Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 254: Self-proclaimed master

Guided by the pale glow of moonlight, she walked inside the forest behind the Crystal Castle.

After she was at a large distance from the castle, her footsteps slowed down as she saw an exquisite white horse standing in a distance.

She could have gone to Visteria by sea but it would have taken her longer to reach there and she would have been exhausted by the long journey.

She climbed the horse as she hugged the small bundle of clothes she had made.

Luciana tightened the reins of the horse and with a swift movement, the horse neighed as he ventured into the forest, moving towards the boundary of the Defire Kingdom which was closed for outsiders but open for them.

...

When Aleister met King Rezeph for the first time, he was just a young boy, weak and desperate.

Even though he had battled a pack of wolves in the Enchantment Forest, he was still intimidated by the beasts there. When he was sent to the battlefield, a place where he found it hard to adapt at first, he made a new friend there. Rowan. And since he had the tiny Leo with him who resembled a rabbit at times, the three of them had always stuck to each other.

One of those days he was heavily injured and that was the first time he met Rezeph who resembled a beggar.

The man had been curious about the swatches of ink on the young Aleister’s back and after some time, he had asked him if he knew how powerful he was, to which Aleister remembered saying something like, ’I was kicked out because I am weak and sickly,’ he had exposed his innermost thoughts to the beggar, believing that he was as pathetic as himself.

The man had then healed his wounds and taken him with himself after he lost consciousness.

When his eyes opened, he found himself in a grand castle where the walls sparkled like crystals. It took him some time to realize that the man he met the day before was not a beggar, but a King.

He did not know much about that mysterious kingdom he was taken to but while enduring his short stay there, the King became his self-proclaimed Master.

Aleister did not protest it because the man taught him how to control his powers and that was all he needed at that time.

By paying attention to whispers surrounding the castle walls, he got to know more about Defire Kingdom and the creatures that reigned the sea. At that time, he had found it absurd, unable to believe in such things.

The day when he was leaving, the King gave him a crystal ball and told him that if he ever needed help, he just had to appear in front of him with it.

But Aleister had never used it. Not until that night.

When Aleister felt like he was heaving his last breath, he handed that crystal ball to Esme. Just the mention of Defire Kingdom had invoked the memories of King Rezeph in his mind but Aleister kept it from Esme for so long because he was not certain about anything.

He did not want to confuse her along with him.

But it was too late by the time he wanted to tell her about his encounter with the King of Defire.

’’Hmm, I won again,’’ Rezeph looked at the chessboard.

His words brought Aleister out of his reverie.

’’Although you are not as great as me,’’ Rezeph stroked his chin as he glanced at Aleister, ’’But you are not subpar either.’’

Earlier, Aleister ended up reminiscing about the past because of this. Somehow, he could not understand the antics of this self-proclaimed Master who has been clinging to him since yesterday.

First, Rezeph asked him if he was proficient in music and calligraphy and now he was testing his chess skills in which Aleister kept stepping back everytime at the peak of the game to let the man win.

At this time, there were soft footsteps near the door.

"Your Majesty.’’

Aleister raised his head only to find a familiar face. Dory?

Noree?

Aleister frowned, trying to remember the name of one of the twins whom Cardan got to pretend with him earlier this day.

Rezeph tilted his head to the side.

’’Lady Esme and the Heir Apparent are at the dining table. They are waiting for you.’’

Rezeph pushed himself to his feet at the mention of that.

As they walked out of the King’s bed chambers, Aleister’s footsteps slowed down, "Anything that you want to say?" he could sense her hesitant gaze.

’Mory’ immediately bowed to him, ’’My Lord,’’ her voice dipped to a whisper, ’’Lady Luciana went to the Norwell Manor for a closed-door cultivation.’’

Aleister frowned. He did see Marcus Norwell bringing it up in the court. The man was talking to the King about how diligent his children were not knowing that he might not see tomorrow’s moon for beating those very same diligent children. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’’And...’’ the maid looked around before speaking, ’’Lord Cardan has gone somewhere. He said that he will see you soon. He asked me to convey this to you before he left.’’

Aleister nodded at her before he turned around and followed the King, but the frown between his brows did not loosen.

What trouble was Cardan brewing this time?

...

At the border of Visteria, near Enchantment forest.

’Hyaa’

The horse halted his movements as Luciana pulled the reins.

She straightened her body as she jumped off the horse.

Esme had healed all her wounds and Luciana believed that it would not be painful anymore.

But after riding the horse for so long, her spine was growing to ache terribly.

She leaned back on a tree and slowly glided down for support as she panted.

The words her father said to her started floating in her mind yet again.

She had tried to keep those words at bay but that did not mean those words did not get to her head.

’’I hate you, father,’’ Luciana mumbled, irritation gnawed at her chest as she closed her eyes.