Chapter 42: Pampering A Lone Youngster

Jian Li's chest heaves up and down in a relaxed manner, his eyes remaining closed, deep in a sleep. But at the same time, the sound of the soft and low sighs as well as the constant tugging of paper filled the sandalwood scented room.

Slowly, his senses comes back to normal. Even though his conscious was opening bit by bit, he chose to keep his eyes closed, letting his senses work a bit more.

The first thing that he noticed was the soft satin that the tip of his fingers grazed by slightly. As he inhales the soothing scent of the room, he would constantly hear the pencil coarsing on the paper. Stroke by stroke, that rough sound of graphite stains the paper gray.

Gulping as he tries to work his mouth, he opens his eyes.

A bit dim, yet bright at the same time. His lashes clamps beautifully together, while his blue eyes tries to adjust the light of the room. Oh how he felt so stiff, he could only guess how long he was been lying down.

He sighs the pain on his body.

Curtains was the first thing he saw in front of his eyes, roaming it more until the unlit lanterns catches his attention. It was morning, however the curtains by his side was drawn so that the light wouldn't make him uncomfortable or wake him.

'Where am i?' Was the first thought that came to his mind. Nothing in this room felt like somewhere particularly in the palace, nor this ambience of any room he's been into. This is somewhere new and unfamiliar.

However, the face that was gazing at him beside his bed that he was lying on looked the most familiar. It was a person's face that he learned to never forget ever again.

"A-ah—" Jian Li croaked out in difficulty, his throat hoarse.

The surprised expression of the manor's master abruptly changes, "No, don't talk yet-" He suddenly stood up and motioned his hand, his son Duther automatically placed down a wooden tray on the bedside table.

The red eyed man helped Jian Li up carefully, putting the tray closer to the bed to hand a warm cup on his palms. "Drink this first. It's lukewarm water."

Duther by the sidelines watched his father behind his glasses.

How his highly respected and cool-headed father act this... strange way somehow amazed him, and how he wore this new expression made him blink a several times. After living together inside the same mansion for years, this is the first and only time Leviticus behaved in such an interesting way.

'So this is how father panics. How rare.. rather a new sight...' Then Duther stares at the beauty that was sitting on the bed, silently drinking the water Leviticus gave him.

"Duther, come bring the porridge, Jian Li needs to eat."

"Yes, of course father." Duther stepped back and went outside to fetch the order.

As the King's mind clears and begins to relax, the sudden urge to vomit came over his chest.

His face lost all the color it had as soon as the surges of terrifying memories burned his mind, remembering all the blood and tears that he shed.

He felt like his entire heart crumbled and his breath would tinge every single time he would see the last image of Aren. The way he remembered how Hongwu died on his arms made a tight suffocating twist in his stomach, his breathing becomes uneven, and sweat starts to appear on his forehead.

He would grip his head and tug his hair off his scalp, trying to replace the memories with the pain of ripping off his head.

"Jian Li, Jian Li, Lili.." Lev calls to him gently until he would stop ripping his hair. A sweet smile would appear on Lev's face when the latter stopped the aggresiveness of his hands and tried to equal his breathing.

The red eyed man raised his hand. "Look around." And so did the King.

Lev added: "You're inside my manor, its inside the kingdom. Im here, Lev is here. Im right in front of you. Do you see?" Jian Li brought his eyes back to connect with Lev which made him relieved at some way. "I brought you water and tea. And you just drank on this cup." Lev pointed at the tray in front of them.

Duther walked in quietly on them and lightly placed the tray he was holding, watching how his father look like he was taming a wild beast.

Lev nodded to him as thanks.

"Here, what's this?" He raised the warm bowl that Duther brought and showed it to the man on the bed.

Jian Li blinked, opening his mouth. "Porridge.."

"Good. Does it smell good?" The moment Lev asked him this, his body reacted to the salivating scent of the rice and its soup. Resulting a loud growl in his stomach.

He just nodded, his gaze fixed on the sparkling bowl. "Yes.."

With his appetite back, Lev placed the tray on the other's lap and laid the spoon beside the bowl.

Jian Li's shaking hand would pick the utensil and dug on it right up. Lev on the other hand flinched when he saw how the other suddenly just shoved the porridge in without even blowing on it.

"Isn't... it... hot?" Lev blinked, but became more concerned when Jian Li's spoon came back to the bowl fastly and in to his mouth again.

This continuously until Lev heard sniffs. He fastly looked at Jian Li and found him tearing up, his chin quivering.

How the King looked with puffed cheeks, shiny eyes and pink nose was absolutely adorable, however Lev felt like an asshole that he even thought lightly of the situation.

"Duther, go." Lev commanded the boy standing behind him who also nodded and exited the room.

"Where were you.." He sprang his head back the moment he heard the other's muttering.

The utensils were slammed back on the tray and clattered on the bed. "Where were you?!" His voice raised and tears fell down on his face. "You could've arrived earlier! You could've saved Aren! My father! You could've saved me...!" He pants heavily, digging his bloodshot eyes on Lev's.

His warm hands seeks the other. "Forgive me-"

"Forgive me.." He repeated.

"Im sorry, im so sorry, im so sorry Jian Li, im sorry!"

The King sniffs his snot back and grips his chest, screaming in front of Lev. "I.... I want to hate you! So much!" His nails tugs his skin. "But i can't!"

Lev could only watch the other shout at him and punch him, the man in shame could only look down and take all of it.

An hour later after Jian Li's endless aggressive rambling and yelling, the phase finally ended. His temperature went straight up to the heavens and ended up catching a fever. After his last punch on Lev's shoulders, he passed out and went back to sleep with red eyes and hot breaths. Lev tucked him back in and made the servants change the sheets where Jian Li spilled the porridge, he stayed there in a while and eventually stepped out of the room with a frown.

Duther wanted to ask what happened, however, his father looked so solemn and gloomy that he didn't even tried peeling an answer out of him.

Even though not looking, Lev felt his son staring at him, so he went and replied. "Let people cry their heart out and mourn."

"For that is the only way we can help them get through the pain."

Duther only can blink and nod after.

"Also, keep on cooking new dishes hourly in case he wakes up. Say my thanks to the kitchen servants."

"As you wish father."

Jian Li woke up in the middle of the night and the moment he did, Duther came knocking in and excused himself inside the King's presence while pushing a cart filled with dishes.

"Good evening Your Highness. I hope you're not feeling any discomfort?" Gently said Duther and started laying the dishes plate by plate on the table near the bed.

"No..." Jian Li replied slowly with a rough voice. His eyes locked on the smoking hot dishes.

Duther came to his side carrying two mugs. "Ah. Water, Tea?"

He took the warm water and drank it to wet his aching throat. "Thank you..." Jian Li tried looking up to the boy's framed face. "Uhh?"

"Duther." He pushed the glasses back on the bridge of his sharp nose as habit. "Please do call me Duther, Your Highness. The full name is Duther Svarozich."

The he retracted his steps back to the table, presenting everything with grace. "These are all dishes that has soups or something not cooked fully dry. Let me know if Your Highness is allergic to mushroom, eggs, nuts or anything at all."

Jian Li removed his blanket and felt the wooden floor with his toes. "I.. I'm not allergic to anything.. thanks.."

Duther raised his brows with an 'ah.' He cleared his throat. "Would you want me to leave? Which way are you comfortable?"

Jian Li panicked at the thought. "No- stay- don't leave me alone here. It's so quiet being alone."

Duther nodded and sat down beside the bed awkwardly. "Then i must stay here."

"Thank you."

The gobbling and chewing of meat started. Jian Li was seated on the table successfully while he made Duther sit by his side which the other complied with obediently as well.

"You cooked these dishes just in time... You have my thanks.." Jian Li scooped all of the dishes and took them inside his mouth to taste, abandoning his etiquette while eating. He was just way too hungry to mind his class.

"If i can be honest with you Your Highness, the head master requested the servants to cook every hour so you can eat a warm meal. The same was done with the porridge." Duther smiled, sitting attentively.

The King blinked for several times in shock. "I- you can reheat the dishes can you?"

"How can we treat the King with such rudeness?" Replied Duther calmly.

"....." He tried to think deeply. "How long was i asleep?" He nervously asked.

"Three days, Your Highness." Jian Li's eyes darkened when he heard the other's reply.

Like a thunder struck his head, he yelled: 'They cooked porridge every hour for three days?! So many bowls wasted!'

Jian Li cleared his throat and ran a sweat down his temples. "You're making me so ashamed. I feel sorry. So ungrateful."

About fifteeen dishes laid dazzlingly infront of him, however, he still thought: 'I must stuff all of these in if thats the case!'

Duther chuckled, finding the King strange, not how he thought Kings would be. "Your Highness, you're the King. Such words is not applicable to you."

After an hour, he still wasn't hang up on eating, Jian Li was already crying as he eats, refusing Duther's persuasion to already stop on doing so. However Jian Li tries not to put the servants' efforts to waste as it reminds him of his palace servants. In the end, he did finished every single bit of it and drank every drop soup there was. He then went back to sleep with a bloated stomach while Duther chuckled away, finding every person inside this house so strange.

The next morning, Lev was notified how Jian Li ate all of the dishes that they prepared, and this made him start the new day in giddy spirits. The servants was also surprised with how the returned bowls was finished so cleanly, making the chefs of the manor happier than ever that the King with a bottomless appetite took a deep liking with their cooking. Joyous with the result, they probably will send him twenty dishes today.

"Are you ready to talk now?" Lev sat down on Jian Li's red bed.

He immediately sat up and faced the man. "I am. Lev, forgive me for the way I acted earlier. You have no faults for anything that happened to me. I am very sorry for every word that i said." He sweats while Lev turned to face him as well.

"You're wrong. At the very least i do have faults. Coming in such a late time is my greatest regret. I deeply hope that the anger inside you subsides even just a little bit. Let me take some of the burden you carry, for i am also your friend." His eyes looks at Jian Li with concern and sadness.

"Promise yourself to me." Lev's voice sounded most like a lullaby in the daylight. "I will take my utmost care for you."

"Lev, i already promised my soul to you, i took the oath infront of your flames, and i pledged only to you after my hundredth death." Jian Li stared harder. "Why would there be confirmations needed between us? I am yours." The words of the King provided relief to the other, making him sigh happily as the other finally and clearly accepts and acknowledges his protection.

"I'll be back to fetch you your things. Feel free to roam the room, or whatever you want honestly. Just dont jump off the balcony." Joked Lev and exited the room, Jian Li did as he was told to do so.

He saw several small wood carvings placed on the tables, and also minded the intricate details on the maroon carpet, the portraits of young Leviticus was hung on the walls, and the big and tall windows of this room was covered with red curtains.

How the whole room was made and decorated with wood felt so comfortable.

He wanted to go out on the balcony and stare down but halted as it felt like a bad idea. Probably because Anwir disliked how he often goes out on his royal balcony everytime. Remembering her in that moment made him want to slam his head or puke again. He turned his heels and his eyes landed on the tall cabinets filled with books.

Jian Li took one out in curiosity, noticing how it was ragged and old page by page as if it was read and carefully scanned, there were also bookmarks and highlighted parts. He realized how this book was studied so much just as he does, amazed with how beautiful it was.

He pulled another one out, and another again. Each and every of those books in the shelves has been marked!

He took a step back and appreciated the owner's efforts of understanding everything and learning every knowledge and wisdom there was inside those books, leaving no page unturned.

"Knock knock." Someone's voice said outside the door.

Jian Li blinked. "Lev?"

The called man pushed open the door and dragged a trolley behind him, entering the room comfortably. "Let's change clothes today and also change your wound's dressings." He stopped pushing by the bed side. "Its alright, i didn't brought anyone in in case you might be uncomfortable."

Jian Li blinked again. "Uh- thank you."

The work began, it was noon and a slim boy in red was seen. Jian Li wore red comfortable clothes matching the head master of the manor. The deep stabs on his body was also treated by the manor's private doctors (that looked very young in Jian Li's eyes) but he trusted them as how excellently he was covered after. Lev also applied different ointments on his bruises time to time and cleaned him thoroughly.

"Uh- is this- necessary-"

Yes. The question had to be asked since Lev was already grabbing a pair of scissors and nail cutters. Starting on trimming Jian Li's hair just a little to stay neat.

" 'Course, its a must to be clean."

Jian Li could only blink and wonder why.

His hands were gently caressed by the man and carefully handled as well. To be honest, he found it quite embarrassing, but no matter how much he pleaded the guy to give him the cutter, he just won't and started laughing as he trims Jian Li's pinky nails.

It was a fun afternoon, very relaxing as well. Jian Li could really not feel the time passing by whenever Lev enters the scene. He also forgot everything for the mean time and just enjoyed how there was someone to care for him again.

Pairs of feet sounds outside the door, running on the hallway, then later on, happy knocks was heard outside Jian Li's chambers. "Father!" Five kids bursted inside the room where Jian Li and Lev was found.

"Come on in, kiddos." He motioned. "Greet your guest properly."

The five courtesied and smiled in giggles, they wore small crowns for nobles and interesting design of clothes with mostly fluffy or with frills and ribbons. It was very adorable.

"Hehehe!! We have brought you flowers dear sir! We grew it ourselves!" Blue, pink, red and orange flowers was slammed on his chest but he found the children's wide smiles more beautiful than anything. He was put in a daze.

Jian Li was surprised. "H-how beautiful..." He sweats.

Lev stood up and patted their heads like small mushrooms. "Come on, go play outside now."

"Play with us later father!!" They jumped as they went away, their happy giggles making the place lively.

"Go, go." Lev waves.

When things got more quiet, Jian Li started a question. "Ah.. I've been meaning to ask.." Lev picked up water and chugged on it.

"You... have children?" Questions marks erupted on Jian Li's head and confusion overflowed on his voice.

Lev choked on the last gulp. "Ah- its a long story. But they're not mine."

He tilted his head. "?"

"Orphaned. I took them in."

"Oh....."

"Will you not ask how that came to be?"

"You said its a long story.."

"And?"

"I'm getting hungry."

"Pffff—"

The day went by and Lev finally felt more relaxed. Jian Li is finally safe, he's finally by his side. He can finally protect him.

Those were the thoughts that was running inside his head for the past few days. Everything went well today which makes him doubt about what will happen tomorrow. Even so, he tried to balance everything out. His time, his work, and his attention to the place and his children.

Deep in the night, he would delve deep in his thoughts and concentrate seriously on his desk, making countless of plans if things turn out wrong. He would sometimes sigh, or be entirely silent.

"My Lord, why do you try so hard?" Duther asked beside him, which also gained the attention of Dian and Dub.

"For his sake." Replied him as he stood up, watching the moon by his chamber's windows.

"The King?" Dian followed through.

Lev just nodded, his back facing the three. "I do not know what he will need of me in the future. And so, i wanted to make myself useful to him in any situations. That, to protect and support him to the glory that he deserves."

The three felt the wind outside seep inside their clothes.

"Even though living this shortly, i know that the process of bearing the greatest anguish has three stages." Said Lev.

"Neglect."

"Rage."

"And revenge."

He turned around and eyed them while his red eyes would glow from his silhouette. "Duther, Dian, and Dub. You must remember,"

"The most dangerous venom lies within someone with a pure heart."

Silence.

"And we're here to stop all those three on happening."