Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 200: Daughter

Four maids surrounded Leo who was lying on Esme’s bed. One of the maids fed him grapes, the other was fanning him, and the remaining two were dancing and singing simultaneously. All the while, Leo, the tiny adorable beast sat like continued half lying there on the pillow like a cold King.

More so, he looked unusually cold tonight.

That was the scene that Esme witnessed when the doors to her room opened. The fixated frown on her face gradually disappeared and all her worries momentarily dispersed when she saw Leo.

Her lips tugged up in a bright beautiful smile when she saw him, ’’Leo,’’ she called out.

The beast straightened up on the bed. His eyes shimmered when his gaze landed on her and without paying further attention to the maids, he jumped off the bed and ran towards her before stopping near her feet.

The maids let out inaudible sighs of relief as they wiped their non-existent sweat droplets. It was an honor for mermaids like them to be able to work in the royal castle and since there were no royal members other than the King, there was no fear of offending anyone.

The King never paid attention to people like them. They didn’t even pay that much attention to the heir apparent, let alone ordinary maids like them.

Their work could not have been easier here in the Castle but everything changed a few months ago since the heir apparent’s fiancee moved into the palace.

The King who never paid attention to anyone doted on the girl and pampered her to bits. And it made them wary.

But their fear did not last long as they realized how sweet the lady was.

But the same could not be said about the lady’s beast, Leo. The heir apparent’s status should be highest in order after the King but at this moment, the one who enjoyed the highest status after the King was this seemingly small and strange beast.

What’s more, the King gave him preferential treatment. And the beast’s feral aura always kept them on their toes no matter how small and furry he appeared.

Esme squatted in front of him, ’’I missed you,’’ she picked him up in her arms, nuzzling her face in his fur.

Leo glanced at her in disdain but the maids could say that he was pleased by that or else an earth-shattering roar would have resounded in the castle by now.

’’You all can leave,’’ Esme said to them.

"My Lady, the King was here to see you some time ago. Would you like for us to escort you to his bed-chamber?" one of the maids asked.

Esme shook her head without giving it another thought, ’’I’d like to rest,’’ she pushed herself to her feet.

"..." The maids looked at each other, stunned. That was the King they were talking about. She should be honored that the King adored her so much. But instead of being honored, she seemed vaguely annoyed.

Esme tilted her head to look at them.

The maids awkwardly left the room.

’’I know you are angry because I did not take you to the sea with me but I am still scared that you will drown,’’ Even though Leo seemed to have some special ability that helped him adapt to water, but the sight of him throwing his limbs around and moving in the water without a tail scared her.

And the thought of losing Leo terrified her.

Why? She had no idea. She felt a lot of things and she had no idea why she felt them. She had no idea why she cherished Leo so much but she could feel how important he was to her.

The beast glared at her quietly.

’’You just mean a lot to me,’’ Esme kissed the top of his head and Leo coyly placed his paw on his face. She smiled, ’’And I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to take even the slightest risk with you.’’

’Roar’

Esme almost lost balance when Leo roared, the ground beneath her seemed to be vibrating and she stumbled a few steps back.

He jumped off her arms, ’’What happened?" she glanced at him.

Leo blinked his round eyes, observing their surroundings.

Esme glanced at him in confusion.

But the beast simply walked out of the room without paying attention to her. Through the gaps between the curtains of the glass walls, she could see him looking at every guard who passed by, his gaze wandered at random objects.

Is he looking for something?

Esme sighed helplessly as she walked towards her canvas. Her eyes took in the sight of the pair of beautiful blue eyes that she had painted.

’Don’t hate me again..’

Who did she hate?

Closing her eyes, she shook her head.

Determined to keep her mind in control, Esme took out the pouch from her gown. She opened it and stared at the comb lying inside it for some time but she placed it aside before any wild thoughts could consume her.

her chest felt stuffy everything she thought about the things that she was clueless about.

...

Esme always had trouble sleeping at nights, sometimes because of her dreams and sometimes, she felt sleepless without any reason.

And almost all the guards and maids were aware of it because of the King who ordered them to let her sleep to her heart contents.

For that, they always arranged calming sea essence and dark curtains to stop the sunlight from waking her up.

But this was the first time Esme was greeted by the sight of a row of maids standing near her head so early in the morning while the head maid woke her up.

"My Lady. His Highness has summoned you to the sea court,’’ the mermaid who was in her human form at the moment said carefully.

Esme glanced at them dazedly before, ’’The sea court?" Why was she summoned to a place like that?

It was only for the royals and higher-ranking officials. She had no titles here, nor did she have any special status except for being Jeremiah’s fiancee.

Despite all her doubts, Esme got ready with the help of the maids and soon, she was escorted to the sea court.

Surprisingly, the court was empty of ministers. There were no guards around.

The King who was sitting on his throne looked in her direction at her arrival and so did Jeremiah who was standing at a distance.

Esme glanced to her right and she found the whole Norwell family standing there.

She smiled at Luciana and the woman smiled back but Esme could tell that something was going on in her mind. She did not look like herself.

As for the rest of the Norwell Family members, including Jeremiah, all of them looked as confused as her.

Esme placed Leo on the floor and the beast walked towards the King before quietly examining the throne.

’’Your Majesty,’’ Esme greeted the King.

King Rezeph’s warm smile disappeared when he heard her address him that way, ’’How did we decide that you will address me?"

’’Your Majesty,’’ Esme looked at him, ’’Why am I summoned here? Is everything alright?"

The Norwell Family was shocked at her audacity. Except for Jeremiah and Luciana, who knew that the King doted on Esme, both Marcus and Lucian were clueless.

hence, Marcus could not hold his tongue back, ’’What is that way to talk to His Majesty? Do you know that your tongue can be cut off for such audacity?"

’’What is that way to talk to my daughter, old man?" King Rezeph tilted his head to the side, propping his chin on his fist as he continued speaking, ’’Do you know that your tongue will be pulled out and cut off into tiny tiny pieces before being scattered in the sea?"

’’D-Daughter?" Everyone in the courtroom was stunned. The King had no descendants. That’s the reason he chose Jeremiah as the next King. What did he mean by daughter?

Marcus frowned. It was impossible... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

’’His Majesty means he shows an interest in adopting me as his daughter,’’ Esme could not take the stifling tension in the place.

Rezeph frowned, ’’What do you mean by adopting? You are my daughter,’’ he almost sounded like he was whining.

The Norwell Family members were in disbelief. The King was so desperate to adopt her as his daughter but it seems that Esme was the reluctant one.

What has the world come to?

Esme frowned. Daughter? She did not even know who her family was. She did not want to be anyone’s adopted daughter, regardless if the said father was a peasant or a King.

Being a daughter came with its responsibilities and expectations. She did not want to be tied in any such shackles when her life was already squeezing the breath out of her lungs.

She could barely pass her day without being worried about her non-existent past and seemingly bleak future. The responsibility of being a daughter was the last burden she wanted to carry...

"If there is nothing else, I would like to leave,’’ Esme nodded at the King.

’’There there,’’ Rezeph arched a brow at her, his eyes gauging the change in her. He could see there was something different about Esme. While he had seen the ire beneath her calmness but she never let it out. She always seemed like a shy and prim woman, not nearly as defiant as she is now. What just happened?

’’I have something to discuss with you all.’’ ’

Esme glanced at him when his tone turned solemn.