When Emotions Take Over (Michael’s POV)

I just couldn't understand it. I was so happy to have met someone from that world in my lifetime. For the whole day, I couldn't wait to show him the vault and extract as much information as possible. Of course, I was curious about how Kyo had arrived here, and we had to talk to Renet about it, but I didn't think that as soon as the conversation turned to the Neighbor, he would suddenly become the most important person. I had a feeling I should treat him well, for the newcomer's sake, so as not to alienate him.

Generally, I had nothing against Renet, although I didn't like that he broke our agreement. This action didn't even justify his desire to help Kyo, and he could have significantly limited it and not gone beyond our agreements. Unless... I shook my head violently; these things are impossible. But I also didn't blame Kyo for becoming so attached to him at first, considering he'd received so much from him. Initially, I didn't want to interfere in their relationship, but after our conversation, I decided it had to be curtailed. I didn't feel comfortable with the fact that they cared about each other. Maybe I was jealous of something, or I simply didn't understand why anyone could have any sympathy for the Neighbors.

I couldn't sleep; I didn't even feel like going to bed. I wondered if Kyo was generally treated well by the servants, though I'd wager they might have been rather harsh towards him, but he didn't complain, and now he seemed to have lost any remaining trust in me, so now he wouldn't complain to me at all about potential problems. In the end, I paced the room, sat in an armchair, and even tried reading, but my mind kept re-analyzing Kyo's every word and behavior, his strange reaction to the truth. Finally, I gathered myself, decided it was useless, and slipped away again, this time heading for the cages.

I wasn't sure what he expected from this conversation. Of course, I wanted to learn as much as I could about Kyo's arrival, and I kept getting the feeling that Renet was the answer. It irritated me that his sister seemed to suspect the same thing. Even the smallest thing that could connect us irritated me, and that also applied to any ideas. Although initially driven by emotion, as I drew closer to his cage, I began to seriously reconsider my decision.

Renet hadn't even noticed my arrival, so I watched him for a while. He was sitting by the window, staring at something in the moonlight. I was a little disappointed with my men's attitude; it was obvious they should have searched him thoroughly, but I also understood they might not have wanted to. At least it wasn't anything that could potentially endanger anyone. I expected to see someone distraught, perhaps driven mad by their helplessness, but instead I was staring at someone longing. He was supposed to be experiencing torment, after all, captured and imprisoned by enemies, not something… almost romantic.

I didn't know what I was doing; until now, I'd gotten everything I wanted in life, except inheriting the throne so quickly. After all, I was a prince, and now I was a king. I wasn't wrong; it shouldn't have looked like this. I opened the door and, furious, rushed towards Renet to snatch whatever he was holding.

Only then did I get a reaction. He lunged at me to retrieve his belongings, but I managed to jump back. It was good that at least my men had secured him to the chains attached to the wall. I moved to a safe distance, clearly feeling threatened. For the first time from him, I didn't think I'd even consider whether the chains would hold. Renet looked like a predator waiting for an opportunity to catch his prey. I was tempted to walk out the door, but I decided not to be afraid. I was the one in charge here; I wouldn't be intimidated!

Finally, I glanced at what was so precious to him. The painting depicted Kyo, capturing his form so well that I had no trouble recognizing him. I was nervous; he was watching him so brazenly! He might have been fascinated by people, but I thought my agreement to let him stay on this side of the Wall was a mistake.

"You must have been spying on him for a long time to paint him so precisely," I ground it out.

"I wasn't spying on him." Renet's voice was cold, yet at the same time full of power, as if to suggest he was telling nothing but the truth.

"So, you painted this secretly during your short journey together?"

"No."

I wanted to shake him because of those denials. I was spoiled; I didn't even like hearing the word, just no and no.

"So? It wasn't created before you met; it's too precise."

Renet didn't answer, but he flinched; he couldn't hide it; he knew he'd already given himself away, so he looked away. I stared at him intensely enough for him to understand I was demanding answers. I wasn't going to lose this battle.

"I painted this a few months ago," he whispered. "From imagination, not based on anyone."

"I am wondering. How is he like his mirror image?" I asked, shocked.

"I don't know."

"Maybe actually you brought him here. After all, you can use magic; you can take human form for a long time…"

"No!" Renet jerked away. "I didn't want that. I couldn't bring him here."

"So how did he end up here? He didn't show up like everyone else." I continued staring at the painting; something strange radiated from it. "Surely something as absurd as the power of love didn't bring him here," I scoffed.

He looked at me with pain, and then something dawned on me, though for me, it wasn't possible on its own.

"Don't tell me you fell in love with your own painting?" I stepped closer, rolling up what was clearly his best work, and stabbed him in the chest with it. "That's pathetic."

He didn't respond, as if he was silently admitting it, knowing that no one would allow it anyway. I started laughing, and a plan slowly formed in my head. I had an important Neighbor in the cage, and he practically gave me a reason to start a war. He'd crossed over, broken the terms of our peace agreement, and no one else knew about it. His sister hated him, but maybe she'd want him back. Renet could be a great negotiating tool with Kyo. Without even trying, I could win everything.

"I'd fall in love with him too, if I had time for such things," I practically whispered maliciously in the prisoner's ear, stepping back as he began to struggle intensely against his chains. "But I'm wondering if I shouldn't try and maybe tell him the truth along the way." I waved the painting, led away by Renet's helplessness, expressed in his screams, which only I could hear.