So this courtroom—if you can even call this medieval circus that—is packed with nobles who look like they raided a costume shop.
The women are wearing dresses that push their boobs up to their chins, while the men are strutting around in tights that show everything. And they think I'm the indecent one?
"So tell us, Mr. Daren, how did you get to Lady Vivienne's bathroom?" the judge asks, looking at me like I'm something gross on the bottom of his shoe. "Is she cheating on her husband with you or..."
The Duke's face turns this crazy shade of purple at just the suggestion. If looks could kill, I'd be dead already.
Lady Vivienne keeps up this perfect act of being all offended and virtuous, but I catch her checking me out when she thinks nobody's watching.
Man, I really wish I could tell them how stupid they're being, especially her husband. The idea that his wife would cheat with some guy who magically appeared naked in her bathroom is ridiculous.
I literally just met myself in that bathroom before the guards grabbed me. I'm the victim here.
Well, nobody's gonna believe me anyway. Might as well have some fun with it.
"Yes I did," I sigh dramatically, "and please end my misery."
The courtroom goes crazy. Women gasping, clutching their pearls. Men shouting for my head.
The Duke stands up with his hand on his sword, looking ready to skip the trial and just kill me right there.
"SILENCE!" the judge yells, banging this wooden gavel that looks like it could crack skulls. "You admit to this crime against the noble house of Harrington?"
I shrug as best I can with my hands chained. "Look, if you're going to execute me anyway, what's the point of denying it?
Though I have to say, if you're going to kill a man for being naked in the wrong place at the wrong time, your justice system needs serious work."
The Duke steps forward, his voice shaking with rage. "This... this commoner admits to defiling my wife's honor! I demand his head!"
Lady Vivienne keeps her eyes down, playing the perfect wronged woman, though I notice a slight curl at the corner of her lips. Is she... enjoying this?
"The penalty for such a crime is indeed death," the judge announces all serious-like.
"Unless any noble wishes to speak in the prisoner's defense?"
The room goes quiet. Of course nobody's gonna defend the random naked guy.
I close my eyes, wondering if getting killed here means I'll wake up back on my couch on Earth, or if this is just game over for real.
"Well, I don't believe their stories."
This voice cuts through the silence—cold, commanding, and sounding bored all at once.
The crowd parts as this tall dude strides forward. He looks to be in his late forties, with silver streaks in his dark hair and a face that looks carved from stone.
Unlike the other nobles with their flashy colors, he's wearing simple but obviously expensive black clothes with just a little silver embroidery.
"Lord Derek," the judge says, sounding surprised. "You wish to speak on this man's behalf?"
Derek's eyes—gray and calculating—study me like I'm some interesting but potentially dangerous animal. "I will take responsibility for him. He will be my personal slave."
Wait, what? I've gone from execution to slavery in ten seconds flat. Is that an upgrade or a downgrade?
"My lord," the Duke sputters, "this man has admitted to—"
"I heard what he said," Derek cuts him off without even looking at him. "And I find it... improbable.
A stranger appears in your wife's chambers, with no explanation of how he got past your guards? No signs of forced entry? Perhaps there are questions that would be better left unasked, Duke Harrington."
The Duke's face goes from purple to white so fast I think he might pass out. Interesting. Lord Derek clearly has some serious pull around here.
"Ah sir, let them kill me," I say, only half-joking. "I need to return to Earth, where people have proper initiative and CCTV.
At least there when I'm falsely accused of something, there's footage to prove my innocence."
Derek's eyebrow raises slightly when I mention Earth. Does that mean something to him?
"Earth?" the judge repeats, confused. "Is that a province in the Southern Territories?"
"Something like that," I mutter.
The grand judge clears his throat. "If Lord Derek wants him freed, we won't oppose it. This is his first time making such a request."
Derek never asks for stuff like this? That makes me even more suspicious about why he wants me.
"Mr. Daren," the judge continues, "you are free to go. Henceforth, your status has changed to slave; your freedom is in the hands of Lord Derek."
As the words are pronounced, I feel something weird—like a whisper in my mind or a shift inside me. It doesn't hurt, just feels... odd. Like something changed or woke up.
The Duke is still fuming but apparently doesn't dare challenge Lord Derek openly.
Lady Vivienne keeps up her innocent act, but as I'm led away, our eyes meet briefly.
There's definitely interest there, maybe even a hint of promise. Great, I've been in this world less than a day and I'm already setting up potential drama with a Duke's wife.
"Well, here goes nothing," I mutter as guards take off my chains and hand me over to Lord Derek's men.
Derek himself doesn't even acknowledge me. He just turns and walks out, clearly expecting his men to bring me along like I'm a piece of furniture he just bought.
As we leave the court, I catch one last glimpse of Lady Vivienne. She's watching me go with an expression I can't quite figure out, but it's definitely not disgust.
From almost being executed to becoming a slave to some mysterious lord in just five minutes. Not bad for my first day in a fantasy world.