Chapter 101: Chapter 101

Alvaro woke up that morning to the call of a guard. He immediately opened his eyes, alert, and sat up straight.

Frans was standing at the edge of the bed. Alvaro frowned, still not fully awake.

"The General wants to see you," Frans said.

Alvaro groaned at the name. He had received a message yesterday, but he really didn’t want to see that old man. And he was too lazy to explain.

"I’ll come later," he muttered, then noticed the sun beginning to rise through the window. He sighed and quickly got out of bed. His body felt extremely sore, as if he had been beaten up.

"How dare you ignore my call?" Huron’s voice thundered, followed by the general himself barging into the room, his sturdy frame filling the doorway.

Alvaro’s eyes widened as he glanced at Frans, who was just grinning. With a quiet sigh, Alvaro stood up and bowed respectfully.

"You have no idea how many troops I sent out to find you, and you just return without even seeing me." Huron’s face was flushed with anger.

Alvaro knew he should stay silent, but he couldn’t help it. "I sent a guard to tell you I was back and that I was fine."

"Is that how you show respect? Do you have no manners? Why? Didn’t want to see me?"

Alvaro bowed his head, avoiding his gaze. He shot a sharp look at Frans, wondering why the man hadn’t warned him Huron was coming to his room.

Since when was a general supposed to storm into a knight’s room. And at such an early hour?

For over half an hour, Alvaro endured Huron’s ranting. The man’s voice was so loud he was sure the guards outside could hear every word.

Finally, with heavy breathing, Huron calmed himself.

"Tell me, who took you away? I must find him. He has to be punished for daring to take a royal knight," Huron demanded.

Alvaro sighed. Even if he told the truth, Huron wouldn’t stand a chance against Vlad, not even with the entire royal guard. He didn’t want to waste time or stir up more trouble.

"He’s just an acquaintance," Alvaro replied.

"Who? Tell me. He attacked the royal guards as well. How dare he!"

Alvaro looked straight at Huron. "Shouldn’t I be asking you that, General? You were the one who planned all of this, weren’t you? You ordered the guards to trap me in the brothel. If word got out, wouldn’t that ruin your name?"

Huron froze, stunned.

"What nonsense are you saying?!"

"I know everything. If he testifies that he brought me out of the brothel, won’t that ruin your reputation? Maybe not, if I had gone there during my free time. But the truth is, you trapped me. I didn’t want to be there. He helped me," Alvaro said firmly. He would do anything to keep Vlad out of this. The last thing he wanted was for their relationship to become gossip.

Huron, who had been ranting nonstop, was suddenly silent. Alvaro didn’t dare meet his sharp gaze, which felt like it could burn straight through him.

Huron clenched his fists. Alvaro quickly looked away.

"So you really want to protect him?" Huron snapped.

Alvaro said nothing. His silence only made Huron angrier.

Still, the old man took one last look at Alvaro, checking that he was unharmed, then stomped out of the room.

As soon as he left, Alvaro let out a long breath of relief.

Frans hurried off as well.

Alvaro rubbed his face. His morning had been ruined by Huron. Then he remembered Amos. Should he report what he saw to Huron? If he did, it would definitely cause chaos.

But he couldn’t just ignore it either. And Amos was still tied up in his room. Alvaro quickly changed clothes and rushed there, making sure no one entered before him since he hadn’t locked the door.

He was so panicked he didn’t respond to anyone he passed by. His mind was fixed on Amos.

When he entered, Amos was already awake. His face was pale and he looked terrified.

Alvaro shut the door quickly and glanced around. The room was unchanged, still covered with webs of light. So it hadn’t been a dream last night. Then he looked at Amos.

There was dried blood around the knight’s neck. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel⚑fire.net

"Is there something you want to explain to me?" Alvaro asked, his sharp eyes fixed on him. It was the first time he had spoken so seriously to Amos.

"Please... let me go." Amos’s voice was weak.

Alvaro paused for a moment at the knight’s polite tone.

"I can’t guarantee you won’t attack me," Alvaro said flatly.

Amos shook his head. "I beg you, don’t tell anyone."

He looked terrified, staring intently at Alvaro.

Alvaro remained standing in the middle of the room. "First, tell me why you wanted to kill me."

Amos shook his head quickly. "I didn’t."

"You were lurking around my room. Weren’t you planning to attack me?" Alvaro pressed.

Amos shook his head again. "I didn’t intend to kill you. I... I just wanted to know if the rumor was true."

Alvaro frowned. "Rumor?"

"That you have a connection with Prince Sylas. I just... felt uneasy when I heard it. I wanted to confirm it."

Alvaro gaped. "What kind of rumor is that? Me and the Prince? Hah! And you’ve been following us all this time?" His voice rose in anger.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to hurt you. Please let me go."

Alvaro didn’t understand where the rumor had come from. But he knew he had to deal with Amos. He untied him and brought him to Sylas’s room, covering him with his knight’s cloak.

Amos didn’t resist. He was too weak, his face pale. He should at least be grateful Alvaro still covered him.

When they entered, Sylas was already sitting on the sofa, dressed for the day.

He looked at them, frowning. Something felt off.

"Good morning. The two of you seem to be getting along today."

Amos bowed his head. Alvaro greeted Sylas and pushed Amos onto the sofa.

"What happened?" Sylas asked, startled by the bindings on Amos’s hands as Alvaro removed the cloak.

Alvaro explained everything he had seen in Amos’s room. Sylas stared in disbelief. Amos? A wizard?

"You’re sure you weren’t imagining it?" Sylas asked.

Alvaro sighed. "I’m not that crazy, Your Highness."

Sylas glanced at Amos and noticed the bloodstains on his neck. "What’s wrong with him?"

Alvaro hesitated but finally explained about Vlad, how he had appeared, thinking Amos was going to kill him.

Sylas leaned back on the sofa, studying Amos, then Alvaro. He still found it hard to believe Amos was a wizard.

"Are you really a wizard?" Sylas asked.

Amos shook his head immediately. "N-no, Your Highness. I... I was only practicing spells."

Sylas narrowed his eyes. "You realize that if the Archpriest hear about this, you could be severely punished."

Amos lowered his head.

Alvaro cut in. "He didn’t just mutter spells. He can move quickly without anyone noticing. Didn’t you yesterday?"

Then Alvaro repeated what Amos had said about the rumor, and why he had been following them.

Sylas sighed. Too many problems. Too many rumors.

"Do we look like a couple?" Sylas asked.

Alvaro shrugged. "Even though I like men, I’ve never thought of you as a partner," he said honestly.

Sylas was too gentle, not challenging enough. He had never once considered him that way. To Alvaro, Sylas was just a good friend.

Sylas frowned. "Am I that bad?" He knew he wasn’t unattractive. He was considered one of the most handsome men in the kingdom, with a strong build.

Alvaro shook his head. "No. But think about it, have you ever thought about kissing me?"

Sylas recoiled. "No."

"Exactly. That’s what I mean. We’re not attracted to each other."

Sylas nodded slowly. He looked at Amos. "So you don’t need to be curious about us. You heard it yourself. He’s not even interested in me."

Alvaro frowned. "Don’t say it like that. If people hear, they’ll think I’m rejecting your love."

"I really can’t believe people fall for every rumor they hear," Alvaro muttered.

Amos stayed quiet, still looking down. He couldn’t admit that he had wanted Alvaro to suffer. Not death, but pain. Yet to his shock, Alvaro was protected by a vampire of terrifying power.

Sylas studied Amos closely, a bad thought crossing his mind.

"Are you the one behind the magic that binds His Majesty?" Sylas asked suddenly.

Amos’s face went white with fear. He hadn’t expected the question. His heart raced, his body trembling.

Images of death, his own and his mother’s, flashed before his eyes.

"Amos?" Sylas pressed.

Amos collapsed to his knees, his bound hands trembling. He bowed his head low.

"Your Highness... I truly didn’t mean to harm His Majesty. I never wanted this," Amos said in a shaking voice.

"So, you were involved?"