Yunho POV

«What?»

«Finally I found what most pleased me, mother. Although late.»

«Where is he, son?»

I passed my hand over the hair I was holding loose at that moment. I had recently returned and my mother wasted no time asking a thousand questions about my new "purchase".

«In my rooms, where it should remain and will remain.»

I certainly would not have put he in the common servants' room. He was mine and I could keep him in my rooms.

I thought back to his frightened eyes and to that thin body, but well made close to mine, the first time we saw each other and closed my eyes and then opened them again.

«You know he must ...»

«Mother, he will stay there. Even during my travels, I do not want he to be moved.»

She looked at me and added nothing else, but returned to read her book. The speech was closed there, even though I knew she had not gone very well.

I got up and made a slight bow, going up to my rooms. I would have gone right away to see the young fawn.

Will he be awakened? Was he fine?

There were many questions that only behind that closed door could be answered.

I stopped and knocked, hearing voices of two people talking.

«No, but you will live here, as his slave.»

He could tell that it was Kyuhyun who spoke, before saying "come in" and I entered.

He was on the bed, the white and delicate coat covering his whole body and his legs almost thin. His disheveled hair gave him a jaunty touch and his eyes ... his eyes were a world that I would never stop looking at.

Kyuhyun stood up and bowed quickly, noticing that it was me.

«Lord, good morning. I did what you ordered me.»

He remained stooped and his voice was frightened. I had well said that no one should speak with that fawn, but seeing his expression, he understood that Kyu had done well.

He did not look as scared as when I found him in that hut. There was fear, but it was also surrounded by a mixture of curiosity, while watching me and Kyu.

«Thank you. Now I think you can go. In the kitchen they need.»

He stood up and looked at the boy for a moment on the bed, and then passed by and went out with the small basin of water.

When the doors closed behind me, I approached him, slowly and calmly.
He looked at me and tried to get away a bit but ended up touching the headboard.

«Do not be afraid ... I do not want to hurt you.»

I said calmly, drawing close to the bed. I could feel that scent, the scent of his skin and there was no comparison with that of the roses that housed in the room. It was the most beautiful perfume I had ever heard.

At my words,he relaxed, but did not look away from my face. I sat down and tried not to make him uncomfortable.

«Have you rested well?»

He nodded and just pulled up the blanket, hiding the shoulder uncovered by the dress too wide.

«Did you eat anything? After this sleep, I think that you may be hungry.»

He shook his head and, in response, his belly began to grumble, which made him blush, making me smile.

«They'll bring you something, do not worry. But tell me ... why did you end up there? Debts?»

He shook his head and looked down.

«For what then? Don't you talk...?»

«Even if I spoke ... would it matter? Nobody listened to me ...»

He said looking up and crossing my eyes again. For a moment the time seemed to stop again and only after a while did I speak.

«I'm listening to you, as you see. So ... for what?»

«A misunderstanding. An error. I have never stolen anything and never thought of doing it, even after living a life in poverty. Why should I do it today, even knowing I risk my family?»

His eyes turned bright and he did not stop looking into my eyes.
Strangely, what he said seemed to me true, but he was mine now. I had bought and waited for him.

«Are you married? What did you do?»

He brought his knees to his chest and hugged her arms, swinging slightly.

«I'm not married, Lord ... I live with my mother and my sister and I am ...»

He stopped, as soon as he heard a knock.

«Lunch is served.»

Another servant entered in the room with a silver tray that led to the bed, placing it. He bowed slightly and left, leaving us alone again.

The young man's belly grumbled at the smell and, without saying anything, moved the lid of the dish, revealing its contents: a nice dish of duck with vegetables that served as a side dish and two freshly baked bread.

Evidently he did not know what to do and I told him.

«Please, eat as well. If you want I will go away, so you can stay here and enjoy your meal in peace.»

I started to get up, but he stopped me, taking a piece of my sleeve.

«No ... no, please ... stay here with me.»

I certainly did not expect it, but I went back to sit down, while he approached the tray with the plate to himself and began to eat almost voraciously.

"He will not have touched food for a while ..."

I thought, looking at him. He soiled his lips and the sauce slid down his chin. I reached out a hand and dried it with my thumb, delicately.

He stopped and looked up, embarrassed.

«Come on ... I did not want you to get dirty.»

«Tha- ... thank you ...»

I waited fifteen minutes, leaving him plenty of time to eat. Once finished, he moved the tray to himself and took the goblet with water inside, drinking it all in one gulp.

I took the tray, getting up and carrying it on a table, so as to keep that bed free.

He put the cup on his leg, empty and licked his lips.

«Did you like it?»

I asked, coming back to the bed and sitting down.

«Yes ... yes, thank you again. I do not know how to thank you for taking me out of there ...»

«It's not me who has to thank, but the circumstances. If I had not needed a slave and if I had not come there that day, I doubt we will have met.»

At my words, he swallowed and half-closed his lips.

«So ... so I'm really a slave ...? Will I live as your slave? I ... I cannot. Please, let me go. I will repay you for the money you lost by buying me, but please ... let me go back to my family. My mother .. my sister, they need me.»

He clung to my arm and his voice became imploring, as did his gaze.

«I cannot do this, do you know? It's not the money, what I want from you.»

«And what would you like? I will give you everything, but please ... let me go ...»

«What I want can be given to me only by staying here. Your complete company and ...»

I put my hand on his shoulder, uncovering the skin and caressing it with my fingers. He was horrified and walked away, leaving my arm and covering himself with the blanket, letting the chalice slip to the ground that shattered.

In his eyes was the same fear I had seen in the hut. I should have known what Jae meant to do, I thought.

Without saying anything else, I stood up and headed for the door. That refusal was too much, and if I had stayed there ...

«You will never leave this house, if you remember it, not without me.»

I opened the door, almost infuriated, and I saw Kyuhyun there, waiting.

«He broke a cup, see to clean up.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

He hurried in and closed the door as I went to my room, which was not very far from the young man's.

Once inside, I took a bottle and opened it, pouring the contents into a goblet that I sent down without too many compliments.
That boy's eyes were still in my mind and also the way he turned away from my touch.

I let myself go to an armchair and closed my eyes.

That slave would have been too big a challenge for me.