Chapter 11

I regained control of myself, took a deep breath, and stood up. Grabbing a nearby glass of water, I sprinkled some onto Bao’s face. His eyelids fluttered open as he groaned, slowly coming to his senses. I extended a hand to him, helping him sit upright.

“My lord, please never do that again,” Bao gasped, still catching his breath. “For a moment, I truly thought today would be my last. You scared the hell out of me, my lord.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “I’m sorry, my friend. And please, call me Asher. I know it’s against protocol, but I’m giving you my personal permission. If anyone objects, tell them to take it up with me.”

Bao looked stunned, his mouth opening and closing as if struggling to process my words. Eventually, he nodded.

“Asher ... it is an honor, but you must understand, old habits die hard. It may take me some time to adjust.”

“That’s fine,” I reassured him. “Now, I’d like to know more about your position in the palace and what brought you to my room in such a hurry.”

Bao straightened his back and began explaining, “Asher, I am the head eunuch of the royal household. My primary duty is to procure and manage slaves for the royal family. If a prince or princess personally selects a slave, I oversee the purchase and ensure they meet the required standards.

“As for why I rushed here ... I heard that you summoned Sylvie. Given that you haven’t yet selected an eunuch to discipline your servants, I had to come and assess the situation myself.

“The second reason is that you are scheduled to select an eunuch for your service at ten bells this morning, right after breakfast.”

“Ah,” I said, nodding. “That makes sense. However, the reason I called for Sylvie is simply that I have a task for her.”

I turned my gaze toward Sylvie, who was still kneeling on the floor, her eyes darting around nervously.

“Sylvie, please stand,” I said firmly but gently. “I need you to take Mina and Lina, along with the four other girls assigned to me, and spend the day teaching them the rules of the household. Make sure they understand everything they need to know. Also, if I suddenly vanish, reassure them that there is no need to panic.”

Sylvie nodded, but I wasn’t done. “One more thing. Please inform all the key figures in the household that I wish to be addressed by my name. I dislike excessive formalities and prefer a more relaxed, friendly relationship. I will personally seek approval from the king regarding this.”

Bao gave me a hesitant look before bowing. “As you wish, Asher,” he said before turning to leave.

Sylvie, on the other hand, remained in place, scanning the room with a puzzled expression.

“What are you looking for, Sylvie?” I asked.

“Sir ... I am looking for the two girls named Mina and Lina.”

I suppressed a smile. “They are standing right beside you.”

Sylvie blinked in shock and turned to look at the two girls, who stared back at her with innocent eyes. “You ... you named your body warmers?” she asked, disbelief evident in her tone.

“Yes, I did,” I confirmed.

Sylvie’s expression darkened with concern. “Sir, are you aware that naming a slave means you have fully accepted them? They are now bound to their roles for life.”

“I know,” I said simply. “Father—the king—explained it to me last night.”

Sylvie looked as if she wanted to say more but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she bowed and, without another word, led the girls out of my chambers.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, I stretched my limbs and sighed. It was time to get moving.

Stripping out of my garments, I began to explore my quarters more thoroughly. On the left side of the room, I found three doors. The first led to a spacious walk-in closet filled with a variety of clothes—formal robes, casual wear, and training attire. The second door revealed a well-equipped bathroom, complete with a large bathing area.

After enjoying a refreshing bath, I dressed in a simple yet comfortable outfit suitable for training.

As I reached for the door, bells tolled in the distance. I counted them carefully—six chimes. That meant it was six in the morning.

Stepping outside, I gestured to one of the guards stationed near my door. “Take me to the training grounds,” I instructed.

The guard nodded and swiftly led the way. He navigated the halls with efficiency, and within minutes, we arrived at an open training ground bustling with activity.

In the center, an instructor barked orders at a group of trainees. “Lazy fools! You have five long hands to get in line!”

From what I could gather, “five long hands” likely meant five minutes.

The instructor turned on his heel, preparing to move toward the training area. But as he glanced in my direction, his voice faltered, and he came to an abrupt stop.

His eyes widened in surprise as they locked onto mine.

I merely crossed my arms, waiting to see how he would react.

He approached me with a stern expression and asked, “Mr. Asher, may I know the reason for your presence at the commoner training grounds?”

I gave him a calm look and replied, “I am here for some exercise.”

His brows furrowed slightly. “But the training grounds for the royal guards and the royal family are in the other direction.”

At this, I turned to the guard who had escorted me here, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry. He simply offered me a friendly smile before responding, “Asher, you need a welcoming atmosphere, that much is clear from your last prank. So I brought you here.”

I shook my head at first, then let out a small laugh. Patting his shoulder, I said in a lighthearted manner, “A wise decision, my friend. A wise decision indeed. May I know your name?”

The guard straightened slightly before responding, “My name is Aldric Valtorian, sir.”

I nodded in approval. “Aldric, from this day forward, you are my right hand. From now on, you shall be addressed as Sir Aldric Valtorian.”