the Royal Academy

A loud bang woke Gilbert from his transit-like state as he was painting < brother! brother !> Josephine's voice came in an excited scream that calmed Gilbert's scared heart.

The yang girl walked panting half dragging her skirt half jumping < I was accepted !! I was accepted! > Gilbert smiled helplessly and reached out to steady his sister< calm down Josey .. breathe ..> as she leaned on his hand, Jose looked up with sparkling green eyes that were identical to his. < brother !! The academy accepted me !! I am to be an official student of the Royal Academy!!>

The smile on Gilbert's face faded. < Josey … you .. sent an application? In secret?> The excitement in the yang girl's body vanished like water evaporating in the blazing sun. Her gripe on his hand tightened < I want to go! Everyone goes! Amelia met her fiancee there !! Lucia was acknowledged as a genius by the whole empire for her knowledge of alchemy because she attended the academy !! I want to go! I want to study herbalism! I want to make friends! I want to find love !!! > Tears rolled down from emotion but her face showed determination reminding Gilbert of the day she arrived at the mansion.

He held his little sister closer and hugged her tight < Jose … it took everything we had to convince him not to marry you off to that old pervert .. do you think he will allow you to attend the royal academy ?>

Josephine pushed him away and with tears in her eyes, she exploded < it is my life !! Why can’t I choose? >

Gilbert stared at her and felt a bit jealous of the fire she had in her eyes< sweet girl .. > he caressed her face tenderly < you .. and I are his property … he will never allow either of us to gain power ..>

Josephine bit her lips and looked down at her feet but then looked up < let's run !! You and I ! Brother let’s leave this place with nanny !! >

shocked Gilbert laughed.

He laughed so hard that his eyes teared < why not ?? Why are you laughing?> the yang girl asked in frustration.

Gilbert sighed took a deep breath and held his yang sister's hand < josy.. didn’t nanny teach you about the house of craigfall? Didn’t she explain how high is that man's position? How much power, influence, and fortune he have ?>

< but .. but .. if we hide ..>

Gilbert cut her off < Josephine ..> he squeezed her hand < no matter how hard we may try to run he will find us... He will drag us back and we will both be punished .. , you .. you were accepted into the academy because you have the name craigfall >

Gilbert stopped talking as he looked at the tears of misery rolling down < you .. sniff .. you don’t know that .. > he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes < oh but I know you’re smartJjoesy but runing .. that ... before you came onto my life .. how many times do you think I tried? How many lives … were taken because I tried to leave .. >

He lifted her shin and made sure she knew how serious he was < don’t ever say such a thing .. nanny will be killed and you will be sold off to some nobleman .. and that is the best case scenario.. >

The poor yang girl's eyes went so wide with fear and she just turned around and ran out of the studio crying.

—

Maxim stood frozen holding a towel and the brushes he was cleaning. He was surprised at what he had just witnessed. A few days ago he found a terrifying secret and now he has witnessed more secrets revealed in front of him. He slowly put down the precious brushes and stood up staring at his master back frozen in place.

He was but a servant, a slave, who knows a bit too much. He felt grateful for being mute. He was feeling conflicted again. he felt his heart pierced with pity for his master. This beautiful man seems to have suffered greatly in life. He had no voice but even if he had, he wouldn’t know what to say.

A snicker came from the slightly open door and Maxim walked toward that sad man.

The beautiful face of the insane guest showed up. Emilio's angelic face showed up as he was giggling < aren’t you a bit too harsh on your only sister? > Gilbert didn't answer. But Maxim could feel the tension radiating off him. He took the remaining steps separating them and stood protectively at his master’s back. He hasn’t forgotten that this kid had kissed the yang lord. < ooh don’t be nervous !! I won’t tell anything to the count! >

< it doesn’t matter .. > The voice came from the fragile back in front, as if he was a man who had accepted his death penalty. It sounded steady yet so vacant and empty. < he knows everything. He allowed it to happen as a punishment for us .. to have the gates of heaven right in front of us.. but not enter >

silence..

Maxim felt the pain the voice carried and looked up ready for the action to come from the intruder.

He was a bit surprised to see anger. < you're giving up? > came a hiss from the small boy. < your sister may not get into the academy this year .. but there is still next year! >

—

Gilbert's head snapped up as he stared at the pretty boy. He smiled faintly. He was a bit tired to answer yet he appreciated the fire in him. He hasn’t lost his soul yet … good.

< I am tired .. I have painted all day .. > he turned and was surprised again to see the silent servant standing by him. When did he approach? How can a man this big be this silent when moving?< maxim ..> he breathed, not realizing how his muscles would relax every time this attendant was close. < escort the guest to his room .. > he said and walked back to the sofa in the middle of the room and simply threw himself on it feeling drained.

< I am not leaving .. I am not done talking !>

Gilbert closed his eyes and massaged his temples. He felt a headache already. < you can stand there then, but please be quiet..I need to finish this painting by this week and I need rest to do that..>

The boy didn't answer and Gilbert breathed out again feeling his throat closing. He hated seeing Josy cry. He wanted her to live in the sun happy and bright. He knew she was not an idiot and she was extremely ambitious and smart. He didn't have a choice. He didn't know any way out .. Gilbert swallowed back the tears that threatened to come. He was drowning in his sea of misery unaware of the piercing eyes on him.

Maxim stared between his master who was lying on the couch and the yang boy standing with anger burning his eyes. He wasn’t sure what exactly was going on, wasn’t this yang man the old master's new lover? Why was he upset on behalf of the yang lady? Maxim was confused. He avoided humans as much as possible since Lily's death and got stupid as his old master used to say. Maxim didn't care about being called stupid, humans were too much trouble. 

< this is wrong .. > the boy hissed and turned around leaving the room and slamming the door shut. 

He was quite a rude guest. 

 A soft sight came to his sensitive ears and Maxim turned to see his master sitting with his face buried in his hand. 

< patience .. patience .. > The yang lord was repeating these words like a mantra so softly if maxim didn't have sensitive hearing he may have missed it 

Huh … 

That didn't sound like someone who had given up …

Maxim wondered if his master was more of a performer than a painter. 

< maxim ..> came the voice calm and steady, as the loyal servant he should be, maxim walked closer waiting for the order < get my bath ready … I am going out tonight..> 

Out ?? 

It has been over a week since he started living in this mansion and his owner hasn't set foot outside the studio .. 

Maxim obeyed and walked to the connected bathroom to prepare the bath.

Maxim skillfully put the red mana stone by the bath as he was instructed.

Mana stone .. so big .. must cost a fortune 

The poor servant had seen one mana stone in his entire life, and it was a water mana stone on the ship, 

It was a huge one but it was what kept the trading ship trips always steady and safe despite the monsters inhabiting the sea.

Maxim had no knowledge whatsoever of mana stone, he always stared at it fascinated 

< don’t bother … > came the soft voice and Maxim felt his heart jump. He was so immersed in admiring these shiny red stones that he didn't notice the man walking into the bathroom. 

He flinched and finished his task < even if you manage to steal one you will never be able to sell it >  his master continued.

Maxim felt a cold sweat on his back.. 

Steal?

He never considered that .. he may have been a bit slow when dealing with people but he wasn’t completely stupid.

He stood up and hurriedly kneeled in front of his owner showing submissiveness. Hoping that his master understood his demeanor

< calm down .. > the lord sighed again < stand up ..> Maxim obeyed and finally looked up to see the blond man undoing the long string on his T-shirt with a frown < help me with this ..> he let go and looked out to the studio eyes fixed on the unfinished painting. 

Maxim swallowed the lamb in his throat and reached out to untangle the long string. Slowly and carefully doing his best so his fingertip won’t touch the porcelain skin. 

< I know you won’t do that .. just .. >  his voice stopped and Maxim looked up.

The soft light eliminated the delicate feature of the yang man, his half lazy demeanor and unguarded behavior made one think he trusted them and relied on them. 

Maxim was fascinated and confused at the same time.

Didn't this man hate being touched, hated being looked at, did he trust him?

The thought was gone just as fast as it appeared.

He was just a servant .. an attendant .. a .. slave .. he wasn’t considered a threat to this man of noble blood, he .. wasn’t even a man in his eyes, just a servant ..

Maxim was by no means a proud man, no commoner in this kingdom could afford something like pride. He knew his place, yet at this moment, a foreign feeling of unwillingness swallowed in his heart. 

He was not sure what came over him, but in a defying manner, he ran the tip of his finger on the soft skin as he pulled the last string off. 

—

A soft warm feeling brought Gilbert back from his daydream, and he snapped his head to the man in front of him. 

The bigger man pulled the disobeying strings and took a step back head bowed but a weird feeling was surrounding him.

< look at me ..> Gilbert ordered and the man looked up and a fire was burning in these beautiful eyes. Gilbert was surprised. He felt astonished.

This man … was angry ..

why? 

< what .. what’s wrong? > he asked unconsciously. Ever since he took in this man this was the first time he showed any type of emotion. He couldn’t help but ask.

Maxim shook his head. And looked down. 

Refusing to answer? Or denying that there is anything wrong?

Gilbert frowned. 

This man was smart, he could write. He knew how to behave. He knows what to do to answer his master’s question. 

He was refusing to answer ..

Unhappy Gilbert reached out and grabbed the man’s jaw and forced him to look him in the eyes. < what are you angry about? Why are you throwing a tantrum? > he asked with an arched brow. 

Gilbert’s movement made the loose shirt slide off his shoulder exposing his throat and left shoulder. 

< upset because I accused you of stealing? > he asked trying to read his attendant facial expression. 

He was not that good at reading people at all. 

He stared at the man’s face slowly turned red and his lips were forced into a straight line. Gilbert's eyes widened as he looked at the taller man's red face and red ears straight lips pressed tight together like a child refusing to tell a secret. Eyes darting from his face to the side in an avoidant manner.

What ??

He couldn’t hold it and laughter filled the bathroom. Gilbert let go of the comical face and laughed so hard his eyes were tearing again ..

He looked up at the tense man, no boy.. he was so sure that this servant was younger than him.

And laughed more holding his sides.

How can a tall steady, scary-looking man have a face like a child who was being bullied?

< alright .. fu >   he breather out < you won’t steal ..I know .. my bad .. > he said between laughter looking at the eyes that were looking at him and accusing him of bullying him < sorry .. sorry .. > Gilbert was amused .. this guy .. < I won’t bully you again ..> looked like Josephine when she was upset. 

Cute .. 

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author notes :

hohohho tings are getting cute !