Chapter 13 (1/2)
Stealth is needed
At Feisha’s stubborn refusal to drink his creation, Gin finally gave in and poured him a glass of normal whiskey. Feisha gently swished the liquid in his hand, the crisp clinking of ice on glass lulling him into a state of content drowsiness.
“Don’t fall asleep here,” warned Gin, polishing a wine glass.
Feisha yawned. “Then tell me a story.”
The hand making circular movements paused momentarily. “As a member of the noble blood clan, how could you ask me to tell stories? I’m not some apron-wearing maid at your beck and call.”
Feisha let out another yawn, his head lowering further.
“Will you sober up if I put a knife on the table?”
“Depends on how you put it.”
Gin offhandedly drew one out of a drawer and set it on the table. Feisha’s face continued in its path, nearly touching the blade. At this, the hand on the knife handle gave a twist, flipping the blade.
Light gleamed along the sharp edge.
Feisha pulled back with a startle, shakily rubbing at his face. “I know you’re jealous of my beauty, but I didn’t think you were this jealous.”
“Are you implying that I should just throw this knife at you instead?”
A cough. “No, I’m implying that actually you’re pretty okay-looking as well.”
Gin hung the glass up on the rack and reached for the blade-
“Girls of the blood clan are beautiful as a river, boys of the blood clan are strong as a mountain…” Feisha sang suddenly, straining his voice. Please refer to [The Girl from Ali Mountain] for the tune.
Gin was unimpressed. “I’m pretty sure I’ve told you before, but I’m gay.”
“…Boys of the invisible folk are beautiful as a river, boys of the blood clan are strong as a mountain…” amended Feisha.
There was a pause.
Gin placed the knife back into the drawer, sighing, “What story do you want?”
“Do you know The Frog Prince?”
“…I do.”
“I want to listen to Snow White.”
“…I don’t know that one.”
“Then why don’t you tell me about the story between you and Dea?”
Gin rolled his eyes so hard it must’ve hurt. “What’s there to tell?”
Before Feisha could open his mouth to protest, Gin leisurely poured himself a glass of wine and knocked it back in one go. “Dea came two hundred and sixty-three days after I started working here.”
“…”
“Out of all the races, only angels and faeries have beauty equivalent to that of the noble blood clan,” Gin said proudly.
You don’t say; the leftover races are all stuff like titans, dwarfs and humans. And as for humans, physical appearance varies too much from one person to another, making their overall attractiveness as a race hard to determine.
“But Dea was truly the best-looking out of all the faeries I have ever met. As an illustrious member of the love-valuing blood clan, how could I let a chance at romance just slip past me like that? So on the second day, I announced my deep and passionate intentions with ninety-nine roses.”
“Did he beat you up?”
Gin glared at him. “You’re severely underestimating the charm we of the blood clan possess… He just smashed the bouquet back at my face.”
“Smart. Wouldn’t want to waste your weapons so early on.”
“…”
“I mean, as expected of a member of the knowledgeable and intelligent blood clan. You knew that roses were safer to give than diamonds.”
Gin ignored him in favour of pouring himself another glass of wine. After finishing the second glass, he continued: “You know, faeries all tend to be shy and reserved. Even if the flame of love inside their heart has nearly burned them down to ashes, they still refuse to show it on the surface.”
“Dea was like that?”
“Er, his circumstances were a little but different. In reality, he came here to hide from the influences of a love spell. But I didn’t know that until after.”
At this, Feisha perked up. “Love spell?”
“It’s a very high-levelled spell. The castor has to be of the same level as me at least.”
“What level are you?” It suddenly occurred to Feisha that while he knew everyone’s name and race, he knew next to nothing about their backstories.
“Are you sure you’ll understand if I told you?” asked Gin, raising an eyebrow.
“Actually- Just keep going with the story.”
“It’s a love spell that consumes the subject with lust towards anyone who tries to pursue them for a full three days…” His voice tapered off gradually towards the end. After all, this wasn’t an experience to be proud of.
…Feisha finally understood why Dea dated Gin for three days.
The sound of something being knocked over came from behind them. Feisha whipped around to see a table weirdly standing on its side.
“Hughes!” Gin maniacally shot past Feisha and down the hallway.
The room was silent.
Feisha realised that he…probably did something bad…
Despite arriving back in his room, Feisha still felt very, very uneasy. If he hadn’t insisted on listening to a story, Gin wouldn’t have told him about that period in his life. If he hadn’t told Feisha about that period in his life, Hughes wouldn’t have found out about him and Dea…
The more Feisha thought about it, the closer that knife in Gin’s drawer felt to his throat.
…Maybe it’s best that he hid somewhere for a while. Feisha dug out a few sets of clean clothes and rushed up the stairs.
It can’t be Layton, because Feisha had just screwed with him that very morning.