The moonlight illuminated the faint blue shade in Emerald's eyes, and Zephyr saw it. Fear, cold and sharp, flashed across his face. He didn't utter another word. Zephyr felt a profound change in the boy before him—a chilling calm anger projected with a warm smile, an unsettling symptom of something deeply psychopathic.
"Can we talk elaborately somewhere else?" Zephyr asked, creating a sudden cliff-hanger before Emerald could speak.
"Of course we can. I already ate with Eva, so dinner won't be a problem," Emerald replied, his words slightly misaligned with Zephyr's request. Zephyr instinctively sharpened his guard, but Emerald suddenly laughed, a chilling, maniacal sound that echoed in the silent garden. Stopping abruptly, he said, "The blood on your hands must be cleansed properly, brother."
The speech was utterly unexpected. Zephyr didn't hesitate to escalate. "Why are you even alive?" he asked, directly.
"Why am I alive? Because I am," Emerald laughed, the aura around him now distinctly unfriendly.
"What happened to the assassins three days ago?" Zephyr accepted the reality of his rival.
"Three days ago, you say? Well, I ate them. The Lascrean brat tasted awful, but a man's appetite cannot be gauged solely on taste, ain't that right, ma prince?" Zinan's period drama channeled through Emerald was utterly captivating and disarming.
Zephyr held his composure, unable to offer an immediate response. "Do you have any idea why you're here?"
"Of course I know. I'm here for the uprising event, a competitor to face the original brat. As you may have seen me, I'm not the best for the future, but I do have my pride to put forward, and I will not disappoint."
Zephyr was now overwhelmed. "To know that much... such a trustful relationship with my sister... this isn't normal." He realized the conversation was dangerously escalating and desperately needed an interruption, a third party to break the tension.
"Why does my sister trust you so much? She brought three other humans like you for the event, but you're the first to ever get a binding vow. What's so special?"
"Don't know. Maybe she likes me. Maybe I'm the real deal."
"You don't know that. You play around like you know everything. You don't even care about the aftermath of the event," Zephyr blasted.
"Maybe you're right. But even so, I care about her existence—more than you could ever think about. And for the event, I have already given you my promise, Prince. I will not fail."
A soft, approaching footstep on the brick-paved path broke the silence. The conversation instantly halted. Genna appeared out of the blue. "What are you guys going on about?"
"Oh, just getting to know him, sister. Nothing particular," Zephyr answered politely. Emerald watched.
"Dad will be really mad if you don't show up for dinner on time. I don't need to warn you, brat," Genna said, having been sent to call them. Zephyr bowed and headed for the dining hall. Genna looked at Emerald, who was staring at her chest. "Wanna grab it, boy?" she asked. Emerald offered no reaction.
She stepped in and snapped her fingers. Emerald turned around, the blue shade gone from his eyes. He looked like his calm, usual self. "Madam Genna, you," he addressed her.
"You good, kid? What did my brother tell you?" she asked, a noticeable worry etched on her pale face.
"Nothing. He just asked something naughty, that's all, and I got lost in thought," Emerald replied, his shyness returning.
"Ah, boy, dinner..." Genna said, returning to her sarcastic humor. Emerald nodded and tagged along with her to the dining hall.
Her family had already started eating. The Queen's table manners were flawless, but what struck Emerald was the inclusion of chefs and palace workers, all maintaining their composure. The King ate calmly, like a cat with its bread, abandoning all royal airs in this communal setting. No one spoke; the meal was conducted in silence. After dessert, everyone began leaving, offering regards and good nights as they vanished, which Emerald found abnormal.
Emerald was merely picking at his steak, unable to eat since he had already dined with Eva. "Oh, come on, brat, just finish it already," Genna said, wiping away her dessert crumbs.
Emerald looked at her, gave a pleasant smile, and pushed a piece of steak into his mouth. "Drop the act, just say it," Genna said, recognizing his behavior.
After taking his time to chew, he muttered, "I already ate at Eva's. I was a little bit hungry after waking up, and I met her in town, and I... had... a little..." He kept his face down.
"That girl! What is she thinking—and how much is 'a little'? From the look of it, I think you had a full course meal!" Her tone was steeped in jealousy.
"Well... you can... say... that," Emerald slowly stuttered.
"Anyway, eat what's on your plate. You can't waste food," she said, to his relief.
"I didn't know other family elders ate at the palace," Emerald continued the chatter.
"They don't."
"Then what were Caztel and others doing at the table? Bathing, I guess?" Emerald's joke didn't land.
"Oh, that. Caztel is my uncle, Father's older brother. The others were castle staff. Unlike humans, we don't have discrimination or racism here; we all eat together."
"That's cool. So does that mean the couples we met in Siberia are your cousins?" Genna simply nodded. Emerald began forcing himself to eat the food.
"Sir Emerald, your request has been fulfilled," a young woman from the staff notified him in the hall.
"What's the request, boy?" Genna asked.
"It's nothing. I asked her about getting a couch in the room, that's it," Emerald said.
"A couch? What's that for, boy?"
"What do you think? To sleep, ma'am."
"Don't tell me you're not going to sleep with me."
"Of course not. Not in my right mind would I ever sleep with you."
"But why did she address you as 'Sir'?"
"I asked her to call me Emerald, but she said adding 'Sir' would be good. And I think it's better than the 'Lord' shit. Anyway, why do they call me a Lord? I'm not even a noble guy." Emerald's mind was racing for answers.
"It's nothing. You don't need to worry about that," she brushed it off.
Later, lying on the couch in her room, Emerald saw Genna give him an evil smile. "What are you doing over there? Not gonna take a bath?" The atmosphere seemed perfect for her teasing.
"No, I'm going to sleep over here," Emerald hammered down her advances, knowing they were just jokes.
It didn't take long for Emerald to fall into a deep sleep. As the night went on, he felt an uneasiness around his ear and neck, a sensation of breathing or wind. He shifted, but the intrusive feeling persisted. His brain, processed the perversion in his sleep. Without wasting time, he pulled himself awake. He looked around. He knew the reason, but he couldn't bring himself to confront the culprit, who was feigning sleep. Emerald got up and went outside for a walk. Three days of solid sleep meant he didn't need any more for the night.
Genna peeked through the pillow she was hugging as Emerald closed the door. She relaxed, taking a moment away from the pretense of sleep. She gazed at the ceiling, and slowly, a laugh started—a clumsy sound at first, but it quickly escalated. It wasn't Genna's laugh; it felt like the cry of a conqueror who had won a battle.
(To be continued)