Pigment (Millard Nullings X Reader)

Stabbedy Stabbedy

I expected to wake up with Millard next to me on a chilly English morning. I mean, last I was aware, I was sleeping next to Millard on a chilly English night with a sky full of bright white and yellow stars. But instead, I found myself wrapped up in blanket covers inside one of the wagons. A window was propped open to show that everyone was already awake and moving.

Did I sleep walk over there or something? I mean, the sleep walking part I fully understood, but somehow getting into a cabin?

Quietly, I hobbled out of the bed and outside. Some people cheerfully waved at me, and I immediately searched for one of my peculiar fellows. Specifically one who would be invisible to the eye and making tired jokes, but there was no one. Well, the gypsies were there, but that wasn't what I meant.

Quickly enough, I spotted Emilian. He had this goofy smile on his face, and he cupped my hands in his. I ignored this, and asked him where my friends were. "Did they all just suddenly leave to go piss at the same time or something?"

He just laughed and patted my hand tenderly. "No, they left without you."

I blinked. "I'm sorry, what? What do you mean they left? Where?"

"They all went to London with the horses Bekhir let them use. I just told them you had already left. I feel bad for lying, but I know it will be worth it in the end." Emilian just kept smiling. "Now we get to be together! Can you believe it?"

"No, you're kidding," I said. This was just some stupid joke, right? Hugh thinks that he's always so funny. He got Emilian in on the joke, probably.

"Don't you remember the ring I gave you?" Emilian asked.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, my grandmother gave it to me," he explained, as if that would fix anything. "It was prophesied that whoever it turns blue for, that person will be my true love. And the ring chose you, remember? It turned blue when you touched it last night."

Oh, oh no. It didn't mean anything to me then, but now I clearly remembered. He gave it to me, saying that he wished the stone in the middle was blue, so I changed it to be that way....

"That was just a parlor trick," I said. "I changed it for fun, because I thought it was funny. It's not actually blue, I swear it isn't."

I put my hands in my pockets, looking for the ring, yet there was nothing in either of them. I checked my coat pocket, finding some lint and a piece of old gum. I rechecked again, and even looked at my fingers, but there was no ring to be found.

"It doesn't matter if I don't have it," I said, mostly trying to reassure myself. "Your grandmother probably just made that up. That's what adults are supposed to do; lie about everything!

"You're just confused," Emilian answered. Uh, did he not just here what I said? "Maybe after the wedding, everything will-"

"I'm sorry, did you just saying wedding?" I asked. "Who said we were getting married?"

"I am to marry whoever the ring chooses and it chose you," Emilian said. "Is it my English that is confusing you? Because it seems like a very simple concept."

"Oh no, it's just that where I bloody come from, we don't get forced into marrying whoever a mood ring says is suitable!" I yelled, shaking now. "Plus, you act as if you didn't know I was already very happy with Millard right now."

Emilian just snorted and folded his arms. "The one no one can see? How can you love him if you cannot see him?"

"Because he actually knows me and doesn't try to be my friend just so he can legally get in my pants!" I yelled.