I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 132

The butler, who had been quietly standing beside Count Elinapoke, spoke. “Did your desired matters proceed well, Your Grace?”

“I can open the jewelry store again,” the Count replied, gathering the documents Nox had left behind and heading to his office.

Meanwhile, Nox, in his carriage, reviewed the documents one last time before handing them to his attendant. He hadn’t defrauded Count Elinapoke; he had simply made a rather excessive demand.

‘He wouldn’t want to be buried and collapse now, would he?’ Nox mused. The Empire had only just found stability after the Emperor’s ascension. During this peaceful time, no one would want to lose their family for no reason. His thoughts then shifted to the other topic the Count had mentioned.

“A hunting festival, then.”

‘Not bad,’ he thought. He had expected it to be held around this time anyway. And with the very special occasion of the first anniversary of the Emperor’s ascension, they wouldn’t let it pass without doing anything. It was also a good opportunity to showcase the strength of the Emperor’s faction.

As soon as Nox arrived at the Rainerio mansion, he spoke to the waiting butler. “Butler.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Nox strode forward, and the butler diligently followed.

“Acquire Sandes wolves. About twelve of them. Count Elinapoke will help.”

“Yes?” the butler questioned.

“And I’ll receive the left arm at the hunting festival.”

The butler couldn’t comprehend his words. However, one thing was clear: there was no explicit command as to whom the message should be conveyed. This implied that he was to deliver it to the true master he served.

‘Does such a relationship hold any meaning?’ The butler swallowed hard for a moment, but he could only give one answer to Nox, who continued to walk straight ahead.

“Ah, yes, understood…”

Those who had been watching Nox now became the birds connecting Khalid and Nox. The butler felt subtly uneasy, but there was nothing he could do.

However, the butler knew that this mansion contained a subtle mix of those loyal to Khalid and those loyal to the Emperor. The butler himself was a person planted by Khalid, but there were other servants planted by the Emperor, and Nox had ordered him to “fly the bird”—to send the message.

‘So, this is something the Emperor shouldn’t know?’ The butler’s mind raced. He had to survive, no matter what.

‘I’ll have to keep quiet for a while.’

And then…

The butler, subtly lowering his gaze, thought, “Perhaps I should quietly get rid of the servants who aren’t loyal to Khalid.” He pondered for a moment, then wrote something at the bottom of the message.

Nox’s words were immediately relayed to Khalid through the butler’s “bird.”

While the butler was racking his brain, Khalid received the bird. He saw the two sentences written on it and immediately ordered his attendant, “Acquire Sanders Wolves. Secretly.”

“Understood.”

“Wolves” and “left arm at the hunting festival”—these two phrases pointed to one conclusion: Ellerdine Weiss. He was to be dealt with at the hunting festival. Khalid burned the small paper sent by the butler with a candle flame.

Khalid was willing to do anything for Nox, even if it meant betraying and killing someone. Khalid looked down at the question the butler had subtly added below Nox’s message:

[Do I deal with all of the sun’s birds?]

Khalid considered his chosen man to be quite perceptive. There was no need for a separate reply; not replying itself would be the answer.

The butler, upon confirming that no answer returned that day, made his decision. He would have to identify and eliminate the Emperor’s “birds” first.

‘What is Duke Via thinking? And what is Duke Rainerio thinking…?’

Only the two of them knew what had truly transpired between them.

***

A week later, Nox and Esterion arrived at the mansion of Demetri Andelass, the former Vice-Commander of the Rainerio Knights. As soon as Nox and Launder stepped out of the carriage, whispers spread through the crowd.

Esterion subtly surveyed his surroundings, then walked, shielding Nox’s back. The fleeting glances at Nox’s back were clearly unsettling him.

Nox noticed the meaning behind Esterion’s actions and thought, ‘He’s quite good.’ He was already accustomed to the whispers behind his back, but having someone block them felt different. Nox slowly inhaled and exhaled.

‘Demetri, what on earth was he thinking of sending me an invitation?’

He was no longer the valiant, strong Knight Commander of the Rainerio family. He was closer to a famished demon, having clawed his way back up after falling into slavery. No, he hadn’t even climbed back up by his own will; he was more like a beast dragged out of the abyss.

Nox smiled self-deprecatingly as he headed inside. People recognized him and parted to make way. This might have been out of respect for his ducal status, or simply to whisper about him behind his back. Nox walked straight, looking ahead.

He saw Demetri Andelass, the host of the party. Nox didn’t stop. He braced himself, determined not to crack, no matter how Demetri looked at him, what he said, or what nuances he conveyed. Nox smiled gently and spoke to him, “Thank you for inviting me to this gathering.”

At his words, Demetri, who had been speaking with someone else, turned his head. His eyes widened slightly, then he gave a curt nod, his face expressionless.

“I truly wanted to see Your Grace again,” Demetri said.

“Is that so?” Nox replied.

“Yes.”

Demetri Andelass had always been a somewhat gruff man, so his current expression didn’t particularly wound Nox. He simply thought, ‘He hasn’t changed at all.’ Meanwhile, Nox himself had changed quite a bit.

“First, today is…” Nox began.

“It’s my cousin’s wife’s birthday,” Demetri finished.

Do people usually celebrate such a person’s birthday? Nox paused, then nodded as if he understood. That meant the real protagonists were elsewhere. He’d have to wish them a happy birthday, at least. Nox was about to ask Demetri about it, but Demetri was a beat faster.

“It’s been a long time since we last met like this. Do you have a moment to speak privately?”

“Ah…”

Nox hesitated for a moment. Demetri was a straightforward and honorable knight. Because of that, when young Nox took on the role of Knight Commander, Demetri became someone who fostered and tested him, and once Nox had fully matured, he became a flawless subordinate. He was a man akin to a loyal retainer, unafraid to offer harsh criticism.

What would such a man say to him now, in his current state? Nox quietly pondered, then looked directly at Demetri. He had no intention of avoiding it. If he was told he knew nothing of honor, he would accept it. If he was criticized, he would fully embrace the criticism. Nox nodded and then gestured to Esterion. Esterion lightly bowed his head toward Nox.

“I’ll go to the terrace; guard the front.”

“Understood.”

Their closeness was unusual for just an aide and his master. People whispered even more at the sight. Demetri’s gaze shifted to Esterion. He looked at Esterion with a cool stare, then moved his eyes back to Nox, leading the way.

Nox followed, disappearing behind the curtain Demetri held open. Esterion stood guard as Nox had commanded, trying to suppress the rising curiosity within him.

What would the two of them talk about? He was worried about the Duke. The former Vice-Commander of the Knights, no less. After Nox’s fall, the knight order had scattered. And that likely remained a source of shame for them.

‘…I hope nothing bad happens,’ Esterion thought, consumed by worry.

Meanwhile, Nox was quite, no, very flustered.

As soon as they entered the terrace and the curtain closed, Demetri turned to face Nox and knelt on one knee. Nox’s eyes widened, and he remained silent for a moment. He couldn’t grasp Demetri’s intentions.

“Your Grace, Duke Rainerio.”

“…Demetri,” Nox replied.

Demetri looked up at Nox and said, “I have been waiting.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I believed you would return.”

His gaze was unwavering as he spoke.

“…You believed?”

Nox stared down at Demetri. He believed I would return? Even after the family’s ruin, after I was so mocked, he still believed I would rise again?

Demetri’s expression was firm, his face impassive, his black eyes gleaming with reflected light. ‘Why didn’t I see it before?’ It was undeniably a look of trust. Demetri placed a hand over his chest.

“Once loyalty is pledged, it cannot be withdrawn.”

“Don’t you think that ruined your honor?” Nox asked.

“Betraying a lord to whom I once pledged loyalty is my greatest shame.”

“Demetri,” Nox began.

“Your Grace, Duke Rainerio,” Demetri interrupted Nox rudely, as if he knew what Nox was about to say. But Demetri didn’t want Nox to utter those words. He had been the most devoted of Knight Commanders, and Demetri Andelass was the man who had watched him grow up every step of the way. Because of that, he couldn’t abandon Nox.

“Everyone has been waiting.”

“Everyone?” Nox questioned.

“Yes,” Demetri replied confidently. “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t trust us. We trusted you.”

“Not a single person is missing.”