The Deal

"Revenge."

Lady Elise muttered a word that Evron did not expect to come out of a lady's mouth. The woman that he fell in love with, that wasn't her. He remembered Lady Elise to be quite shy and timid, what's happening here?

"Don't be preposterous, Lady Elise! Those words can be a sign of treason!"

Evron stood up in shock. To speak ill of the king and his blood, it was a clear sign of rebellion and treason. Yet, when he looked at Lady Elise's eyes, it was no joke. Her eyes glimmered and no doubt came out. The eyes that know it's a sure-kill if it decides to strike.

Evron's eyes turned from shock to serious. Although he does not plan for revenge, he still wants to know the lady's intentions.

"What reason could you have said that?"

Evron asked in a serious manner, yet it also leaked a bit of curiosity.

"You're not the type to own brothels and drug-dealing business, but I know who, and I'm pretty sure you know too." — Lady Elise spoke.

Evron did not answer, he just looked at Lady Elise with a doubt in his eyes. He wanted to marry a woman that wanted peace, and so he fell in love with Lady Elise, but the lady in front of her wasn't the peace-loving woman. Evron saw the woman... as menacing.

"To ensure the first son's sit to the throne, they decided to blame the first son's doings to the second. Every sin the first son committed, it was blamed publicly to the second son... but why?"

Lady Elise continued as she was still laying on the bed, looking directly at Evron's soul. She looked at Evron to see his eyes dilated and his sweat dripping. Although calm, his mind can't hide what it wants to throw out. Although it was just a theory, it points out to the Crowned Prince's easygoing behavior. Even though he's a prince, he wasn't afraid to go out.

"I've read in a book once... A prince with black hair is the child of the Demoness Lilith, is that the reason why?"

"Shut up!"

Lady Elise was startled as the calm Duke Evron raised his voice. He looked like a fierce warrior staring directly at her with furious eyes. That golden eyes that scream superiority. Yet, she smiled, she smiled as the mask of the calm Duke slipped.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"So I was right?"

Evron apologized as he turned his head away from Lady Elise. Although the mask slipped, he placed it back. Evron nodded as he glared at Lady Elise, who he cannot fully understand.

"Then... why did you not call them out?"

Lady Elise asked, but this time, it was not from her plans. It was simply curiosity. Why did the second son not expose them and is there a reason why?

Evron sat back down again as he rested his body. He looked dead like he had no choice but to comply with their orders.

"My mother... is a commoner. The myth surrounding the black-haired child is the offspring of the Demonnes Lilith was just to cover the fact that the King was a playboy."

Evron suddenly blurted out information that should not be spoken. He easily spoke out the truth that even Lady Elise was shocked by the Duke's actions. Lady Elise was supposed to convince him some more, but to be this easy...

"I am in fact, an illegitimate child. I could've exposed them now but my mother is currently ill, she's been like that for the past five years. She can't stand up and she could barely speak, and the only medicine to cure it is in the King's hands."

"So you're blackmailed?"

Evron continued as Lady Elise asked in reply.

Evron glanced at Lady Elise and nodded.

Lady Elise smiled. For a prince to have many weaknesses, no wonder he was easily manipulated. Now, it's her turn to manipulate the prince. It's her turn to have some fun!

"What if... I know the cure to your mother's illness?"

Lady Elise suggested as Evron instantly turned and grasped both of her shoulders. His dead eyes shimmered a little as the world Lady Elise spoke gave him a little light of hope.

"Ahh, my wound."

Lady Elise's shoulder was grasped tightly and Evron only noticed this. He instantly brushed his hands off the lady as he blushed. He was too rash and Lady Elise thought it was cute.

"I'm sorry... but are you sure? You don't even know the illness."

"Every illness has a cure, I bet the illness is curable. If it wasn't curable, your mother would've died a year after she was diagnosed. An illness that slowly eats for five years is impossible."

Lady Elise answered the Duke's question. Evron wasn't convinced at first but he also thought of that at first, yet he did not see anything that could be proved as evidence. The lady that she fell-in-love turned out to be someone different, should he trust her?

Evron looked at Lady Elise for a short while when he suddenly launched himself unto her. He smacked the bed at the side of her face as he stared directly at her.

"I chose you... because I found you were shy and kind. Now that I look at it now, who are you?

Lady Elise was startled but she wasn't going to fall for a cheesy move. She smirked and her evil expression was not hidden one bit.

"I am your soon-to-be wife, of course."

Lady Elise answered it directly, and although it was not a lie, It was obvious.

"Your plan... what is it?"

Lady Elise finally grasped the prince in her favor. Their eyes met and their face was so close, that a little more and their lips would've touched. Yet, Lady Elise did not falter, she just smiled directly at him, showing her true personality in front of her future partner.

"I want you to help me... kill people, anyone I want. After that, I'll help you with your family affairs."

"What?"

Evron did not expect to receive such a straightforward plan. Of course, he replied in the most honest and Evron way possible.

"Don't joke around Lady Elise, you know that is too much!"

"Isn't it a great deal? I can help you with your family quarrel plus... I can help you cultivate this desolate territory of yours. Just help me kill some people, as this is my job."

"Job?"

"That's none of your concern. Now... will you give me some distance?"

Lady Elise said in the kindest expression possible as Evron realized it too late that they were too close with each other. He instantly jumped out a distance as Lady Elise saw a boy that does not know what the real world is. An easy puppet to use.

"Is that all you need?"

Evron has made his decision. For a Duke that lived his life on the battlefield, a request for blood is not that overwhelming for him. A deal that greatly benefits him, yet, he can't easily trust Lady Elise, as she seems to be hiding something.

Lady Elise just nodded like a child as Evron reached out his hand.

"Then... it's a deal."

Evron said as Lady Elise shook hands with him. A deal where it benefits Lady Elise. She could even kill more recklessly now, as she can use her husband's name as a weapon.

This day was soon to be named as the Devil's Passing, as in the next years, unfortunate members of society will either die in an accident or assassinated. All in the hands of a single woman and her husband. The day where the Devil started to cleanse the earth.

The day where Lady Elise's legacy will all begin.

"Then... can I borrow a horse and black male-clothing?"

"What for?"

Evron asked about Lady Elise's odd request, but he couldn't just be curious enough as she said a really intriguing phrase.

"You find out soon enough."

Lady Elise answered back with the most outrageous smile that it still took Evron his guard down. He knew he needs to get used to his soon-to-be-wife's expression since he knew he will be spending time with her for a long time.

"Then I will tell the butler, expect to see the horse backyard."

"Thank you, hon...ney"

Evron's cheeks blushed once more as Lady Elise said an unexpected word. If he doesn't get used to Elise's attitude by now, he's gonna get it someday. The woman she wants to spend time with. It looks like he chose someone right.

"Then I'll get going."

Evron said as he stopped to turn his back and glance one last time at Lady Elise, to tell her a warning.

"If you lied about the cure, it will be the end of you."

Lady Elise only smiled as she waved goodbye to Duve Evron with a warm smile, like a sickly person taking the person that took care of her.

Her attitude and personality was not something Evron could understand. Maybe there will never be a time for him to understand it, and maybe it's for the best not to.