No Wi-Fi in the Underworld
AURELIA/ LEXI
I blinked at the dining table, trying not to panic. The room was huge, with arches carved with strange runes that glowed faintly, and candles floating in the air. The long table creaked under piles of food that smelled… like life. A tray spun as if it had a heartbeat.
Everyone was looking at me as I slowly approached the long table. I didn't know what to say. Why were they looking at me? Were they waiting for me to greet them?
"Um… good morning?" I said softly, but loud enough for them all to hear.
My voice didn't fit Aurelia's body. Too soft and polite. Far from the harsh princess they knew. My three servants quickly bowed and backed away.
I glanced at my companions at the table. They were waiting for their reaction to my greeting, and, as expected, they were still staring at me; their eyes never leaving my sight. Their faces were filled with surprise.
'Shit, wrong again.'
I bit my lower lip. I glanced across the long table, and there was Kael, sitting stiffly at the head. The king and queen sat together near him.
A woman sat across from Kael. My servant had whispered earlier that it was Lady Seraphine. Her horns were longer than most noble women's and curved outwards with strength. They were smooth but sharp and gentle, hinting at the danger beneath the beauty. Her gaze pierced me the moment I entered. Not blinking. She didn't even hide her suspicion, and I immediately wished the floor would swallow me up.
Sitting to the side was General Varros, the servant whom the servants had whispered about earlier. Her horns were less refined than Lady Seraphine's but still impressive—long, slightly uneven, practical rather than decorative. Her eyes studied me carefully, calm but calculating.
I swallowed hard at them and took a deep breath. I was getting hungry, so I turned my attention back to the food on the table.
The dishes themselves were terrifying: the mud-colored porridge, glistening fruits, and bread that swelled and then shrank into lung-like lumps. I stabbed one into my plate.
"Are these… edible?" I whispered, glancing nervously at Kael.
A servant approached. "These are your favorites… Your Majesty. That's what the dear king had cooked for breakfast today."
I swallowed hard. "Seriously?"
The servant didn't answer because he had already backed away. I felt myself drooling. I kept swallowing. I feel like I can get enough of my own saliva.
'How did this become a princess's favorite?'
But since I was really hungry and I was pretending to be, for my own safety, I tried anyway. When it touched my tongue, it made an explosion—like tiny fireworks inside my mouth—and I almost coughed.
Kael's eyes shifted to me. Lady Seraphine bowed slightly; her lips pressed into a thin line of judgment. The king and queen's eyebrows rose imperceptibly. General Varros remained silent, but his gaze did not waver.
The bread suddenly buckled, and I screamed as it shrank in my hand. A servant rushed over, whispering, "Be careful, Your Majesty—" but was stopped short when all eyes turned to me.
I tried the shiny fruit next. It trembled under my fingers and touched the plate, landing with a small crack. I closed my eyes. Kael smiled faintly. Lady Seraphine's eyes narrowed, clearly weighing my abilities. General Varros's gaze remained steady, assessing every whimper and reaction.
By the end of the meal, I had eaten enough bouncing, grunting, and farting to consider it a small victory. My stomach wasn't sure how I would feel afterward. What mattered was that I would still be alive in this world.
Kael stood as I left, silent as ever. Lady Seraphine's gaze followed me. General Varros remained seated. The king and queen exchanged gentle glances; their expressions were filled with expectation.
I forced a polite smile; my head remained above me. Three servants accompanied me; nervous but careful not to approach. I glanced at Kael one last time as I exited the hall. It might have been possible to survive breakfast in this place… surviving this judgment table would require a miracle.
-
Then the clothes arrived. I had to change into a gown for the afternoon court session. It smelled faintly of sulfur; the fabric shimmered like blood when hit by the red light from the window.
I hesitated and stared at it. 'Okay… this is a dress, not a trap, right?'
I stepped into the layers of clothes and immediately regretted it. Buttons appeared where there were none, sleeves rolled up around my arms, and the skirt seemed determined to swallow me whole. I backed away, arms flailing, and ended up walking like a crab for a full minute before the attendants approached me.
"Your Honor, if you—" one of them began, but I pushed him away.
I swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Wait… can I… ask something?" My voice was weak against Aurelia's body, but I forced myself to remain calm. "What are your names?"
The three exchanged glances. The youngest took a hesitant step forward. "I… I am Nyx, Your Majesty," she said softly.
The eldest followed, bowing tightly and avoiding my gaze. "Morgana, Your Majesty."
The latter, a little more confident, added, "Celestina, Your Majesty."
I nodded slowly, trying to remember the three of them. "Nyx, Morgana, Celestina… good. Thank you." They hadn't expected my approach, so before they could step away from me, I spoke again. "I know I've been a cruel princess to everyone… but… I'm not that anymore."
There was a moment of silence. Their gazes shifted slightly, as if wondering if I was serious. I raised my right hand, then realized it was wrong, so I lowered my right and raised my left hand.
"I promise, I've changed," I said seriously. I lowered my hand and looked at the three of them. Using my finger, I lifted their bowed heads and let me see their faces.
"I want… for us to be friends. Trust each other. You don't have to obey just because you're afraid. I want the four of us to be comfortable with each other."
Morgana's eyes narrowed; she looked suspicious, but thoughtful. Nyx remained silent. She fidgeted with her sleeves. Celestina's lips pursed, as if she was also wondering if I was really serious.
I swallowed. "I know you're trying to fool me," I remembered that they thought I had lost my memory. "Yes, I lost my memory, but in this situation… I don't want you to be afraid of me. I want us to work together. And… if we can, maybe we can even be friends."
"Are you serious, Your Majesty?" Nyx asked.
"Don't you feel sorry for me?" I said pitifully. "Earlier at the table, even though they didn't show it, I knew everyone was laughing at me. Can you bear to let that happen to the princess you're serving again?"
Another silence. Then, they slowly nodded. Small and careful movements, but enough to make me feel like I had passed a test. Even though their doubts hadn't completely disappeared, I still had to continue with my plan.
I took a deep breath. Alright. A small victory. "Good," I said softly. "Then… let's start fresh. Friends."
I raised my hand, but they quickly retreated again. I laughed and approached them one by one. I raised Nyx's hand, then placed mine on top.
"High five!" I said with a smile.
Nyx was surprised by what I did, and I did the same to Celestina and Morgana. They looked at their hands, wondering.
"Your Majesty, what the.... what the..." Nyx asked, looking curious.
"High five, that's it. From now on, high five will be our secret gesture, okay?" My smile widened at them as they nodded, and smiles slowly spread across their lips.
Language followed. Every royal I passed spoke quickly, cutting off syllables in a way I couldn't understand. They spoke in a language I didn't understand. I suddenly remembered my phone. The translator app that saved me from all the strange languages. But I had no choice, no phone, no Wi-Fi in this place. But when I tried to answer, they were stunned. They stopped mid-step and whispered to each other.
Eyes quickly glanced at me.
Lack of knowledge… I've heard it before.
I was stunned. "Lack of knowledge?" I repeated.
I couldn't help but react when I realized that word. I scoffed, "I'm the top student in the entire senior high school; no one has beaten my record since kindergarten. How dare you tell me I lack knowledge?"
Along with the words, I pointed my finger at myself, like a "me?" gesture, while my body slightly bowed in impromptu emphasis of my point.
-
The court session was a nightmare. I entered, trying to remember how Aurelia would stand. Head straight, shoulders back, hands at her sides. Calm, like a true princess. The nobles… still not finished with their whispering, like elite gossip, I also caught their glances.
"Your Highness…" one of them said, bowing low, his voice trembling. "It's… unusual… how you…" He paused, glanced at the other, and whispered about the dark energy.
Everyone froze as I stepped closer. My legs almost went limp under their gaze. This wasn't high school. This wasn't Earth either. I swallowed and tried to smile, but my mouth wouldn't cooperate.
Then it hit me—a tray of food moved and fell near the head of the table. The liquid spurted and sizzled, spreading toward the noble's feet. They screamed. I tried to back away, but I tripped because of my robe.
Three maids rushed over. Celestina helped me to my feet. "Your Highness… forgive us," Morgana whispered, bowing. "We didn't… expect…"
I stood up straight and took a deep breath. My cheeks heated up, but I forced myself to calm down.
"It's fine. I… I can handle it," I said, trying to calm down as if nothing had happened. I turned to face all the royals present. "I want to rest."
I turned away and let the whispers pass. I even heard one say that I might be sick and need treatment. Holding back my irritation, I continued walking out of the room with Nyx, Morgana, and Celestina behind me.
-
At the end of the day, I learned what I needed to learn. To eat the exotic foods that Princess Aurelia loves, and to walk around wearing thick clothes without tripping. But the whispers about my 'sickness' continued.
I am not Aurelia. I am not cursed, and I am not sick. But if anyone here thinks otherwise… I need to be careful.
I sat down on the chair in my private room, my heart still beating fast. One thought endlessly swirled: How can I survive in this world… without them knowing I don't belong here?