CHAPTER 125: DINNER WITH THE KING

Kai had changed into clean clothes and put on his last black bracelet. He kept smoothing his hair, which was now longer than the last time he was in Omino. It seemed he would have to cut it tomorrow.

Then he put the small statue he had carved for Sylas into his coin pouch. His heart pounded as he imagined Sylas’s reaction. He kept hesitating, worried the prince might not accept it when he already had so many beautiful things.

Kai looked at his clothes and shoes. They were all nice, gifts from Sylas. Then he looked at the bag with the statue in his hand.

It was not good enough.

He could not even paint it, since he had no paint.

Even so, Kai dared to bring it. If Sylas did not like it, he would just take it back.

At that moment, Garry peeked into his room. "Hey, do you have an appointment with the guard?"

Kai turned his head. He was sure the king’s guard had arrived. He just nodded and walked out quickly. There he saw Visen.

Kai froze at the dormitory doorway. It was that man again. He immediately took a step back.

"Hey, I don’t have time. I’m here on His Majesty’s orders," said Visen.

Gremblin, who was passing through the front room, was surprised to hear the man’s voice. At first, she thought Garry had brought his friend and was ready to shout. But when she saw who had arrived, she frowned.

"Oh, Captain, what brings you here? How did you get in?" asked Gremblin, walking closer and passing Kai.

Visen was still standing in the courtyard. "Hi, Madame Gremblin, long time no see. I came to bring Kai on His Majesty’s orders."

Gremblin was shocked. She immediately turned to Kai as if the young man had done something wrong. "What have you done?"

Of course she was worried, because Kai still lived in the dormitory. If something happened, she would be responsible.

Kai frowned. He was already scared of Visen, so he just looked down silently.

"You don’t need to worry." Visen walked up to the terrace, pulling Kai’s hand firmly.

Kai clenched his fists. But he was afraid of being punished if he made the man angry. Sylas was not there to protect him. What if the man intended to throw him away?

That thought haunted him.

Kai was dragged along behind Visen. "P-please don’t throw me away..." he begged.

Visen stopped and looked at him. "You know, I have no interest in touching you, let alone throwing you away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being paid extra to take care of you. Everything I do is by orders."

Kai looked down. "A-are you taking me away from the palace?"

"Why would I take you away from the palace? I’m taking you to His Majesty." Visen pushed Kai toward the carriage as the coachman opened the door for him.

Kai’s heart pounded with fear and worry. But he was relieved when he saw the courtyard of the royal residence. It turned out he was not being taken out of the palace.

Visen led him down the corridor on the first floor. A male servant was already waiting in a room.

"He will check you and make sure you are not carrying anything suspicious," said Visen. Before Kai could answer, he had already closed the door.

The servant asked him to come to the center of the room. "This is Prince Sylas’s request to bring you clothes."

Kai just stood still as the servant pulled a pile of clothes from the table. He stared at his own clothes, which he thought were already very nice.

But when he saw the clothes the servant offered him, his eyes lit up. The servant showed him several layers of clothing. The inner layer was a regular shirt, while the outer layer was a blue robe with luxurious embroidery.

"Now please take off your clothes," said the servant politely. He knew the young man in front of him was not just any servant. He had a connection to Prince Sylas and currently had the honor of having dinner with the king. So he did not want to make a mistake.

Kai immediately took off his clothes without hesitation.

The servant gasped when Kai was about to take off his underwear. "N-no, wait! No need to take that off," he said quickly, holding Kai’s hand.

Kai obeyed. The servant then helped him put on the new clothes. Kai stared at them again and again. They were very beautiful.

He was impressed when the servant put a belt on his clothes. When he looked in the mirror, he did not recognize himself. He looked handsome. He was amazed at how clothes could change a person’s appearance.

The servant looked at Kai, satisfied. Then he asked Kai to give him the pouch he had been holding.

"I have to check it," he said.

Kai looked at the pouch in his hand and hesitated to give it over.

The servant saw the carved statue. He looked at Kai. "You know it is not allowed to bring things like this when meeting His Majesty, right?"

Kai stayed silent. He did not know.

The servant looked at him suspiciously. The statue resembled Sylas, and small statues were often used by witches to cast spells.

"You don’t have bad intentions toward Prince Sylas, do you?" he accused.

Kai gasped. He immediately shook his head. How could he ever harm Sylas?

"N-no, I never meant any harm to Master..."

The servant grabbed the statue. "I’ll take this to Sir James. You’ll get it back once it’s confirmed safe."

Kai was shocked. He did not want anyone to take the statue. It was for Sylas, and only Sylas could have it.

"N-no, please don’t take it away..." Kai tried to grab the statue, but the servant quickly pulled it back.

"I’m sorry. But I can’t let you take it."

Kai didn’t care. The statue was for Sylas. He would not let the man destroy it, just like the cruel trainers in Omino.

But this time, he would not let that happen.

The servant was surprised when Kai grabbed his arm and pulled the statue back. He pushed Kai hard, taking it away again. He was sure Kai had bad intentions toward the royal family.

"No, it’s for Master... Don’t take it away, please..." Kai begged, trying to grab it again. But the servant was agile, dodging and pushing him so he fell to the floor again and again.

The servant was about to leave when Kai pulled on his clothes. "N-no! Please give it to me..."

The servant turned, pulled his arm, and shoved his body until he crashed into a table in the corner.

Kai groaned in pain but did not care. He got back up and ran after him. But his slow, dragging steps could not stop the servant from leaving.

Kai pressed his lips together, holding back anger. He had given up on chasing him when he saw the servant still standing in the doorway.

Gasping for breath, he walked faster, dragging his feet. He had just realized that Sylas had arrived.

The servant bowed to Sylas.

"Have you taken care of his clothes?" asked Sylas.

The servant nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

Sylas walked past him and entered the room. He smiled, sure Kai would be pleased with his new clothes. But instead, he saw Kai rushing past him.

Sylas frowned as Kai went straight to the servant and seemed to attack him.

"P-please give it to me..." Kai begged, pulling the statue from the servant’s hands.

The servant glared, gripping the statue tightly. Kai tried hard to take it, but it was useless.

"What is it?" asked Sylas.

The servant pulled the statue back and showed it. "He was carrying this. I’m worried he might use it to cast a spell, Your Highness. You know there have been strange incidents lately. So I had to take it to Sir James to check."

Sylas stared at the statue, then at Kai, who was looking down with a red face.

"Kai," Sylas called.

Kai looked up at him.

The prince saw his eyes red, holding back tears.

"Can you explain to me, what is that statue?" Sylas asked gently.

Kai looked down. "I carved it for you, Master... I wanted to give it to you..."

Sylas smiled. He had not expected the slave to think of giving him a gift. He looked at the statue again.

"Give it to me," Sylas ordered.

The servant hesitated. "Your Highness..."

"You will be beheaded if you take away a gift for a royal family member, you know that," Sylas said, walking closer and taking the statue from him.

The servant bowed his head. "Your Highness, please be careful."

Sylas studied the statue, impressed by the details. Then he smiled.

"You may go," Sylas said.

The servant nodded and left. Kai stood up, relieved the statue was not taken.

Sylas looked at Kai. "Did you make this?"

Kai nodded, anxious about his reaction.

"Impressive. It’s so detailed. Beautiful, Kai. I didn’t expect you to have a talent for sculpting," Sylas said, examining it closely.

Kai instantly forgot his fear. Hearing Sylas’s praise made him happy. Did the prince really like it?

"I love it. Thank you so much," Sylas said, kissing Kai lightly on the forehead.

Kai looked down, hiding his red face filled with embarrassment and joy.

Sylas then complimented his new clothes. Kai could not hold back his smile.

As they walked to the dining room, Sylas kept asking how he made the statue. Kai enthusiastically explained, and that short trip became a happy moment for him.

"Now you know you have extraordinary talent, Kai. Not everyone has this ability."

Kai felt like he was floating high in the sky hearing those compliments, especially since they came from Sylas.

When they reached the dining room, Sylas held his hand. "Don’t be nervous, don’t panic. I’m there for you."

Kai nodded.

Dinner began with Adrien’s greetings and light questions to Kai. Kai answered softly, often glancing at Sylas.

When the food was served, Kai made a few mistakes, like using a dessert spoon for soup. But Adrien said nothing.

The king quietly observed the silent interaction between Sylas and Kai. How his son nodded or calmed him whenever the young man panicked.

Elias just smiled slightly.

When dinner ended and the table was cleared, Adrien asked, "Did you enjoy it, Mr. Kai? I’m curious, what is your family name?" His tone was friendly and his smile reassuring.

Kai felt his fear fade. But when he heard Adrien’s question, he was confused.

Family name? What was that?

Sylas answered, "He doesn’t have one, Your Majesty."

Adrien frowned. "Why? You don’t have a family?"

He meant it as a joke, but Kai looked confused.

"Oh," Adrien thought, assuming Kai had lost his parents.

Sylas sighed. He then told Adrien about Kai’s origins. How they met, the struggles they faced outside the palace, and how Kai saved him many times.

Adrien listened carefully. "Omino? How could there be slaves in Omino?"

He had heard rumors but never investigated them. And now, one of Omino’s slaves was sitting right in front of him.

"What is going on in Omino? Can you tell me?" Adrien asked.