Chapter 10: The System of Rewards and Punishments
The day after the forest incident, Kai sat in his study, staring lazily out the window, the soft breeze ruffling the curtains. The mansion was quiet, a stillness that reflected the tension hanging in the air. The three men, his devoted companions, had been watching him closely all morning. Their eyes followed him with an intensity that felt... almost suffocating.
Kai didn't mind it, not really. He had gotten used to their ever-watchful presence, but something had to change. The obsession was growing deeper, more evident in every little thing they did. Noah's tentacles would twitch whenever Kai got too far from him, Charles would follow him like a shadow, and Edward—well, Edward was always there, his gaze never straying far from Kai's form.
It was time for a talk.
Kai wasn't one to do these kinds of things often. In fact, he hated having serious conversations. But today, the weight of their unspoken thoughts pressed down on him. He could feel their need for him growing heavier with every passing moment. And as much as he liked the attention, he didn't want to lose his sense of control.
Sighing, Kai stood up and stretched, his back cracking as he made his way toward the drawing room. Edward, Charles, and Noah were all waiting there, as expected. Their eyes locked onto him the moment he entered, and Kai didn't miss the way their gazes followed his every movement.
"Sit," Kai said lazily, waving a hand in the air as he took a seat himself.
The three men hesitated for a brief second before obediently sitting down around him, their postures stiff, almost like they were on edge. It made Kai smile inwardly. As much as they seemed to try to hide it, they were utterly consumed by him. It was both amusing and... slightly overwhelming.
Kai waited for a moment, letting the silence linger, before he finally spoke up. "We need to talk."
Edward, ever the calm one, was the first to speak. "About what, my lord?"
Kai didn't mince words. "About you three and how you've been acting."
Noah's tentacles twitched slightly, and Charles's ears drooped just a fraction. It was clear they knew exactly what he meant. The possessiveness, the constant hovering, the overwhelming need for his attention. They were all aware, but they were too deep in it to pull back now.
"I know you all are... attached," Kai said, his voice light, but there was a coolness to it, a distance that had returned ever since the walk in the forest. "And I know I've been too... lazy to really notice until now, but this needs to stop. It's getting out of hand."
Edward straightened his back, his eyes sharp, though there was a glimmer of concern there. "We haven't meant to—"
"I know," Kai interrupted, raising a hand lazily. "I get it. But I can't keep going like this. You're all getting too clingy. Too obsessed. It's... affecting everything."
Noah's tentacles wrapped tighter around his body, as if trying to suppress his discomfort. "We didn't mean to overstep."
Charles, ever the quiet one, was the most visibly affected. His tails, which usually swayed gracefully, now twitched nervously behind him. "Are... are we doing something wrong?" His voice was soft, vulnerable.
Kai looked at the three of them, his gaze softening. They were too much, but they were also his. Their feelings for him, though overbearing, weren't born from malice—they were born from need, from longing. They wanted him. Needed him. And for some reason, that made Kai feel a strange mix of satisfaction and unease.
He took a deep breath and then spoke again, his tone light but firm. "Here's the deal. I'm not going to let you all suffocate me, but I also don't want to deal with this endless cycle of possessiveness and jealousy. So, I'm going to set up... a system."
"A system?" Edward repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Kai nodded, leaning back into his chair with an almost lazy ease. "Yes. A system. If you want my attention, you'll have to earn it. If you're good and stay in control, you'll get a reward. If you act out, if you start getting too... obsessive, then there will be punishment."
Noah's tentacles twitched nervously again, but his eyes were intense. "And what kind of... rewards and punishments?"
Kai smirked, looking at each of them with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "The rewards... well, I'm sure you'll find them to your liking. I'll give you the attention and affection you crave, but only when you deserve it. As for the punishments... they won't be anything too harsh. Just enough to remind you to behave."
Charles looked slightly alarmed, his ears standing up as he glanced nervously between the others. "What kind of punishments?"
Kai waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing too bad. Just something to make you understand that you can't just throw yourselves at me without thought. Maybe I'll withhold something you want for a day or make you wait for my attention. You know, simple stuff like that."
Edward's gaze was unwavering, but there was a subtle tension in his posture. "And if we're good?" he asked quietly.
Kai smiled, the look on his face almost wicked. "If you're good, I'll be more than generous. You'll have my full attention. My affection. I'll even spoil you a little. You'll be rewarded with everything you want. But it has to be earned. All of it."
The three men exchanged uncertain glances. It was a strange concept, one that was both intriguing and unnerving. But, at the same time, it made sense. Kai had always been unpredictable, and this... system, this way of managing their obsession, was something they could get behind. It wasn't what they had expected, but it was enough.
"Understood," Edward said first, his tone steady, though the glint in his eyes betrayed a deeper understanding.
Noah nodded slowly. "We'll try," he murmured, though his voice held a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Charles was the last to speak, his voice soft but resolute. "We'll do our best, Kai."
Kai nodded, satisfied with their response. "Good. I don't want to make this hard, but if I see any of you stepping out of line, there will be consequences. Keep it under control, and you'll get what you want. But cross the line, and you'll regret it."
They all nodded in agreement, each of them feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. The system had been set, and now they would have to navigate this new dynamic. Kai was still Kai, as lazy and indifferent as ever, but now he had them wrapped around his finger more than ever.
And they knew, deep down, that they would do whatever it took to earn his affection, to remain in his good graces, to keep him close.