The Lady Is Mine-Chapter 183: After Night

{Music Recommendation: Carry You ~ Ruelle & Fluerie}

"One more shot!"

Percy watched from the corner where he sat, Kali raising another glass to make a toast. She had gone to a tavern immediately after leaving Rhane’s room, promising to pay for the drink and meal anyone would take.

Naturally, Percy was supposed to stay back and enjoy his night. His life was finally going to fall back into its usual place. Rhane had woken up, Jenna was happy. Things were moving perfectly fine. He used to pray for times like these.

After the incident in Kali’s room, both of them hadn’t said a word to each other. Not that they were no longer on speaking terms. Kali only said things that related to Rhane or Jenna to him, and she kept it strict or short. It was almost as though that night never happened between them.

It had Percy worried at first, but on the brighter side, he didn’t need to think about it or bear the weight of having to hurt Rhane’s only sister. So naturally, things went back to normal, with Kali commanding the soldiers and handling things the way she did, violence, heavy accent, and straight business.

Meanwhile, Percy went back to who he was born to be— a servant to Jenna. He took care of things and went the extra length to make sure his mistress was happy. It was his only purpose.

Life was good again. Or was it? Did things really go back to the way they were?

Percy shook his head, staring at the rim of his own cup he held up. He watched Kali from there.

If things were normal, then why was he not in his room sleeping? Why was he outside in the cold night, watching from a distance this violent woman with no traits of being a lady in her? Why?

"Sir... do you need something else? You have only been with that drink since you arrived," the owner of the tavern asked Percy.

Percy put down his glass, shifting his eyes from Kali for a moment. He settled them on the middle-aged man standing in front of him.

"Ermm... I will... maybe water is fine," Percy replied.

The owner cocked his head to the side, a narrowed suspicious gaze directed at Percy. "Hm..." he hummed. "I’ll get the water to your table."

Percy flashed a short smile to have the man on his way, craning his neck to see what Kali was doing.

"Where is she?!" Percy pushed his chair back and stood up. He hadn’t looked away for too long, and Kali was missing.

Seeing the panic in Percy’s voice, the owner turned. "Did you lose something, sir?"

"There... over there... there was a woman with um... her hair is like..." Percy made a gesture of Kali’s wolf-cut hair. "She was drinking there just now."

The owner made a chortle sound, then wiped his face. "So you came for a woman? You should have said so... usually men like you pay for their drinks and then lighten the mood with a little dance. You don’t just mope at a lady all day and expect her to know you fancy her."

"That..." Percy shuffled in his pocket; he didn’t have any time to waste talking. He handed the owner his pay.

"You don’t have to leave; there are other beautiful... very beautiful women who usually come here duri- gentleman. Wait!"

Percy had already dashed out of the tavern, into the dead night searching for Kali.

"Such a waste..." the owner sighed. He turned and made his way back to the entrance. He counted his money along the way, his attention so zeroed on it that he bumped into someone stepping out from the bathroom.

"Watch it!" The owner scowled, crouching to pick his coins. Then he looked up to see who it was and his face paled. "K-k..."

Kali stared at the man briefly, then at the corner where she had seen Percy sitting earlier. "Where is the miserable young man that was sitting alone earlier?"

"Ah!" The owner stood on his feet, snapping his fingers. "You mean the pitiful young man?" He chuckled, seeing that Kali wasn’t smiling. The man licked his lips.

"He said something about a lady he was watching being gone... and then he ran out in a wild hurry." The owner smacked his teeth. "He’s such a young man, I don’t know why he looks hopeless."

The man turned and found the spot where Kali stood earlier empty. He rubbed his neck and continued on his way.

"That idiot!" Kali cursed, walking through the road that led back to the estate. She had seen Percy all along.

The truth was that she had always had her eyes on him. Though since that night, she kept her distance. For a moment, she had been weak. And that weakness was what made her force herself on Percy.

It embarrassed Kali; that was why she tried to pretend like nothing ever happened. Luckily, Percy kept it that way too.

Catching sight of the scrawny figure running breathlessly in the dark, Kali increased her pace. It didn’t take long to catch up with Percy. She tapped his back and Percy yelped.

"You moron," Kali sneered, "If you’re so scared, what are you doing out in the dark?"

Percy’s chest rose and fell, his hands on his knees. "K... Kali... what are you doing here?" he panted, his eyes half-closed.

Kali rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "Looking for nosy young men that try to act heroic when they’re just cowards."

"I... I... the owner of the tavern..." Percy stood up straight, using his sleeves to wipe sweat from his chin. "He said you’d left."

"Why are you following me, Percy?"

Percy parted his lips to reply, but no words came.

"My brother is awake, Jenna has returned. You no longer need to stay beside me as Rhane instructed. You now have your life," Kali pointed out, then asked again.

"Why won’t you stop following me?"

Percy pinched his palm, then swallowed softly. He didn’t know the reason either. It was as though his instincts forced him to move, and when he did, it led him wherever Kali was.

Could it be habit? Percy pressed his lips.

"It can’t be that you’re regretting that night..."

Percy looked up, his eyes bulged in surprise and part shame.

"You regret letting the opportunity slide. A chance to know what I taste like, and now you’re trying to sly your way back into my life by acting all good and innocent. Making me believe you’re different from other men," Kali tutted.

"I should have known that the quiet ones are worse."

Percy’s face had drained of any emotion it had earlier, and the smile he had before died a quick death.

"There might be a misunderstanding. I—"

Kali clapped her hands. "What else do you have to say? Let me guess about how you see me as a lady and how you won’t touch me because I’m not married to you?" She let out a sigh of exasperation.

"What other tricks do you have under those sleeves of yours, dear Percy?"

Percy glared at her. He wanted to say a lot of things, but when he repeated them in his mind, they sounded very harsh, so instead, he turned around to leave.

"Where are you going to? Are you no longer going to try now that you’ve been caught?"

Percy continued walking, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he did.

"Is this another trick of yours to make me pity you?"

When Percy turned, this time around, Kali gulped. She’d never seen that look on his face before.

"Do you really think you’re that great as a woman? Why would you have the thought that any man that comes to you wants to sleep with you? If I wanted to... I wouldn’t have to go around in circles, but I’d mention it with no hesitation. That is how a real man moves." Letting out a dry, humorless laugh, Percy continued.

"I’ve never seen someone detest respect and loyalty like you do. But guess what? I do not care anymore. You can throw your body at any and every man, then blame them after for only trying to seduce you."

Kali clenched her fist. She aimed to hit Percy’s face, but he caught her hand.

"I will not have any reason to hold back anymore. You don’t deserve my respect or softness. Since you want to be treated as filth, then I’ll help you." He pushed her hand away forcefully, and when Kali winced, Percy swallowed hard. He almost got on his knees to beg.

Kali rubbed her arm. "You speak such rich words. Is it because you’ve never tasted darkness in your entire life?"

"Yes." Percy nodded. "It’s because I haven’t. And I don’t feel regret for that, but I do feel sorry for you." He took a step closer to Kali.

"You think I’m no different from other men? That is just what you choose to believe. You’re scared of accepting that there are good humans out there. I don’t know what happened to you, or the darkness that made you this way. But after night comes morning... and in every market with a vile human, there is a warm woman selling sweet buns waiting for you." He took a step back, shaking his head.

"I only wish you open your eyes and see... before you get trapped forever in a darkness that would abandon you. You deserve love... and the people around you that care for you also deserve to see growth from you. Bury whatever it is that has trapped you there."

Kali dropped her hand to her side, her lips were shaking. "Bury...?"

"Yes, whatever you think yourself to be... is exactly what people will see you as. And worse, treat you!" Percy added, his hands and legs trembling. He didn’t know where all that had come from, but he was sure he’d lost his mind. When Kali closed their distance, Percy shut his eyes tightly, waiting to be hit.

"I’ll be going for a hunt," Kali muttered. "Thank you for reminding me, Percy. I should have done this a long time ago."

"W-hat hunt?" Percy blinked. He didn’t mention any hunt.

"See you soon, Percy." Kali waved as she walked away.