Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Kai’s attention was already on the raindrops falling to the ground. The smell of earth drifted up. It felt like the first time he could watch the rain without worrying about moving his bed. In Omino, some of the barracks were old and the roofs often leaked. During the rainy season or winter, they suffered a lot.

He looked up at the porch ceiling. It was sturdy and beautiful, strong enough to protect many people at once.

Kai glanced at Amos, not realizing his steps had slowed. He quickly sped up again, dragging his feet.

Amos didn’t seem to mind walking slowly. He didn’t speed up, only glancing back now and then to make sure the slave was still behind him.

Kai lowered his head, watching Amos’s cloak flutter in the wind. The source of thɪs content is Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

At that moment, a guard shouted.

Amos immediately turned.

The guard ran toward them. "Prince Sylas is looking for you! Hurry back!"

Amos nodded quickly. He looked panicked, then glanced at Kai.

Kai stood still, startled when Amos lifted him onto his shoulders again.

He held his breath as the knight moved swiftly through the corridor. His stomach hurt, and he almost threw up.

When they reached Sylas’s room, Amos carefully set Kai down on the floor and bowed to Sylas, who stood anxiously by the balcony door.

Sylas looked relieved to see them.

"Oh, thank goodness you’re here. It’s raining outside. I thought you’d gone somewhere," Sylas said, hiding the real reason for his worry.

The palace atmosphere was tense, and he feared something might have happened to Kai, like what happened to the dead servants.

Amos glanced at the open balcony, where a few drops of rain were falling onto the floor. He quickly shut the door.

Sylas smiled. "Thank you, Amos. Go rest, I won’t be going anywhere tonight," he said.

Amos bowed again and looked around.

"Good night, Your Highness." Then he dashed out.

Sylas told the guards to leave as well.

Kai stood in the middle of the room, staring at Sylas, who was now watching him in silence.

Sylas looked him over from head to toe. The shoes he had given Kai were a little wet and dirty. Then he noticed the slave’s clothes were more disheveled than before, and one button was undone.

Sylas pulled Kai closer and fixed his clothes.

"Where have you been?" Sylas asked.

Kai looked at him and bowed his head, noticing the prince’s gentle hands as he fastened the button.

"Did you enjoy it?" Sylas asked again when Kai stayed quiet.

Kai smiled slightly. Aside from what Amos had done earlier, he had enjoyed the walk. He still didn’t understand why Sylas had sent him with that knight, but Amos hadn’t forced him or hurt him. In fact, the knight had been patient, waiting for him to walk.

"You seem to have enjoyed it," Sylas said with a smile, relieved to see the small smile on Kai’s lips.

"Did you get wet?" Sylas asked, brushing Kai’s hair. It was dry.

Kai shook his head. Amos had carried him away so quickly that the rain hadn’t even touched him. He could still feel the strength of the knight’s grip, the sudden lift that had stolen his breath. The memory left his stomach tight, but also strangely warm, as if the sensation lingered in his skin.

"Come here," Sylas said. He had been the one to ask Amos to take Kai for a walk, but afterward he’d worried, especially when the rain started.

The damp air, mixed with the earthy scent of rain, made the moment feel peaceful. Sylas was caught up in the mood.

He imagined Kai living in a school dormitory, joining the other students. The boy would probably like it and make many friends.

"Kai, try counting," Sylas said, holding out both hands.

Kai looked at Sylas’s hands from right to left, then left to right. There were a lot of fingers.

But he managed to count up to five, then stopped.

Sylas studied Kai’s anxious expression. He just smiled gently. It seemed it would take time for the boy to learn basic knowledge.

Still, Sylas was impressed that Kai remembered all the letters, even if he had trouble writing them on paper.

"Don’t worry. You’ll learn a lot in the future. I hope you study hard. It will be useful for you later," Sylas said.

Kai stared at him intently.

Sylas went on. "For next few days, you’ll stay here. In a week, if everything goes well, James will find an empty room for you. You’ll go to school with a good teacher."

Kai imagined what "school" meant, probably a cruel trainer with a whip, and long hours of sitting on the ground until his legs went numb. Like in Omino.

He lowered his head. He had no pleasant memories of learning. Everything he remembered felt like torture. But if Sylas wanted it, he would do it.

Kai looked up and smiled slightly.

Sylas stared back, unblinking. Kai’s face seemed completely different when he smiled, bright and beautiful, with his cheeks slightly puffed.

Outside, the rain still fell, and thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.

For some reason, Sylas leaned forward and placed a small kiss on Kai’s cheek. He did it consciously, savoring the faint sweet scent from the nape of Kai’s neck.

Kai was surprised but didn’t move. His heart pounded wildly. The kiss was brief but gentle, sending shivers down his spine.

He wanted it again. On his lips. He stared at Sylas’s soft lips, imagining them pressed against his own.

Maybe soon. Usually, the master would remove his clothes and ask him to serve him. Then Kai could kiss him. For the first time, he was waiting for it to happen.

But Sylas simply told him to sleep.

Just a kiss on the cheek.

Kai was confused. He had never learned anything in Omino. It left him feeling lost. What did Sylas really want?

Still, Kai obeyed. He walked toward the bathroom.

"No! Go to bed! And don’t get naked!" Sylas ordered.