When A Ghoul Falls In Love

When he comes out, he sees Amachi leaning against the wall.

“How is the lady?” Amachi asks him.

“She’s better.” He replies gravely, “Can you guess what kind of magic it is?”

“It’s Fae’s magic, but it’s twisted.” Amachi creases his forehead. “I think I see old fae magic inside her. Also, I don’t think that she has much time before the seal is broken.”

“So, we can’t stop it from breaking.” Eli has already guessed it. Nell must have known it too. But Devil hasn’t said anything. Maybe they are hiding things about the seal. Why does he have the feeling that Nell isn’t completely relying on him? “How long does she have?”

“Three days at most.” Amachi looks at his fingers. “Maybe two. I wouldn’t worry about the seal too much. There are curses placed on her. They won’t go away even if the seal is broken.”

He inhales sharply. “We are dark sorcerers. We can deal with the curses.”

“This kind of curse can only be broken by the caster,” Amachi tells him, “or a bigger curse. We also have one more method to fix everything?”

“That is?” Eli probes him calmly.

“You can use darkness on her. You have the ability to end the curse and mend the seal.” Amachi smirks at him, “Isn’t that an easy way?”

It’s not that he hasn’t considered using darkness on Nell. But her soul isn’t complete. He might cause irrevocable harm to her. What if the soul breaks completely. Even if everything goes well, he’s afraid of himself. What if he loses his control again?

“I forgot that you vowed to never use darkness again.” Amachi chuckles. “Then, we should strengthen her body to bear the blow. I will send a few potions.”

“I owe you,” Eli whispers.

“Pay me well.”

Amachi walks away from him.

***

Eli meets Belinda and Madame Rouge at the entrance of the mansion. Belinda is sweating profusely as she rushes to Eli.

“Brother, why did you leave me alone?” She cries out as she hugs Eli. “There was an attack.”

“Attack?” Who would dare to attack Belinda? Eli glances at Madame Rouge who gives him a nod. “Where did it happen?”

“At the prime minister’s mansion.” Belinda raises her head and tells him in a rushed tone, “They think that it’s a foreign sorcerer. The entire streets were blocked. Carriages were being searched for the assassin by the royal guards. The city is on an alert. I was scared.”

Is that why they took so long? But an attack on the prime minister’s mansion? Things have been peaceful since the war. Is it because he came back? Eli pats Belinda’s back.

“I heard that the mansion is completely gone,” Belinda continues, “as if it was never there.”

Why does this sound familiar? Eli creases his brows. Could Devil? He shakes his head. Devil isn’t strong enough. They are talking about the prime minister’s mansion. The security of that place is tighter than their mansion. “Don’t worry, Belinda. I am here. Nobody can hurt you. You believe your elder brother, right?”

“I selected some dresses for my Sister-in-law.” Belinda finally smiles. “Brother, I want to see you in a groom robe.”

“But your sister-in-law wants me to wear a bridal robe,” Eli asks her shyly. “She rarely asks for anything.”

“A bridal robe isn’t bad either.” Belinda approves, “Everything will suit you, Brother.”

“Go to your room and freshen up.” He gives her a gentle smile. “I will take Madame Rouge to my room.”

Belinda heads toward her room. With a pleasant smile on his face, Eli leads Madame Rouge.

It’s not a good thing that the prime minister was attacked. The security will be questioned. How is he going to get married? Bad things keep happening. Eli doesn’t give a damn about the prime minister, but he doesn’t want his wedding to be delayed.

“Belinda told me that you are marrying a human,” Madame Rouge asks him.

“You only need to take her measurements and make sure that she looks beautiful in the groom robe,” Eli replies nonchalantly. “We will get married tomorrow night.”

Though it would be difficult Madame Rouge exhales. But she wants to make this ghoul wear a dress designed by her. If it’s possible, she wants him to model for her. It’s better if she does everything that he wants. In the future, he might return the favour.”I will do my best.”

When he opens the door to his room, Madame Rouge sees a small woman sitting on the bed and flipping through the pages of the book with a dull look in her eyes. The woman raises her head to meet her gaze. Madame Rouge blinks her eyes.

Is it some law that beautiful people fall in love with beauties?

“Hello.” The woman greets her first. “I am Nell.”

“I am Devil,” The cat spirit mutters. “Today, give her some pants to wear.”

“Why pants?” Nell glances at Devil.

“I heard that you have to take a test,” Devil says to her in a languid tone. “The woman is easy. You can deal with her.”

“Oh, Eli’s admirers.” Nell looks daggers at Eli. “I forgot that I am a mistress.”

The ghoul flinches and looks away. “Wife, I have done wrong. I should have dealt with her before I brought you here.”

She shrugs. Her voice is as sharp as a blade. “I don’t mind being called a whore for coveting someone else’s man.”

Eli squeezes his eyes shut, slumping his shoulders. His wife’s words can cut him deep. “My dear Nell, you are not –”

“Lady, you look like an expert.” Nell’s next words launch the next attack on Eli. “I see that you are evaluating me. Do you know my rival’s looks?”

“Rival” Eli chokes on his breath. There’s no rival in this universe. “Wife, how could you even –”

Nell gives him a side-long dark look. He freezes in his spot. It feels like there’s an invisible shield of cold fire around her, pointing several arrows toward him. She’s angry. But what did he do? He ignored Carmine because he was too lazy to deal with her in the past. If he had known that he would meet Nell in the future, he would have never stayed silent when Carmine declared herself as his fiance.

“There was a time when I asked an idiot to tell me everything about him.” Nell glances at her nails. “But he forgot to tell me that he had a fiance who was the daughter of some prime minister. Yeah, it’s not a piece of important information at all. Why should I hear it? After all, I was only a human. Now, I am a human female who steals someone else’s fiance.”

“Lady Solomon, I am Rouge Dazzling.” Madame Rouge’s wine-red eyes twinkle in amus.e.m.e.nt. They aren’t an ordinary couple. ” They say that karma bites harshly if one covets someone else’s fiance. Should I dress you up as a warrior who would take on karma itself?”

“Madame Rouge, don’t say dangerous things to my beloved wife who is the only one in my heart,” Eli speaks in a hurry, “and my only fiancee. Not only my fiancee, but she’s also my wife. We did get married once, even if it was annulled because of foolish people who can’t mind their own business. Nell Solomon was my wife. She is my wife. She will be my wife until the end. She’s not a mistress.”

Is she still angry? She did ask him to tell him the truth that day. How could he forget about Carmine? He was too nervous that day. Eli peers at Nell. His wife is not even looking at him. The unapproachable cold aura remains around her, repelling him whenever he finds some courage to take a step.

“What a lovely couple,” Madame Rouge chimes in, deciding to help Eli. “Lady Solomon, you are more beautiful than Carmine. I have the perfect attire for you. Can I take your measurements?”

“Fine.” Nell climbs off the bed. “Give me something that matches Eli’s eyes.”

Eli’s face brightens up. His wife likes his eyes so much.

“Nell, you are forgetting that he lied to you about everything first,” Devil adds suddenly. “He wanted to fool you from the beginning.”

“Yeah, I forgot that he was some CEO’s son.” Nell smiles brightly at Eli. “Even then, you didn’t mention that you have a fiance.”

Eli wipes his sweat. From now on, he will never ever lie to his wife about a woman.