Chapter 26: Send Her With Me

Raphael’s POV:

Since that fateful day when I endured the heartwrenching betrayal from my Dad, I have been watching him stay away from the manor more frequently than before. I never saw him going after Kara when he had permitted her to stay inside the manor.

However, sometimes I would see Kara blankly gazing out of the windows as if she was keenly waiting for someone. I hated to think that the person she might be waiting for might be my Dad …and somehow it would set my heart in a blaze of jealousy.

I had been avoiding Kara since that day, but I didn’t mean to direct my anger towards her. Arnold had drugged her, so it was natural that she wouldn’t have any conscience.

I know Kara was only a powerless black slave, and she was kind enough to keep that night a secret from everyone, but every time I saw her, my anger was directed towards Dad. But he was the strongest man of our pack, and compared to him…I was powerless! I had nothing enough with me to stand up against him!

But on that day, I swore a vow to myself that I would protect Kara from now on by keeping her stay by my side! I had been thinking of ways to make it happen, however, it had been over 5 days since Father had left the manor for his training and hadn’t returned yet.

When I heard the news of his arrival, I was taken aback in shock to see Kara slowly sneaking inside his room first. Before I could follow her as well, Dad came back and headed inside the room, while my heart thumped too hard to consider the situation when they were alone again!

I stayed close to the door outside and used my sharp sensory powers to hear what they were talking about inside. I was indeed surprised when I heard Dad asking her if she would like to go to school again…to which she sadly denied in a tearful voice.

Their conversation immediately gave me the idea I had been looking for all this time. I summoned Bethem and ordered him to intervene in his room, especially to interrupt their moment. At that moment, I knew I was driven by the unsettled emotions I have always felt towards Kara…

Soon after when I saw my aunt Tilin walking into his room, I couldn’t bear to wait anymore. I marched inside the room and glowered at my Dad while demanding to talk to him right at that moment.

But this time I saw Aunt Tilin’s face contorted a bit, as she swirled her angry gaze on me. Still trying to put a forge smile intact, she answered, “Raphy, your Dad is really tired now. How about you give him some time to rest for now—”

“Aunt Tilin, this is really urgent. And I must talk to him right now, so would you mind giving us some space?” I knew it must sound quite rude to my Aunt who has always cared for both me and Arnold, but I had to stay strong to face the situation ahead.

Hearing my words, Dad stood up from the couch and handed the fruit juice glass to my Aunt, before addressing her, “Tilin, take the juice away for now. I will talk to you later…first, I must talk with Raphael.”

It was strange that until a few weeks ago when I had firmly believed that Dad would always keep both his sons over anything else, now, even his slightest attempt to prioritize us made me feel even more betrayed.

Scowling on her own, Aunt Tilin didn’t waste a second and left the room, stomping her feet a bit angrily on the ground.

When she closed the door behind her, I wavered my gaze towards Dad, meeting his eyes firmly, “Dad, my next semester will be starting tomorrow. So, I want you to allow me to take Kara along with me to the school.”

“What?” Startled at my demand, Dad rolled his ocean eyes at me while his jaws clenched, “Do you even realize what are you asking, Raphael?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then you must be already aware that black slaves do not possess the right to education. This is a royal command.” This time his voice deepened, making me realize he was upset with my demand.

But firmly holding onto my ground, I stated, “I am aware of that, Father. But since all this time you were away from the manor, Head Maid Martha has been always scolding Kara considering how poorly she has been performing household chores.

“It has been a chaotic situation, and since I knew Kara as my classmate from before, I was aware that she is an excellent student who always scored good grades! In every Spanish exam she would beat me with her score…so don’t you think she deserves the right to study? She has always loved studying after all!”

“But the past doesn’t matter now…” His voice trembled a little this time as if my words were able to strike him hard. Making a grim expression, he whined, “She has been given to the Thorn Birds Manor as a black slave by Her Majesty…so how can I defy her command by giving her the right to education?”

“You can simply let her attend the school along with me as my personal servant. Considering how brilliant she has been, I am sure she will do well just by attending those lessons.” I tried my hardest while trying to persuade him as this was probably the best way to keep Kara away from him and the manor for most of the time during the day.

I even added, “I thought you had cared for each of the servants of the manor, or was I wrong to think like that, Dad? If you won’t let Kara go, someday she might die here suffering from inside! Do you want to see her like that? Don’t you want that pitiful girl to obtain a bit of happiness?”

I knew if I resorted to manipulating him to think about Kara’s happiness, my father wouldn’t be able to act stubborn anymore. His emotions were drifted towards her…and at this point, I knew I must drift her apart from him.

“Fine, take her along with you, but I would only allow her to accompany you as your slave. But remember, don’t cause further trouble for all of us, Raphael.” He scowled and turned his face away from him, holding a deeply contemplated expression. “You may leave now, I need to rest.”

“Thank you, Dad.” Finally getting his permission, before I was about to leave, I lifted a glance at him to test one more time about how far his morality has fallen low, “Father, next week, at what time shall we leave together?”

“For what?” He grunted again, frowning at me, “What is it next week?”

At this point, my heart ached harder while a pained smile etched my lips. I was stunned to see how his heart had wavered shamelessly towards Kara…

“Next week is Mother’s 9th death anniversary, Dad… How did you forget about it this year, Dad? I thought you would always remember our mother…at least…”

I scoffed, making him wince from my cold words before I left the room.