To Bewitch a Devil

Neera kept her head low after speaking, as she waited for the King’s order;

”The Princesses are coming to the Palace tomorrow. ” He paused, and Neera lifted her head to look at him; ”I have prepared a room for you, close to my chambers. I want you to avoid them the best you can. They will see you as a threat to them and might try to get rid of you, so for as long as they’ll be here, you will keep away from them. The less they see you, the less they think of hurting you. ”

Zavian ordered, and she nodded; ”Thank you, Your Majesty, for this kind gesture. ” she said with a bow;

”A guard will take you to the room when you leave, get your things, and move in immediately. ” He added, and she nodded.

”I will do that right now, Your majesty. If that is all, I would like to take my leave,” Neera replied.

Zavian blinked. He did not know why he felt sad looking at her. Not in any way related to Lilah, but like... he could not explain it. He felt guilty for what had happened earlier that day, and he hated that she could barely look at his face and was speaking too formally to him. Well, she spoke formally, but he had seen her smile and she had eased up around him recently, but now... she was hugging the boxes, as though she was very scared of him and could not wait to leave.

”Move into your new room and join me for dinner when you are done. ” He said and walked out, leaving her standing in the middle of the room.

Neera lifted her head after he was gone, and she breathed. Her eyes stared at the boxes for a moment, and she wondered why he had asked her to join him for dinner. It has been days since he last called her to join him at his table. The more she tried to understand him, the harder it became. He was so confusing.

.....

...

Neera went back to the maids’ room and began to pack her things. The maids were staring at her weirdly, wondering what she was up to. She wasn’t obliged to tell them anything anyways, so she let them stare. Pen was not around; she would have waited for her, but she had to join the king for dinner, so she hurriedly packed.

Her luggage was just a small wrap of clothes, and a maid’s shoe; well, together with the new clothes the king had gotten her. It seemed he had noticed how ragged she looked. He must have been repulsed having her like that around him. But how was she going to wear these dresses when she was still a maid? It would just draw unnecessary attention to her. Neera sighed; she was only going to wear them when the king called for her.

Neera stood up with her luggage and walked out of the room. When she stepped outside, she met Lady Beatrice. Her eyes fell on the luggage she was carrying, and she frowned.

”Where are you going? ” she asked, walking to where she stood.

Neera’s hands tightened around her bag as she spoke;

”The king asked me to move into another room. ”

She said. Lady Beatrice watched her for a moment; ”and where is that? ”

Neera knew it was in the King’s court, but she did not want to say that. Surely, Lady Beatrice would immediately relay the information to Freya, who might hurt her again. They would all find out soon, but they would not hear it from her lips.

”I do not know, ma’am. ” Neera replied. Lady Beatrice watched her for a second, as though she did not believe her, then she walked away. Neera watched her leave, then she continued forward. She only took a few steps when she noticed a guard walking toward her;

”Come with me. ” he said and led the way.

Neera’s heart dropped when the guard stopped at a room just beside the king’s room. She did not think that the King would give her a room just opposite his. Her lips fell open when the guard pushed open the door.

The room was beautifully decorated. A queen’s bed sat in the middle of the room and was wrapped in fine bedsheets. The carpet was soft to step on, and there was a small couch beside the bed. A tall mirror stood by the east end of the room, and beside it was a table and chair made of shiny wood.

Neera could not believe her eyes. Well, she knew where she would move into would be better than where she was before, but she did not think he would ask the servants to decorate it so beautifully.

As Neera stood staring, her heart softened for real this time. Earlier that day, she was very sad, but now she could not remember any of it.

”I’ll take my leave. ” The guard spoke as he shut the door behind him; jolting Neera from her thoughts.

...

The three witches thanked the soldiers, who had escorted them to their village. They stood still as they watched them ride away when they were far gone. The eldest of them lowered the hood of her cloak;

”Oh how gullible Zavian is... ” she said, with an evil grin stretching her lips. The two other witches chuckled derisively.

”How could he think that such a miracle was possible? I thought he was wiser than that. ” One of the other witches asked, and they all laughed.

”Well, you cannot blame the poor King, Akira. The power of love is so overwhelming, irresistibly scorching, yet damning. Lucifer was right when he said Zavian would fall right into the trap. Tsk Tsk Tsk...”

Miriana spoke, shaking her head;

”Are we to start the ritual right away?” The third witch asked, handing the bottle of blood to Miriana.

”No, it is not yet time. The ritual will only be efficient when he has fallen for the girl. The spy at the Castle would let us know, and then there would be no going back for King Zavian. The end of him will finally come. ”