I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 100

“I never thought I’d see you here either,” Khalid replied in a low, blunt voice. A slight pause indicated his surprise. Maeta seemed to be struggling to compose herself at the sudden appearance of Khalid.

“Oh, my head. C-come in! I’ll get you some tea. What brings you out on a rainy day like this?” Maeta, trying to hide the cooking utensil she held, awkwardly pulled him inside. She sat him down on a low chair, not quite fitting his height, and then returned to the kitchen, making clattering noises. Khalid sat uncomfortably, watching her.

She hadn’t changed much, likely due to her age even back then. He, on the other hand, had changed a great deal. It was natural she didn’t recognize him.

Maeta rustled around in the kitchen for a bit longer before bringing out two wooden cups of tea.

“I’m surprised you’ve grown so well. What brings you to a remote village like this?”

“I heard there was a famous herbalist.”

Khalid spoke casually, the informal address now natural to him, and Maeta fiddled with her wooden cup for a moment. She noticed that the clothes he wore were all exceptionally high-quality.

Maeta shrewdly pretended not to notice. “Ah… You mean Old Woman Dota? She’s asleep for the night. She won’t wake until five in the morning.”

“I’ll wait.”

“You’ll wait? Is it that urgent?”

Khalid just nodded without elaborating. Maeta looked a little troubled but ultimately yielded to old affections.

“Then will you leave right after seeing her tomorrow morning?”

“Yes.”

Maeta offered him a blanket, but Khalid took it and placed it on another chair. The bonfire was burning warmly, so it didn’t seem necessary.

He was surprised to find Maeta here, having come in search of a famous herbalist. It felt as if she had been prepared, as if he was meant to meet her.

Khalid wasn’t usually interested in others. But here, he felt compelled to ask. So he asked Maeta, “How did you end up here?”

“Hmm…” She smiled bitterly. Maeta currently didn’t know that Khalid was a duke. Of course, people in rural villages like this rarely heard outside news.

“After the Rainerio family fell, the servants scattered and ran away. And I was one of them.” Maeta had lived a dead-like existence since arriving in this village. If it weren’t for Old Woman Dota, who seemed gruff but was kind at heart, she wouldn’t have been able to settle in this village.

She seemed relieved to be telling a story she had kept hidden until now. “Even when she was angry and abusive due to her illness, she always made sure to do what she had to.”

“…Was she?” Khalid thought of Nox’s mother, Olga. A face similar to Nox’s, but a completely different temperament. All that remained in his memory were those cold, dark green eyes that looked down on him when she whipped him. Maeta, sensing something from Khalid’s silence, quickly said, “I… I spoke without thinking. Yes, those memories probably aren’t good for you either.”

“…” Khalid remained silent, and Maeta hesitated for a moment before asking him, “So, have you been well?”

“If you say well, then yes, and if not, then no.”

“Yes, you must have suffered in your own way. Right now… I don’t know what you’re doing, but it seems you’re in a good place.”

At her words, Khalid smiled sardonically to himself. Then Maeta said something that Khalid didn’t expect.

“The young master looked for you once, but he couldn’t find you at all. Did you become a knight? I thought you might be serving as a servant in some distant noble family with the letter of recommendation the young master gave you.”

“Wait.”

Khalid cut her off. Some of her words were incomprehensible.

“Nox looked for me?”

“Huh?”

“He wrote a letter of recommendation?”

“H-Khalid. Nox, you mean…”

“I asked what you meant.” He growled slowly.

“W-well, you wouldn’t know. But about a year after you were thrown out like that, he looked for you. Of course…” Maeta’s expression darkened with her answer. “He was whipped when the mistress found out…”

“Whipped?”

“What should I say…” Maeta looked at Khalid, unsure where to begin. Khalid’s eyes were wide, and he clutched his cup tightly. His trembling hand looked like it could crush the wooden mug at any moment.

“Khalid, you had a special relationship with the young master, didn’t you?”

“…”

“…You don’t have to lie. Everyone knew back then that the young master was giving you special treatment.”

“Yes.” Khalid readily admitted it. Back then, the two of them genuinely cared for each other in a pure way.

“The mistress found out.” Maeta slowly and clearly recounted a distant, old story. Old stories he should have known long ago. “The mistress couldn’t bear the fact that both her disgusting husband and her cherished child were infatuated with you.”

Maeta clasped her hands neatly in her lap and looked at Khalid. “Amidst that, the young master tried to get you out of the Duke’s grasp. Although his method wasn’t a good one…” Maeta squeezed her hands tightly in her lap. “The mistress wouldn’t have interfered with the young master’s plan. If things had gone the young master’s way, you wouldn’t have been so miserably thrown out.”

Of course, the young master did end up throwing you out, but he didn’t want such a tragedy, Maeta added. Yet, Khalid understood less than half of what she was saying.

“…That is.”

What is she talking about? Nox threw me out for that reason? Me being thrown out like a rag wasn’t Nox’s will?

And, that he was whipped just as badly for trying to find him. Khalid’s wide eyes began to shake violently, like a ship caught in a storm.

“I have no right to say anything to you. I couldn’t say a word when you were driven out.” Maeta said with a sorrowful look. “But don’t hate the young master too much. Back then, the young master was too young. Though that may not comfort you.”

“…” Khalid couldn’t say anything. He just stared blankly at the floor. He felt as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have. He bit his lip. His mind felt rigidly frozen, as if he didn’t want to process the thoughts.

Nox cast him out to get him out of the Duke Rainerio’s clutches. That single fact made his head reel.

He was only just learning today that Olga had interfered and brought him to that state, and that Nox had tried to find him again.

It felt as if someone had hit him hard on the head.

“Nox looked for me…”

And then his entire head grew hot at the thought that Nox had been whipped until his precious body bore lash marks.

Then, at some point, his head cooled as if doused with ice water. He himself had also whipped that precious body. Finally, he held his breath and covered his eyes with one hand.

Maeta, interpreting his gesture in some way, fiddled with her clenched fists and spoke to him.

“Young master, is Nox… perhaps dead?”

“He…”

He survived there, but ultimately he threw himself away. Khalid opened his mouth, then closed it again. What kind of life Nox had lived. What he had endured under Khalid’s hand. Khalid had no words he could possibly convey. So he clenched his hands tightly on his knees.

“…Indeed, you wouldn’t know the details either. I’m sorry.”

“…”

Khalid silently rose from his seat, and Maeta looked up at him. “Where are you going?”

“…Just to clear my head for a bit.”

“Alright, you must have a lot on your mind. I’ll brew fresh tea. Go on.”

Creak, Khalid opened the old wooden door and stepped outside. Despite the rain and cold wind, his forehead was burning.

Nox, Nox Rainerio. How many times have you done things for me, moved for me? And why did I know nothing of it?

He stood for a long time in the pouring rain. His head refused to cool down.

‘My pretty Khalid.’

He could almost see a young Nox reaching out, calling him.

The harsh words Nox had uttered at the end, too, were ultimately for Khalid’s sake, and that realization tore at his gut.

He couldn’t imagine what Nox must have felt when he said those words. Why had Khalid been so consumed by his own emotions then that he failed to truly see Nox’s expression?

Nox Rainerio wasn’t good at lying. If he didn’t want to answer, he would remain stubbornly expressionless, but he wasn’t someone who forced out lies.

Khalid had thought he knew Nox best then, and the realization that he didn’t choke him.

Khalid began to retrace everything he had done to Nox. And the more he recalled, the more his face twisted in despair.

He knelt in the rain, bowing his head deeply. His hair fell to the side, dripping water.

“Nox…”

It’s too late, but please, just give me one more chance. He prayed to the heavens. For Nox to open his eyes. And even if Nox raged at him like fire, he could kneel and beg for forgiveness.

He desperately wanted Nox to open his eyes. He begged and begged for Nox to show him those dark, scarred eyes again, even if it was to curse and despise him.

He didn’t know how terrible it would be for Nox Rainerio. How much it would mean for him to open his eyes again…