Chapter 30: Possessed?

"Walk slowly. I don't have legs as long as yours," Esme mumbled when she couldn't catch up to him, her breaths coming in soft pants.

He paused, a charming smile made its way on his face as he glanced at her, "Shall I carry you?"

Her face flushed, ''I can walk," Why would she want to be carried by him?

''You don't look affected by what happened," His steps were as powerful as before but his pace slowed down.

"I expected that from you," She lowered her head. For whatever reason, she was not that scared like before. Maybe because after hearing about him from everyone, she was getting used to what was laid before her eyes, or maybe because she knew how inhumane he was that she was unfazed.

"I assume you like everything about me."

Her footsteps came to a halt as she glanced at him confusingly, "What?" As it settled on her, her eyes widened, "My lord likes to assume a lot. When the Princess started acting that way, defying your decisions, I knew you would not spare her. You like to hold grudges.''

''Oh no, I don't," He leaned closer to her.

"You do.''

"Isn't it better to end the person before any grudge is mentioned?"

She pursed her lips, knowing that he meant it while a lazy smile drawled on his face.

"I did hold a grudge against her for she called you ugly," said the man while she blinked in confusion, "She is dead. So does the grudge.''

"Because she called me ugly?" Esme blankly stared at the man, ''Why does it matters when you call me ugly most of the time?" A person's thought process was always deciphered by their face or their words or by their expressions and she had been looking at him for a few days already but what went on in his mind was still a mystery to her.

Only then did she notice their intertwined fingers. She tried to pull it back but the man's hold on her was firm as he pulled her into his room and dragged her towards the huge mirror on the wall.

''You take my words way too seriously," He helped her on the exquisite wooden chair and placed his palms on her shoulder, "What makes you think that you are ugly?"

"People say countless things, they have countless opinions and none of them matter to me," Esme murmured, "I won't find myself ugly just because someone said it," She glanced at their reflection in the mirror, he was standing right beside her.

Aleister smiled, "I would not accept anything less from you," Satisfied, he tugged at her veil which fell onto her lap, revealing her face. She was a sight that had his heart skip a beat since the first time he laid his eyes on her and he was not in denial about that. He gently removed the ugly hairpiece, freeing her long dark rough hair that she had forcefully dyed to disguise herself. His fingers ran through her tresses as they returned their natural wine shade, flowing like silk straight down her back.

Esme felt a shiver running in her body at his soft touch. Her lips parted slightly but she closed her mouth. She slowly placed a palm where her heart was beating wildly, something that had her wonder whether it was not working properly anymore because of her strange powers. It would start beating faster than galloping horses at any given time without any warning.

She glanced in awe as her hair turned back to its natural shade. She thought she would have to wash it for hours after using that paste made out of herbs and flowers.

''Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" He whispered, looking at her reflection.

Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met and she quickly stood up, "No, you haven't. You said that I was the ugliest creature when we met back in the dungeon."

"You are holding grudges, my dear moon," He tucked the loose strands of her behind her ear, his eyes narrowing when she took a step back.

"No, I am not. On the contrary, I think…" She licked her bottom lips, those plump and inviting lips had his whole attention on them while she continued, "I think there is something wrong with you today."

"What do you think is wrong with me?" He grabbed her hand, playing with her delicately slender fingers.

Her hand trembled slightly, "You…" She pulled her hand back only to be tugged towards him as the distance between them lessened, ''I don't know what's wrong with you. Can I see her?"

"Sure. Let's go there now.''

"You…are coming with me?" She glanced at him, a bit conflicted.

"Or you can walk around the castle with a lantern in your hand like a little thief? What do you think?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Instead of being offended, she was relieved that he was back to his own self. Earlier when he said that he killed that Princess because the woman was badmouthing her and then he called her beautiful, she was bewildered.

"I-I…I have some work. I will finish it first and then come back," Her heart raced a bit faster under his intense gaze.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards himself, a thread of distance lingered between them as her palm settled on his back before she could fall.

Her eyes widened, "What are you doing?!" She glanced at him in disbelief. Was he possessed today?