Earlier, after Percy had left their l inn, he went in search of a good alcohol that would calm his nerves. He was fuming on the way- the anger, the betrayal.
Percy was the beloved! He shouldn't have a replacement. His mistress never even let him inside her room nor did she care to tend his own wound after he was hit defending her.
"Anne? Tch," he spat on the ground and continued on his way. Upon reaching a shop, he waved at the owner.
"Get me your strongest wine," he ordered, ruffling through his pocket in search of money when someone grabbed his shoulder.
Percy turned to the man who had hit him earlier, his mouth wrapped in a white piece. Percy winced.
"I wasn't the one who hit you, please forgive me." He tried to get on his knees, but the man pinned him to a spot, not letting him move.
The man moved his mouth to talk, only to make mumbling sounds. Percy had to bite his tongue so he wouldn't laugh.
"That must have hurt so much," he said, caught between laughter and seriousness.
The man fumed, punching Percy in the stomach again, then mumbled.
"I can't hear you!" Percy cried. "If I can't hear you, I can't explain myself."
The man hit Percy again in the stomach and mumbled.
Percy raised his hand in surrender. "You know what? Let's do it this way- let's go over there so you can write out your threats. I can read them while you hit me so they make more sense. If you talk like this and hit me, you look mad—"
The man growled angrily, ready to pounce on Percy with more effort.
"Okay, sorry... sorry." Percy tried to dodge, seeing that he had provoked the man too much.
"Percy?" A deep, rough voice broke the silence.
The few people who had gathered slowly dispersed when they saw the scary-looking man Jenna had returned with earlier.
"Anne! Yes! Anne," Percy heaved a sigh of relief, going to hide behind Rhane.
The man who had tried to hit Percy saw Rhane and held his mouth. He felt twice the pain when he saw the cause of it. Without looking back, he ran through the crowd and disappeared while making mumbling sounds that didn't make sense.
"Anne, you came for me!" Percy cried, pulling him into a hug. "Even after hating you... you came for me! Is this what having a brother feels like?"
Rhane held the young man's collar and pushed him away from his body.
Percy nodded. "I understand, I get it now. Brothers don't hug." He turned to the store owner, who was now holding the jar of wine Percy had ordered earlier. He paid for it and turned to Rhane.
"Let's go, Anne," Percy moved his hands apart in what looked like a proud walk, his head held high, while Rhane walked behind him.
"Does anyone have anything to say to me? I mean!" Percy took a gulp of his wine and grinned. He could see the fear in everyone's eyes as they made way for them to pass.
"I can't believe I'm glad you're on our team. Maybe acting like a child has its perks," Percy turned to look at Rhane and winked.
"Today, we'll solidify our brotherhood. I have a private spot where I go to drink alone. I'll take you there." Percy passed through the small houses, then followed a narrow path until he reached a lonely forest.
"Here it is- my humble abode... for drinking." Percy winked, raising the jar before taking a gulp.
"I'll forgive you just for today, Anne, and it's because you keep following me around when I didn't even ask for your protection." He tutted.
"I know the feeling... I know it. You're obsessed with me." Percy grinned, taking another sip from his drink.
Then he sat down beside a tree and crossed his legs, staring at a distance yet staring at nothing.
"They all act like that because my mistress isn't like them," Percy remarked, turning his head to look at Rhane, then smiled.
"You see, Anne, those men wanted my mistress. Every night, they would come to us bearing gifts... it almost looked like a brothel. And their wives? They hated my mistress." Percy paused and took a sip of his drink, then gave a wistful smile.
Rhane didn't interrupt; he stood by the corner, listening to Percy.
"If Mistress hadn't been hit by her husband, she wouldn't have left. She's not what people call her or see her as. She tried to live in that hell. Our master then, he—" Percy paused and sipped his drink.
"Why am I telling a total stranger all of this?" he asked, pushing himself to stand up, then walked over to Rhane.
"Well, I guess I'm safe since Anne is a little stupid." Percy chuckled, hitting his chest, then gulped his drink and gave Rhane the jar.
"Let's play a game," Percy smiled, his eyes looking mischievous.
"It's a game...we find each other and drink together. Can you play that?"
Rhane didn't say anything; he just kept looking at Percy.
"I hate those eyes, like they know something I don't." Percy frowned, placing his hands on his waist.
"Anyway, so—" he chuckled. "You'll go over there, and you'll find a spring... don't stop walking. Pass through the spring and scream my name. If you find me, we drink together."
Percy patted the jar. "Do you know how to drink?"
Rhane shook his head.
"Oh, poor Anne. Then we can't play the game. You have to finish everything in this jar before screaming my name. Otherwise, the game ends," Percy remarked, trying to stop himself from smiling.
"Now go, go, Anne. Go." Percy pointed at the path he should take.
Once Rhane left, Percy threw his head back and laughed to his heart's content.
"He thinks I can forgive him easily for taking Master's attention from me?" Percy grinned, turning his back to leave.
"Let's see how Master reacts when she wakes up tomorrow and finds his precious Anne drunk," Percy cackled, raising his face heavenward.
As he turned to leave, he danced happily, jumping up and down.
"Percy is so smart. Percy is Master's beloved," he praised himself in a song he created. He left the place and returned to the inn.
Rhane wandered around, searching for Percy, until he reached a spring. The first person he saw was his master, struggling underwater.
Then he noticed the duo that was on top of each other. Rhane cleared his throat to say something, but the people ran away, and at the same time, Jenna raised her face, almost jumping out of the water.