*Knock! Knock!*
Albert waited for a moment outside the door after knocking on it but there was still no response from inside. They had arrived in the County of Westerfield days ago and Rhys had decided to settle down in an inn to rest.
His reasoning was that his retinue must be tired after such a rushed journey along the way. Now that the distance between the County of Westerfield and the Duchy of Rosewood was just two days, they should take their time to rest properly.
Albert wasn't able to understand this reasoning at all. When they left the border city of Ixtal, it seemed that His Highness Rhys was in a hurry to reach the Duchy of Rosewood. But as the distance decreased, so did his speed.
He lifted his hand, curled his fingers, and knocked on the door once again.
This time, he didn't wait for Rhys' answer and opened the door.
The room was shrouded in darkness as the thick curtains were drawn, not allowing the sunlight to slip in. Albert frowned inconspicuously as he was faced with the darkness in the door. He walked over to open the curtains.
Once the curtains were pulled, the entire room turned bright. Albert turned around. The bed was empty and the person he was looking for was actually lounging on the récamier with his eyes closed and his arms crossed against his chest. His back was resting against the long, upholstered backrest that was curved and rolled.
"M'lord," Albert called out but there was no response from Rhys.
As Albert stepped closer, he was actually stunned. Because he realized that Rhys seemed to be sleeping peacefully with his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. His face was relaxed and calm. His dark hair touselled and fell over his forehead carelessly. He was still dressed in the same clothes that he wore in the morning at breakfast when Albert saw him.
Albert didn't think that the récaimer was that comfortable. Even Rhys' legs didn't fit on this standard-sized récaimer. Although his head was resting on the rolled backrest, Albert was certain that it'd make anyone's neck stiff. And yet, Rhys seemed to be in a peaceful sleep. Even his usual sharpness was nowhere to be seen.
No one was more familiar with Rhys' sleeping habits than Albert and that's why he was caught so off guard at this moment. When was even the last time he had seen His Highness Rhys taking a nap during the day?! This prince even had difficulties sleeping at night and yet, here he was sleeping during the day?
Albert didn't want to disturb his rest. It was rare to see Rhys resting properly. So, he went to find a soft blanket and covered Rhys with it. However, this movement ended up waking Rhys. As soon as Rhys' eyes opened, there was a terrifying sharpness and killing intent in those dark orbs.
But Albert wasn't fazed. In fact, he even heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed it was still the same Rhys Crown. It was just that his vigilance was lowered today for some reason. Perhaps because they weren't in the border city anymore where the danger always lurked.
"I didn't mean to wake you, M'lord," said Albert as he stood at attention before Rhys.
Rhys looked at the soft blanket and then at Albert before asking uncertainly, "I slept?"
"Yes," replied Albert.
Rhys' brows knitted up, "I didn't even notice when you came in."
"You seemed to be in deep sleep," said Albert.
"Deep sleep?" Rhys repeated those two words. After all, he had never had anything to do with 'deep sleep'. He always stayed half-awake and vigilant since he was young. Not just because he had to protect himself from everyone who wanted to harm him but also because he had to protect himself from his own self.
His powers were like a terrifying force that not only was dangerous to others but to himself as well. If he really allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep, he might not even be able to wake up because he knew his power would take control over him. And then it'd be a disaster.
"Are you feeling okay?" asked Albert in concern since he was also familiar with the specialty of Rhys' powers. That's why he always stayed around when Rhys was sleeping so that he'd be able to help if anything got out of control.
"I feel well rested," was Rhys' answer. "And very light."
Albert nodded his head and actually relaxed, "It's good that you've managed to get the rest you deserve." He took a pause and asked, "M'lord, have you been feeling different these days?"
"What do you mean?" asked Rhys as he pulled off the blanket from his body and sat up.
"Your always restless powers seem to have gone dormant," Albert pointed out. "Although it's good news, at the same time, it's worrying. With the situation of the border city of Ixtal, we can't be certain if something has gone wrong with you."
"I know it best," said Rhys. "My powers are usually liked an untamed beast roaring at me all the time. But these days, it's like the beast has been tamed. That's why it feels like my powers have gone dormant. Trust me, the powers are still here. They are just behaving themselves."
Albert didn't reply. He always found it very interesting how Rhys addressed his powers as if they were living being. But calling it an untamed beast wasn't wrong either. Although this untamed beast hurt others, it also hurt Rhys himself. Now, that it was behaving, it was actually a good thing. Maybe he was really just being, paranoid.
"Then what do you think brought this change?" inquired Albert curiously. "If my calculation is right, it started from that night you had the encounter with that 'thief'."
Rhys' thoughts also went back to that night and he fell into deep thought. It seemed, Albert was right. This change really began that night. He just didn't pay attention to it.