Inheriting a Lost Bloodline, My First Task is to have heirs?!
Chapter 144 - 144 - Checking on Lark 2

Once he is back in the room, not surprisingly, I saw him wince when he looked at the bathroom. He must have planned to take another shower since he did a lot of chores but thinking that the water will be colder at night, he decided against it. I myself would not have done it or else I will suffer with muscle pain if I was still a human. He then dragged his feet to his clothes cabinet and chose a simple piece of clothing he would wear to sleep. He immediately removed all of his clothes (much to my surprise). This is the second time he removed his clothes in front of me today and I totally feel like voyeur now. Once he has changed to his sleeping clothes, he dropped on the bed with a loud thud and stared blankly at the ceiling for several minutes. He looks really tired. It was possible he wouldn't if you wash that many clothes and scrub the floor of a hige area as that. He's not only thin but the dark circles under his eyes has made him look about 10 years older than the last time I saw him. No wonder he had to use that much make-up to hide how his real face looks like right now. I decided to go around the bed and sit on the wooden chair next to it carefully. Once I have sat, I removed my stealth magic and appeared in the room. I spoke all of a sudden which clearly startled him, "Why are you trying to punish yourself like this? Are you trying to elicit pity from me?" With the sudden voice from beside his bed, he abruptly sat up and almost fell off the bed. He then looked at my direction and when he realized it was me, he immediately fixed his clothes, kneeled on the bed and looked down to greet me. He seemed to have realized something and then he held onto his clothes tighter and turned beet red. He must have realized the possibility that I saw him naked a while ago. Well, I saw him shower too and stalked him too but that is not the issue right now though. It is not the first time so where is his shyness coming from. I have seen everything before. He coughed a bit to attempt to calm his thoughts and answered with a respectful tone "I did not know that you will be visiting today, master. I am not punishing myself and am simply working hard to pay of my debt quickly. I do not deserve any of your pity at all." I stood up and walked towards the bed slowly. I stopped right in front of him and I swear I saw him shiver. His shoulders stiffened seemingly preparing himself to be hit. I slowly leaned and held his chin with my right hand and lifted it so our eyes can meet. He looked shocked and though he did not try to remove his chin from my hand, his eyes looked away so that he would not be staring into mine. Taking advantage of the slave mark, I ordered him, "Look into my eyes and keep it there, Lark." Like an instant switch which was turned on, his eyes darted back to look into mine and what I saw there was panic with a ton of other emotions that I could not fathom. I did not mean for this to end in another interrogation like last time but this man is just extremely stubborn and constantly refuses to admit the truth or what he really thinks.

While staring into each other's eyes, I asked him again, "Why are you doing this to yourself? Tell me the truth." His brows furrowed and I saw him enduring the pain of the slave mark as he tried not to answer the question. I then spoke another order, "Answer my question now." I then saw his body twitch and he couldn't help but utter a soft whine as his face winced in pain. When he opened his eyes, he looked at me as if he was about to cry and then answered, "I deserve to be punished because I am a liar. I have to pay off my debt as soon as possible so I won't be a burden. Maybe you will give me another chance when that time comes." As he finished the sentences that he was forced to say due to the effects of the slave mark, tears started falling from his eyes but he couldn't move his eyes away from me since the previous order still stands. Damn. I couldn't help but feel guilty. I know I did those things before because I was stressed out and fed up from being followed around by several people for weeks and he's kind of the only one that got caught so he received the brunt of my anger. I let go of his chin, and walked back to my seat. As I sat, I conjured his slavery contract as I spoke, "You do not have to pay off anything." I then burned the slavery contract with my magic and I felt the effects of the contract on his body disappear together with it. He gasped at the sudden impact of the slave mark removal and he panted a bit before he recovered. I then stood up and started walking towards the door as I said, "You are no longer a slave. As for all the money you have saved up till now, you can do anything you want with it. You can go wherever you want and eat whatever food you like. You look totally malnourished. Don't make me any more guilty than I am right now." After I turned around and walked straight out of the door, I heard a loud thud behind me, a groan of someone in pain and then the scurrying of footsteps approaching me from behind. I then felt a tight hug around my waist and a wet patch on my back. He then murmured with sniffs in between and his voice cracking here and there from panic, "I don't want to be free. I want to belong only to you. Don't abandon me please. I am begging you, master. I am willing to be anything! I can be your slave or your pet. I can do anything. Please!" I held on to his bony hand and sighed heavily. I felt him shiver as my warm hands touched his cold ones. His hug tightening further. He must be fearing that I will remove his arms and push him away. I then spoke in a soft voice, "Pack all your belongings." He then cried louder this time, "No! No, please. I am fine living here. I don't mind the chores. I will pay off my debt. Just give me more time, please. Just one more chance, master." I then sighed and replied, "What? Don't you want to come with me?"

He froze on the spot and he seemed to have stopped breathing as well. I then spoke again, "Hey! Breathe and answer, will you?" He then gasped as if he drowned for a few seconds and stuttered, "Did you just- Did you say- I can come with- You're bringing me out?" Wow. That was a lot of incomplete sentences in one statement. I simply said, "Yes. I will be leaving for Sklavryet in a few days though. Do you want to accompany me?" I felt him nod his head on my back and then he murmured, "I will follow you anywhere, any time." Damn. Me and my impulsiveness are just unbelievable. Before my mind started thinking, my mouth has said everything and I couldn't take it back anymore. How would I even explain this to the other three when I did not allow any of them to come with me?

I decided to move Lark out of his current place. We packed all of his belongings inside the earring I gave him. He then told me he has pending laundry. Damn that endless amount of laundry. I used cleaning magic on everything and placed all of thr supposed payments in his hands. He smiled like he's gone silly as he kept the money in his storage earring. I requested for a refund on the three remaining months that the room will not be used and they gave it to me though a bit reluctantly if I say so. I held Lark's hand and then brought him out of the place. I decided to have Lark stay in a different inn and told him that I will fetch him on the day I will be leaving for Sklavryet. I left clear instructions that he has to eat well so he can get back to his healthy weight. I have not left for Sklavryet but now I am technically bringing someone in, aren't I? This also actually feels like cheating since I am hiding him away like this. I made sure to place a protective barrier around the room of his inn to ensure his safety.

I am quite worried about Lark's health so I also forcefully made him drink some health and revitalizing potions. I also placed a bunch of healing spells on him to remove all the bruises and scars. His gaunt face immediately got some of its color back. I touched his earring and added new features in it like telepathic communication, tracking and some defensive spells that would trigger if he's in danger. He then smiled at me and then looked down on his hands. Damn. Don't start acting like a shy school girl just because I touched your earlobe. I bid him goodbye and made a quick trip to my favorite handsome tailor and bought a bunch of new clothes for Lark. I bought a total of 15 sets like a crazy shopper. My shopping haul included 4 sets of sleeping clothes, 4 sets of clothes one can use when going on regular trips outside, 4 sets of working clothes that commoners would use and lastly, 3 sets of additional presentable looking clothes that are fit for wearing when he has to sing on stage. I also bought some undergarments for him. I sent all the items to our shared storage space together with some toiletries like shampoo, bath soap, lotion and perfume that I personally crafted. I then sent him a message to take care of himself well and that I will be back soon.