Chapter 51 - We Are A Family

Only after getting off the carriage did Esme noticed the other two royal carriages behind them and she wondered who there were people inside. She noticed that there were not many people to be seen in this place where they were standing. 

Her gaze landed on the small house in the distance and confusion appeared in her eyes. Without questioning him, she walked beside him until they reached the house. 

She slowly peeked at him through her lashes. From the first time that she met him in the dungeon, she was repulsed by his antics of cornering her repeatedly, of him being so ruthless. No matter how fatally attractive the man was, she did not have a measure of the dangers that lied beside his façades and she was inclined to stay further away from him.

But at this point of time, he was the only person whom she trusted in Daven's Castle. He was intimidating but she was not scared of him. It was ironic.

''I can feel your gaze burning right through me,'' He spoke without looking at her. 

The tips of her ears turned slightly red.

Esme, who was teased endlessly, got a little grip on her expressions, ''I can't help looking at you. I want to know what goes on in your mind,'' She mumbled rather than giving him the pleasure of watching her being flustered.

''Regarding what?" Aleister glanced at her. 

''Like why you would bring me to such a place at night,'' She replied without looking at him. 

''And still, you came here with me to this abandoned place, in the middle of the night without hesitation,'' He leaned on the door, looking at her like she was the most marvelous thing that he has ever laid his on, ''I wonder whether you are hopelessly naive or dangerously wise,'' He crossed his arms in front of his chest. 

Esme tilted her head as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She took a step closer to him, ''Take a guess,'' A low whisper escaped her mouth and a glint flashed in his eyes, surprised at her little move. 

She knocked on the door twice before stepping back from him, ''Might as well as do what we are here for.''

Aleister straightened up, ''Why not?" 

Esme tapped her feet slowly on the floor as she looked around the place. The house was small but well built with fine materials and was cozy. It was built at a distance from the borders of the Enchantment Forest in the Capital City, far away from the crowd. 

While she was lost in her thoughts, the door opened causing her to raise her head. And as soon as her gaze landed on the person at the door, Esme froze as her eyes widened slightly. 

''...Aunt?" 

Marlene smiled as she pulled her into a warm hug, ''How are you, my girl?" 

Esme could hear her voice trembling. She pulled back from her, ''I am fine,'' Despite her curiosity, she consoled her first. 

Marlene cupped her face before kissing her forehead gently, ''It must have been hard on you.''

Esme shook her head, her eyes brightening at the sight of her Aunt. How many days has it been since she saw her!

Her heart ached at the thought of her brother, her purpose of being here. No matter how hard it was, she wanted to find him as soon as possible before anything went wrong. but Aleister did not believe her when she said that...that maidservant is the culprit she is looking for. She did not know where to start finding. The only clue she had was that woman...

''How are you here?" Esme asked, pushing her thoughts aside for the moment. ''...When?" 

Aleister placed a hand on her back, ''How about we go inside first?" 

Marlene glanced at the man whose presence was so powerful and intimidating but reuniting with her niece after a long time had her undivided attention which is why she had yet to acknowledge his presence. 

Just as she opened her mouth to say something, her gaze landed on his hand that was resting on Esme's back. She frowned. 

For the great Prince of Visteria to send people to her doorstep to invite her to the Capital City, she knew that things were not that simple. Out of her desperation to see Esme, she agreed to come here after hesitating for a few days.

But now that she glanced at them, some things felt out of place.

Esme was there under the disguise of a maid, but now she was dressed in an elegant gown, reminding her of the little Princess who was always doted on, pampered by everyone until that night from where she never saw her cheerful and warm little Esme ever again. 

Marlene blinked her tears away as she bowed at the man, ''My Lord.''

Aleister grabbed her shoulders before she could lower herself further, ''No further formalities, Aunt.''

Both the aunt and niece glanced at him, their eyes snapped wide in disbelief at his words. 

''We all are family after all,'' said Aleister, pushing their buttons a little more, his lips tugging up slightly as they both glared at him even though they tried hard not to. 

...

As they took a seat, Esme noticed the living room was vivacious. The house looked just decent from the outside while it was like a small castle from the inside. 

She could feel the tension in the atmosphere, her Aunt's eyes boring into her, Aleister's teasing gaze on her. She could feel it but she refused to meet them. 

''Esme, will you bother to tell-''

''Aunt, why you are here?"' Esme hurriedly interrupted her only to watch her narrow her eyes. 

Marlene glanced at the Prince, the man who had sent his men to bring her here to the Capital city. Initially, she was doubtful of them until they showed her the Royal Family Emblem and when they revealed her real identity, she was certain that there was something between her niece and the most dangerous man of Visteria, the Prince. 

Marlene knew that Esme would never reveal her real identity to anyone and that only made her further wary of this situation.

Esme followed her gaze as she glanced at the man whose presence seemed to have made the house smaller, her mind lingering on how her Aunt seemed to have known him. Was it him who brought her here to the Capital City?

But she had only mentioned her Aunt to him yesterday and it will take days to reach the Capital City because the village they lived in...Seran Village was on the outskirts of Visteria. 

And she had never told him about it before then how...?