[37.7] The Desire of a Prince

[Author's note: This chapter is from Cyrus's point of view.]

A pain crawled through my forehead but quickly disappeared.

I opened my eyes to see a regal ceiling above me.

I furrowed my brow.

Where am I?

Something whispered, "-Desire."

What was that?!

I sat up abruptly and felt a blanket roll off of me. When I looked down, I noticed a very expensive blanket with a fancy design covering me. I didn't recognize it nor did I know where I was.

That would mean-

I let out a sigh, "Another illusionary world."

It shouldn't be too hard to break the illusion.

I felt someone stir next to me and went to grab my sword, but found it wasn't attached to me.

The blankets rolled off of a sleeping woman and she rubbed her eyes sleepily, "Cyrus? Why are you awake so early?"

I froze, "R-Reika!?"

Reika sat up with a yawn and stretched. The blanket fell down revealing pale shoulders and a night dress that was practically see-through.

My eyes nearly fell out of my head, "W-Where are your clothes?!"

I quickly turned away and gulped down my desire to look.

Oh gods!

I want to see that beautiful sight again!

I looked back slowly.

No!

I can't!

This is an illusion and there's no way that's the real Reika!

I forced myself to turn away.

If I look, it's an invasion of privacy.

But then again…

It's not real.

So it shouldn't matter… Right?

The fake Reika hugged me from behind and kissed my neck, "My charming Prince~ Why are you acting so shy? Do you think I'm ugly?"

My throat went dry, "I-I would never think that!!"

She called to me in a pitiful tone and pressed against me tighter, "Then why won't you look at me?"

I CAN FEEL THEM ON MY BACK!

No!

Get it together Cyrus!

This is all fake!

Her hand trailed down my chest, "Maybe I need to do something to get your attention?"

"HAH!" I grabbed her hand and raised it, "I-I really don't need you to!"

The door burst open and three children ran in laughing, "Mama! Papa!"

My body froze.

What.

Did.

They.

Say.

The fake Reika poked her head out from behind me, "Children! I told you not to come into our room like that! Mama isn't dressed yet!"

The children laughed, "But we want to see Papa!"

I felt like fainting, "D-Did they say Papa?"

The fake Reika laughed, "Well duh. They are our children. Don't they look like us?"

I looked at the faces of the three children, "They do… Almost too much."

The fake Reika motioned them away, "Okay. Go on. Shoo. Let mommy and daddy have some alone time."

They all whined, "But mommy…"

"No buts! Now go."

The three children reluctantly left the room.

I ran my fingers through my hair, "This is definitely an illusion."

Suddenly I was pushed down.

The fake Reika leaned over me with a mischievous smile, "Now where were we?"

I quickly pushed her away and jumped off the bed, "What have you done with the real Reika?"

She paused before frowning slowly, "She's in her own illusion."

I clenched my jaw, "Are you hurting her?"

"Me, personally? No. No, I'm not. My brother… Well, it depends on if you think corruption counts as hurting her."

I felt my panic mix with rage, "Let her go! Now!"

The fake Reika laughed, "You are the one who is gifted at illusions. You can easily break it. All you need to do is destroy the thing that doesn't belong."

A knife suddenly appeared in my hands.

She patted her chest, "Just stab here. That's all you need to do."

I forced the knife back into her hands, "I'm not going to stab her."

She pushed it back, "But I'm a fake. I'm not the real Reika. It's just an illusion, so why are you so stubborn?"

I shook my head, "I won't stab or kill her, even if it is an illusion."

The fake Reika giggled, "Wow. What a gentleman. You know I'm fake, but you still won't lay a hand on me. What are you going to do when your curse causes you to hurt her?"

"It's not going to. I won't let it."

She laughed, "How can you be so sure? I've been watching over your ancestors since the very beginning. Each person became crazy with obsession until they finally gave birth and died. I'm sure your mother also thought she'd never hurt your father."

I glared at her, "My parents loved each other."

She raised an eyebrow, "How would you know? It's not like you ever met them. She died giving birth to you and your father died when you were a young child."

I tightened my fists, "I know because my father always told me so. I was young, but I wasn't too young that I wouldn't remember."

"Right, right… And how did he die? Certainly, it wasn't natural. He was a young healthy man. The curse only affected those who are direct descendants of Alora."

I paused.

She let out a laugh, "Oh my gods! You don't actually know the truth, do you?"

I closed my eyes, "Stop it."

She continued to mock me, "Aw, poor little boy. He has no idea! Oh! But I can feel it. I can feel your desire to know… It's quite overwhelming."

"Stop it."

"Ah, but you've always felt that it was suspicious, didn't you?"

I shouted, "STOP IT!"

The room shook violently as cracks appeared on the walls and ground from my outburst.

The fake Reika looked at the cracks, "I guess the curse has already started. Such strong overwhelming feelings… Well, since I pity you, should I give you a gift?"

I snarled, "I don't want any of your gifts."

The fake Reika hummed, "Is that so?"

"It is."

"You can't lie to me. Desire is my forte." She grinned mischievously, "If you want to know the answer, ask that Butler of yours. He knows the truth."

"...Caldwell?"

Why would he know?

"That's right. Caldwell. Don't you think it's weird that he became your familiar almost immediately after your father died?"

I spoke slowly, "He crashed into my window, so I nursed him back to health. Healing him allowed me to come to terms with my grief. Then he became my familiar and took on a human form. There's nothing strange about it."

She laughed, "Are you sure?"

I stared at her, "What do you know?"

"I know it's suspicious." She tiptoed around me, "Shouldn't you also find it suspicious? You aren't stupid, so think about it… How many familiars actually take on a human shape?"

The only familiars I know are Caldwell and-

I whispered, "Zephyr."

The fake Reika sang out, "Ding, ding, ding! You're putting the puzzle together."

But there's no way.

Caldwell would never trick me.

I nodded to myself firmly, "He would never mislead me."

Her smile faded, "You have a lot of faith in him."

I met her eyes, "I do. I have far more trust in him than I do you."

She pursed her lips, "But what would I gain from telling you the truth? I don't care-"

"-Papa!"

A small voice squeaked out and interrupted the fake Reika. I looked over to see a small demon girl running over to me from an open door. She pounced on my leg, hugging me desperately.

Her again?

When I looked around, I realized the room was empty.

Did the other demon leave?

I guess she did…

Ugh.

I didn't get any answers though.

Oh well.

I bent down and picked Astra up, "Did you do this?"

She shook her head quickly, "Astra didn't! Astra is here to save the day!"

"Save the day?"

She nodded, "Brother Zephyr and that nasty woman are fighting to protect you and Mama right now… But they aren't doing so well."

I felt panic build inside, "And Reika? Is she okay?"

Astra's bottom lip quivered, "She's getting corrupted!! You have to help her! She won't break the illusion!"

Did she see something similar to me!?

Astra looked at me desperately, "She's going to lose herself if we don't do something!"

I nodded and put her down without wasting time, "Lead the way."

She opened another door, revealing a bright light, and ran into it.

I took a deep breath and followed her inside.