25.

Elai's pov

I have a terrible headache, and I wish to drown in these sheets forever. I have not forgotten what had happened yesterday, even though I drank more alcohol than ever before in my entire life. It is why it does not surprise me to open my eyes to a brothel’s room. The scent is still the same, but the incense makes it kinder to the nostrils. The men that had accompanied me left, of course. They have a job to fulfill and- fuck! I haven’t paid! My body shoots up, eyes wide and hands tightly grabbing a hold of my robe. I don’t even have any Klyrching with me. Oh sun. This is ridiculous. I cannot believe myself. I am so stupid! I tap my hand against my forehead a few times before standing up and wrapping the robe around me. My hand reaches out for the door handle, but before I can open it, it already hits my head. “Ah!” I let out a loud gasp and press my head against my forehead.
“Karma for walking off!” Connie’s voice is the last thing I wanted to hear. My eyes look up, brows furrowed and teeth gritted.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I am friends with everyone in this area. Hiding will not help y-“
“I wasn’t trying to hide!” I don’t even feel embarrassed, my headache only worsening. “I was going for a walk and an old friend found me.” I whine when Connie grabs a hold of my arm. He’s clearly angry and frustrated, which I understand. It does not make me any calmer, though. My head fucking hurts. “And so you thought ‘hey! Why not bang a few people here and there and not go back home!’” Connie’s pace is quick. I can’t even try to look around to say goodbye. I am pretty sure I have ruined any future sneak outs, and I might not be able to see him ever again. And worst of all.. I still have no idea what his name is.
“I did not plan on falling asleep here! I did not even know I was allowed to!” There’re people looking up as we pass by them, Connie’s hand still firmly around my arm. “And you can’t just walk away! I still need to pay!”
“I have paid for you, you idiot!”
My cheeks turn red only now. He has paid them for me. This is embarrassing.
“I didn’t thank them, either!”
“Stop trying, pretty boy! You’re going straight back home with me!” I truly did thought Connie would have a miserable hangover. One that would keep him in his bed long enough, so that I could’ve at least sneaked back into the castle.
“How did you even get past the fucking guards? Did you give them head as well?” Connie is terribly blunt.
“Stop saying such things!” I wish I could kick him in the face, or break his arm. But Connie is a much stronger death gazer than me, at least for now. I could in no possible way be able to run from him. “Can you let me walk by myself, please? My legs are working perfectly fine!” They’re a tad sore, but I will not tell him that. I will not allow another one of his remarks to hit me. No way. “I’d be disappointed if that were true, considering the amount of money you have cost me.” Connie doesn’t hesitate to lift me off of my feet, and all of a sudden, is see the busy streets from over his shoulder. “Put me down!” He does not react as he walks u; the stairs that lead to the main doors. They open up before Connie has to say anything, and I hate the way the guards bow down for him. “Don’t mind doing that! Do not dare to bow for such a terrible, annoying human be-“
“Will you shut up for once?!” Connie finally says something again, only a few steps left for us to reach the entrance. I put my middle fingers up to the guards without thinking about it. Luckily, and to my surprise, I make them laugh. They know the gesture was not meant for them, and that I am just a bickering guy trying to insult Connie. It puts a small smile on my face. He puts me down once the doors close, and I cannot be quick enough to pull my robe straight and to roam my hand through my hair. “You do not leave the castle at night! Not without me! What if you ran away? What if you k-“ Connie stops midsentence. There is something he’s hiding. Something he.. knows. “What if you had gotten into trouble? Which you already are, with me. Making me pay for your own-“
“I did not ask for you to pay them! I would’ve found a way. They like me there, anyways.” I interrupt Connie before he can finish his sentence. “I wonder how!” Connie snaps as hard as I do, arms now wide and reaching into nothing. “Maybe because they’re not as stupid as you are!” The man gasps at my remark, my finger pointing at him. The tension stays, even when I hear someone applauding us from behind me. I can already guess who it is.
“What a show!” Arlon’s voice is raspy and dry, but when I turn around, he does not look like he has a hangover. Heavy breaths leave my mouth as he walks closer, his eyes glaring down at me. “And where did you find our stray?” I hate the way he is in on it, pushing down the buttons just as well as his friend. “In a brothel.” Connie huffs out as he positions himself in front of me, shoulder pressing against Arlon’s.
“Guess how many I had to pay?”
My eyes widen at him. “Do not speak of those-“
“Hm.. two?” Arlon crosses him arms.
Connie doesn’t hesitate to respond. He even dares to look into my eyes as he does. “Four.”
My cheeks burn as I try my hardest not to hide my face behind my hands. Once I get strong enough, I will break Connie’s bones until the day that I die. I hate him. I fucking hate him.
“Oh! He’s quite the feisty one, then.” Arlon has a big grin plastered on his face and I am all too glad he does not know that I thought of him last night. The situation would only become worse than it already is. I don’t think I would’ve survived it. “Tell me, are you feisty on the battle field, too?” Arlon leans down to be able to look straight into my eyes, and for a moment, I wish I could fall forward. But thinking of him was a mistake, I know this. I will never do it again, and I will not give into any spark that ignites in my stomach. “Let us find out.” Connie joins in on it once again, and I finally gather the courage to snap back at them. “I bet I’m way better than both of you, if you even tried screwing around! Or are you too royal to do that? Are the beds too hard and the people too poor? Hm?” I walk past them, unaware of the deal we had made yesterday. I will not be getting away from them so easily, and so they walk after me, like a pair of.. dogs.
“I am pretty well known in brothels, dear sunshine. Better yet, I’m sure they’re all very fond of me.” I did not expect Arlon to be so honest, but it doesn’t surprise me either. A king has his needs, too. My father used to invite them into his castle. I could throw up simply thinking of it. “You’re a great charmer, I am sure.” I huff out, which Arlon hums in to. If I could hurt them, I would. If I could simply- we were supposed to train!
I take a turn without telling them, and they easily follow me.
I can hear Arlon let out a soft chuckle. “Oh it is not for my charm, I can assure you th-“
“Disgusting!” I stop him from talking any more as my feet rush down the set of steps. They do not say anything back as we walk down to hallway. Only when the door to the dome opens up are they back at it again.
“They especially like it when we come together.” Connie does it for me. I turn around and put my hands up and I’m not surprised when it doesn’t work; their resistance is too good for it to work. “Shut. Up.” My hands stay where they are, though, and I’m glad both of them pretend to be freaked out by my actions. They roll their eyes in sync before walking away from one another.
“Let’s see if you keep that attitude up through training today.” Something about Arlon’s voice compels me to look at him. I do not know what it is, nor can I understand the little jump my heart makes. He’s looking right back at me, hair just inches away from hiding his eyes. He does not say or do anything; no. He simply stares right back at me, until I feel like he can look through me. The only thing that snaps us out of it is the quick snap of Connie’s fingers. He cracks his knuckles and stretches the muscles in his neck before putting himself in a steady position. If he didn’t look tough already, he surely does now. He’s frighteningly big, even though he’s not as tall as Arlon. It feels like he towers over both the king and me, like he’s taller than the giants from the Nunurean island. I wonder if I can make myself look like that.
I put my left food backwards and dig my right into the mud while my eyes scan the way Connie is standing. I feel my cheeks heat up when a chuckle leaves his mouth. “I’m going to show you a few moves first. I like the determination, though.” Something about the tone in his voice sets me off. Now that he’s not working with Arlon, he seems.. cautious. It makes me wonder once more if he had found out who I was. There was no denying the slight change in his attitude. He was genuine at first, now it seems plain fake. Unless he’s with Arlon. Only then can he seem cool and collected. If they found out- if they.. I have to stop overthinking. I’m training.