Shadows of the Owner.

Who are you crying to? Why are you even crying? Why are you sad? Why are you...

I woke up with a gasp, sitting upright in an unfamiliar bed. The room was incredibly opulent, which felt odd. Sunlight streamed through a window, hitting my eyes, so I covered my face with my hand to block the glare.

"W... where...?" I couldn't tear my eyes away from the unfamiliar room. It was adorned with grand chandeliers and gilded displays, giving it an extravagant feel.

I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together what had happened. It felt like I had been asleep for a week. "U... ugh, where in the world am I? What happened?"

Then the huge door suddenly opened.

An older gentleman entered, dressed in a butler's suit. His attire was impeccable: a black tailcoat, matching trousers, a crisp white shirt, a classic black vest, and a black bow tie. A white pocket square peeked from his chest pocket, and his polished black shoes completed the look. He carried a tray with a creamer and a teacup.

He placed the tray on a small table beside me, his movements smooth and deliberate.

"I'm glad you're awake, young master," he said with a polite nod, his voice warm.

His courteous manner made me feel shy, and I glanced away. "The young master of the house will visit you soon," he continued. "How are you feeling? Dizzy? In pain?"

"I don't feel any pain, but I don't remember what happened... to me? What am I doing here? I thought I was dead, but now... uh..." I spoke in confusion, my thoughts racing. Why can't I remember anything? What's wrong with my head?

"This is the house of Evergreen. The Young Lady saved you from death, which is why you're here. Perhaps the Young Master will have answers for your questions," the butler replied calmly.

The Lady of the house. Could he mean the girl who creates strange portals? The one with long dark hair and intense eyes? I felt my cheeks flush at the thought, embarrassed.

A memory flashed in my mind. "Ah yeah, I got stabbed—" I began, pulling up my shirt to check for signs of injury. Instead, I found neatly wrapped bandages covering my torso. I traced the edges of the bandages, wondering how I survived and ended up here.

I couldn't help but wonder about the young master the butler mentioned. "About the young master—" I began, but before I could finish, the door clicked open, and the butler exited the room without a word.

The abrupt departure left me with more questions. I sipped the tea, blowing on it lightly to cool it. "Hm... this is not bad," I muttered, nodding.

"Is it now?" came a voice, startling me. I glanced up, eyes widening in surprise. Someone was casually sitting on the edge of the bed, as if he'd always been there. His face seemed familiar, but my mind was too fuzzy to place him.

"Who are you? How did you...?" I paused when he looked into my eyes, and a sudden, sharp pain shot through my heart. I clutched my chest, struggling to catch my breath. "—....U-ugh..."

"That tea is from the Kingdom of Veltora," he replied with a smirk. "It's quite expensive." His voice had an air of casual superiority, as if he knew more about my circumstances than I did. Despite the pain, I tried to stay composed, focusing on his words.

Why was my chest tightening? Who was this kid, and how did he enter without using the door? It didn't make sense.

"Don't you know Veltora has the best tea? Every shop there brews tea, and they even have tea with lunch. People there have all sorts of techniques for making tea."

What is this kid talking about? I wanted answers, but he kept rambling about tea.

"I even asked the finest tea maker to teach me how to brew tea, and he gave me some pointers," he continued, ignoring my confusion.

Why was he going on about tea? And why was he here in my room? My head was spinning, but I sensed there was more to his words.

Could this kid be the young master the butler mentioned?

He seemed to know his way around the house, and his attitude suggested some authority here.

My chest hurt more, tightening each second. What was happening to me?

"Hey, why aren't you listening to me while I'm sharing my knowledge about teas?" he asked, sounding almost offended.

"Huh...?"

Before I could respond, he lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His big, round eyes held an unnerving expression, like a mix of curiosity and something sinister.

I felt trapped, staring back, shocked and speechless. What did he want from me? And why was the room suddenly colder?