The master he now served

The carriage rolled forward steadily, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against cobblestone filling the enclosed space. The estate had long since disappeared behind them, replaced by the outskirts of the capital.

Inside, Elias sat stiffly across from Cassius, his hands folded neatly in his lap, back straight. Though he had spent the morning pushing aside the lingering embarrassment from earlier, he could still feel the weight of Cassius's gaze on him, watching and observing him.

His nerves had been wound tight ever since they left, but as the carriage crossed into the city's heart, something shifted within him.

His breath caught in his throat.

The capital sprawled before him, a sight both foreign and familiar. Tall stone buildings lined the streets, their intricate carvings and grand facades standing strong against time. Market stalls overflowed with goods—fresh produce, spices, vibrant fabrics—and merchants called out to passersby, their voices mixing with the clatter of carts and the murmur of elegant city dwellers who strolled along the clean streets.

It was so lively. So bright. So different from the estate.

His chest tightened. Fifteen years.

Fifteen years since he had last seen the city.

The memory was faint, dulled by time, yet the emotions it carried were sharp. He remembered the awe he had felt as a child, clutching his mother's hand as they walked through the streets, marveling at everything around him. He had never imagined it would be his last time seeing it.

He had never imagined he would leave as a free boy and return as—

Elias swallowed the thought. His fingers clenched against his trousers as he quickly blinked away the stinging in his eyes. He refused to let them water. Not here. Not now.

But before he could fully compose himself, Cassius spoke.

"When was the last time you visited the city?"

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—subtle, yet firm.

Elias hesitated before answering, his tone quiet but steady. "Fifteen years ago, Master. It was my first and last time seeing it."

Cassius didn't immediately respond, but Elias could feel his gaze lingering.

Still, he pressed on. "My family lived in the countryside." He forced the words out as evenly as possible. "When they brought me here, I didn't know it was to sell me."

A pause. Then, softer, he added, "A lot has changed."

He turned his gaze back to the window, taking in the streets that had once felt like a dream to him. It was overwhelming—seeing it all again, knowing he was no longer the boy who had walked these streets freely.

The air inside the carriage was heavy with unspoken words.

Cassius studied him in silence before finally saying, "Indeed, it has."

Elias wasn't sure what he meant by that.

The carriage continued forward, passing rows of bustling markets and elegant storefronts. Though the city had grown and changed in ways he couldn't recognize, a part of him still felt the remnants of the past buried beneath it all.

Even if he wanted to, he could not ignore the quiet pull of familiarity.

And yet, it wasn't the same. He wasn't the same.

Elias exhaled softly, shaking the thoughts away. There was no use in reminiscing.

Cassius, who had remained silent for a while, finally shifted in his seat. "It seems you still have a deep attachment to this place."

Elias lowered his gaze. "Some things are difficult to forget."

Cassius hummed but said nothing more.

The city blurred past the window, and Elias forced himself to focus on what lay ahead rather than what had been left behind.

The capital was no longer his to admire freely.

It was simply another reminder of how much he had lost.

And how much further he still had to go.

Elias kept his gaze on the city outside, but he was acutely aware of Cassius's presence. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it held weight, as though Cassius was giving him space to collect himself before speaking again.

Elias was grateful for that.

He allowed himself to observe the streets in detail—the elegant carriages drawn by fine-bred horses, the well-dressed ladies and gentlemen strolling past storefronts, the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air as bakers displayed their goods for the morning crowd.

Everything was so different from the estate. The capital was alive, thriving. Here, people moved with purpose, voices rising in conversation, laughter, bartering.

His fingers curled slightly against his lap.

If things had been different… would he have lived a life here?

Would he have walked these streets freely, not as a servant, but as a man with a place in society?

It was foolish to think about. What had happened couldn't be undone.

Still, the thought lingered, refusing to fade entirely.

He felt Cassius shift slightly, and though he didn't turn to look, he could feel those piercing blue eyes watching him.

"You are fortunate," Cassius finally said, voice smooth yet unreadable.

Elias stiffened slightly at the comment. "Fortunate, Master?"

Cassius tilted his head slightly, his mask gleaming under the soft light filtering through the curtains. "Not many servants ever leave the estate, much less to visit the capital."

Elias lowered his gaze. He knew that. It wasn't as if Cassius made a habit of bringing his servants into the city, least of all one as new as Elias.

"I suppose I am," he murmured, though he wasn't sure he believed it.

Cassius remained quiet for a moment before he continued, "Enjoy it while you can. We will be making many more trips into the city from now on."

Elias glanced up at him, slightly surprised. "We will?"

Cassius leaned back against his seat, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. "A valet's duties extend beyond the estate. There will be times you will accompany me, especially for business dealings. You will be seen."

Elias swallowed. He had known this, of course, but hearing it aloud made it feel more… permanent.

No longer just a faceless servant in the estate.

He was to be Cassius's valet in every sense.

He gave a small nod. "I understand, Master."

Cassius's lips curled faintly, barely visible beneath the mask. "Good."

The carriage took a turn, and as it did, Elias caught sight of something that made his breath hitch.

The grand plaza.

His fingers tensed before he could stop himself.

It was just as he remembered it—the wide, open space paved with pristine white stone, the towering fountain at its center, its waters sparkling in the morning light. Statues of past rulers surrounded the area, their carved faces solemn, their presence imposing.

He had stood there once. As a child. Holding his mother's hand.

Before it all changed.

A ghost of a memory flickered at the edge of his mind. His mother's voice, soft and warm. "One day, Elias, you'll grow up and walk these streets like a true gentleman."

The irony of it made his chest ache.

He forced himself to look away.

But Cassius had seen.

"You remember something."

It wasn't a question.

Elias hesitated, debating whether to answer honestly or brush it off. But under Cassius's intense gaze, lying felt pointless.

"…Yes."

Cassius didn't press for details. Instead, he watched Elias for a long moment before saying, "Memories are a fickle thing. Sometimes, they are a comfort. Other times, a burden."

Elias let out a quiet breath. "I believe mine are the latter."

Cassius didn't deny it. "Then forget them. Looking back changes nothing."

Elias turned his gaze back to the window. He wasn't sure if forgetting was as easy as Cassius made it sound.

But maybe he was right. Maybe there was no point in clinging to something that could never be restored.

The carriage came to a slow halt, breaking the tension in the air.

"We're here," Cassius said.

Elias straightened as the door was opened from the outside. A servant bowed low, waiting for Cassius to step out first.

Cassius cast Elias one last glance before exiting.

Elias took a steadying breath and followed.

As his feet touched the cobblestone streets of the capital once more, he pushed down the lingering ghosts of the past.

For now, all that mattered was the present.

And the master he now served.