Chapter 484: The Head After the Night Before

Ezek stared up at the ceiling, feeling as though a small, persistent blacksmith was hammering a dull spike directly behind his left eye.

He let out a low, gravelly groan, rolling slowly onto his side. The sudden movement sent a sharp, nauseating throb through his temples. Morning sunlight slipped through the narrow, high window and fell across his face, making him squeeze his eyes shut as he dragged a heavy forearm over them.

His mouth tasted like dry ash and old wood.

Taking a slow breath, Ezek pushed himself up into a sitting position on the edge of his bed. He sat there for a long moment, resting his elbows on his knees and burying his face in his large, scarred hands, waiting for the room to stop spinning.

He had heard the rumors, of course. The tales of Elios and Marielle were well known throughout the north. It was said that the two could drink alongside half the soldiers until the last cup was emptied, only to rise with the dawn the following morning as steady and clear-headed as ever.

Last night, Ezek had naively assumed those tales were exaggerated gossip. Now, as his head throbbed in rhythmic, agonizing pulses, he realized with grim certainty that every single rumor was horrifyingly true. Those two weren’t human. They were monsters who fought like demons on the battlefield and drank liquid fire for recreation.

Ezek dragged his hands down his face, letting out another low, rough breath. "Gods above..."

He couldn’t afford to lie in bed feeling sorry for himself. As Cherion’s personal guard, duties didn’t pause just because he had foolishly allowed himself to be dragged into a drinking match at a moonlit gazebo.

Gritting his teeth against the pounding in his skull, Ezek stood up. His legs felt slightly heavy, but his discipline kicked in like a well-worn muscle. He walked over to the washbasin on his side table, dunking his entire face into the water. The shock slammed his senses awake, clearing the heavy fog from his brain, even if it did little to dull the throb behind his eye.

He dressed methodically, strapping on his dark leather arm guards, smoothing down his uniform, and buckling his heavy broadsword belt around his waist. He checked his reflection in the small mirror on the wall.

Satisfied that he looked presentable enough not to bring shame to the family name, Ezek threw open his door and stepped out into the grand carpeted hallway of the estate’s master wing.

The sharp scent of roasted coffee beans and floor wax hung in the quiet morning air. Ezek walked with a slowpace, keeping his chin up and his back straight, using sheer willpower to suppress the faint dizzy spell that threatened to wobble his gait every time he turned a sharp corner.

Get a grip, he told himself sternly, tightening his jaw. You’re on duty.

As he reached the ornate, carved double doors leading to Cherion’s private quarters, he paused, taking a quiet, deep breath to settle his stomach. He raised his heavy hand to knock, but before his knuckles could hit the dark wood, the right door swung open from the inside.

Reiner stood in the doorway. The moment his eyes landed on Ezek, he froze mid-step, his whole body going stiff. The color drained from his face, only to return a moment later in a deep blush that quickly spread from his neck to his ears.

Ezek felt his heart give a strange, sharp thump in his chest, a sudden, warm sensation that completely drowned out the pounding hangover in his head.

"Oh," Reiner squeaked, his voice cracking slightly before he quickly cleared his throat, taking half a step backward into the threshold. "Good... good morning, Ezek. You’re... you’re here already."

"Good morning," Ezek replied, his voice dropping into its usual low, quiet rumble. He kept his posture straight, though his dark eyes remained firmly fixed on Reiner’s flustered face. "I am here for my duty, of course."

"Right. Yes. Of course," Reiner stammered. He looked anywhere but at Ezek’s face, staring intently at the second silver button on Ezek’s tunic. "He is... nearly finished."

Before the awkward silence could stretch any further, Cherion finally stepped out. Dressed in a fine dark velvet coat with his hair neatly swept back, he looked perfectly composed, as though there had never been anything awkward happening at the doorway at all.

Cherion stopped near the doorway, his seyes sweeping over both of them with effortless grace. His gaze lingered on Reiner’s mortified, bright red posture, then shifted over to Ezek’s face, catching the subtle, dark circles under the guard’s eyes and the slight tension around his broad jaw.

Cherion raised a single, elegant eyebrow. "Good morning, Ezek."

"My Lord," Ezek said immediately, snapping into a low, respectful bow.

Cherion tilted his head slightly, his eyes resting on his guard with quiet concern. "You look a bit disheveled this morning, Ezek. Is everything alright?"

Ezek straightened up smoothly, keeping his face entirely stoic despite the sharp spike of pain that shot through his temples when he lifted his head. "Everything is well, My Lord. I merely spent part of the night inspecting the perimeter gates before having a little drink afterward."

A faint, highly amused curve touched the corner of Cherion’s lips. "Ah," Cherion hummed softly, a subtle spark of dark humor flashing in his eyes. "Yes. Thank you for your dedicated service to the estate’s security."

"It is my duty, My Lord," Ezek replied.

"Well then," Cherion said, gesturing toward the long, carpeted hallway that stretched toward the grand dining hall. "Let us head down. I would rather not keep Zarius waiting any longer than necessary. He has likely been there for some time already, and I would hate for him to think I have forgotten about breakfast simply because I was caught up with my own affairs."

"Yes, My Lord," Reiner murmured quickly, stepping out into the hallway first to lead the way, keeping a frantic three paces of distance between himself and the rest of the world.

Cherion fell into step behind him, walking with a relaxed, measured stride. Ezek fell into his natural position as rear escort, walking half a step behind Cherion’s right shoulder.

As the three of them made their way down the quiet corridor, Reiner walked ahead with his posture unusually stiff, his shoulders held so tightly that they seemed almost drawn toward his ears. A deep flush colored his neck as he kept his eyes fixed firmly on the archway at the far end of the hall. ℯ

Behind him, Ezek walked silently. His head still throbbed with a dull, steady ache, and his mouth was still dry from the heavy alcohol of the night before, but he barely noticed any of it now.

His heavy eyes remained fixed on the back of Reiner’s neck as they walked. Whenever Reiner shifted even slightly or hurried his steps in an obvious attempt to keep a little more distance between them, Ezek’s gaze followed him.

He noticed every nervous movement, every small change in Reiner’s pace, yet said nothing. His attention stayed quietly upon the attendant, as though he had no intention of looking away until they finally reached the dining hall.

Reiner could try to run, he could try to hide behind task and professional excuses, but as Ezek walked silently behind him in the quiet morning light, he knew one thing with absolute, stubborn certainty, he wasn’t going to let Reiner pretend "that night" never happened.