The next day, Kaelan sat in his room after breakfast, noticing something strange: none of the servants or maids who had bullied him were around. It seemed the Duke had dismissed them. "They really do care for Kaelan," he muttered under his breath, feeling a strange sense of relief.
He now had a new maid named Elara. She was about fifteen, just a year younger than him.
Elara had large, round hazel eyes that sparkled with youthful curiosity and energy. Her light brown hair was tied in two neat braids that hung over her shoulders, and her fair complexion was flushed slightly, giving her an innocent and approachable look. She wore a standard maid's uniform: a simple white dress with a black apron, though it seemed slightly oversized for her small frame.
His day had begun with a soft knock on his door before she entered with a wide smile. "Good morning, young Master Kaelan!" she said, her voice bright and cheerful.
Kaelan, still in bed and having just woken up, stared at her for a moment, unsure how to react. He coughed lightly and replied, "Good morning."
"My name is Elara, and I'll be looking after you from now on! I've just been hired. Before this, I worked for the Duchess. She's such a kind woman! When she told me I'd be assigned to you, I was so happy!" she continued, opening the curtains and windows, flooding the room with sunlight.
"When I first saw you, I thought I was looking at a god! The older maids teased me a lot about it," she added with a small laugh, turning and stepping closer. "I'm still learning the ropes, but I promise I'll do my best!" she said, her hazel eyes bright with determination as she looked at him.
Kaelan nodded at her with a small smile.
"Ah, young Master Kaelan, you shouldn't smile like that! Otherwise, everyone will fall in love with you!" Elara teased, grinning.
Kaelan chuckled softly.
"Shall I pick your clothes for today?" she asked.
"No, I can manage," Kaelan replied.
"Alright then, I'll be going," she said, giving a quick curtsy before leaving the room.
After breakfast, Kaelan had taken a walk in the garden with Elara, who chatted endlessly about everything she knew. She spoke of the flowers blooming in vibrant colors, the birds that flitted between the trees, and the stories she had heard from the older maids. In the end, she seemed unhappy to be apart from him when he mentioned he had a class with the Count.
Kaelan sighed, wondering where that small girl got so much energy. Just then, the door opened, and he looked to see who it was. Of course, it was the Count, coming in without knocking.
The Count walked in slowly and closed the door behind him. He wore a tailored suit that made him look sharp. He looked at Kaelan, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. A smirk appeared on his face as he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, well, young Master Kaelan," he said, licking his lips as he gazed at Kaelan. "What a delightful sight you make on the bed."
Kaelan wore a loose, soft linen shirt in cream that moved easily with him. He had on dark, baggy trousers tied at the waist with a cord, giving him freedom to move. His bare feet rested on the cool bedding, adding to his relaxed look. His hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, highlighting his youthful features.
As the Count's comment washed over him, Kaelan felt a wave of discomfort. He quickly stood up, trying to regain his composure.
"Let's get started," the Count continued, moving toward the desk and setting his books down. Kaelan took his seat, trying to focus as the Count began explaining today's lesson. However, he felt a creeping discomfort as the Count stood behind him, leaning in too close. His hand brushed against Kaelan's shoulder, lingering longer than necessary. Kaelan's body stiffened, the warmth of the Count's presence making him feel trapped.
As the Count's voice droned on, Kaelan's mind raced. Maybe I should talk to the Duke about this.
"Are you paying attention, Kaelan?" the Count asked, leaning in closer.
"Y-yes," Kaelan replied, forcing himself to concentrate.
"Good. Did you use a different soap from yesterday? It smells nice on you," the Count said, his nose nearly touching Kaelan as he sniffed him.
Before Kaelan could respond or stop the Count, a stern voice cut through the air.
"Count!" The Duke's voice was sharp and commanding.
Kaelan's heart raced as he looked to the side and saw the Duke and Cedric standing there, having entered unnoticed from the balcony. Both were tall, their expressions dark and serious. The Count visibly tensed and stepped back, quickly changing his demeanor.
"Ah, Duke, Cedric," he started, his tone overly friendly.
At that moment, the bedroom door opened, and Nathiel stepped into the room, having been just behind the door. His face was filled with anger, and it was clear he had heard everything.
The Duke's gaze was cold as he spoke. "Count, you are dismissed. Nathiel, take the Count away. I will personally deal with him later."
"Yes, my lord," Nathiel replied, stepping forward to grab the Count's arm.
The Count's face turned pale. "Wait! You misunderstood, Duke!" he protested as Nathiel led him out of the room.
Cedric added, "Father, I'll join you as well. I need a new dummy to train." The Duke nodded.
Kaelan stood up from his seat, relief washing over him.
The Duke turned to Kaelan, his expression softening. "I apologize for what you've endured, Kaelan," he said, stepping closer.
"It's alright, Father," Kaelan said softly.
Cedric then asked, "How long has this been happening?"
Kaelan hesitated, recalling from the original memories that felt both distant and vivid. "Since I was six," he finally answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Both the Duke and Cedric gasped, their faces hardening as Kaelan felt a wave of killing intent radiating from them.
"Rest," the Duke commanded, his tone a mix of firmness and gentleness. "We have much work to do. We'll see you at dinner." He shared a look with Cedric, who nodded in agreement, their determination clear. Kaelan understood that they would confront the Count, and the thought brought him a sense of relief.
Once alone, he went to his bed and laid back, a smile creeping onto his face as he finally felt safe. Exhausted, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.