Chapter 124 - Culprit

"What are you thinking about?'' Esme waved her hand in front of the man who was lost in his thoughts, ''Is it still hurting?'' his injuries were so deep that she could not help but worry if it had caused some permanent damage. 

''Very much,'' Aleister winced. 

Esme's heart ached, ''I will help you with everything. Just focus on recovering.''

"Everything?'' he glanced at her with a pitiful expression on his face. 

Esme nodded again, ''But you need to tell me about what happened yesterday.'' 

Aleister glanced at the glass of water on the bedside table, ''I am thirsty.'' 

Esme pushed herself to her feet and picked up the glass of water from the table before extending her hand towards him, ''Here.'' 

He showed no sign of moving his hands. He puckered up his lips instead. 

The corner of her lips twitched. Esme pointed her finger at herself, quietly raising a brow. 

He nodded pitifully, ''You said that you will help me with everything. It's fine if you don't want to do all this. I will ask for some maids to help me till the wounds heal internally.''

Esme frowned, ''Do you want them to tear open your wounds? They are always so nervous around you. Don't call them.'' 

''I will ask Rowan to appoint some new maids who will be good at their jobs. Don't worry,'' Aleister tilted his head. 

''No need. I didn't say I am going back on my words,'' she narrowed her eyes. 

''But still, maids…mmp…!'' 

Esme grabbed his chin and pressed the glass of water on his lips. She tilted his chin, forcing the water down his throat. 

Aleister drank a few mouthfuls before he tilted his face to the side and coughed a few times. 

Esme placed the glass on the table before leaning closer to him. She patted his back, a line of worry etched between her brows, ''Are you fine?''

''Are you trying to choke me?'' Aleister whispered weakly. 

''No… No…'' Esme quickly shook her head, ''I just…''

''So, about the maids…'' 

''Can you stop mentioning the maids again and again?'' she interrupted him, ''Your Highness, it's not like you have a very clean reputation. If anyone overheard this, god forbid they will end up adding fuel to fire. The unpleasant rumors will run amok in the whole kingdom.'' 

''...I was just saying that we don't need to get maids, I am not particularly comfortable with them.'' 

Esme blinked.

''But you interrupted me before I could finish my words,'' Aleister leaned back in the headboard of the bed, folding his arms behind his head. His naked chest was left exposed to her view once again, ''Look at you Princess, why are you so grumpy early in the morning?''

''I…I…'' Grumpy? Was she grumpy? 

''Are you really that concerned about my reputation?'' he tilted his head, peeking at her through his dense lashes.

Esme looked everywhere but him. She tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her before clearing her throat, ''Of course, I am worried about your reputation. We have been partners after all.'' 

''What kind of partners?'' he asked meaningfully. 

''The ones that help each other out?'' she mumbled after some thought. 

He looked at her. 

Esme blinked. He kept looking at her for a long time till she could not meet his gaze. 

She turned her face to the side. ''You have yet to tell me about what happened to you yesterday. Who hurt you?'' she asked. 

Aleister sighed, ''It was Ruby.'' 

Her head turned in his direction, eyes widening in shock, ''Sister Ruby? Is it the person I know?'' As he nodded, her lips parted in disbelief, ''But why?'' 

"Apparently, she is jealous of our love.'' 

Esme glared at him, ''Can you be more serious?''

''She must have been jealous of my good looks,'' he said after some thought. 

Esme was speechless. 

"I think I need to walk around a bit,'' he extended his hand toward her. 

Esme held his hand and supported his body, ''Ugh…'' a groan escaped her mouth when he shifted his body weight to her. 

She wrapped an arm around his waist and he was quick to shift his hand to wrap it around her shoulder. ''So, why did she hurt you?'' 

''She acted like a nagging mother-in-law who wanted me to stay away from her daughter.''

Esme blinked. The relationship between her and Ruby was quite shallow even though she addressed her as a sister. The woman had saved her a few times in the past but after she disappeared that night, they never met again. 

After coming into this castle, she had faced many dangers including the time when she almost drowned in the sea. But Ruby who claimed that she was her protector never appeared. 

Esme helped Aleister lean back on the windowsill. 

He extended his hand and smoothened the frown between her brows. 

''She once said that she will protect me if I am in danger. Yesterday…'' Esme looked at him, ''...I almost died.'' 

His fingers which were stroking her face paused. 

Esme turned her head towards the door when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. 

''Your Highness, My Lady, everyone is waiting for you at the breakfast table.'' 

''We will be there,'' Esme said before she turned around to glance at Aleister, ''There is something I should tell you. 

He nodded. Just as she was about to speak, he raised his palm, motioning her to stay quiet. 

She glanced at him in confusion. 

Aleister turned to look at Leo who was sleeping on Esme's bed, ''Stop playing dead, will you?" 

'Roar' 

Leo jumped out of the bed as he slowly walked towards them. He stopped in front of Esme and stretched his neck, leaning his head towards her. 

Aleister's brows twitched ever so slightly as he watched Leo wagging his tail like a dog.

Esme patted his head.

''Ahh…'' Aleister pressed his hand on his chest. 

''What happened?" Esme quickly held his hand and ran her fingers on his chest, examining it for any possible untreated wound. 

''It hurts,'' Aleister weakly said before flashing a smug look at Leo. 

Shameless. Despicable. Leo almost fainted in anger. 

''Leave the room. Come back when you decide to come clean to me,'' Aleister narrowed his eyes. 

Esme glanced at the human and the beast with a strange gaze. 

Leo seemed to be contemplating over something before he jumped out of the window and sprinted far away, disappearing into the forests just in the blink of an eye. 

''Did something happen between you two?" 

''Nothing much but he seems to have something going on with that woman,'' Aleister's eyes darkened.

''Oh…'' Esme sighed. She felt strange at the mention of Ruby because she was not certain if she wanted to meet her or not. Or if Ruby was a friend or a foe.

''So, Princess, what is it that you want to tell me?" he raised an eyebrow as he saw her grey eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief at the mention of it.

''Al, do you know who is the culprit behind all the incidents in the castle and the Kingdom?" 

''I do… why do you ask?" he smiled cunningly. 

''You knew it,'' Esme was in a state of disbelief. 

''I was not certain so I was waiting for something conclusive to confirm it,'' he stroked her cheek when he saw the distrust apparent on her face. 

Esme pouted, ''I am not certain about it. It's a guess. So… I have something in mind.'' 

''Oh? I am curious.''