Knock.. knock

..

Came the soft knowing on the door followed by a say voice< yang master? I was ordered to bring your meal here >

Maxim stared at the man lying on the couch who didn't move. He stood waiting and the call came again < yang master? > Maxim was hesitating to act without permission but he felt there was no harm in bringing the food in.

The door opened and the yang maid gasped as she looked up to the newcomer. She felt her face heating as she was stared at by this handsome man. He slowly reached out took the cart from her hand and pushed inside. The maid just stared at him not reacting until the door was closed again.

<oof … melee didn't say he was so good-looking! > she giggled and toured back down < my luck is turning fluff >

Maxim stood staring at the door with a troubled face. He was mute but he was not deaf! And why was this girl so daring what if Master Hurd her ?!

He pushed the cart to the small dining table in the corner. Maxim walked back to the couch and wondered how to get his master to eat when he couldn’t call him …

The young man on the couch was hugging himself burring his face in the couch facing away.

Maxim hesitated but then reached his hand and gently touched the yang lord's shoulder who flinched. Maxim froze waiting for a scold but what came was a soft voice < I am not hungry… > and after a couple of minutes followed < you .. you eat .. >

Maxim looked at his master and felt his heart soften. This man was shaken and feeling miserable, yet he remembered that a servant couldn’t touch the food of their master even if they were starving.

The young man looked so fragile and early broken, Maxim remembered the words that stranger sad.

He was no fool, he could clearly understand the relationship between his master and that older nobleman.

Family ..

He let out a sigh and sat on the floor by the couch.

He remembered the day his mother sold him.

He was but a child. He had cried, he called for her, he begged her as he was dragged away yet that woman didn't even spare him a glance.

Later he met many who were also sold by their family.

He was lucky, when he accompanied his old owner to the brothel as a guest, he saw many young boys and girls .. serving ..

Maxim glanced at his new master and wandered

How old was he when that.. happened to him ..

Maxim's fist clinched and the veins in his neck bulged as rage unlike any rose in his heart ….. why must he suffer that by his family's hand .... why were children allowed to be hurt ..

He closed his eyes

Her dead eyes still lingered in front of him .. Lyly .. sweet big sister Lyly .. she was a child herself .. yet she was a better mother than his birth mother

Maxim swallowed the lamb in his throat and looked up at the yang man sleeping on the couch.

He was young back then, weak, small, powerless … but he is not anymore

—

—

.

.

.

Giggles rose and laughter was heard, Gilbert s hand froze. He stood up and jumped to the window looking at the garden. He felt his heart beating so loud in his ears.

Josephine ??

His stressed muscles relaxed as he stared from the window. The boy,Emilio was giggling as he danced around the older man.

It was not Jose .. yes. She had promised him to remain in her room as long as He was there... besides, her nanny was extremely protective and a smart woman.

A shadow appeared beside him and Gilbert turned staring at the taller man. Maxim had stayed with him these days, he did not leave his side even when Gilbert went to bathe, maxim was like a loyal dog.

They stared into each other eyes for a few seconds and Gilbert looked away first. He had always shown a proud and strong front but this guy was there when he was at his lowest.

Gilbert was embarrassed, upset, and uncomfortable that someone saw him this weak and pathetic.

Yet he didn't drive him away. He sighed and stared at the older man and the yang boy flirting in the garden. His thoughts were a mess, one thing he was grateful for was Maxim and that boy's presence somehow diverted that man’s attention away from himself and his sister.

Yesterday as he was walking out from the bathe Maxim was walking beside him and he had come face to face with his tormentor.

Gilbert, looked up at Maxim again he remembered the words that man had said< you … have given your body to this dirty dog? > he had looked so disgusted and frowned as he crossed his arms < eghh .. gross .. don’t show up infant of me again .. > he had walked by him glaring at him < you left my silk bed to open your legs like a whore to a dog .. discussing .. >

The words were humiliating, but, Gilbert's eyes shone so bright. He was grossed out because he thought Gilbert had slept with a servant ..

Gilbert's eyes looked out of the window again with a mocking smile on his face, all he had to do was sleep with a servant and that man was grossed out by him.

He should have done so from the beginning ..

But could he?

His thoughts were interrupted as the master’s eyes landed on him. He felt his whole body freeze in terror, he could never get rid of this reaction.

The man looked at him and a ridicule smirk was clear on his face as he said something inaudible. The boy by his side giggled loudly as he glanced up at him.

Gilbert’s eyes were desperately trying to avoid that boy, no Emilio was his name.

Save ...

Gilbert swallowed the lump in his throat and looked away, going back to his canvas.

‘’ I can’t... I can’t even save myself .. ‘’ he kept repeating desperately trying to convince himself that this was the right thing to do.

Stay away from Emilio, turn a blind eye, don’t look ...

—

Maxim left the window following his master. These 3 days he had not left this man’s side. They have not spoken, not that he could answer. For some reason, Maxim could not look away from this man.

It started with pity, turned into curiosity, and exploded into lust when he was forced to guard this man as he took a bath.

Maxim knows he is no saint. He had his first man years ago when a little fox seduced him and emptied his pockets afterward. He had been scolded and beaten by his master for being so stupid.

He walked to his little corner and leaned on the wall. His eyes followed the moment of that delicate wrist then it was dragged to follow a sweat drop as it rolled from his lord’s forehead to his jaw bone, slowly falling to his collar and sliding into the thin shirt, how easily would it be to be torn apart .. so thin in this heat sweat made it semi-transparent.. 

Maxim's jaw clenched and he closed his eyes. It has been a long time for him, but when did he turn into a lustful beast…

—

Knock knock 

< yang master ..your meal is ready> came the voice of the servant. For 3 days he locked himself in his studio painting nonstop just to be reminded that it was mealtime by the servants. Gilbert sighed putting down his brushes and paints < come in ..> he ordered walking to the connecting bathroom. Maxim left the wall and followed his master as he had done these days. He slowly got used to the duties of an attendant. The door was pushed open and the old butler walked in with a servant pushing the food cart. As he reached the bathroom door Gilbert froze looking back at the old weasel. 

< I didn't know your duties included delivering my food .. > he commented mockingly. He really hates this old dog. It was he who bathed him and prepared him as a child to be delivered to the master’s bedroom. And no matter how much he cried to him and begged him not he was ignored.

The old butler bowed deeply and answered < master orders this lowly servant to deliver this letter to the yang master .> he made a big show of putting an envelope by the table as the other servant busied with settling the lunch. 

Gilbert scoffed at him and without hesitating he grabbed the string of Maxim's shirt dragging him to the bathroom and left the door a bit agar on purpose.