Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 217: Manipulation

Luciana said to Esme as soon As the maids left after escorting them back to their room, Luciana turned to look at Esme, "You tricked everyone,’’ she said.

Esme placed the trident back in her trunk before she glanced at the sleeping Leo, ’’What are you talking about?"

’’You know what I am talking about,’’ Luciana crossed her arms in front of her chest.

The first day of the blessing ceremony was peacefully over, despite a little chaos in the beginning.

Luciana was worried about Adrian causing a ruckus after seeing Esme’s face but surprisingly, he left with Ruby without trying to talk to his sister.

While Esme had lost her memories, Luciana was certain that it was not the case with Adrian given how he looked at his sister.

But regardless, just like her, both Ruby and Adrian must be shocked by Aleister’s presence in heaven. And without knowing what was going on, they must have tried to not act on impulse.

But that was not what she was bothered about.

’’Oh, I don’t know. Do tell me,’’ Esme calmly turned around to look at her as she started braiding her long hair.

’’You kept claiming that you don’t know what powers you possess and how to use them,’’ Luciana said, ’’But the way you handled the situation back in the night court, I can say that it was not some miracle nor was it your first time controlling your powers.’’

’’So?"

’’If you were not pushed to do this today, you would have kept hiding it.’’

’’Yes. But so what?" Esme glanced at Luciana coldly, even though the anger in her heart was not directed at Luciana but at her circumstances, ’’You all kept telling me that I was a soft-spoken, shy girl before I lost my memories, you all built a web of lies to fool me, you all watched me struggling while I tried to hold my tongue to fit in the character you left for me in my mind, I started having clashes with my personality and at some point, I felt like I am losing my mind in an attempt to remember my past. I felt like I was losing my sanity. Now, Luciana Norwell, do you see me getting offended by any of it?"

Luciana’s lips parted.

’’No, right?" Esme smiled, ’’I did what I was told to. I acted accordingly. But I am no fool. Why did you expect me to lay all my cards on table for any of you when I don’t even remember who you people are?"

Luciana raised a brow.

’’I am touched by the kindness that you all have shown me but I feel like amongst all your other lies, the person you described me as was another huge lie,’’ Esme said softly as she tied the tip of her braid with a few strands of her hair, ’’I am no soft-spoken doll, Lucy. You all thought you were manipulating me. But all along, I was manipulating you by letting you believe that you are manipulating me.’’

Esme did not bother to sugarcoat her words. It was true that Luciana was a friend to her.

But since the first day she opened her eyes with a blank mind and no recollection of the past, she knew the only thing she could trust unconditionally was her instinct.

Her dreams, the voices ringing in her mind, and the blurry glimpses of what she believed was her past were all her weaknesses. She hid them well from everyone.

Her ability to heal, her ability to hear things from a distance, and all her powers were her strength. She hid them too.

They thought they were playing her but she was letting them play.

Having no memories was a vulnerability in itself. While she was secretly gaining control over her powers, she pretended to be weak to have her strength as leverage against them in case any of them turned out to be an enemy.

She did not want any danger to befall her before she got stronger.

If she was not cornered into this situation today, then she would not have bothered to reveal herself now.

Back in the night court, the moment Esme stood up and walked away from Luciana, she knew she was going to lose this friendship.

Luciana has been genuine to her but the secrets between them were bound to strain their friendship one day.

She did not see any point in sugarcoating her words now no matter how much she wanted to.

It was the truth. She was lied to by all of them. And she lied to all of them.

It was only fair from her perspective.

But she knew she would not be forgiven by Luciana for this given her quick temper. As upsetting as it was, she knew there was no going back now.

Esme glanced at Luciana who was looking at her quietly. The woman was unable to hide the disbelief on her face.

’’I know you won’t forgive me for it but... I didn’t trust anyone back then no matter how much I lied to myself and others,’’ Esme closed her eyes, waiting for Luciana to lose her temper and walk out on her.

After all, given how Luciana was, it would be surprising if she did not attack her for this sort of betrayal.

But much to her surprise, Luciana gasped.

Esme peeked at her.

’’Es! You...’’ Luciana laughed, ’’I can’t believe it.’’

She pounced on Esme, throwing her back onto the bed.

’’You said you are interested in beautiful men only,’’ Esme said, struggling to breathe.

Looking at Luciana’s face, it seemed like their friendship was going to run longer than she expected.

’’You should have seen how heroic you looked,’’ Luciana rolled off Esme’s body while laughing, ’’I don’t mind you instead of beautiful men,’’ she glanced at her lecherously.

Esme made a disgusting face at her.

Luciana laughed harder, ’’You don’t know how relieved I am,’’ she laughed so hard till tears pooled in her eyes.

Luciana started sobbing, surprising Esme.