Dante forgot to breathe for a second.
"They are so blue…"
Dante blinked, snapping out of the initial trance. He searched her eyes thoroughly. It couldn't be right.
"What are you searching for, Dante?" Almira asked, softly. His eyes widened and he looked away. His heart pounded as the sleek fingers caressed his face.
"Is this why you wear the mask and gloves?" She asked. Dante was surprised at the question. The way it casually rolled from her lips like it was no big deal. His appearance made people uncomfortable. It made them despise and ridicule him. Why was she giving the opposite reaction?
Her eyes held his in a way that made his heart flutter, which was a very bad sign.
"Why do you look at me differently? Are you not afraid of being infected?" He asked timidly. Almira laughed.
"Infected?"
Dante bit his lip. How can she find his situation funny?
"Is that what the books say? That you infect others by eye contact?" Almira asked. He chewed on his nails nervously. She caressed his face so gently that he flinched, backing away from her touch.
Almira's expression went blank. "Why? Are you afraid of infecting me?"
"You shouldn't joke about things like this, your highness. You are important to the royal family and they would hate it if anything happens to you," Dante mumbled.
"What can you possibly do to me, Dante?". She didn't realize her tone had dropped to a teasing seductive one. Dante shifted uncomfortably.
Almira moved back, creating space between them. "Is this more comfortable?"
It took him a while to realize she was talking to him, even though they were alone in the room. He was used to people caring about his well-being. They were more concerned with him fulfilling their demands.
"Yes, thank you" He muttered.
" Your clothes were destroyed by heat, do you have something better to wear?" Almira asked. Dante nodded.
"I have some in the barn".
"I said clothes, not rags" Almira corrected. A wave of shame came over him. He didn't dispute the fact that they were rags, he just wished she could be a little subtle.
"That's all I have. I don't get new ones until Guirello says so".
"And your earnings? Are they too meager that they can't get you a decent shirt?" She asked. Dante would have laughed if he wasn't scared of upsetting her.
"I work for my life," he answered simply. Almira couldn't pretend to be shocked. With the torture they put him through, she didn't expect them to offer him anything better.
She sat on the stool, studying him. He was fidgeting even with the distance between them. She couldn't recall seeing him so anxious around Kitanna. Suddenly, the thought of scaring him left an uneasy feeling in her chest.
"You're scared of me".
Dante's eyes snapped to hers. The fear in those blue pools was evident. He quickly looked down and bowed.
"Forgive me, your highness".
"What do you need forgiveness for?" Almira sighed. Dante stole a glance. Her face was still expressionless as usual. He couldn't tell if she was angry or not.
"How are you so comfortable with being controlled? You let them take everything from you including the right to think. Why are you so comfortable with suffering, Dante? Don't you want a taste of freedom?" Almira asked.
Dante pulled his knees up and hugged himself. Almira was mesmerized once again by the innocence in those sapphire orbs. Blue had never looked so good.
"I don't have a choice. When your life becomes a privilege, you will do anything to keep it. The people are disgusted by me, but they're willing to spare me as long as I carry out their demands. Is it worth fighting for something you have no control over?" Dante asked, quietly.
"If this is what you call life, then you're better off dead," Almira remarked. A sad smile crossed his face. "You should be bitter. You should loathe them. They deserve your hatred. They take so much from you and give nothing in return. They treat you with contempt, a tool they can use when they feel like it and toss away when they're done. How are you not bitter? Don't you want to see them pay for every tear you've shed?"
"What's the point?" Dante sniffled. "Why should I burden the only part of me that brings peace to my dark world? It is the only part of me they have no control over. The only part of me that believes somewhere in my fate, there is happiness. Why should I give that up?"
"You are so stupid and naive. Do you think they are going to let you find that happiness? If you don't stop them now, you are going to die a very miserable death" Almira groaned.
Dante stared at her tearily, "Do you ever say something positive, princess? Why do you take pleasure in bringing people down?"
The question caught her off guard. Dante immediately realized the implications of the statement he made. He clasped his hands together, pleading silently with his eyes as the words failed him.
He went pale the minute she advanced towards him.
"I do not owe anyone anything. I only voice my opinions, it is left for you to take it to heart or move on".
She stopped in front of him once again. "You will die a miserable death if you do not fight for your freedom," She repeated. A tear slipped, falling down his cheek effortlessly. "Why are you crying?"
Dante looked at her in disbelief, "Yourse your words hurt me".
"If you're going to cry every time my words hurt you, then you're going to run out of tears," Almira said frankly.
Dante watched Almira walk out of the room. He pulled the duvet tighter to himself. He couldn't help but stare at the door. Everything about her intrigued him. He wanted to know more about her. A part of him wondered if she was this cold and unfeeling or if it was just a facade to conceal the real her.
He smacked himself at the thought. He should stay away from her before he couldn't. People change way too much to be trusted. Just because she felt comfortable with his appearance today, didn't mean she would tomorrow.
Someday, she might see what everyone else did and he would be left with nothing.
He stood up from the floor at the same time the door opened.
"Sorry for barging in, I ... You?!"
Dante froze. His heart stopped for a second when he met the murderous look in those eyes.