Chapter 54 - Esme's Identity

While Esme was in the room, a few servants came to set the table for dinner. She let them in, concluding that they must be sent here by Aleister. Esme noticed their gazes settling on the two beds in the room, divided by a huge thick curtain in between. 

The corner of her lips twitched but it did not take them long to avert their gaze as they settled the food trolley near the table. They were mindful of their behavior, just in case they offended the Prince.

''You all can leave,'' Esme blinked looking at their rabbit-like movements, small and steady. Even though the Prince was not in the room, she noticed them trembling. 

And as soon as the words escaped her mouth, they bowed at her. Their faces remained stoic but Esme could sense their relief and gratefulness for letting them leave the devil's den before he came. ''Is he that scary...?" Esme mumbled to herself looking at their fleeing backs. 

She walked towards the round table near the window which was arranged with a velvety cloth on it, with candles in the center. Plates, forks, and knives were laid down at their proper places. She carefully shifted the food from the table to the trolley. 

''Why are you doing this?" 

Esme paused as she turned around to look at the man who had a menacing expression on his face. She noticed that his hair was particularly unkempt today and under the hues of the moonlight, his ice-blue eyes seemed to be shining. 

He snapped his fingers in front of her eyes and she came out of her reverie. 

''Huh?"

''What are you thinking about?"

''Nothing,'' she said for saying 'I was thinking about your eyes' was sounding pretty much improper in her mind. 

He grabbed the plates from her hand before arranging them on the table.

''I don't think you should do this,'' Esme said. 

''You think too much,'' Aleister walked to the other side before pulling out a chair for her. 

Esme could feel her mouth watering at the sight of food. After a long and exhausting day, she did not notice how hungry she was until she saw the food in front of her. 

"Let's start?" She glanced at him through her lashes with her spoon already dipped inside the soup. 

Aleister nodded and that was enough for her to start eating without looking at him again.

Usually, she would eat slowly and unhurriedly but today's scene was different as she stuffed the food in her mouth, her cheeks puffing up. 

He glanced at the food that had her undivided attention at the moment. The corner of his lips twitched as he leaned back on the chair holding a glass of wine.

The glow of the candle fell on half of her face as she ate, her long deep hair fell in front of her shoulder and she had one of her palms resting near her ear as she restrained the locks of her hair from coming on the food. As she leaned forward, her delicate white nightgown clung to her body, enhancing her soft curves. 

His eyes darkened as he gulped the glass of wine he was holding, a predatory glint flashing in his eyes. 

And probably the prey had very strong instincts as Esme tilted her head to look at him feeling his gaze on her, ''You are not eating?" She asked after gulping the food in her mouth. 

His expressions turned casual as he took a sip of his wine before he placed the glass on the table. 

Waiting for his response, she stuffed the spoonful of honey tart in her mouth. 

Aleister pushed himself to his feet as he walked towards her and she paused when he stood beside her. 

Esme tilted her head to look at him questioningly. 

Without speaking anything, he raised his hand towards her, his thumb grazing past the corner of her lips, ''Food should never be wasted,'' He clicked his tongue before bringing his hand to his mouth, licking the tip of his thumb, his tongue slow and deliberate. 

Esme's cheeks turned pink slightly as she averted her gaze. He...He... How could he do that?

''I have something I want to tell you,'' She diverted her attention from his bizarre antics. He just liked to get on her nerves. 

''I'm all ears.''

Esme picked up a napkin before cleaning her mouth. 

After the servant cleaned the table, Aleister left to do something while Esme sat on the bed waiting for him to be back. Her thoughts running back to how they disappeared from the garden and when she opened her eyes, they were standing on the seashore. 

She wanted to ask him about his powers. Why he possessed golden magic that was completely unheard of? No manuals recorded it. He could teleport; disappear from one place and appear at other. She has heard about this power when she was a child but it was believed that this power does not exist. He could make things appear out of nowhere, like the cage that day. 

As much as she wanted to ask him but she didn't. The last time she asked, he brutally denied from telling her. So be it. She did not want to know it. 

She was just...a little...tiny bit curious about him.

Yes, only that. 

Hearing the sounds of approaching footsteps, Esme tilted her head upwards to glance at Aleister who was walking towards her with a huge pile of thick books in his hand. 

Esme blinked, ''These are...?"

''Don't you want to find the meaning of that verse written on that bookshelf?" 

''You mean...I can find something from these books?" She glanced at the books which were twice thicker than her arms. 

Aleister placed the books on the bedside table before taking a seat on her bed, ''We can try,'' He shrugged, leaning back on the headboard of the bed. 

''They can wait,'' Esme frowned, ''I want your help with something.''

''Yes?"

''Let go of that woman. I will talk to her by myself.''

''That maidservant?" Aleister straightened up. 

''Yes,'' Esme nodded. She paused for a moment as she glanced at her fingers, ''She is the one responsible for my brother's disappearance.''

Aleister narrowed his eyes, ''Your younger brother? You mentioned that your Aunt took both of you with her when you fled from Nevesray.''

Although Nevesray was not as vast as Visteria, the Kingdom was very powerful because of the alliances that the former Queen had formed during her reign.

The Queen had two brothers and one sister. The oldest brother died during a war and that was when she ascended the throne. After her mysterious disappearance, her younger brother took over the throne while Marlene, Esme's Aunt was the youngest of them. And it did not take Aleister a long time to understand that Esme is the Queen's daughter. 

He had heard about the Princess' mysterious disappearance and the eldest Prince's death but he barely paid attention to it because Nevesray had nothing to do with him.

Esme nodded. ''I forgot to ask you...how did you know in which village my Aunt lived? And why did you bring her here?" There were many things that she wanted to ask but since he was engaged in court matters, she did not get the chance to do so.