CHAPTER 146: KING’S DEFIANCE

After a long conversation by the lake, Sylas escorted Eresia back to the guest room that had been specially prepared for the distinguished guest. Their steps were accompanied by guards and palace servants, but the atmosphere between the two was very quiet.

Eresia kept talking a lot, but seeing the change in Sylas’s face made her uneasy.

Sylas was still polite, but his attitude had grown distant. He looked at Eresia when they arrived in front of the room.

"Rest, Princess. You’ve just had a long journey. We’ll see each other more tomorrow. Tonight, we’ll have dinner together."

"I’m not tired. How about we go out today?" Eresia asked enthusiastically.

Sylas smiled gently. "I can’t refuse you, Princess. But you need your energy back. Please take a rest. We have prepared servants for you. Have a good rest," said Sylas, signaling the guards to do their duty.

Eresia said nothing more. When the door closed, she couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Sylas said nothing either. Alvaro and Amos both knew how Sylas felt without him saying a word. They couldn’t imagine the palace having a queen like Eresia. Perhaps the atmosphere would be very different.

"Do you want to go to the study?" asked Alvaro.

Sylas shook his head. "Let’s go to the room," he said.

Alvaro nodded.

Sylas tried to calm his emotions. He had to keep his mood in check. Then the image of Kai’s face appeared in his mind. It made him smile without realizing it. Something warm stirred in his chest. A better feeling.

Sylas asked Alvaro and Amos to stay outside. When he entered his room, his eyes immediately fell on the bed. He found Kai sitting there, reading a thin picture book. When he saw Sylas enter, Kai’s face lit up with joy.

"You can read?" Sylas asked with a smile. His eyes sparkled as he saw how happy the young man looked. For some reason, he felt very happy seeing the boy in his room.

Kai shook his head. Sean had kindly given him a book to look at while he waited in the room after bringing him breakfast.

Sylas saw that it was a children’s storybook with pictures filling every page. He knew it was for children as soon as he saw the picture of a duck on the front page.

"Study harder so you can read it," said Sylas, reaching for Kai’s waist.

"How’s your butt? Still sore?" Sylas asked.

Kai blushed when he felt Sylas’s hand rub his thigh, bare under the blanket.

Sylas chuckled softly, looking at him with amusement. "I’ve seen it all, and you’re still shy around me?"

Kai swallowed hard. He couldn’t explain why he was shy, but the strange feeling remained. He shook his head slightly.

"Let me see it," said Sylas, asking Kai to lie down.

The morning was bright in the room. The sudden cloudy weather made the atmosphere feel calmer. Sylas only meant to check on Kai, but he ended up staying until lunchtime, pampering his boy.

Sylas read several books, asking the waiter to return again and again to bring snacks. He could have strengthened his muscles with how many times he lifted Kai to the balcony, letting him see the garden below in the cloudy weather.

Sylas was amazed every time Kai smiled, his eyes narrowing and his cheeks flushed. Adorable.

Sylas insisted on having lunch in the room, even though Alvaro asked him to join the dining room at Adrien’s request.

"I’ll see him after lunch," said Sylas. He made sure Kai ate well.

Alvaro watched carefully. He was not only a royal knight, but also Sylas’s best friend. He had never seen the man so attached to someone.

"I think he can eat by himself. You know, His Majesty must have something important to discuss," said Alvaro.

"I know what he wants to say. Don’t worry, I’ll see him later," replied Sylas, cutting the meat on Kai’s plate for him.

"Eat slowly," Sylas told Kai.

Sylas’s body language showed how relaxed he felt at that moment. He kept leaning closer to Kai.

Alvaro sighed deeply. People in love were truly hopeless. It just felt strange to see a young king like this.

After calming his heart with Kai, Sylas went straight to King Adrien’s office. His father was studying a treaty document. Sir Bryon stood beside him, organizing several papers.

When Sylas entered, Adrien quickly asked him to sit. He was still busy with Bryon for a few more minutes.

Once Bryon left, Adrien looked directly at Sylas. "Why didn’t you have lunch with me?"

"I’m sorry, Father. I was with Kai today."

Adrien sighed. "How did it go? You talked to Princess Eresia, right?"

Sylas nodded. "Yes, Father. And you won’t believe what she did."

Sylas recounted their conversation, Eresia’s behavior, and what interested her. He also mentioned her rudeness.

Adrien smiled. "I’m not surprised. Seeing King Obaze, I’d be shocked if the girl had grown up any differently. King Obaze makes sure the women in his palace are spoiled and dependent. He doesn’t like women who defy men. So I’m sure you know what you’re dealing with."

Sylas sighed. "I can tolerate many things, but her attitude is really... I don’t understand her, Father. I’m not sure I can change her nature."

Adrien nodded. "Don’t worry. You have complete authority over her. As long as she’s here, you’re the one in control. Not her."

Sylas looked down, heavy-hearted. "I already told her I can’t possibly love her. I wish there were another way to form an alliance besides marriage."

Adrien’s eyes widened. "What are you saying? Are you out of your mind?"

Sylas straightened up with a determined look. "That’s right, Your Majesty. I don’t want to deceive a princess. She must know from the start that my love belongs to another man."

Adrien held his head. "You don’t know what you’re doing, Sylas! You’re walking into danger!"

Sylas didn’t regret it. His expression hardened, ready for any reaction. He would be king; he had to face difficult situations. "If she chooses to be angry or insulted, so be it. I’d rather have her know the truth now than marry her under false pretenses."

Sylas continued, "A woman who can’t handle a man’s honesty isn’t worth my time or crown."

Adrien fell silent, his face serious. He rose from his chair and walked slowly around the room. "My son, do you realize the consequences of those words? King Obaze will not remain silent if his daughter is humiliated. Have you thought this through?"

Sylas met his father’s eyes calmly. "I’m ready, Your Majesty. But I cannot betray my own heart. If this marriage only brings misery, to both me and Princess Eresia, wouldn’t that destroy the peace we want to build?"

Adrien was speechless. Suddenly, his shoulders felt heavy. "You’re completely insane, Sylas."

***

In the royal guest room, the atmosphere was tense. A servant sobbed with her head bowed, her back marked with thin whip lines. Eresia stood angrily, a small whip still in her hand.

"You fool! How many times do I have to tell you to put the jewels on the table to the left? How many times are you going to embarrass me?" she shouted.

The servant could only sob and beg for mercy. Several other servants looked shaken. The servants from Valigria, especially, were speechless at the princess’ behavior.

Eresia seemed determined to vent her anger and find someone to blame. She kept whipping the servant’s back.

Amidst the commotion, King Obaze entered calmly. His face was stern, his gaze sharp. "Eresia," he said flatly.

The girl gasped and quickly lowered her whip. "Father..."

Obaze looked at the trembling servant still kneeling. With a wave of his hand, the guards took the servant away. Now only father and daughter remained.

"My daughter," Obaze said in a deep voice, "you should not behave like that in front of another royal servant. You must mind your manners."

Eresia pouted. "He was out of line. Do you know she humiliated me in front of Sylas? I can’t believe I brought her here!"

Obaze frowned. "How is that possible?"

Eresia explained how incompetent the servant had been.

"I will make sure she is removed from the palace as soon as we return," he said, embarrassed that his servant might have made his daughter look bad.

Eresia nodded, hugging her father, then bit her lip. "Father, Sylas rejected me. He said his heart belongs to another man."

Obaze’s eyes widened, then his face darkened. "What do you mean?!" His voice boomed.

Eresia quickly added, "But don’t worry. I’ll win his heart soon."

Obaze clenched his fists, his expression unreadable. His daughter’s words echoed in his mind, fueling both anger and pride. A king’s pride could not accept such humiliation. Yet he forced himself to stay calm for Eresia’s sake.

"Win his heart?" he said firmly. "Insult is not an option."

He would never let Eresia suffer because of such a man.