I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 102

Khalid’s face turned beet red. The boy thought, Ah, I’m being too greedy. A servant asking to lie in the same bed as his master. What nonsense. The hand clutching Nox’s collar trembled lightly. Nox looked down at the hand for a moment, then.

Rustle, rustle.

He took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. He lay on his side to the right of the boy, observing the boy’s flushed face. Nox honestly found it a little amusing, the way the boy’s complexion changed constantly.

“You’re still a child.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a child who needs someone to put them to sleep.” Nox said with a slight smile. Khalid wanted to argue that he wasn’t that young, but fearing Nox might leave the bed, he pulled the covers up to his nose.

Nox truly seemed intent on putting Khalid to sleep, as he gently stroked the boy’s head. Khalid tried to keep his eyes wide open, but as time passed, he couldn’t control his eyelids slowly drooping.

Nox found it amusing again, watching the boy struggle to stay awake. He was told to sleep, so why is he resisting so much? A faint laugh escaped him.

“Shh, you need to sleep.”

As Nox quietly whispered, Khalid glanced at him. Then he rubbed his head against the hand stroking his hair. Nox’s hand paused, then slowly began to move again.

The boy, who had resisted and resisted, finally fell asleep as a warm breeze blew in from outside the window. Nox gazed at the sleeping boy’s eyelids. They were shadowed beneath long, delicate eyelashes.

“My beautiful Khalid.” He whispered softly. The boy made a short, childish whimpering sound and turned to nestle into Nox’s embrace. Nox wondered if he was awake, but Khalid wasn’t the kind of boy to do that consciously. Nox hesitated for a moment, not touching Khalid who had snuggled into his arms, then with slightly trembling hands, placed a hand on the boy’s back and gently pulled him closer. The unique warmth of a child filled his embrace.

Nox quietly looked down at the boy, then gently pressed his lips to Khalid’s hair. Without a sound, very lightly. More like a fleeting touch than a kiss.

“Sleep well, Khalid.”

The boy didn’t hear the gentle words whispered to him.

Nox closed his eyes without realizing it. He still had a mountain of books to transcribe and things to read and memorize, but lying next to the quietly breathing, sleeping Khalid, he slowly felt sleep creeping over him.

Just a little, just a little sleep, and then I’ll wake up. It was an uncharacteristic thought for Nox. Perhaps it was due to the high body temperature of the child nestled in his arms.

A peaceful, serene everyday life. A time when nothing had happened. A time when they truly cherished and loved each other.

A time that would never return.

Nox opened his eyes.

***

Time, as it must, continued to flow. How long had the incense been burning in Nox’s sickroom? The weather grew progressively colder, and the gradually chilling air now heralded the arrival of full winter.

The withered leaves that had barely clung to the branches all fell, and the flowers all wilted. Snow hadn’t fallen yet, but the gray, cloud-laden imperial sky looked ready to drop snow at any moment. And beneath that sky, where everything seemed to have come to a standstill, the news the two men had been waiting for arrived.

“Nox Rainerio has opened his eyes!”

“What?”

Khalid, who had been looking at documents, sprang to his feet. He threw everything aside and dashed downstairs to head to the Imperial Palace. There was no time to change clothes or tidy his hair. He climbed into the carriage in just his shirt, despite it being winter.

And immediately set off for the Imperial Palace.

“When did he open his eyes?”

“Not long ago, Your Grace. It seems the Imperial Palace sent the message right away.”

“Nox…”

As Khalid quietly repeated his name, the aide hesitantly said, “But his condition is…”

However, Khalid cut him off, stating coldly, “I’ll go check myself.”

Khalid clenched his fists and headed towards the Imperial Palace. As soon as his carriage arrived, he practically leaped out and began striding towards the treatment room. But the closer he got to the room, the more his steps slowed.

What will I say to him, now that he’s awake? What if he immediately blames me, asking why I saved him? Realistic questions filled his mind. What words should he offer Nox?

How could he save him? What should he do? Khalid’s steps halted right in front of the treatment room. There, he saw someone else stopped in the exact same way.

It was Pheltyon, the Emperor. Amusingly, both men stood frozen for the same reason, in the same spot, bearing identical expressions. Khalid realized he must look utterly terrible. Khalid and Pheltyon exchanged glances for a moment. Their mutual fear was blatantly visible in their eyes.

“…Your Majesty.”

“Khalid.”

“If you’re not going in, please step aside.”

And there, the one who managed to muster courage first was Khalid. Because all of this had begun with him. The Emperor bit his lip tightly. Then, as if disgusted with himself, he let out a short, hollow laugh.

“…Yes.”

The word came out a little slower than his nod. Khalid slowly approached the door. And with a slightly trembling hand, he pushed it open.

Ah.

He saw Nox’s back, standing by the window. His frame, thin from lying down for so long, was enough to bring tears to Khalid’s eyes, but for him, who had caused this, to shed tears of relief here would be mockery and deceit towards Nox. Khalid somehow held back his tears.

Creak, thud.

At the sound of the door opening and closing, Nox’s head slowly turned. Khalid wondered what expression Nox would wear when he looked at him. No, he was afraid. But the expression on Nox’s face, when he finally saw it, was none of what he had expected. No resentment, sadness, or hatred. Only pure surprise.

“Khalid…?”

His voice was calm. There was no hint of resentment. Only a slight questioning. Khalid froze for a moment at that voice. He shouldn’t be calling me like this. It can’t be…

But that doubt shattered into pieces with Nox’s next words.

“Khalid, right?”

Nox’s gaze was clear. And held a faint touch of guilt. Khalid simply closed his mouth. Ah, it’s him, from back then. When he was truly my young master…

Khalid felt his brain seize up. But the look in Nox’s eyes, the neat way he called his name. All of it led him to one conclusion. Ah, he lost his memory.

Nox slowly approached Khalid and stood in front of him. He seemed to hesitate as he shifted his gaze to Khalid, then looked up at him.

“You’ve grown well.”

“…Young Mas-ter.”

“Are you still calling me that?”

‘My beautiful Khalid.’ That voice remained. Khalid instantly swallowed down the tears that welled up and met Nox’s gaze. Nox’s eyes shone darkly.

“I don’t know how much time has passed. But I’m glad you’ve grown up so well.”

His eyes held relief. Khalid pressed his lips together, unable to speak, then slowly parted them.

“…A long time has passed.”

“Yes, it seems so. Did you wait long?”

“…No.”

Khalid answered, then gritted his teeth. His mind was in a whirl. Whether Nox knew his inner turmoil or not, he calmly looked up at Khalid, repeatedly opened and closed his hand, then slowly took Khalid’s. Khalid felt his body flinch significantly.

“You don’t… resent me, do you?” His voice was utterly forlorn, as if he were the one who had done wrong.

“What…”

“For abandoning you like that, for not explaining anything… You didn’t live your life resenting me?”

At those words, Khalid unknowingly lied. There was no time to think. Just, Nox in this state now…

“No, no. Never, absolutely…”

He was somewhat relieved. Foolish, weak, cowardly Khalid. He swallowed dryly. His eyes wandered aimlessly. I lived my life resenting you, not knowing what you truly felt, and so I ended up committing an irreversible wrong.

Even you being here, lying like this, is my fault. He couldn’t bring himself to tell that to the man who was now shining dark eyes at him. It was a past he desperately wanted to hide. He even thought it was fortunate that Nox couldn’t remember. Cowardly, despicable Khalid. To such a Khalid, Nox replied,

“Really?”

Dark eyes gazed steadily up at him.

“But…”

The faint upturn of his lips looked almost twisted.

“Why did you do that to me?”

Khalid’s eyes widened.

Nox’s scream erupted.