Esme glanced at him. ''''Why do you think my brother came here?"

    "He came here to look for you all and to take you back with him. Have you turned slow, my dear moon?" He knocked his finger on her forehead.

    She rubbed her forehead and glared at him, ''''Your finger is not delicate. Don''t do this again.''''

    Aleister raised an eyebrow as he extended his hand towards her face before stroking the spot he just flicked, ''''It can be delicate to you if you ask.''''

    Esme blinked. Once twice and then a soft blush crept up her cheeks as she averted her gaze from his face.

    The corner of his lips tugged up, ''''What did you think of?" Aleister asked her calmly as he tilted his head to the side to get a proper look at her reddening face.

    ''''I was thinking that I am not slow. I know why my brother was here. But why did he stay at the magistrate''s place in disguise? And when did he become his friend? And...'''' Esme grabbed his palm and moved his hand away from her face while talking. His hand felt good to hold. She thought. Rough but warm.

    As she looked at his hand carefully, he asked, ''''And?"

    Esme blinked and she looked at his face. ''''And... for someone who handed the throne to Duke Elias, why is he interfering in the matters of Visteria?" She asked as she loosened her grip on his palm.

    Just as she was about to take her hand back to her side, he caught hold of her wrist, ''''We can leave them for your brother to answer. How about you tell me about something else?" He leaned back on the table.

    ''''I am more clueless about everything and you give me the answers every time,'''' Esme looked at him, ''''What do you want to know from me?"

    ''''What I want to know...'''' He paused and leaned closer to her before whispering, ''''...can only be answered by you.''''

    His deep voice beside her ear made a small jolt shrill through her body and her breathing hitched, "What do you think of me?" he asked as he pulled back from her to look at her face.

    ''''You are not as bad as I used to think,'''' she said without backing out from his gaze despite wanting to.

    ''''And?"

    ''''You are a good accomplice,'''' She blinked.

    ''''And?"

    ''''I don''t understand you at times but we can be good friends-''''

    ''''That''s not what I want to hear. I don''t mind being bad as long you get a little more honest, my dear moon,'''' She felt his grip on her wrist loosening. His fingers trailed down to her palm and her palm trembled, ''''Do you think you are a little too responsive for someone who has nothing in her heart for me?"

    Esme looked down before looking back into his eyes. She opened her mouth before closing it, ''''I don''t know how to say it,'''' she said after some time while letting out a defeated sigh.

    The corner of his lips tugged up, ''''We have all the time in the world to listen to the little thoughts running in your mind."

    Esme sighed again, ''''What is it like to have something for someone in your heart? In my heart, I have a few things. I want my Aunt to be happy, Arlan to be found, and I want to eat...'''' She stopped speaking when the sound of his masculine laughter echoed in the room. ''''What''s there to laugh about?" she blinked.

    ''''Did I not feed you well, Esme?" He stopped laughing and glanced at her.

    She shook her head, ''''It is not like that. I am just.... fond of eating,'''' She awkwardly said as she lowered her head.

    ''''And I am fond of seeing you eat,'''' He whispered.

    Her head snapped up and she glanced at him before speaking hurriedly ''''Do you think we should sleep...?" Her brows tugged together and her face reddened slightly, ''''I-It''s late at night. I want to sleep. I can''t keep my eyes open anymore,'''' She quickly walked towards the bed and climbed on it before covering herself in the sheets.

    Soon after, she heard the sounds of retreating footsteps and she slowly lowered the sheets before looking towards the closed door of the room.

    Where did he go?

    She sneakily sat up on the bed and glanced at the door for a few seconds before looking at herself. Her gown, the corset, everything was making her breathless but she would have slept in it if he did not stop asking her...

    Her face felt hot and she quickly picked up a white nightdress and rushed to the bath to change into it.

    The next morning, Esme was invited for breakfast by Duchess Flora but she politely rejected it and said that she was going to church.

    But when in truth, she wanted to visit her Aunt, ''''You don''t need to accompany me there,'''' She said to Aleister.

    Aleister raised an eyebrow, ''''Are you certain?"

    ''''I am not a child,'''' Esme shook her head, ''''A carriage will do. Not the royal ones,'''' Going there in the royal carriage will get people''s attention.

    He nodded.

    ''''Where is Leo?" She was surprised that he agreed easily but it was a good thing. Lately, he was getting on her nerves. ''''I don''t see him around lately.''''

    ''''He is fond of staying in the forest,'''' The poor Leo, who was just about to jump inside the room from the window, fell backward when he heard that.

    There has to be a limit. His Master is unreasonable as he never receives pats from this human girl, unlike him. He seemed to be in thought as he cowered behind the bushes rather unwillingly.

    Esme went to the outskirts of Capital City where her Aunt was living. As she glanced at the plain-looking house, her thought wandered back to the last time they were here.

    She left when her Aunt mentioned her mother and things looked bitter between them.

    Esme inhaled a deep breath before walking towards the door.

    She knocked on it twice before stepping back from it when she heard the sounds of approaching footsteps.