An Offer

DAMIEN never let other trifling things affected his mind. Growing up, he had one goal. Only one. And he dedicated his whole life to effectuate this goal; revenge against Bridget Gregory. He did not care how long it would take or what he needed to sacrifice along this retaliation voyage. As long as he can avenge his mother and sisters, this iron-willed man would never stop to make it happen somehow. But right now, Damien was in dire straits. And his mind was crowded with troubles; the bride ran away, and his positions as the future Duke and King of the Underworld were at stake. Damien, who already promised to never let even a space in his head for other trivialities, finally admitted that he was uncertain of his next step.

Damien inclined his head, unsmiling, as he stood beside the wide-opened window. His madness and anger had taken a little while to wear off. He thought, how desperate was Vanessa, now deemed his ex-fiancée to escape from this wedding that she was prone to and determined to flee from the suite through the windows.

Damien seemed agitated. If that ungrateful woman said 'no' to the whole engagement and wedding ideas from the beginning, this shameful day would not happen. And maybe Damien could search for another pawn to use. But now, he had to face this embarrassing situation and thought about how he could disentangle the problem.

Sir Ryan re-entered the suite with Doctor Evelyn.

"Found her?" Damien asked. Without looking at them.

Sir Ryan answered, "No, milord. The other knights and servants already searched all around the estate, yet they can't find the lady." And Damien turned around with a dissatisfied look.

"How can a pathetic woman disappear without leaving a single trace? And we are talking about Vanessa, the most ignorant woman in this territory."

"It seems very unlikely, milord." Ryan paused after he had long thought. "I think she had some help to run away," he voiced out his doubt.

And Damien now looked at Evelyn. "Evelyn, tell me. You said you saw Vanessa. Can you explain to me what you saw? And how did you meet her?" Damien wanted the witness's elucidation.

Evelyn was uncertain to talk. But she saw Ryan nodded to her, signaling he wanted Evelyn to explain every single detail to the young Lord. Thus, she finally said, "I was late for the ceremony… you know how hard a doctor's job can be." She tilted her head. "And I was on my way to the wedding hall. I stopped for a while and was looking in the mirror. At the same time, I saw Vanessa was running to me, looking scared, and…" she paused. "I don't know how to explain her face. It was very disturbing."

"Was she alone? Did you see anyone else?" questioned Damien with a serious face.

Evelyn answered, "No. Only her. I mean, she was alone." And she continued, "Vanessa said to pretend not to see her. But I cannot pretend when she looked very weird. She did not look like the confident Vanessa I know. So I followed her. But in one turn, I lost her." Evelyn stopped for a while. She expressed how mysterious it was seeing someone disappeared so fast. "So I went to the wedding hall instead. The guests were leaving, and I sensed something was not right. Then, I asked the other knight to bring me to you." She ended her story.

"I gave everything she wanted. I gave her all she desired. I followed her wish, and this is how she repays my kindness?" Damien was in disbelief. "Vanessa turned her back to her family and betray the promise she made with me." Damien could not say or ask anything afterward. He just believed Vanessa did not want to be involved in the wedding anymore. And he didn't want to waste any more time searching for a missing person. "That is it. Tell the knights and servants to stop searching. It is useless." He ordered.

"Isn't it dangerous to let her wander alone outside of the estate, milord?" Ryan asked.

Damien shook his head. "That woman chose to run away. Let her be. Knowing her, she could not survive even a day being in the outside world," he said. "Unless if she has help from somebody else."

Ryan just nodded as he heeded the order. "But it seems like you have to end the wedding here, my Lord."

"No." Damien denied morosely. "I have to get married. Today. I need that title soon. I have to be the Duke. And then, become the Demon Lord. I can't let it go," added him in a monotone. He was still so obsessed with that title and his revenge.

Evelyn interrupted. "But you can't find Vanessa anywhere. She ran away, remember?"

Just right at that moment, Damien's eyes captured his 'solution' as he was eagerly looking outside the window. Even though it was so noisy and chaotic, Damien spotted the human. Easily. He saw Yuki was wandering around and mixing in the crowds, looking for something or maybe someone.

And Damien found his only way to escape this problem. "Ryan." He called his head knight without averting his eyes. "Bring me that woman. Immediately." He commanded. "I know how to solve this problem."

"Which woman, milord?" Ryan was confused. There were lots of female guests attending the wedding.

"The guest. Grace's special guest." Damien smiled. And Ryan understood who his master was talking about, and he left the room immediately.

They left Evelyn bewildered. She understood nothing. As if those guys were speaking different codes that only they knew. But Evelyn saw her childhood friend could not divert his attention from looking outside, so she had a look in that direction. And she also saw Yuki, and straightaway Evelyn knew what was playing inside Damien's head. Evelyn left the suite with the last words, "You are crazy!"

___

"MARRY ME." Damien proposed. So confident.

"What?!" Yuki was shocked. She was busy searching for Albert before, and suddenly the head knight called out for her. Ryan did not explain anything, but he said to follow him. And Yuki found herself being in the bridal suite right now. In front of her was the master of the second manor, and the groom for today's wedding.

Still, Yuki could not believe her ears.

Damien repeated, "Marry me." He did not lose his coolness which Yuki wondered, where did it come from?

"What?! NO!" She rejected, firmly. Yuki was so confused by the sudden proposal. But to be honest, was that a question for a proposal, or an order?

"Marry me, please." Damien repeated the same proposal for the third time in the same intonation, but this time he added the word 'please'.

"Seriously! Have you gone mad? I said no!" Yuki bellowed. "You might be Grace's brother, and you gave me a place to stay, food and luxury. But how can you think I will agree to this?" Yuki panted as she said those statements too fast. "I don't want to marry someone who might kill me in my sleep." She added.

And Damien remained silent. He was thinking of his next words. "Yeah… I understand that. And I am deeply sorry for everything I did before." He expressed his regret, but he did not seem apologetic. "But I might know what will make you have a change of heart."

"No! I will not agree!" Yuki denied. She could not imagine herself being the wife of the demon that almost killed her. It would be a total nightmare! And Yuki knew nothing could change her decision. "People call you a tyrant. And now I can see that."

"What?" Damien had a distinct look on his face.

"I heard those guests saying downstairs. The bride ran away because you are savage!" Yuki said.

It had not been 24 hours, yet the guests already made their own speculation. Amazing!

"Hold on, miss." Damien laughed sarcastically. And he approached Yuki. "There is a vast difference between me... and a tyrant. A tyrant destroys, but I protect." He whispered confidently.

Yuki pushed him away. "I will never believe that."

"Of course you don't. But only for right now." Damien saw the wedding dress lying on the floor. He took it and imagined if the human would wear the gown instead. "But I have another offer that will make you reconsider."

Yuki looked at Damien, waiting for him to continue his deceptive words. She was ready to reject any offer without having a second thought!

"Remember your last wish?" Damien gave her a clue.

"What wish?" Yuki was baffled.

"Your deepest desire. Your greatest wish." Damien hinted with a big smile. "I will… help you return to the human's realm."

And the offer almost tempted Yuki. "You said you can't before." But, she wasn't easy to be lured.

Damien finally admitted. "I might know a way. But for me to help you, I need to become the Hades first."

"How can I know you won't lie?" Yuki still had a doubt.

"We will do a Blood Oath. An unbroken promise." Damien replied. He was so desperated, as he was dared to make a great promise.

Yuki was thinking. She looked at Damien, trying to see if he was lying. But Damien was so determined and confident. And Yuki was really considering that offer. One she could not reject.