9 Time Is Fleeting
6 years had passed just like that. Many extraordinary events had occurred to the nobles that caused many changes and stirs in society.
The Whitlock had finally been able to produce another heir right after they sent Kai away. The child was the gem of the Whitlocks now and it is almost guaranteed he was the heir.
The child was strong and had distinctive traits that marked him as a true Whitlock. His swordsmanship was sharp and so was his intuition. He was treasured by both of his parents. He hadn't made his debut in society yet due to his violent and stubborn personality.
On the other hand, Lord Bellaire had rarely attended any social gathering whatsoever. During the day, he would work on his business and once the clock tower rang, he would rush home in a hurry. Rumour has it that he had thrown away all his slaves.
The servants of Bellaires were the one who spread the news, they were baffled when it first happened 4 years ago. Up until now, only the most closest and loyal servants of the Bellaires knew the true reason for such an unanticipated act.
In a room on the highest floor of the mansion. Laid a lonely child. The room he stayed in was the biggest room in the mansion. Though it was big, it only had a single window that was high up on the walls. Near the wall of the window was a bed.
Chains rustled with every movement of the boy. He could feel his head hurting terribly. He grabbed a cup of water from the table beside him and gulped it down. Near the table was a rope, he gently pulled it and a servant immediately came rushing in.
The servant stood there nervously as he watched the frail boy get up and wrap a blanket over his body. "Can you bring.. my breakfast up here?" He asked politely, his voice hoarse.
"Right! I'll get it for you." The person paused and turned back around. "Do you need servants to come in and bathe you?"
Kai flinched and smiled. "Yes." He replied shortly. Once the door closed and the lock clicked, he leaned back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
How many days has it been..? Or was it weeks? Months maybe? Or possibly years?
Everyday felt like a repetitive cycle. Mornings were empty and exhausting while the afternoon was for some leisure time. Night was when Lord Bellaire came home.
The first place Lord Bellaire always visited was where Kai was. He would make sure the boy was still there, chained.
The door clicked open and the same servant came back with a plate filled with food. He then left the room as silently and quickly as he could. No matter how many times he had done this before, he couldn't get used to Kai.
Lord Bellaire had a change of heart last year when he had finally set all of his slaves free, leaving only Kai. He then closed off his dungeon and locked the boy inside a proper room in the mansion instead. Every night, he was there in that room. He has never visited his own master bedroom since.
The morning soon came to an end and the sun started making its way down.
While the front of the mansion welcomed Lord Bellaire back home, it was rather early for him to come home at this time. He had a companion with him, an old woman with a great sense of fashion.
She wore thick heels while her lips were glossed in red, her dress was dark green and had snake symbols down the waist.
"Madame Janice and my Lord, please come in and I'll prepare someone to get your refreshments shortly." The butler greeted, bowing.
Madam Janice nodded and made her way to the living room as if it was her house. "Are you still not going to show me the boy? It's not as if I haven't seen him before." She stated, making herself comfortable on the chair.
"Why do you feel the need to see him?" Lord Bellaire replied back, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Just once! And besides, who else would you get his clothes from? I'll give him some more clothes that are suited to your style. So let me see him!" Janice insisted.
"You are one stubborn lady. Hurry up and discuss your business with me and go home."
"Why in such a hurry to kick me out?" Janice teased. "Fine. I've heard that the Whitlocks are going to celebrate Claude's fifth birthday publicly. And every noble has been sent an invitation. Are you going to attend?"
"No. Why would I waste my precious time like that?"
"Kai Whitlock.. he's 12 now right? Oh how I wish I could see him again. I bet he has matured well." She hinted.
Lord Bellaire had been repeatedly asked this question by his good friend Janice for quite some time. It had given him an everlasting headache. He waved his hand and called his butler over.
"Get me Kai down here. Make sure he is dressed properly and don't remove his hand cuffs. Grab 2 of the guards with you." Lord Bellaire instructed, finally giving in after many years.
The butler immediately called half of the servants to the other half of the mansion for a while. Kai was meant to be kept a secret from temporary workers.
Janice raised her eyebrows at the sight of her friend being so protective over something. She was amused by this behaviour. "So..how is he?"
Lord Bellaire kept quiet and furrowed his eyebrows. "Fine." He snapped. He couldn't believe he was wasting time chit chatting with her while he could be having fun right now.
A servant came in with the refreshers. He had a teapot in one hand and a plate of cups in the other.
Janice persistence went on before her lips stopped moving as her mouth dropped in shock. There stood the most angelic looking thing she had ever seen. It almost seemed like there was a halo over his head.
Kai's wrist was held firmly by the guards, they were determined to not lose their grip until they had reached Lord Bellaire. Though they were scared of injuring him from holding him too firmly, they were even more terrified of 'that' event occurring again.
Lord Bellaire smiled and opened his legs and gestured at the small area in front of him. The boy slowly sat down in the lap of the Lord as he leaned back. Hands reached out to hug his waist.
"He has grown..well." Janice gushed out, still in shock. The boy's eyes fluttered as if he was trying to keep himself awake. Was this even the same boy she saw at her boutique?
Although there was one noticeable difference. Kai was skinny before but he looked even more frail now, as if he would break just from falling over. And through his white long pants, a large deep red bruise embroidered itself at his ankle. A leg cuff mark.
"Satisfied?" Lord Bellaire asked with a grin, seeing how shocked his friend was. And he was in a better mood now, considering the reason why he went home early was now on his lap.
"I'll make a new set of clothes for him since you were so especially generous today." Janice said, leaning in even closer.
"How long are you planning to keep him for..? This was the longest you have kept one."
Lord Bellaire kept quiet and his eyes wandered to somewhere else. "Aren't you asking for too much? Just leave and go. If you have anything important to say now just send it by mail." He replied back, looking at his servants.
Janice was eventually dragged out of the mansion against her will. This had always happened when she had overstayed her welcome for too long. She took a carriage home safely and opened her house doors.
Even when she was in her own house, she looked around sneakily and pulled out her ring and looked at the gemstone. A recording gemstone that cost hundreds of gold coins. It was given to her to record Lord Bellaire by none other than Huxley Whitlock.
Huxley had cracked the code. To make sure his assumption was right, he baited Janice Vermilla with money. And she was indeed swayed, even willing to abandon her long term friendship with the Bellaires. It was that great of a sum.
