"Why are you so adorable?" Sylas said softly. His hand stopped writing for a moment.
Bryon and Amos, who were standing next to him, looked confused.
"Excuse me?" asked Bryon. Did he miss something?
Sylas snapped out of his trance. He seemed to have been daydreaming, and he quickly shook his head, looking at Bryon.
"Did I say something?" Sylas asked. He didn’t seem to realize he had spoken out loud.
Bryon remained silent, but then smiled. "I must have heard you wrong, Your Highness."
He looked at the paper in front of Sylas, covered in smudged, dried ink.
Sylas quickly realized where Bryon was looking and hurriedly sat up straight. He stared at the paper in front of him.
"Ah..." Sylas looked at the paper and the reports he had to study on behalf of Adrien. Some of them required personal responses.
Sylas couldn’t concentrate at the moment. Kai’s image had been filling his mind since morning.
Why was he so adorable?
"Can we continue after lunch?" Sylas said.
Bryon immediately nodded. "Of course, Your Highness. I brought more reports for later. There’s also something I need to ask about the festival preparations."
Sylas nodded. The festival would be held soon, and the palace was preparing many events for it.
After Bryon left, Sylas put down his pen and leaned back in his chair. His gaze turned empty. He felt guilty during times , when he couldn’t focus.
Those round hazel eyes haunted him in a strange way. His innocent, always fearful gaze made Sylas want to hug the slave all the time.
Sylas took a deep breath. Was he really sane right now? How could he take advantage of a slave’s helplessness and turn him into an object of fantasy?
But he couldn’t get Kai’s body out of his head. He’d seen the slave naked many times while bathing him. But the position they were in last night was burned into his memory.
The curves of his body, his hanging penis, his reddened anus, his smooth thighs, his stomach, though scarred, it was firm and tempting.
Sylas felt his face heat up. What was he thinking? Was he really that perverted? How long had it been since he last touched a man’s body that he’d turned this twisted?
But hadn’t he never truly made love before?
Sylas felt his heart racing uncomfortably, his lower abdomen tightening.
Part of him, his dominant side, wanted to protect the slave. He felt guilty for having such inappropriate, sexual thoughts about Kai. Meanwhile, Kai only saw him as a master, someone who was supposed to protect him.
But Sylas truly wanted to protect him. This time, not just as a master, but because he genuinely cared.
Kai needed him. He was sure the slave wouldn’t be safe anywhere else without him.
Or was it just his imagination? Was he creating a scenario just to convince himself that Kai really needed him?
Sylas fell silent. He felt like a terrible person now.
Amos stared at Sylas, who was blankly gazing forward. He was confused by the prince’s behavior. Sylas had never acted before. He wanted to ask, but held himself back.
The room fell into complete silence for a moment.
"Amos, check on Kai. See if he’s had lunch," said Sylas.
Amos nodded immediately. He glanced around at the guards stationed near the prince. He could leave him safely.
But before he could take a step, Sylas stopped him.
"No. Can you ask Sean to bring my lunch to my room?" Sylas corrected himself.
Suddenly, he wanted to see the slave. He couldn’t wait any longer. But he reasoned that it would be easier to eat together. Wasn’t he also due for lunch?
Sylas smiled slightly, already imagining what expression Kai would have when he saw him later.
Amos stood for a moment, staring at Sylas. The man was acting so strange now. He quickly went to find Sean.
At the same time, Huron arrived at his room.
Sylas, who was about to leave, heard the guard announce the general’s arrival. He immediately froze. He was the one who had asked the general to come, and he had forgotten.
Sylas was really unproductive today. He quickly sat back down and ordered Huron to enter.
The older man walked in sternly and bowed respectfully.
"Good afternoon, Your Royal Highness."
"Welcome, General. Please, have a seat."
Huron sat in front of Sylas and cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. He felt guilty for his thoughts. He glanced briefly at the handsome prince and couldn’t help but speculate.
The image of the kiss mark on Alvaro’s body had shattered the calm image of the prince. The image of Sylas moving wildly on the bed, ravishing Alvaro, made him uneasy. It wasn’t a secret that Sylas liked men, so he was sure the two of them had a special relationship.
He felt deceived, not realizing how close their relationship had become. They couldn’t be together. Follow current novᴇls on NoveI★Fire.net
"I’m sorry to bring up a personal matter. But can you release Alvaro from his suspension? I need him right now," Sylas said.
Amos was very skilled, but the young knight was still inexperienced. The festival was coming up, and he needed Alvaro to handle tasks outside the palace.
But Huron saw it differently. He looked uneasy. His face showed hesitation, which Sylas found odd. Or maybe it was just a refusal.
"He’s not guilty, you know that, General. He’s already been punished. So let him return to duty," Sylas continued.
The general adjusted his seat. "Well, Your Highness..."
He cleared his throat again. He was sure Sylas missed Alvaro a lot. But he wouldn’t let them meet right now. The punishment could still be used as a reason.
"I can’t revoke his punishment. It would damage the reputation of the other guards. So, forgive me, but I can’t grant your request. I’ll send another knight who is more skilled, Your Highness."
Sylas looked unsatisfied. He was used to Alvaro, and Huron’s reason for suspending him didn’t make sense.
"I want Alvaro, General. Please find a reason to bring him back," Sylas insisted.
Huron took a deep breath, growing more uneasy. The prince’s demanding tone was clear. Why couldn’t he see how serious this was? He had to protect them both, especially since Sylas was set to marry Princess Eresia of Ganesh. He didn’t want Alvaro to end up even more heartbroken.
"Please, Your Highness. This isn’t good. Alvaro might seem charming, but he’s not mature at all," Huron said.
Sylas furrowed his brow. "His abilities are good enough for me, General. I don’t need him to be mature." Weren’t knights supposed to give him advice? Besides, everything Alvaro had done so far was more than enough. He understood things quickly, even without being told directly.
The general looked desperate. It really was hard to separate people in love, especially when the one in love was a prince, someone above him in rank. Someone who couldn’t be controlled. Someone who could make decisions on a whim, and no one could stop him.
"Your Highness. I have many knights better than Alvaro. I’ll send them to you. They’re young and handsome, too," Huron offered. It would be better if Alvaro was sent to the fortress and someone else took his place at Sylas’s side. That would be much safer, for everyone.
Sylas shook his head. "I don’t see why I should replace Alvaro when he’s still capable of doing his job. He’s still injured, and I understand that. I’ll ask him to return once he’s recovered. But not in a month. That’s too long. I need him now."
Huron fell silent. He couldn’t find another reason. Sylas was being truly stubborn. He wasn’t just protecting a knight, he was holding on to someone very dear to him.
"But I can’t revoke Alvaro’s punishment, Your Highness."
"Must I ask His Majesty to grant my request?" Sylas asked, his tone sharp.
Huron took a deep breath. "Your Highness. Please think this through. Alvaro isn’t worth it. You have many handsome knights, why him?"
Huron bowed his head in a plea. "Please spare him. If you truly love him, please don’t keep this going."
Sylas fell silent. Why would he need a handsome knight? He really didn’t understand. Yes, he liked Alvaro as a friend, a companion, a knight, but why couldn’t it go further?
Alvaro was a skilled knight, his childhood friend. He wasn’t going to let him go just like that. Especially not because of one small mistake. That mistake should’ve been shared between them, not pinned on one person.
"General, please listen to me. I’m serious about bringing Alvaro back. If not, I’ll ask His Majesty to issue a special order," Sylas said firmly.
Huron sighed in frustration. What else could he do now?
Sylas stood. "Please think it over, General. I want your decision by tomorrow."
Huron stood immediately, bowing respectfully. His emotions were all over the place. "Very well, Your Highness."
Sylas walked out. He couldn’t wait to see Kai.
What was that slave doing now?