Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Elias crouched beside the king’s wheelchair and pinned the royal brooch onto Adrien’s royal robe. His face looked calm but very serious.

Adrien looked at him, smiling occasionally. Since morning, the man had been busy taking care of him and wouldn’t let anyone else touch him. Even though he could lift Adrien’s body by himself, he still refused Gilbert’s help. Unfortunately, his strength wasn’t enough to support the king’s sturdy frame.

Adrien held Elias’s arm as he reached for something, making the man turn his head.

"That’s enough, Elias. We can go now," Adrien said. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⟡fire.net

Elias looked at Adrien and gave a slight smile. "Yes, you must go now. I’ll get ready and wait for you at the palace."

Adrien didn’t let go of Elias’s arm. He shook his head. "No, you must come with me."

Elias went silent. His eyes grew sad, and Adrien knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Come with me. You don’t have to hide anymore. Stand by my side," Adrien said softly.

Elias smiled faintly, then shook his head. "You know what that means, Your Majesty. There are too many rumors going around, and I don’t want to tarnish your name."

"Those aren’t just rumors. I’ve told you many times—you belong to me, and you deserve to be recognized."

Elias shook his head again. "I’m your servant. That’s how it will always be."

"Elias, no. Come with us. You’re my lover."

"No, Your Majesty. I must refuse once more."

Adrien was about to speak when Elias gently pulled away.

"I’ll wait for you to return," he said softly, turning around.

But Adrien’s voice stopped him. "You dare to refuse the king’s command, Elias?"

Elias lowered his head for a moment, turned back around, and smiled again. "I’d gladly die to protect your honor, Your Majesty."

Adrien clenched his fists in frustration. He knew the suffering Elias had endured because of him—the pain he bore just to protect Adrien’s name. Even now, when Adrien had power, Elias still hadn’t been able to claim the right to stand beside him as the king’s lover.

Adrien knew how people looked down on Elias because of his status. To them, Elias was nothing more than the king’s kept man.

And every time Adrien tried to officially acknowledge him, Elias reacted as if Adrien had just handed him a sword to end everything. It was deeply frustrating—but also made Adrien more obsessed with him.

Gilbert stepped forward. "It’s time, Your Majesty."

Adrien took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Then he nodded.

That afternoon was Adrien’s first appearance since being declared ill. Although his condition had been hidden for a while, the news had already spread. They couldn’t let the people continue to worry about the palace’s state—it would cause chaos and instability, and rumors would only grow worse.

Gilbert pushed Adrien into the meeting room, where Sylas and Amos were already waiting.

Sylas bowed respectfully. "Welcome, Your Majesty," he greeted formally.

Adrien looked at Sylas. His son’s face was calm, but his eyes still carried traces of resentment.

"How are you?" Adrien asked.

Sylas nodded politely. "Not bad."

"Still upset about the servant?" Adrien asked. He knew he shouldn’t bring it up again.

"I know I shouldn’t question the king’s orders. I have no right to refuse."

"Oh, come on, Sylas. You know what I mean. You should focus on your position and power now."

Sylas said nothing. His expression didn’t change.

"I will announce you as the young king. I’ve already discussed it with General Huron and Sir Morinho," Adrien said, surprising Sylas.

A young king is usually appointed when the ruling king can no longer perform his duties due to illness. But it must be done under the king’s direct order. The young king’s power is nearly equal to the king’s, though ultimate authority still lies with the king.

Sylas couldn’t understand why Adrien had to appoint him while he was still clearly capable of leading.

Adrien saw Sylas’s shock. "I know you’ve been working hard to find a powerful wizard to remove the curse from my body. But I don’t know when I’ll die. And I don’t want you to face the same struggles again. I want to secure your power before I’m gone."

Sylas stared at Adrien, feeling unsettled. "Father, you shouldn’t be talking like that."

Adrien sighed. "I can’t avoid it, Sylas. My death is coming—sooner or later. But while I’m still alive, I’ll make sure I fulfill my duties first."

Sylas looked down, feeling deeply angry at Adrien for obvious reasons. But at the same time, he loved his father deeply. He couldn’t imagine the kingdom without Adrien.

Then he wondered—could he lead the kingdom alone? Was he strong enough to take that role? Right now, just protecting one slave was overwhelming him. Could he really protect the entire kingdom?

"You don’t have another choice. Now or later, the throne will be yours. The sooner, the better," Adrien said.

Sylas finally nodded. He looked Adrien in the eye. "Whatever happens, I hope you live a long life, Father. The people need you."

Adrien smiled slightly. "You’ll be a better king than me. Make sure you have full power, so you can do whatever you want."

Sylas felt like his father was mocking him for not being able to protect Kai. But at the same time, he believed Adrien was being sincere. He’d learned the hard way—without power, he was nothing but a caged rat, ready to be crushed at any moment.

Then James, the Grand Steward, arrived to inform them that everything was ready. Security was in place. The king would appear on the balcony and later travel through the capital. Doctor Rhanda would accompany him in the carriage to ensure his condition remained stable.

Sylas was scheduled to join Adrien for a walk through the city park. Adrien insisted on it, even though the doctor advised against it. But Adrien wanted this day to be special. He knew people had come from far away, and it would be disappointing if they could only see him from the balcony.

By the end of the event, it was already nighttime. The celebration closed with a musical parade through the streets.

As Adrien hoped, everyone who attended that day would go home with a story to tell. Not just the adults—the children, too, got the chance to meet Adrien and even sit on his lap in the wheelchair.

Except for Virouse’s people, who had heard about Adrien’s plan to appoint Sylas as the young king. They were preparing to object, using Adrien’s improving health as an excuse.

But Adrien had every right to make that decision. No one could stop him.

He ordered the official announcement to be prepared as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, that night, Kai felt incredibly weak.

Darkness surrounded him. He couldn’t see a thing. A rough cloth still covered his entire head, making it hard to breathe. The air inside felt hot and thick. Each breath felt like fanning a small fire against his face.

His mouth was still gagged with a cloth tied tightly behind his head. His tongue felt dry and sore. He had no idea how long he’d been . It seemed like the execution had already passed.

Now and then, he heard people talking nearby. Then silence again. They always left.

He’d tried to move several times, but no one noticed. There was no sign that this would end anytime soon. Was this how he would die?

His stomach ached. The last thing he’d eaten was the prison porridge. His body was hot and trembling. It got worse when he realized he couldn’t feel his hands or feet anymore. They were still tightly bound. Pain and soreness burned through his whole body, especially his shoulders.

In the silence, only one thought stayed in his mind: Sylas.

Did his master know he was still alive?