Chapter 52 - Hold Tightly

While Marlene did not say it explicitly, Esme could understand that her Aunt coming to this place had something to do with Aleister. She was confused but she decided to ask him about it later. 

''If I may ask...'' Marlene averted her gaze from her niece as she glanced at the man who was sitting in his chair like he has been a part of their family for a decade, ''My Lord, what's the relationship between my niece and you?" She tried to keep her tone respectable for two reasons. 

First, this man was infamous for his cruelty and brutality, and second, he knew about their origin. Marlene could not help but wonder why Esme would take this step and let him know about their identity.

Esme glanced at Aleister, ''We-''

''Your niece is the love of my life,'' The man said casually, interrupting her. 

Esme's eyes widened as Marlene glanced at her as if asking her if it was true. 

She pursed her lips. 

Marlene stood up, ''I want to talk to my niece alone if My Lord doesn't minds.''

''I don't mind, Aunt,'' Aleister leaned back on the chair putting one of his legs above the other as he placed an arm on his forehead, ''Can I have that apple, my dear moon?"

Esme grabbed the apple from the fruit basket kept on the wooden table before she passed it to him, ''Don't choke yourself,'' She said, smiling kindly even though the kindness did not reach her eyes. 

''How can I? I won't want to worry you, my love,'' He grabbed the apple from her hand as he munched on it. 

Esme scoffed as she turned around to look at her Aunt who was staring at her blankly, ''Let's go.''

Marlene took Esme to her room. She closed the door, locking it properly, ensuring that the man won't be able to hear them. 

''What he said was true...'' Marlene said, her words were more of a statement than a question.

Esme lowered her head, not knowing what would be a proper answer to this, ''I...'' She wanted to tell her the truth about everything that was going on inside the castle, but after getting her main nerve severed forcefully, her Aunt's body had gotten weaker. Arlan's sudden disappearance was already weighing down on her shoulders and Esme did not want to worry her as much. 

Marlene sighed as she grabbed her hand before walking towards the bed, ''Sit here...'' She said and as Esme sat there, she took a seat beside her, ''I am happy as long as you are happy. All these years, I have not been able to protect you well so I always wished there was someone you could rely on. I never got to find a decent man for you...'' Two years ago when Esme turned 19, Marlene started looking for a husband for her despite her protests. While some detested their status, some eyed her solely with lust, ''He can protect you well, but will he?"

Esme blinked. 

''Aleister Daven is a man nobody dares to offend. Even when he was a child, his brutality was talked about in every land. He is dangerous and heartless...''

''Not to me,'' Esme interrupted her. There was nothing between them other than the fact that they just became friends yesterday with a little exchange that she will pretend to be his lover and he will help her with her identity. Nothing more and nothing less. But one thing she was certain of was he was not a person who would stab her in the back. He won't harm her. 

''I can see,'' Marlene sighed. She saw the way the man was looking at her niece like he could not see anything else, ''But I want you to be cautious. It has been mere weeks since you went there and I hope he doesn't have any other motives towards you....''

Marlene could feel her head ache just at the thought of the Royal Family of Visteria. 

''Don't degrade yourself for a man like your mother-''

''You don't know. You haven't seen it so don't say that about my mother when she is not with us to defend herself,'' Esme stood up from the bed, ''I have been looking for Arlan all this while and I will find him no matter whatever it takes.''

All the way back to the castle, Esme remained quiet until Aleister could not take her silence any longer, ''Are you offended?"

''You could have not said it,'' Esme replied without looking at him as she glanced outside, leaning her head on the railing. 

Aleister glanced at her quietly as the carriage came to a halt in front of the Castle gates. As they alighted the carriage, Esme walked ahead without looking at him. 

He grabbed her hand and she was pulled into his arms, ''Did I say that you can leave?"

''And do I have to ask for your permission before I do something?" She struggled in his arms, his grip on her waist kept tightening. 

He sighed before letting go of his hold on her waist but his grip on her wrist did not loosen as he walked past the castle gates dragging her with him. 

Esme frowned, ''Slow down. I don't have legs as long as you.''

His steps slowed down as they walked inside the royal garden. The guards bowed at them and he kept walking inside the garden until all she could see was darkness, there was no one around and it was just him and her. Just the two of them. 

He extended his other hand towards her and she glanced at his face under the pale glow of the moonlight, confusion apparent in her eyes. 

''Hold tightly,'' He whispered. 

After a little hesitation, she placed her palm in his and he tightened his hold on both her hands before pulling her towards his body.. Her heart skipped a bit and just as she opened her mouth to say something, her eyes widened at what she witnessed.