37. EMERIEL MEETS GRAND LORD VLADYA
Chapter thirty-seven
EMERIEL MEETS GRAND LORD VLADYA
Emeriel dressed, his fingers working the fabric of his tunic. Across the room, Aekeira paced anxiously, her restless steps loud in the room.
Each spoke of her deep worry and unease.
"Keira, I've told you not to dwell on it so much.” Emeriel tried to reassure her, smiling despite the knot of tension in his own chest. “Worrying won't make things better."
She paused mid-step, turning to face him with troubled eyes. "But why would he want to see you, Em? What if he blames you for what happened in court? What if he accuses you of..." She hesitated, biting her lip. "What if he accuses you of witchcraft?"
Emeriel gave her a delusional look. "Witchcraft? Seriously?"
Aekeira fidgeted. "Look, Grand Lord Vladya is so strange, Em.” she resumed pacing. “He’s unpredictable. That’s why I’m so worried. You never know what he’s thinking."
Emeriel let out a quiet sigh. "I believe if he intended to punish me, he wouldn’t have waited to bring me to his chambers. He would have punished me alongside Mistress Sinai." Pulling his tunic over his head and smoothing the fabric as he spoke. "Besides, he followed you to rescue me from that place, did he not? I don’t think he went through all that trouble just to punish me."
"Well, when you put it like that, you might have a point," Aekeira admitted reluctantly.
"How are you feeling, Emeriel?" Madam Livia asked. "I did not attend court, but I heard what happened. Everyone did.”
“Is it bad?” Aekeria asked.
"It’s been the talk of every gathering and the subject of countless discussions. People can’t help but speculate and develop their own theories about what had happened.” Madam Livia sighed. “Some are worried because it means the beast can escape its golden cage at any moment, and go on a rampage, wreaking havoc on the kingdom. On the other hand, there are those who, despite their fear, find a glimmer of hope. That behavior was not the action of a feral beast. Perhaps it means their king can be healed.”
Emeriel shook his head. What if he is what brings the beast back? What would that mean?
"I'm fine, Madam Livia,” Emeriel answered. “King Daemonikai didn't hurt me." If anything, he protected her. But he kept that part to himself.
The beast did protect him. Emeriel would no longer deceive himself when all the signs were in front of him. He had a connection with Grand King Daemonikai. A special connection—one strong enough to make a mindless beast take such an interest in him.
One that made Emeriel notice and think about the beast all the time. Dream about him. Get wet for him. One that made him feel all kinds of strange urges, say all kinds of weird things.
Like what he had said in court, right before the beast broke free.
The beast had come to court to rescue him. There was no denying it now, he was indeed the beast's Soulbond.
Admitting it to himself for the first time felt like a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders, but at the same time, a knot formed in his stomach. What did all this mean for him?
Fate is such a cruel thing. Matching him with a species that harbored an intense hatred for his own kind. With a male who lost his wife and two sons at the hands of Emeriel's people, and as if that wasn't enough, he lost his sanity and remained in his beast form for five hundred years.
It felt like a sick joke played by the heavens.
Emeriel had always sensed the gods were not on his side, given the hardships he and Aekeira had endured growing up and being sold into this place. But to subject him to this kind of cruelty was unimaginable.
And to his dismay, he was beginning to... care for the beast.
"Hear what I said?" Madam Livia's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"I said we’re done here, and you're ready to meet with the third ruler. What were you thinking about?" Madam Livia pressed.
"Nothing," he answered, but when they gazed at him skeptically, he added, "Just how good it feels to be back. After being, you know...in the dark for days."
Madam Livia and Amie nodded in understanding before walking away to pack up the bathing equipment.
Aekeira moved closer, her gaze more scrutinizing. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Emeriel wanted nothing more than to confide in his sister, but he knew it would only distress her. Aekeira was too fearful of that possibility, and truth be told, so was he.
He gave her a soft smile. "I'm fine."
"You look beautiful, Em. Even in male attire." Aekeira returned his smile.
"I'm just so glad that evil mistress didn't succeed with her wicked plans. Although I never want to be in her position, I loved the punishment Grand Lord Vladya gave her. I feel guilty about loving it.” Emeriel added sheepishly.
"I do too. But she deserved it." Aekeira giggled. "Grand Lord Vladya can be so cruel. Remember the look on her face?"
Emeriel chuckled. "She looked like a dragon ready to breathe fire."
"An ugly dragon, for that matter," Aekeira added.
They burst out laughing.
"Just like children, you two." Madam Livia shook her head. "Alright, Emeriel, come on, let us go. You do not want to keep the grand lord waiting. Aekeira, go back to your duties before your slavemaster notices your absence and punishes you."
Aekeira nodded as Madam Livia led Emeriel away.
Although he had assured Aekeira not to worry, all his courage and optimism evaporated as he entered the western wing. Livia bid him farewell, taking Amie with her, leaving him to continue on his own.
One of the guards at the intersection had directed him away from the side door he was planning to enter, leading him towards the grand entrance of Lord Vladya’s abode.
By the time Emeriel stood on the stoop, his heart was pounding in his chest. He knocked once and raised his voice. "Your Highness, it is I, Emeriel.”
A Urekai maid came out and escorted him inside. Emeriel followed without question.
His eyes were immediately drawn to the soaring ceiling, supported by ornate stone columns, giving the space an airy yet imposing ambiance. The floor was a seamless expanse of polished marble, veined with gold. In the center, a large Persian rug in rich colors caught his attention.
An enormous fireplace dominated one wall, its mantel carved from a single block of marble, a fire crackling within. Nearby, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in heavy brocade curtains offered a view of the royal gardens. It was the grandest and most magnificent living room Emeriel had ever seen in a royal residence.
"Come." The maid led him through twists and turns of passageways until they stopped at a closed door. "Go inside. He is expecting you."
After the maid left, Emeriel swallowed tightly then opened the door, entering the grand study. Behind the large wooden desk, Grand Lord Vladya sat, engrossed in writing on his scroll.
Lord Vladya paused, glancing up at him.
Emeriel bowed. "My Lord."
Lord Vladya abandoned his scroll, the chair drawing back with a distinct sound as he rose. With steady and regal movements, the grand lord closed the distance between them.
Emeriel resisted the urge to step back, instead keeping his head lowered. Standing before him, Grand Lord Vladya scrutinized him with a watchful gaze. As if he could see straight through Emeriel.
To make matters worse, Lord Vladya bent at the waist, bringing his face close to Emeriel's, making eye contact.
Emeriel's head jerked back, his eyes widening as he swallowed tightly.
"How can someone so small do something so big?" Lord Vladya muttered to himself.
Emeriel deducing the grand lord was talking to himself, remained silent.
"What did you do to make Daemonikai like that, Emeriel?" This one was directed at him. "What could you have possibly done to a male—beast—like Daemonikai?"
Emeriel's stomach lurched at the accusations. In this kingdom, this is how it usually begins, and ends with the accused head hanging on a spike. "I did nothing, I swear it!" he answered quickly. "I've never done anything."
"You did something." Lord Vladya countered.
"No, I—"
"The beast let you feed him. Burst out of the cage at one point just to mount you. And a few days ago, it broke free to take you away from court and keep you to himself. Why?" Lord Vladya pulled away slightly. "I have asked myself that countless times now—I have even had sleepless nights. But you know what, Emeriel?"
"W-what?" Emeriel was hyperventilating now. The room spun, tilting. Where is this going?
"I do not care how you do it. I do not care what you are doing at all. I simply want you to keep doing it," Lord Vladya stated, looking up at him.
Hold on… What?
The room snapped back into focus. That certainly wasn't what he expected to hear. "What?"
Grand Lord Vladya looked away. "I will have you know, it is highly improbable for a Urekai to come back from mindlessness. Such a thing has never occurred before. But Daemonikai is also displaying actions that should not be seen in a feral either, and it all began with you. It all seems to be connected to you. I feel foolish even entertaining the thought, but..."
His eyes locked onto Emeriel's, revealing a raw pain in them. "If there is even a chance, no matter how slim, that he could regain his sanity, I would move mountains to make it possible."
Emeriel watched him, stunned.
Grand Lord Vladya, who usually wore an expression of indifference or icy coldness, now bore a look of unmistakable naked pain that shocked Emeriel. A display of vulnerability Emeriel never expected to see—not from him.
"Thus, I need you to remain close to him,” Lord Vladya stated. “From this point forward, your duty will be to feed the beast. I will inform the soldiers accordingly, to ensure your safe passage. I want you out of harm's way. Until I see whether or not you can help Daemonikai, you are not allowed to die. Do you understand?"
That was one weird request. Why would Emeriel want to die? "Yes, Your Highness."
"I will grant you a single request. Consider it a reward for hope given. Apart from setting you free, you may make one request of me, and I will grant it."
Emeriel's eyes widened in surprise. "Truly?"
Lord Vladya nodded once. "Yes. What do you desire?"
The answer was surprisingly easy. His greatest wish was to set Aekeira free.
But Emeriel hesitated.
Aekeira would never leave without him. And even if she were forced to, she would never be safe back in Navia. King Orestus would continue exploiting her, pawning her off to his officials and using her as collateral for his bets. And Emeriel wouldn't be there to protect her.
So, he opted for the next best thing. "I do not wish for my sister to be offered to the beast ever again. And..." he hesitated, his voice faltering, "If possible, Your Highness, I would like to request that you cease mounting her as well."
Silence enveloped the room.
Grand Lord Vladya's sharp gaze rested on the young prince, his expression unreadable as he contemplated the boy’s request. Of all the things Emeriel could have asked for, it surprised him how little he had chosen to demand.
Most would seize the opportunity for wealth, expansive lands, or gold coins. Yet, the boy had asked for something infinitely more personal...to save his sister.
Vladya’s lips pressed into a thin line. In truth, granting the first part of Emeriel’s request was almost laughably simple. He could declare it done with a single command, and none would challenge him.
But the second part? That was far more complicated.
Taking his seat, he leaned back slightly, his fingers drumming against the arm of his chair. Deep down, Vladya knew the truth that disturbed him greatly. He still wanted Aekeira.
His desire for her still burned unchecked, insatiable. He hadn’t sated his appetite for her—not by a long shot.
Even he, proud and dominant as he was, could admit he needed help when it came to the girl. He had tried to resist, had tried to pull himself back from his obsession, but he failed every time. Aekeira lingered in his thoughts like a shadow he couldn’t escape, and Vladya was male enough to acknowledge that his willpower alone wasn’t enough.
No, he needed something stronger. A push. A reason to stop. And what better way to create that reason than to give his word?
His word was his bond, after all. Once given, it was unbreakable.
"You must choose one option," Vladya said, leaning forward slightly. "The sexual satisfaction of the beast is crucial in maintaining his composure. Without it, he breaks free and goes on a rampage. If I were to remove your sister from her role of servicing the beast sexually, you must understand you would fully take on that responsibility."
His words slow and measured, he continued. "So, the first option is quite challenging. But if you were to choose the other option, I would cease touching Aekeira from this day forward. I give you my word."
Emeriel’s hands clasped and unclasped nervously. "And... if I choose the first option?"
"She would no longer be the beast's slave, effective immediately.” Vladya tilted his head slightly. “However, you would have to assume that responsibility entirely. So, you must choose wisely."
Emeriel weighed his choices carefully. While he desired Grand Lord Vladya to stop hurting his sister and put an end to Aekiera's tears and screams, his ultimate wish was for the beast to stop mounting Aekeira. Emeriel wanted that even more than preventing Lord Vladya from sneaking into Aekeira's room at night.
The beast barely kept Aekeira alive the last time, and that was because Emeriel had touched her arm. But now that he had Emeriel’s scent from the source, would he still spare his sister if she ever went to service him again?
What if a scented arm was no longer enough? What if it angrily killed Aekeira for daring to come service him? Emeriel envisioned countless scenarios, and all of them ended tragically for his sister.
"I wish for my sister to never serve the beast again," Emeriel made his request.
Lord Vladya’s jaw clenched, and he gave Emeriel a steely gaze. "Are you absolutely certain?"
“Yes, I am.” And shockingly, Emeriel didn't mind. The thought of being mounted by a powerful feral, was still scary, but it didn't bother him much anymore. "Besides, the beast wants me far more than it does my sister."
The grand lord leaned forward. "And why is that, little prince?"
Emeriel's tongue felt thick in his mouth. For a moment, he contemplated telling Lord Vladya the truth—that he was a girl, and he feared he might be the beast's soulmate. The possibility clawed at his insides.
But Lord Vladya's perpetual scowl, the disdain he held for humans, the gravity of Emeriel's deceit, and the ruthlessness of Lord Vladya's punishments choked the words back down. Emeriel simply could not do it. Heavens help him, he was not brave enough. Not yet.
"I have no idea, my Lord," Emeriel managed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Very well then. From this day forward, Aekeira has been relieved of her duties, and you, Emeriel, are henceforth the only beast’s slave.”
Emeriel felt the weight lifting from within him, and his heart grew lighter. Any form of salvation from this tough life, no matter how small, brought him some consolation.
The thought of his sister living without the constant fear of being subjected to the beast's advances was enough to bring him a measure of relief.
"May I request something else, Your Highness?" A blush crept up Emeriel's neck, eyes downcast. "I would like a room in the southern wing as well."
Lord Vladya's brows snapped together in a frown. "I said you could have only one—"
"I mean, if I were close to the grand king's beast, it would be easier for me to spend more time with it, wouldn't it?” Without missing a beat, Emeriel jumped in, his mind working fast.
“Additionally, if the beast were to break free because of me, it wouldn't have to roam far, right? That chamber is closer to the forbidden chambers than the slave quarters.”
A thoughtful silence fell as Grand Lord Vladya mulled it over. Emeriel held his breath. He really wanted to stay close to his sister.
"Very well. I shall issue an order. You may have the room next to your sister," the grand lord said at last.
Emeriel broke into a wide grin, accompanied by a deep bow. "Thank you ever so much! Your kindness overwhelms me, Your Majesty!"
Lord Vladya waved away the gratitude. "Let us now discuss the fact that your life may be in jeopardy. I hate to entertain the notion, but there might be individuals who would go to great lengths to ensure that King Daemonikai remains gone. These people would stop at nothing to eliminate anyone they perceive as a hindrance to their plans. Anyone they deem an enemy."
Emeriel stood at a loss for words. His life in danger? "But why would they wish to harm me?”
Grand Lord Vladya arched his eyebrow.
Emeriel’s shoulders slumped, and he averted his eyes. "The truth is," he began, "I don't think I have anything to do with the grand king's progress. How could I? I'm just a small, insignificant human. Perhaps this is all a misunderstanding..." His words trailed off, his voice thick with sincerity.
"But...if there's even a sliver of a chance...if there's something I can do to aid him, then I will." Emeriel squared his shoulders. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Grand Lord Vladya scrutinized Emeriel. His gaze piercing, his expression unreadable.
"Perhaps I am mistaken regarding the danger to your life. Nevertheless, I am not taking any chances," Lord Vladya said with conviction. "I will be absent for three days. During this time, the maids will prepare a room for you here in Blackstone. You will reside and work within these walls for the next three days. Under no circumstances should you venture beyond Blackstone. In my absence, I cannot ensure your safety outside my domain. Do you understand?"
A knot tightened in Emeriel's stomach. "Yes, my lord. Um... might I see Aekeira? Just for a little while?" All of this sounded extremely serious. Apart from the Mistress, Emeriel couldn't imagine any powerful person wanting him dead. The thought was terrifying.
"Your sister may visit." Vladya dismissed him with a wave. "You may leave. Do not get yourself into trouble. Do not get yourself killed."