my tongue and die right now?"
The room was silent, except for the loud, rhythmic beating of my own heart. My family sat together, all facing me. My mother called gently, her voice warm and caring:
"Rung, come sit down, my child."
"Even just taking a step to sit down feels impossible, Mom," I thought as everyone's gaze seemed to pierce through me. I couldn't help thinking maybe my looks could ease some of the tension in the room… or maybe not. I slowly walked to sit next to my sister, a beautiful woman whose presence made me almost hold my breath. "Honestly… I'm terrified," I thought, straightening my back and trying to look confident.
Then my sister asked, her voice full of concern, "Rung, what happened last night at the pavilion?" Her question made everyone turn their eyes on me, as if scrutinizing me. I felt like I wanted to sink into the chair, swallowed by embarrassment. I swallowed hard and answered cautiously.
"Yoey told me she saw you wet at the pavilion. Did something happen?" My sister looked at me seriously.
Damn… I thought, you told her not to tell anyone. I tried to muster my confidence again. "Uh… well, it was really dark. I couldn't see properly and slipped into the water," I muttered softly, trying to make it sound normal, but inside I kept thinking, "What kind of excuse is this…"
I glanced around—the family was listening intently. Being watched like this made me wish I could vanish. I sat at the grand, elegant table, feeling like I was simmering in boiling water.
"How am I supposed to answer this? I don't even know… the real reason is totally fantastical. Who would believe it?" I thought, trying to keep my face neutral. It felt like swimming in deep water, not knowing where to go next.
But my sister seemed far more interested in the details than I expected. Her eyes bored into me, almost through me. My explanation didn't seem to convince her, so I chose to remain silent, letting her stare, full of concern and curiosity, which only made me more uncomfortable. Then she spoke in a softer voice, "You weren't hurt anywhere, right?"
I muttered back, a little dazed, "No…" while thinking, I really hit my head—getting hit by that durian still stings in my memory. I couldn't help smiling at the thought. Her care felt so sweet in a way I'd never experienced before.
"Are you really okay, my child?" Mom asked again, her voice full of love and concern.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied warmly, trying to sound friendly and sincere.
Soon, the breakfast tray was brought forward, and I nearly held my breath at the sight of the meticulously arranged food. "Oh my… what is this?" I stared in awe. I'd never seen anything like it before… fresh buttered bread with soft-boiled eggs, served alongside tea or coffee, all in a high-class European style.
"Uh…" I couldn't find the words, my mind completely blown. Is this really breakfast? I had expected some old-fashioned meal, like in one of those historical dramas. I gave a small, awkward smile to my sister and the family sitting nearby.
Finally, I could only grin at myself, picking up a slice of bread with butter and a soft-boiled egg and shoving it into my mouth. The taste was unusual for me—I was used to jam or maybe cheese—but… "Not bad at all," I thought, observing the reactions of the people around me.
⸻
After everyone finished their meal, my father spoke in a serious tone, "Today, the Thippayanet family will be joining us for lunch," glancing at me in a way that silently signaled I should prepare myself.
"Don't cause any trouble, Warun. I don't want them to see our child as a rebel," he added firmly.
Whoa… that's intense!? If you're going to talk like that, just come at me directly, Father. His words hit me like a smack in the face, and all I could do was swallow and reply, "Yes, Khun Father." In my mind, I couldn't help but think, Scarier than any ghost… that's definitely my dad.
I imagined him standing stiffly in his official uniform right in the middle of a battlefield, his commanding voice booming across the field. Honestly, I wanted to laugh at the thought, but at the same time, I felt that tense pressure!
After returning from the dead, I get met with the sound of the Demon Hunter's warning… I couldn't help smiling. Everyone's gaze on me looked a little puzzled, but even in this strange new world, the atmosphere in my family was still warm… how warm, exactly?
After finishing the meal, I stepped outside for a bit to explore. There was a small garden here, with various trees and flowers. I wandered along the paths, lost in thought.
Then, one of the servants came up to call us, "Khun Warun, the guests have arrived!"
The guests were from the Thippayanet family. I murmured a soft "Hmm" and followed the servant to the sitting room.
"Whoa! This is fancy as hell!" My first reaction upon stepping inside was awe. The floor was covered with a vibrant red carpet. Nearby, beautiful leather sofas in bright colors caught my eye. I took in every detail—the flower vase on the table, the walls adorned with exquisite paintings.
When I reached the area where the guests were seated, I froze. I couldn't move. It felt as if the world had stopped spinning. For a brief moment, everything around me seemed to pause. The only sound I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.
I couldn't hide my expression—stunned, shocked, almost disbelieving.
Right in front of me was someone I never expected to see. My body felt paralyzed, as if the world blurred for a moment… Is this really happening?