032 ※ Stairway to Hell: A Power Play with Hot Water and Cold Stares

"Damn, I hate you," I muttered, my frustration evident in my voice. The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment, and even though I knew they wouldn't change anything, they felt good to get out.

"I know! So, let's go, there are just more five floors," Kai responded, his tone annoyingly casual, as though I were just another one of his tasks, and not a person with feelings—or, more accurately, someone actively trying to avoid him.

Just.

I gritted my teeth and muttered something under my breath as I followed him up the stairs. Every step felt like it was stretching the very limits of my patience. With each creaking stair that groaned beneath my feet, I could feel my temper rising. The experience was torturous in its sheer length. It seemed as if the stairs were endless, as though they mocked my every move. Kai, on the other hand, was utterly unfazed, as always. His steps were light, steady, unhurried, as though he found the whole thing mildly amusing. But for me, it was a test of endurance—a test I certainly hadn't signed up for.

We climbed for what felt like hours—though I was sure it wasn't even half that long—dragging ourselves upward in silence, a silence that stretched on without end. The only sounds in the space were the rhythmic thuds of our feet on the wooden steps, which were starting to get to me. Every sound, every creak, felt louder and louder, more oppressive, and my mind screamed for relief. Kai didn't seem bothered by it at all. In fact, he looked completely at ease. His silence wasn't uncomfortable to him, it was just a part of his smug demeanor. Me? I was about to lose my mind. I wasn't used to this kind of quiet, and this particular kind of silence, with Kai's smug energy hanging in the air, felt like an open challenge.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of trudging up the stairs, we reached the top floor. I could feel a rush of relief, like I had crossed some invisible finish line, but at the same time, I felt the weight of the situation settling in. I followed Kai down the long hallway, the sound of my footsteps echoing as we approached what could only be the entrance to my new room. In front of us stood a massive pair of double doors, made of dark, polished wood. The carvings on the doors were intricate, filled with swirling patterns that conveyed wealth, status, and an undeniable power. Power that made my stomach churn. It wasn't my world. It was his.

Kai, of course, didn't even flinch at the sight of the doors. With the same practiced ease he had shown every other minute of this irritating climb, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. A key so heavy and ornate, it practically oozed arrogance. It was the kind of key you would expect a king to have, and that's exactly what it felt like: a subtle display of superiority, as though this was all part of some grand game to him. He slid the key into the lock with deliberate slowness, as though he enjoyed making me wait for it, and when the lock clicked open, he swung the doors wide without hesitation.

"And this," he said, his voice surprisingly sincere, though still laced with something that almost felt too casual to be fully genuine, "is your new room. I hope you like it. You can decorate it however you want. This is yours, Avain."

His words hit me harder than I expected. There was something about the way he said "this is yours"—a small, almost imperceptible weight to it—that made me freeze. His voice wasn't just saying it, it was as though he meant it, and for some reason that made me pause. I caught myself staring at him, which was a mistake. His green eyes, the ones I had so easily dismissed before, were impossible to look away from. They were intense, captivating, and full of that damn knowing gleam that made my insides twist. He wasn't just looking at me—he was looking through me, seeing something I wasn't ready for.

"I loved it, thank you, Kai," I said quickly, my voice strained as I forced myself to sound nonchalant, but even I could tell it came out a little too stiff to be genuine.

Kai, being Kai, noticed instantly. "I thought you wouldn't thank me again too soon," he teased, that infuriatingly sweet smile curling at his lips, his eyes glinting with amusement. He knew exactly what he was doing, and I hated it. "Guess I was wrong, huh?"

"Shut up, and don't you dare get used to it!" I shot back, trying to cover the irritation building inside me. "Like I said before in the forest, I'm not that savage. I do know how to behave in certain moments, fae boy."

Kai, unbothered by my jabs, just chuckled softly. His laughter was like a taunt, light and carefree, as if nothing in this entire situation had the slightest bit of weight to him. "It's good to know that!" he responded, a slight twinkle in his eye.

"Mm-hm," I muttered, wanting to be done with this whole exchange. "So… you can go now, I'm already in my room." My words were dismissive, and I hoped they'd be enough to make him leave. The last thing I wanted was to spend any more time with him than necessary.

Kai didn't need any further encouragement. He gave me a final look, his eyes flicking over me once more, and then he shrugged. "Yeah, you are," he said, voice dripping with an underlying mockery. "So, I'm gonna go now. See you later, Sweetheart." And just like that, he opened a dimensional portal with a casual wave of his hand, stepped through it, and disappeared. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and I was left standing alone in the massive room.

What a huge bastard he was. We could have teleported up here in a matter of seconds, but no, he had to make me walk up all those damn stairs. It felt like a power play, like he enjoyed making me suffer. A petty, unnecessary show of dominance that irritated me to no end. I let out a frustrated sigh as I stepped into the room, still gripping the key in my hand. The absurdity of it all was starting to sink in, and for a moment, I just stood there, letting it wash over me.

After a moment, I locked the double doors behind me, the click of the lock sounding strangely final.

"Well, well, Avain, what the hell are you doing in this place?" I muttered to myself, leaning against the door, trying to ground myself in the reality of it all.

I couldn't deny it. I felt completely out of place. This whole situation felt foreign to me, like I didn't belong here. Maybe it was because I had spent so long living like a savage, just as Kai had pointed out in that irritatingly accurate way of his. I wasn't cut out for this. I wasn't cut out for this kind of luxury, for living in a place like this, a place where power and status dictated every little thing. I wasn't used to people treating me like I mattered, like I was anything but a tool.

But even as much as I hated to admit it, I knew I had to be careful. As much as I despised Kai, as much as I resented being here, I had to be strategic. I couldn't afford to be openly disrespectful in front of people who didn't know my history with him. He was the "freaking-perfect-king" of this kingdom, and his people loved him with a devotion that bordered on obsession. I couldn't let my disdain show too much. Not if I wanted to survive here.

I wandered aimlessly for a few minutes, pacing around the room, letting my thoughts settle. The space around me was almost overwhelming in its opulence, but I couldn't let that distract me for too long. Eventually, I found myself heading toward the bathroom, hoping to find some peace in the simple act of washing away the day's frustrations. But as I stepped inside, something caught my eye—a note. It was lying neatly on the counter, written in delicate, elegant script. It was unmistakably Kai's handwriting. How the hell did he get in here?

Magic, I assumed. But that didn't make the note any less ridiculous.

[Before you use our cold water, try the hot one. It's relaxing, you will be surprised. So… just give it a try.

─ The most perfect king you will ever meet.]

What a narcissistic bastard.

I rolled my eyes, ready to crumple the note up and toss it aside, but something stopped me. Maybe it was the fact that despite his arrogance, there was a strange sincerity in the note, like he actually wanted me to listen. Maybe it was the fact that I was just too damn curious to leave it alone.

So, against my better judgment, I decided to give the hot water a try. To my surprise, it was exactly as Kai had said. The water wasn't the scalding heat I had feared. It wasn't cold, either, leaving me shivering and uncomfortable. Instead, it was the perfect balance, soothing, almost comforting. The heat didn't make me feel overheated like it usually did. For once, I felt at ease.

Of course, I'd never admit that out loud. Not in a million years. If anyone asked, I'd just tell them I bathe with cold water. No one needed to know that I'd actually enjoyed something Kai had recommended.

After finishing my shower and ignoring the ridiculous note he left, I couldn't shake the feeling that this entire situation was just one long, drawn-out game. And I had no idea just how deep Kai was willing to play it.