Everything went pretty smoothly, except for Egor's appearance. This guy always does what he wants. But now, sitting in the first room he came across, all alone, Klaus thought that everything was for the best. What Egor saw. What Klaus did. The fear that gripped the young man from another world. All this would help Egor wake up and rethink his choice.
Why was Klaus's heart clenching now? Why was it becoming hard to breathe? He had done what he had to. Egor would have to meet this side of the prince. Sooner or later. The future king caught himself thinking that he would not want this, no matter what.
It was too late to change anything now, and even if Klaus had been given the chance to do otherwise, he would have done it anyway. It had to be that way. The country came first. Now he understood his father's words, which he had often repeated to Klaus in childhood. "The king has no heart, only a cold mind." Yes, now Klaus would not have refused to have no heart either, but it was too late.
The door slowly opened. Klaus did not need to turn around to understand who those quiet and uncertain steps belonged to. He did not turn around.
"Go away," was all he said.
The steps froze, but then the legs moved again, more confidently.
"I told you to go away."
"I want to talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"But I think there is something to talk about."
Klaus could not resist and turned to face the guest. Egor froze. He was holding a small basin of water and a rag. There was a towel hanging over his shoulder.
"What is this?" Klaus was surprised.
"You are covered in blood, you need to wash it off. At least from your hands and face."
"I will deal with it myself later."
"I don't think so, that's why I decided to take care of you myself."
"Egor, what do you want?"
"I just told you," the young man answered, putting the basin on the floor. With each new word, his voice sounded more confident and familiar. "Sit down."
Klaus sat down. Egor wet the rag in warm water and began to carefully wipe the prince's face. The water in the basin turned crimson after the first rinse, and Egor sighed in irritation.
"No, that won't do. I'll just smear it all over your face now."
"I told you that I'll deal with it myself later."
"Those of the slaves who decided to stay here have heated up the soldiers' bathhouse and have already prepared a bath for you."
"Egor, what happened today..."
"You don't need to explain anything to me. Forgive me. I was really shocked... But I understand that if you did that, there was simply no other option. It's even harder for you than it is for me."
"How can you say that after what I did in front of you?" Klaus got furious.
"And how can you always doubt my words? I told you, no matter what happens, I will always be on your side! I knew, I knew from the very beginning what your country is like. I knew how you were raised. I knew what was valued and respected in Isorobia. Do you think I'm so stupid that I couldn't imagine something like that? I agree, imagining a bloody war and seeing hundreds of people executed are two different things, but I managed."
With each new sentence, Egor raised his voice and by the end he was almost shouting. Klaus had not expected this, so now he stood there as if thunderstruck. He stretched out his hands to Egor's face, but seeing that they were still covered in blood, he pulled them back.
"Forgive me."
"What are you asking for forgiveness for?" Egor asked in a hoarse voice.
"For doubting your words."
A smile blossomed on the blond guy's face, and he hugged Klaus, pressing his whole body against him, getting dirty in the blood of the prince's enemies.
"Now we need to take a bath together," Egor noted, looking at the stains on his shirt with displeasure.
"Then I'm ready to do it right now," Klaus almost smiled.
The blood had dried so much to his skin that Egor had to scrub Klaus with a washcloth until he was red. Scrubbing the evidence of the prince's cold-bloodedness from his own skin, Egor wondered how many more times he would have to see a picture like this. He was not afraid of the ruthless Klaus. Not anymore, after he saw that the prince cared. Yes, the young man did not understand why it was necessary to kill everyone, but he decided not to ask unnecessary questions, not only because he believed that Klaus knew better how to seize power in his world.
What Egor was most afraid of was hearing that Klaus liked it. He didn't want his beloved to suffer, but at the same time he hoped that Klaus was hurt by what he had to do. He wouldn't leave an heir and wouldn't give him to anyone, even if all these murders brought him pleasure. That's why he didn't ask questions. The answers wouldn't change anything anyway, and blissful ignorance would allow Egor to continue to find only positive traits in his beloved, untainted by the cruelty of the surrounding world.
"Are we going back to the city or staying here?"
"We? You go to the city, and I stay here. I hope that the highborn will not drag it out, and tomorrow we will receive the first news."
"Why can't I stay too? It is as safe here now as in the underground city. I don't want to hang around there for two weeks all alone!"
"You can use this time usefully and strengthen your muscles. Despite how much effort Gorald put into you, you have not changed at all."
"That's not true! I have become more resilient! It is not my fault that I have such a build and no matter how much physical exercise I do, muscles do not grow on it," Egor was offended.
"You say that you have become more resilient?" Klaus grinned. "Then, so be it, today you can stay at the estate. We will conduct... An endurance test!"
"What are you talking about? I am not in the mood to run a marathon."
"I know a nicer way," Klaus grinned and kissed Egor, pressing the young man closer to himself with one hand.
"Aaa," Egor blushed, "I think I understood what kind of endurance test you were talking about."
"I knew you were quick-witted. That's it, have you rubbed all the skin off me? Can we go now? Today, more than ever, I want to be alone with you."
Egor blushed even more. He still couldn't believe that Klaus belonged to him and every time they had sex, he acted like it was the first time, but the prince skillfully knocked all the embarrassment out of the blond head.
***
August sat in a chair with a glass of wine. After the execution, Klaus left, leaving everything else to him. Well, August did not protest. He listened to the wishes of the now former slaves, sent those who wanted to join to the underground city. Those of the servants who wanted to stay and work he sent away, promising to discuss the conditions of their work in the coming days. With those who wanted to return to their families, it was more difficult. All the slaves came from completely different places and delivering everyone safe and sound is not an easy task. The captain delegated the compilation of the list and the possibility of shortening the route with portals to one of the assistants.
Horald was in full charge of the soldiers, which made August's job easier, but despite the considerable help, he managed to finish everything before dark.
Now August regretted that the room Klaus had chosen for himself was behind the wall. The captain heard muffled sounds, laughter and chatter. His heart sank. What was it? Resentment? Jealousy? A sense of loss? Perhaps all at once.
He was used to Klaus being so friendly only with him. He thought that his unsociable younger brother would never change. He wished that Klaus would remain a loner, accepting only August.
Now, finishing his second bottle of wine, the captain was struck by the thought that he himself was essentially to blame for the entire situation. If he had chosen a different way to save the prince from assassination that day. If the portal had been working. If he had told Klaus that he was alive earlier. So many "ifs" were spinning in his head.
Regret. That was the feeling that was overwhelming him now. He regretted countless mistakes. He regretted his overconfidence. He regretted that he couldn't just be happy for his beloved brother now.
August put down his glass when the sun had almost risen and the sounds from the next room had died down. Alcohol always helped him with insomnia. And now, as soon as the captain's head touched the pillow, he immediately fell asleep.