Chapter 97 - Lost Fawn

''And why do you want to know more about me?" Aleister dropped his hand before he laid back on the bed with his forehead propped on his fist. That same question again.

''I am curious…'' she stopped speaking as she was reminded of the last time when she said this. He told her that he will tell her that when it is more than just curiosity. Esme stood up from the bed under his burning gaze, ''I will get some fresh air in the garden,'' she smoothened the creases on her gown.

Aleister glanced at her back as she ran like she was being chased by monsters. The corner of his lips tugged up briefly before his eyes darkened at the reminder of her words.

'Fins, scales… tail'

That's what she mentioned.

…

Esme stayed in the garden for a long time. She glanced at the dark sky as the birds returned to their homes.

Earlier, she was flustered so she ran away from Aleister. But now she wondered why was she flustered?

She walked towards the rose plants that she planted when she came to work here as a maid. Her fingers stroked the rose petals as she repeated the question in her mind.

What exactly flustered her at that moment?

And in her mind, she already had the answer.

The last time she asked him about his powers, she was just curious. But this time…

''I wanted to know more about him, to get to know him more,'' she mumbled under her breath.

But soon after, she was reminded of her discussion with Adrian. Her elder brother told her that Arlan is in Nevesray and they will be going back to their Kingdom soon.

Esme folded her arms in front of her chest as she rubbed her palms on her elbows, feeling the cold breeze hitting her face.

The memory of the dream was still vivid in her mind and at this point, her mind was in chaos.

She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath to calm down.

Her eyes snapped open when she heard some noises.

The sound of ragged breathing and light panting was very faint but her keen ears picked it up from the distance.

'Who is here at this hour of night?' she thought to herself while picking up the front of her gown in her palms.

Esme walked in the direction of the fountain from where she heard the voice.

But what she witnessed stunned her momentarily. 

A man and a woman were embracing each other as they kissed passionately. It was as if they forgot the place they were in.

Esme was quick to hide behind a tree when she recognized their faces. She clutched her gown tighter so that it wouldn't be noticed. She peeked at them again to ensure that she was not seeing things.

And she was certain that she was not mistaken when she saw their faces again.

Keith Reiner and Liz.

Keith Reiner was the head gardener who was kind to her during the time she was working. Later, things were a bit stiff between them because of the way he acted around her and that's why she had decided to keep her distance from him.

Liz on the other hand, has also been kind to her and that's why she ignored all her initial rudeness. The scene of Liz walking towards Aleister's room with that silver glass flashed in her mind. Even though her elder brother could not see it, was it really her illusion?

Whatever it was, the last thing she expected was to stumble into this.

All of a sudden, both of them stopped kissing and Liz raised her head.

Esme's breath was caught in her throat when their gazes met.

Just when she was prepared to step out from the place she was hiding, Liz wrapped her arm around Keith's neck and pulled him closer before capturing her lips.

As Esme wandered in the empty hallways of the Daven Castle, she could not help but think of what she witnessed earlier. All the times she had seen Keith and Liz interacting with each other, they have been very formal. Liz once told her that she liked someone, that's why she did not want to go to Aleister's room to serve him.

Come to think of it, those scary rumors about Aleister  painted him as a beast who slept with the maids and abused them but he was nowhere near that kind of person.

Esme shook her head hurriedly when she realized something, ''What has gotten into me? Why do I keep thinking about him?'' she mumbled under her breath.

''That's because you are madly in love with me?" came the whisper beside her ear that had her stiffen.

She quickly turned around and her long hair twirled, falling in front of her shoulder because of her movement.

''T-There is nothing like that,'' Esme pressed a palm on his chest, realizing how close he was,, ''Can you not say such words which might make people misunderstand?" she could see the guards around them trying to keep a straight face.

''Misunderstand? But we are lovers, aren't we?" Aleister held her  palm that was resting on his chest.. He stroked her fingers while looking into her eyes.

Esme could hear those suppressed gasps of the tough and sturdy looking guards. They must be wondering what happened to their expressionless Prince. And from the corner of her eyes, she could see the bashful smiles and shy gazes of the maids who were passing by the hallway. They must have realized that the Prince is nowhere near to what the rumors make him out to be.

The corner of her lips twitched and a flicker of annoyance flitted across her eyes, ''Yes, we are,'' she smiled sweetly, her eyes discreetly narrowing at the maids.

It was Aleister's turn to be speechless as Esme intertwined their fingers before dragging him with her.. He quietly followed after her like a lost fawn, all the while not taking his gaze off their hands.