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Chapter 11

"king Canton" Errot took a small bow, careful to keep his eyes down and away from him. "You asked to see me."

Errot's heart was ready to burst out of his chest. It was currently two in the morning and even though he was woken up, all the tiredness was replaced by anxiety and fear.

"Close the door and take a seat."
Even though King Canton's voice held his usual darkness in it, Errot could also hear something else this time too. He didn't sound indifferent but rather odd.
Oddly cold.

Errot closed the door as asked and sat down at Canton's couch. He had to physically restrain himself from trembling.

Canton was laying on the other couch across from Errot, his eyes stuck at the ceiling and a bottle of bourbon placed on his hand.

Oh. This is not good.

He looked around at the King's room, realising that it's actually quite different from what he had on his mind.

The part of the walls that was actually visible was dipped in Ink just like the rest of the castle. The rest of the room was filled from head to toe with tall, black bookshelves. If Errot didn't know that this room was Canton's bedroom, he would have sworn it was just a huge library with a double bed on the very far corner.

All those books reminded Errot of king Elian and Moccasin Blood and a wave of nostalgia took over him. Two days in that dimension and he felt like he belonged there. He was aware that he wasn't exactly the smartest person on the planet but everything about this place brought him comfort and hope. Ink Blood on the other hand terrified him. From the elves that live here to the castle and the atmosphere, this whole dimension is a huge horror story. You can never just stand and relax. You always have to be alert of your surroundings so much that Errot is convinced this is the ugly part of the hell that he likes to call Merlot Blood.
At least here he had a chance to stay alive.

"Do you read books, Errot? " Canton asked calmly, his eyes still fixed on the black ceiling. He took a sip from his bottle.

Errot immediately snapped out of his trance and blinked at the floor. It was just now that he realised King Canton had let him stare at his room in peace and Errot had for sure taken his sweet time by doing so. "Not so much, your majesty."

"Hm. Why?"

"I don't really have time." His leg started moving a bit nervously against his will.

"Am I possibly overworking you, love?"

Errot shivered. "Of course not."

Silence.

"Any progress with the Moccassins?"

"I'm..working on it"

"How was your night? I believe you spent it with Adan. "

Errot wants to scream. Rip his hair off his skull. Cry. Do anything but keep having this casual conversation with Canton. He doesn't understand what's going on, why would the king wake him up in the middle of the night to ask him about his life and books.

"I did. It was good." Errot mumbled.

"What did you do?"

We kissed. "We talked. Nothing much, really."

"Do you like him?"

"He's... different."

"So, that's a yes?"

"I don't really know him."

Canton scoffed but stayed silent. Another sip.

"I visited the Moccassins, tonight."