the rats and the cat

Ch6

Maxim stood there waiting for this nobleman's death sentence. And he could feel his master’s hold on him tighten. 

< don’t glare at me like that .. I am not going to make a complaint or anything .. just give me a chance to talk ok?> The yang nobleman stood there smiling affectionately at his master. 

But he would glance at him with a murderous glare. 

This man was bad news .. maxim knew that this man would try to get rid of him in the future.

< tomorrow .. > The master's soft voice came as a whisper as he leaned all his weight on Maxim.

—

Gilbert glared at the audacity of this man, first he begged for forgiveness then tried to assault him, and now threatened him with Maxim's life ..

Fine .. 

You asked for it ..

All the darkness was drained from Gilbert with anger. He leaned completely  onto Maxim using his chess as a pillow and gave Leopold the look  of a drunk and tired man < I am tired .. > he whined < are you going to make me do this now ?>

Gilbert stared at Leopold swallowing his words back and with a forced smile the man answered < no .. no tomorrow ..> 

Gilbert knew what effect his acting coy had on this man. 

He hummed softly and blinked his eyes slowly. He silently squeezed his attendant hand, and Maxim got the message. 

Slowly the bigger man guided him into the estate < get a room ready for lord Alpine, > he continued to use a soft voice. 

Gilbert was not a fool. He knew that many lusts after his appearance. He hated it, but he was not above using this lust to his advantage. 

—-

Sight .. 

Maxim was biting the inside of his mouth, and standing so stiff by the bathroom door as the other man was enjoying his bath.

Why must he stand Gard? 

The older master was not here but he was yet ordered to stand guard. 

He listened to the sound of the water splash and the soft content sight. 

Maxim swallowed, he did not like this new job ..

Finally after what felt like hours the yang master walked out wrapped in a soft bathrobe. Maxim could see the water droplet on his neck and averted his eyes as he followed him out grabbing a new towel on the way out of the connected room and into the bedroom.

< the fuck ?> 

Maxim froze behind his master staring at the intruder. 

Leopold, his name, was sitting by the couch in the bedroom. And stood smiling as Maxim and his master walked in..

The man took a glance at Maxim standing behind the lord and the smile disappeared. 

Fuck …

Maxim swore 

Now he has a new enemy when he didn't even do a thing .. 

—

Gilbert stared at the older man in astonishment.

How can a person be this charmless?

< what the fuck are you doing in my bedroom Leopold? > he asked frowning 

< you bath with your servant present? > he heard the man demand in an unpleasant tone 

Hah .. Gilbert wanted to laugh 

Was this what Richard was after? 

< what the fuck is this commoner doing in your bedroom? > the other man asked, in anger, as if he had caught a cheating wife.

Gilbert stared, was this man for real? 

He took a deep breath, remembering that a complaint from this asshole may get Maxim in trouble.

He walked to his bed, sat down, and waved to Maxim to follow. 

The ever-so-obedient maxim followed and sat beside him starting to work on drying his long wet hair.

< you don’t need him for that, I can help you, and you!> glaring at the servant < Get out !>

Maxim's hand stopped 

And Gilbert was royally ennoyed < maxim .. did I say to stop? > he said glancing at the servant with cold eyes.

The boy bowed his head and continued his work.

Leopold's fists were shaking with anger < Gilbert! Are you provoking me on purpose? >

Gilbert's eyes slide on the man who is standing not far. < Maxim is mine .. > he said in a cold tone < if you lay a hand on him, I will never forgive you ..> 

< you .. > Leopold's voice was shaking to Gilbert's pleasure .< yours? You .. hah .!! You haven't forgiven me anyway! > 

Gilbert softened his gaze and said in a small voice  < I am still talking to you aren’t I ?> 

< Gilbert ..> The other took a step closer and Gilbert snapped < stop !> 

He did.

< I ..> fuck, Gilbert still needs this fool .. and he doesn’t want to risk Maxim’s life < what do you want Leopold ?> 

He stared as the other man's frown deepened and he watched him take a deep breath walk back to the couch and sit down with his elbow resting on his knees.< I need ta talk to you about .. > he glanced at maxim in anger < the citation .. > 

—

Maxim could feel his master tense again. The yang lord waved his hand < you can talk in front of Maxim.. he is mute .. > < oh ..> There was a surprise on the other lord's face and the hate seemed to lesson < I see .. > he would never guess that a slave can read and write.  he sighed deeply < the rats came home recently .. and they brought good news ..> Maxim could see his master's eyes shine in anticipation as the other man continued to talk in riddles < it seems the big cat is in .. > 

< hah !> Maxim was surprised to see his lord clap his hand in happiness, he saw him  cover his mouth and try hard to suppress the grin off his face < so it started ..> 

< humm > The other Nobel man stood and continued walking closer gain, as if taking the chance now that Gilbert was in a good mood < but he needs time, this .. big move needed time but the fact he is willing to be part of it is confirmed ..> 

 Maxim was surprised when his master jumped off the bed and launched into the other man’s arms hugging him and laughing, but before Leopold got over the surprise and warp his arms around him Gilbert pulled away. 

He skillfully grabbed the other man’s Hand < this is the best news I heard in a while!  We should get the other into it too ..> he babbled in a happy cheerful voice < yes ..> the other man was completely charmed by the happy fairy holding his hand and dancing in a circle with him and didn’t notice when they reached the door. 

< now we just have to keep walking forward slowly .. and carefully .. > continued Gilbert as he reached the door and opened it slowly and gently pushing Leopold out < Gilbert .. > The other man called out the name in a begging tone.

 < Lepolod  .. you made me so happy tonight .. > he leaned in and softly kissed his cheek < good night ..> he smiled and closed the door. 

Maxim was beyond stunned. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but he just witnessed a new side to his master. 

As Gilbert's eyes settled on him he tensed. < don’t worry .. > his master said as he walked back to the bed and flopped on it < Leopold is all bark but no bite ..>  

Maxim wanted to nod to express his understanding but his master was lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

He stood there by the bed, the towel in hand, confused.

< maxim ..> came the master voice above a whisper < my hair is still wet ..>

Maxim breathed.

Dry the hair .. 

Yes …

He can work on that .. 

But .. what the hell just happened?

——

After what felt like an eternity the soft golden hair was dry and well brushed. Maxim wanted to signal to his master but when he barely touched the shoulder of the smaller man sitting in front of him the other softly fell backward on his chest. 

Maxim froze for a second he glanced at the master’s face and saw his long lashes resting on his cheek and breathing softly ..

He .. he slept .. sitting? How? 

A humm of discomfort came and the lord's eyes flattered < sleep ..> he hummed like a child. Maxim got used to the master's undirect order slowly held the slender shoulders and adjusted the smaller man on the bed horizontally. 

He was quite small, felt sof in his arms and the exposed skin of his neck shone in the light reflecting a pale skin. 

Maximus was amazed by his own self-control, but then again, life was precious …

After the servant reached out to the blanket and covered the master he retreated his hand breathing in relief to have more distance from this enchanting creature.

 A hand reached out and grabbed his.

Maxim swallowed the unmanly yelp and stared at his master whose eyes slowly opened < you‘re sleeping here ..> 

Ah …

Maxim guessed as much, he had been after all staying with the master in his studio all this time.

He nodded obeying the command. And the slender finger loosened. Maxim stared as the tensed brow relaxed after getting the answer he wanted, the drowsiness made the almond-shaped eyes slowly close as the master fell asleep.

Maxim stood for a few seconds to make sure the master was asleep. He breathed out relaxing a bit and walked back to the connected bathroom to clean.

As his hand busied wiping the floors and cleaning the tub, Maxim's thoughts raced in his confused brain..

He never served nobles before, was it normal to be by the master's side every minute of the day? 

No, his master's situation was special after all …

situation .. what did that man mean? Rats? Cat? Join what? 

No. No. Maxim was 100 percent sure he did not want to know … he was not a curious man by nature, he knew when not to poke his nose.. he already knew a bit too much for a servant..

Or did he?

He didn’t get the chance to interact much with the other servants in this estate, but he was sure that most of them were aware of what happened behind closed doors. 

The way the servant had stopped him from interfering earlier in the carriage incident was as if he had seen this before ..

The way his master wholeheartedly hated the older butler.

They knew ..

Even so, what could a servant even do? 

People like themselves were livestock to the noble blood in this kingdom. They were bought and sold like cattle. 

They were killed like bugs..

Maxim’s eyes snapped to the rug that tore from being squeezed too hard. 

He breathed out. 

Sometimes his thoughts strayed and he could feel this darkness of hate and violence try to resurface.

Maxim finished his duties and walked back to the bedroom. He adjusted the mana stone as he was thought to make it dimmer and dimmer until only a soft light shone barely illuminating the room. 

Without realizing it Maxim walked to the side of the bed and sat on the ground like he did in the studio. 

“Don’t be a fool … “he remembered his old owner and master as he scolded himself for fighting against Lily's murderer,  “You will only die if you go after him now... You’re weak boy, you couldn’t protect her and can’t avenge her >

Maxim's fist tightened 

Weak .. he had cried for days and his old master showed rare kindness in letting him mourn in peace.

He couldn’t protect her … maxim’s eyes drifted to the slender fragile figure on the bed. 

He couldn’t avenge her … right, he had something to live for, he had to gain power, find that murderer, and rip him to shreds .. 

A small smile appeared on a maxim poker face.

 it always made him smile. 

Thinking of ways to torture that monster and how to make him pay for what he did to sweet sister Lily.

The estate master’s face appeared in his mind and the thought of doing the same to that old leecher made the smile on his face widen.

——-

A soft hum and a painful groan were heard in the quiet bedroom. Maxim's eyes flattered open and his heart raced. He looked around expecting to see the monster who killed Lily. he dreamed of that night a lot recently. 

As he recognized the luxurious bedroom he breathed a sigh and his muscles relaxed a bit.

The Goran rose again and the man who was sitting on the floor looked back to the bed he was leaning on. He saw a pale figure clinching the sheets in pain and agony.

The master … is dreaming again..

Since the duke came back to the estate the master never had a night of sleep. He always had nightmares.

Maxim felt a hand squeezing his heart. He may be a noble but this man was really like him. Hunted by a nightmare and under another’s thumb. 

 Maxim hesitated but then he stood up approaching the other man. The soft light illuminated the pale face. 

Brows frowning, teeth grinding, and sweat beads covered the forehead. 

The servant, because that was what he is, didn’t know what to do.

He was just a servant, a slave .. was he even allowed to touch his master without permission?

All these nights he really wanted to wake the suffering man, to shake his shoulder, to wipe away the sweat but he never dared ..

While Maxim was in a dilemma on what to do, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his. He jumped out of his skin in surprise! He stared at the pale baby blue eyes wide open staring right back at him.

< maxim?> 

He nodded like a fool. 

The hand that was squeezing his so hard it almost broke the bones relaxed but didn’t let go. 

< did he come back?> The man who just woke up looked around and asked.

Who? The count? The guest?

Maxim just shook his head in answer and waited. He waited for the accusation and the question of why was he so close to his master when he should be on the floor.

The other man's eyes settled back on his. And they slowly blinked.

The master finally let go of his hand and covered his own face as he groaned loudly < egnnn… was I dreaming ?> 

Silence. 

Maxim nodded but the master didn’t look at him. 

He didn’t know what to do but when these soft eyes settled on him again he nodded vigorously like his head would snap.

< pfff…. > A chuckle came from the master as he slowly leaned back on the bed frame < you’re going to snap your neck > he said smiling. 

Maxim stopped nodding and blushed.

“Not fair..” Maxim thought to himself “Looking at him with these  sleepy eyes  and smiling like that all relaxed and charming and cozy was not fair!!!!!”

The smile on the other ’s face widened and his hand reached and petted Maxim's soft curls like a big dog < just wake me up next time ..> the master said as he kept petting his attendant who was sitting by his side like a big dog.