CHAPTER 135: THE COINS

Kai left the servant quarters under a barrage of curious stares. He didn’t understand why everyone was looking at him. He glanced at Sylas several times, but the prince walked calmly, occasionally glancing back at him with a smile.

So Kai lowered his head and walked beside him.

As they passed through the corridor to the kitchen, they saw Alora carrying a tray. She looked cheerful again, but when she saw Kai, her eyes widened.

"Are you leaving already?" the girl asked.

Her words made the three of them stop.

Kai looked down and nodded politely.

Sylas glanced at the girl who seemed to know Kai.

Alora looked at Sylas in surprise. She immediately bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness... I’m sorry to delay your way." She stepped aside at once, though her eyes were still smiling at Kai.

"No problem. Do you know Kai?" Sylas asked.

Alora smiled politely. "We just met and talked today. But I already consider Kai my friend, Your Highness."

"What is your name?" Sylas asked. The girl still looked very young. He was sure she had just graduated from the royal servants’ academy.

"My name is Alora Vemming, daughter of Earl Adam Vemming, Your Highness."

Sylas frowned. The name Adam Vemming was well-known in the capital, a family that had served with honor for generations. Sylas had met the man several times with his family, but he didn’t remember ever seeing this girl.

"You never attended palace parties? And why are you in the servant quarters?" Sylas asked. He knew that some noble families sent their children to serve the royal family, but never to work in the servant quarters.

Alora bowed respectfully. "I have never been to the palace, Your Highness. This is my first month here since graduating."

Sylas asked no further. Maybe Adam really had many children. Or maybe he just hadn’t paid attention.

"I’m glad you are friends with Kai. I hope you two can become closer in the future," Sylas said.

Alora’s eyes lit up. She bowed again. "Of course, Your Highness. I will help Kai if he ever has difficulties."

Kai bowed politely. He only listened quietly. As long as Sylas liked the girl, he would feel comfortable talking to her later.

As they walked toward the horses, Sylas asked, "You didn’t tell me you had a friend, Kai."

Kai looked at him. He didn’t even know what friends were for or what he should do. So he felt there was nothing special to tell Sylas. He also realized he had never told the man anything.

"It seems like she’s the girl who was in the news a few years ago," Alvaro said suddenly when they were far enough from the guards.

"What was that?" Sylas asked.

"How could you forget? Adam Vemming was caught in a huge scandal. A ten-year-old girl suddenly came forward and said she was Lord Vemming’s daughter. The shocking part was that she announced it before she even entered the family. I remember her name, Alora. They tried to silence the media, but the news spread too fast," Alvaro explained.

Sylas tried to recall. There had been too many scandals of infidelity, and he usually wasn’t interested in listening. But he remembered James and Adrien discussing it at that time.

"So that girl was Adam Vemming’s illegitimate child?" Sylas asked.

"I’m sure of it."

Sylas looked at Kai. "Did she ever hurt you? Or do anything to you?"

Kai quickly shook his head. "She gave me bread..."

Sylas smiled at Kai’s innocent reply. "I just want to make sure you’re friends with good people. I don’t care about her status, as long as you like her. But if she ever does something bad, you must tell me," Sylas said firmly.

Kai nodded. "Yes, Master..."

After that day, things changed for Kai. James came the next morning and gave him a stack of small wooden blocks and a chisel. Kai was taken to a large room in the basement and left there alone.

At first he was confused, but an hour later he was completely absorbed in carving. Several times Alora appeared and greeted him. She would disappear again, then return to talk to him.

The girl peeked her head into the room dozens of times. At noon, she even invited him to eat together. She had brought her own lunch basket and gave Kai a piece of bread with cheese.

"Aren’t you eating there?" Kai asked, pointing to the servants’ dining area. This was the first time he had dared to speak to someone, but the girl was cheerful and had invited him to talk many times.

Alora took a bite of bread and shook her head. "No. I brought my own food. It’s better than what they make there," she said with a smile, though her gaze looked empty.

Kai didn’t say anything more. He ate the bread. It tasted the same as any other bread. But he didn’t dare eat in the servants’ dining room either. Usually, he just took some bread and left.

"How is your family? Are they happy that you are serving in the palace?" Alora asked, since Kai was so quiet. He never started conversations or asked questions.

Kai shook his head, but said nothing.

Alora frowned. "Do they treat you well?"

Kai stayed silent. He remembered everything in Omino, which was nothing compared to how Sylas treated him.

"I feel like any family is better than mine. They even wanted me dead," Alora said softly.

Kai didn’t respond. He too had nearly died in Room Zero, but he said nothing.

From then on, Alora stayed close to him whenever she could. She often praised his carvings, saying they were beautiful.

Kai liked the girl. By the next day, he was already used to her presence. He was happy because he only had to carve, and no one scolded him. He still didn’t know why James wanted him to carve, especially since the festival was almost over.

For the past two days, Sylas hadn’t visited. Instead, Garry came and went, checking on him in the servant quarters. Even so, Kai’s life was peaceful.

Sylas was busy. After the festival, Adrien would hold a ceremony to name him the Young King. There were many preparations, rehearsals, and oaths to recite.

Sylas still thought of Kai, but he truly didn’t have time to visit. He only made sure Garry looked after him.

That day was the final day of the festival. An envoy from Ganesh arrived with news that King Obaze and Princess Eresia would soon come, answering the king’s invitation.

Sylas sighed. The thought made his head ache. Adrien kept reminding him to be polite and remember their goal: building strong ties between Valigria and Ganesh.

"The girl is a little spoiled, but she’s good at heart. I’m sure you can make her a good queen," Adrien said. He was able walk again, though with a cane.

Sylas nodded. He had promised Adrien he would consider marrying Eresia, though he wasn’t sure he could go through with it. Just imagining it made his chest tight. What about Kai’s feelings?

That night, fireworks filled the capital’s sky until midnight, closing the festival. Sylas used the chance to take Kai from the dormitory.

He left with Alvaro and Amos but told them to wait outside the gate. When he was about to ring the bell, Garry was already waving from the terrace.

The guard hurried over. "Your Highness. I didn’t expect you to come. I can take Kai to you if you want."

"I just needed fresh air. I’ve lost track of the days," Sylas said with a smile.

Garry laughed and chatted nonstop as they walked toward the terrace.

"Can you show me his room? I want to see it myself," Sylas said. He wanted to see where Kai stayed and what he had been doing.

Garry nodded and led the way, pointing out Kai’s room at the back. Then he left when Sylas asked him to.

Sylas looked down the dim hallway. It seemed to lead toward the kitchen. Why had they given him a room so far away?

As he looked around, he stopped when he heard a woman’s voice from one of the rooms. He walked closer, sure Kai was there.

"I told you to give it to me without me asking, didn’t I? I didn’t come last night and you said nothing," the woman scolded.

Sylas frowned. Who was she talking to? Could it be Kai? He stepped closer, standing at the doorway.

He froze when he saw the scene inside. Kai was kneeling on the floor, and a plump woman with her back turned was scolding him.

Sylas said nothing at first. But when he saw what she was doing, his expression hardened.

The woman took coins from Kai’s pouch and slipped them into her pocket. She took from two different pouches.

"Because you were careless, I’ll leave you one coin this time," Mrs. Gremblin said.

Sylas cleared his throat. "You shouldn’t be extorting students."