The Evil Potion

“Ohh, no. Don’t tie my hair.”

    Unhinged. There’s a hint of lunacy in his voice the moment the young master finally speaks.

“Don’t you find it of poor taste, Keillweist? A ridiculous ribbon?” The Duke Luphor adds with a smirk.

“As you wish, my lord.”

    Leaving the emerald and golden ribbon on his dresser, I settle for readjusting a few of his crimson strands of hair.

“There you go.”

    For a moment, the young master most likely observes the result in the mirror, that smirk never parting from his expression.

“Breakfast will be read-”

“Keillweist,” the duke interrupts me, “I have a request for you.”

   Not uttering a word, I merely await him to continue.

“You’re going to fire every single servant, every single maid working in this mansion.”

    My brow furrows, albeit barely noticeably.

“…Are you sure, my lord? Part of them have already fled from the mansion anyway, fearing what will happen… if Oneixium loses its banshee’s protection.”

“Ohh, you dare question my orders now? That isn’t very like you, Keillweist.”

    The words roll on his tongue, clearly pleased despite the meaning they carry.

“My lord certainly has his reasons. But is it reasonable, especially today? This would make it easier for any intruder to slip into the mansion without getting noticed.”

“Mmmm, a correct reasoning, my dear butler.” He turns to me, taking a step closer. Slowly, the duke reaches out his hands to adjust the folds of my white collar. “Unfortunately, you are omitting an equally concerning point. Among all these commoners serving me might as well be the one who is supposed to kill me tonight.” He chuckles smugly. “This is a bet. For I have no intentions of making it easy for them.”

    His reasoning appears as correct as insane.

“I’ll await whoever dares to intrude this place with my sword instead.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

    Avoiding to linger longer than necessary, in case the young master specifies I’d better fire myself along with the others, I head to the door.

    When I leave the duke’s room, though, I can’t help but ponder over his excessive decision.

“His first order of the day is to get rid of every single servant? No doubt he’s crueler than he ever was.”

    And then the thought crosses my mind. That maybe, just maybe, I overdosed the potion…

༻❦︎༺

    When was the last time I felt so… devilish? Was I even myself before?

    I can feel my blood boil with unrestrained evilness. As if somehow, my veins have been cleansed from the impurities staining them.

“My thoughts have never been so clear. Fabulous.”

    If this is my last day, I’ll let everyone remember it as my most glorious one.

    Firing each and every servant. A grand idea, isn’t it? Soon, they’ll be back in their houses and will let everyone know how cruel I am. Not a luxury after all the ridiculous rumours spread lately about myself.

    These rumours…

    Bitterness brings an annoyed expression to my face.

    How could I allow it?

    No matter how I try to reconsider my actions during these past weeks, the memories seem utter nonsense. Almost as if they weren’t mine.

    How… could I allow her?

    My expression darkening, it’s the moment Keillweist approaches me. Unwise of the poor man.

“My lord, the marquessa is here.”

    Sat in an armchair close to the window, my face leant against my fingertips, I don’t make the slightest move at my butler’s words.

“Do you ever bring me anything over than unpleasant news, Keillweist?” I glare at him.

    A pause. A hesitation.

“Should I send her back?”

    After a moment of consideration, I avert my gaze. A smirk upon my lips.

“No. Let her in.”

    I’ll show her what happens to insects flying too close to the fire.

“Very well.”

    And on these words, Keillweist leaves the room, only to return moments later with that noblewoman.

    Though, even the moment he crosses the threshold, I don’t care to stand up.

“Rowan, how are you?” She dares to ask.

“Ohh, I find you quite familiar with me. I didn’t know the Ambrillia family was so decadent.” I mock her, not caring to glance her way.

“There’s something different about you today.”

    Her voice seems unbothered as she reaches out her hand towards me. Reckless.

    Clap.

    With the back of my hand, I shove hers away when it gets too close.

“Stay away, woman.” I scold, abandoning my armchair to take a few steps away from her, turning only to look down on her.

    That’s when I notice a peculiar fact about the marquessa. Despite my gesture, she seems perfectly undeterred. If not oddly fascinated. I take as proof the hand she keeps before her mid-open mouth, a faint blush over her cheeks.

    I frown.

“Mind your behaviour.” I resume. “It isn’t worthy of a noble of your rank. Unless you want me to punish your family for your lack of education?”

    An evil smile settles on my lips. That’s the perfect occasion to break her. I will show her what it costs to distract a villain from his objectives. She will regret ever crossing the threshold of my mansion.

“Actually, that’s an excellent idea.” I add.

“Why don’t you punish me instead?”

“Ohh, you begin to understand your situation?”

    The poor thing is ready to sacrifice herself for her family. How commendable.

    Bonds. Ties. Truly mere weaknesses leading to one’s doom.

“Very well. I shall use your contribution to fix the mess you caused.” I take a step closer to her, reaching out my hand to grab possessively strands of her amber hair. Leaning in closer, briefly, I whisper next to her ear. “And if you’re not obedient, then I’ll steal that orphanage from you. I’ll make sure the orphans are taken care of and made into assassins I’ll send to end your parents’ miserable lives.”

    That’s when I feel her shiver. Finally. Her mind broke. I have to hold back a mocking chuckle as I lean back.

“She’ll be a simple puppet from now on.”

    But then I catch sight of her expression. Not only does she blush, but her eyes, although closed, sparkle.

    Releasing her hair, I take a step back, my brows twitching.

    Impossible… She can’t be devoid of fear. I’ve terrorised countless people in the past and none reacted the way she does. Even twisted ones simply let out unhinged laughter in reply to my threats; in defiance as for the souls matching my darkness, but this…

    Maybe sensing my confusion, the marquessa suddenly clears her throat.

“Ahh. That’s a terrible threat. I guess I have no choice but to listen to your request.”

    The smile she doesn’t care to erase makes her words poorly convincing. Unnerving. Was it her plan from the beginning? Did she pretend this nonsensical reaction only to mock me?

“My request?” I repeat with disgust. “Ohh, I acknowledge you’re quite the bold one, marquessa. But bold people also have shorter lifespans.” I mid-close my eyes.

“Not ‘marquessa’, you’re supposed to say Armillia.” She scolds with a smile.

“I’ll use your reputation to trap enemies of mine.” I resume, unbothered by her exotic whims. “Consider your righteous path your past life, because from now on you’ll only breathe to spit out lies for me.”

    And then she sighs.

    She sighs?

“I thought you were about to make me a proposal.”

“Ehh-” I widen my eyes.

“On my way here, I saw a few villagers leaving Oneixium hastily.” She pauses. “I heard from their mouths that Iagan let out a terrible scream last night. Are you worried? Is that why you act like this?” She reaches out her hand to cover her mouth with her bent fingers, whispering the last part. “I love the slightly dishevelled hair, though…”

“Worried?” I utter. “You think that I’m worried?”

    My gaze darkening, I take a few steps away from her, turning my back to this insane woman.

“Pathetic.”

    Metal clatters. Blade slides out its sheath.

    Having reached for the sword I keep at my waist, I now face the Marquessa Ambrillia again, the blade pointed at her chest.

    A beat.

“I don’t fear fate. There is no such thing as an unchangeable outcome. As long as a man doesn’t restrain himself with the chains of goodness, there is no limit to what he can achieve. I am the evil Duke, and as such, I am ready to slay any unruly pawn.” I pause. “Who sent you?”

    Her lack of fear only strengthens my certainty. Her words are all lies. If this woman doesn’t abide by my grim aura, then there must be another one she does.

    Standing still near the wall, my butler observes the scene without intervening. He knows better than to interrupt me.

    Even in this situation, this twisted woman doesn’t seem eager to abandon her smile as she steps aside my blade only to step closer to me.

“Foolish woman. Come any closer and your head will roll on the ground.”

“Mmm… I don’t think so.”

    She reaches out her hand, running her fingers along my blade. Uncanny. About to teach her the cost of her arrogance, that’s when I realise that my arm doesn’t obey me. Irregularity. I pull the blade towards her neck, pull harder, but still. My arm doesn’t move. As if throbbing with a will of its own.

“What’s happening?”

    Stepping closer still, the marquessa doesn’t stop until being a step away from me. Her hand moves forward to cover mine, curled over my sword’s hilt.

“You didn’t answer my question. Who sent you?”

    Despite my own body’s betrayal, I keep frowning at her. Frustration banished from my face.

“Love.”

    My eyes widen.

    Pressing her free hand against my chest, she leans in, her breath closer. Closer than my sanity should allow. Closer than required to keep our lips apart.

    It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

    Unable to step back, unable to retaliate, I feel my mind blur at the soft, moist pressure.

    A scent of apricot.

    My thoughts freeze.

    My heart freezes.

    My evilness shatters.

༻❦︎༺

“May it be the first, not the last.”

    After learning that doom loomed over my precious villain’s life, after seeing him act more evilly than he ever dared with me around, I could hardly resist Rowan’s allure.

    Also, his untied hair…

    As I lean back from our kiss, the blank look I see in his golden eyes is enough to let me know I won’t regret that little affectionate gesture.

    The blank look persists.

“Well,” I think as my smile widens, “I guess that he’ll need a moment to recover.”

    That’s when I hear the floor creak. Turning around, I catch sight of the butler. Standing a step away from me, he holds above his head a huge porcelain vase.

“I’m sorry…” He mutters.

    For a while, I observe him attentively. His concerned expression. His moustache alike to a butterfly’s. His fingers tightening over the vase. Suddenly finding the resolve to hurl the vase down at my head…

    …If not for the duke’s hand suddenly gripping him, his other hand wrapping around my waist in the blink of an eye, drawing me against his chest.

“Put this down, Keillweist.” Rowan’s voice coldly orders.