The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#7

“Things have gotten quite better.” 

With just a little more rest, my body would fully recover. The sense of time had blurred, but it seemed like about 15 days had passed since I was trapped in this underground place. My strength had returned, and since I had just received a meal, it was unlikely that any uninvited guests would come for the next few hours. So, this was the perfect moment to attempt to leave this place.

As I checked the wounds on my wrist and arm with my eyes, a certain face flashed before me. It was the one who had looked hurt by my question, “Do I just need to spread my legs like this every time?” The scars from that day had now almost faded.

“…….”

Kain Starchis tilted his head slightly while rubbing his wrist with his fingers. Jersian Del Claude had not visited this place even once since that day. Not even once. 

Hmm, Kain frowned. Was he planning to avoid facing me like this from now on? If he was going to give in so easily, wouldn’t it have been more comfortable for both of us to do it long ago? If Jersian Del Claude had known the meaning of his command to stay by my side “forever,” which meant I had to be locked up alone in this underground prison, he would have shown no signs of hesitation. 

From the moment he forcibly embraced this body, it was clear that his interest had already waned. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to treat someone he claimed to love so cruelly. 

My mouth felt bitter. I had grown up hearing that humans were inherently like that, a sentiment that echoed in the Fiorehim Mountains. 

Creak—periodically, the servants of the Gerold mansion placed water and meals right in front of the iron bars. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even light snacks in between. The frequency was secondary; the quantity was excessive. Kain had not touched anything except for the water. Even that was only to quench the bare minimum of thirst before he would return it outside. Today, like any other day, he intended to drink only the water they had left. 

But something was different today. The person who had placed the food and water outside the bars had not left. 

Finding it bothersome to react to each little thing, Kain simply waited for the servant to quickly take away the bowl and cup that had been left there yesterday. 

“…….”

However, the footsteps Kain was waiting for were hardly heard. What the hell? Kain turned over in annoyance, lying on the opposite side of the bars. 

The wounds brushing against the blanket felt slightly painful, but that was all. After days of just sleeping, the wounds on his body were gradually fading. Of course, the feeling of being open below was still chillingly vivid, but that too would likely disappear after a little while. It felt as if a gaze from beyond the darkness was piercing through him. 

Step, step. 

Only then did Kain hear the sound of the figure outside the bars moving away, as if waiting for him to move while lying on the bed. 

Soon, when all the footsteps disappeared, silence enveloped the underground prison of the Gerold mansion. 

* * *

After resting, my body had improved somewhat. If it weren’t for these handcuffs on my wrist, my wounds would have healed faster. Clink, clank. Kain raised both hands in front of him and stared at the joint of the iron handcuffs. No matter how much he examined them, he couldn’t find a gap in the chains. 

At that moment, he sensed a presence from afar. Kain sat up in the dark room. 

Unlike usual, the clattering of plates and utensils was not heard. Jersian Del Claude had not visited this place even once since that night; it could be him. 

“…….”

However, the figure that appeared from the darkness was not the one Kain had wanted. 

“Oh dear….” 

It was Peter, the commander of the knights. 

He could see the luxurious cloak of the Gerold Marquis’ knights dragging on the prison floor. 

He scanned Kain’s condition with a face that looked extremely troubled. The elegant elf, who always maintained a straight posture, was nowhere to be found. His skin, except for the part covered by the blanket, was filled with mottled wounds and faint handprints. 

The wrinkles around his eyes deepened as he frowned. 

“Are you alright?” 

“……. Does this look alright to your eyes?” 

My throat still hurt. It felt as if it had been scratched by sharp metal. Kain grimaced. Damn, he really meant it. How dare he lock me up like this and send another human? Kain cursed inwardly and opened his mouth. 

“Where is Jersian?” 

The person who should have appeared before Kain now was not Peter. How could he run away and leave the situation like this? And still expect not to be treated like a child? 

Commander Peter swallowed hard, his heart heavy, and then replied to Kain’s words. 

“……I’m sorry. I came down to check on your condition in place of the young master.” 

It was Jersian, who had not come even once since that day. There must be another reason for sending someone in his place. 

“Has he left the mansion?” 

“I was told not to disclose the destination to you, Kain.” 

“…….” 

That was the truth. But the information Kain needed was completely absent. It was clear that Jersian had ordered him to respond that way. 

Kain’s gaze sharpened as if to reproach the aged commander. 

“Are you saying you want to join in on this ridiculous game too? I have no intention of staying like this forever!” 

Bang! Kain’s white hand struck the thick wall. A sharp pain surged from the wound that had been scraped by the medicine-coated handcuffs. To keep me locked up without even talking is nothing but childish thinking. And it wasn’t entirely impossible to find a way out. 

With enough desperation, I could break the lock made of iron attached to the handcuffs and the bars. 

However, Kain wanted to keep that option as a last resort. He didn’t want to end things with Jersian like this. It had certainly been that way until yesterday. 

“You just need time to come to terms with it, young master.” 

What? Kain narrowed his eyes in disbelief. 

Commander Peter was representing Jersian’s position. He had been with the young Jersian, raising him like a child. He might have lived for hundreds of years and gained deeper wisdom, but he could not help but lean more towards Jersian than the elf, who had no knowledge of human emotions. 

Rather, it was hard for him to understand Kain Starchis, who was so eager to leave the young master’s side. No matter how much the actual romantic situation of lovers could not be understood by others, from the outside, they truly seemed to fit the “fated pair” that Kain often mentioned. 

Peter, who had secretly wiped away tears of emotion, relieved that the young master had found a good partner, was now extremely perplexed and shocked by the current situation. 

‘If I, a stranger, feel this way, Jersian must feel even more so.’ 

Of course… he had no idea that the situation would turn out this bad. The wounds left on Kain’s body, which he had seen with his own eyes, were more devastating than he had imagined. This meant that the possibility of their relationship improving had decreased even further. 

While Peter was lost in thought, looking at Kain, who was trapped behind the bars, Kain spoke up. 

“How long?” 

“……What?” 

“I mean, how long do you think it will take for him to come to terms with it?” 

“…….” 

He couldn’t answer that question. If he said a few decades, the elf might understand and wait. But the young master would probably not accept that. Peter remained silent, pondering what to say. 

Kain, realizing the meaning behind that silence, smirked and twisted his lips into a smile. Yes, they already knew how long it would take for Jersian to come to terms with it. 

The answer was “forever.” 

Jersian Del Claude had no intention of ever letting Kain Starchis go. 

As Kain looked up at the ceiling, as if he didn’t want to continue the conversation, Peter’s cautious voice was heard. 

“……He said to release the handcuffs.” 

Kain’s gaze shifted towards the bars. Clink, Peter held a bundle of keys in his hand. 

“…….” 

“I will release them.” 

“……Alright.” 

There was no reason to refuse when he was being offered freedom. Kain smoothly rose from the bed and walked towards the bars. He was completely naked. 

Peter’s eyes widened slightly before quickly shifting elsewhere. Excluding the handprints and bite marks from being overworked by Jersian, Kain’s tall stature, broad shoulders, flat stomach, and well-rounded backside were unrealistically perfect, like a masterpiece. 

Peter muttered as he glanced down at the keys in his hand. 

“……You’ll need something to wear.” 

“Just do it.” 

Ignoring Peter’s words, Kain extended his wrists. There were still wounds that were bleeding, and the glistening medicine was visible between the handcuffs. Peter tried to maintain his composure and said to Kain, 

“Could you please extend your hands outside?” 

Kain’s wrists slid through the gaps in the bars. Peter supported the handcuffs with one hand and inserted the key into the keyhole. Clink, clink. The underground prison of the Gerold mansion had not been used for a long time. Due to rust and age, the handcuffs did not come off easily. 

As Peter worked hard to unlock the handcuffs, Kain’s low voice fell from above him. 

“Where did Jersian go?” 

“I cannot disclose that.” 

“Did something urgent come up?” 

“I’m sorry, Kain. No matter how you ask, my answer will remain the same.” 

Peter spoke stubbornly as he moved the key. 

At that moment, click, clink—finally, the sound of the key fitting into the lock was heard. 

“It’s unlocked—” Peter said as he raised his head. 

“……!” 

The white arm that had been extended through the iron bars suddenly changed direction and lunged towards Peter’s neck.