The sight of Salie's red horns and swishing tail still caught me off guard, even after three days in this world. No matter how many times I saw them, my eyes kept getting drawn to those unnatural yet perfectly natural features. This wasn't some costume - the way they moved with her expressions, the way the horns seemed to grow seamlessly from her skull - this was biology. Real, actual non-human biology.
Roderick was another matter entirely. The old butler had a habit of appearing exactly when needed and vanishing just as quickly. At first I thought it was some servant trick - staying out of sight until called - but after seeing him literally materialize behind Camille yesterday, I had to accept that teleportation or invisibility were actual things here.
After the discussion about Ashford Academy concluded, Salie guided me through the mansion's carpeted hallways to my temporary quarters. The floors were polished wood that didn't creak, the walls adorned with paintings of severe-looking men and women in elaborate outfits.
"Here we are, Sir Cale," Salie said, stopping before a heavy oak door. "Do you require anything else before I take my leave?"
I shook my head. "No, thank you. But..." I hesitated, then decided to make my request. "Could you ensure no one disturbs me after I enter? I have some merchant work to attend to that requires concentration."
Salie's cheeks colored slightly. "O-of course! I'll make certain you're not interrupted." She fidgeted with her apron. "Should I... should I return later to check on you?"
"That won't be necessary. I'll come out when I'm finished."
Her face fell almost imperceptibly before she caught herself. "As you wish, Sir Cale." With a quick bow, she turned and walked down the hallway, her tail drooping slightly.
I watched her go, vaguely aware I might have missed some social cue, but more concerned with my immediate task. Stepping into the room, I locked the door behind me.
---
The golden door appeared exactly as before when I focused on the ring. That same faint hum, the same warmth spreading through my fingers. Stepping through felt like passing through a curtain of warm water, and then I was back in Grandpa's storage room.
The familiar smells hit me first - the musty cardboard, the faint chemical tang of cleaning products, the underlying scent of aged wood. After days in a world of torchlight and candles, the stark electric bulb overhead seemed unnaturally bright.
I set to work immediately, pulling down boxes of instant ramen from the shelves. Each case held 24 cups - I'd need exactly twelve and a half cases for 300 servings. My arms protested as I stacked the heavy boxes, but years of hauling stock had prepared me for this.
As I worked, my mind wandered to Camille's description of Ashford Academy. A school that taught magic. Real, actual magic. The thought sent a thrill through me that I hadn't felt since I was a child first reading fantasy novels under the covers with a flashlight.
Grandpa's words came back to me: "This sword form comes from my homeland." At the time I'd thought he meant some special dojo style. Now I understood - he'd been teaching me magic swordsmanship all along.
The last box thudded onto the pile. I wiped sweat from my brow and surveyed my work - twelve full cases and one opened case with twelve cups removed. It looked absurd sitting there in the storage room, this mountain of instant noodles destined for another world.
I carried the boxes through the golden door one by one, stacking them neatly against the wall of my borrowed room. The process took nearly an hour, and by the end my shoulders ached and my hands were raw from the cardboard. But it was done.
---
A sharp knock startled me from my thoughts the next morning.
"Sir Cale? Lady Camille requests your presence for breakfast." Salie's voice carried through the thick door.
"I'll be right there," I called back, rolling out of the impossibly soft bed. The mattress here was stuffed with something far more luxurious than the thin futon I used back home.
After splashing water on my face from the ceramic basin and pulling on my least wrinkled clothes, I followed Salie through the mansion's winding corridors. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating floating dust motes in the air.
Camille sat at the head of an ornate dining table, already halfway through a plate of eggs and some kind of cured meat. She looked up as we entered, her golden hair catching the morning light.
"Cale! Good, you're awake." She gestured to the seat beside her. "Did you manage to prepare the ramen you promised?"
Before I could answer, the doors burst open. Aisha stormed in, her purple hair disheveled, holding an empty ramen cup in one hand.
"You!" She pointed an accusing finger at me. "What manner of sorcery is this?"
Camille's eyebrows shot up. "Aisha? What's the meaning of this?"
The knight captain slammed the cup onto the table. "I took one to test its safety before distribution. This... this substance is clearly enchanted!"
I fought back a smile. "It's just noodles, Aisha."
"Lies!" Her cheeks flushed. "No simple food could possibly... could..." She trailed off, her stern expression faltering. "It's too delicious. The way the broth coats the tongue, the perfect texture of the noodles... This must be some high-level culinary magic!"
Camille's eyes narrowed. "You stole from the relief supplies?"
Aisha straightened immediately. "For security purposes! As captain of the guard, it's my duty to-"
"To eat all our emergency stores?" Camille's voice turned dangerous.
"I only took one!"
"And if every guard took 'just one'? Where would we be then?" Camille sighed and turned to me. "Is this normal behavior for your... ramen?"
I shrugged. "Some people really like it. But no, it's not enchanted. Just carefully prepared."
Aisha looked like she wanted to argue further, but a sharp glance from Camille silenced her. With a stiff bow, the knight captain retreated from the room, though I noticed she took the empty cup with her.
---
After breakfast, Camille led me to her study - a cozy room lined with bookshelves and dominated by a massive oak desk. Sunlight streamed through leaded glass windows, casting geometric patterns across the carpet.
"I've been considering your proposal," she began, taking a seat behind the desk. "About establishing your merchant business here in Meroll."
I sat across from her, trying not to fidget under her piercing green-eyed gaze. "I appreciate the opportunity."
She steepled her fingers. "Here's my offer. I'll provide you with a storefront in the merchant quarter - a prime location near the main square. In return, I want exclusive distribution rights to your... chocolates within Romero territory."
I considered this. Having noble backing would solve many problems, but exclusivity could limit future opportunities. "For how long?"
"Five years renewable," she said without hesitation. Clearly she'd prepared for this negotiation. "And you'll supply the count's household with a monthly allotment."
I pretended to think it over. "I accept, with two conditions."
Her eyes gleamed. "Name them."
"First, I want access to Ashford Academy's library - particularly any texts on magical theory."
Camille nodded slowly. "That can be arranged. My father has influence with the academy board. And the second condition?"
"I retain the right to sell my other goods - the ramen and whatever else I import - freely."
She tapped her chin. "Agreed, though I'll expect a discount for bulk purchases." Standing, she extended her hand. "Do we have a deal, Merchant Cale?"
I shook her smooth, cool hand. "We do."
---
That evening, I stood by the window of my room, watching the sun set over Meroll's rooftops. The ring on my finger felt strangely warm, as it often did when I used the door.
My plans were coming together faster than I'd expected. A store in the city. Access to magical knowledge. A noble patron. In just a few days, I'd secured more opportunities than years of running Grandpa's convenience store had ever offered.
But beneath the satisfaction lurked unease. This world wasn't just new - it was dangerous. The way Aisha moved spoke of trained lethality. The political undercurrents in Camille's conversations hinted at tensions I didn't yet understand. And then there was the mystery of Grandpa's past - a duke's son fleeing assassins.
I touched the ring, feeling its intricate carvings. Somewhere out there was Ashford Academy, and answers about my family's legacy. But first, I needed to establish myself here, in this city, in this world.
The golden door shimmered into existence as I focused. Tomorrow I'd bring through more supplies - not just ramen and chocolate, but practical goods from my world that might sell here. Lighters. Basic medicines. Maybe even some tools.
But for tonight, I needed rest. The door faded as I released my concentration. As I lay in bed, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of a noble household at night, one thought kept circling in my mind:
This was just the beginning.