How to Make a Sinner Sleep - Chapter 83: Chapter 83

Skye and Kaden sat side by side in the cafeteria in silence.
Sometimes, although most were aware of the estranged relationship between the two siblings, it was a known fact that Kaden was a dog to the Royal Family; their loyal and crazed mutt.
However, watching the nervous, blonde-haired younger and the indifferent green-eyed elder, it was difficult to understand their relationship. Kaden adapted to pretending nothing existed in his surroundings, devoting all senses to the food.
He was keenly aware of the whispers around him and the fidgeting man seated beside, but he had no mind to do anything.
Noah and Niklas had something to attend to, so Kaden had intended to eat his meal alone. Arlo, too, was disappearing at random. Kaden had inquired, but the boy said he was learning new skills from a teacher, insistent on keeping their identity a secret.
A lonely lunch was something Kaden was no longer used to.
But at the same time, the body adapted to old familiarity, and he settled into the passing sounds of laughter, submerged in a quiet buzzing.
Kaden finished his small lunch; the taste of the food seemed to have leeched off his tongue, and he had no appetite. There were dark shadows under his eyes, making his entire being more gloomy.
Skye hesitated, chewing on a piece of bread.
This was the Kaden who he remembered during all these years, the Kaden in his dreams that met a tragic end.
But for a second, for the past year, he recognized glimpses of that Kaden who he'd met, before their identities had driven a rift in their relationship. The one that was awkward but kind, grumpy and full of complaints.
And yet, protected Skye's body like it were a beloved treasure.
"Kaden... do you want some more?" offered the younger man tentatively. "You can have some of my food."
A cold gaze swept sideways and Skye swallowed.
There was something brewing in Kaden's green stare, a madness of the past that had long been soothed. The crazy Kaden was one who couldn't abandon Skye—but why did he feel as if he were making an irreversible mistake?
But selfishly, Skye didn't want to understand. The truth that Kaden Chauvet would be happier free from his side.
"I'm not hungry."
"Just a little? You haven't eaten much—"
"I'm. Not. Hungry." His chair screeched loudly, scraping against the ground, causing a few gazes to look over. Their conflict was nothing more than entertainment to the onlookers. "Run along, Skye. I'm afraid I don't have time for you today."
Skye wilted in his seat, and the whispers grew more intense.
Kaden heard them—
"How cruel he is to the youngest prince... indeed, the rumours may not be false. "
"He's awful, look how sad Skye looks. I feel sorry for him."
"As expected, ha. Scum will always remain scum."
His fingers curled around his tray, digging into his flesh to leave red indents. Since when had he been so weak, reacting to these silly words? Since when did they matter, when he'd long divided himself and all others?
Kaden felt like he were sinking, every step dropping into a deeper darkness that crowded his throat, ears, nose; he couldn't breathe.
If he closed his eyes and collapsed, would they finally pity him?
Would they manage to understand a sliver of his misery when he finally died?
He was so tired, so, so tired. Why did he have to pretend not to be just to satisfy the loafy hearts of his classmates? Why couldn't he just wreck havoc?
The noises buzzed in his head loudly, flashes of colour sparking in the corner of his eyes, shadows beckoning from under the seats. He took a step towards the doors, colliding with a warm body.
For a second, Kaden's murderous gaze flicked up—and in an instant, softened at the edges upon seeing the other person.
His exhaustion didn't vanish the moment he saw the dragon's quiet gaze; instead, it flowed through him as if a dam had been torn apart, and he was possessed by the need of a peaceful slumber, caged in those steady arms.
"Chauvet," Noah said softly as the buzzing stilled, overwritten by a single word. "Have you already eaten?"
"I've eaten." Then, a strange hollowness rumbled in his stomach.
"Still hungry?"
"...it seems to be the case."
Noah nodded, walking over to grab more food with Kaden, piling a relative amount on his tray. After all, Kaden had been about to leave—most likely, the man had a small tray of food already.
He'd already eaten; but he was still hungry.
A lot of teaching still had to be done before that fool could take care of himself properly, thought Noah helplessly as they sat.
Skye watched the interaction, alone at the abandoned table with a quivering hand. Jealousy surged through his blood, envy that Noah Bellamy could do what he couldn't, within a year of knowing Kaden.
A tray dropped beside him and the seat was dragged out.
It was the seat that Kaden had been sitting in earlier. Skye glared bitterly at the newcomer wearing a familiar face.
Reed didn't spare him a glance, calmly eating his meal. "Sit down. You should have enough awareness to know where you're not wanted."
"...go away. Don't act like your helping him, Reed."
"I have the decency to not pretend to be helpless and innocent." The crown prince's blue gaze swept over his younger brother—a similar blue, yet frosted and piercing. There was no kindness or affection in them. "How is it that you haven't grown up after all these years?"
"You should just go die." snarled Skye with venom lacing every word. "You wouldn't understand anything. You never see anything but your own aspirations."
"You may despise me for treating you coldly, Skye. But I cannot teach a love I've never received. To begin with, I could never be the ideal family you idealistically decided you wanted—therefore, you abandoned me. And I abandoned you too."
Reed Chauvet had not always been utterly estranged from his youngest brother.
However, from the moment the beautiful and innocent blue eyes opened upon entering the world, he'd known that the child possessed a unique mind.
Their mother had passed upon giving birth, and Reed had not grieved or mourned for the woman who blessed him with life. She had wanted a crown prince and won it—he was nothing more than a trophy to display.
He didn't have much affection for the second child who killed her, but he hadn't intended to treat Skye Chauvet cruelly either.
But he could not provide what he had never received.
It was Reed who arranged teachers to educate the youngest prince, organized meetings to have companions that could remain by the child's side. But Skye hadn't liked any of them, not his teachers or the children.
To him, they were imperfect. They were unable to provide the love that he sought.
The version of love that Skye sought was an idealistic, overwhelming kind that couldn't easily be met. A person who he decided upon first glance could love him, despite his strangeness.
Reed already failed in that aspect so Skye disqualified him.
Kaden passed. Nobody could determine the qualifications that Skye judged others with, but it was Kaden's misfortune that he'd succeeded.
After that, the youngest prince devoted all his time to chasing after that orphan and his disinterest in Reed transformed into hatred. Emotions were a thing that couldn't be altered, and therefore after being abandoned as a 'brother', Reed similarly abandoned the other too.
Skye swiveled around, but Reed lost his appetite and long moved to leave. With a gentle smile in the expanse of the busy, watching cafeteria, he ruffled Skye's hair.
"Who is crueler? The you that's unaware, or the me that is aware?"
Then, the heels of his shoes clipping against the floors, he calmly walked away.
Skye sat alone once again, the chair beside him gradually loosing its warmth of presence. Everybody watched; but nobody approached. The younger man pushed his chair in closer, curling into himself quietly.
———xxx———
"I accidentally killed one of them." announced Bolivia, examining her nails that had grown a little longer than she preferred.
They were meeting in daylight today, exchanging their progress. Richard Halls was also supposed to be visiting the town for pleasure and to walk around. Kaden intended to stage an accidental meeting—though it would be accidental as Bolivia's 'murder'.
Kaden leaned against the stone wall, crossing his arms. "How does one 'accidentally' kill somebody when you weren't supposed to interact with them beyond minimum?"
She shrugged. "One tried to follow me home, so I killed him."
"Accidentally."
"Yes, don't tell me you're losing your hearing? Humans are bridled with so many diseases. He wasn't anybody important either, I checked. Though a sinner all the same."
"Did you check before or after?"
"After, of course. I hadn't planned to kill him."
Kaden sighed, as a loss of what to say. Speaking of death and murder so trivially wasn't strange, but the more he considered it, the odder it became. Things always felt normal until one thought about it in more depth.
Bolivia, oppositely, seemed to possess no morals or care for her actions. She had a goal; it was a goal to be fulfilled, at the cost of whatever insignificant lives.
"I seek neither a scolding or a reminder. I'm only telling you since we're presently partners in this scheme." she warned, yawning. "What's your current progress?"
"I have a date with Richard in around an hour."
She scrunched up her nose. "You've disgusting taste."
"...you know what I mean."
She laughed sharply at her own joke, and Kaden moved to grab a small leather pouch in his pocket. Several stones clattered together within. The snake woman paused, a tongue snaking out with delight before she pulled out a similar bag.
"I've discovered very juicy gossip. Oh, one of the stones I got mixed up and accidentally used while I was having some fun. Do ignore it."
Kaden, who'd reached a hand out, retracted it. "This 'fun' constitutes...?"
"Nothing you'd know." She said, raking her narrowed gaze across his body. "Definitely nothing you'd know." Then, it lingered on his lower backside thoughtfully. "Hm, well, I suppose there are some things I haven't considered."
"My eyes are up here."
"But you've a shapely thing down there to look at."
Kaden was made speechless once again, debating simply walking away and finding a new partner for his schemes. Bolivia had no shame in her lustful conquests, seeking pleasure when she desired it.
To her, why was it a thing to be shameful of? A primitive desire; an act that made one feel good—or bad, she supposed, depending on the other party as well.
Did her worth lower because she felt pleasure, did the shape of her body become uglier with every touch? If it did, then it would simply match her hideous face that she was more than aware of.
Kaden cleared his throat, not knowing what else to add to that topic. "This should be enough to deepen Reed's anger. He despises those who look down on him, who laugh and jeer behind his back."
"Then this will do. What's the next step, human?"
"For now, there'll be no more killing from us." A carriage rattled past them, cold wind whistling. "They'll destroy themselves from the inside first."
She frowned, skeptical. "By spreading gossip about Reed, how exactly will that make their little group deteriorate?"
"They should trust Reed, most likely. He's the Crown Prince—he's more reliable than Richard, and he's on their side, whether he likes it or not. Can they still trust him when they see how merciless he is?"
"You plan to..."
"Reed will be the one to kill Richard Halls."
His voice didn't waver, gaze steady and still. There seemed to be an air of detachment, the illusion as if he were speaking about a stranger. But it wasn't a stranger; it was his brother, once. His master, today.
Bolivia's stared at the man for several beats before closing her eyes. "I see."
"I'll be meeting Reed, soon. I'll share a portion of evidence—he'll likely ask me to investigate further if they intend to betray him. With the betrayal of his partners, and Richard Hall's greed, this cannot end in anything but bloodshed."
He didn't wait for an answer, pushing off the wall as he turned to leave. "Thanks for your hard work, Bolivia."
She scoffed, but carelessly waved farewell.
Exhaustion drilled into the soles of his feet as Kaden walked, keeping an eye out for Richard, ready to don another mask of frivolity and charm.
He found the man, a light smile spilling over his face as he approached. "Richard, the man of the hour! A pleasure it is to run into you again."
Richard seemed to have some recollection of the last night, smiling good-naturally at the young man who looked at him with respect. "I feared I dreamed an encounter with such a pleasant fellow, I'm glad to know it was real."
"Are you out shopping? Jewels, news, delicacies, what are you seeking today?"
Kaden smiled, and he felt ill to his stomach.
As if he were floating in his mind with a body and mouth that kept speaking, disregarding his will. As if the 'real Kaden' were buried in the back of his skull, lost.
Richard took no notice, nodding. "Ah, it's been a while since I've enjoyed myself."
"I'll introduce you to the luxuries of nobility." smiled Kaden good-naturally, flashing his teeth as his eyes curved with the warmth of a naive noble's son. "Are you popular with the ladies, Rich?"
Adopting a nickname made Richard startle, but he soon relaxed upon seeing the light smile of the man before him.
Instead, it made his shoulders relax in comfort, being around somebody he didn't have to keep up an air of nobility around. There was something comfortable about the youth showing him around.
Not to mention, that familiarity... Richard squinted but the man's face was hard to describe. Handsome, but hard to describe.
The longer he looked, the more his mind felt confused.
"Is something wrong, Rich?"
The well-pronounced voice spoke pleasantly, and Richard frowned. Of course, there didn't seem to be anything on the relaxed face of the other.
The man was nothing more than a silly noble's son, bathing in luxury, dabbling in experiments. Richard had seen many similar people, enjoying the frivolity of a life given to them.
Only, those often looked down on him, who came from common backgrounds and rose to the top.
"That reminds me, you haven't given me your name." said Richard thoughtfully, observing the other's expression.
Even run by greed, a mere fool couldn't have clawed his way up society.
Kaden paused, and gave a brief laugh. "I'd forgotten. My name is..." He raked his mind for a name he could use, pass off as some unimportant noble's son. "Niklas."
He debated using Noah's name, but he couldn't allow that dragon's name to be seen as important. Therefore, the obvious answer was his other foolish friend.
"Niklas... it sounds familiar. Perhaps I've passed you in a gathering previously."
Kaden paused. It wasn't the most common name, though it wasn't anything impossible either. He wasn't sure of the names of most nobles.
"It's possible. I must admit, social crowds aren't my area of expertise. I prefer getting to know people personally. So, let's go inside? The day is getting shorter."
Richard scratched his neck thoughtfully, but the atmosphere around the young man was comforting, and there seemed to be no malicious feelings in that gaze.
Kaden had used both Niklas' skills of being familiar and cheerful, as well as Nicola's natural gentleness that made others comfortable to create his character.
What an actor he was. He should apply for one of Nicola's plays, he thought with amusement.
Knowing that woman, if he asked, she'd likely find the perfect role to play based on his experience and own personality. She was intuitive, and paid close attention to her surroundings.
As one who lived in the slums, that was the minimum required to survive.
He was eager to see her play, the manifestation of her brilliant mind. Where Noah's passions existed in the realm of books, Nicola's turned imagination to reality in the form of a play. Both, he admired vehemently.
If he must find reason to live, then he would place those reasons in witnessing their craft.
Niklas had inquired about after the Academy, and Kaden dared to entertain the idea. Nicola as a researcher, Niklas, tied to the Academy as an investigator. He thought about it, and Holly was likely to follow Niklas in becoming an investigator.
And Noah, seeking a common life unrelated to the matters of the Academy, the Blessed and all the responsibilities that he long abandoned.
The 'next' in living was fathomless and impossible to imagine accurately. Dreams and desires changed, the division between impossible and possible became more vague.
He closed his eyes, breathed, and returned to his task. Wearing a welcoming smile, revealing luxuries to Richard. He saved a certain amount, taking random assignments during the meetings he attended that were quick but reasonably paid.
He bought gems, naming the jewels in detail from the information he researched previously.
The favourite designs of women—it was a recent trend to seek simplicity over exaggerted luxuries lately. But of course, quality and the cost of the jewelry mattered dearly.
The high-ranking nobles and their interests—food and trade, jewels and fabrics, an entire realm built off wealth.
All this monetary things worth more then a human's life.
Richard had laughed at that comment, in deep agreement. They examined the latest trends in an industry only the wealthy cared for, tasted different foods—food, Kaden thought dully, that tasted hardly as good as Noah's cooking or the delicacies at the festival.
The day passed, slowly in Kaden's suffering, and quickly in Richard's joy.
It was rare for him to find somebody who got along with him so well, without judgment and prejudice for his background. Richard, who deeply scorned nobility's hypocrisy, found a like mind in his new friend.
"Niklas, good friend, you've showed me much. It's unfortunate I have yet to gained the wealth to enjoy everything you showed me."
"Not enough?" Kaden spoke with surprise, furrowing his eyebrows in concern. "I thought that business you have would make a surplus."
"It's only... selling very minor vials of blood for research. The amount isn't sufficient."
"Rich, do you recall what I said the previous night? That blood is worth much more than I believe you're requesting. You're buyer couldn't be buying it for cheap and selling it for more?"
"Impossible. He's an established name. There's no need for trickery—he could command me, and I'd be left with no choice."
Kaden shook his head in disgust. "I despise those who abuse their power. He must be looking down on you, knowing you can't go against him."
"...no, no it's not possible."
Hesitation. Kaden's green eyes gleamed against the setting sun.
"I didn't mean to suggest anything. You're smart, Rich. You made a name out of nothing—but what I've shown you today, these are what those at the top can afford. They buy these without blinking. That's high-class society. Ah, we'll likely never reach them."
"But can you imagine, a life without worry, a surplus of money to keep you seated. The delights and pleasures of those who throw themselves at you, the riches you can be proud of earning."
"High-class society. The dream of the common folk. The dream of even minor nobles."
The words echoed in Richard's mind, rebounding over the walls of thought.
Kaden smiled again. "Well, it's called a dream for a reason. But I hope you don't get robbed of too much of your earnings, Rich."
They parted, and Kaden stood at the sidewalk as Richard left in a carriage, his expression changing in both greed and deep thought, as if contemplating the earlier conversation. As the sun completely vanished over the horizon, the smile on the young man's face faded.
He stood alone, staring at the leaving carriage among the crowd.