Sylas woke up that morning to find Alvaro standing before him. He rubbed his eyes, hoping it wasn’t a dream. But the man stood there with a gentle gaze. He was dressed like a commoner.
"Your Royal Highness, how are you?" Alvaro asked.
"Oh, Alvaro, I thought I was hallucinating. You’re really here. What happened? Did Lord Vlad bring you here? How did he know my room, and how did you get past the guards?" Sylas asked quickly.
Alvaro calmed him down and smiled. "You won’t believe it. That man, despite being a bastard, has strength beyond what’s humanly possible. I told him where your room was, and we flew through the roof."
Sylas immediately understood who he meant. Of course, Vlad. The vampire had flown him once, too. He nodded in understanding.
"How are you? Are you okay? What did he do to you?"
Alvaro shrugged. He didn’t want to admit he was Vlad’s slave. "He thinks I’m the reincarnation of his dead lover. You wouldn’t believe how obsessed he is with my face."
"Is there any way I can change my face?" Alvaro sighed in despair.
Sylas looked at his guard sympathetically. He didn’t understand how someone could be so obsessed or say such ridiculous things about reincarnation. Even if he believed in it, he wasn’t sure he’d experience it in this lifetime.
"But he didn’t hurt you, did he?" Sylas asked.
Alvaro fell silent. He didn’t know what Sylas meant by "hurt." Because clearly, Vlad had mentally and physically abused him. But he didn’t want to complicate things further, especially considering Sylas’ current situation. Vlad had also threatened his brother. He didn’t want to take any risks.
"What happened at the palace? Did you manage to get in with Duke Terion?" Alvaro asked.
Sylas nodded. "Yes, but I can’t leave this room. Right now, only my father can save me. They’re waiting for my return to announce temporary leadership. If Prince Virouse is chosen to replace my father, then I have no chance of surviving."
Alvaro had expected this. "The decision now lies with the Royal Council. That means General Huron is in control. I don’t trust him."
Sylas fell silent. Huron was unpredictable. No one really knew which side he was on. From the way the general had ordered his arrest instead of bringing him to the palace with honor, Sylas was fairly certain Huron supported Virouse.
"Alvaro, I’m sure your movements will be restricted because of me. Until I’m declared innocent, you must hold back. But I don’t think they’ll arrest you. If you have time, can you check on Kai? I’m worried about him."
Alvaro nodded. "Where is he?"
"I asked Duke Terion to watch him. But I doubt Duke Terion took him to his room. And he wouldn’t enter the palace without James’ supervision."
Alvaro sighed. "You’re just asking for trouble. I told you to leave him alone."
Sylas smiled. "Alvaro, we wouldn’t be here without that slave. Have mercy on him."
Alvaro turned away, but he obeyed. "Very well, Your Highness."
At that moment, a guard assigned to attend to Sylas entered and was surprised to see Alvaro inside. He knew Alvaro very well.
"Alvaro!" he exclaimed in a hushed voice, careful not to cause a commotion. He immediately approached, bowed respectfully to Sylas, then looked at Alvaro with concern.
But he didn’t forget his manners. "Good morning, Your Highness."
The guard wanted to say many things to Alvaro but knew he couldn’t speak freely in front of Sylas. And Sylas understood that.
"He just returned. You can greet him," said Sylas.
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"How did you get here? I didn’t see you come in," said the guard.
"I came with Duke Terion. You just didn’t see me," Alvaro replied, smiling at the guard’s confusion.
"Whatever it is, I’m already here, aren’t I?" Alvaro cut him off.
The guard fell silent for a moment. "But you’re not supposed to be here. If General Huron finds out, we’ll be punished."
"I’m Prince Sylas’ personal guard. I should be the one taking care of him."
"But right now, everyone is on high alert. No one is allowed near Prince Sylas without General Huron’s permission."
Alvaro clicked his tongue. He wanted to curse, but doing so would only cause more trouble if anyone overheard him.
"I can’t believe this!" But in the end, he followed the guard out. He couldn’t trouble Sylas anymore.
As expected, his presence surprised and intrigued all the guards. Alvaro just shrugged it off without saying anything. Dıscover more novels at N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
The guard captain, Visen, told him about his current status, that he wasn’t allowed to leave the palace and that his movements would be monitored.
"I still have the right to my position as the prince’s personal guard, don’t I?" Alvaro asked.
"You’re still the Prince’s guard, but under surveillance, Alvaro."
"I want to see the slave Duke Terion brought."
"If you mean the servant brought by Duke Terion, he’s being taken to the Royal Cells. You can see him, but Captain Hidran is interrogating him," Visen replied.
Alvaro furrowed his brow. "What? Why is he in the Royal Cells? What did he do?"
"He might be a spy sent to harm Prince Sylas. There’s no record of him among palace servants, and the prince didn’t bring him along when he returned," Visen explained.
"You can’t just throw him in the Royal Cells without the prince’s orders. He’s Prince Sylas’s slave!" Alvaro insisted.
"If it concerns the prince’s safety, we have to act. You know that. The royal family’s safety comes first."
Alvaro took a deep breath. "I want to see him."
He rushed toward the Royal Cells. But when he arrived, Kai wasn’t there. He looked through each cell and found nothing.
The guards following behind were confused by Alvaro’s urgency.
"Sir, what are you looking for?" one asked.
"Where is that slave?" Alvaro replied, impatient.
The guard tried to figure out who he meant.
"Prince Sylas’s slave," Alvaro added.
The guard immediately understood. "Oh, Captain Hidran took him to Prince Virouse’s room."
Alvaro was shocked. "What? Why?"
The guard looked confused too. He didn’t know what had happened either. They were whipping the slave when Virouse arrived and ordered Captain Hidran to take him to his room because he was interested in him.
"And you just let him?!" Alvaro couldn’t believe it.
"We couldn’t refuse Prince Virouse’s command."
"But he’s Prince Sylas’s slave!"
The guard lowered his head. "Forgive me, sir. I was just following orders."
Alvaro sighed in frustration and walked away. What was Virouse doing to Kai?