Esme's POV
I hissed, waking up again in the middle of the night, and my candle stick was inside its bowl.
"This is dogshit."
Returning home after that day, and thinking about everything I heard, it made my body weak and I concluded the offer couldn't bring happiness for me.
Firstly, the realization that I had been an orphan all along. It was harder to deal with and I couldn't replace the sadness with my incoming powerful 'servants'.
My head turned to my side, looking at Denim's empty plate. "She didn't come back last night, did she?"
Secondly, I lost my closest friend who had been lying to my face for almost six years.
Denim was the only one who listened completely, without saying anything back, even if for obvious reasons.
She always listened and showed support but I couldn't help but think for those years, she had been spying on me for her masters.
I turned to face the wall, coiling myself up. I had to get back up soon. Perhaps when the painting finally arrived, I'd feel better, as the samples the painter had shown promised great work.
Levine hadn't stopped by either so it could happen soon enough.
Anything good should happen before those possibly horned and dreadful looking brothers from hell find their way to my doorstep.
"They better be as obedient as Uncle said." I murmured, trying to recollect that bed time story.
I slipped back to sleep again, ignoring the rumblings of my stomach. But sleep didn't last long as I was in the kitchen the next hour, cursing and cooking.
"Uncle couldn't even leave some food for me. He has completely abandoned me, hasn't he?" As if those brothers would be able to feed me.
~~~
The painting turned out amazing. It arrived a week after my birthday and I left it stationed at the front door so every customer would see it.
Especially those ones that so worriedly asked my Uncle if he could enroll me in a beauty school so I would get a suitor. The first few that stopped by were stunned that they stared at it for ten seconds. I had counted.
Let me wait till Levine sees me looking like a proper lady! He'd take back the rude comments he ever made of me and stop calling me a battle angel. 'Angel' was fine.
"Esme! Is that you!" Our neighbour, the butcher's daughter, rushed to the counter after staring at the painting.
"Do I have a twin?" I flipped my hair. We both laughed at my statement. My mood had become better after a few days, though I evidently lost weight that my Uncle wouldn't stop talking about.
She handed me her written order. "So you do have it in you. The charm of a lady." She said, bringing back my attention to her. "My mother had been so worried but now, most young men stopping by would see another side of you."
I frowned at her words. Did she have to point it out so brazenly? It was as if I had motives for keeping it by the door. I did, but not for showing young men anything.
"Oh, and there's the gentleman by the door." she snickered, taking the bag she ordered, and leaning towards me. "He can't take his eyes off the painting."
She was ruining my excitement. Slowly, that painting felt like a different person, just like that dress had been on me. "I tried something new, that's all." I handed her cookies and took her coins.
She walked to the door, and gestured. "He's still there." She rushed out, blushing for my sake.
I rolled my eyes. "May his eyes melt out of his sockets."
The place became quiet after two more customers, but they always turned to the left, staring at someone. Could that 'gentleman' still be out there?
I decided to check. I shouldn't care much but it'd be creepy if I didn't know them.
Just as I walked away from the counter, the door opened. I rushed back, adjusting my apron.
"Hel—"
I froze.
My head angled higher, and my jaw dropped.
"Hello?" my voice was inaudible.
I wasn't obsessed with height differences, but… there were barely tall men in this village and being a little above the average height of a lady, foolish boys teased me.
My eyes stayed glued to the pillar of a man in front of me, mostly at his broad shoulders. He felt... familiar?
Expensive silver silk wrapping the narrow waist that joined his broad chest to his long legs.
I swallowed nothing, and questioned myself for that reaction.
Did my throat feel dry after travelling up and down his frame with my eyes?
Who was he?
Did I actually feel intimidated by this guy? Or did my throat get dry after travelling so far up and down his frame with my eyes?
"Uh… are you here for bread?" I might give it to him for free and hope to the Goddess he stays in my village for longer. "I can heat it up if you wan—"
"You."
"Huh?"
His voice had a taunting edge and was softer than I imagined, like a young man in his twenties; and not a seasoned warlord that returned to his hometown as I made up in my head. It also felt like he was reducing in height to be more visible to me, yet he still easily towered over my not-so-small frame.
"Sorry, I didn't get that—"
"I am here for you, my lady. If you offer bread, I'd gladly take it."
My heart was melting and I hadn't even seen his face yet. He would gladly take the bread I would give him? No sense of danger, I see.
Wait. From his neck upwards, I hadn't made sense of it. Something was off yet I felt no fear towards him. My head lowered as I switched off my fawning. Could it be a threat? Wrong bakery shop.
"You are not here to buy bread then?" It was more of a statement, "then what do you want?"
He was possibly a rich noble, and likely the one staring at my image. I might've pulled a charming noble with one painting, but it's an odd one so I'd pass. I might just do better.
Also, were those silver-plated nails on his hands instead of fingernails or claws? Was he human? Werewolf? Half-Beast Elf?
"Could I take you for a walk?"
"I am on duty," I deadpanned, walking away from the counter to send him off. "Why do you expect—"
TING…
I was by a school of fishes, around a lake. I blinked, feeling the bark of a tree against my back.
"What—! How did I get here…"
"Lady Esmeralda."
My head snapped to my back. He was here. I took in his full form, still unable to understand what his face looked like. He spoke with a mouth I couldn't see, and watched me closely with eyes I didn't know if he had. It was just a blank space when I tried thinking of his face.
"Why am I here? This is kidnapping. Did I tell you I wanted to come with you?"
These weren't the questions to ask, but I felt like I knew what those answers were.
"You walked to me after I asked."
"Yes, but you should wait for a direct answer, like a 'yes, sweep me off my feet, o stranger!' or 'no, I'm busy as you should be able to see if you had eyes but so far I see, you don't even have a face.' before taking me away!"
Why did I scold him? Why wasn't I rightfully terrified of this young man that could use magic, without chanting spells and seemed nothing like werewolves, humans or elves?
"My apologies, my lady. After our mating, I'd repay my haughtiness with my life if you will."
I nodded. I'd just accept that. What were my options anyway?
I walked towards him, till my ankle twisted as I forced myself to a halt.
"After the what?!"