I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 94

The child, startled, pulled her hand back. Nox turned around. Marlene, the head maid, was watching them. It seemed she had come to inspect the floor herself, as the master was absent. Marlene scrutinized the two of them. And then she saw the gold ring clutched in Ena’s hand. Marlene’s face contorted.

“That’s the master, Ena. Why is it in your hand?”

“That’s…!”

Nox instinctively knew the situation was turning bad. He quickly opened his mouth to intervene, but Ena gave him no opening, speaking instantly.

“I—I took it from the slave!”

Ena’s eyes were wide open. Her pupils were dilated, and her lips were awkwardly turned up. Nox spun around. As their eyes met, Ena took two steps back and reported to Marlene.

“I saw the slave secretly taking this, Head Maid!”

Nox was momentarily speechless. He fully understood that a cornered child might lie. However, the sense of betrayal he felt was unavoidable.

Ena thought. If she were caught stealing the ring here, she would surely be kicked out without a letter of recommendation. But her mother’s medical expenses would only increase. She couldn’t be fired now. Without a letter of recommendation, it would be difficult to enter another household.

But, but Nox is… Nox is a slave. He’s the master’s favored slave, so wouldn’t he be okay? Selfish thoughts completely dominated her mind.

“Is that true?”

Nox stared at Ena, momentarily frozen. Ena pretended not to see Nox’s gaze and ran to the head maid, handing the stolen gold ring to Marlene. Marlene frowned, looking at the glittering gold ring.

‘Come to think of it, what kind of ring is this?’

It was a ring with a family crest stamped on it. And it wasn’t the crest of the Via family. The gold ring was clean but looked quite old, and its shape was familiar. Marlene first asked Nox,

“Why did you steal the ring?”

Marlene didn’t understand. And this young maid’s reaction was also strange. But Nox remained silent, his lips pressed tightly together. Even though it would have been perfectly normal to immediately refute it if it were a lie.

Nox felt a sharp pang in his chest. Something seemed to be lodged there. Was it because Ena betrayed him? Ah, right. If there was anything he could attach his heart to, it was probably Ena. Such a child had betrayed him.

But even though the child had betrayed him, he couldn’t bring himself to say that the child was lying. He knew what would happen. Just like Khalid…

Yes. He could be cast out, just like Khalid in his youth. Nox gasped lightly. He recalled the young boy who had been beaten to the brink of death in his childhood. Nox couldn’t speak. Just, just… if he took the blame, the child would be safe…

“What’s going on here?”

Nox suddenly snapped to attention. It was Khalid’s voice. Khalid, who had just returned from the imperial palace, seemed to have come back to his room. Marlene, startled, bowed her head and extended the ring, saying,

“That is…”

For some reason, Khalid frowned intensely as soon as he saw the ring.

“Speak quickly.”

“The slave was caught by the maid trying to sneak this ring out.”

“…This ring?”

Khalid gave a faint smile, then frowned intensely. Khalid looked down at the ring. This was no ordinary gold ring.

That ring was the very ring the Emperor had given him, claiming Nox had given it to him. The ring of the now-defunct Rainerio family. Khalid smiled savagely, gritting his teeth. There was no way Nox would try to sneak out this ring now, feeling nostalgic for his family.

In Khalid’s mind, the Emperor’s words from moments ago lingered like afterimages. It was just a mistake from childhood. It’s all settled now. Unlike the Emperor who said it was all settled, Nox, had you not settled it all?

‘He’s just a slave now. Easy to handle.’

The Emperor’s light tone came back to him. Khalid, gritting his teeth, smiled and asked him,

“The Rainerio ring…”

Khalid took the ring, saying, “How did you know I had the ring you gave His Majesty the Emperor?”

Nox looked up, surprised for a moment. He hadn’t known it was that ring. But more than that, he was surprised that Khalid knew he had once given a ring to the Emperor.

“…How did you know that?”

“Ha.”

Khalid felt disgusted. He was disgusted by the secret between them that he didn’t know about, and he was bothered by the fact that Nox might still harbor feelings for the Emperor, enough to secretly try to retrieve this ring.

“Why did you do something so foolish?” Khalid knew Nox’s personality well after all this time. So he spoke as if giving him a chance.

“I, I…”

“Did you even do it in the first place?”

Nox’s lips trembled. He could have said no. He could have explained Ena’s situation, said she stole it, that she was the culprit. But Nox couldn’t bring himself to speak the words. So, so…

“…Yes.”

“Hmph.”

“I… I stole it.”

Ena was biting her lip. Nox let out a hollow laugh, not knowing how it would appear to Khalid. Seeing Ena’s eyes waver, Nox stood up and clasped his hands behind his back.

“I will accept my punishment willingly.”

“…So that’s how it is.”

A vein throbbed on Khalid’s forehead. He looked completely twisted inside. His mind was a chaotic mess. He seemed to hear the Emperor’s voice.

‘It just occurred to me now, something I received a long time ago.’

‘I won’t answer if you ask. It’s something just between the two of us.’

‘What if Nox desired me first?’

‘A mistake from our youth, you could say.’

All those words, creating a situation, and Nox’s actions of wanting to hold the ring he had given the Emperor, even though he knew it was foolish.

All of it created a kind of “hypothesis” in Khalid’s mind. That terrible, misguided hypothesis that perhaps, while he was gone, Nox might have given his heart to Feltion.

Khalid, having abandoned his reason, stared at Nox as if to kill him. Yes, he’s mine, yet your heart still doesn’t bend to my will. You’re reminding me of that anew.

“Bring the whip.”

“Yes?” Marlene looked up sharply and asked. Khalid growled.

“Gather all the servants in the hall. And bring the whip.”

“Yes, yes… Understood.”

“Nox.”

“Yes… Ugh!”

Khalid grabbed Nox by the collar. Nox’s neck naturally tightened, and he involuntarily let out a groan.

“I don’t know what happened between you two. But now you are my property.”

“What—ugh. What do you mean…”

“Enough. I didn’t expect to hear the full story from you anyway.”

Khalid, still gripping Nox’s collar, descended roughly. Nox’s steps faltered. It was incredibly difficult to keep his balance while going down the stairs. And when they reached the hall, Khalid threw Nox onto the floor.

“You know well what happens when you carelessly touch your master’s possessions, don’t you?”

Nox’s eyes widened. And he looked at Khalid.

“Now I can finally return it properly.”

Khalid’s voice was low and steady, but seething with rage. Servants from the estate, belatedly wondering what was happening, crowded around. Behind their murmurs, a strange “beep” sound was heard. Nox’s lips trembled, and his hands shook.

Yes, that day. The day Khalid was abandoned by my own hand in the past—am I finally able to repay him for that? Will this somehow lighten the burden of my sin from back then?

But, separate from such thoughts, something within him raged. In truth, I did nothing wrong. I don’t know what you just said. At least in this situation, I am innocent. Even if I wronged you in the past…

You shouldn’t treat me like this. You loved me.

“I’ve brought the whip, Duke…”

“…”

In truth, I loved you too.

“Seize that slave!”

Two male servants grabbed Nox by each arm, turning him so his back was to Khalid. Nox gasped for breath. I… the reason I’m being treated like this is because I wronged you. But, Khalid. Now, I…

Crack!

“Ugh…!”

Khalid began to whip his back himself. Nox gritted his teeth. His body flinched and moved, but Khalid raised the whip without hesitation.

Crack, crack!

The whip descended repeatedly. The servants whispered amongst themselves. What’s happening? The slave tried to steal the Duke’s property. What? Then of course…

He deserves it.

Under everyone’s gaze, Nox could do nothing but endure the lashes from Khalid’s whip. Crack! With the sound, a long, thin wound cut across his back. The whip, sharp as a blade, cruelly raked his back, finally drawing blood.