Our eyes widened, sparkling with the view we'd seen. We were frozen—too stunned to even enter.
Thorne went inside nonchalantly. "Come along, kids. Now, I said stop gaping too," he repeated as he walked further in.
We flinched at his words again.
"Welcome, Sir Thorne. The master and young master have awaited your arrival," said one of the butlers, leading us through the hall.
After the long walk past the staircase, we reached another set of doors at the back in a circular hallway. It led into a room surrounded by windows overlooking the garden. A fireplace crackled to the side. In the center, soft leather sofas circled a table—everything set beautifully, neat, and warm.
Two men stood in the room.
One was mid-height, standing with his back to us. The man in front of him was taller, but his face was hidden behind the shorter man's head. He had a broad, familiar build. From a distance, my body tensed.
As soon as he heard our footsteps, the shorter man turned to face us. "Ah, Sir Thorne. Welcome—I've been waiting for your arrival," he said with a formal smile.
Thorne greeted him as well. "Sir Caspian. I know I contacted you suddenly and asked for this troublesome favor, but I hope we won't be a bother during our stay."
They went on talking. But I wasn't listening. I was frozen.
That man at the back—was Liam.
He stood tall and unbothered, acting like nothing mattered, like no one had just walked into the room. As the two men spoke, he raised his hand to rub the back of his neck, eyes closed.
But then, he opened them slightly.
Our eyes met.
His eyes widened for the briefest second—then he let out a laugh through his nose and smirked. That same smirk. Mocking. Like my very presence was something to scoff at.
Noa?
Noa?
Thorne called out to me.
"What's wrong? Come here."
I was trembling all over. The man I'd hated for three years… was standing right here.
I walked forward to Thorne, head lowered slightly, breaking eye contact with Liam. But I could still hear Liam's slow steps. He came closer, standing beside the man in front of Thorne.
"Sir Thorne, this is my son, Liam," said Caspian.
"Sir Caspian," Thorne nodded. "I want you to greet the future Crimson Hand lord." He placed a hand on my back and gently pushed me forward.
"Noa, I want you to meet one of my best allies—Mr. Caspian, the founder and owner of X Company. He's the richest man in the area, and a trusted ally. That's why I told him about the situation beforehand."
Caspian reached out his hand. "Nice to meet you. You must be the boy Sir Thorne likes a lot."
Even though the man standing beside him terrified me, I kept eye contact. Trembling, I reached out and shook Caspian's hand. I smiled, a bit awkwardly.
That's when Liam let out another laugh through his nose. Loud enough that everyone heard.
Thorne and Caspian turned to look at him.
Liam cleared his throat, then smirked again. "Pardon. I just didn't expect to see a familiar face."
Caspian blinked. "What do you mean, Liam?"
Liam looked at me with that same condescending stare. "He goes to the same school as us."
Thorne looked shocked. "Noa? You go to the same school as Liam?"
I stood still for a moment, sweating cold. Then, quietly, I nodded. "Yes…"
"But how?" Thorne asked. "That school only accepts rich kids—"
Letisha suddenly cut in, breaking the tension. "My brother got a scholarship to that school."
Caspian looked even more impressed. "What? That's amazing. No wonder you're chosen as the next lord. Smart kid, aren't you?"
Liam let another snide laugh escape his mouth.
He was mocking me—mocking the way Caspian referred to me as the "next lord." Mocking because, to him, I was nothing.
Still, Caspian treated us with respect. He greeted Letisha warmly and assigned us each a room on the second floor.
My room was located at the end of the hallway. A servant opened the door, and I stepped inside alone. My bags were already set by the wall.
The room was wide—one wall completely covered in tall windows. The bed sat two small steps above the floor, facing the windows. A desk and chair were set nearby. The space stretched to the east, blending into the shadowed corners.
Strangely… I didn't want to turn on the lights.
The moonlight pouring through the window was enough. It eased me.
There was too much on my mind.
I was exhausted—physically and mentally. I wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and pass out.
But the dirt and smell on me wouldn't let me.
I made my way to the bathroom. It had the same sleek, modern design. A huge steaming bathtub. A wide glass shower. Everything lit up gently by the moonlight filtering in.
I took off my shirt, walking toward the tub. I wanted to drown in warmth before my thoughts overtook me.
I removed the Moon Ring's chain from my neck, stepping closer.
Then—
A hand grabbed the back of my neck.
"Aghh!" I gasped as I was yanked backward.
Before I could react, a large hand was around my throat. I was lifted off the ground—choking, feet dangling helplessly.
"I don't know how a bastard like you got your way into the Households…" Liam's voice hissed in my ear, deadly cold. "…but if you even dream of living comfortably here, I will shatter every one of those dreams."
I opened my eyes—barely.
His dark blue eyes were inches from mine. Cold. Merciless.
His expression was pure fury.
Just as I was about to choke to death, he released me—throwing me across the room. I landed hard on the floor.
Coughing. Gasping. I curled forward, choking on air.
He didn't look back.
He simply turned… and left.
...
I took a long time to catch my breath. The cough wracked my body, bringing tears to my eyes and a harsh burn to my throat. I stood trembling, haunted by the bitter reality — Liam's gang had bullied me, but he himself had never laid a hand on me before. Now, in just two days, I'd come dangerously close to death.
Hopelessness clawed at me like a suffocating shadow. The world felt like it was turning its back on me. I was nothing more than a doll, toyed with by everyone—no matter how hard I fought, no matter how much I tried to stand, I kept falling.
Shaking, I pushed myself under the shower. Water splashed over my skin, but I felt numb. The warmth didn't reach inside. When I stepped out, I wrapped a towel over my head and headed toward the bed.
But then my eyes caught the mirror hanging on the wall.
My neck.
The skin was bruised, turning a deep, sickly blue and purple.
I muttered to myself, I need to hide this.
Alone in the vast room, I shuffled toward the bed, desperate to sink into the soft mattress, to lay my back down for just a moment.
But my eyes wouldn't close.
My body refused rest.
The emptiness of the place weighed heavy—the wide space only made me feel lonelier.
As I gazed into nothingness, a presence stirred in the shadows.
Fear shot through me, and I stood up, heart pounding.
Liam's back…
My eyes widened as moonlight spilled across the room, revealing two figures smaller than Liam, cloaked in black fur, their eyes glowing bright blue and golden respectively.
The black panther I had seen earlier stepped forward.
The lion followed, regal and calm.
They stared at me sharply, unblinking, until I forced my breath to steady.
"You can see us?" the panther finally spoke, his voice calm but commanding—more a demand than a question.
"Yes, I can," I answered quietly.
Slowly, they approached until they climbed onto the bed.
"We have come to greet our master," the panther said again.
But wasn't Ari the only one, that could come out?
The panther came so close I could feel his breath on my face. To my surprise, it was he who seemed afraid.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his head gently against me, letting out a soft, husky purr.
I lifted my hand, stopping him from pressing his head too hard, but he rubbed his head on my hand nuzzling on my hand too.
SO DAMN SOFT, I thought, screaming inside. He was incredibly cute.
His tail swayed back and forth, like a kitten's when happy.
After a few more pets, he rolled onto the bed and rested his head in my lap.
The lion, on the other hand, stood tall at the foot of the bed, silently watching.
His light rays of golden eyes felt like warm sunlight, drowning me in comfort.
He blinked slowly, snapping me out of my awe.
"Do you allow me to come near you, master?" he asked gently.
Without thinking, captivated by his soothing voice, I nodded.
He stepped forward gracefully and wrapped himself around me.
His fluffy mane brushed my back as he let out a soft growl against my neck.
He sniffed my hair and finally relaxed, lying down while still embracing me.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? my mind raced, bewildered by the surreal moment.
Did I ask God for a life full of fluff? Was I granted the greatest blessing without knowing it?
Despite the chaos inside me, smile took over my face, I finally lay down between them.
For the first time that day, I forgot everything.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep.