The light hit him square in the face. Max groaned and turned his head, covering his eyes with his forearm.

  “Five more minutes…”

  He shifted a little, reaching for the edge of the bed with his hand.

  Nothing.

  He frowned, still half asleep. He stretched his arm farther.

  “What…?”

  He barely opened his eyes. Too much light. He blinked several times, trying to focus while his brain went through that slow waking-up process.

  ‘Ok… big window.’

  The bed was huge. The sheets were soft, heavy, white. The mattress didn’t feel old. There was no wall nearby. No desk. No cables.

  Max stayed still.

  “…Ah.”

  The memories hit him all at once.

  Castle.Enor.Royal pet.Unconscious noble.Appuse.

  He let himself fall back onto the bed, staring at the high ceiling.

  “Good morning, Eldoria,” he murmured.

  Max ran a hand over his face.

  “…Right.”

  He let out a long sigh.

  He sat up on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees.

  ‘Second day. I’m still here.’

  He lowered his gaze to his wrist.

  The colr with his name was still there, hidden under his sleeve.

  Max smiled faintly.

  “No arm clock now, at least.”

  He stood up slowly, still a bit dazed by the light and the strange silence of the castle. He walked to the rge window and looked outside. Perfectly maintained gardens. Pale stone paths. The Great Capital City in the distance. People moving far away.

  “Well,” he said quietly. “Let’s see how weird the second day can get.”

  ***

  The morning dining room was different from the night before. Smaller. Brighter. More peaceful.

  A long table awaited him with an absurd variety of food: warm bread, sliced fruit, jams, small dishes with things he couldn’t identify, and a steaming teapot beside a fine porcein cup.

  Max sat down. Looked at everything.

  “…Raid-level breakfast,” he muttered.

  He poured some tea. The steam hit his face. He took a sip.

  ‘Ok. This is way too good to be just tea.’

  He looked around. The hall was spotless. The same pce where st night there had been spilled wine, shouting, a noble on the floor, and half the court panicking now looked as if none of that had ever happened.

  Not a single stain. Not a chair out of pce.

  ‘Not even my mom cleaned the house this well,’ he thought.

  As he took another sip, he heard calm footsteps approaching. A tall man with straight posture, elegant clothes, and deer legs appeared at his side as if he had always been there.

  Max looked up.

  “Good morning,” the man said in a deep, polite voice. “You may call me Don, sir.”

  Max blinked.

  “Don… Don?”

  The butler nodded with complete naturalness.

  “If you desire anything to eat or drink,” he continued, pointing to a small silver bell on the table, “simply ring the bell.”

  Max looked at the bell.

  Then at the faun.

  Then at the bell again.

  “…Thank you,” he said at st.

  Don inclined his head slightly and withdrew in silence.

  Max looked back at the table.

  ‘Ok. Faun butler. Magic bell. Totally normal.’

  He was about to attack some kind of stuffed bread when the dining room doors opened.

  The king entered with firm steps. Two royal guards escorted him, one on each side.

  Max froze with his fork in midair.

  “Good morning,” the king said, taking a seat across from him. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, sir,” Max replied automatically, bringing his hand to his forehead like a soldier.

  The king smiled faintly.

  They began serving him breakfast.

  “Your Majesty,” Max said carefully. “Is Enor already awake?”

  The king looked at him over his cup.

  “Yes. She always eats breakfast early.”

  Max nodded.

  “With you?”

  The king shook his head.

  “No. She prefers to eat alone. By the fountain in the royal courtyard.”

  Max lowered his gaze to the tea.

  ‘Alone.’

  The word lingered, reminding him of the mission the system had given him.

  Before he could say anything else, the doors opened again.

  Sophie entered, carrying several rolled-up notices under her arm.

  “Good morning, Your Majesty,” she said with a slight bow. “News from the city.”

  The king sighed, resigned.

  “Leave them here.”

  Sophie pced the notices on the table and left.

  The king took one. Then another.

  And then… he ughed.

  Max looked up, curious.

  “Something interesting?” he asked.

  The king turned the notice toward him.

  “I’d say so.”

  Max read the headline, rge and fshy:

  “THE ROYAL PET SAVES NOBLE ELDARION FROM CERTAIN DEATH”

  Below it, an exaggerated illustration of him… wearing a cape.

  Max blinked.

  “…Wow.”

  He kept reading.

  “Using a powerful and unknown magic, the Royal Pet neutralized the poison in seconds.”

  Max closed his eyes for a moment.

  ‘Magic. My magic stat is zero.’

  He opened his eyes and sighed.

  “How long are they going to call me that…?” he muttered.

  The king ughed again.

  “Not many get to enjoy a title like yours, boy,” he replied calmly.

  Max looked at the notice once more.

  Then he thought about the fountain. About Enor. About eating breakfast alone.

  ‘Main quest. Don’t force it. Listen.’

  He took another sip of tea.

  ‘I guess I know where I’m going next.’

  ***

  Max crossed into the castle courtyard, following the distant sound of water. The fountain wasn’t far. White columns, carefully tended pnts, and at the center… her.

  Enor was sitting on the edge, watching the water fall, hands folded in her p.

  Max slowed his steps.

  ‘Ok. Easy. Don’t force it.’

  Just then, a blue glow appeared in front of him.

  [ New Side Quest Activated ][ Explore the castle and meet its inhabitants ][ Difficulty: Low ][ Reward: Small HP Potion ]

  Max blinked.

  ‘…Seriously?’ he thought.

  He looked at the floating message. Then at Enor. Then back at the message.

  ‘Do you want me to do the main quest… or wander around like a tourist?’

  The message slowly faded away.

  Max sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

  ‘Sure. Because nothing helps you understand why someone is sad more than unlocking more NPCs.’

  He looked back toward the fountain.

  Enor was still there. Silent.

  ‘Well… one thing at a time.’