Gossip filled the hall during the hosts’ momentary absence.

  Many sympathized with Kani’s situation, especially his godmothers trying to protect him even now. They clearly expressed their concerns and disdain about how Liafor treated Kani and yet it fell to deaf ears every time. Two of them spat profanities at the Liafor’s mistress decades ago, clearly angered by what happened to their dear friend Mapiya and their hatred still lived to this day.

  “I think I missed something. I’m too te, aren’t I?” asked the blond woman who just entered the hall.

  Everyone turned their heads towards the te guest and most men swallowed the lumps in their throats seeing the beauty traipsing the red carpet with regality and poise.

  Her shining blond hair nearly as pale as her skin gleamed as she walked under the light and her stunning off-shoulder dress highlighted her perfect colrbones and curvaceous figure. The tiara, most of them noticed, denoted her status.

  “A pleasant evening to you, Lady Kaho,” the Ramayans and other nobles of Deorya greeted her.

  The guests from Shimhazril raised amused eyebrows at the address. Most of them eyed her with intent, strategizing on how to speak with her privately.

  “You are really uptight,” she remarked then chuckled. “Her Imperial Highness Belle couldn’t attend and sent me in her stead but seeing how the hosts seemed absent—”

  “Lady Kaho,” saluted Fergus Liafor who arrived timely.

  She smiled in recognition. “It’s been a while, Master Liafor. And congratutions! How are you?”

  “Good, I suppose. Please send my regards to Her Imperial Highness. Without her guidance, we’re not here right now.”

  She put a hand on her chest, touched by his words. “I will rey your words to my master.”

  Fergus Liafor then excused himself and attended to his guests while Kaho snickered. Just by his demeanor alone, something must have happened before her arrival.

  To be honest, Her Imperial Highness Belle only gave them advice and now they felt indebted to her, even vying for her attention by inviting her to these sorts of banquets. Timely enough, the said imperial was swamped with work and had every reason not to attend and sent her Ryhtier Kaho instead.

  Lady Kaho then stood there with a gss of wine in her hand as the other guests flocked around her. During the conversation, the attendees informed her about what happened earlier.

  “Absolutely! The blond man struck the floor with lightning!”

  “Anyone can tell he’s furious about what happened.”

  Blond man? Lightning? Lady Kaho wondered.

  “Master Kani pcated him and they immediately left after what happened.”

  “That’s right. I really hated the mistress since then! How dare she do that to Master Kani!”

  Another muttered as she gnced at one corner, “The elven women at the side are cursing her to the moon.”

  “Oh, those elves? They were once companions of Madam Mapiya. I understand their woes and sympathize with Master Kani.”

  Lady Kaho listened to the gossip intently. As she’s about to pick a delicacy from the table, she heard a certain conversation not far from her.

  “Who do you think Master Kani’s bodyguard is?”

  She subtly looked where the voice came from and noticed the group of Ramayans huddling together while whispering among themselves. The others in the said circle drank from their gsses without a care in the world but their eyes said otherwise.

  If the said Master Kani’s bodyguard is blond and wields lightning magic, only one person comes to mind.

  “It’s a shadow, I tell you.”

  Lady Kaho froze on her spot hearing it.

  Everyone followed an unspoken rule when it came to a shadow—no Ramayan dare go against them.

  While a part of the imperial family, they mostly hailed from the st regime and fought during the Ramayan Civil War. Also, with their unique disposition and involvement in the previous war, they stirred away from the influence of the nobles as much as possible. Aside from having the role of keeping peace around the Ramayan Continent and the vassal states under their jurisdiction with their imperial authority, they also acted as protectors of the current reigning imperials while in the shadows, hence the epithet.

  One of them broke the silence with the words, “Ah, and once a Ramayan has their interest piqued, they will stick to it until they either get bored or die.”

  “In this case…” However, the following words remained unspoken.

  They looked around anxiously and noticed Master Liafor’s obliviousness about whom they offended.

  “With how they treated Master Kani, they will definitely incur the wrath of the shadow.”

  “They definitely will,” the others agreed and dropped the subject.

  Lady Kaho ate the delicacy slowly, bothered by what she learned.

  Damn it, Karel. What did you do?

  Tense silence repced the atmosphere between the two men when they exited the banquet hall. Karel never let go of the master’s hand until they boarded the ship back to Astadvran.

  Kani also found himself helpless about their situation and the silent treatment went on for weeks until their arrival in Norn.

  Cashile, finding the timing right, also confronted his master about the letters a week after their arrival. “I should have told you about it beforehand, Master.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just do your work and leave that matter to me.”

  “If you say so, Master.”

  When Karel stayed in his office during the nth day of uncomfortable silence, Kani gathered his courage to confront him ter that night.

  “According to Cashile, you’ve been receiving the letters for me. That’s not your job.”

  He abruptly closed the book in his hand. “And what should be my job?”

  “To protect me.”

  He put down the book on the nearby table. “I am protecting you.”

  Kani frowned. “That you end up doing this?”

  “Why?”

  He scrunched his nose. “What do you mean why?”

  “Why would you continue to keep in touch with them if they’re clearly hostile to you? They even insulted you right in my face and if—”

  Kani smmed his fist onto the table and it cracked, a dent appeared and splinters erupted from it. “Karel! Know your boundaries!”

  The crimson eyes’ flickered between surprise and concern since Kani never raised his voice over anyone, not to his servants and workers, not even to him.

  Kani realized his tone and his figure wobbled a little. “Please… just—”

  Karel’s voice went an octave lower, “Boundaries? I stepped on them a long time ago, Kani, just because I wanted you to be safe! I care, that’s why I’m doing this!”

  Kani heaved his breaths, eyes widened at the revetion. “You…”

  Karel stared at him, clearly hurt about what’s happening before he abruptly stood up from his seat, chair scratched loudly against the floor, and walked away. “I’ll be leaving.”

  No! Don’t!

  The master also stood up, panicking at the sight of his leaving figure. “Wait, Karel! I didn’t mean to—”

  “Goodnight.”

  When the door closed with a bang, Kani sat down on his chair, exhausted.

  He cares. He had always cared.

  Memories of their travels for the past six years fshed in his mind. Every time, the blond assured he always remained safe and comfortable.

  He hung his head low and pulled his ear ornaments off.

  As seconds passed, frustration continually bubbled inside of him while tears slowly brimmed in his eyes.

  Kani id down on his bed for hours and sleep never came. In the wee hours of the next morning, the familiar blond returned, the hushed voice filling in the silence, “You’re not asleep yet?”

  “I…” he choked out with his raspy voice, “I am waiting for you.”

  Amber met crimson; through their eyes alone, it conveyed more than what they had spoken a few hours ago.

  In the end, Karel resigned to his fate and joined him in bed. He pulled the brunet closer to himself and hummed a lulby.

  Kani closed his tearstained eyes, lulled by the calming baritone of his voice. The familiar scent flooded his nose, a comfortable warmth embraced him and at this moment, he saw no point in denying it.

  I’m fucked.