Trapped in the Royal Palace
I walked toward the dais, and the crowd slowly parted before me.
Some avoided my gaze. Others stepped back as if trying to distance themselves. Somewhere in the throng, I caught a glimpse of a hand clutching a small talisman.
Leona stayed right beside me. If my steps even slightly faltered, her armor would brush against me as she gently corrected my direction.
When I stopped at the base of the dais, Leona stepped forward and snapped into a crisp salute.
Clack.
Her fist rose to her chest. Head bowed, she whispered so only I could hear.
She took one step back, leaving me standing alone.
Up close, the queen was even more dazzling than I’d imagined. Tiny blue gems were densely embedded between the silver ornaments, sparkling every time they caught the light.
Her gaze locked onto me. It felt like she was trying to pierce straight through to my core.
A brief silence fell before the queen finally spoke.
"You claim to have come from the outside world."
"Beyond our reality."
Her voice was low, yet it resonated clearly throughout the entire hall.
I nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The air in the hall suddenly shifted. I heard sharp inhales, and someone took an involuntary step backward.
Soon, low whispers began to spread. Leona’s expression hardened. Her hand instinctively moved toward her sword before she stopped herself.
The queen didn’t move. Her expression didn’t change. Only the hand gripping the armrest of her throne tightened ever so slightly.
After a silence that felt far too long, the queen broke it.
“How did you come to this place from that world?”
Her tone had that characteristic drawl. I took a steadying breath and answered.
“I was climbing a mountain.”
“I fell from a cliff.”
“I thought I was dead, but when I regained consciousness, I was here.”
This time the reaction was stronger. Gasps rippled across the room. Several people in the front unconsciously leaned forward, their faces a mix of curiosity and tension.
The queen slowly raised her hand. With a single gesture, the whispering stopped. Her crimson eyes, fixed on me, grew even deeper.
“Dimensional travel.”
She murmured it so quietly it was almost to herself, then turned to the advisor beside her.
“Bring me the Origin Records.”
The advisor bowed hastily and withdrew. The queen’s gaze returned to me.
“Tell me about that mountain. Its height, environment, composition.”
The words came in short, rapid bursts, leaving no room to breathe.
“Everything you remember.”
It was an order delivered in a tone that allowed no refusal.
“It’s a mountain covered in snow. The air is so thin that even the slightest movement leaves you gasping…”
“Ugh… don’t even get me started. It was brutal…”
That was when it happened.
Creeeeak—
A side door opened, and every eye in the hall turned toward it at once.
A record keeper in gray robes hurried inside, carrying two thick record tablets in both hands. He walked quickly to the base of the dais, then dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty.”
“I have brought the Origin Records.”
The tablet was opened. Light seeped into it, and the image of a mountain rose above its surface.
A massive mountain range.
Snow-covered peaks.
And the tallest one among them.
The highest summit.
The queen’s eyes turned to me. The moment I took a step closer, my breath caught.
Wait… this is…
“This mountain… is Everest.”
The hall fell deathly silent.
I pointed at the peak floating above the tablet.
“In the world I came from…”
“It is the tallest mountain on Earth.”
My throat had gone dry. I swallowed hard.
“And… it’s also the place I fell from.”
I heard someone gasp, but no one spoke.
The queen’s eyes deepened further.
“Earth.”
She slowly repeated the unfamiliar word, then glanced at the ministers beside her.
A brief exchange of looks—surprise, calculation.
A moment later, the queen rose from her throne and slowly descended the dais. Though her steps were unhurried, it felt as if the entire atmosphere of the hall moved with her.
When she stopped right in front of me, I realized she was taller than I’d expected. Our eyes met exactly.
The moment those words left her lips, the air around us grew heavy again.
“Then…”
I hesitated for a second before asking.
“Is there any chance I could return?”
In the short silence that followed, the queen’s eyes flickered ever so slightly before settling again.
“At present, I cannot give you a definite answer.”
It was an honest reply.
“The records contain some theories regarding dimensional travel.”
“But there are no actual cases.”
The queen turned to address the entire hall.
“Contact the Magic Society. Have them review every record related to dimensions.”
When her eyes returned to me, they had grown firmer.
“This individual will be treated as a subject of observation for the time being.”
Leona immediately stepped forward.
“I will take responsibility, Your Majesty.”
I frowned.
“Subject of observation…?”
“Does that mean I’m being quarantined?”
The queen’s expression hardened slightly.
“This is not a punishment.”
“It is a precautionary measure.”
Her voice remained calm.
“We do not yet know what influence your arrival may have.”
“No one can predict it.”
A brief silence.
“Dimensional travel carries the potential to affect the very structure of our world.”
That was when the record keeper spoke up cautiously.
“Your Majesty.”
“According to the Origin Records, contact with beings from another realm has…”
He opened the document in his hands.
“…been known to cause changes in the flow of time and the structure of mana.”
The atmosphere in the hall grew even quieter. The curiosity that had filled the room earlier was rapidly turning into wariness.
Leona positioned herself beside me, naturally assuming a stance that served as both escort and surveillance.
The queen looked at me for a moment, gave the tiniest nod, then turned away.
“This concludes today’s assembly.”
Her voice rang through the hall.
“Everyone except essential personnel is dismissed.”
The nobles and officials began moving at once. Whispers overlapped as they brushed past one another and filed out.
The stares and noise that had filled the space vanished like they had never existed.
In an instant, the vast chamber was empty.
A short while later, the queen approached me again. Beside her was the elderly scholar who had carried the records earlier.
“This is Doctor Lisara.”
“She will be in charge of investigating you.”
The scholar bowed her head. The queen continued.
“If you cooperate, it will benefit us both.”
At that moment, Leona stepped forward once more.
“The isolation chamber has been prepared, Your Majesty.”
The queen nodded.
“Proceed.”
I rolled my shoulders lightly.
“Well, I understand.”
The queen’s hand made the smallest gesture. Two guards who had been waiting near the door immediately stepped forward.
“Escort him to the private wing.”
“Provide for his needs, but…”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Control all movement.”
The guards took up positions around me. With Leona at the front, we began to move.
The palace corridors, with their high ceilings and walls of polished blue stone, felt endless. Only the sound of our footsteps echoed softly.
We passed several doors, climbed another set of stairs, and finally stopped before the last door.
When it opened, I saw the room inside. It was larger than I’d expected.
A single desk.
A neatly made bed.
A large window offering a view outside.
Thick metal bars were embedded in the window.
“Ha… fuck…”
“This is a prison.”
As I stepped inside, a single set of footsteps followed me in.
It was Leona.
She approached me.
“Hold out your hands.”
Her tone was curt. I extended my wrists, still bound by the silver-patterned cuffs.
Leona grasped the cuffs and chanted.
“Release.”
The patterns on the cuffs flashed brightly.
Click.
The pressure around my wrists vanished. The metal rings opened on their own and fell to the floor with a dull thud.
I rotated my wrists a few times.
“Oh…”
One of the guards approached carrying something and silently set it down.
“Please put this on.”
I blinked.
“Ah, clothes.”
Leona nodded.
The folded garments looked similar to what the people here wore. She looked at them and said,
“Starting tomorrow, you may wear these.”
She added after a pause.
“Several sets have been prepared.”
I picked up the clothes. A simple top and pants made of blue-toned fabric. They actually looked pretty decent.
“Oh…”
Leona watched me for a moment before speaking.
“I know this is a strange situation.”
She glanced toward the window, then back at me.
“But for now, this is the safest option.”
Light glinted off her armor.
“You are not a criminal.”
She chose her next words carefully, gazing at me steadily.
“You are a protected individual.”
“Please understand until the situation is resolved.”
A short silence followed. In her eyes lingered both caution and a hint of conflict.
I gave a light shrug.
“Well, I did agree to cooperate…”
“Let’s wait and see what comes of it.”
Leona gave a small nod.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
She hesitated briefly, then added,
“You’re much calmer than I expected.”
I walked over to the window and looked outside. The entire panorama of Elaris spread out before me.
As I stared down at the view, Leona’s voice reached me.
“Elcia has seen almost no major change for hundreds of years.”
“So your existence… is unsettling.”
Her words slowed slightly at the end.
“But it is also fascinating.”
Her expression softened ever so slightly as she turned away.
“I will return once the investigation progresses.”
She scanned the room once.
“It may be uncomfortable, but you must stay here for the time being.”
She was walking toward the door when she paused and looked back.
“Thank you for accepting the situation without panic.”
For the briefest moment—just a second—her gaze grew gentle.
That was when I finally asked.
“Ah, by the way, what’s your name?”
Leona blinked once. It seemed she had only just realized we hadn’t been properly introduced.
“My apologies.”
She placed her right hand over her chest in a formal salute.
“Leona Baylor, Knight of the Lunaris Kingdom.”
Her gaze was steady.
“Directly under Her Majesty the Queen.”
“The legion that protects this nation.”
“First Guardian of Aegis.”
Damn, that’s cool as hell.
Lmao lmao lmao.
“You may call me Leona.”
I smiled lightly.
“Alright, Leona.”
“I’m Jun. Kim Jun.”
“Thanks for guiding me around today. I’m sure you were pretty shocked too.”
Her expression wavered slightly, and her armor shifted with a faint clink.
“It is my duty.”
She cleared her throat. After a moment of hesitation, she took a step closer and lowered her voice.
“Personally… I don’t think your appearance here is a bad thing.”
Her eyes flickered for a second before steadying again.
“Elcia has remained unchanged for far too long.”
She straightened her posture once more.
“Then please rest.”
The door opened.
Leona gave me one last look before stepping outside.
Clunk.
The door closed, and the room fell silent.
I stared at it for a long time.
“Haa…”
I let out a long breath and dropped heavily onto the bed.
“Wow, shit…”
I ran a hand through my hair.
A world without men.
A planet inhabited only by women.
And I was the only man.
“This is actually pretty great…”
I muttered under my breath.
Honestly.
It’s good.
Really good.
There are tons of beautiful women.
And plenty of strong-looking ones too.
But then a thought struck me.
“But… what the hell am I supposed to do now…?”
I looked out the window.
This wasn’t Earth. No company, no money, no acquaintances.
“I did meet the queen, but…”
I had no idea whether this would turn out good or bad.
“Haa…”
I tilted my head to the side.
Still, one thing was certain.
A world full of only women.
And the one and only man.
The corner of my mouth slowly curled upward.
“If I play my cards right…”
I let my imagination run for a moment.
Then I let out a small chuckle.
Heh heh.
This…
This is totally harem territory, isn’t it?
