Bang—!

    The door slammed shut.

    Calix stood in front of the closed door and smiled blandly.

    The youth only opened the door a small crack to snatch the clothes before closing it again as if to say he had no other business here.

    He purposely sent the tailor in with the clothes, but it seemed that such tricks wouldn’t succeed so easily. Because he had played by his side all evening, Calix had hoped that the youth might just let him in, but it was plain to see that it was only false hope.

    He could sense the blatant shock from the guards behind him.

    Since they had just seen their lord receive such a rejection, it seemed fitting. They were at a loss, not knowing if they should break down the door immediately and drag the youth out or if they should act as if they hadn’t seen anything.

    Calix stared at the tightly closed door and waited silently. If he guessed right, the youth would definitely open this door again and let him in.

    How much time had passed?

    The door furtively opened, and the youth’s head peeked out from the crack. His gaze landed on Calix, who was still rooted to the same spot as before, and he narrowed his eyes.

    “Kay.”

    Calix’s expression brightened as he called the youth’s name, but the other’s narrowed eyes were brimming with doubt and suspicion. For a brief moment, the youth continued to stare at him with a fierce gaze, but then he opened the door a bit wider and nodded his head as if to tell him to enter. Calix strode through the open door before the youth could change his mind.

    The room’s interior looked exactly as he had expected.

    The clothes he had snatched through the door were strewn all over the bed. Calix could easily tell that he had rushed to try them on.