"The Empress of Broken Hearts hosts....a matchmaking event?" Leo nodded as I spoke. "Peculiar, isn't it? I see she's still clinging to her mortal past." He said the last part with a hint of disdain but I didn't dare touch on it.
He grinned at me and nodded to the plate. "Eat up." He tapped his finger against his chin. "Esmeralda hall is quite a few Kingdoms away."
I shook my head before looking down. "It's not like I need to eat anyway..." I mumbled, remembered the curse and the immortality it grants me. "Right, but you'll be uncomfortable otherwise." He stated and I tilted my head. How do you know?
"It's obvious you would be given how much you enjoy eating." He smiled and I nearly smacked him in the face. I just squinted in annoyance and pushed my plate away. "Oh, don't tell me you've lost your appetite?" His mouth gaped tauntingly.
"How could I eat when I see your face?" I spat but his smile just grew wider. "I'm just so handsome that you'd rather eat me instead. Is that it?"
I practically choked on my own mouth before promptly straightening up and clearing my throat. "Esmeralda hall's only open once a year. How will we get to her?" I quickly switched topics. Both his grin and eyes lingered before he sighed, clicked his tongue. "Let's just say I sent a letter about my arrival and she promptly switched the date to three days from now." He flashed me a red invitational envelop with the golden letters "Esmeralda Hall." Inscribed on it.
"I thought she hated you." I questioned. "She does," he replied with the same annoyed tone, "Which is exactly why she did this. She knows how urgently I need that book so she's decided to fill the place with humans in hopes I'll be recognized and hunted down. Any other day I could just bust through her door."
"What if we just arrive at a later date?" I asked with a simple tone. He smiled once again. Opened his mouth to speak. "Don't talk about how simple I make everything seem again." I cut him off.
"You know me so well." He chuckled before starting again. "If we do that, she'll most likely sic the temple on me the second we arrive." He pushed himself up from the table. "So we have to be there during the event or else she won't entertain us in the slightest."
"Doesn't she know you're helping her?"
"Anything I do can hardly be seen as help." He held out his hand for me to take it. "Besides, Esmeralda enjoys entertainment. And what's more entertaining than watching me parade around in a mask pretending to be human?"
Right. I remembered then. Esmeralda hall was a masquerade. An impressive one at that. I've already stated how eager people are to receive an invitation. But, Leo didn't seem to be looking forward to it in the slightest.
"We haven't got outfits." I said once we were in the carriage. "Sure we do." He replied listlessly. "Oh, big scary Legend. Bet you'll just wish one into existence, right?" I mocked without thinking.
I jolted though when I realized he was staring at me. His face was straight-almost stern. I wanted to punch myself for daring to taunt a Legend.
He opened his mouth to speak and I braced instantly. "Actually, they're in the trunk." A slow smile kept on his face and I sighed a great sigh of relief. "What? Did you think you hurt my feelings?" His Cheshire grin grew even more.
"No," I was quick to reply, "though it would be funny if I had.." I mumbled. "Would it now?" He asked with the same cruel smile he always had.
"Maybe." I smiled at myself as I spoke. "If I didn't know any better, little queen, I would say I've influenced you." His lids were low and lazy as he spoke, his head leaning against his fist.
"But, I know just how much you despise me." He stated, galaxies blazing into my eyes. "Right." I said. I do hate him. I do. I don't enjoy his company. Not one bit.
"Good." He said and I couldn't help but feel a little hurt. He wants me to hate him. And maybe it's because I hate him so much that I want to defy him all the more. Maybe I shouldn't hate him.
"I can tell what you're thinking, queenie." He spoke to me but his gaze was out the window. "And it's not a good idea." I gulped and shot my eyes to the side instantly. I felt heat threaten to crawl along my face as I stared at the passing scenery.
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It was night now and the ghostly horse came to an abrupt halt. I stared attentively at a small cottage amidst the wet forest where we had stopped. "We've stopped." I stated obviously and Leo shook his head with a chuckle.
"So, we did." He opened the door and extended his arm for me to take it. "Where are we?" I asked and he eyed me as we walked down the moist, dirt path. "Just an inn. Can't let the horse run all night."
It had occurred to me then that the carriage was real and not some anomaly in my mind. "Does your horse eat?"
"You're concerned about my horse now?"
"Well...yes, it's the reason that we're even here right now."
He laughed and I could tell it was genuine. "She isn't alive so she can't eat."
"Did you own her before she died?"
"No...but I was the one who killed her." My eyes grew wide and I wanted to pause but I just continued walking with him. "Of course, it was by accident. She belonged to one of the many men that have tried to smite me. I decided it would be a waste to just leave her, so now she leads my carriage." He was nonchalant about it all but I couldn't help but notice the strain in his jaw.
He promptly pulled his hood over his head and then opened the lodge door for me. "Welcome, travelers!" The older woman at the front desk was surprisingly chipper despite her dark circles.
"You want to give us a room, don't you?" Leo asked with a smile and she instantly nodded. "Yes....I think I do." She promptly handed him a roughly shaped key before turning and reining her duties.
"You couldn't have just paid?" I asked as we stalked up the wooden steps leading to the rooms. "No, I couldn't." He grinned before unlocked the door at the end of the hall. I stepped in and saw one large bed with a rustic headboard. Around it were barnish decorations and a bear skin rug lay on the floor.
I gulped at the sight of the singular bed and tried not to eye Leo. "Don't worry, little queen, I don't usually sleep anyway." He smiled and placed his hands on my shoulders. "So, what? You're just going to stand there and watch me sleep?" I asked noticing there wasn't a chair in sight or anywhere else he could go.
He grinned his same Cheshire grin and leaned close to my ear.
"Maybe."
YOU ARE READING
The Ballad of Deceit (YANDERE entity x reader)
FantasíaY/n had just become engaged to the love of her life and was soon to finish her knight training when she was suddenly cursed. The curse had been locked away for centuries until someone had managed to release it and pass it onto y/n. Confused and angr...
