After reading the letter left by his uncle, the Duke exhaled a long, weary sigh. His
eyes lingered on the parchment as if searching for answers between the lines.
He was deep in thought, the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders.
"Alright," he finally said, his voice calm but firm. "Luren can stay under my
protection until the King of Velgarith forgets about his existence."
Kellen and Marian exchanged relieved glances and nodded gratefully at the Duke. Beside them, Clara and Luren stood frozen in silence. Luren, especially, felt a storm
of emotions swell inside him gratitude, confusion, fear. Was this going to be
his life now, hiding in the shadows of the Duke's estate? Was he truly safe, or
simply caged in a more beautiful prison?
"Don't worry, Luren," Kellen said gently, stepping closer to pat his back.
"Our people will monitor every movement in Velgarith. The moment they stop
searching for you, we'll let you know."
Luren nodded slowly, trying to believe those words. He wanted to feel safe, but
uncertainty still clouded his heart.
"I'll leave you to reunite with your family," the Duke said, rising from his seat. With a
brief glance toward Luren, he turned and walked out, Keith quietly following
behind.
"Thank you, Duke Craige Evron," Kellen and Marian said in unison, bowing deeply
in respect.
Later that evening, after a quiet dinner, Luren's family left the Duke's mansion under the light of the setting sun. The grand halls felt colder in their absence. The
Duke and Keith were still away, tending to their own duties.
Luren walked back to his room, his footsteps
echoing softly down the corridor. The comfort of his bed awaited him, but his
heart was far from at rest. As he lay down, he stared at the ceiling, wondering
what his future held within these gilded walls.
Luren sat quietly inside the Duke's office. The room was dimly lit by the afternoon sun
streaming through the tall windows. The Duke seemed restless, flipping through
documents with a furrowed brow and tense shoulders.
"You can work under me. Become my assistant," he said abruptly, not even glancing at Luren.
It was unexpected, but better than sitting around doing nothing.
"Sure," Luren replied, surprised but grateful.
"You can start now. Keith will explain your duties. As for your uniform, ask the butler," the Duke added, clearly dismissing him.
Luren stood up, hesitated for a moment, then looked at the Duke.
"Would you like some warm tea? You look... exhausted," he asked gently.
"Yes, thank you. I haven't slept since yesterday," the Duke murmured, still not looking up.
Luren quietly left the room, his heart beating a little faster. He didn't know why,
but he wanted to help just even a little.
As he returned with the tea, balancing the tray carefully, Keith spotted him.
"I need you to sign this contract later," Keith said curtly, handing him a folder before
returning to his desk.
They're all so busy, Luren thought, glancing between the two men.
"Luren, let's have dinner together."
Luren looked up at the Duke,
he was busy arranging files on his desk. After tidying up the clutter.
Craige walked past him and headed toward the dining hall. Luren followed silently. The
long table was already neatly set by the butler.
Luren glanced at the lavish setting.
He used to eat alone in this grand, silent hall, his presence barely noticed. But now…
they would dine together.
He took a quiet breath, feeling something strange stir inside his chest.
As they sat down, Duke Craige broke the silence.
"You're free to do whatever you want. Just let me know if you plan to go anywhere," he
said, his tone casual and kind
Luren hesitated. His fingers nervously gripped the hem of his sleeve.
"Can I…
practice at your training ground?" he asked, unsure if he was overstepping.
To his surprise, Craige smiled warmly.
"Sure. We can train together tomorrow," he offered without hesitation.
Luren blinked. He hadn't expected that. He had only wanted a quiet place to practice
alone.
Still, he nodded silently, his heart beating a little faster, not from fear, but
something he couldn't name.
Luren woke up early and headed to the training grounds, but to his surprise, several
soldiers were already there, actively training under the rising sun.
"You came," a deep voice said from behind him.
Luren turned and was caught off guard. The Duke stood there, half-naked and drenched
in sweat, his muscular frame gleaming in the morning light. Luren's breath
hitched, and he quickly looked away as his cheeks flushed with heat. He didn't
expect to see the Duke looking so... divine.
Without warning, Craige tossed a wooden sword toward him. Luren barely caught it, his
palms slick with sweat, though he couldn't tell if it was from nervousness or
something else entirely.
"Let's spar," Craige said with a grin, eyes gleaming as he looked at the shy boy in
front of him.
Luren was slim, far from the bulky build of the other men, but his grip on the sword was
confident, practiced. Craige was surprised. He really knows how to wield it...he thought.
Their wooden swords clashed with a satisfying thwack, the rhythm of their sparring gradually intensifying. Luren moved with grace, his attacks precise, his
defenses sharp. They continued until both were dripping with sweat, their chests heaving from exertion.
They paused for a short break. Craige handed him a flask of water before taking a swig from his own.
"Why don't you remove your shirt?" Craige asked casually, wiping sweat from his brow.
Luren nearly choked on his drink. His face turned redder than ever.
"W-why would I r-remove my shirt?" he stammered, clearly uncomfortable.
Craige burst into laughter and slung an arm over Luren's shoulder with easy familiarity.
"Look around, everyone's doing it. It's more comfortable when you're training," he
said, still chuckling. "Even Keith," he added, pointing at Keith who was shirtless and sparring nearby.
"The women aren't," Luren muttered, looking away.
"That's because they're women," Craige replied with another laugh. "Anyway, it's fine
if you're still shy. You're just a baby, I guess."
He ruffled Luren's hair playfully.
"From now on, you're my baby brother. Cleven is twenty-four, so you're much younger than him. Uncle told me to treat you like family, and I will."
Luren stood frozen for a moment, heart pounding. The warmth in Craige's voice, the genuine smile, the casual closeness, it was all so different from the cold, distant man
he had first met.
A smile tugged at Luren's lips. He felt happy… truly happy. The Duke was kind,
protective, even playful.
But even as joy bloomed in his chest, something twisted deep inside him. A confusing warmth. A dangerous desire he couldn't quite name.