The Evil Duke Teaches Evilness at Orsephius Orphanage

After we landed near our doomed destination, I finally recovered the dignity I had been shamelessly deprived of.

    My feet touching ground again, I turn a glance back at the brambly creature, only to see it recede into the shape of innocent bushes of roses. With a last wince directed at them, I follow the banshee as we head towards a vast cottage, bypassing a low wall made out of grey stones. Probably a way to prevent the horde of gremlins inhabiting this place from escaping.

    In default of being high, the whitewashed straw walls spread over a good part of the hill. It doesn’t take us long, though, before reaching the door of the main construction. While the grim fairy enters it right away, I pause a few steps behind.

    For some reason, I feel my heartbeat reaching a pace I didn’t consent to.

“Alright… All according to the plan, I’m simply going to spend more time with Ambrillia, learn to know her better and… realise how futile these feelings have been. For the sake of my evil nature!”

“What are you waiting for, the end of the world?” The grim fairy has paused to glance back at me.

    Gulp.

    Breathing in, I pass the threshold.

“It’s time to put an end to this game.”

    Beyond the entrance, guffaws and stomping echo one another as orphans excitedly run here and there. A bunch of decorations threaten to escape the weak embrace of their gremlin arms. Stars made out of an interlacing of branches fall to the floor, some lucky enough to roll a few metres away from their hands.

    Excited as they are, most of the children don’t pay us attention.

“Blathnat!”

“Who is that?”

“Blathnat is back!”

“Blathie!!”

    Except for a couple of them who rush towards the banshee, pinching her shawl, grabbing her forearms. To which she grumbles vaguely, without pushing them back either.

“Where is Armillia?” She asks them.

“Ar...Ar..millia… Is that her first name? Why is it so adorable.”

“In the closeeeet!”

“Don’t know!”

    To which Blathnat the banshee exhales.

“It’s still dusk, so I guess she’s still baking along with the maids.” She concludes on her own before collecting the gremlins pinned to her one by one, either keeping them in her gnarled arms or placing them on her shoulders. “I’ll go get her.”

    And on these last words addressed to me, she walks away. Leaving me behind in the middle of enemy territory.

    Cautiously, I take a few steps inside the orphanage, eyeing with a frown the small inhabitants of this place. They’re busy adorning it with wooden and painted, handmade decorations.

    Children have this concerning disability of not being able to feel the maleficent aura one does carry.

“Poor things, they don’t realise the trouble they might be in.”

    As I cross the middle of the room, I pause to observe the statue of an angel sitting on a stone pillar before me.

“Curious… Even if angels’ feathers are deemed to be lucky charms, representations of them are not that common. Simple eccentricity?”

    I can’t help but notice the level of intricacy with which are depicted not only his feathers, but his face, his hair; short if not for a few strands cascading over his bare chest.

    I linger only a moment longer before resuming my steps through the room. Barely noticing a gremlin standing right in front of me, I stop just in time not to trample this one.

    Ahh devil was I right about their lack of survival instinct!

    As I take a few steps back, I glance down at a young girl. Her short blond hair adorned with a fabric headband, she holds a rag plush. Staring at me with curious emerald eyes.

“I never saw you before… Who are you?” The little girl asks.

“Who I am?” I echo her. “Well, listen carefully, for I am the evil Duke ruling the lands of Oneixium.”

    While I expect her to run away in haste, the little girl’s expression fills instead with sparkles as she holds tighter that rabbit plush of hers.

“You’re a villain?”

“Umm, ughh…” I avert my gaze. “Yes.”

“A real villain…” She murmurs. “Oh, please! Teach me how to become a good villain!”

    While these naive words first take me aback, I soon can’t suppress a smirk.

“Ohh? You want me to give you some advice? Well, to reward your noble aspirations, I agree to offer you a little bit of my time.”

    The promise is enough for her to open her mouth in awe.

    I wouldn’t have hoped for such an opportunity. What better way to express my will to remain a villain than to corrupt young, innocent souls and to guide them on the grand path of evilness?

    Glancing around, I take a few steps towards a wooden crate where I take my seat.

“Listen carefully, to become a villain isn’t an easy task.” I begin. “It supposes being able to instil hatred in naive people and respect in your enemies. If you want to embrace an evil life, then you’ll have to work first on your looks.”

“My looks?” She tilts her head. “I’m not cute?”

“Mmm…” I briefly avert my gaze, realising the task might not be as easy as I pictured it. “There are better things to be than cute.”

“Like what?” She blinks, leaning in.

“Elegant. Elegant is the better cute.”

    Hence I begin to delve into the subtleties and the importance of ascending one’s aura to the point where your mere presence reflects a deceptive image. One that would anger your enemies, unable to find any sensible source of mockery.

    Before I notice it, a group of gremlins forms in front of me, sitting on the floor, while the little girl finds her place on my knees.

“…and don’t forget. The path of evilness is a solitary one. The best villains have no ties, for they are mere weaknesses their enemies would be able to use against them. And a villain…” I trail off.

“Has many, many enemies!” The children finish in unison.

    With a satisfied smile, I take a moment to observe those who may as well become tomorrow’s evil masterminds.

“Very well.” I turn a glance at the little girl sitting on my lap. “Now, tell me. What is your name?”

“Ciara.”

“And, Ciara, why do you dream of becoming a villainess?”

“It’s because Miss Armillia likes villains! And I want to become someone Miss Armillia will like a lot.” Ciara pauses with an innocent smile while my mind bursts from the unexpected attack. “She always tells us stories about an evil noble with dark dark red hair.”

    The spontaneous combustion of my very braincells leaves me speechless. I should have known better than to lower my guard near these gremlins… Of course Ambrillia did prepare them to torture me. This is all part of her plan, I can tell…

“Why are your ears all red?” Ciara asks, glancing up at me. “Did your hair bleed onto them?”

    In haste, I reach up to cover my ears.

“They aren’t red.”

“They are.” She adds in a slower pace, frowning.

    Demon.

“Wait… the dark red hair…” Another orphan, a little older, chimes in. “What is your name?”

    Rearranging strands of my crimson hair so that my ears get some respite, I open my mouth to answer.

“I am…”

“Duke Luphor.” A whisper interrupts me, my heart missing a beat.

    Gasps follow one another among the circle of aspiring villains, and part of them exchange knowing glances. Secrecy. Connivance.

    But I can’t focus on them any more.

    I.

    Can’t.

    Focus.

    Her breath too close, brushing my ear. This scent of apricots I missed…

    Missed?

“I would have apologised for making you wait, but it seems that you entertained yourself quite well.”

“Entertained…” I mumble. “In a few years, you’ll regret letting such malleable minds under my guidance.”

    My survival instinct commands me not to turn around, lest I face the consequences of such lunacy. Instead, I chase Ciara from my lap and stand up first.

    Ahh… Futile precautions.

    The moment I catch sight of her short amber locks, softly brushing her cheeks, of her sleeveless, night-blue dress… I am reminded of the curse set upon me.

    All in frills, the fabric sparkles like a night sky. Not that she needs it. Her presence alone is worth a thousands stars… Ambrillia is enough.

“Marquessa Ambrillia, I-”

    Before I can finish, a swarm of children rushes forward, gathering around her.

“Where are the cakes?”

“Look! Look! We decorated the whole room!”

“I locked Finn in the closet! Muhuh.”

“Miss! I’m hungry!”

    Unbothered by the horde, Ambrillia keeps her serene smile, her eyes closed. She listens to them before clapping her gloved hands.

“Everyone, go wash your hands now! Dinner awaits us!” She lowers then her voice ever so slightly. “And Sarah, free Finn from the closet.”

    As the orphans run in dozens, heading to another room, Ambrillia takes a few steps closer to me.

“Armillia.” She utters, raising her head at me. Only when she sees my lost expression does she resumes. “Let’s drop the formalities.”

    Does this woman have no shame? Is my unlucky star to blame? She can’t. She can’t expect me to call her by such an adorable name…

    I would melt every time I uttered it.

    But I am not a villain to tame, and so do I simply and utterly avert my gaze.

“You still have to repent for having considered bringing me real frogs on our date.” She adds in a surprisingly oppressive tone.

“H-How does she even know about the real ones…”

    A shiver runs up my spine.

“Ar…Armi…” My gaze flickers to her expectant expression. “Armillia Ambrillia…”

    She nods.

“Umm, I’ll allow it for now, Rowan.”

    The universe collapses. The stars explode one after the other. And I wish I were one of them, because I have no idea how I am supposed to survive an entire evening by her side…

    Devil, spare me.