I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 107

The man joked, though his tone was anything but. Nox quietly watched him. He seemed calm and indifferent, yet his words were utterly unlike a noble’s. That is, considering what he said, he was a noble. And a common, fallen noble at that.

“I’ll make sure you get one when our conversation is over.”

“That’s very kind of you to say.”

The man seemed to have no pride. Which also meant he wasn’t in a situation to maintain it. Still, it couldn’t have been easy to humble himself. It probably meant he had been living like this for quite some time.

“How long have you been working?”

“Not long. About three months? My family’s circumstances worsened.”

“You speak quite freely to strangers.”

“Well, we’re not likely to meet again anyway, are we?”

Esterion said this, then emptied the rest of his beer in one gulp. Nox, who had no intention of drinking his own beer, slid his glass toward him. Esterion didn’t decline.

Nox tried to recall the name Esterion Launder, the Launder surname. Nothing specific came to mind, which suggested it was a humble family. The faint memory that surfaced was only that they were a barony.

“Are there more reasons for your circumstances to worsen?”

“Many. Especially if there’s someone sick in the family.”

“Oh, dear.” Nox offered a perfunctory condolence, and the man responded by downing Nox’s share of beer. The man didn’t offer information he wasn’t asked for, but he answered every question.

Around that time, the pub owner brought out a dish. It looked like chicken steamed in an oven, with oil dripping from its surface. The color was dark, and it smelled gamey. Nox didn’t feel particularly hungry, but Esterion Launder casually tore off a leg.

“There must be better jobs than this.”

“I borrowed so much money that nobles won’t even hire me now.”

“Since you can read and write, that would be better than manual labor.”

“That’s true, but the cost of paper and ink for transcribing isn’t free.”

“It seems the patient requires considerable funds.”

“…Well, yes.”

Esterion chewed and swallowed the tough meat. “If only I could solve the medicine cost, I’d do anything.”

That statement carried considerable weight. Just seeing him, a noble, working like a commoner, suggested he would indeed do anything. Nox straightened his back, sitting upright, and quietly watched the man roughly chew the tough meat.

“How much education did you receive?”

“How much education, you ask…” The man stopped chewing the chicken and rolled his eyes. “My family’s circumstances were fine until I became an adult. That is, until my father failed in business and committed suicide.”

“So, you received a basic education, then?”

“Yes. You seem to be trying to arrange a job for me, but please don’t bother. The Via family wouldn’t even hire me.” Honestly, I went to that party to borrow money, you know. The man said dispassionately.

“It seems news travels slowly to you.”

“When you live among commoners, you tend not to hear about what goes on among nobles.”

“That’s why I’m asking…” Nox gave a faint smile. “Is what you said about doing anything if the medicine cost is covered true?”

Esterion Launder squinted one eye. Nox found his expression quite amusing. For the first time in a very long while.

“Come find the Rainerio family.”

“The Rainerio family, you say…” It was clear from his expression that the words “But they’re a ruined family” were about to escape his throat. Nox, leaving him in his state of bewilderment, rose from his seat, making the old chair creak.

“Just listen closely, and you’ll understand.”

Thud.

Nox tore off a gold button from his opposite sleeve and placed it on the table. Esterion’s gaze, roll, fixed on the button.

“It’s good if you remember it, and it’s fine if you just let it go.”

Nox left the pub, abandoning the words he’d just spoken. The knight, who had been haphazardly eating whatever was served, hastily chugged his beer and scurried out after Nox. By then, the snow had stopped. Nox slowly walked back to where the carriage had been waiting. The snow had ceased, but the air was still bitingly cold.

“Let’s go back,” he said, climbing into the carriage. The knight relayed the order to the coachman. At the sound of the whip, Nox flinched and stiffened his shoulders. But he pretended nothing was amiss, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

The carriage soon arrived in front of the mansion. As he stepped out, he saw someone standing guard at the entrance. It was Khalid.

Nox glanced at him. Their gazes met. Khalid’s blue eyes couldn’t meet Nox’s directly, hovering instead around his lips. Nox walked past him, pretending not to notice. When Nox had walked about five steps past him, Khalid spoke.

“…I thought you might not come back.”

Nox stopped dead in his tracks. “I did consider it once.”

At his words, Khalid turned around.

“Run away, perhaps. After all, you no longer have the authority to drag me back and keep me by your side.” Nox’s words were barbed. “But I saw no need for it.”

At Nox’s statement, Khalid took a step closer.

Nox turned around and moved forward. Unlike Khalid, who had only managed a single step, Nox approached him with ease, reaching out a hand. His cold hand touched Khalid’s cheek. Nox, with the tip of his finger, traced his cheek, tickling him, then whispered, “Because now you mean nothing to me.”

“…”

“From now on, you won’t be able to lay a finger on me as you please.” Nox whispered cruelly. “If you didn’t want to hear this, you should have just let me die.”

Khalid’s expression cracked. It should have felt gratifying, but Nox felt no such satisfaction, so he soon turned and went back to his room.

In the center of the hall, only Khalid remained, standing as if abandoned by Nox. Khalid’s breath, too, chilled and settled with the air coming from the open door.

***

Three months that was how long it took Nox to recover.
The Emperor had kept a close eye on his condition, checking in regularly. It was just a week ago that he officially scheduled Nox’s reinstatement. Which meant… today was the day.

It was only after Nox insisted the event be arranged as soon as possible that the Emperor expedited the process, pulling the timeline forward again and again.

Throughout his recovery, Nox’s body changed rapidly, forcing them to constantly reward him for clothing. Since he had already agreed to return to his position, he didn’t resist Khalid’s requests and cooperated with the fittings and tailoring. He couldn’t even remember how many times his measurements had changed. Now, at last, he was just barely capable of functioning at a level close to his old self. He still had a long way to go for a full recovery, but considering everything, regaining this much in just three months was a feat in itself.

“Your measurements have increased a lot,” Khalid remarked as Nox slipped on the newly tailored garments.

Nox didn’t respond. The fact that Khalid was suddenly acting concerned for his health was more laughable than anything. If he had truly cared, he should have done so long before now.

Still, he didn’t let any of that show on his face. Nox had no intention of revealing any emotion to him not now, not ever. Emotions, after all, were things you passed on to others, whether they were positive or negative.

And Nox didn’t want to give Khalid anything.

Instead, he looked into the mirror for a moment. His bare torso, briefly exposed during the change, was painfully thin compared to before. Thankfully, his natural frame kept him from appearing skeletal, but it was still unpleasant to see. He frowned and rotated his wrist a few times before dropping his hand.

“If that’s everything, I’ll return to my room until the banquet begins.”

At that, Khalid spoke hesitantly.

“…You don’t have to use honorifics. You’re being reinstated soon anyway.”

“No. Rules are rules. I’ll maintain this status until the reinstatement is official. It won’t be long now, so don’t be uncomfortable.”

Khalid bit his lip at Nox’s unyielding attitude. No matter what he said, Nox refused to accept anything from him. Khalid had believed that once Nox woke up, he could finally give him something. But Nox didn’t want any of it. And of course, Khalid couldn’t force it on him either. It ate away at him.

And Nox knew it.

He looked down at the fabric and embroidery of the clothes; everything was lavish and finely made. Just like the clothes he used to wear. Yet he felt no joy, not even the faintest flicker.

Perhaps it was because he knew he could never truly return to the place he once stood. The Emperor’s and the Duke’s sex slave. There wasn’t a noble in the empire who hadn’t heard the phrase.

Still, Nox accepted the reinstatement.

No one knew what he was thinking. It didn’t matter if they did. No one could stop him anyway.

As he finished dressing and forced himself into a presentable state, the sharp line of his jaw looked more pronounced than ever. Khalid stared at it for a moment before breaking the silence.

“The banquet… I hope it didn’t come too suddenly for you.”

“Is there any point in asking that now?”

“…His Majesty seems eager for everyone to know of your reinstatement.”

Nox let out a soft, involuntary scoff. Khalid didn’t comment on it.

To receive a title once again from the very Emperor who had toyed with him in front of everyone… It was nothing short of a farce. A performance for the court.

But perhaps, if it brought him closer to what he truly wanted, it was the lesser evil.

“…Are you feeling alright?”

“Whether I am or not doesn’t matter. This is something that must happen.”

The conversation between Nox and Khalid was bare stripped down to the most necessary of exchanges. Khalid tried, again and again, to say something meaningful. But Nox had no intention of listening.

Wearing a set of clothes that failed to move him, exchanging words with a man who moved him even less, it was exhausting. He found himself wishing the banquet would begin already, just to get it over with.

“If anything’s uncomfortable, let me know,” Khalid said once more.

Nox didn’t answer this time either. When he closed his mouth, Khalid fell silent as well, unable to force the conversation any further. Good, Nox thought. This is better. He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.

Time passed relentlessly.

When he opened them again, it was time to leave for the palace.

Nox stood and said quietly,
“Give His Majesty a message. Make sure the Duke hears it, too.”

“…What is it?”

“After the banquet begins…”
No matter what happens do not interfere.