"Hey, young master, wake up!"
"Come on, Tual, put some effort in."
Chao Zhenyu's brow furrowed. He turned over.
"Young master, wake up!!"
When Chao Zhenyu didn't react, there was a long pause.
Finally. Seems like they've given up-
"ZAIN VALEFOR, WAKE UP!!!"
Chao Zhenyu immediately jumped in bed with a start. In front of him were Ethel and Tual. The former had a large grin on her face, and she winked when they made eye contact. The latter, on the other hand, was relentlessly fidgeting, nervously staring at Ethel.
Fucking hell.
"See, Tual, you've gotta be more aggressive with him. Otherwise, you're just gonna get discarded… like the others."
"B-But… Ethel…"
Chao Zhenyu had just about enough. He tossed his pillow at them in anger, accurately hitting the center of Ethel's face.
"You…!"
"What?"
Ethel swallowed back the swears in her throat. The act of throwing had shifted the blanket, bringing attention to Chao Zhenyu's torso. He was currently wearing a thin tank top, the slightly translucent fabric teasing pale skin and hints of muscle. Glimpses of his chest were revealed too, beads of sweat dripping down his splayed collarbone.
Chao Zhenyu sighed, and combed through his hair with his fingers. Strands of ink messily covered his face, his violet pupils hidden under long, trembling eyelashes.
Like the body of a boy becoming a man, Ethel thought.
It was way too hot. The afternoon nap practically baked him under those blankets. Uncomfortable, Chao Zhenyu raised his slender hands to lift his tank top-
Suddenly, a pillow smacked him right in the face. Chao Zhenyu tasted feathers on his tongue.
"Ethel, you-"
"That's what you get for throwing it first," Ethel scoffed. Her body was turned, head facing the door. "The mistress is calling you for supper tonight, young master. Better hurry up and get dressed."
At the two's childish fight, Tual could only look back and forth, lips parted.
Chao Zhenyu paused. Supper…?
Since he arrived in this world, he had always eaten in his room. He must've grown accustomed to it, for he completely neglected the fact that there probably was a dining room. It must've been because he was sick.
But did they usually eat together?
Chao Zhenyu suddenly thought of something he had forgotten.
"Tual, did mother send you my coming-of-age invitations?"
Tual paused, before shaking his head, leading Chao Zhenyu to frown. It didn't seem like his mother was the type to forget such a matter.
I'll just have to ask her later.
"Young master, I should get going too," Tual hastily said. "The head servant's been calling me."
"...Alright," Chao Zhenyu replied. "When did you start listening to her every beck and call?"
He had forgotten to ask Tual last time. The memory of him, a young master's personal servant, getting scolded over spilled water was still clear in Chao Zhenyu's mind.
"Young master," Tual sheepishly grinned. "You must've forgotten, but I once made the mistake of not scrubbing the bottom of your slippers, causing you to… send me to the head servant for lessons."
Chao Zhenyu stared blankly at him. Did the bottom of slippers need to be cleaned?
"But, uh, never again, young master! This servant has been diligently learning ever since-"
"You don't need to anymore."
Tual's eyes widened. He immediately fell to his knees.
"Y-Young master!!" He cried, cowering as he kneeled. "This servant-"
"No, that's not what I-" Chao Zhenyu interrupted, standing up. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, before reaching out a hand in front of Tual.
Forget it. Perhaps it's best if I directly show my sincerity.
When Chao Zhenyu stopped speaking, Tual raised his head bit by bit. The moment he caught a glimpse of the outstretched palm, his eyes widened. His lips parted, as if wanting to say something. But as he stared into Chao Zhenyu's eyes, he must have realized something, for he didn't utter a word. Slowly, he raised his own hand, until their fingers made contact.
Warm. The boy's hand is warm.
With a single twist, Chao Zhenyu pulled Tual up. They briefly stared at each other, before Chao Zhenyu turned towards the door.
"Just follow me from now on," He said. His heart was pounding. "Tual."
Tual blinked. The longer there was no response, the more Chao Zhenyu's heart fell. The change must have been too sudden; he was foolish-
"Yes, young master!"
Chao Zhenyu's heart immediately warmed.
It felt strange to be vulnerable. To trust what was offered in front of you. How they acted around you, how they treated you, how they shared the very air you breathed… Chao Zhenyu, for the first time, wanted to trust. It was difficult to explain, and something inside him reminded him that he was still going to die. There were still too many questions, but perhaps for right now, he didn't need all of them answered. Perhaps if he befriended those around him, they too, will unravel.
Like a bird offering to clip its own wings.
But at least, if he died, there would be someone who would grieve.
"Young master, about those weapons…"
As they made their way to the dining room, Chao Zhenyu finally paused. Oh right. He had forgotten. Ever since the beginning he wanted something he could protect himself with, and he initially wanted to search through the mansion to see if there was anything he could use. Besides stupid statues of humans and beasts, and rooms within rooms, he had found nothing useful. The conflict with Ethel only exacerbated this desire, leading him to finally ask Tual.
But… Although I'll still have to eventually, I won't burden Tual with this matter.
"It's fine," Chao Zhenyu replied. In the distance, he saw servants bowing towards him, standing on the sides of the dining room's doors. "Don't worry about it."
Soon enough, they greeted him in unison: "Young master, please."
It was then that Tual, too, joined the rest of the servants in waiting at the door. Chao Zhenyu hesitated before letting him do as he pleased. He swept his eyes over the rest of the servants' lowered heads, before raising an eyebrow.
Out of all the familiar faces present, there seems to be one missing.
With gloved hands, they gradually opened the door. Sitting right at the end of the long table was his mother. And sure enough, behind her, stood Ethel. The corner of Chao Zhenyu's lips couldn't help but rise. Seeing his smile, Everitt couldn't help but reciprocate.
"Could it be that my son has thought of something interesting?"
To Everitt's side sat Balsam, his "uncle" and now his teacher of rhetoric and politics. He turned his head towards Chao Zhenyu's entrance.
Chao Zhenyu glanced over the vast array of empty chairs, before walking forwards. Step by step, he seemed to rise in importance; step by step, he got closer towards his mother. A servant pulled aside the other seat next to her. Chao Zhenyu sat down, immediately relaxing into a more careless and arrogant posture. He spread his legs and placed his elbow on the table, before responding to Everitt's question.
Ethel rolled her eyes.
"I did, mother," Chao Zhenyu said, eyeing the silver utensils in front of him. He wanted to test something. "When I arrived at the dining room, my personal servant stopped at the front door. I find it interesting that some choose to enter."
At that final phrase, he glanced at Ethel, who clenched her fist, before shifting his gaze back to his mother. It's a risk, but…
"I see," Everitt subtly chuckled. Raising a hand, she signaled for food and drink to be served. Instantly, from a back door, servants began pouring out, carrying exquisite trays. "Indeed, even among servants there are those who can enter, and those who can't."
And you should know the difference, Chao Zhenyu finished for her.
For a split second, his eyebrows furrowed. It was as he thought. He was Everitt's son, but Ethel was also Everitt's personal servant. There was a subtlety with this situation, in that his mother was the head, and her personal servant wasn't someone he could easily touch. To get rid of her would be incredibly difficult.
Zain must have tried, and ended up with the same conclusion.
And Ethel was probably facing the same predicament.
After all, if he was someone others could directly harm, what would be the need for drink, sex, and drugs? How could he be alive right now?
"Have you tried the white wine I brought from earlier back?" Ethel continued. "I heard you haven't visited the cellars recently."
As if on cue, a servant emerged from behind, an ornate glass bottle in his hands. But before he could uncork it, Chao Zhenyu gestured for him to stop.
"There's no need, mother," He replied. Balsam and Ethel glanced over him with interest, different thoughts in their minds. "After getting sick last time, I've decided to… abstain for the time being."
He stared at his mother, waiting for her to respond.
Once again, he needed her to agree. Needed her to seem like she meant the best for him.
"Very well," Everitt smiled. There were no fluctuations with her expression. "Then we will not drink altogether."
With just those words, all of the servants carrying bottles had left the scene. Chao Zhenyu hadn't noticed before, but it seemed like there were different types of alcohol, as if Everitt had prepared them for him. A tinge of warmth spread in his chest.
Balsam, however, was visibly frowning. Actually, now that he thought about it, Chao Zhenyu couldn't really tell.
Is that his usual expression?
One by one, plates of soups, meats, and fresh vegetables were set on the table. Various creatures were present too, white flesh bursting from cracked shells. Hot steam wafted scents of spice, vinegar, and wine into Chao Zhenyu's nose, and if it weren't for his self control, he would have visibly gulped.
He had no idea what any of these were, or where they came from, really.
But if they came from…
A slight feeling of nausea grew in the pit of Chao Zhenyu's stomach. Screw it. He remembered the sauced meats Tual served him before, and how each perfectly cooked slice melted in his mouth. Since he's already eaten mystery meats before, there's no harm in once more.
As they ate, Chao Zhenyu observed the people around him. He chewed slowly, taking time to copy the movements of Balsam and his mother. From which forks to use, to how to eat certain foods, each action was meticulously recorded in his mind. Except for the way they sat. Zain was surely not the type to care too much about table manners, and besides, it was a lot more comfortable this way, achieving a balance between polite and unfettered.
"The beast-taming instructor won't be coming back."
Chao Zhenyu brought the silk napkin to his mouth.
Not "refused my invitation", but "won't be coming back."
…What had happened to him?
"Then… mother…"
"It's not a course you need to take, anyways," Everitt continued. "Do you have another instructor you'd like me to ask?"
Chao Zhenyu paused. It seemed like his past self was the one who chose his tutors. But why? Was this normal? What happened to Arron and the rest? What made his mother choose Sir Hawford instead?
He also wondered what, in his mother's opinion, was a "course he needed to take."
"If that's the case," Chao Zhenyu responded, breaking a leg off a shelled creature. "Then it's fine. I never really cared for him or beasts anyways."
Everitt nodded, and that seemed to be the end of that conversation. While stripping the flesh off the bones, Chao Zhenyu pondered over his next request.
"Mother," He began. "About the invitations for the coming-of-age ceremony…"
"Oh, right, I'm sorry for forgetting," Everitt replied. "Then it's fine. It was a mistake on my part to bring it up in the first place. If that's the case, then we'll decide later."
At the end of every sentence Everitt said, Chao Zhenyu tried to interject to no avail. Each time he opened his mouth to reply, and each time Everitt paid no heed. It was as if this entire situation was some preplanned ordeal. His mother would provide him with invitations…
…Only for there to be no one to ask.
A chill ran down Chao Zhenyu's spine. For a moment, his fingers on the silver fork faltered.
No, He was overthinking. Perhaps that was true, at the fault of Zain Valefor. Maybe he used to have "friends", those that would come to visit him, or perhaps to go to the auction together. Or maybe his mother actually forgot, whatever it was. Perhaps Zain said he didn't want to invite anyone before, or some other random scenario. In any case, if this matter was delayed, then it was surely to his benefit.
That's right. It's all surely to my benefit.
Chao Zhenyu had wanted to ask about Arron, and to get a hint about what happened with the other tutors. But the forced ending of his last question caused all of his follow-ups to get stuck in his throat. Taking a sip of the iced water, Chao Zhenyu burrowed his gaze into the dishes before him.
"Try this, Zain."
With a plop, a steaming claw dripping with sauces was delicately placed onto his plate. When Chao Zhenyu turned to his mother, Everitt only smiled, nudging him to try. With that… encouragement, Chao Zhenyu glanced over at the claw.
Plump, savory skin and threads of flesh practically melted off the bone, revealing bits of juicy tendon in between. It wasn't that he was opposed to eating feet.
It's just… The claw has five digits.
"...Thank you, mother," Chao Zhenyu smiled back.
Under her and everyone else's gaze, he put the claw in his mouth.
At the clamping of his teeth against the bone, the skin on the claw slid off into the cavern of his mouth. Savory juices oozed out from the soft meat. But it was this exact sensation of being "easy to eat" that made Chao Zhenyu feel so uncomfortable. If it was tough to chew, or tasted disgusting, then in his mind he would have the excuse to spit it out. Instead, he swallowed.
Chao Zhenyu spat out the bones.
And then, with shaking hands, immediately lifted his glass.
Cold, refreshing water flushed down his throat, but no matter how many gulps he drank, the taste of the claw still remained. The stares from the people around him burned through his skin. He could feel their eyes on him, on the sweat mixed in with the water, and on the spat out bones on his plate. He imagined their faces and their words, their glee, their cold amusement. He remembered their words- "servants", "servants", "servants"!
The fall of a blunt knife separated the arm from the hand.
His mother's indifference. Ethel's cruelty. And now, the remains were dissolving in his stomach.
Was that why they fed him this? Not because it was the consumption of a human…
…But the consumption of a servant.
"You know, if you don't like it, why force yourself to swallow it down?"
Right as Chao Zhenyu was about to gag, Ethel's voice interrupted him. He exhaled, heart still pounding, and forcibly relaxed his trembling shoulders.
"How could I waste the food my mother has placed down for me?"
"Is that so," Ethel scoffed. "I don't remember you liking Phoenix claws before."
…Phoenix? Chao Zhenyu blinked. Yet he had immediately accused them.
"Zain," Everitt began, a trace of concern in her eyes. "Forgive me, I must have forgotten."
Chao Zhenyu frowned. Once again, he'd made a mistake. Perhaps he'd been overthinking this entire time. Tual, Ethel, his mother- sure, they were imperfect- but maybe they were just treating him the best they could. Perhaps, if he simply reaches out that first hand...
If he clips his wings...
"There's no need, mother... I'm fine."