Ensnaring His Dark Moon

''What happened then?" Aleister thought about her younger self. Somewhere, she lacked the cheerfulness that children usually have. The Esme from back then resembled the Esme in present; mature, calm and sensible.

''When such thoughts kept bothering me, I tried to keep a distance from the children of my age who approached me. I didn't know how to do it properly and so I appeared cold and harsh and they did not know how to cross the walls that I had built around my heart so rumours went around that the….'' Esme paused as she raised her head. After confirming that no one was around, she continued speaking, ''…that the Princess of Nevesray was arrogant and conceited. And with that, I was approached by people superficially, just because they feared my title. Over the time, I truly lost interest in getting to know people and only stayed with my brothers most of the time.''

Aleister frowned. In his memories, her younger self reminded him of a small furry animal, a little wounded and little fierce but once stroked, it will turn very docile. Back then, if not for the matters at hand, he would have followed after her.

Unaware to his thoughts, Esme spoke up once again, ''And you… are not how the rumours make you out to be.''

''You mean I am not scary?"

Esme smiled slightly, ''To me, you are not.''

He chuckled, ''Shall I be honored to know that?"

''I am hungry.''

''Where did that come from?"

''I did not eat anything earlier.''

He placed a back on her lower back, guiding her towards the dining room, ''Come, let's feed you Princess.''

Esme rolled her eyes. What is this strange endearing tone that he always uses with her?

As Esme and Aleister stepped inside the dining room, Aleister nodded at the people present over there while Esme greeted them verbally, ''Your Majesty,'' she greeted the king before turning to look at Duke Maverick and Duchess Flora, ''Uncle, Aunt,'' since they had insisted on being addressed like this many times, it would be rude to not do so.

Esme noticed that Duke Maverick looked better than the last time she saw him. His cheeks were still sunken but unlike his blackened lips and sickly appearance, he looked healthier.

''Princess Esmeray.''

Esme stiffened, her head turned towards the King. It was rude sto stare at the King in the eyes but she could not help it. Did he just address her with the title Princess before her name?

King Alexander was expressionless and she could not find anything from his face.

After a few seconds, Esme turned to look at Aleister. He looked calm, unlike her, who has lost her composure by this time.

Esme clutched the material of her gown in her fist. She masked her emotions while looking at the King, ''Your Majesty?" her mind was trying to think of all the reasons why he called her Princess.

Was it because to him, she was Aleister's lover? But he would never address her as such unless she married him and became his wife. 

Or did he perhaps learn of her identity? That can't be…

''What a poor child…''

Duchess Flora's soft voice snapped Esme out of her reverie. She glanced at the lady who had stood up from her chair and approached her at some point.

Duchess Flora held her hand, her eyes painted with worry, ''I could not have believed what you went through,'' her eyes welled up with tears.

Esme could not find her voice. The pieces were falling together in her mind and she turned to look at Aleister, her eyes demanding answers.

Feeling his gaze on her, he tilted his head to the side. His eyes met hers briefly and he nodded once. 

Esme's fingers curled into a fist.

At this time, King Alexander spoke up again, ''It took us a long time to discover that you are the little Princess of Nevesray.''

''I…'' Esme knew this was coming. They were aware of her identity.

''You don't need to explain yourself to us,'' Duchess Flora said.

Duke Maverick nodded, ''When we came to know about this, we discoveredt everything that has happened in Nevesray in the past few years,'' he looked at Aleister, ''And what we were not aware of, he filled us in with those facts. We know how many sufferings you have been through all these years. The situation in Nevesray was complicated and the facts changed from mouth to mouth. Different people said different things about the former queen's disappearance, the king's death, the Prince's and Princess's disappearance but it was not until we looked into your background did we know what exactly transpired.'' 

It was an unsaid rule that the various kingdoms don't meddle in each other's matters. So, being the greatest Kingdom, Visteria never interfered in the matters of Nevesray or any other Kingdom.

Esme quietly listened to his words. If it was before, she would have been happy about it. That they knew about it and there was no malice in their hearts, they were so accepting of despite of the fact that she schemed her way into the Daven's castle. She pretended to be a maid and came here under disguise.

But right now, she was far from being  happy. Her heart felt complicated and she did not know what she was feeling but she was certain that she was not happy.

''There is a present from me to my future daughter-in-law,'' King Alexander said.

Esme glanced at the King, curiousity sparkled in her eyes. 

Duchess Flora stroked her fingers before letting of  her hand.

Esme did not know the source of her discomfort. All she knew was there was an unsettling feeling in her heart. That things were not happening in the way she expected them to and it bothered her. 

At this moment, she felt a warmth on her hand. Her heart skipped a beat and she tilted her head to look at Aleister.