Chapter 15 New World

The two slaves had finally finished cleaning one of the private entertaining rooms located off the bedroom and were heading down to the kitchen.

Kari walked a little behind Nevis, who chattered away and pointed out different things. Kari was wary about the other people here and especially his outfit and collar. He had quickly discovered while cleaning that bending over was a terrible idea and to kneel instead.

What the hell was the point of wearing something so fitting? He was feeling a little mollified about the whole thing once he realized Nevis wasn’t lying about no one else caring.

They passed many people in the hallways and stairwells as they made their way down into the kitchens in the belly of the manor. And while they all looked at Kari, their gazes were filled with curiosity and lingered on his face, hair and especially his tattoo.

Not a single gaze was leering or even seemed to notice how his trouser sticks to his ass like a second skin. If anything, when they were walking on the stairs, people below just kept their gazes politely averted. It really struck home Nevis’s earlier words.

“No one will look, except the prince, but that’s the point, right? You are for his eyes only, no one else is allowed to look at you like that.”

For people who took other people as slaves against their will, Niamreans were a surprisingly polite people. He was pulled from his thoughts as they neared what must be the kitchens. Loud banging could be heard, along with people’s voices calling out to each other, and the smell of different spices lingered in the air.

Nevis grabbed him by the arm and pulled him excitedly through the doorway and into a storm of people and noise that threatened to overload his senses. He stared wildly around at all the different people, with so many shapes, sizes, and styles of clothing. It was like when he was sitting at the front of the carriage on the way into the city but now he was so much closer to everyone and it made him feel small and bewildered.

He was immensely glad Nevis had grabbed onto him because he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have just stopped in surprise and lost the beta. As it was, he was bodily dragged over to another beta, one with blonde hair. He glanced around the kitchen and found that some wore the same style as his although their trousers were loose and is not fastened at the knees like his while others wore pants like Nevis and robe like Trois. It made him relax ever so slightly.

“Prue! We’re here to help!”

The beta standing at the stoves turned to them and offered a small but welcoming smile.

“It’s not too bad tonight. Anhia will just have you running food to everyone.” He turned to face Kari properly. “Hi, I’m Prue, nice to meet you.”

Kari blinked in surprise at the polite greeting before realizing he was staring. “H-hi, I’m Kari…”

“He’s an Aithyean and doesn’t know about slaves and stuff so be nice, okay?” The other slave spoke loudly and Kari realized that it was for the benefit of all the people sitting at the tables at the other end of the kitchen that he had been pulled past earlier without realizing.

Most people seemed to be minding their own business, but a few were openly listening in and watching the new slave in their midst with interest. Nevis gave him a reassuring smile but the omega’s attention was drawn to a brown-haired lady who loomed over Prue’s shoulder with an assessing gaze focused right on Kari.

“He needs some meat on those bones!” Her voice seemed to bounce off the walls, an incredible feat considering all the clamour of cooking going on around them.

A large hand reached around, grasping Kari’s other arm in a steel grip and he found himself being steered over to one of the long tables at the back of the room before being forcibly sat down. He cast a wide-eyed glance over at Nevis but the other slave was busy talking to Prue.

The omega jumped when a large ceramic bowl was almost slammed down on the table in front of him and a small hunk of bread was sat next to it. He looked up at the imposing woman in surprise.

“Eat.” Her tone left no room for argument and the omega reached for the bread automatically.

He quickly realized that the bowl contained soup and he dipped the bread in, soaking up the juices before cautiously taking a bite. He groaned in appreciation at the taste. Was all the food here going to be so mouth-wateringly delicious?

Because it might almost be worth all the drama just for the food alone. He caught the woman’s nod of approval before she stalked off back into the depths of the kitchen, where she started barking out commands. She looked like a commander on a battlefield; clearly the kitchens were her domain.

“Anhia’s cooking is amazing, right?” He glanced over at Nevis who leant on the table next to him but could only nod his agreement around his mouthful. “She’s the head of the kitchens and always has a pot of soup on low heat in case anyone needs something outside of normal meal times. She looks a bit scary but in reality, she’s a big softy.” He leaned forward and whispered the last bit with a grin. “I have to deliver some meals, but I’ll come get you when His Highness’s food is ready to take up.”

The omega nodded again and went back to inhaling the soup. It really was delicious and so filling. When he was done, he pushed the empty bowl away from himself and rubbed his stomach. It felt almost like he would pop. It hadn’t been that long ago that he had eaten all those fruits and pastries! Anhia approached again and sat a little tart down in front of him and Kari gasped in delight. It had different coloured berries on top complete with cream.

“For me?!” The woman nodded, this time he noticed that there was a warm glint in her eyes that belied her otherwise hard demeanour.

Kari eagerly picked it up and devoured the sweet treat. He could have died from happiness right then and there. He licked the cream off his fingers and sat for a few moments in sheer ecstasy. When he came back to consciousness a few minutes later, he noticed with a start that he was almost purring in pleasure. It wasn’t quite the rare and mythical omegan purr but it was damn close.

He flushed a deep red in embarrassment and ducked his head to hide the blush. His cheeks darkened even further when he heard a few quiet chuckles from around the tables next to him. People had been watching him the whole time, and he had just made himself seem completely stupid.

They must think he was a vapid idiot to be almost purring over food. He wasn’t about to open his mouth and tell them that he had spent the last few months in the Aithyean army with little to no access to fresh food, however. He didn’t even want to think what reaction that information might get.

Thankfully he was saved by Nevis’s return and he was loaded up with a tray before tottering along behind the beta back up to Ryedir’s study.

He tried to pay more attention to all the twists and turns on their way back but quickly lost track of where they were and was soon hopelessly lost. It wasn’t long before Nevis was knocking on a door and they were immediately being given permission to enter.

Kari felt almost a sense of déjà vu to yesterday evening. The same deep voice beckoning them into the same room.

He moved closer to Nevis as he tried to shake off the residue of foreboding feelings from yesterday.

This time he wasn’t in such an unknown situation but it still brought a flash of anxiety to him. He fought to calm his increased breathing, instead focusing on Nevis’s quiet voice as he whispered instructions to Kari and showed him how to serve Ryedir his meal. Turns out Kari carried Ryedir’s food while Nevis’s tray was for Trois.

A few clumsy attempts and darkly flushed cheeks later and Ryedir’s meal was ready to be eaten, all that was missing was his drink. Nevis guided the omega over to a cupboard like desk at the side of the room that held a few bottles and a decanter of some clear liquid.

“This is Salantra,” the beta whispered as he picked up the decanter and a squat glass that sparkled in the low light of the study. “It’s a really potent type of alcohol that is made exclusively here in Mishal just for His Highness. It’s his favorite. You have to be really careful, it’s super expensive so make sure you don’t spill a drop, okay? Remember, you have to learn how to pour properly as you’ll be the main one serving the prince from now on.”

Kari swore he could feel the hot gaze burning into the skin on his back and trailing down across his legs and stood rigid, unable to relax. He was desperately trying not to reach around and pull down the tunic. Somehow, he didn’t want to give the damn alpha the satisfaction of knowing he was flustering Kari. It was probably obvious anyway, but that was beside the point. He focused all his attention on Nevis’s words instead, trying to absorb all the information.

“You have to learn how to do it gracefully while still being efficient. As a pleasure slave, you will be serving his guests too. That’s why it’s important to learn how to pour properly. There’s a trick to it, it’ll take practice. See?”

Honestly, Kari didn’t see what was so special about how he was pouring it. He was just pouring some fancy alcohol into a fancy glass. His thought process had screeched to a stop around the time that Nevis had mentioned that he was for the alpha’s viewing pleasure as the reminder only brought his awareness back to the gaze burning into his skin. He squirmed slightly, feeling his body heating up in an embarrassing way.

He caught Nevis giving him a sideways look as he stayed rigid beside the beta, not acknowledging anything he said. The other slave gave his hand a reassuring pat before carefully walking over to place the alpha’s drink on the table. Kari turned back to face the others but kept his eyes firmly on the carpet.

Funny, that was exactly like last night, determinedly staring a hole into the floor while he avoided a certain someone’s intense gaze.

The omega went to follow Nevis when the beta was dismissed but was stopped in his tracks by a deep voice.

“Kari.”