Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 238: Shy

Atlas shook his head, ’’That girl is not ordinary. She is his daughter. He will wake up from his grave to get your head,’’ the man sighed.

Aleister’s frown turned deeper, understanding it well that he was talking about ’Esme’ when he said ’that girl’.

’’Stop looking at me like I am losing my sanity, will you?" Atlas walked towards the window, ’’Go to her when you want but meet the court members before you leave. As noisy as they are, they will feed themselves with my head if you disappear just like that. Come back with her. The thought of a daughter and tiny children playing in this castle is much more enticing than just having a brooding son around.’’

Aleister glanced at the man’s back doubtfully, wondering if he was playing some tricks, ’’Whose daughter is she?" he asked the question that was lingering in his head.

’’What are you going to do by yourself there if I give you all the answers?" Atlas glared at the man, ’’Now, get out of my sight. Your impudent face is nowhere as similar to your mother’s. She was like a delicate flower, a breath of fresh air. And you are... more of a scoundrel like me.’’

Aleister’s lips twitched, and his jaws clenched as he turned around to leave.

But his footsteps slowed down near the door. He looked at the man from above his shoulder, ’’While I am gone, look for a way to break the curse on Cardan. I don’t want him to be Marilyn’s puppet any longer.’’

’’It’s an ancient curse, son. She is not an ordinary witch,’’ Atlas stopped talking under Aleister’s stubborn stare, ’’I will see what we can do,’’ It was not that he had not tried to break the curse in all these years.

And while Aleister did not like to talk about it, Atlas knew there was the curse Marilyn had placed on him when he was in Adeline’s womb. It made him powerless in her presence.

When he discovered it, he had wanted to annihilate that woman and all her ancestors but with her gone, there would be no way to break the spells she had cast on his sons.

And if she died, Cardan will start losing his breath eventually. That selfish woman had tied her own flesh’s life with hers because she was afraid she would be killed the moment he discovered every sin she committed.

And it was true. If not for Cardan, he would have destroyed Marilyn’s soul for what she did.

"And...’’ Aleister spoke up again, breaking the trail of Atlas’s thoughts, ’’Learn to laugh and talk more. I don’t want my children to be around a sulking brooding old man,’’ With that said, he left the room without turning back, leaving Atlas with a wide smile on his face.

’’I don’t look old at all. I barely look like you elder brother,’’ Atlas harrumphed, ’’Being an immortal does that to us.’’

Once the sound of retreating footsteps faded, Atlas looked at the sky, eyes sparkling as he glanced at the biggest star, ’’He talks like me, harsh and bitter but he thinks like you, so compassionate. He looks like both of us. You would have never let him out of your sight if you were here and I would have...’’ he wiped the tears that rolled down his eyes without a warning, ’’The world lacks color without you, my love. But this long life is not as bland as it used to be. Everything is coming together.’’

The man whispered as he walked towards the bed, ’’Everything is coming together, Adeline. Just like you would have liked it.’’

*Flashback ends*

"I. don’t. agree. to. this,’’ Esme said through gritted teeth.

’’Why not?" Rezeph shifted on his throne, ’’He is my first and only disciple. I took him in when he was a young boy and now that he is here to see me after years, I want him to stay here and spend some time with me.’’

’’He can stay but I am not going to be his nanny,’’ Esme tilted her chin, ignoring Luciana’s comforting back pats.

’’Nobody told you to. You just have to take care of my guest, precious,’’ Rezeph sighed, looking like he was having a hard time dealing with Esme as usual, ’’Just show him around and be hospitable to him. What do you think will people think about our Kingdom given the way you are behaving?"

Esme glanced at the man who was calmly sitting on one of the huge golden chairs right below the stairs that led up to the King’s throne.

The sea court was empty with none of the ministers or other members in sight.

Only four people remained in the place. If one included Leo, then five. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

But Esme excluded the traitor who was lurking around Aleister like that man was the person who showered him with love and affection.

’’I. am. not. doing. it,’’ If she ignored the strange flutter in her chest when she stepped inside the court and found this man sitting here, then all she felt was absolute annoyance looking at his cocky face that will put angels and the devil to shame, ’’He wants to see our Kingdom. There are maids for that,’’ she continued.

Rezeph rubbed his forehead, soothing his headache, "My disciple is shy. I trust him with you only. He believes that his beauty might make people have other intentions for him so he cannot trust anyone.’’

Both Esme and Luciana turned to look at the said ’shy man’ who coyly smiled in response.

Esme: "...’’

Where was this shyness when he pinned me to the wall and...?

Esme inhaled a deep breath, ’’In heaven, I have seen maids preparing his bath. I don’t think he will mind people showing him around here.’’

’’I see you are familiar with each other,’’ Rezeph raised a brow.

’’Just crossed paths because it was his blessing ceremony,’’ Esme mumbled.

’’But I am certain his blessing ceremony did not inform you about how his bath is prepared,’’ Rezeph’s eyes bore holes in her head.

Before Esme could explain, the man continued speaking, ’’But it is not bad that you are familiar with each other. You wanted to meet new people and make new friends other than Luciana so here is the opportunity.’’

"..." At this moment, Esme realized what it felt like to put an ax on her own foot.

Esme turned to look at Luciana who was glaring at her like she was betrayed so badly that she wanted to cry.

’’He... is shy,’’ Esme spoke through her forced smile, ’’He won’t like that. I don’t think it’s good for us to do that to his shy self.’’

’’Hmm?’’ Rezeph turned to look at Aleister who had picked Leo to his lap, ’’Is it?"

’’I adore making friends,’’ Aleister smiled.

That smile might have looked heart-melting and innocent to others.

But all Esme saw was slyness.

This scoundrel.

Why was he here in the first place?

He did not belong here.

’’Now, we are good,’’ Rezeph glanced at Esme, ’’Take care of him, you both,’’ he said to her and Luciana before he pushed himself to his feet.

As he left the courtroom, all that was left behind was a stiff Luciana, an ’enjoying master’s pats’ beast, a coy Aleister, and a seething Esme.