Chapter 4 3

Knight felt so numb. So numb he can't feel any pain. He couldn't count how many strokes of the whip hit his back while his hands and feet were tied with chains. He was just kneeling in the middle of the big hall-the punishment room-unmoving, silent, and conscious.

Why won't he pass out?

What was my fault again?

He doesn't even remember what he did this time-what rule he broke. His mind was filled with pain, anger, resentment, and guilt to even think right. He was going mad. He's losing his sanity little by little, and he can feel his conscience slipping away from him with every passing day.

Knight wanted to scream. to scream for help from the top of his lungs, but he held his pleas inside. He was taught not to beg. He was taught to be above everyone.

He'll be punished again. And he's tired... tired of constantly being punished for who he is. Tired of being an obedient dog? tired of trying his best to be a good brother... tired of being a monster... tired of pretending. ... I'm just so tired... of living.

Knight's lips twitched, but no sound came out as the leader of the Ultor unleashed the final blow of his whip on his back.

"I'm sorry," he heard Chaos say as he removed the shackles from his hands and feet. "I'm just taking orders."

He didn't answer. With his bleeding back, he stood up, took his jacket from the rack, and used it to cover his back. Then he walked towards the door.

His feet were moving unconsciously. It's like it has a mind of its own, leading him towards the Exit.

His head was low, his body swaying at every step. His mind was screaming and calling for the people he cherishes to come save him, but no one came. Midnight. Midnight doesn't want anything to do with him anymore. His brother hates him. Valerian. Shun. Cloud. They're all busy... They're all not here to make him feel okay. To lighten up this heavy burden on his shoulder. It's just him.

"I'm tired," he whispered as he staggered to his feet as if he were drunk.

He doesn't have any clue where he is; he doesn't know how long or how far he walked from the headquarters. He can hear chatter and footsteps around him, but he's too weak to even lift his head and open his eyes to see.

He just keeps on walking and walking and walking until his body finally gives up on him.

He fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

But from time to time, he could hear a soft voice and soft caresses on his back, but everything was hazy. He could not understand what the owner of that voice and hand was saying. He couldn't move to see who it was. Is he hallucinating? Is he dying? If he's dying... Then it's good. Finally... His suffering will end.

He wanted to be selfish for a change and simply die, but... midnight... What will happen to his brother? He can't die like this. He can't die being hated by his little brother. I can't... I can't die... I can't... Night... But I'm tired... I'm so tired of living. Someone... please... someone... save me...

He was taught not to beg, but at that very moment, he begged to die and live at the same time.

to die because he had enough already... but also to live because he doesn't want the people he cherishes to get hurt. How can he protect his loved ones if he is gone? What if they perish? How?

But how can he fight to live when he's already tired of living? Save me... please... please...

Knight didn't know if someone-if God-had heard his pleas. but a soft voice filled his ears. very soft that it's like the faint sound of an angel whispering in his ear.

"It's okay, you're going to be alright."

He wants to open his eyes. He wanted to see the face that owned that sweet voice. He wanted to hear what he said again, but he felt like he was falling into the abyss until he inhaled sharply as his eyes opened.

Knight immediately roamed his eyes around. White walls. Antiseptic smell. IV fluids. Hospital gown.

He froze. He's in the hospital.

"It's okay, you're going to be alright."

His lips parted in confusion. Was it a dream?

He was about to get up to investigate if it was just a dream or not when Cloud entered his Hospital Room.

"My Lord!" He immediately approached him and made him lie down. "Lie down!" He sounded pissed. "Your wounds will open again."

He was stunned by the last words he said, especially as he felt the pain in his back.

"What happened?" he asked Cloud as he helped him lie down again.

"You got punished again for breaking a rule. I was in Singapore as per your order when I received a call from this Hospital." Cloud sat on the edge of his bed. His shoulders fell. "I'm the one in your in case of emergency, and that's why they contacted me. The Doctor told me that you lost so much blood and it nearly killed you. You have been unconscious for the last three days now."

He clenched his fist. "Did someone look for me while I was unconscious?"

Cloud shook his head.

Knight smiled coldly. Of course. His friends are also busy with their own lives. Valerian just got married, as did Shun and some of his friends.

"Don't worry. I'm the only one who knows you're here, and I've silenced everyone who knows."

He stared at the ceiling. "If I've lost so much blood, how come I'm still alive?" he asked. "I'm sure I'm not in the Hospital passed out."

"Someone brought you here to the Hospital."

His eyes widened at Cloud's answer.

"It's okay, you're going to be alright."

Those words... that soft, feminine voice... keeps replaying in his mind.

"Was it a woman?"

Disappointment coated his being when his butler shook his head. "Two old men brought you here. They said you were given first aid before they brought you. The bleeding of your wounds stopped a little, so you are said to be alive. Thanks to those two old men, you're alive." He fell silent.

So it's not a woman.

But he's very sure that that soft voice was feminine.

"It's okay. You're going to be alright."

Knight blows a loud breath. "Did something happen while I was unconscious?"

Cloud was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "My Lord, your father is here in the Philippines. He arrived this morning." His body went cold. He doesn't know if it's anger or fear. "Why is he here?"

Before Cloud could answer him, the door to his room opened, and his father walked in with an emotion colder than ice on his face.

Knight already knew what was coming, so he pushed himself to get up even though his body was screaming in so much pain. "Father-"

A hard, strong slap hit his face. Then another and another. He couldn't count how many times his father's hand hit both of his cheeks.

"Is this how a noble royalty acts? You're the boss of Asia! Act like it!" His father asked in a cold voice. "You should have been very careful! I told you again and again that hospitals are forbidden! You should have mind your surroundings, you imbecile! Estpido! Silly! Idiota!"

Those words were harsh, but he's already so used to them that he doesn't feel hurt anymore. He didn't even flinch like he used to.

"Hello, Dad," was all he said. "I will take full responsibility for what happened."

"You better!" His father hissed at him before facing Cloud. "You will be lashed fifty times for letting your Master be in this situation."

He wanted to stop the father. He wanted to beg him not to punish Cloud anymore. But he knew all too well that it would only make everything worse. Nothing good comes from him begging.

It'll only lead to punishment after punishment, and he's tired of it. So tired.

"I accept any punishment, sire," Cloud answered with a bow.

His father looked at him carefully before he left the hospital room with Orlando.

Orlando is his father's personal Ultor-also known as punisher-and he's also his father's very trusted body guard.

Knight let Cloud guide him to the bed as his father got out. He didn't have the strength to pretend he was strong. that he was powerful.

Because in that moment, he had never felt so weak and useless.

"Your brother, Midnight," Cloud spoke in a low voice, "had been posing as you in front of everyone you know for the last three days. Your father's order to stop suspicion and questions amongst your friends."

Knight stayed silent.

"Aren't you going to ask where Midnight is now?" Cloud asked him without saying a word.

Knight closed his eyes. "What's the use? Will it change anything if I ask you where he is?"

The cloud was silent.

"Slowly, I'm already accepting the reality that maybe... I already lost my brother." He put his arm over his eyes. "I don't want to give up on him, Cloud, but... I'm tired. I'm so tired." "My Lord..."

"I looked for him. You know, you had been by my side for the last five years, and there's never been a day that I stopped looking for him. I did everything to fulfil my promise, but it was still not enough. But I did my best. I really did." "I know, my Lord. I know."

He took a deep breath, lifted his forearm from covering his eyes, and looked at the ceiling. "Why is that? My father dislikes me because I am not enough to become a respectable noble. My brother left because I still don't have enough power to make him stay. My brother hates me because what I did to look for him wasn't enough. You're always being punished because I don't have enough power to protect you. When do you think, Cloud?"

"When what, my Lord?"

"When will I be enough for someone?"

"My Lord." There was concern in his Butler's voice. "You have your friends. And you are enough to them. They accept who you are and-"

"They don't know the real me." He said, "If they do, I don't think they'll accept me." "My Lord..."

"Maybe there is nothing like that in my life." The lifeless laughed softly. "There's no hope in hoping against hope." "My Lord-"

"Go." He will send his Butler away. "Leave and get ready for your punishment." He looked at Cloud. "I'm sorry I can't protect you. Forgive me."

Cloud shook his head, then bowed slightly. "There's nothing to forgive, my Lord. Whatever punishment they bestow upon me, I will fully and wholeheartedly accept it without having an ill feeling towards you. You're my Lord, and I am your servant. It has always been an honour to serve you." Cloud chuckled. "I'm not flattering you this time. I'm serious."

He also laughed softly and joked. "Am I going to blush?"

Cloud laughed before saying his goodbye. When he got out of his room, the smile disappeared from his lips, and he stared at the ceiling again.

"It's okay. You'll be alright."

He blinked.

that voice again.

Is that just his hallucination? Dream? Imagination? His mind is a fabrication.

Why does it keep repeating in his mind? And why does that voice calm him for some unknown reason?

If it's just a figment of his imagination, Then why is he so bothered by it?

Was it possible that before those old men took him to the Hospital, someone got to him first?

I have to investigate this. He will not rest until the questions in his mind are answered.

Knight closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. Thankfully, he was able to fall asleep in no time. maybe because he was so tired and his body was not in good condition.

He didn't know how long he slept before his mind woke up.

He didn't open his eyes because he could feel the presence sitting on the edge of his bed. Who is it? One of the lunatics? Unlikely. cloud? No. He's preparing for tonight's punishment. Then who?

Knight quickly stopped himself from avoiding the touch of whoever was sitting on the side of his bed with his hand.

And in that very moment, he knew who it was. Night!

Before he had the strength to open his eyes, his brother let go of his hand and walked out of his room.

He wanted to stop him to explain to him... But for what reason would he tell his younger brother?

That he is still weak to this day? That nothing has changed even though he became the leader of Asia? That he is still a loser? That he is still his father's obedient dog?

Midnight already knew all that. He already knew that his big brother was a big loser.

'It's okay... you're going to be alright.' His jaw dropped. That voice again! It's bothering him! He has to know what happened to him before those old men took him to the Hospital.

Something must have happened.

He has to get out of here. fast.

Two DAYS had already passed after he was discharged from the Hospital. He talked to the two old men who took him to the hospital, and he confirmed that they were the ones who gave him first aid before they took him to the hospital.

He knew what disappointment felt like, but what he felt after he confirmed that there was no woman present before he was taken to the Hospital was not enough to describe the word disappointment.

He sighed and stared at the place that the two elders pointed out to him, where they saw him lying.

That's very close to Bachelor's Village.

Was his foot unconsciously walking towards BV? To go home?

He shook his head as he walked towards the gate of BV when his eyes caught the newly opened Café. Hmm... Do they sell cakes? He needs someone to wash away the disappointment.

Hoping that the café sells cakes, Knight walked towards the café and entered.

"Good afternoon," the woman behind the counter said kindly. "Welcome to Bitter Sweet Café."

He just nodded, showing no emotion on his face while eyeing the cake inside the cake display fridge. Chocolate cake. Mocha cake. Strawberry cake-oh! They have triple Bavarian cake!

Knight was about to order when he heard the voices of children begging.

He looked at the children and sighed when he saw how well they were doing. Pat the body and get dirty.

Knight was about to call Shun for help with the kids when a woman steps out of the room that has an Authorized Personnel Only' sign hung on the door.

She's tall, with tanned skin, and pretty, but what caught his attention was the smile on her face as she walked towards the kids. it's radiant... He can feel kindness radiating from her smile.

So there's still someone who has that kind of aura.

"Begging." That's one of the kids. "Just buy some food. Go ahead."

The woman stopped in front of the two children, then kneeled down so that her face was level with the children's.

"Begging." Again, a child. "We're hungry. We're just going to buy some food. It seems like you're taking pity on us. Let's go."

The woman smiled and caressed the boy's cheek, even though it was dirty.

"It's okay," she said to the kids. "You two are going to be alright with me. Do you want cake?" That voice!

Knight's eyes widened.

He can never forget that voice. He's sure of it!

'It's okay... you're going to be alright.'

His lips parted in shock before he whispered. "It's her."