Chapter 1: The Jester’s Grand EntranceMy name’s Kazuki, and I’m seventeen. I always thought I was destined for something big—like, legendary hero big. You know, the kind of guy who gets summoned to another world, wields a glowing sword, and saves everyone from a dark lord. So when a glowing portal ripped open in my bedroom, I was ready. I grabbed my backpack, puffed out my chest, and stepped through, expecting epic battles and cheering crowds.

  Boy, was I wrong.

  The portal spat me out in a huge stone hall. Fancy chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and a red carpet stretched across the floor. A crowd of people in frilly clothes stared at me. I thought, This is it! They’re gonna bow and call me “Chosen One”! But then a girl in a sparkly tiara stood up from a throne. She looked about my age, with golden curls and a bored expression.

  “Finally!” she said, cpping her hands. “My new court jester’s here!”

  Jester? Jester?! My jaw dropped. “Uh, I think there’s a mistake. I’m Kazuki, the hero—”

  She waved her hand. “Yeah, yeah, Kazuki, whatever. I’m Princess Livia, and I’m so bored. This kingdom’s dull, and I need entertainment. You’re it.”

  The crowd murmured. An old guy in a robe stepped forward, looking nervous. “Your Highness, the summoning spell was meant to bring a hero—”

  “Ugh, heroes are boring!” Livia said, rolling her eyes. “Always talking about destiny and monsters. I tweaked the spell to get someone fun. And look at him!” She pointed at me. “He’s got that goofy vibe. Perfect jester material.”

  Goofy vibe? I gnced down at my sneakers and hoodie. Okay, maybe I didn’t look like a knight, but still! “I’m not a jester!” I said. “I don’t even know any jokes!”

  Livia grinned. “You’ll learn. Or you’ll be thrown in the dungeon. Your choice.”

  The old guy—some kind of wizard, I guessed—whispered, “I’m sorry, d. The spell’s one-way. You can’t go home.”

  My stomach sank. No way home? No sword? No respect? I was stuck in a fantasy world as a clown?

  Before I could argue, two guards grabbed my arms and dragged me to a side room. They shoved a ridiculous outfit at me: a jingly hat with bells, a red-and-green checkered shirt, and pointy shoes. “Put this on,” one said. “The princess wants a show in one hour.”

  I stared at the clothes. “You’re kidding.”

  They weren’t kidding.

  An hour ter, I stood in the middle of the great hall, wearing the stupid jester outfit. The bells on my hat jingled every time I moved. The whole court—nobles, knights, servants—was watching. Livia sat on her throne, sipping juice and looking expectant. “Well?” she said. “Entertain me.”

  My mind went bnk. I’d never performed in my life! Back home, I was just a high school kid who liked video games and instant ramen. But the guards were gring, and the dungeon threat felt real. I had to do something.

  “Okay, uh…” I cleared my throat. “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

  Silence. Livia raised an eyebrow. A noble in the back coughed.

  “To get to the other side!” I said, forcing a grin.

  More silence. Then Livia snorted. “That’s it? That’s awful. Try harder.”

  My face burned. Okay, bad jokes weren’t gonna cut it. I needed something bigger. I scanned the room, and my eyes nded on a table full of fancy desserts. Cakes, pies, puddings—the works. An idea hit me. A dumb, risky idea, but I was desperate.

  I grabbed a cream pie and held it up. “Your Highness, how about a magic trick?” I said. “I’ll make this pie… disappear!”

  The crowd leaned forward. Livia looked curious. “Go on, then.”

  I spun the pie in my hand, pretending to chant some fake magic words. “Abra-kadabra, pie-gon-zara!” Then I tripped—on purpose—and smashed the pie right into my own face.

  The room gasped. Cream dripped down my chin. For a second, I thought I’d screwed up big time. Then Livia burst out ughing. “Oh my gosh, that’s hirious!” she said, cpping. A few nobles chuckled. Even the grumpy guards smirked.

  I wiped the cream off my face and bowed, bells jingling. “Thank you, thank you! The Great Kazuki never fails to… uh, make a mess!”

  The crowd cpped. I couldn’t believe it. My dumb stunt actually worked! Livia waved me over. “Not bad, jester. Keep that up, and you might survive the week.”

  Survive the week? Great. No pressure.

  That night, they gave me a tiny room in the castle’s servant quarters. It had a lumpy bed, a wobbly table, and a window with a view of the stables. I flopped onto the bed, still wearing the jester outfit. My head was spinning. How was I supposed to keep this up? I wasn’t funny! I wasn’t a performer! But I also wasn’t a quitter. If I was stuck here, I’d figure out a way to make it work.

  The next morning, a servant banged on my door. “Jester! The princess wants you at breakfast. Bring a new act.”

  A new act? Already? I groaned but dragged myself out of bed. I didn’t have props or a pn, but I’d always been good at thinking on my feet. Back home, I’d talked my way out of detention more times than I could count. Maybe that was my real superpower: street smarts.

  At breakfast, the great hall was packed again. Livia sat at the head table, picking at a pte of fruit. “Well, jester?” she said. “What’s today’s show?”

  I took a deep breath. I’d noticed a lute leaning against a wall earlier. I had no idea how to py it, but I grabbed it anyway. “Your Highness,” I said, “prepare to be amazed by… the Song of Kazuki!”

  I strummed the lute. It sounded like a cat being stepped on. The crowd winced, but I kept going, making up lyrics on the spot:

  “Oh, Princess Livia, so fair and wise,Your kingdom’s great, it’s no surprise!But when you’re bored, you call for me,The jester with the… uh, jingly glee!”

  The notes were awful, but my over-the-top delivery got a few ughs. I danced around, shaking my bells and winking at the nobles. Livia giggled. “You’re terrible at music!” she said. “But I love the energy. Keep going!”

  So I did. I spun in circles, tripped over a chair, and nded in a servant’s p. The crowd roared. By the end, even the stuffy old wizard was smiling. Livia tossed me an apple. “Not bad, jester. You’re growing on me.”

  I caught the apple and took a bite, trying to look cool. Inside, I was freaking out. This was my life now? Falling on my face for ughs? But the crowd’s cheers felt… good. Maybe I could do this.

  Over the next few days, I leaned into the jester role. I juggled apples (and dropped them). I told more bad jokes (and got better at ughing them off). I even did a fake magic show with a rabbit I “borrowed” from the kitchen. The rabbit escaped and ran under Livia’s dress, which made her ugh so hard she cried.

  But it wasn’t all fun. The castle was full of drama. Nobles whispered about each other behind their backs. The king—Livia’s dad—was always in meetings, looking stressed. And the wizard, whose name was Master Elrin, kept giving me weird looks, like he knew something I didn’t.

  One afternoon, I overheard two nobles talking in a hallway. “The jester’s a nobody,” one said. “Why’s the princess so obsessed with him?”

  “He’s a distraction,” the other said. “Keeps her out of our business. But if he gets too popur, he might be trouble.”

  Trouble? Me? I was just trying to avoid the dungeon! But their words stuck with me. This pce was a snake pit, and I was caught in the middle.

  That night, Livia summoned me to her private garden. It was a quiet spot with glowing flowers and a fountain. She sat on a bench, looking less like a bratty princess and more like a tired kid. “You’re not what I expected, Kazuki,” she said.

  “Uh, thanks?” I said, sitting beside her. “You’re not what I expected either. I thought princesses were all… graceful and stuff.”

  She ughed. “I hate graceful. It’s boring. That’s why I wanted a jester. Everyone here’s so serious—my dad, the nobles, Elrin. They’re always plotting or fighting. You’re the only one who makes me forget that.”

  I didn’t know what to say. For the first time, I saw her as a person, not just a bossy royal. “Why’d you pick me, though?” I asked. “I’m not exactly a comedian.”

  She shrugged. “The spell was supposed to find someone… unique. I guess it liked your vibe.”

  “My goofy vibe?” I said, smirking.

  “Exactly.” She grinned, then got serious. “But be careful, okay? Some people don’t like how much attention you’re getting. They think you’re… influencing me.”

  “Influencing you?” I ughed. “I’m just trying to not get fired!”

  “I know. But this castle’s full of secrets. Just… watch your back.”

  Her words sent a chill down my spine. I was a jester, not a hero, but maybe I was in more danger than I thought.

  The next morning, Master Elrin cornered me in a hallway. His robe was covered in weird symbols, and his eyes were sharp. “You’re no fool, boy,” he said. “I see the cleverness behind your antics. But you’re pying a dangerous game.”

  “I’m just doing my job,” I said, trying to sound casual.

  “Your job is to entertain, not to meddle,” he said. “The princess is young and impulsive. If you encourage her recklessness, you’ll regret it.”

  He walked away, leaving me rattled. What was he talking about? I wasn’t encouraging anything! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized Livia was starting to trust me. And in a pce like this, trust was a big deal.

  That afternoon, Livia called me to the great hall for another show. The crowd was bigger than ever. Word had spread about the “funny jester,” and even some townsfolk were there. I felt the pressure, but I also felt… alive. I wasn’t a hero, but I was something.

  I grabbed a broom and pretended it was a sword, doing a goofy “knight” routine. I “fought” an imaginary dragon, flopping dramatically when it “ate” me. The crowd loved it. Livia was ughing so hard she spilled her drink. But as I took my bow, I noticed Elrin in the corner, watching me with narrowed eyes. And behind him, two nobles were whispering, their faces dark.

  I’d survived another day, but I had a bad feeling. Being the court jester was supposed to be a joke. So why did it feel like I was walking into a war?