Ensnaring His Dark Moon

The door opened and Marlene tilted her head, ''Esme...'' Her eyes visibly lit up as she glanced at her niece.

Esme felt guilty in her heart, ''I should not have left like that the last time,'' She hugged the woman. 

Marlene did not say anything and she pulled back from her before looking behind, ''Is he here?' She whispered. 

Knowing that from 'he' she meant Aleister, Esme shook her head. 

''That's good,'' Marlene said as she led her inside. 

Esme blinked. 

"How are you feeling now?" Esme asked, recalling that Aleister had arranged some of the royal physicians to take care of her. 

''I don't feel as weak as before,'' Despite having her usual pallor, there was a hint of rosiness on Marlene's face. 

Esme glanced at her. 

''When I think about it, I am grateful for everything he has done for us,'' Marlene said as they walked towards her room, ''He has assigned a cook here and there are servants too. We owe him too much.'' 

Esme nodded, ''He has done a lot,'' She smiled.

Looking at her niece's expressions, Marlene could sense that things have changed between her and the Prince. The previous time, despite claiming to be in love, there was something different about the way Esme treated him, ''Esme…'' She called out. 

Esme glanced at her. 

''I am not against you both…'' Marlene held her hand as she stroked it gently, ''But… I don't want you to be with him.''

Esme's brows furrowed slightly. 

''He is the Prince. No matter what he is doing for me or you, it is because he has affections for you at the moment. A few days later, we will not know if he has the same affections for some other woman. At that time, you would not be able to do anything neither will you be able to bear it. I don't want you to go through it,'' Marlene gently said, the fierceness that she once used to possess in her eyes had faded through the years and now she was as tranquil as water, ''It has been a long time since we came here. Arlan… is not found. You don't have to raise the stakes of finding him by placing yourself as the bet. ''

''I understand, Aunt,'' Esme interrupted her as she lowered her head, ''Arlan will be found soon.''

''I got a letter from the Prince's man that Arlan is alright and he will be found,'' Marlene said. 

Esme tilted her head to look at her, ''He sent a letter?" As Marlene nodded, Esme turned around before she placed her head on Marlene's lap and closed her eyes, ''I have something to tell you.'' 

"What is it?'' Marlene stroked her hair as she looked at Esme's face. Compared to how fragile she looked before, her cheeks looked fuller. 

''Elder Brother is alive, the King is dead, Duke Elias is the King at the moment and….'' Esme paused before speaking in a soft mumbling voice, ''Aunt has to accept him if he courts her…'' The hand on her head stopped stroking her hair and Esme opened one of her eyes cautiously to look at Marlene.

''A-Are you speaking the truth..?" Marlene mumbled in a daze. 

Esme blinked, ''Did I shock you?'' She tried to say it as lightly as she could. 

Marlene's eyes welled up with tears. 

''Don't cry. Everything is good now,'' She stroked her back, ''I met my brother in the Castle. He was in disguise but over time, I found him familiar. Yesterday, he admitted to it as well.'' 

Marlene closed her eyes before she spoke, ''H-How about him?" 

"The King is dead. He had imprisoned brother for five years for some reason and Duke Elias saved him,'' Esme had her doubts in this matter. Her brother's powers were now at its peak. She had seen the purple glow around him and it was the highest level of power a royal can have. Then, why did he let himself be tortured? 

It took some time for Marlene to calm down and even if her heart was in chaos, she did not show it on her face and Esme said, ''Aunt, can I ask something?" 

Marlene glanced at her, ''What do you want to ask?" She asked. 

''You won't be angry?" She asked, ''It's about… my mother.'' 

Marlene frowned. 

Esme grabbed her hand, "I was young when she left. I don't remember her face properly. But I want to know why you detest her like this? You say that my father was the one who took advantage of her and she left the Kingdom for a man but who is he?" 

''I don't know who your father is.'' 

''How could you not…? Arlan is four years younger than me…'' Esme frowned, ''If he wanted to take advantage of her, why would she give birth to his children?"

Marlene closed her eyes, "Esme, it is time that you should know something.'' 

Esme straightened up when she saw the solemn look on her face. 

… 

''You don't have to stay there. Come back to me. We will find some other way…''

Esme smiled weakly, ''I will see what to do,'' She whispered and turned around.

Marlene stood near the door as she watched Esme walking towards the ordinary carriage with a listless look on her face. Her heart ached but she knew she did nothing wrong. Esme had to know the truth one day. 

As Esme walked towards the carriage, she held her gown in her hand and was about to step up when her gaze landed on the hand outstretched in front of her. 

She slowly looked up. 

Aleister raised an eyebrow, ''Take my hand, will you?" 

Her tightly knotted brows loosened up and Esme slowly placed her hand in his, the corner of her lips tugged up, ''I thought you had work.'' 

He pulled her up gently inside the carriage and she took a seat beside him. 

"You were not expecting to see me?" He asked. 

Esme shook her head and tried to pull her hand out of his grip.