I woke up as a King in a Fantasy World

Atticus gazed at Jareth with an expression so full of concern that it sent an uncomfortable prickle down his spine.

Is this man acting? Jareth wondered, his instincts on high alert. 

His voice is gentle, his face calm, but something about him feels… unnatural. He's like a fox in sheep's clothing, hiding his true intentions behind that composed demeanor.

Before Jareth could dwell on it further, Atticus spoke again, his tone smooth and filled with unwavering sincerity. "Is that so? Then Your Majesty mustn't push yourself too hard. There is no need to suffer unnecessarily. Your health should always come first, above all else."

His warm gaze never wavered as he continued, his voice laced with what seemed like genuine concern. "You should rest properly without worry. In fact, I believe it would be best if I remained by Your Majesty's side as well—to ensure that you are not disturbed by unnecessary matters."

With that declaration, he turned to his attendants and began issuing instructions in a calm, methodical manner. The two men immediately bowed and hurried off, no doubt to carry out his orders.

Jareth's muscles tensed slightly. He wants to accompany me?

The offer was phrased with the utmost kindness, as though Atticus were simply being considerate of his well-being.

Is he being overprotective, or is he trying to keep an eye on me?

Jareth masked his thoughts with a calm expression, but inwardly, he grew even more cautious. 

A feeling of unease settled in his chest. This man gave off an air of sophistication and charm, but Jareth couldn't shake the impression that he was far more cunning than he let on. 

What if he notices something?

Jareth opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but before he could utter a single word, Roderic unexpectedly responded for him.

"Your Majesty will be delighted," Roderic said smoothly, his tone polite yet unreadable.

Delighted? Me? Jareth nearly choked on the thought.

His mind raced with questions. Hey, Roderic, what's going on? Weren't you wary of this man just moments ago? Why are you agreeing so readily?

Jareth's eyes darted toward the knight, searching for an answer, but Roderic's expression remained as composed as ever.

Am I misunderstanding something here? He had sensed a certain tension between Roderic and Atticus earlier, yet now Roderic was allowing this man to stay by his side without hesitation.

A creeping sense of doubt filled Jareth's thoughts. 

Just what is my relationship with this man?

For now, he had no choice but to go along with it—but he would be watching Atticus carefully.

-

As they resumed their walk toward the dining hall, Atticus fell into step beside Jareth, seamlessly integrating himself into their small group. The atmosphere, which had been relatively quiet before, immediately became livelier with his presence.

Atticus began discussing the latest happenings among the nobles. "Your Majesty, have you heard? Lord Evrand's son has finally returned from Eldoria Kingdom. There are already rumors that his father is pushing for him to be engaged to one of the Duke's daughters." He let out a soft chuckle, his tone light and conversational. "Politics and marriage—those nobles never tire of it."

Jareth, who had been walking in silence, only gave a slight nod in response. He had no idea who Lord Evrand or his son were, but he understood well enough that noble politics were complicated affairs. Instead of engaging too much, he opted for a nonchalant approach, acting as though this was all information he already knew.

Atticus, undeterred by Jareth's lack of enthusiasm, continued. "And then there's Viscount Halwen—he's been rather vocal about the recent tax policies. Some say he's trying to rally support against the reforms, though I doubt he'll gain much traction."

At this, Jareth gave a thoughtful hum. 

So, there are already people opposing the king? That's not surprising, but it's good to know who the potential troublemakers are.

Atticus smiled knowingly, observing Jareth's reaction. "Of course, Your Majesty has always handled such matters with wisdom. I'm sure the Viscount won't cause too much of a disturbance… unless he's truly bold enough to challenge the crown directly."

Jareth met his gaze briefly before looking ahead. "If he does, then he should be prepared to face the consequences," he said, his tone even but firm.

Roderic, who had been silent, let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. "Some people never learn."

Atticus chuckled again, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. But such is the nature of the court—endless scheming, endless ambition."

Jareth merely nodded once more, feigning indifference. 

He cast a quick glance at Atticus, noting the sharpness hidden behind his polite demeanor. 

This man talks a lot, but every word is calculated. I need to be careful around him.

He found himself more focused on his silent observations than on Atticus' chatter. The nobles, the politics, the undercurrents of tension—he would have to navigate all of it carefully.

Jareth sighed inwardly, already feeling exhausted just thinking about the endless responsibilities and schemes awaiting him. He had hoped that his so-called rest would last longer, but given his position, that was probably wishful thinking.

So being a king isn't just about luxury and comfort, huh? He thought wryly. 

As they continued walking, his mind drifted, lost in contemplation. Unbeknownst to him, his feet carried him forward without much thought, and when they reached a branching hallway, he instinctively turned right—completely unaware that Roderic and Atticus had gone left.

It wasn't until he heard a sharp, concerned voice behind him that he realized something was wrong.

"Your Majesty!" Roderic called, his tone laced with urgency.

Jareth halted abruptly, blinking in confusion as he turned to see both Roderic and Atticus staring at him. Roderic's brow was furrowed in worry, while Atticus regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and mild amusement.

"Your Majesty," Atticus spoke, his voice smooth but questioning, "I believe the dining hall is this way." He gestured toward the left corridor, the one they had meant to take.

Jareth felt an embarrassed heat creeping up his neck. Damn it. How could he have made such a foolish mistake? He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed where he was going.

Think, Jareth. You need an excuse.

Maintaining his composure, he straightened his posture and glanced at the corridor he had mistakenly taken. "I was merely taking a moment to observe the layout of the palace," he said smoothly. "I've spent too much time buried in work to appreciate my surroundings."

Atticus raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening ever so slightly. "Ah, of course. Your Majesty is always so diligent. Though, if I may, this particular corridor leads to the library wing, not the dining hall."

Jareth kept his expression neutral, though internally, he winced. Library wing?

Roderic, on the other hand, seemed to have caught on to Jareth's little blunder but remained silent, his lips pressed into a tight line. He wouldn't dare call out the king's mistake directly, but Jareth could tell the knight was restraining himself.

With a sigh, Jareth turned back toward them. "Very well. Let's not delay breakfast any longer," he said, smoothly transitioning past his blunder.

As he fell back in step with them, he inwardly cursed. This palace is a damn maze. If I don't get my hands on a map soon, I might end up wandering into the stables instead of my own chambers.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Atticus still watching him with that knowing look. 

As they approached the grand entrance of the dining hall, Jareth suddenly faltered in his step. 

"Your Majesty is becoming more unpredictable."

It was only for a brief moment—barely noticeable— a voice echoed in his mind.

And it wasn't his own. Who the heck?

His posture remained composed, his expression unwavering, but his thoughts raced. The voice belonged to Atticus. Yet, Atticus hadn't spoken aloud. Instead, his words had resonated directly within Jareth's mind.

Telepathy?

Jareth's gaze flickered toward Atticus, who walked beside him as if nothing had happened. So, he had magic as well—and it was connected to this mind-link ability.

Did that mean he had unique abilities?

And more importantly… Did he have one too?

The possibility sent a spark of excitement through him. If Atticus could communicate through thoughts, could Jareth do the same? Did he possess a similar skill, or was his magic entirely different? He was eager to find out.

However, before he could dwell on it further, Atticus's voice chimed in again, disrupting his train of thought.

"I don't understand why Your Majesty is acting like a clueless fool, but whatever the reason, know that I'll support your crazy ideas regardless."

His tone was light, almost amused, yet laced with a knowing edge.

"I'm quite looking forward to whatever scheme you're planning this time."

Jareth nearly scowled.

What was he talking about?

He wasn't acting clueless—he genuinely had no idea what was happening! Everything around him was unfamiliar, and he was still piecing things together. How was that playing dumb?

Suppressing his irritation, he kept his composure, stepping forward as if nothing had happened.

But in his mind, he grumbled, I'm not acting dumb! I'm just… uninformed. That was all.

What exactly did Atticus mean by "the scheme you're planning this time"?

Did that mean the previous king had a habit of scheming? If so, Jareth would have to keep that in mind. It was valuable information. A person's reputation often shaped how others perceived them, and if this body's previous owner had been known for being cunning and strategic, then his own actions might be interpreted through that lens.

And then there was the fact that Atticus actually thought he was pretending to be clueless. 

Wait—does this mean I can actually act ignorant, and everyone will just assume I'm planning something?

Jareth's eyes gleamed with newfound realization. This was an advantage. Instead of worrying about slipping up, he could lean into their expectations. If he made mistakes or acted as though he didn't know something, they wouldn't immediately suspect something was wrong. They would simply assume he was keeping secrets or preparing another elaborate plan.

Even more importantly, Atticus didn't seem to doubt him. The way he spoke, the confidence in his tone—it sounded like he genuinely trusted Jareth. 

So, is he truly one of the king's men?

If that was the case, then things would be much easier for him.

Perhaps he had been overthinking things. From the moment he realized he had taken over this body, he had feared that someone would immediately notice something was wrong. That they would see through him, that they would question his actions. But so far, that hasn't happened.

Even someone as perceptive as Roderic had simply assumed that his king was unwell. The thought that Jareth's body had been taken over by another soul—by someone entirely different—had never even crossed his mind. To him, the unusual behavior was nothing more than the aftereffects of illness or exhaustion.

Maybe even in this world, transmigration is an impossibility—something unheard of or incredibly rare.

That meant no one would be looking for signs of it. No one would suspect him of being anything other than their king. As long as he played his role well, he could buy himself time to figure things out.