Due to Kani’s elven blood aided by Karel’s healing magic, his wounds fully recovered within a week. He looked at himself in the mirror with a hand on his abdomen and felt no scars at where they stabbed him.

  “What do you want to do now?” Karel asked.

  Kani gnced at him through the mirror and slowly dressed up while pondering about his answer.

  More than half of the remaining employees finally left the estate. Only the head maid Hendrika alongside eight others continued their service.

  “I suggest you leave this pce. Go elsewhere and start anew. Leave that Trojka-forsaken family for your own safety,” he said, nearly growling in anger at those st words.

  The brunet sighed, also saddened by what happened. Who would have thought that Cashile, his aide and business partner for years, would do something like that? Not even him, to be honest.

  “Think over what you will do. When you fully recover, we should leave Norn and settle elsewhere.”

  The same thought also crossed his mind. His own assistant put him in peril and staying in a pce where his family had an influence could be a threat to his safety.

  “I will keep that in mind.”

  Karel walked towards him, abruptly circled his arms on his torso, caging him in a warm embrace, and rested his head on his shoulder. Kani held onto the arms embracing him and tears pricked at his eyes.

  He whispered in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Karel.”

  Those strong arms held him tighter. “No matter what, I will always be here. So, don’t worry that much. Stay happy by my side, master. That’s all I ask.”

  Kani clutched onto his arms and sobbed, tears falling down the floor.

  What did I do in my st life to have someone like you by my side now?

  Kani bought a smaller mansion in Weissdel, also near two of his physical stores and stayed for a few months after the incident. Within those months, he and Karel went through the documents of his businesses.

  Shirazi was a lost cause and Penzak’s economy slowly yet steadily recovered from the sudden plummet of their economy. It was affected by the presence of the brigands, which the Temple found out they resided in the said kingdom. Fabric and textiles for Piaten remained his top grossing business and his stores in the Eastern States thrived even more.

  “The estate is finally sold. What do we do with the money?”

  Kani looked at the yellowed and ragged folder at the bottom of the piles of documents. It contained personal files he never touched again since his departure from Deorya.

  He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll use it for something else. I might need to settle elsewhere, an isnd perhaps.”

  “An isnd, huh…”

  The isnd he mentioned was located among the Southern Isnds. Although small in nd area compared to the other ones his family owned, it possessed fertile nd, a short ridge of mountains and rich forests. During his coming-of-age, he received it as a gift from his paternal grandfather and they named it after his deceased mother Mapiya.

  He gnced at the folder again, thinking of it as a st resort.

  “What would you do with that isnd then?”

  “I don’t know.” He sighed and discarded his pen on the side. “Live in it? Although, I’d be doing everything alone.”

  Karel hummed, returning to quietly reviewing the documents on his desk.

  Kani only told him little details about his life in the Liafor. He never told him about how his mother died, but only about how his father became sick and addled when the mistress became a part of his family. His grandmother secretly abhorred him, and his grandfather, the only one left as his ally, long perished.

  The blond quietly observed his master.

  Kani would live beyond the human lifespan; he also possessed an incomparable beauty and knowledgeable about most things. Despite being different from the others, he proved himself to be an honest and humble man throughout their years together.

  Just what life did you lead then, Kani? I want to know more about you. But… Am I allowed to?

  “Say, Kani,” the other man turned to him, “what do you think of nurturing the isnd? I’ll bring you capable people to help you.”

  Kani gaped. “And where will you find people?”

  “I love traveling. Isn’t that why I decided to join you?”

  Kani sighed and shook his head. “I’m afraid I have too little as of now. You know what Cashile did.”

  The report about Shirazi seizing his assets in the said kingdom was a scheme in which Cashile cooperated.

  Karel frowned, remembering the assistant. “Leave it to me. After all, I decided to share the burdens with you.”

  Why are you doing things to such an extent? For me, even?

  After Kani settled the matters in Weissdel, he finally brought the legal papers of the isnd to the imperial office in Deorya.

  Once the highest official in Deorya granted him an audience, the familiar blond’s figure standing beside the said master confused him.

  Karel stood near Kani while the tter conversed with the official regarding his concerns. After coming to an agreement, the real problem arose.

  “Master Kani? You have complete papers but…” the official gnced at the blond man before continuing his words, “a few years back, the imperial court amended the ws about owning a property and registering it here.”

  “And that is?”

  “Properties like nd the size of a town or rger, artificial nds, even isnds… it is required to register someone besides yourself to be also the lord of the isnd. Since you’re unmarried, you can choose someone to be a co-owner. A trusted companion is also accepted.”

  “How about a family member?”

  “Only the immediate ones.”

  Kani scrunched his nose, feeling an incoming ache. His mother died early and his father… His head ached more at the thought of him.

  “Kani, let me sign—”

  The official gasped as reaction to his words and covered his mouth, gncing away. Kani looked at the official in surprise then looked at the blond in askance.

  Karel furrowed his eyebrows. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  Kani swallowed hearing his stern tone.

  “C’mon now. I’ve been your companion for years.”

  “Must I warn you that being in an official position and having an asset outside the empire will have consequences, Your Highness!” the official voiced out in concern.

  Kani’s eyes widened hearing the official address of the official towards Karel. He knew about his connections to the imperials but to be called such?

  Karel let go of his fa?ade as he stood near the official. “Is that a new w?”

  The official shrank back as he meekly replied, “An unspoken w, Your Highness.”

  “I will only follow the official ws written and approved by the court.” He gestured for the official to hand him the legal paper, procured a pen out of nowhere and signed it with his elegant signature. “Now, it’s done. Can we go now?”

  “Why did he call you Your Highness?”

  “So, that’s what’s bothering you.”

  Kani glowered.

  “I never kept my identity from you. I am a Ramayan from a ducal house and had the privilege to be called such because of my contributions and as a distant retive of the imperials.”

  “I understand.”

  “Don’t overthink, Kani.” Karel remarked as his hand held the brunet’s back. “You said it yourself, whether I’m a prince or not, we’re bound by the contract as Kani and Karel.”

  That’s right. So, why am I getting worked up?