Kaito was dragged through the palace’s dimly lit corridors, each step feeling like it echoed in his skull. His legs were still sore, his mind swirling with confusion and frustration. The blue-skinned beings around him didn’t seem to care much for his discomfort. Their grip on him was firm, and no amount of resistance seemed to change their direction.

  Finally, they stopped in front of a massive door, guarded by two more of the same blue-skinned soldiers. The doors creaked open slowly, revealing a large, ornate throne room. At the far end of the room, seated on an imposing throne, was the queen.

  She was… striking, to say the least. Kaito had to admit, despite the absurdity of the situation, she was a remarkable sight. Her skin shimmered with an ethereal blue glow, and her eyes gleamed with an almost supernatural light. She looked like she belonged in a painting—or maybe a fever dream.

  Kaito blinked a few times, still trying to process everything. He was being dragged into a room by a bunch of weird blue people, and here was this, uh, very pretty queen sitting on a throne. And what did he do when he was faced with a situation like this?

  Naturally, he decided to try his hand at flattery.

  "You… you know," Kaito began, his voice trembling slightly, "I’ve gotta say, for someone who rules over an army of blue-skinned warriors, you’re really stunning. Like, I mean, wow. I’ve seen some beautiful people in my time, but you? You’re like—like a goddess or something. But, like, a cool goddess, not the kind that zaps you with lightning or whatever."

  He let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The room was silent for a moment.

  The soldiers who had been holding Kaito stiffened. Their hands moved toward their weapons, and Kaito immediately froze, the laughter dying in his throat.

  "Did I say something wrong?" Kaito muttered under his breath, trying to avoid eye contact with the now intensely glaring guards.

  The queen raised one delicate eyebrow, her lips curling into a small, amused smile. “Flattery, huh? How quaint.”

  Before Kaito could even begin to react, two of the guards suddenly stepped forward, brandishing spears in his direction. The metal tips gleamed dangerously in the light.

  Kaito’s heart skipped a beat. Spears. Not good.

  “Disrespect,” one of the soldiers hissed, his grip tightening around the shaft of his spear. “You dare speak that way to the Queen?”

  Kaito gulped. He wasn’t sure whether it was the spears or the deadly serious looks from the guards, but he suddenly found his tongue tied. He raised his hands in surrender.

  "Okay, okay! I’m sorry! I’ll shut up now. I mean, who am I to judge? You’re obviously the one with the throne and the army and all." He cleared his throat. “Just… you know, trying to make an impression."

  The guards lowered their weapons, but their expressions didn’t soften.

  “Now, now," the queen said, her voice smooth and regal. "Enough with the pleasantries. He’s… interesting, I’ll give him that.”

  Kaito was certain he was about to get a lengthy lecture on disrespect and insolence. But instead, the queen turned to the soldiers.

  “Take him to the farm near the palace,” she commanded. “He’ll serve as a worker, under my watchful eye. Let him learn what it means to be part of our world.”

  Kaito blinked. “Wait, a farm? You mean... like, a slave? I mean, you’ve gotta be kidding me. A farm?”

  The queen’s smile grew wider, though it was anything but warm. “Indeed. You’ll find the work quite humbling. There are plenty of crops that need tending. And you’ll be doing this as penance for your… colorful remarks.”

  Kaito opened his mouth to protest, but one of the guards stepped forward, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “No more talking. You’ll see your new life soon enough.”

  Before Kaito could react, they roughly grabbed him and began dragging him out of the room.

  Kaito felt the weight of the situation finally settle in. A farm. A slave. This was not how he thought his day would go. In fact, it wasn’t how he thought his entire life would go.

  He sighed. “Well, this is just perfect,” he muttered sarcastically as they shoved him through the palace halls.