I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 129

“…”

Esterion quietly helped Nox into a gown, tying it securely around his waist. From that simple action, Nox understood the answer: a refusal. Without another thought, Nox lay down fully on the bed.

“I cannot soothe Your Grace’s emptiness,” Esterion said softly.

“But I could stop thinking for a moment.”

“Are you wishing for a very brief, temporary escape?”

“More than that.” Nox turned onto his side, the gown rustling as it revealed his firm shoulder. “If I slept with someone other than those two, it might not matter anymore.”

Nox’s words were rude, but also tinged with self-loathing. Hearing his voice, Esterion spoke firmly.

“I do not wish to treat Your Grace that way.”

Esterion’s hand gripped Nox’s shoulder. Nox’s eyes, now focused, met his gaze. Esterion smiled wryly, looking down at Nox, his shadow falling over the Duke’s body.

“Nor do I wish to be treated that way by you,” Esterion continued.

“…”

“If it truly doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s not those two men, then I refuse.”

“…Alright.”

At those words, Nox’s muddled mind seemed to clear a little. Esterion looked down at Nox’s eyes, then, noticing his condition had improved slightly, released his grip on his shoulder. He then straightened, gathered the clothes he’d removed from Nox, and bowed.

“I will assume you will sleep alone tonight.”

“You’re quite presumptuous,” Nox muttered.

“Well, I am a beloved consort, aren’t I?” Esterion replied.

At that, Nox thought he had grown a bit brazen. Nox gestured for him to leave, and Esterion exited the room.

Nox lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, thinking it would be good to clear his mind. He was tired, but sleep wouldn’t come. Only the unpleasant sensation of exhaustion weighing down his body remained.

Nox rose from the bed and went to his desk, pulling out stationery and a pen. Under the faint candlelight, he began to write, his sharp script reflecting his turbulent emotions.

[I accept your offer. However, I will decide when it takes place.]

He looked at the letter, a self-deprecating smile on his face. Yes, after all, this body will disappear if burned, shatter if thrown from a height. What’s so noble about this body? Nox folded the letter neatly and placed it on his desk. His butler would find it and deliver it to the Emperor. And then Khalid Via would know that he was in contact with the Emperor.

“He’ll also know what kind of deal is being made…” Nox forced a laugh, but it quickly faded. It’s laughable. You, the Emperor, and I. He wondered how far his bitterness would drag them down.

I will use everything I have to pull you into the mire where I exist.

As the night deepened, so did Nox’s emotions. They burrowed deep within him, spreading and seeping into every part of his being, slowly corrupting him. Nox forced his weary body to move, pushing onward until his desired end was achieved.

***

Early in the morning, the butler visited Nox’s room. He knew that Esterion had quietly left the room last night, so he could report that they hadn’t spent the night together.

He knocked on Nox’s door. There was no answer, suggesting he wasn’t awake yet. The butler cautiously stepped inside.

Since regaining his title, Nox Rainerio had never missed his morning training. He seemed to be striving to regain his lost stamina and physique. However, perhaps due to the intense physical exertion of the previous day, he hadn’t woken at his usual time.

The butler approached the bed where Nox lay sleeping and spoke in a low voice. “Your Grace, it’s time to wake up.”

Nox slowly opened his eyes, then languidly pushed himself up. The butler instructed the servants to prepare water for a quick wash.

“Is there anything in particular to deliver?” Nox asked.

The butler replied, “A letter has arrived from Duke Khalid Via’s mansion.”

Nox showed no outward reaction as he rose from the bed. The butler swallowed hard. A peculiar tension filled the air whenever Khalid Via’s name was mentioned in front of him. Nox simply washed his face with the water the servants brought and began to dress himself.

During this time, Nox offered no further response. The butler, feeling uneasy, stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the floor until Nox had finished dressing. When he finally heard Nox’s voice, he quickly looked up.

“Send the letter on my desk,” Nox commanded.

“Understood.”

“I’ll read Duke Via’s letter after my training.”

“Understood.”

Nox, now fully dressed, fastened his cuff buttons and addressed the butler. “Deliver the letter carefully.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

Nox exited the room for his morning training, and the butler picked up the letter from the desk. It was plain stationery, without any particular adornment. But the recipient was…

“A letter addressed to His Majesty the Emperor…”

At that moment, the butler’s brow furrowed.

‘Deliver it carefully.’

The words echoed in his mind. The butler’s face hardened. He understood what Nox’s instruction truly meant:

‘He knows it will reach Duke Khalid Via’s ears anyway. So, deliver it clearly.’

The butler frowned. He had no idea what Duke Nox Rainerio was thinking. But his duty as a butler was clear: deliver this letter to the Emperor, and its contents to Duke Khalid Via.

He left the room with the letter. Creak, the door closed, and silence filled the room.

Meanwhile, Nox, heading to the training grounds, clicked his tongue as he looked at the empty field. He realized he needed to recruit the Rainerio Knights once more. He wasn’t sure if any knights would even want to be affiliated with the Rainerio family anymore. He laughed self-deprecatingly and slowly drew his sword.

A spar without an opponent began. Nox aimed his sword at the empty air. There was nothing there, yet Nox saw it clearly: the person he wanted to kill.

There was no need to name anyone. Nox precisely leaned his body forward, stomped on the ground, and then, using his waist as a pivot, swung his heavy sword. If a person had been standing there, their neck would have been severed instantly.

Nox retreated once. Then, he raised his sword again. It was slow but retained its weight. He felt every muscle in his body move as he swung the sword.

As time passed, sweat drenched his body. But Nox didn’t stop, feeling his muscles swell to their limit, aching. He knew well that only by enduring this pain would his body become stronger.

After several hours of training, his muscles were so pumped that his clothes felt tight, and he was sore. Nox gasped, plunging his sword into the ground. He gripped it, panting, and stared at the dirt. Drops of sweat fell onto the ground. Checking the time, he realized three hours had already passed. Nox clicked his tongue. His stamina had decreased significantly.

Nox regulated his breathing, then returned to his room to wash and check the letter the butler had brought him.

[Tomorrow, 2 PM. I request to see you. With the hope that you will graciously accept.]

Nox looked at the much more polite letter and tossed it onto the floor. He then ordered the butler to send a reply agreeing to the meeting.

“And pick out only the suitable banquets from the ones being held.”

“Understood.”

“Bring Esterion Launder.”

“Understood.”

Nox paused for a moment, then added, “Prepare a recruitment announcement for the Rainerio Knights.”

“Ah,” the butler’s eyes widened, then he quickly nodded. “That is indeed a duty that must be done.”

Nox inwardly scoffed at the butler’s tone, which sounded as if he were loyal to the family. The butler left the room, and a few minutes later, Launder arrived.

In his hand, Launder held a stack of invitations the butler had given him. Nox naturally pointed to his desk, and Esterion carefully stacked the invitations on the desk, ensuring they didn’t fall.

“Pick a suitable banquet,” Nox said.

“Pardon? Me?” Esterion asked.

“Yes, because you’ll be attending the banquet with me.”

Esterion’s hand paused for a moment. “Me, Your Grace?”

“You’ll make a grand debut as the consort’s consort, won’t you?”

“…Please don’t speak like that.”

“It’s the truth,” Nox said with a faint smile, and Esterion carefully picked up an invitation, beginning to examine each one with concentration. He had been out of society for a while, so he wasn’t sure what would be necessary for him.

But regardless, Nox Rainerio himself was prime bait in society. Especially with the rumors about the diamonds, it was obvious that word was already circulating beneath the surface.

In that case, many will follow me wherever I go.

Just then, Esterion seemed to have found something and brought forward one invitation.

“Here.”

“This is…”