("Steady.")
Thud
"Ow...."
("I said steady, you imbecile,") Cain said between his teeth in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But it's hard for me to move in this heavy body. I swear you were built like a statue," Alex sat on the bed, rubbing his (Cain's??) sore foot from hitting every object in the room.
[Are you sure it's the body's fault?]
"It's the body."
("It doesn't seem that way.")
"It's the body."
Cain sighed hopelessly, ("What's so hard about walking? We've been doing this for five days.")
"I can't control this body!"
[Seriously? Most transmigrators would've mastered the body in a day.]
"Well, my hovering 'friend', I'm not most transmigrators. I didn't even want to be one! Waking up in a different body is one thing, but sharing one is just creepy," Alex cringed, then placed the books on his head and began walking around the room barefoot.
("Believe me, I had no wish of sharing a body with you. Though it isn't exactly sharing since you're the one in control.")
Alex sighed, stiffly moving his body, then groaned and let the books drop as he strutted across the room.
[That's not how a king walks.]
"It's how an Alex walks."
("Enough of this. I don't care how you'll walk, just get to the meeting before they become restless.")
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he wore the boots and the cape, smoothing out the wrinkles.
There was a knock then the door opened, and Max entered, "Good morning, Alex.... and Your Majesty."
"Max, be nice. He's still the king."
"And a douche who doesn't respect his fiancee," Max grumbled, placing the empty plate on the tray.
"He's still the king..."
"He's a Tyrant who emotionally manipulated a young girl and humiliates his fiancee. To me, his title means nothing."
("What did he just say?")
"You have a point. He is a pain in the butt."
("Excuse me?!")
"Anyway, the Officials are waiting for you," Max took the tray and left the room.
Alex exhaled and straightened his back, the cape fluttering and the boots heavy steps echoed across the corridors as he walked to the throne room.
The guards immediately tensed and bowed, opening the door for him.
"Announcing! His Imperial Majesty, King Titanias Cain Augustus III!" said one of the guards, the Officials knelt to the ground. They faced the floor, hiding their cunning grins.
'This is so weird....' Alex thought, trying his best to appear intimidating as he walked in the dimly lit room to the golden throne and sat down.
("Now tell them to rise.")
'How?'
("Just say 'Arise'.")
'Oh! Like Sung Jin-woo.'
("Pardon?")
Alex cleared his throat quietly and said, "Arise," deepening his voice with a subtle hint of smugness in his tone.
Max cringed from outside the window, facepalming in secondhand embarrassment before his jaw dropped when he saw the Officials freeze in fear as they stood with a more respectful stance, their previous arrogance vanished.
Max nodded in approval, his imaginary tail wagging in excitement as he stayed hidden, wanting to watch Alex's first meeting.
The air was tense. The silence deafening. Everyone in the room stood still, sweating nervously, unable to look at the throne as no one uttered a word.
And Alex, though appearing indifferent, was deep in his thoughts, excited that he finally did the voice.
"S-s-sire...." spoke the oldest among the Officials, his hands trembling behind his back and his gaze aversive, "S-s-shall we... begin the m-m-meeting?"
'Who is he?'
("That's Count Mills, Eleanor's maternal grandfather and a real pain. Though I'm surprised that he doesn't have his usual arrogance today. After this, do let me know who this Sung Jin-woo is.")
'Alright, but I need information from you in exchange.'
("Deal.")
"Yes, Count Mills. Let's begin the meeting."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Count Mills immediately gestured at the young man besides him, who pulled up his glasses with trembling hands and unrolled the scroll.
"The first matter of today is on the concerning increase of theft in Gnobilis district."
"It's because of those rats from Pagus! They can't keep their filth behind the walls!" yelled a Baron.
"Those peasants have gotten too courageous lately," said a Viscount.
"If we don't control them soon, there'll be no peace for us," said a Marquis, his voice filled with venomous disgust that made Alex's brow twitch.
"I agree. Order needs to be enforced," said Duke Adomis, his voice firm as he stroked his red beard in thought, his icy blue eyes calculating, "What are your thoughts, sire?"
'Well? What are your thoughts?'
("You're the one in control here, so you'll answer,") Cain responded, completely exhausted by the topic of discussion.
'You're still the King. I'm just a victim of circumstance.'
("What do you expect me to say? I've been trying to solve this problem for weeks.")
Alex sighed, rubbing his temple in frustration. Unbeknownst to him, everyone in the room held their breath, nervously waiting for his answer, with some on the verge of tears.
'Seriously?'
("Yes, seriously. It's hard trying to satisfy both sides without commotion.")
'Is it because of Ruth that you're in this dilemma?'
("... Partly because of that.")
Alex sighed, making many of them flinch, 'Alright. How about this? Let's bring in the one in charge of Pagus and find out the problem.'
("There's no need for that. He's under Adomis and I'm not in a mood to deal with him. As for the problem, it's because of the famine in the land, the soil is infertile and food is imported. However, the nobles benefit from this, keeping imports for themselves. And I only found that out the day before you took over my body.")
'I see. I have an idea.'
Alex looked up to face the Officials, noting the calculating glint in their eyes hidden behind nervous and scrutiny, 'Supporting the villagers would only deepen their suspicion. Supporting them would cause a rebellion. Hmm....'
"I understand your frustrations (you arrogant elitists!) and I'll find a way to end the problem soon. Rest assured."
His response received reluctant approval from some, while the unwilling wisely remained silent as the meeting continued.
Max, Cain and Alex watched the meeting in a daze, completely uninterested by the discussions about finances and successions with Alex responding vaguely, contributing here and there.
Soon, after hours that felt like days to the three males, the meeting ended and all the Officials left, with some trying to linger longer to talk to Cain (Alex) but left upon seeing his glare.
Once Alex stood up from the throne and walked around to stretch his tired legs, Max appeared behind him, walking with a proud grin.
"You did great.... Sire."
"I'm craving a Tteokbokki," Alex groaned, turning to Max with a pout, "Make me one."
"I was a dog a few days ago. I can't make you that, my guy."
"Ugh.... I can't go to the kitchen. I'll be even more suspicious."
("What's a Ttebokbokki?")
'It's Tteokbokki. And I'll tell you about that later, but just know that it's delicious.'
"Anyway, Max. What have you found out from the servants?" Alex asked as they entered Cain's chambers, changing into lighter clothing.
"Well, from what I've heard, Duke Adomis had been pressuring Lady Eleanor with the marriage. But she's been ignoring him, even going as far as getting rid of some of her ladies-in-waiting, who are apparently friends with her half-sister, Lilith."
("Hmm.... How strange. That woman has never rebelled against her father. Her obedience has always irritated me. And now she's getting rid of his spies?")
"That only means that Eleanor is either a regressor or a transmigrator," said Alex.
"Huh? What makes you say that?"
"I've read this before and the incident before her change adds up. Why you may ask? Because if she's a regressor, she's out for revenge, but if she's a transmigrator, she was Isekai'd into this world and is trying to escape Eleanor's doomed fate."
("Interesting...")
"So either way, she doesn't want to die, right?"
"Yep. I just need to deal with the famine problem before we focus on Eleanor."
"Cool. But what I want to know is why she would drown herself."
"What do you say that?"
"Because if what I've heard and seen, Lady Eleanor doesn't seem like the type to commit suicide."
("Agreed. Now that I think about it, her incident seems more complex.")
"Alright. Let's see, first the famine, then the Eleanor case. So, Max, use your pretty boy privilege and find out as such as you can about the famine."
"Got it, bro," Max bowed exaggeratedly and walked out of the room.
"Cain, let's exchange information about our worlds."
[Holder Candidate Quest One: Change the plot
•Duration: 360 days
•Reward: 10,000 points
•Failure: Bad luck at love]