Nove

Theodore was startled by Alistair's question. "I wasn't staring at you", he denied vehemently.

"what were you doing then?", Alistair asked in an amused tone.

"I…uh…was just…i…i…", Theodore stammered nervously as he thought of what to say.

Alistair patted his body dry before putting on the clothes Theodore had given to him.

"it's okay Theodore, it's completely normal for you to be curious about how my body looks like ", he told Theodore with a teasing smile on his face.

Theodore blushed and wished the earth could open up to swallow him.

"Do the clothes fit? ", he asked, trying to change the subject.

"they do, I think your dad was the same size with me ",

"I am glad it fits".

Theodore excused himself and went behind a changing screen to change out of his wet clothes. He came out to see Alistair sitting on the bed.

He cleared his throat to get Alistair's attention. Alistair looked up. "Do you want to eat anything before going to bed ", he asked him.

"It's okay, I am full, what about you?",

"I am full too ".

Theodore sat down beside him on the bed, he had no idea what he was supposed to do, he had never spent the night with anyone before.

Alistair nudged his knee against Theodore's knee.

"why are you quiet? ",

"I don't know what to say, I have never had anyone sleep over before ".

"Well, we can talk about different stuff, why don't you tell me about your childhood? ", Alistair asked.

"There isn't much to say about my childhood, I didn't have any friends to play with, I just read all the books in the library and spent my time inside the house".

Alistair felt sad that Theodore had gone through a lonely childhood, as far as he was concerned, the people in this kingdom were terrible for making him feel alienated all of his life.

"I am sorry, you had to go through all of that ",

"it's okay, you don't have to apologize for that, it wasn't your fault. Besides, I am already used to it ",

"You don't have to be used to loneliness Theodore ", Alistair told him, he took Theodore's hands in his.

"From now on, I promise to never leave you, I will always be your friend ",

"thanks a lot Alistair ".

Alistair smiled at him warmly and released Theodore's hands, so he could ruffle his hair.

Theodore's parents were in the sitting room drinking tea and talking.

"I am so happy", Theodore's mother said as she sipped her tea.

"and why are you happy? ", his father asked her.

She looked at him fondly, this husband of hers could be so clueless.

"Our son is finally making friends, ever since he was little, all I have wished was for him to have a good life, a lot of friends and a family of his own. I thought my wishes would never come through, but now I have hope that my son would live a good and happy life ".

"I am happy he is making friends too, by the way Martha, don't you think it is time we told him about that matter ", she looked startled when she heard this, her teacup almost slipped out of her fingers, she managed to steady it before answering him.

"do you think there is any reason to tell him, he is having the best time of his life and I have no desire to stop it, besides I don't think the master would ever return for him, it has been a long time ".

"Martha, we both know that you are just making excuses. Theodore deserves to know the truth, you shouldn't hide it from him for your selfishness ". He tried to make her see reason.

She set down her teacup and faced him squarely, her hands clasped together in a begging posture.

"please, I beg of you, let's keep this secret from him, he has had a hard life, he doesn't need more problems ".

He sighed at her stubborn nature. "Fine, we won't let him know anything for now. But I want you to know that a secret can never stay hidden forever, in due time, Theodore would eventually know the truth, and then it would be too late",

"when that time comes, I would take the full blame. But for now, let him be happy ".

Theodore's father kept quiet and kept his reservations to himself.

In Theodore's room, he and Alistair lay on the bed, side by side talking.

"so now that you are grown up, what do you do for fun?". Alistair asked Theodore.

"I read", Theodore answered truthfully.

"Are you serious? Reading? Don't you go out? You can go to a drinking club for a drink".

"I would rather stay at home ".

"What about brothels? Surely, you have been to one before? ". Theodore shook his head.

"I have heard some male servants whispering about it, but I have never been there before. Why do I need to go to one anyway? ".

Alistair gaped at him. "Why does any man go to a brothel? For pleasure, of course ". Theodore looked at him confused.

"what kind of pleasure? ", he asked.

"sexual pleasure of course, you know about sexual pleasure right? The type of pleasure you feel when you pleasure yourself ". With every question Theodore asked, Alistair was certain that Theodore was completely innocent.

"Pleasure yourself? How does one pleasure himself ", Theodore asked innocently.

"You don't know how? ", Alistair asked, disbelief written all over his face.

"I don't, can you teach me how?". Alistair managed to keep himself from groaning out loud. Theodore had no idea how sinful his seemingly innocent question was. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

"You want me to teach you? ", he asked Theodore to be certain he had heard him well.