"I don't like cheating." Aleister whispered after lifting her chin with his free hand. Ruby was suddenly astounded when the demon drank the contents of the potion before throwing away the bottle.
"What happens when someone who already loves you drinks a love potion?" Aleister asked the maiden already knowing the answer.
"Their feelings become clearer and no amount of obstruction and opposition will make them back down." Ruby breathed out, her heart finally calming down. Aleister drank a glass of martini before crashing his lips with her parted ones for a brief make-out session.
"That's my only supply of love potion." Ruby said a little bit disappointed.
"And now it's gone." Aleister replied with a smirk of satisfaction.
"Why did you do that? Why didn't you douse me so you can get what you want? You'll have everything you want from me, especially my feelings? Why didn't you?" Ruby asked in confusion unable to comprehend the demon's actions.
"Feelings are not enough. I want it to be real." He grasped her cheek before kissing her forehead.
"You're going to be mine. I respect your decision and your choices. I will play your game. However, if I lose... I get to break you." Aleister whispered darkly in her ear making shivers run up her spine before exiting the hot spring and wrapping his waist with a white towel.
Ruby was left alone speechless, utterly confused about what has occurred. After a minute of silence, she sighed.
"I better work on that unbinding spell as well as my research on 'How to Unsummon A Demon Prince." Ruby sighed again before touching her cheek where his hand lingered. She was suddenly reminded that she was not alone when Manticat's basin connected with her bosom. She looked down at her familiar who stared at her with a bored look.
"Meow meow meow meow meow meooooww." (Just fuck with him and get it over with.) he advised before laying back down and continuing to drift.
"If only it was that simple. Aleister is becoming similar to Rel. I might get rid of him eventually if he does. I can't afford to live in a torture like that. Being in a relationship with a man that's too suffocating..." Ruby looked down at her hand with a melancholic expression. She sighed.
"I don't want to end up in another curse..."
The first week after the incident was really awkward for the two. They rarely talked to each other and if they do it would either be insults or brief declarations of the food being ready. They often shared their meals together but the table would often be quiet other than the clanging of spoons on plates. Since Ruby was the one doing all the cooking Aleister was forced to clean the plates.
During the week, Aleister never sneaked into her room in the middle of the night like he would usually do once or thrice a week since her room has nice air conditioning while his 'felt like a free trial to hell'. Ruby won't verbally admit it but she kind of misses his comforting warmth, his tight embrace, and his intoxicating manly scent that would often greet her first thing in the morning.
During the second week, things started to be more natural though there's still tension between the two both hostile and sexual. While walking in the hallway and brushing against each other's shoulders, Aleister ended up pushing her against the wall before connecting his lips with hers. Ruby replied to his advances but when she touched the gem on his chest Aleister seemed to snap from his reverie and quickly pull away and walk off as if nothing happened at all. Ruby only shrugged before going back to her room.
Ruby returned to her bed that night disturbed and very warm. She kept thinking about their kiss and how it made her heart feel. She kept denying that it has something to do with romantic excitement and told herself that it was merely her hormones and her ovulation cycles acting up. Yes, it was merely that and nothing more.
In the fourth week, things came back to normal as if nothing happened. Aleister returned to his goofy and evil narcissistic behavior of constantly messing with her activities and flaunting his excellence. He became bolder and more demanding of her attention and praise which often leads to Ruby casting restraining spells and electrocution spells she learned from her witch sisters.
Along with his many flaws and annoying ways he also became more caring and careful about her feelings though he never seems to tone down his annoying antics. He would sometimes sneak in her room to leave roses on her bedside table surprising her during her waking moments with their beauty and fragrance. For some reason, he also learned how to cook, although he can only make eggs, bacon, waffles, and breakfast stuff Ruby greatly appreciates the gesture especially when she wakes up starving. His cooking isn't bad at all making Ruby really pleased.
The two of them are currently having breakfast together and Aleister thought about doing something different for this meal. Ruby woke up to find the table gone and find Aleister wearing a pink apron. She thought that it was a dream until she tasted the coffee he made that made her gag and puke. The coffee was very bitter and at the same time very sweet and salty he must've had a problem differentiating the salt from the sugar so she instantly threw the thing in the drainage and brewed her specialty which is a thousand times better than his.
She found out that Aleister decided to put the table outside in the garden so that they can eat while watching the sunrise among the blooming flowers and magical butterflies fluttering in her garden. The demon went all his way for this meal and prepared a grand feast for them to share. However, Ruby was so immersed in reading her book while eating breakfast that Aleister couldn't help but be annoyed by her lack of response and silence while he was talking about something. He transferred seats just beside her and tried looking into what she was so absorbed about.
"What the hell do you find amusing in those formless tiny symbols? Are they some kind of magic that only witches can understand?" Aleister asked with a suspicious face burying his face closer to the book. Ruby was astounded by his statement, making her brows crease.
"Aleister could you perhaps... Not read?"
"I don't know. What mage craft skill is reading?" Aleister asked in confusion making Ruby giggle at his amusing puzzled face.
"It's not magecraft, it's just a common skill among sentient beings. Reading and writing are very important for effective communication especially when you can't speak to the person at the moment so you can send a letter or email if you have a phone. Do you want me to teach you how to do it?" Ruby offered, smiling at him sincerely.
"I, well... I guess so." Aleister answered.
"Perfect we can start after breakfast if you want."
"Sure but what about the plates aren't you gonna wash them first since I cooked?" Aleister reminded, raising a brow.
"They can wash themselves." Ruby mused twirling her finger and making the milk pitcher pour her glass a cup of her favorite white milk to prove her point. Aleister deadpan at this.
"You're such a cheater. See, why do you make me wash the plates when they can magically do it themselves? I'm not some kind of Cinderella bitch or a Snow White whore or something like that." Aleister complained, frowning at her.
"Because I just want to see you suffer. It's in the Evil Queen Handbook 101. Chapter 7: How to properly treat your demon and/or stepdaughter. Step one, treat them like slaves, step two rip out their heart so that you can be the fairest of them all. Side note, if they're ugly just make them wash the plates forever." Ruby smirked and looked at Aleister's face who was filled with annoyance. They had a brief staring contest before the demon ended up releasing a 'pfft' sound and burst out laughing making Ruby join in as well.
"Who are you calling ugly?! Shortie no tits!" Aleister exclaimed before throwing mayonnaise on Ruby's chest. Ruby was shocked at first before a battle raged expression crossed her features.
"Why you!! You horned eggplant bat!!" Ruby retaliated by throwing him scrambled eggs and that was the start of their delicious food war, covering her garden with slobs and food bits that will surely attract the attention of many wild animals. But who cares, they're having fun...