As Kael crossed the entrance door, he was immediately enveloped by an atmosphere he could never have imagined existed. The interior of the house was a spectacle of beauty and opulence, something he had only dreamed of seeing. The reception hall, where he now stood, was spacious and bright, with high ceilings adorned with dark wooden beams that contrasted with the softly white, almost cream-colored walls, reflecting the light pouring in through the large windows.
In the center of the room, a magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, made of delicate crystal that shimmered as if each piece had been sculpted by divine hands. The floor was covered by a thick wool carpet of deep red, softening each step and stretching as far as the eye could see, framing the space with elegance. Dark, polished wooden furniture was strategically placed around the room, each piece seemingly handpicked to complement the environment. Upholstered armchairs in rich fabrics and cushions embroidered in gold and silver gave the room an air of comfort and luxury.
The walls, in turn, were decorated with hand-painted paintings, each more impressive than the last. Kael couldn’t take his eyes off the paintings. They depicted landscapes of lush fields, stormy seas, and majestic mountains that seemed almost real, as if he could reach out and touch the scenes depicted. There were also portraits of people, probably family ancestors, whose faces conveyed power and dignity. Each painting told a story, every brushstroke carrying an emotion that he, a simple street boy, tried to understand.
Heavy, opulent curtains in shades of moss green and gold elegantly framed the windows, offering a glimpse of the exterior gardens that Kael could barely make out but that promised to be as magnificent as the interior. The windows themselves allowed the morning sunlight to spill into the room in golden beams, illuminating the details in every corner and creating an atmosphere of warmth and welcome.
Kael felt almost dazed, as if he had been transported to a different world. Never in his life had he been in such a sophisticated place. He could barely absorb all the details around him, the wealth emanating from every object, every piece of furniture.
However, before he could process everything, he was brought back to reality by the presence of others inside the house. A tall, middle-aged man, impeccably dressed in a black butler's uniform, approached with silent steps. His demeanor was firm but respectful, and he gave Elara a brief bow before speaking.
“Miss Elara,” said the butler, his voice soft and controlled, “I trust you found what you were looking for at the market this morning.”
Elara smiled, a calm and confident smile that seemed to brighten the room even more. “Yes, Harrison. I found exactly what I was looking for.”
The butler nodded with a slight inclination of his head, seemingly perfectly satisfied with the answer, though his curious eyes briefly fell on Kael, examining the young man with well-practiced discretion. Still, he made no comment, maintaining the same serene and professional expression.
Elara then turned her gaze to Kael, who was still clearly dazzled by everything around him. With a delicate gesture, she moved a little closer to the butler, keeping her voice low but firm.
“Harrison,” she said, “please prepare a bath for our guest. He will need to clean up before anything else. And then, arrange for breakfast to be served for him.”
The butler showed no surprise at the request, only a slight nod to confirm he had understood. “Immediately, miss.”
Kael, though still reluctant and a bit confused, couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief and gratitude. The idea of taking a bath, something that had always been an unimaginable luxury to him, was now real. And the promise of breakfast – a meal he could barely remember when he had last had – made his empty stomach tighten in anticipation.
Stolen story; please report.
As Elara moved away to give more instructions to Harrison, Kael allowed himself to relax for a brief moment, feeling the tension in his body slowly dissipating. He knew there were still many unanswered questions, but for now, he decided to trust what fate had brought him. He was safe, at least for the moment, and that was more than he could have hoped for when he woke up that morning.
Kael was led by one of the maids to a bathroom adjacent to the guest room, where a bath was already prepared, filled with warm water that released steam and was scented with gentle herbs. The tub, made of carved marble, seemed to Kael like a king's throne, a luxury he had never imagined experiencing. He hesitated for a moment, uncertainty still holding him back, but the exhaustion and accumulated grime from years were too strong to resist. With the maid's help, he undressed and immersed himself in the hot water.
As the water enveloped his body, Kael felt almost immediate relief. The dirt, which had seemed like a second skin, began to loosen, and he could feel his muscles relaxing, relieving the tension he had carried for so long. The maid, silently, carefully washed his hair and body, something that, although unsettling for Kael, was done with such gentleness and respect that he couldn’t feel embarrassed. The hot water seemed to take with it not only the dirt but also part of the weight of his life on the streets.
When the bath was finished, Kael dressed in clean, simple clothes that had been provided, soft to the touch, very different from the rags he was used to. With his body clean and decently dressed, he was guided by the other maid to the dining room. Upon entering, his eyes widened at the sight of the table before him.
It was a long, polished wooden table, large enough to comfortably seat a dozen people, but at that moment, it was prepared for only one guest. The shine of the silverware reflected the soft light of the room, while porcelain plates and bowls, decorated with golden details, were meticulously arranged.
At the center of the table, a variety of food was laid out, forming a feast fit for kings. There was a basket of fresh bread, with golden, crispy crusts calling to Kael with a tempting aroma. Beside it, a bowl of ripe, colorful fruits – red apples, dark grapes, figs, and pears – exuded a sweet fragrance that filled the room. Slices of cheese, cured ham, and smooth butter were arranged on silver platters. There was also a jug of freshly squeezed orange juice and another of milk, both so fresh that Kael could feel the purity in the air. Small portions of fruit jams, made from strawberry, apricot, and wild berries, gleamed in crystal jars.
The butler, Harrison, whom Kael now knew to be a level 15 man, indicated a place for him to sit, near the center of the table. Harrison was a dignified-looking man, over 50 years old, and his level revealed that he was not just a simple servant, but someone with a past of strength and discipline. The two maids, young and at level 7, remained nearby, ready to attend to any need. Kael noticed that one of them was missing a finger on her right hand, an old scar that she had clearly come to accept, and he chose not to ask about it, feeling that the answer would be something he preferred not to hear.
Kael sat down, still cautious, as if the feast before him were a mirage that could disappear at any moment. He hesitated for a second, but the smell of the food was irresistible, and the hunger in his stomach roared louder. He took a piece of bread, still warm, and spread butter over it. As he took the first bite, the flavor flooded his mouth so intensely that he could barely hold back the tears. The bread was soft and flavorful, the butter rich and creamy. Each bite was a revelation, a reminder of everything he had lost and everything he had endured.
Kael continued eating, tasting a bit of everything—creamy cheese, a sweet and crisp apple, a sip of orange juice that was like sunlight in his mouth. The more he ate, the harder it became to hold back the emotions that started to bubble up inside him. He had forgotten what a real meal tasted like, what it felt like to have the warmth of food spreading through his body, nourishing not just his stomach, but his soul.
The tears came silently, sliding down his cheeks as he chewed, each bite a reminder of the life he had left behind. The silence in the room was broken only by the soft sounds of his movements, and he didn’t care who might be watching. That moment, that food, was something he had never imagined he would enjoy again.
Kael continued eating, with the tears falling softly but steadily, feeling a mix of gratitude and sadness, relief and pain. He knew his life had changed, but the scars of the past were still there, and the weight of everything he had endured could not be erased by a meal, no matter how wonderful it was. But in that moment, he allowed himself to forget, if only for an instant, the suffering, and simply surrendered to the simple, human pleasure of eating until the hunger that had chased him for so many years was finally sated.