Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 152: Looking at the past

’’I don’t know so I’d like to know it from you. What changed your mind?" He asked.

Esme stopped walking as she was stood one step behind him. She took one step closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, ’’You did.’’

As he moved, she tightened her grip on him and pressed her face on his back, ’’I chose you above everything else so you are not allowed to leave me alone. Not now. Not ever.’’

A deep chuckle resounded in the room. Aleister placed his palm on her hands which were tightly wrapped around his waist, ’’Shall I count this as a confession? Are you finally giving in to my words and confessing that you are mine?"

Esme quickly removed her hand from his waist, ’’I am mine. Why would I be yours?" She cleared her throat, ’’What confession are you talking about? I was just touched because you have been like a benefactor to me. Now that I am asking you to keep me here with you, clothe me, feed me, then I should at least show my sincerity.... cough.’’

Aleister turned around. The gloomy air around him was long replaced by a mischievous spark, ’’Showing your sincerity by hugging and kissing me? Esme, I never realized that you were into that...’’ his nose scrunched slightly.

Esme’s lips parted in disbelief, ’’Into... Into what? What are you talking about?"

’’You...’’ Aleister glanced at her accusingly, ’’Feed you, clothe you, and get your hugs in return. Do you want to be my mistress? Esme, I am telling you, I am not that kind of man.’’

’’Aleister!’’ Esme stomped on his foot, exasperated by his words, ’’That was disrespectful,’’ she said, taking her bottom lips between her teeth.

His eyes followed her small movement and his gaze settled on her lips for a few seconds before he looked back into her eyes, ’’I apologize, Princess. I can’t help it when you keep giving me mixed signals. You need to be vocal if you want me to understand what you want.’’

’’Hmm,’’ Esme seemed to be contemplating over it, ’’Then, will you give me whatever I want?" She asked him after some thought.

’’Try me.’’

’’Let’s go somewhere peaceful. We can talk there,’’ Esme suggested.

’’As you wish,’’ Aleister extended his hand towards her.

Esme placed her hand in his without any hesitation.

He pulled her closer to him and their surroundings started changing.

Esme closed her eyes and the next time when she opened them, she found herself staring at the vast stretch of sea.

As the cold wind hit her body, Esme rubbed her palms on her hand.

She was still wearing that black suit from earlier which made her look like an assassin. It was convenient to wear beneath the gown because the material was thin.

Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her body. She tilted her face to the side and glanced at Aleister from above her shoulders as he placed his coat on her shoulders, ’’Thank you,’’ Esme smiled before inhaling a deep breath.

The air near the sea seemed to have some magic in it as it calmed her nerves.

It was strange how she dreaded the sight of the sea but when he was there with her, this place felt sacred. She did not have to fear that anything will happen to her, or that she will end up drowning.

’’What is it that you want?" Aleister asked as he came to stand beside her.

’’Tell me about yourself. Everything,’’ Esme took a brief pause as she stepped forward and turned around to face him, ’’It’s not curiosity this time. I want to know you, I want to know everything about you. Tell me how you were as a child. Were you mischievous and wilful or were you cold and aloof?"

Aleister looked into her eyes which seemed to be glowing under the moonlight as she spoke.

’’I want to know what was your favorite game, who were your closest friends, and was there any girl you liked to play with...?" Her brows tugged together and she paused at the thought.

Aleister laughed, ’’Are you jealous?" he tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

Esme coughed twice, ’’And your favorite food too. What did you like to eat? Tell me how you met Leo and how did he accept you as his Master? From what I see, he is a proud creature who detests humans,’’ Even she was detested by Leo for a period. If she had not bribed him with her constant pats then it would not have been possible for him to warm up to her, ’’And seven years ago, why did you go to Nevesray?"

’’You have a lot of questions. What if I don’t feel like answering them?’’ Aleister raised an eyebrow.

Esme’s shoulder slumped, ’’You promised that you will give me whatever I want.’’

’’That’s because I expected you to say something like ’You are all that I want’.’’

Esme could not help but roll her eyes.

’’Back then....’’ Aleister looked at the stars for a moment before he turned around and glanced at Esme, ’’Why don’t you see it for yourself?" he extended his hand towards her.

’’Hmm?" Esme stepped towards him, ’’See what?" she glanced at his hand for a moment before taking it.

Her surroundings started changing and she looked into Aleister’s eyes. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes which she rarely saw.

Earlier, she overheard his conversation with the King. Was it related to his childhood? Just what happened back then? Was Aleister always this merciless... Was he always that emotionless that he won’t spare a second glance at his sick father?

Or was there something more to what was visible to the eyes?

Esme wanted to get to the bottom of the truth.

She wanted to know it.

With that determination in mind, she closed her eyes.

The next time when she opened her eyes, she was no longer standing near the sea.

Esme was back in the Castle and she was now standing in front of Aleister’s room.

’’Al...’’ she hurriedly looked around. This man... Did he trick her again?

Her lips thinned. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

’’Ah, he is there. Can you go inside instead?"

’’No, I won’t go there.’’

Esme snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the two maids whispering to each other. They were holding food trays in their hands.

Wasn’t this the usual reaction of the maids who came to Aleister’s room?

She was speechless. Was he inside his room?

’How could he trick me? He looked so serious that I thought he gave in to me and he will tell me the truth but look at him... I should not have trusted him at all,’ Esme thought to herself and stepped out of the pillar before walking towards the maids, ’’Is the Prince inside his room?’’ she asked them but there was no response from them.

Esme blinked. Was she just treated as air?

Although people used to underestimate her status in this castle earlier but after Aleister’s warning, things have changed and even the ministers in the court seem to be discussing less about her after the Norwell Family incident.

So why were these two maids blatantly ignoring her?

Esme was about to say something but she paused when the woman spoke up once again.

’’But I told you I don’t want to go inside. He is.... a cursed child. Three lives were lost the moment he was born and have you ever seen how he looks? I have heard he is ugly.... his face has garish holes and his body is wholly black, filled with burns.’’

’’I... You are scaring me,’’ the other maid whispered, ’’I have a family. What if something happens to them if I come in contact with the Prince...?"

Prince? Esme frowned. Aleister was the sole Prince of Visteria. Which Prince are they talking about?

’Why don’t you see it yourself?’ Aleister’s words rang in her mind and a realization dawned on Esme. Was she...

She slowly stepped forward and stood in front of the maids before waving her hand but it seemed like they could not see her at all.

Esme’s lips parted and she looked around the Castle. Although everything was almost the same, but the Castle looked slightly different. A child. The Prince.

Am I looking at the past?

As Esme concluded, she could not help but inhale a deep breath.

’’Prince... More like a monster. He is a curse, not only to us but also to his own family. What sin did our Kingdom commit that our throne has a successor like this?"

’’Don’t you know that the King is training other successors for the throne? Why would he make this person the next King..?’’

’’Ssshh... Let’s not discuss it. What if someone hears us? Let’s leave the food here. He can come out and take it when he is hungry.’’

’’But he hasn’t taken these and I have heard that he is sick...’’ the woman pointed her finger towards the food trays on the floor.

Esme followed her gaze and looked at the food trays which have attracted flies after being kept in open for so long. Her fingers curled into a fist.