CHAPTER 21: SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Kai stood silently, staring at Obi, who was frozen in place, staring back at him. He was sharp enough to recognize the disapproving look in the boy’s eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder—had he done something wrong?

Kai noticed a cloth bag in Obi’s hand, with a few pieces of bread visible inside. In the other hand was a chicken, limp and motionless.

He didn’t say a word, just quietly observed everything—but his focus was on Obi’s expression, which had turned irritated. The boy immediately frowned.

Obi hurried over to someone standing under a vine, their body mostly hidden. It was an old woman. Her head and hands were visible as she took the items from Obi’s hands.

Kai was stunned when he noticed the door behind the woman. When he had walked around with Obi yesterday, he hadn’t seen it. But now he understood why—because just a moment later, the door closed behind her.

Obi adjusted the vine above it, making it nearly impossible for anyone to notice there was even a door there.

Kai stood still as Obi quickly returned to him.

He flinched when the boy suddenly grabbed his hand roughly. He tried to keep up to avoid falling. Even though Obi was still young, he was strong enough to make Kai struggle to keep up.

"P-please... I can’t walk f-fast...," Kai murmured weakly. His body ached everywhere, especially his back, and the boy was pulling him forward with no mercy.

Obi tightened his grip and quickly led him around the corner when he spotted Gim heading toward the furnace. The giant man yawned as he opened the wood storage shed.

They hid in the darkness, squeezed between the slave quarters and the kitchen.

"Listen—whatever happens, don’t tell anyone what you saw earlier! I’m serious. You know how cruel Master Vlad can be. If I get caught stealing food, I’m dead," Obi hissed, his tone starting as a threat but softening into a plea. He must’ve remembered what Vlad had just done to Hein.

"W-why did you do it?" Kai asked, confused. If Obi understood the risks, why take them?

Obi was quiet for a moment before answering. "You wouldn’t understand. Just promise you won’t tell anyone. Not even my mother."

Kai swallowed hard. Obi’s request made his chest tighten. He knew he shouldn’t say anything—but what if Vlad asked him directly? Could he lie to Vlad? What would happen if he did?

He was too scared to promise. But Obi’s expression made him feel bad.

"I can’t promise," Kai admitted. "But I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything."

He tensed when Obi gripped his arm tighter. "You HAVE to promise!" he hissed again.

Kai shook his head. Vlad had been furious when he tried to cover up what Hein did. As a slave, his only purpose was to please his master.

Obi didn’t look satisfied, but he let go. Then he suddenly noticed—Kai was completely naked.

"Why are you naked like this outside?" Obi asked, narrowing his eyes as if searching for something to use against him. Wasn’t Vlad brought him to his room? Did he run away?

Kai looked down. He had wanted to go back to his room earlier, but after seeing Obi, he’d followed him. Now he was weak and on the verge of fainting.

"Can... I have some food?" Kai asked softly.

"Did you run away from Master?" Obi asked accusingly.

Kai shook his head quickly. "I-I was kicked out..."

Obi was about to respond when a distant sound of violin music drifted through the air. He went silent. They were used to hearing that melody in the early morning. It meant Vlad was deep in thought.

Kai’s chest always felt strange whenever he heard that heart-wrenching tune. It was beautiful, but also deeply unsettling.

"Hey! What are you doing there?!" Gim’s voice rang out, startling them both.

Obi quickly stepped in front of Kai. "I-I was taking Kai back to his room. Master Vlad kicked him out," he said quickly.

Gim stared at them in the shadows. "Then what are you standing around for? Get going. And you should go back to bed!" the giant man barked.

Obi nodded.

Kai, too weak to keep standing, slowly dropped to his knees. His stomach ached. When Obi turned to him, he was surprised to see Kai crumpled on the ground.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked.

Kai looked up, his expression pleading. "I-I’m sorry... But I’m really hungry..."

In the darkness, Obi couldn’t see Kai’s trembling hands, but he helped him to his feet anyway.

"We’re going back to your room. And remember—if anyone finds out what I did, it means you talked. You know what the consequences will be," Obi whispered, a quiet warning.

Kai didn’t say anything. He kept his head low and followed as Obi led him back. The boy fastened the chain to the collar around Kai’s neck and quickly left the room.

Kai sat on the floor, hugging his knees, leaning against the edge of the bed. His lips were dry. His entire body ached. He was used to this state—but tonight, he felt especially miserable.

Meanwhile, Obi was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to get out of this mess. He always executed his plans carefully. He knew what he was doing. This was the first time someone had caught him. He was nervous—especially if Vlad ever found out.

He went to the kitchen, grabbed some leftover fruit and cookies, and poured some milk. Then he headed back to Kai’s room.

Just then, he heard Gim’s loud cursing outside.

"Damn it! Two chickens disappeared yesterday—and now another one’s gone! Who’s stealing them?! If I catch that thief, I’ll cut their throat!" Gim snarled as he stomped around, searching for the missing animal.

He glared at the nearby guards, who were asleep in random corners. That only made him more furious. "You’re always sleeping! Don’t you see anything?! What’s the point of having you around?!"

One of the guards jolted awake, groaning as he held his head.

Obi watched quietly from the shadows as he made his way toward Kai’s room. He had drugged the guards’ food to make them sleep—something he rarely did. Usually, he only stole once a week. Chickens were difficult to take. But Omara needed them. The old woman had too many mouths to feed.

Vlad strictly forbade them from interacting with villagers. If he found out, he’d be furious. So Obi made the choice himself. He had been doing this for weeks—and until now, no one had caught him.

Now, he was worried Kai might expose everything. He had to do something.

He’d try to take the slave to the market tomorrow, Obi decided.

When he got to Kai’s room, he gave him the food and crouched down beside him. "Do you want to walk to the market tomorrow?" he asked.

Kai’s eyes were fixed on the food, practically drooling. But when he heard the word "walk," he grew more curious. He looked at Obi—was he serious?

But Obi’s expression was firm. He was waiting for an answer.

Kai nodded eagerly. "C-can I?"

Obi gave a faint smile. "Of course. Leave it to me," he said. "Now eat."

Kai grabbed the cookie with both hands and stuffed it into his mouth. He was thrilled. The thought of going outside tomorrow made his heart race. What would the market be like? Would there be other slaves? Did they sell slaves there too?