Chapter 66 - Call Me Al

"Don't think too much about it. Who will pretend to be my lover if you turn into a fool?" He tapped her forehead. 

Esme frowned. Wasn't it his way of saying that he will look into it? "Don't disappear like today. Bring me together if you go to dangerous places like this..."

"You are worried about me?" He chuckled. 

This time, Esme quickly stood up from the bed before walking towards the edge before he could grab her again, "Yes, I am worried. If anything, you can bring me together and I will see if the nightmare that haunts me in my illusion is you."

Aleister smiled mysteriously. He too was curious if it would be him but that did not mean he will try sending her there. 

Esme hesitated, "Are you wounded? Earlier... That black mist..." He was losing consciousness at that moment when he was leaning atop her. 

"That bush was poisonous."

"You... Are you feeling better now? Should I call the royal physician?" His complexion looked better but still, she could not help but worry. 

Aleister slumped on the bed, "I think I am dying..." He said in a weak voice. 

Esme blinked, "Why are you so pretentious, My Lord?" 

"Why can't you be a little ignorant, My Lady?" He opened one of his eyes as he eyed the woman who was looking at him in disdain. 

Even though Esme was looking at him like that, she felt a warmth in her heart, "Had I been ignorant, I would not have survived till this day," She softly said before walking towards him. 

His eyes darkened at her words. 

She placed the back of her palm on his forehead. 

He raised an eyebrow and she quickly retracted her hand as she stepped back before he thought of pulling her to the bed once again. He was strange today. 

"If you feel unwell, tell me. I am on the other side of the curtain," she pointed her finger in that direction, "And... You have done so much for me that I am feeling burdened now. Pretending to be your lover will not suffice. If you want something else, tell me.''

''You will give me anything I want?' He asked seriously. 

Esme nodded, ''As long as I can, I will, I don't want to owe you like this.''

He did not seem to be offended by her words as he glanced at her calmly. 

For some reason, his gaze made her gulp. It was not too late to take her words back but she was a righteous person and it will be improper of her to do that. 

''Drop the titles. Address me by my name,'' Her eyes widened and the corner of his lips tugged up, ''Al. That's what you will address me as.''

Her lips thinned and she held her gown in her hand and walked towards the other side of the curtain without saying anything. 

''Is Princess going back on her words?" Aleister clicked his tongue as he said mockingly before letting out a sigh, ''I expected this-''

''Al,'' Came her soft voice from the other side, ''If that's what you want.''

The room sunk in silence after she finished speaking and his pale blue eyes sparkled as he turned to the side. 

His gaze landed on the fireplace. The sight of the fire reminded him of the vivid illusion in the Enchantment Forest. Her heart which was set on fire... ''Esme?" He turned to look at her shadow through the curtains. 

She turned to his side, ''I am sleeping. Don't talk.''

''Who talked if you are sleeping?" He chuckled when she turned to the other side. ''What? Are you holding grudges now?"

''Why would I?"

''Because I tricked you in getting what I want,'' He pushed her buttons a little, ''Apparently, you are shy in taking my name.'' 

Esme sat up on the bed, ''Who is shy?" She turned to look at him and her long hair flipped as they fell in front of his shoulder, ''You are audacious.'' 

''And?"

''You lack shame.''

''And?"

''You...'' Esme's lips parted and she slumped on the bed before dragging the silken sheets till her head was covered. 

The corner of his lips tugged up. How satisfying was it to provoke her!

The next morning, when Esme woke up, Aleister was not in the room but Leo was there.

He had his neck stretched towards her with his chin placed on the bed. 

Esme blinked before patting his head twice, "When I was calling for you yesterday, where were you?"

He wanted to come but his Master was a petty man. Leo blinked innocently at her. 

Esme, who was still holding grudges against a human and a beast since yesterday, felt her heart melting at the sight of his round eyes going limpid. 

"There, there," She patted his head. Since Arlan was fine, her heart that was hanging high was finally at ease. 

Esme believed that Aleister would be able to find him soon. Since he can find that letter, then finding Arlan was also possible. 

And at the moment, she did not want to think about anything else. 

Since the day she started staying with Aleister in his room, nothing strange has happened to her. And her powers never worked on their own. 

Esme was relieved. 

Maybe, everything will fall in place as soon as she found Arlan and they went back to their old life. 

Later that morning, Duchess Flora invited her over for breakfast in the garden and Esme found Duke Maverick when she went there.

She greeted them by their respective titles. 

"Uncle," Duke Maverick said as he looked at her, "Call me Uncle," His eyes appeared sunken when he smiled warmly and it made him look scary with the dark patches on his face. 

"And call me Aunt. I had said it before," Duchess Flora smiled gently, "I would not take anything else from you as I have mentioned before."

Esme glanced at both of them quietly but the corner of her lips twitched at their words.

"Why are they...."