"So.. what will it be brother? "Rage asked.
Lust stance screamed of reluctance. He ran his hand through his hair several times. His mind at war with his heart.
"Accept the kingship. An heir will only be required from you later not now at least. "Lust spoke.
" He is right"Gabriel said staring at Rage.
" Fine. But..you only have two weeks to come to a decision"Rage spoke. He stood up from the couch and left the office with that final word.
"Well... you're in deep shit"Austin chuckled.
" Why does it look like he is commanding you to give him an heir?"Gabriel raised a brow staring at the place Rage sat down awhile ago.
Lust sighed "That's how he is. It's my responsibility to help"he held his head feeling an approaching headache.
" You know you're not entitled to accept" Leo said as he stared at his friend.
" No Leo, I actually am"Lust sighed. So far alot has been going on in his life and he just doesn't know how to cope with it.
The council pulling him out of Chris training,then giving him more tasks that he doesn't even get to spend time with her.
He feels like he is slowly losing his title as a prince. He just feels like a servant and a puppet than a commander at this point. The only thing making them not totally push him off his title might be his mother's influence. She might be in torment now but her hold and fear she has imposed on people is the only thing reserving his position.
'I have to reclaim my respect and post'
"I need to be alone"Lust spoke.
Gabriel sighed getting the hidden message. They all left the room leaving him alone with his thoughts.
(Outside the office..)
Gabriel sighed.
Austin raised a brow at him "Stop sighing like you're the one with the problem old man"he replied.
" I might not be but he is my friend 'Our' friend. We should try helping him"Gabriel turned on his heels walking away.
"Since when did he become the responsible one?"Austin snickered.
" He's right. Lust is our friend and friends don't betray friends"Leonard eyes were on him piercing through his soul.
Austin faced him and crossed his arm "What are you trying to say?"he asked skeptical.
Leonard lips twitched in amusement . He patted his shoulder"The devil is asleep Austin. Don't wake him up"
With that he left. Austin stared at his retreating figure in confusion. He shock his head and turned on his feet moving towards the pleasure room.
(Chris room...)
Chris already picked herself up after her earlier breakdown.
She sat at the vanity table with Anna brushing her hair.
Her hair fell in soft waves on her back with every stroke of the brush. She was adorned in the traditional wear of the demon world. A soft purple satin like skirt falling beyond her knee close to her ankle. Two slit ran on the sides up to her knee.
The blouse was like a second skin on her, framing her body. The blouse was black with an off shoulder,her belly button out on display. On her arms, a golden arm bracelet.
She looked like a real demon princess dressed the way she was.
"My lady if you may permit me to ask"Anna curtsied still brushing her hair.
"Go ahead Anna"Chris smiled at her through the mirror.
Anna cleared her throat "Why are you dressed like this, I mean like a true demon princess?"She asked.
Her eyes widened when she realized what she just said.
"...not that you've never dressed like a real demon princess before,it's just that---" Chris cut her off.
" It's ok Anna,you don't need to explain, your statement's not wrong"she spoke smiling at her.
Anna watched her through the mirror waiting for her reply.
Chris nimbled on her lips "Well..."she started.
"--you can just say I wanted to fit in"she replied.
Anna nodded in understanding.
"That's enough,thank you Anna"Chris spoke.
Anna stopped brushing her hair. She curtsied and left.
Chris took in a deep breath after she left.
"The only reason I am dressed like this is because of that Lady."She mumbled smiling in disbelief at herself.
After her episode with that lady and knowing she was Lust's former sex slave,she felt plain standing next to her. She was so beautiful and radiant with her white hair and her, she was just not up to her. Her dressing brought out her curves and made her look like a goddess.
She was sure she got any man she wanted and right now she wants Lust, something she can't accept.
She couldn't help but feel inferior. A part of her wanted to dress like that and try to fit in as well.
She stood up from her vanity table and stared at her attire in the mirror. She didn't feel comfortable dressed like this but she was sure she could adapt if she tried hard enough.
She walked out of her room, walking aimlessly in the hallway. The maids passing her by looked shocked as some of them bowed while the others stared at her stunned.
She was walking down a particular hallway when a door caught her attention. The intricate design on the wooden door felt old. She ran her fingers on a writing on the door written in demon language.
Her days spent with her tutor seemed fruitful as she could transcribe the words.
"Knowledge breeds power and power breeds destruction..."she mumbled to her self still running her fingers through the words.
"I would say I understand but I don't"she chuckled to herself pulling the door open.
She walked into the room. The room looked familiar to her somehow.
"I have been here before.."she ran her fingers through the dust covered books.
"--with Lust."she completed in remembrance.
"Hm..but why am I just noticing the writing on the door?"she asked herself surprised.
Her train of thoughts were cut off when a shallow breathing of someone, came from the other side of the shelf.
She followed the sound walking closer to the right point.
She pulled a few books out from the shelf looking through the space she just created.
Her words were stuck in her throat. To say she was mesmerized was an understatement. Chris was beyond amazed.
She walked behind the shelf and approached the sleeping figure on the couch.
A book was laid out on his chest. She walked with slow steps approaching him.
Once she was close,she leaned over him admiring his looks
"He looks like an angel"she mumbled to herself admiring his looks.
His lips were thin but light pink. His skin pale like he hasn't been in the sun before. His white hair a contrast to what she was used to seeing.
Stuck in her dream state,she used her finger to innocently wipe a tindrel of hair from his face when he caught her hand.
Her eyes widened as he snapped his eyes open.
"What were you about to do?"he asked.
His voice soft on her ears.
"I-i..."Chris found herself lost for words.
He sat up still staring at her blankly.
His eyes glanced at her hand. He stared at her fingers like they were an intricate art piece. His fingers rubbed her palm.
"Hm. Soft palms, definitely not a maid. You're the Princess "he affirmed. He left her hand creating space for her to seat.
He pulled the book on his lap open and continued reading.
Chris stared at him dumbfounded.
She wasn't sure if that was an invitation or not.
With hesitancy,she sat down beside him creating space between them.
Chris fumbled with her fingers not knowing what to say. She kept glancing at him but his focus was on the book he was reading.
"It's called The Myseries of Sight "his voice rang in her ears but his eyes still on his book.
"Oh..ok"Chris whispered softly even though she didn't understand the title at all. Somehow he makes her not want to speak loudly near him.
He snapped the book shut making her jump.
"Do you read?"he asked as he observed her.
Chris nodded.
"Words princess"
"Y-yes I do"Chris replied fumbling with her words.
"What kind of books do you read?"he asked her.
"Umm...Fantasy, Contemporary romance,LGBTQ, and Poems"she replied.
" What's LGBTQ?"He tilted his head confused.
Chris covered her mouth chuckling"Ooh.. sorry I forgot you live here. Well LGBTQ is a genre of gay novels. You know stories about romance between people of similar gender"she explained.
He nodded his head " I have been to the human world a couple of times but that was decades back. Didn't know things have changed alot since then"he spoke thoughtfully.
Chris nodded" They have"
"How about you, what kind of books do you read?"She asked curiously. Her body already turning towards him.
"Horror,Mystery,Documentaries, Non-fiction and a few poems that catch my fancy"He replied blankly.
Chris nodded not surprised. He doesn't strike her to be someone who reads fairytale and fiction.
"what kind of poems?"Chris asked locking eyes with him. She felt so curious about him that she was ready to milk out as much information as she could.
"I'm not sure you have heard of them before"His lips pulled up as he watched her.
Chris pouted offended " Of cause I have, I love poems,so I know every popular poet their is"She firmly nodded her head. Her eyes challenging him.
He stared at her,his eyes twinkled.
"Echeduanna" he replied.
"Huh?"Chris stared at him confused.
"My favorite poet. I love all her works"he watched the confusion dance in her eyes.
"Echeduanna? I-i haven't heard of her before"she spoke looking confused.
His lips twitched "The modern world has forgotten her but she started poetry. She was a priestess in the early 23BC."he explained.
" Woah..I never knew"she replied amazed.
" Can you recite one of her works for me?" She pleaded, hope dancing in her eyes.
He opened his mouth ready to reply but suddenly shut them. He picked up the book he was reading and kept it back on the shelf.
"See you next time princess"he began walking away.
"W-wait!"Chris voice rang out as she stood up and ran to meet him.
" A-at least tell me your name" she requested.
His eyes sparkled as he watched her "Leonard"he replied. His hands tucked in his pocket as he approached the door.
"Leonard.."Chris mumbled to herself as she watched him walk out of the library.
"He's Lord Leonard?!"Chris exclaimed in surprise as the realization dawned on her.
"This is the first time I am noticing him"she mumbled to herself.
" Lord Leonard"she tasted his name once more on her lips. Her lips stretched out into a smile.