The maid's eyes sparkled with concern as she leaned forward, her fingers twitching like she was about to touch Lee's chest. Her fussing was obvious, she liked him, or at least this prince version of him. Her cheeks were flushed, her voice soft and a little too eager as she asked again if he was feeling alright.
Lee's face burned, his brain short-circuiting. Back home, girls barely noticed him unless he was carrying their group project in chem class. Now this gorgeous maid was practically swooning over him? He didn't know how to handle it. His hands fumbled with the silver tray as he took it from her, mumbling, "Uh, thanks, I'm good," in a voice that sounded way too high-pitched. He cringed internally, smooth, real smooth.
The maid smiled, lingering a second too long before curtsying and slipping out the door. Lee set the tray on the bed, the smell of roasted meat and warm bread hitting him like a wave. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since… well, before he died.
He tore into the food, barely tasting the juicy chicken or the sweet fruit compote. The tray was cleared in record time, leaving him licking sauce off his fingers like a savage.
He glanced at the empty room, the glowing system panels long gone. He still had to finish that insane workout quest, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 chin-ups. His arms were already noodles from the first twenty push-ups, but the threat of "punishment" loomed like a dark cloud.
No way he was risking whatever this system had in store. He dropped to the floor, the plush carpet cushioning his knees, and forced himself through more push-ups. Each one was torture, his muscles screaming, sweat dripping onto the rug.
Sit-ups were next, his core burning like he'd swallowed a lit match. The chin-ups were the worst. Every rep felt like climbing a mountain, his biceps trembling, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Two hours later, he was a sweaty, shaking mess, sprawled on the floor, chest heaving. He'd done it, 100 of each, barely. His body felt like it had been run over by a truck, but a new system panel flickered to life, glowing in front of him.
Lee squinted at the options: Speed, Agility, Strength, Perception. He was tempted to boost Strength, he never wanted to struggle through push-ups like that again, but Speed felt more urgent. A faster prince could dodge poison, right? Or at least outrun palace drama. He tapped the panel, selecting Speed, and felt a faint tingle rush through him. The panel updated:
He dragged himself back to the bed, collapsing onto the silk sheets. His eyes fluttered shut, and he was out like a light, too tired to even dream about poison or queens.
****
Later that evening, the door creaked open, jolting Lee awake. He sat up, heart racing, as Lara strode in, her leather armor gleaming under the chandelier's light. Her dark curls bounced with every step, her expression all business. "Time to get up, Your Highness," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You need to bathe and prepare for the meeting with the king."
Lee's stomach did a flip. Meeting the king? He was just a kid from a nowhere town, not some royal ready to rub elbows with royalty. "Uh, what kinda meeting?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. He rubbed his neck, trying to play it cool, but his nerves were screaming. What if the king saw through him? What if he said something stupid and got thrown in a dungeon?
Lara leaned against the bedpost, her arms crossed. "Just a dinner," she said, her tone softening. "The king heard about the poisoning. He probably wants to see you're in good health. It's not a big deal."
Lee swallowed hard. "Is, uh… the queen gonna be there?" The word "poison" echoed in his head, making his skin prickle. If she'd tried to kill him once, what was stopping her from trying again?
Lara shook her head, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "No, the king dines alone unless he invites someone special. You're safe." Her eyes met his, and for a second, he thought he saw a flicker of sympathy, like she knew how out of his depth he was.
Lee let out a shaky breath. "Okay, cool," he said, trying to sound chill. He slid off the bed, his muscles still aching from the workout, and peeked into the bathroom. It was insane, marble floors, a massive tub that looked like it could fit five people, and gold fixtures that screamed wealth. Steam rose from the water, already filled, with petals floating on the surface like some bougie spa.
Lara raised an eyebrow, misreading his hesitation. "Do you need help bathing, Your Highness?" she asked.
Lee's brain imploded. His mind instantly conjured an image of Lara in the tub with him, her curves pressed against his back, her hands scrubbing him down, those perfect, nope, stop it, brain! He felt heat rush to his face, his nose practically tingling with the threat of a nosebleed. "W-what?" he stammered, his voice hitting a pitch he hadn't heard since middle school.
Lara tilted her head, her brows furrowing. "Why do you look so weird?" she asked, her tone half-curious, half-amused.
"I'm fine!" Lee blurted, waving his hands like he was swatting away the mental image. "I can bathe on my own, thanks!" His face was probably redder than a tomato, but he turned and practically sprinted into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
Lara stood there, blinking. In her mind, she let out a sigh of relief. If he'd said yes, she wasn't sure what she'd have done. Her imagination betrayed her for a second, picturing Lee staring at her in the tub, his eyes lingering in a way that made her stomach flutter.
She shook her head, banishing the thought. Get it together, Lara, she scolded herself. As Lee disappeared into the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of his face, sharp jawline, warm eyes, undeniably handsome. Her cheeks warmed, and she hurried back outside, gripping her sword to ground herself.
Lee emerged from the bath, steam clinging to his skin, feeling slightly less like a fraud. He strolled into the room, only to freeze. The maid from earlier was there, arranging clothes on the bed, silk tunics and embroidered pants that looked way too fancy for him.
He yelped, startled, his voice echoing in the room. The maid jumped, letting out a squeak, her eyes widening as they landed on him. Her gaze flicked downward, and a shy smile curved her lips, like she was impressed by what she saw.
Lee's heart stopped. He was naked! Before he could react, the door burst open, and Lara charged in, sword raised, ready to slay whatever threat was there. She froze, her eyes darting between the shocked maid and Lee. Two gorgeous girls were staring at him, and he was basically butt-naked. His face burned, his mind screaming, This is the worst!
"I-I'm fine!" he stammered, grabbing a random cloth from the bed to cover his groin. "It's cool, no worries!"
Lara and the maid both started apologizing at once, their voices overlapping in a flurry of "Sorry, Your Highness!" and "I didn't mean to!" They backed toward the door, practically tripping over each other to get out.
Lee stood there, heart pounding, as the door clicked shut. "That was so embarrassing," he muttered, sinking onto the bed. He started pulling on the clothes, the silk cool against his skin, wondering how he'd survive this world if he couldn't even handle a maid and a guard.
Outside, Lara leaned against the wall, her sword heavy in her hand. She couldn't shake the image of Lee, his toned frame, the way his dick had looked, even soft, like some coiled, pulsing snake.
Her face flushed, heat creeping up her neck. She fanned herself with one hand, shaking her head. Focus, Lara, she thought, gripping her sword tighter. She had to be stronger than this.