My Words Are Law

The Beginning

A shadow slowly loomed towards her face. When she realized what he intended to do, binding words quickly rushed out of her mouth.

"͎L͎͎e͎͎t͎ ͎g͎͎o͎..-!"

Chryses obediently did as told with a smile. "You've used it twice now..."

Crazy! Amaryllis stepped back before escaping inside the living room. Did she really just pity him? Ha! She thought his weird behavior changed. It turns out he was just hiding it! 

"Think carefully about when you'll use your words for the last time."

Amaryllis paused at his words. She looked back and narrowed her eyes at his somber appearance, much like how he acted when he was drunk. He's wearing an expression that doesn't suit him at all.

"Why? What will you do once I use my ability for the third time? Are you going to kill me?"

"I've already said this countless times, but I don't have any interest in harming you, Amaryllis. Is my nonretaliation to the disownment not proof of that?"

"Then what?" When he didn't answer, she angrily stomped back towards him as she grabbed his collars, angrily screaming, "Then what!?" She glared at him, full of spite, "You're going to hurt my family?" 

He remained silent, but that was enough answer for Amaryllis. "Oh, my god..." A look of disbelief crossed her features. He didn't deny her speculation. "You said you like me... Is this what you mean?" Her grip lost strength, and her hands fell to her side before going to her mouth.

Chryses suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling down the hands that covered her parted lips in shock. "...Are you scared..?" 

She slowly looked up at his face as she pursed her lips. He could feel her shaking. Even her lips trembled as her eyes watered.

"Why..? Why do you look like that..? What did I do so wrong for you to hate me? I apologized... I gave up my inheritance... What else do you want me to do? I just want you to stay by my side... Is that a sin..-?" 

"What is going on here?" The sound of her Aunt's voice rang like alarms. She flipped her head towards the door and found two people standing at the entrance, looking at her with varied expressions. Ivor stood evidently shocked, frozen in the act of having just opened the door. 

"I-..." Amaryllis diverted her gaze to her aunt, who was staring at Chryses with a scrutinizing gaze. Amaryllis quickly snatched her hands back. "It's not what you think. W-were just-" 

"Ivor, go to your room." Her aunt pushed Ivor's back, and he obediently did so, albeit reluctantly, as he kept on looking at his sister and the stranger who doesn't seem alarmed at being discovered while uttering cheesy lines like a lovestruck second-generation rich kid from a third-rate romcom movie. He has a flashy face and looks calm, but he has a hidden weird side, just like a character from those mediocre dramas his seatmate seems to like watching. 

As soon as they heard Ivor's door close, her Aunt finally closed the main door, seemingly just recalling about it, before heading over to the dining table. 

"...A-Aunt...-" Amaryllis began but was cut off by her aunt.

"Why don't we all sit down-" There was a sudden loud knock on the door, and Mr. Dale's frantic voice could be heard from inside. 

"Amaryllis! I saw your aunt and brother pull up in the driveway! I'm asking just in case, but does she know you have a boyfriend?"

Amaryllis wanted to die that instant. How could he immediately assume that Chryses is her boyfriend? He must have thought her aunt still hasn't reached home to be shouting such atrocities, but Amaryllis couldn't care less as she wanted to strangle him right now.