I woke up as a King in a Fantasy World

Jareth dragged his exhausted body back to his chambers, barely making it to the bed before collapsing onto the soft mattress. The moment his head hit the pillows, he was out like a light.

When he finally woke up, he felt groggy and disoriented, his limbs sluggish as if they were weighed down by stones. With a grunt, he blinked away the haze of sleep and slowly sat up, only to notice two attendants standing near the entrance, their heads bowed in silence.

He frowned, rubbing his temples. "What are you two doing here?" His voice was hoarse from sleep.

One of the attendants immediately straightened and responded in a composed tone, "Your Majesty, we are here to deliver your dinner and the potion prescribed by the royal physician. He instructed that you must drink it after eating."

Jareth's eyes flickered toward the neatly arranged tray on a nearby table. Right… the physician did say something about making a potion for his fatigue. And judging by the way his body still felt like it had been trampled by a stampede of warhorses, he definitely needed it.

He exhaled through his nose and stretched his sore muscles. "Alright. Set the food on the table." He ran a hand through his hair and grimaced. His clothes were still damp with dried sweat from his earlier training. He felt disgusting.

"Also, help me find a change of clothes. I'm going to take a bath," he added, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. His body protested the movement, but there was no way he was going to sit through dinner feeling this gross.

The attendants bowed in acknowledgment. "As you wish, Your Majesty. We shall prepare the bath immediately."

Jareth sighed. "Good."

He stood up, rolling his shoulders. He still felt drained, but at least he had something to look forward to—a hot bath, food, and whatever questionable potion the physician had prepared. Hopefully, it wouldn't taste as bad as he feared.

After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, Jareth dismissed the attendants with a wave of his hand. The moment they left, he wasted no time diving into the meal laid out before him. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until he took his first bite, and then it was as if a dam had broken.

He ate with fervor, barely pausing between bites. It suddenly hit him—he hadn't had lunch. No wonder his stomach felt like it was ready to stage a rebellion.

By the time he was finished, the plates were nearly spotless, and he leaned back in his chair, sighing in satisfaction. "That was probably the best meal I've ever had," he muttered, though he knew full well it was just his hunger talking.

With his stomach finally content, he reached for the small vial left on the table. The royal physician's potion. He uncorked it and sniffed cautiously. It smelled... surprisingly mild, with a faint herbal scent. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Bracing himself, he downed the entire thing in one go.

His eyes immediately widened as a bitter, medicinal taste exploded in his mouth. "Ugh—!" He nearly gagged but forced himself to swallow, shuddering as he slammed the empty vial down on the table. "I take it back. That was disgusting."

Despite the horrid taste, he could already feel a difference. The deep fatigue weighing him down lightened just a bit, his body no longer aching quite as much. He stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Alright, that's slightly better. Still doesn't make up for the taste, though."

Now that he was feeling somewhat refreshed, he finally turned his attention to the necklace hanging from his chest. Jareth pulled it out from beneath his shirt, holding it up to examine it properly. The pendant was golden, long, and intricately designed. His fingers traced its edges before settling on the small pipe embedded within it.

He frowned. "So this thing is supposed to summon the Silent Order?" It was hard to believe that just blowing into a pipe would call an elite group of the king's personal soldiers, but then again, this world was filled with things beyond logic.

Curiosity won over doubt. Taking a deep breath, Jareth raised the pendant to his lips and blew into the pipe.

No sound.

He pulled it away and blinked. "Did I do it wrong?" He inspected the pipe again and shrugged. Maybe it needed more effort.

This time, he took an even deeper breath and blew harder.

Still, silence.

Isn't this thing supposed to make a sound?

Jareth scowled. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me this thing is broken—"

Before he could finish his thought, a sudden shift in the air made his skin prickle. The room, which had been comfortably still just moments ago, now felt different—as if something unseen had stirred.

Jareth tensed, his instincts screaming at him.

Then, without a single sound, shadows flickered at the edges of the room. And before he could react, figures materialized from the darkness, cloaked in black and standing in absolute silence.

Jareth nearly choked on his breath. 

"Shit—"

He took a steadying breath, forcing himself to remain calm. This had to be the Silent Order, just like Vaelcrest had said.

But… wasn't there supposed to be more of them? There was only one figure standing before him, shrouded in a dark cloak, his presence eerily still. Was he the leader, perhaps?

Well, there was only one way to find out. Jareth cleared his throat and tilted his head. "So… who exactly are you again?"

The cloaked figure responded instantly, his voice eerily monotone. "I am Silentshade, leader of the Silent Order, Your Majesty."

Jareth raised an eyebrow. Silentshade? What was with these names? Were they all just variations of 'silent' plus something vaguely ominous?

Shoving that thought aside, he continued, "And how many are there in the Silent Order? Who else is part of it?"

Silentshade remained as still as a statue. "I lead the Silent Order, and under me are four commanders: Silentfang, Silentgale, Silentcleave, and Silentwhisper. Each of them commands a hundred subordinates, making up our full force."

Jareth blinked. 

Four commanders, each with a hundred men? That was… a lot more people than he expected. 

Just how long had the previous king been running a secret force this large without anyone noticing?

He crossed his arms, mulling over this information before asking, "What was the last mission I gave you?"

There was no hesitation in Silentshade's response. "Our most recent mission was to infiltrate the three neighboring kingdoms—Oryndell, Eldoria, and Dravencia—to gather intelligence on matters related to souls and spirits."

Jareth's breath caught. Souls and spirits?

His mind whirled. Why had the previous king been investigating something like that? It couldn't have been a coincidence. Was this connected to the secret Vaelcrest refused to tell him?

His fingers curled slightly.

Jareth exhaled slowly, steadying himself before speaking again. "I need another copy of that information. Additionally, compile everything you can about the people around me—my subordinates, the nobles, and my acquaintances. I also want a full report on the kingdom's current situation, including any pressing issues or political undercurrents I should be aware of."

Silentshade didn't hesitate. His expression remained blank, his posture unwavering. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Jareth nodded, then added, "Prioritize the information on my subordinates and the nobles in court. I need that by tomorrow."

"As you command."

Jareth let out a small sigh of relief. At least with this, he would have something to work with. The last thing he wanted was to walk into court blind, not knowing who was on his side and who was sharpening their knives behind his back.

"That's all for now. You can leave."

Before the final syllable had even left his lips, Silentshade vanished into thin air.

Jareth blinked. "Huh?"

Had he imagined it? No—he had definitely been standing there just a second ago. Jareth rubbed his temples. 

What kind of ability was that?

He hadn't even heard the slightest rustle of movement.

Wait.

His eyes widened. Damn it, I forgot to ask what their abilities are!

He groaned and flopped back onto his bed. "Guess I'll have to ask next time..."

-

Deep beneath the surface, in the heart of an underground facility, a shadow flickered into existence. The air was damp, and the stone walls pulsed faintly with residual magic. The figure, clad in dark robes, moved with calculated precision toward an imposing stone door.

Without hesitation, he placed his palm against a circular indentation carved into the stone. A pulse of energy surged from his fingertips, seeping into the ancient mechanism hidden within. A low, rumbling click echoed through the hallway as the door slowly parted, allowing him passage.

As soon as he stepped inside, the door shut behind him, sealing the chamber once more. The corridor ahead was dimly illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted stones embedded in the walls, casting eerie, shifting shadows along the narrow passageway. The figure proceeded in silence, his steps nearly soundless against the cold stone.

Eventually, he stopped before what appeared to be an unremarkable section of the wall. Without hesitation, he extended his hand and released another controlled pulse of magic. The stone shimmered for a moment before vanishing entirely, revealing a hidden entrance.

Inside, a well-lit chamber awaited. Two individuals—a man and a woman—were hunched over an ornate, intricate box resting on a stone table. The object was unlike anything commonly found in the kingdom, its surface etched with cryptic runes that pulsed intermittently, as if alive.

The woman was the first to look up. She had short, neatly trimmed hair and a sharp, serious expression. Her keen eyes immediately locked onto him.

"Leader," she greeted, straightening slightly. "Are there new orders from His Majesty? Is it about this artifact?" Her voice carried an edge of excitement. "We just discovered how to open it."

The robed figure—Silentshade—shook his head. "No," he replied. "His Majesty did not ask about the box."

The woman frowned, clearly surprised. "He didn't ask anything about it?"

This time, the man beside her looked up as well. He had the same sharp features as the woman, his lean frame and identical expression making it obvious they were twins.

"No," Silentshade confirmed. "We have a new mission. His Majesty requires a full report on the people around him—his subordinates, the nobles, and all his known acquaintances. In addition, we must gather intelligence on the overall state of the kingdom. The information must be compiled and delivered by tomorrow."

The twins exchanged glances, their brows furrowing. Though their orders had changed abruptly, they knew better than to question them. Silent Order members were not permitted to ask unnecessary questions. Their only duty was to obey.

Silentwhisper, the woman, was the first to nod. "Understood."

Silentcleave, her twin, followed. "We'll see to it immediately."

Silentshade continued, "Have Silentfang and Silentgale checked in yet?"

"Not yet, Leader," Silentwhisper answered.

Silentshade's expression remained impassive. "Then relay the orders to them once they do. Assign their subordinates accordingly and ensure this mission is prioritized."

The twins straightened and responded in unison. "Yes, Leader."

With their orders given, Silentshade's gaze shifted to the mysterious box on the table. His fingers hovered over its surface for a moment before retracting.

"I will take over monitoring this artifact," he stated.

Silentcleave hesitated for the first time. "Leader, are you certain His Majesty truly isn't interested in this yet?"

Silentwhisper nodded in agreement. "It seems important. He originally ordered us to find a way to open it, but now he hasn't asked for it?"

Silentshade's voice remained even. "Orders remain unchanged. His Majesty will ask for it when he deems the time is right. Until then, we do not act without his command."

The twins exchanged glances again, but ultimately, they gave a firm nod.

"As you command, Leader."

Without further discussion, they turned and swiftly exited through the hidden passage, leaving Silentshade alone with the enigmatic box.

His cold, calculating gaze lingered on the object for a moment. Whatever secrets it held, they would remain undisturbed—until the King himself decided otherwise.