CHAPTER 30: SYLAS AND VLAD

Alvaro lowered Kai to the ground, ready with a branch and a rock in his hands. Sylas did the same.

"Who are you?" Alvaro asked sharply, worried the man might be one of Virouse’s soldiers.

Vlad stood calmly, not looking at anyone except Kai, who was now kneeling on the ground, trembling.

"Kai... should I introduce myself to your master?" Vlad asked calmly, a smile never leaving his lips.

Kai swallowed hard and shook his head. "M-Master... please forgive me..."

Kai wanted to say he wanted to stay with Sylas, but he couldn’t get the words out. His voice stuck in his throat, and his heart pounded wildly.

How had Vlad found him here?

The memory of the dead slave, then Hein—who had been tortured until he lost his hand—made Kai instantly sick. His body tensed, and cold sweat began to form.

He was going to die.

He was definitely going to die.

His body went limp, trembling.

"Let’s go back," Vlad said, extending his hand.

Kai swallowed hard. He didn’t want to go with that man, especially not now. He knew that if he went back, he’d be walking straight to his death. But could he refuse?

He was so scared that tears welled up in his eyes.

"You don’t want to imagine what I’ll do if you make me angry right now," Vlad added, his voice still calm.

Alvaro and Sylas looked at each other. Who was that man? But Kai knew him. They waited to see what Kai would do.

Kai swallowed hard. He lowered his head. In that moment, he looked at Sylas with desperation. He wanted to follow him, but he couldn’t even control his own body.

Kai looked at Vlad, then bowed his head again. "P-please forgive me, Master... don’t kill me," Kai said softly.

Vlad smirked. "Choose: come with me, or him. If you choose him, I’ll have no choice but to kill them both."

Kai was shocked. He shook his head quickly. "No... please, don’t kill them..."

He knew how powerful Vlad was. That man wasn’t human. Killing Sylas and Alvaro would be easy for him. He didn’t want them to die because of him.

He quickly stood and limped toward Vlad. It was better if he died instead.

But Vlad stopped him. "You know the rules," he said.

Kai stopped, swallowing hard. He had to strip naked and crawl.

But here?

Did he have any other choice?

No. Of course not.

Kai paused, lowered his head, then took off his clothes.

Sylas and Alvaro were shocked by what they saw. They were even more horrified when the slave dropped to all fours and crawled toward Vlad.

Sylas frowned in disgust at the scene in front of him. How could the slave be so afraid? He could tell Vlad wasn’t a good man.

Kai’s hands and knees hurt from scraping against the bushes, branches, and pebbles. But he didn’t care. He couldn’t let Sylas die. He would do anything.

Sylas clenched his fists.

"Kai, stop." He walked over to Kai, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to his feet. He glared at Vlad with a sharp gaze.

"Who are you?" Sylas demanded.

Vlad walked closer, sensing something familiar that caught his attention. He stared at Sylas for a moment before grinning.

He recognized the figure in front of him. The heir to the kingdom. He had met the prince several times when Sylas was still a child. He could see it in Sylas’s features and the aura coming from his body, as well as his unique scent.

"Your Highness, I never expected to meet you in the middle of a forest like this. Time really flies. You’ve grown so much," Vlad said, bowing politely but not hiding the smirk on his lips.

Sylas was startled. How did this man know who he was?

Alvaro stood in front of Sylas protectively. "Who are you?!"

Vlad smiled. "It doesn’t matter who I am. I am that slave’s master. Forgive my boldness, but I must take him back."

Sylas shook his head. "You can take him—if you treat him well. He’s not a slave. I bought him and freed him."

"I found him, and he’s my slave. I can do whatever I want with him."

Sylas glared. "He is not a slave!" he declared.

Vlad chuckled. "If I say he’s a slave, then he is, Your Highness."

Silence. Then Sylas firmly said, "Sir, please leave. I will not let Kai go with a man like you."

Vlad was amused. He stepped toward Sylas, but Alvaro blocked him.

"Don’t you dare touch him!" Alvaro shouted. He shoved Vlad’s body away.

But in the next second, Alvaro was caught off guard. Vlad’s reflexes were incredibly fast. He grabbed Alvaro’s hand and locked his grip around the knight’s neck.

Alvaro froze. He couldn’t breathe. Vlad’s grip was so tight it hurt. He couldn’t move.

"Arghh... l-let go of me!" Alvaro growled, struggling violently. But Vlad didn’t budge.

Kai was terrified. He feared what Vlad might do to Alvaro.

"Let him go!" Sylas ordered, alarmed at Alvaro’s pale face.

Vlad didn’t look away from Alvaro. His once calm and sharp eyes now stared deeply. His pupils dilated. He looked into Alvaro as if searching his soul.

The smirk disappeared.

Alvaro was still struggling. He stared at Vlad as the man whispered something to him. Then Vlad suddenly released his grip from his neck.

Alvaro was stunned and confused.

"Larue..."

Alvaro frowned in confusion but kept struggling, trying to kick Vlad off. "Let me go!"

Then Alvaro’s eyes widened when Vlad pulled him into an embrace. The man’s body was muscular and broad. Alvaro hated being touched—especially by strangers—but something in his chest made him freeze.

His heart felt warm.

Vlad inhaled Alvaro’s scent. It was different from the Larue he once knew. But the gaze in his eyes, the shape of his face—everything reminded him of the man who had broken his heart twenty-five years ago.

Was Larue really reborn? In the same kingdom?

Vlad didn’t want to believe it, but he couldn’t deny it either. If Alvaro was Larue’s reincarnation, he needed time to accept it—but right now, he just wanted Larue by his side.

Alvaro felt tightness in his chest. He couldn’t breathe. But Vlad’s hug was too tight.

"Can you let me go?" Alvaro snapped.

"Larue, don’t you recognize me?"

"Who the hell is Larue? I’m not Larue!"

"You are Larue."

"I’m not!"

"You are, if I say so. Let’s go home."

"What?" Alvaro glared at Vlad as he released him. He quickly pulled his hand away and stepped back.

Sylas didn’t understand what was going on. He quickly stepped in. "Sir, we’re very busy and need to return to the palace. Please don’t block our way."

Vlad glanced at Sylas, then looked back at Alvaro. He had forgotten about Kai.

"I’m taking him with me," he said without asking.

Alvaro grabbed a branch and swung it at Vlad. But Vlad dodged easily and in the next moment, he was behind Alvaro, twisting his arm and knocking the branch away.

Before Alvaro could react, he felt his body lifted into the air. His eyes widened.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Alvaro shouted in fear, realizing he was flying!

"You won’t like it if I drop you from here," Vlad said, chuckling.

"No! I have to go back!" Alvaro yelled. He couldn’t leave Sylas alone. He struggled.

Vlad was startled, and Alvaro slipped from his grasp. Alvaro panicked. He reached for the air—he was going to die!

Luckily, Vlad moved fast, catching Alvaro’s body again and landing on a tree.

Alvaro was speechless. He was too shocked. His soul felt like it had left his body. Who knows what might have happened if Vlad hadn’t caught him?

"Do you want to die that badly?" Vlad asked.

Alvaro glared. "I have to go back!" he shouted.

"You’ll go back, to your real home," Vlad replied.