I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 114

Launder thought Nox’s lips, pressing against his own, felt hot. Was his body temperature high? No, it was just how he perceived it. Launder pulled his flushed lips away and quickly exited the Emperor’s reception room with Jemeil. He covered his mouth, walking briskly. Jemeil, still not comprehending the situation, trotted behind him. Launder had walked a considerable distance before realizing his pace was too fast for a sixteen-year-old and slowly stopped.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. Let’s just go quickly. I want to get out of here.”

Jemeil seemed terrified. It was understandable, given that the Emperor had killed his entire family. Launder nodded and began to guide the boy to the carriage. At that moment, the Emperor’s reception room was engulfed in silence. Only Nox acted as if nothing had happened. He sat back down, still smiling. The Emperor’s shocked expression sent a prickle through his fingertips. Ah, and all that just from showing this one thing.

“Pardon my brief absence.”

“…Just now.”

Did he just kiss him? Feltion began to speak, his face wanting to confirm what he had just witnessed. But he couldn’t bring himself to ask, swallowing his words instead. Nox replied nonchalantly, “Yes.”

“…Duke Rainerio.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…You…”

“Why do you ask?” Nox rested his elbow on the armrest, propping his chin on the back of his hand. “Do you think I can’t have a lover?” Nox’s eyebrow furrowed. “As high society claims, there might be too much, but one is certainly not difficult for me.”

It was a reprimand, implying, What have you been doing while rumors about me spread? The Emperor’s mouth snapped shut. Feltion, perhaps too stunned by seeing him kiss someone else, remained speechless for a while. Meanwhile, Nox brought the now lukewarm tea to his lips. Tasting the unnecessarily sweet tea, Nox thought,

‘How useless.’

The tea, and him.

Nox set down the teacup. Feltion’s eyes twitched slightly. For Nox, it was simply preposterous. They were the ones who had defiled him. If they hadn’t treated him that way, he would never have even considered kissing someone he barely knew, especially a man. But Nox knew. Kissing this man he barely knew would be the greatest provocation for Feltion.

‘This is far better than them looking at me with dirty intentions.’

What exactly had they expected from him to look at him like that? Did they think reinstating him would earn their gratitude? That he’d become their loyal servant in return? Or did they expect tears of joy to fall from his eyes?

Nox shook his head slightly and remained silent. Showing his face—he could do that all day if needed. What did he have to lose? But meeting face to face didn’t mean he owed them a conversation.

“…You.”

Then the Emperor spoke. Nox’s gaze, which had been fixed on some distant point, now settled on him. Feltion’s lips parted, and he struggled to utter the words: “I know you resent me.”

At that, Nox involuntarily scoffed. If you know, then what are you going to do about it? Feltion couldn’t give him what he wanted. He couldn’t fix his ruined reputation in society or restore his honor.

“So?” Nox replied curtly. His cutting words made Feltion narrow his brows. A look of regret crossed his face. Nox lightly trembled with contempt.

“…From now on, I will do anything you wish.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

At that, Nox paused, appearing to consider. Anything, he says. Nox looked at the Emperor.

“How do you know what I want?”

At Nox’s words, the Emperor had no reply. Because he knew nothing of what Nox desired. Nox, as if having nothing more to say, rose from his seat. He felt he had shown his face sufficiently. What could he say before someone who couldn’t even initiate a conversation? In truth, he had nothing to say. Thus, the conversation naturally had to end.

“I will take my leave now.”

The Emperor looked as though he wanted to say, Already? but Nox ignored his expression and turned his back.

“Next time, I hope you’ll summon me with more leisure.”

Even today, if it weren’t for Jemeil, Nox wouldn’t have come to see him so directly. The Emperor remained silent at his words. Nox exited the audience chamber, and with a soft thud, the door closed. Only then did Feltion let out a long sigh of relief. With Nox’s cold face before him, he somehow couldn’t breathe properly.

“…”

Only silence filled the room. No one could easily speak. There was no one to blame. And yet…

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The chamberlain, who had been quietly standing behind the Emperor’s seat, replied.

“Find out more about Nox Rainerio’s aide.”

“Duke Nox Rainerio will surely notice, Your Majesty.”

“…I know.”

The unspoken words—then you’ll be hated even more—remained unsaid. The Emperor himself likely knew it already.

The Return Journey

Inside the carriage, Nox remained silent. Launder, equally tight-lipped, looked at Nox’s profile. His lower lip, which Nox had bitten, still seemed to burn. In the midst of their silent tension, Jemeil, who had been cautiously observing them, finally managed to speak.

“Um, Brother.”

“Ah, yes, Jemeil.”

“What happened?”

“…It’s a long story. To put it briefly, the false charges against us have been cleared.”

“False charges?”

“Yes, false charges.”

At that, Jemeil’s expression twisted strangely. It was a face that looked ready to cry, and ready to rage.

“…The reason our parents died was all because of false charges?”

“Yes.”

“H-how. How could…”

Jemeil choked, unable to continue speaking. He simply hung his head, tears dripping onto his knees. Nox leaned forward, stretched out an arm, and gently stroked Jemeil’s head.

“Don’t cry, Jemeil,” Nox said in a chilling voice. “Because I’ll get revenge for you.”

“…Revenge?”

“Yes, revenge.”

“…How?”

At Jemeil’s question, Nox looked at him. “You will be my heir from now on.”

“B-but what about your own children later?”

“I don’t want to explain it myself, but you’ll have to know anyway.” Nox straightened his back. He looked at his cousin dispassionately. “I lived as a slave after that day.”

“I know that…”

“I was the Emperor’s and the Duke’s plaything.”

Jemeil’s mouth closed. He was old enough to understand what “plaything” implied. Nox had wanted to avoid explicit words, so perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Nox offered a self-deprecating smile.

“For a while, you should stay and recover at home. As my reputation in society is in tatters, you won’t be able to step into society or politics either.”

“Okay…”

Nox gazed at the child’s darkened face and slowly parted his lips. “…Until you sit in my place, I will restore everything.”

“…Brother.”

“So don’t worry too much.”

“…Understood.”

Thump.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Rainerio mansion. Launder, who had been listening to their conversation, quietly disembarked first. Nox followed, and Jemeil then took Nox’s hand and stepped down.

“Your room is already prepared.”

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about anything for a while. Just focus on recovering.”

Jemeil nodded.

“Launder.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Guide Jemeil to his room.”

“Understood.”

Nox then returned to his study alone, and Launder began to guide Jemeil. As Jemeil quietly followed Launder, he led Jemeil to the heir’s room. This was the very room Nox himself had used long ago. That room too had been disturbingly reproduced exactly as it was, though the two of them wouldn’t know that. Launder opened the door and said to Jemeil, “If you need anything, ring the bell. The servants will come.”

“Um.”

“Yes?”

“…How bad is Brother’s social standing right now?”

“…Well.” Launder hesitated for a moment. He was a fallen noble and not well-integrated into high society, yet even he had heard of Nox’s reputation. And it was very bad. “…I can’t say it’s good.”

“Right, I suppose not…”

“What are you worried about?”

At that, Jemeil hesitated. “What if Brother is having too hard a time?”

“…Perhaps.”

Launder hesitated to speak. He didn’t know Nox well. He didn’t know what Nox liked or disliked, nor how resilient he truly was. Although, coincidentally, he now knew the temperature of his lips.

“I believe he will be fine,” Launder said, hoping to reassure the young master. From the outside, Nox appeared very strong.

“…Thank you.”

“Not at all. Please rest well, then.”

Launder then returned to his own office. The two other aides wondered what he had been doing but silently continued with their work. After work hours, after seeing his sister and returning to his assigned room, the butler summoned him.

“The Master is calling for you.”

“Me, sir?”

“Yes.”

“Is he still in his study?”

The butler wore a strange expression, as if he, too, didn’t understand the situation. “No.”

“Then…”

“Go to His Grace’s bedchamber. The Master has called for you there.”