Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 361: Defying

"...Anyone who passed by that place heard sounds in the air and echoes in the water. The piece of land that fell from heaven later came to be known as the Whispering Mist River, the land of boundless treasures and abundance.’’

By the time Elder Hall stopped speaking, Esme was still glancing at Rezeph, waiting for him to say something or to look into her eyes and notice her concerns but he treated her like air.

She pulled her hand out of Aleister’s grip and stood up, ’’Father, what is this about?" The uneasiness in her heart was intensifying every moment the man did not meet her gaze and answer her questions.

Rezeph gazed at Esme, seemingly unmoved by her concerns, ’’I do not know what you are talking about.’’

Esme’s fingers trembled. Just as she was about to curl them into a tight fist, a warm palm enveloped her hand.

Esme glanced at Aleister who shielded her from behind, his palm gently lingering above hers.

The turmoil in her heart calmed down at the sight of him.

She turned around to look at Rezeph, ’’You know what I am talking about. You are well aware of what I am talking about,’’ she emphasized.

When Rezeph remained quiet, Esme continued speaking, ’’What is the reason you have summoned the four of us to the sea court? Disseminating the tale of heavenly secrets and the deities cannot be the only reason, can it be?"

Rezeph remained quiet.

The more the silence lingered, the further it caused fear in Esme’s heart. Something was wrong with this whole situation. Something so terribly wrong that her instincts were heightened to their peak.

Luciana frowned as she glanced at Cardan, expecting to talk to him about him out of habit. But the moment their gazes met, she was reminded of the things that transpired between them in the past few days in a flash and her face swiveled to the side.

Elder Hall glanced at the King, seeking his permission with his gaze so that he could talk about further.

Rezeph closed his eyes. After a few moments, he pushed himself to his feet and waved his hand at Elder Hall, motioning for him to stay put.

Rezeph looked at Aleister, ’’You want to marry my daughter.’’

Aleister glanced at the man dead in the eyes.

And his gaze told all the words that he refused to speak. He did not need to say a word, he did not have to accept or reject what Rezeph was saying because he did not want to marry Esme. He was going to marry Esme. And there was no changing that.

That was not even a question that needed to be asked, not even a statement that needed to be stated.

’’Then you have to prove yourself to be worthy of her,’’ Rezeph said.

’’W-What do you mean? What do you want him to do?" Esme panicked.

Rezeph did not look at Esme even once as he continued speaking, ’’My daughter deserves the best of both worlds. I, as her father, sought for the best treasures in existence so that I can lay them down at her feet,’’ he looked at Elder Hall who immediately snapped his fingers and precious artifacts emerged from thin air, cascading down to Esme’s feet, ’’But I am barely satisfied.’’

Rezeph sighed as he continued speaking, ’’Esme awakened her powers very late. Even though she is learning and growing now, but her divine powers are not refined yet and she has not crossed her potential to reach the peak.’’

’’What do you want me to do?" Aleister questioned.

’’I want you to go to Whispering Mist River...’’

"No,’’ Esme cut Rezeph off, once she got the gist of what he was about to say.

Rezeph glanced at Esme, ’’It is not your decision to make.’’

’’You want him to go to a place like that and die there and you say it is not my decision to make?" Esme laughed, her laughter laced with mockery as she spoke, ’’Father, you want him to go there just so he can prove his worth and marry me but marriage is the last thing I will consider if something happens to him there.’’

’’You think I mean harm to his life?" Rezeph frowned.

’’Do you not? All the creatures in this world seek powers, they are greedy for powers. By this time, the Whispering Mist River would have been hollowed inside out and ceased to exist if anyone went there. But it has remained unventured and unknown for such a long time and now, you are telling me that he has to go?" Esme’s fingers curled into a tight fist as she looked at her father defiantly, ’’You are just pushing him to death’s door.’’

Rezeph’s eyes softened when he saw her reddening eyes. He opened his mouth to explain but then, he curled his fingers on the arms of the throne and spoke in an aloof tone, ’’No matter what it is, it is not your decision to make at the end of the day. A man who cannot dare to cross the fires for my daughter has no right to seek her hand. I did not say anything when it came to Jeremiah because I knew that that marriage was not happening and even if it happened, it would have happened with your will but I would have transformed that man into an obedient puppet for you. He would have sat if he wanted you to and he would have stood at your command.’’

Esme shook her head, ’’Is it hard for you to understand, father?" she held Aleister’s hand, ’’Aleister is my will. I seek no powers, no other man as long as he is there.’’

Aleister’s eyes softened when he saw the determined look on her face. He glanced at her intently, his heart skipping a beat with every word she uttered.

’’Are you defying me?" Rezeph’s voice turned cold when he heard the defiant note in Esme’s voice.