Alexander bowed his head and excused himself out of the room. This left Tom, to iterate - Maxwell, alone in the room to his devices. The first thing he did was jump out of bed and stumble on the floor because he misjudged how small he was. Good heavens, he knew he was small but not this small. Everything looked bigger and daunting like the furniture would eat him up. Maxwell walked closer to the mirror to see himself. A kid no older than ten, pallid but the coldness is returning the colors of rose in his cheeks. When Maxwell sees someone with white ashen hair, he tends to see them as old or someone with albinism. And yet, this white hair seemed natural on top of his head. They formed two tapered ends that crossed each other in his forehead. Other tapered tips fan out of his head. He tried patting them down but they always spring back, like a permanent fixture on his head.
Another thing of note is Maxwell's yellow eyes. He knows what amber looks like but he has taken it a step further. It's like molten gold basked in the sunset. They are big and bright, which oddly gives him an innocent outlook. Which is an oxymoron because Maxwell is far from the picture of innocence.
Maxwell unbuttoned his sleepwear. He noticed that his skin is white and pure. When he caressed his fingers, they sailed like smooth butter on the surface. Like a powdered baby's bum. Being in the body of someone young, he didn't expect much development inside his trousers. He peeked and true to his hypothesis, the thing dangling between his legs is about the size of his pinky. And his balls. When he was this boy's age, they weren't that small. Maybe it's just the cold?
---
Maxwell would spend the rest of the day in his room. The world outside that cream-colored door seems so daunting. Even the view outside the window, where knights and commoners peer at him whenever he tries to look. This world is strange and danger is prowling in the shadows. And to be honest, Maxwell still hasn't gotten over the death of his prior life. Was that life even real? Or was it just the fever dream of a kid who fainted in his Marking Ceremony?
Nevertheless, Maxwell remained shut in his room. Alexander came once in a while to fulfill his needs and requests. He brought bread, ham, vegetables, and to his surprise, mayonnaise. Although, their use of mayonnaise is far from what Maxwell thought it would be. Alexander is equally surprised when he sees his master stack the ingredients forming a sandwich. Maxwell sliced it in half and gave it to Alexander.
"Master, is everything alright?" Alexander asked. The brown-haired servant who is half as older looked at him with concern and confusion in those amber eyes.
"Other than hunger, I am doing fine." Maxwell bit on the sandwich. He made better sandwiches in the past but this one is what he could make in the meantime. "Why are you asking?"
"It's just that you seem to have changed since you wake up. You talk to me as if I am a close friend. You even gave me this- sandwich? This is the first time you gave something to me." Alexander bit on the sandwich and he seems to be enjoying it more than Maxwell.
They spent the rest of the night talking to each other, about the Vanderbilt family, the extent of their territories, and even common follies like the boy Alexander is fawning over. Before he realized it, Maxwell returned to slumber. Crumbs of bread clung to his mouth, which Alexander wiped with his thumb.
---
The next morning is a change. For the first time since coming to this world, Maxwell finally decided to step outside of his room and explore this expansive mansion. Just as he did, Alexander saw him step out of his room. Alexander grabbed Maxwell by the hand and led him to another room where he dressed him in a more apt attire than days old sleepwear. Alexander even stripped his clothing down to his bare crotch. Alexander doesn't mind, he's seen it a couple of times before. Maxwell does but not for long. Before his embarrassment could turn his face fully red, Alexander had already dressed him in a short tailcoat and matching trousers. He looked nobler now.