Sir. Oliver's eyes widened.
How?
He was sure…he could sense the ignorance. To him, she didn't feel like a threat yet and he wouldn't have suspected it if not for the way Francis felt around her.
"Your majesty, maybe there was just a little misunderstanding. Are you sure that it wasn't you who…"
"Who did what? And won't I know if it was me or not? I was as useless as a vegetable. I had to lie that it was me. She seemed scared of what happened…but I don't know if it's true or not," Francis retorted.
"Like I said, she might have done it out of anger. We have nothing to worry about," Sir. Oliver said, trying to keep the devil calm but it didn't seem to work.
"And she would kill me out of anger one day! Does all of this seem like a joke to you?" Francis snarled, once again, the lamp broke.
"Your majesty, please take things easy. I will get things sorted out. I will try everything that I can."
"I do not believe that she did it by mistake. What if she did it on purpose and she feigned ignorance because she saw me? What if she tries to kill me before the crescent night comes? I won't be able to defend myself," Francis panicked. He paced around the room with his eyes still glowing red.
Sir. Oliver had never seen him so scared.
"You just have to be careful, your majesty. We have no other choice. The only thing we have to do is to make her love you, your majesty. We'll end her on the crescent night," Sir. Oliver said, with fear evident in his voice as well.
"Mala is a monster. She's capable of killing the devil. I can't be patient," Francis retorted.
"You have to be patient, your majesty. If I may ask, did you take any step last night? Did anything happen between the both of you?" Sir. Oliver asked.
"Not last night. I told her this morning that she can love me. I told her that I give her the chance to love me," Francis said with a straight face.
"Is that truly what you did, your highness or are you only trying to make me laugh because of the situation on ground?" Sir. Oliver asked, obviously holding back his laughter.
"What else should I have done? I gave her a place to stay and I asked her to love me. What else is there to do?" Francis asked. Sir. Oliver burst into laughter. He held his stomach and laughed until his eyes watered.
"Do you realize you're standing before me?" Francis asked, burning with anger.
"I am…I am sorry, your majesty but I just couldn't help it. Do you realize that there has to be true love in this woman's heart for everything to work on the crescent night?" Sir. Oliver asked.
"And am I supposed to dig out her heart and put love in it? I can't even look into her eyes," Francis said flatly.
"Your majesty, you really have to make her love you. It's the only thing that we can do," he said.
"Hum….can…is there anything that ..that you can teach me to make her love me?" Francis asked. "I am not saying I do not know what to say. I just think you have more experience and if you think I'm begging for help then you can just go ahead and keep it to yourself."
He wasn't willing to bury his pride. Not for a second.
He stood up and Sir. Oliver understood the assignment. He had to make it look like Francis was doing him a favor by accepting his help.
Serving the devil is quite hard.
"If you do not mind, your highness, I would like you to give me the opportunity to…tell you what to do. I have a few books that you can read. You'll make her obsessed in no time," Sir. Oliver said and Francis glared at him with pride.
"I'll take it," Francis answered and Sir. Oliver walked him to his study. He showed him a list of books and Francis sat.
Francis opened the first book. He still couldn't believe he was doing it.
He was reading a book to make the woman who would kill him fall in love with him.
"Remember, your highness. Do not fall in love with Mala. It's more dangerous than anything else," Sir. Oliver said and his voice rang through Francis' ears.
"Leave," he ordered.
*****
Aurora's POV
I was sitting at the edge of the bed in a purple dress. I looked at myself and I just couldn't help it. I kept raising my arm, sniffing myself and I could swear that I smelt nice.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in," I answered.
Madam Olivia walked into the room and I rushed up to hold her hand. "Madam Olivia, do I really smell bad? Please tell me," I begged.
Madam Olivia looked at me and she laughed. "Francis said he could perceive your stench from a distance, didn't he?" She asked and I nodded, my eyes filled with embarrassment.
I felt so insecure. "You do not have to worry, Mala. Francis' nose is as sharp as a blade. I remember when he was a child when he would run from me, saying I smell like his horse's poop," Madam Olivia said, laughing.
"That's rude," I whispered.
"You seem quite comfortable around Francis. It's rare," she said.
"Comfortable?" I scoffed. "I feel threatened. How will I feel comfortable with the devil?" I asked.
"I know what I'm saying. You're quite comfortable. So…apart from saying you have an odor, did he say anything else?"
"He said…he said he gives me the grace to love him," I revealed and madam Olivia's face brightened up with a smile. "Then love him," she said and I rolled my eyes.
"If he wants my love, then let him work for it," I said.
"If you know how much arrogance is filled in Francis' body, you will see that he's being so humble," she said. How is that anything close to humble?
"Don't worry, Mala. Give Francis some time. But I beg you, don't push him away. He's the devil but he's fragile," she said and I nodded.
He's the devil but he's fragile. What a lie.
"That's not what I came for, actually. I came to inform you that Francis' cousin is around and he and his wife want to meet with you," Madam Olivia said and my heart skipped a beat.
Meet with me?
I only arrived yesterday.
"They must have heard about you from one of those loose mouthed maids. But you have to see him. You can't say no to your in-laws."
"Madam Olivia, are you sure that I do not stink?"