The Strange Suitor

“Who the hell was that guy?” Aine paced around her workshop. “And what was that reaction to my potion? It can’t be…” She pursed her lips. “Did it not affect him?” She laughed. “Impossible. Definitely impossible.” She stopped pacing. “Could he be…just shy?” She clapped her hands. “That must be it. There must be an effect like that, too. He felt too shy when he fell in love with me. So he had to leave immediately.” She scratched her head. “Could it be like that?” She sighed. I have to figure it out.

***

The next weekend arrived, and Aine came prepared with another draught of love potion. Lief Devlin came with another present, emerald earrings. Wanting to recheck if his previous reaction to the love potion would be the same, Aine decided not to make any changes to the potion.

Like the previous week, after drinking the potion-laced tea, they fell into a couple of seconds of silence. And there they were again…his hazel eyes that, for some reason, Aine couldn’t stop herself from staring at.

God…I really wish I had those eyes.

Aine shook her head, reminding herself to focus. She studied him carefully, waiting for the potion to take effect, but his only reaction was a cheeky smile and a few words: “My Lady, I like this tea, I really do. But…I think it would be better if it were…stronger?”

And just like that, he excused himself and left again.

***

Lief returned to the Dariens’ manor the next weekend as promised. During his previous visit, he noticed his heart beat for almost a minute. That was an improvement from 30 seconds.

Lief was anticipating another improvement. He even brought a gift again. But to his dismay, the love potion’s effect had not changed. His heart beat still for less than a minute. Perhaps changes had to be made in the love potion’s mixture. He did his best to relay the message to Aine without revealing anything.

***

“What’s with that reaction?” Aine stomped onto the floor of her bedroom. “And damn those hazel eyes!” She grabbed a pillow and threw it on the floor. “Was that really it? That’s the effect on him? Or is there really no effect on him? How is that even possible? My potion? No effect? Really?” She laughed dryly, then stopped. She bit her nails. “He said he wants something stronger, huh?”

Still stomping, Aine headed for her workshop.

***

The weeks passed by with Lief Devlin visiting every weekend. And it had become a cycle. He would arrive in the greenhouse with a gift—always with emeralds. Aine would lace the tea with love potion. They chat for a bit. After drinking the potion, he would merely smile, state a few words, then abruptly leave.

But he has not once stated one important thing…that he loved Aine. No confessions. No proposals. No plans for their future. There was no physical reaction, too. He never rushed to hug her or attempted to kiss her. Not even to hold her hand. Just the brief goodbye and ‘I’ll come back again next weekend’ with his cheeky smile and his hazel eyes. Those damn hazel eyes!

Aine had been changing the ratios of the love potion continuously. But there still seemed to be no effect on him.

“What is wrong with him?” Aine grabbed the potted rose and was about to slam it onto the ground, but she stopped. “Okay, Aine…” She breathed, placing the plant back on the table. “Calm down.” She smirked. “Your love potion is still on trial basis. Of course.” She laughed. “It just needs a little work. Remember, making the true love potion is the goal.” She clenched her fists. “But there’s really something off with him.” She huffed. “He doesn’t give much information about himself. And all conversations pretty much lead to the tea.” Her forehead wrinkled. “It’s like…he’s just…coming for the tea.”