I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 124

“It shows,” Nox replied flatly.

Launder frowned. “And you’d still wear what I choose?”

“I want to wear what you pick. That’s all.” If Launder chose them for me, it would dilute the fact that they were chosen by them, Nox thought. But he didn’t elaborate, simply gesturing toward the clothes with his chin. Launder slowly approached and surveyed the garments held by the servants.

Just as he’d said earlier, Launder, utterly devoid of fashion knowledge, began choosing based purely on color. Wine is too flashy, grey is too dull. Dark green matches his hair, so that’s out. His final choice was:

“This indigo one seems the best.”

“Really? Bring it over.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Then I’ll wear this one…”

“Next, choose the shoes.”

“…”

For the first time, Launder understood the plight of women who chose their husbands’ clothes every morning. Clothes determine a person’s first impression.

He couldn’t comprehend why such an important task was entrusted to him, and now he had to choose shoes as well. For the first time, Launder thought being a consort seemed a little difficult.

If I choose wrongly here, the Duke will be criticized. He began to pick shoes with careful consideration.

“Quite serious, aren’t you?” Nox remarked, leaning back on the sofa and wiggling his toes. He looked at Launder’s profile, his brow furrowed in concentration as he examined the shoes. The man’s eyebrows were thick, slightly curved from his frown. Nox gestured to the servants.

“What accessories do we have? It seems my Launder has no talent for choosing these things, so I’ll have to look at myself.”

“There are diamond cufflinks and pins, and a silver bolo tie…”

“Hmph.”

A bolo tie, the very thing he’d so utterly despised wearing around his neck. Of course, its purpose, shape, and the gems attached were all different from the one he’d worn as a slave, but for Nox, it could only feel abhorrent. Nox smiled coldly, looking at the servant.

“What did you just say?”

The servant who had been introducing the accessories stiffened. Nox gave a faint smile and picked up the bolo tie. Lowering his eyelashes, he silently gazed at the bolo tie, then met the servant’s eyes and smiled sweetly.

WHACK!

And he immediately threw it at the servant’s face. The bolo tie hit the servant’s forehead, cutting it, and then fell to the floor. A faint wound oozed blood. The servant immediately fell to his knees.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

Nox, looking down at the servant, was silhouetted against the window, the light from outside casting shadows across his face. Only Nox’s verdant eyes gleamed coldly. The servant swallowed hard. Here, I can’t say it’s because it reminds you of the bolo tie you wore as a slave, he thought, even if his mouth were to split.

Saying that might actually split his mouth. But he couldn’t just remain silent either. The servant, racking his brain, slowly began to speak.

“I, I chose the wrong accessories…”

“Why did you choose wrongly?”

“I, I was lacking in judgment.”

“Someone who serves a Duke was lacking in judgment, you say…” Nox smiled faintly, then stomped on the servant’s thigh, pressing down hard. The servant trembled, feeling a dull ache.

The servant, head bowed low, felt the Duke’s cold gaze piercing the back of his head. Nox extended his hand. Another servant quickly picked up the discarded bolo tie and placed it in Nox’s hand.

“Did you think that position allowed for a lack of judgment?” Nox let the bolo tie dangle, then placed it around the servant’s neck. And then, abruptly,

“Gah!”

He pulled with force. The servant, his knee pinned, choked as the bolo tie tightened around his neck, unable to stand or sit. At this action, the other servants turned pale, lowering their eyes.

“Why does everyone keep disappointing me…” he murmured softly, “Starting from mealtime.” The servants fidgeted, sensing Nox’s profound displeasure. This was especially true because their master usually showed no interest in them.

And in truth, he wasn’t truly the master they served. They had all been placed there under the influence of the Duke or the Emperor, meant to monitor him.

Nox lifted the bolo tie even higher, strangling the servant further. The servant, unable to bear the mounting pressure, clawed at the cord digging into his neck, while Nox pressed down harder on his knee.

“Do you think you have multiple chances? Or perhaps…”

Nox, still holding the bolo tie, raised his hand higher and higher. The servant’s face began to turn scarlet. His eyes were bloodshot, and veins bulged on his temples.

He gasped, gasp, gasp, and scratched deeply at his throat. He couldn’t kick away Nox’s knee and stand up. He had a strong feeling that if he were to act on his own, his life wouldn’t be guaranteed. Then, thud.

“Gasp, hack!”

“Or perhaps I’m easy to take advantage of?”

Eventually, the bolo tie’s cord snapped. The servant collapsed onto the floor, coughing roughly. Nox watched him, then threw the broken bolo tie to the ground.

Don’t show me things that displease the master. Remove them from my sight. To have such simple things not done by those placed around him. Or are they intentionally trying to get on my nerves?

“Cut him.”

“…Yes.”

“His hand.”

“…Pardon?”

The servants collectively looked up. Nox stood idly, turning to face them.

“He must pay the price for bringing the wrong item.”

“P-please, Your Grace! Please!”

“You said you made a mistake,” Nox looked down at him expressionlessly.

“Please, please have mercy…”

The servant, with a bright red cord mark on his neck, began to beg, pressing his forehead to the floor. Nox tilted his head slightly to the left, looking down at him.

Why do I feel no pity at all? Why do I have no sympathy? Ah, because they are his people. Nox’s gaze shifted to the side for a moment and he said, “Cut him.”

“Your Grace,” Launder interjected.

“Why…” Nox turned his head, a smooth smile gracing his lips. “My Launder. What displeases you?”

“…Before the banquet, you shouldn’t spill blood.”

Nox looked directly at Launder. Launder’s lips parted slightly. Nox’s eyes, when looking at Launder, seemed gentle and warm. He began to assess how far he could push.

Launder slowly moved, embracing Nox’s robed body from behind.

“I’m afraid to see blood.”

“Hmm…” Nox looked up. Then, he coldly cast his gaze down at the servant still groveling on the floor. His foot, clad in an indoor slipper, lightly kicked the servant’s head.

“Then I suppose there’s no choice,” he said.

“…”

“Just throw him out. Don’t write him a letter of recommendation.”

“Ah, understood…”

Nox nodded, signaling for the servant to be removed from his sight, and other servants quickly began to drag him away. Nox then chose a diamond pin and cufflinks from the accessories the servant had brought. Meanwhile, Launder, having managed to make his selections, returned with black shoes and said, “Thank you for granting my request.”

“Well, if you’re afraid, what can I do?”

Nox, who had been chillingly expressionless, now offered Launder a charming smile. Launder, feeling once again as though he were special, slightly bowed his head.

Nox did not correct his thoughts and began to dry his hair and dress with the servants’ assistance.

After donning socks, sock garters, and a shirt of a smooth, lustrous material, along with shirt garters, he put on the indigo formal wear and fastened the diamond cufflinks. When he went to put on the pin, he shook his head and set it down.

“This won’t do.”

“The tie is…”

“Unnecessary.”

Nox frowned. He disliked anything that constricted his neck. So, he even unbuttoned a couple of the top buttons.

His aura was different from before, when he’d buttoned his shirt all the way up and worn gloves to hide every inch of exposed skin. Now, with slightly dark circles under his eyes, a broad shoulder span from his naturally large frame despite being a bit thinner, and a slightly narrower waist, he exuded a more decadent than fussy air. Once fully prepared, he sat on the sofa and wiggled his toes at Launder.

Quick to catch on, Launder immediately knelt on one knee before him, placed Nox’s foot on his thigh, and began to put on his shoes.

Nox rested his elbow on the sofa armrest, propped his chin in his hand, and looked down at him. Launder carefully put on his shoes. He gently held his ankle, slipped the shoe on, and tied the laces tightly.

Having finished with the shoes, Launder looked up at him, as if asking for praise now that he was done. Though that might not have been his intention, it’s how it appeared to Nox. Nox reached out, lightly ruffled Launder’s hair, and said, “Come here.”

Launder knew well what “come here” meant. He gently placed Nox’s legs back on the floor and climbed onto the sofa, positioning himself above Nox. All the servants lowered their heads, their eyes fixed on the floor.

“Launder, what I did to you.”

“…Yes.”

He leaned down and kissed the exposed hollow of Nox’s throat.