Chapitre 4: 1.3 Let's play

Caspian walked behind the emperor as he strode to the elevator. He could feel Eben's eyes on him, but ignored him. He stood behind the emperor as the elevator started. They rode in silence and went to the dining room. The two guards opened the doors and they entered.

Camilla was standing in front of the chair on the emperor's left. The emperor had a seat at the head of the table, and she took a seat when Salvatore said:

"You may have a seat."

The two guards inside closed the doors, and Caspian and Eben stood on the side in case the emperor needs something. He honestly doesn't understand how the original could stand that.

He was born into a wealthy family, but he has to be Salvatore's bitch just because the Ellis were jealous. He has already thought of ways to make money. All he requires is to create something that everyone will need.

Technically, he would steal the invention, but who cares? He'll start by creating cell phones. In this universe, people use letters, or pigeons, to send messages. Caspian glanced around the room, bored, and his eyes landed on one guard in front of the doors.

He was tall, dark, and handsome. He seemed to feel his eyes on him since he looked at him. Caspian kept staring at him despite being caught.

The man felt his heart skip a beat. Caspian is already the most beautiful ger you'll ever lay eyes on, but the way he was staring at him, he felt as though he was the only person in the room. He looked away, slightly uncomfortable, and Caspian smiled.

That man fit his type to a T. He loves shy and unassuming men. Caspian likes to see someone's emotions on his face. He doesn't like the cold and unfeeling type. He checked Silas and saw that his name was Drea.

Since he'll be here for the next 80 years, he might as well find someone to spend them with. In his universe, it's impossible to be with someone your entire life. Life technically doesn't end, people don't even marry.

They have relationships and children, then when they are done, they move on. They usually stay together for less than 150 years. But he likes the idea of being with someone for a lifetime. When he felt eyes on him, he looked at the emperor.

He smiled brighter and Salvatore gazed at him expressionlessly for a few more beats, then resumed eating. Caspian's eyes flashed in amusement. He's not surprised about Salvatore's personality.

Hades is exactly like that. He is rough and vicious. The only time he saw him smile was when he finally caught him. Camilla looked between the emperor and Caspian with a frown.

She doesn't even understand how he can stand right now, let alone smile. She glanced at Eben quickly, then at the emperor. She smiled and told:

"Your majesty, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the theater tomorrow night, they are playing L'avare."

Caspian prayed he would tell no, if he doesn't, he'll have to watch a play. He'd rather die. The emperor looked at Caspian's frown, then at Camilla, and answered:

"We'd like that."

Caspian narrowed his eyes at him. That son of a bitch said yes on purpose. When the emperor glanced at him with a raised eyebrow as if to say do you have something to say, he looked away annoyed. The emperor looked at his plate again, his eyes seemed to have a gleam.

Caspian went to his room when brunch was over. He had brunch while the emperor and Eben were in court. As he ate, he listened to what was happening there and thought of a way to undermine the Ellis.

Right now, what he needs most is to get closer to the emperor, but he would rather not do that. He needs to make himself invaluable to the emperor and the empire. He grabbed a brush and worked until morning court was over.

He waited in front of the emperor's imperial study until he came. As he waited, Caspian looked at Drea one of the guards in front of the study. Drea was avoiding his eyes, and when he finally looked at him, he smiled.

Drea smiled at him and then looked away. Caspian tilted his head with a smile. The other guard felt like the third wheel. He was slightly surprised to see such a straightforward ger. They're usually bashful.

Salvatore walked to his study and the guards opened the door. Eben left since Caspian was there. It's fine, he has to meet the empress anyway. Caspian entered and remained at the side until the emperor needed him. He's basically Hades' bitch.

Caspian watched a movie using Silas. He paused the movie when Salvatore ordered:

"Come grind ink."

Caspian stood at the side and did it. The first thing he'll create is pens. This is so fucking ridiculous.

As he did, he could feel Salvatore look at him. Caspian glanced at him and asked:

"Does his majesty wish to ask me something?"

Salvatore asked:

"Have you become a eunuch to find yourself a match so you can have a better life?"

Caspian felt like slapping the shit out of him. Salvatore knows full well that all he had was taken from him, so even if that was the case, why would he be so judgmental? Despite the deep hatred he felt for Hades, he asked:

"What does his majesty mean?"

Salvatore's eyes darkened. He held his chin and turned his head. When Caspian met his eyes again, he warned:

"Do not lie to us."

Caspian said:

"Your majesty, asking this servant to be honest, isn't fair."

Salvatore tightened his hold.

"Telling us the truth isn't fair?"

Caspian answered:

"It isn't. If this servant speaks openly and his majesty is offended, I'll die. I must tell what his majesty wants to hear, just like everyone in the empire does. His majesty never had an issue with that before, so why is it when this servant is concerned?"

Why is he getting angry just for that? The emperor only wants people to tell him what he would like to hear. That is what narcissists do. But the way he took it personally is too much. He will not accept that kind of whim.

Salvatore stared at him, when he saw his eyes glisten slightly, he let go of his red chin.

"When we ask a question, be honest, and we won't take offense to it."

Caspian nodded as he touched his chin. He seemed in pain. Salvatore asked again:

"Have you come here to find someone to enhance your life?"

"This servant doesn't need a man to better his life. I can do it on my own and I will."

Salvatore peered into his determined eyes. Caspian pushed the ink toward him and went back to stand on the side. Salvatore told:

"Sit."

Caspian took a seat on the side and let out a sigh. It was written all over his face how relieved to finally sit, he was. Salvatore's eyes glistened again as he glanced at him.

Eben entered the living room and respectfully bowed. Camilla ordered:

"Leave."

All the handmaidens left, and the doors were closed.

"Sit."

Eben took a seat next to her. She asked:

"How is Caspian still alive?"

Eben explained:

"When the feast ended, his majesty went to the servant's quarter with the imperial physician. He had him clean his wounds and even gave him a pomade made of Idrisla flowers. Subsequently, the physician would pick up the pomade before changing his bandages, then bring it back."

Camilla's nostrils dilated. Eben moved back. She stood up and tossed the vase that was on the coffee table.

When her grandfather had an accident and only that pomade could've saved him, Salvatore never offered it to her, but he did to Caspian.

She's done being nice and patient. First, she'll have Ezra, his brother killed, then she'll destroy Caspian's reputation. Once she talks to her brother and father, she knows that they'll get scared.

Salvatore using that pomade for him proves he values him as more than a servant. Idrisla flowers are rare, but he let a servant use it.

Not just a servant, a beautiful ger. She took a breath and looked at Eben.

"You must do something for me."

Eben immediately said:

"Of course, your highness."

At the end of the day, Caspian stayed until the emperor showered and changed into pajamas. When they left, Caspian asked:

"Your majesty, should I bring your silver plate for tonight?"

Salvatore draws a card every night on a silver platter, each belonging to one woman in his harem, to know who will serve him that night.

Salvatore shook his head.

"No."

Caspian felt surprised. Don't emperors feel like wusses if they don't sleep with one of their concubines each night?

Salvatore took steps forward until they were face to face. Caspian took a step back with a frown. He doesn't like how Salvatore invades his space like that. Hasn't he heard of personal space?

When Salvatore wrapped his arm around his waist to pull him closer, he knew he didn't. Caspian peered at him wide-eyed and called:

"Your majesty?"

Salvatore looked at Caspian intently. He looked stunned and uncomfortable. His cheeks were flushed, and he could tell he wanted to run away.

Satisfied enough, he let go of him and got into bed.

"You may leave."

Caspian turned off the light and left.

As he walked to his servant's quarter, he looked ahead thoughtfully.

*What is it?*

Caspian answered Silas:

*Hades is playing with me, as I played him while he was chasing me.*

Except that no one can play with him, since Salvatore wants to play, he will too. We'll see who will lose.

commentaire Commentaire 6

Voter

ENVOYER LE CADEAU

Chapitre 5: 1.4 Regression

Caspian woke up and took a shower. He quickly ate and went to the main palace. He knocked when he reached the emperor's chambers.

"Enter."

He entered.

"Good morning, your majesty."

Caspian opened the drapes.

He looked at the emperor, who had reached out for reports on his side table.

"Should I ask the cook for something specific?"

Salvatore looked up and asked:

"What do you like to eat most in the dawn?"

Caspian seemed to think, then answered:

"Shrimp dumplings."

"Then instruct the cook that's what we'd like."

"Yes, your majesty."

Salvatore put down the reports and walked to the bathroom.

"When the maids come, ask them to take care of the chamber while you help us bathe."

Without waiting for Caspian to speak, Salvatore went to the bathroom.

Caspian's eyes darkened. He went to the walk-in closet and looked at all his robes. His eyes stopped when they landed on dark blue robes. He smiled and pulled them out. When he came in the room again, two maids came in with Eben.

Caspian ordered:

"I'll help his Majesty bathe. You two take care of the room. You tell the cook the emperor would like to eat shrimp dumplings."

Eben told:

"I have a name."

Caspian spoke with cold eyes:

"I don't care, just do your job."

After saying that, he entered the bathroom. Eben looked at him go with dark eyes. He left for the kitchen. There's no point in getting angry. The empress is going to deal with him, anyway. And even if Caspian is his superior, the emperor still trusts him more.

When Salvatore was done brushing his teeth, he leaned against the wall and looked at Caspian filling his enormous bathtub. He tilted his head thoughtfully. Caspian oddity won't leave his mind. He can't stop wondering about him.

Salvatore is the obsessive type, so it isn't surprising. Caspian is different but familiar, while before he felt none of those things. And he also has the need to tease him. He feels as though he did something to him, something that made him the butt of a joke.

He knows that none of it makes sense, but he has all those sentiments swirling in his mind. Furthermore, he enjoys teasing him, he enjoys seeing him forcing himself not to lose it. Salvatore can tell that he isn't shy like other gers, but he is.

Again, he can't help but feel two contradictory feelings out of him. It's like Caspian is two people or sides of a coin. Caspian stood up when his bath was ready. He looked at the emperor, and he walked to the bathtub.

He dropped his robes and entered the bathtub. When his body was submerged, he relaxed and closed his eyes.

"Should I let his majesty relax for a few minutes first?"

Salvatore simply said:

"En."

Caspian leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. After thinking he opened his eyes and saw that the emperor was already looking at him.

Salvatore asked:

"Would you like to ask us something?"

It was as though Salvatore had read his mind.

Caspian stood up correctly and said slightly uncomfortable.

"I would like to present his majesty with a business offer, but it is hardly the place to talk about it."

Salvatore spoke:

"Speak."

Caspian walked to the bathtub and knelt, so they were eyes to eyes.

"I would like to open a shop and sell my inventions. I came up with tools that will help with work and make communication easier."

"Do you have prototypes?"

Caspian said:

"I do, and they all function. If his majesty could look at it, I'm sure he would appreciate it."

Salvatore studied Caspian in silence for a long time.

Caspian leaned back slightly, it seemed like he had finally realized how close he was. Salvatore looked at his flushed cheeks and said:

"Bring them while we are in court."

Caspian smiled enthusiastically.

"I will, thank you, your majesty."

Salvatore nodded. Caspian stood up and leaned against the wall, waiting until the emperor was ready.

Fifty minutes later, he rubbed him and helped him wash up. When they were done, the emperor walked out of the bathroom. Caspian frowned when he saw the maids weren't there.

He said:

"I'll hail the maids."

"No need, you'll dress us."

Caspian's eyes darkened. Is he a eunuch or a fucking maid? If Hades continues, he'll kill him in his sleep. It's already annoying to call him your majesty and pretend to be this shy ger who blushes, but now he is trying to push him further.

Caspian said:

"Yes, your majesty."

He dried him and dressed him. When he had on thin white robes, Caspian grabbed the blue robes he had pulled out with a gleam of excitement.

Salvatore frowned at the robes, this is the first time since Caspian entered this universe that he's seen any kind of reaction out of him. Caspian forced himself not to smile, but it was hard. The emperor looked at him suspiciously, but let him put the robes on him.

When Caspian was done, the emperor sat in front of the mirror while Caspian brushed and styled his long hair. Salvatore who was looking at him through the mirror asked:

"How did you know we don't like blue?"

Caspian met his eyes through the mirror. He was about to lie, but he doesn't want him to snap again, and he said he won't lie anymore. He knows because Hades hates blue for some reason.

He would regularly leave him notes written in blue, with a big heart, a few hours after he missed catching him. He always had cameras installed and would invariably look at his reaction, it was the best.

"I guessed it after I noticed his majesty's reaction to the empress's favorite blue robes."

Salvatore's eyes flashed. Even Camilla and Eben never spotted how much he hates those horrid robes, but Caspian did. It's the most valuable garments Camilla has in her closet, so she put them on when there are important functions, but it only repulses him.

There's just something about that color that angers him. He can't recall the memory behind why he hates it, but he still feels it.

"Do you want us to be indignant?"

Caspian, who was done with his hair, met Salvatore's eyes again.

"Sometimes."

"Why?"

Caspian said, pouting:

"Because his majesty wants me to be angry too, so I thought I should make you, using something you hate."

Salvatore laughed.

It shocked the guards who were guarding the chambers hearing his laugh, and so was Eben, who was about to knock.

The most shocked was Caspian, he's never heard Hades' laugh. All he did was smile once when he caught him. He looked at him, stunned through the mirror. Salvatore stood up with a smile and faced Caspian.

He broke the space between them, and Caspian blinked. Salvatore reached out and caressed his cheek. He still had a smile on his usual stony face.

"We don't want you to be angry. We just like to tease you."

Salvatore tilted his head when Caspian swallowed and blushed.

"Why?"

Salvatore could tell that Caspian was genuinely confused.

"We don't know, we just do."

Caspian looked at Salvatore intently. Did he have a thing for the original? If it's the case, it will make his mission easier, but he doesn't intend to let Hades touch him. He'll just manipulate him until he gets what he needs from him.

When Caspian smiled shyly, Salvatore's eyes softened. Caspian forced himself not to burst out laughing. Seriously? Hades regressed in this life. That fool is falling for a pretty face. That man is so stupid.

Salvatore almost shook his head at Caspian. How can this kid be so obvious? There's a reason he is the emperor. He can read people better than they know themselves. He'll let him think he doesn't know what he is up to. He wants to see how far Caspian will go.

Capsian asked:

"Does his majesty want to have breakfast now?"

Salvatore pulled back his hand and walked out. Caspian followed behind with a smirk.

commentaire Commentaire 3

Voter

ENVOYER LE CADEAU