Chapter 27

Jasper bolted out of the room the moment he heard Wivior's voice. That boy was in a heap of trouble, and he exacerbated the situation by running out of the room. He could be Leona's wizard twin because she was just as careless and dramatic as him.

"So, you finally learned about why I don't live in my homeland?" spoke Wivior after Jasper had run past him as swiftly as the wind.

"I didn't mean to stick my nose in your business. I am so sorry," said Elvira.

"It's not your fault," began Wivior as he advanced towards her. "It's his fault he opened his sharp tongue on a sensitive subject behind my back. I have been listening for a while to know what he would say to you."

Elvira's muscles tensed, thinking that he was out there listening to their conversation. Did he, by any chance, listen to Jasper's love theory about him? Before he left the room, he had said something about having feelings for her.

"What did you hear?" asked Elvira. "Just so we're clear, I wasn't a part of the bizarre things he said. He did the talking, and I listened out of kindness."

"You don't have to worry about it. This time, I will kick Jasper out of the castle for sure. You won't have to tolerate that chatterbox anymore," Wivior swore.

"No, please. I don't know why he is here, but it is important for him to stay here. You can scold him all you want, but please don't make him leave," Elvira pleaded.

Wivior glared at her, and she instantly regretted it. 

"That was only a request because you are free to do as you choose. He is your servant. I have no right to tell you what to do," Elvira added.

His expression softened, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a warm smile. "I didn't mean to scare you by saying that. It seems like you have already grown fond of him."

"Yes! He reminds me a lot of my younger sister." Elvira's face lit up at the thought of Leona. "She and I have been very close since birth."

"I can see that. You are glowing with joy just by taking her name," said Wivior.

Sadness overtook her features upon realizing that she might not see her again.

"Don't overthink things. I won't kick Jasper out if it means that much to you," Wivior assured her. "I care about your opinions, and it enraged me to hear the poor picture of my past he put in front of you. You must think of me as a killer now."

"No. I know you're not a murderer. There must have been some misunderstanding," said Elvira.

"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person," began Wivior. "My shady reputation and impish personality didn't help my case either. My friend's family forgave him, but I had to pay the price for his madness. Maybe he was not a murderer either, but he loved to abuse his power. I was young and thought that his pranks on humans were funny until one day, he did something awful to take revenge on some human boy. He set his home on fire. I don't know if he knew his family was inside that hut when he set it ablaze. By the time I realized it was too late..." He paused for a second to breathe.

"I was presented in front of a jury in my kingdom. They charged me with the murder of that family. My friend never showed up because his grandmother was a queen and chose to protect him even though he was at fault." Even after a hundred years, the pain and anger in his voice due to injustice seemed fresh.

And you already know the punishment," he finished.

"All this happened to you because of the murder of a few humans. It's so unjust and brutal. I don't think anyone deserves that kind of penalty," said Elvira.

"Someone deserved that. However, his powerful family saved him. They didn't care about the lives of the people that were lost that day. No one's life is worth more than the other," Wivior stated.

"People value their lives first. They don't care about someone else's life more than their own. I have never heard of a king who would punish his own kin so harshly for the lives of a few people that don't matter to him," Elvira commented.

"I am glad you understand. I would have been devastated to lose all your respect over a false accusation," said Wivior.

Wivior's life story was unfair. He was harshly sentenced for the life of a few humans, whereas the people of Elvira's kind brutally murdered humans every day with no consequences or guilt for their actions.

Elvira herself had performed dark magic for cursing people with ailments and failure. She was no one to judge him even if he had killed those people deliberately. There was so much worse in the world, especially among her people, and she was also no good.

"I never thought of you as a murderer. You are the kindest person I know. I might not know much about life, but I know that murderers have icy hearts. They kill and do not feel an ounce of guilt. Your friend sounds like the guilty one. He doesn't seem to care at all about what happened that day, and yet, you still feel ashamed for even witnessing the death of those humans," Elvira opined.

"Wise observation!" Wivior remarked.

"I think I have bored you enough by talking about me," he began again with a nervous smile. "How are you feeling now? We left our conversation in the middle. You must have been thinking a lot about what I said before leaving?"

Only if Elvira could tell him she hadn't been able to think about anything other than that. She had even replayed the memory of his naked body in her mind and was guilty of liking it.

"What did you talk to Dr. Goldberg about?" asked Elvira.

"I just collected some information about Dr. Oliver from him. I have made up my mind to take you there," said Wivior.

"We can set off to see him in a few days," he added. "I just need to contact a few people I know that would prove useful in this journey, and then we are all set to leave."

"Jasper told me that your hundred years are over now. Was Prince Cornelius not here to take you back? Would he even allow such a thing? Would you want to waste your valuable time on me when you could have the life of royalty back?"

"I sent him away. I am not returning like this. Jasper left out an important detail that he might not even know about, but after a hundred years, they want me to present myself in court, accept my crime, and then ask for forgiveness in front of everyone," said Wivior.

"What!" Elvira exclaimed.

"Yes," began Wivior. "Not everyone would accept my innocence, but at least my grandfather should. How could he not believe and punish his grandson so pitilessly? He cares so much about his reputation and our battle against evil. For once, I want him to care about his family, too. He wants to do equality but has served me with injustice. Over the years, I have received messages of work from him, and he has even sent people here to spy on me, but never a personal message..."

His grandfather's coldness towards him reminded her of her mother, Lilith. Her mother, however, would have congratulated her for cold-blooded murder. There was no wrong in her eyes, so she didn't even know what would make her deserving of her mother's wrath.

Elvira's soft heart always drove Lilith mad, so maybe if she started doing good things for humans and wizards, that would do it. However, witches dealt with offenders through severe physical punishment. They would never opt for something for anyone that allowed personal growth.

"That must have been heartbreaking. If it gives you any consolation, my father is worse than that. He is brutal and does not like his authority questioned," Elvira had her mother in mind while she said that, and it was nice to let it out even though he thought she was talking about a different person.

"If your father is cruel, you could be in deep trouble. Can your cousin convince a person like that?" He asked.

"I don't mean to scare you, but the curse you have is no joke. Someone has given something valuable to the witches to see you die. For all we know, your hair could have come from your home. Your father must be mad at you for running away on your wedding day. If you choose to return, he might throw you in prison!" Wivior speculated.

Elvira felt like an idiot for saying that about her made-up father. The only one who wanted to kill her was Agror, and some close ones would protect her from him.

"Maybe I can stay with my cousin if things don't work out," said Elvira.

"You know they can hex you again and again until you die. That is why witchcraft is such an enormous problem for humans and even some wizards," Wivior raised a point.

"What can I do? I have to do something. Don't worry! Maybe I'll start a life somewhere far, where they can't find me." Elvira tried her best to make him stop.

"You mean you want to travel somewhere far and find a suitable man to marry?" asked Wivior.

"Yes! Why not?" At that point, she was ready to say anything to make him stop asking about her plans.

A flirtatious smile spread across his face. "Then why don't you just stay with me? I am a man and wizard, too. I can protect you from witches and humans for life."

"What!" Elvira almost shouted. "Why? Why would you suggest something like that?"

"Did I say something wrong?" Wivior didn't seem bothered by her terrible reaction. "I know you have been too troubled to notice me, but now that I have said it, is the idea of us that horrible to you? I already know why you feel like that. It's because you have trust issues, and we barely know each other."

"Yes. I have trust issues. You are right," Elvira's voice trembled as she spoke. "But why do you want to be with someone like me? You are a wizard prince. Uh, you're suggesting a romantic relationship, aren't you?"

Wivior laughed. "Yes, I am. You're the first human female who hasn't thrown herself at me. As a wizard prince, I am highly desirable to women. I think that shows that you are not greedy and value other qualities in a man over power and wealth."

"Have you fallen in love with me or something like that?" asked Elvira. Initially, she had no plans to say that, but maybe Jasper was right.

Wivior stared deep into her eyes. His gaze was burning with desire. "I wouldn't say that I love you yet because it's still so soon, but I admire you and have been insanely attracted to you since I laid my eyes on you."

"Different individuals wronged both of us. I haven't been with a woman for so long, but now that I have met you, I know I want to be with someone like you. Should you desire the same, I give you my word to protect you for life and ensure no one can hurt you."