Page 34 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

Dante contentedly shrugged and sat back in the chair.

“I admit unluring her was a bad idea, but the worst one was to lure her from the start. You are a terrible person.” Violette greeted her teeth.

It didn't look like Dante was about to defend himself, no, he stayed completely cool.

“By the way, it seems you're in a good mood today,” she went on, eyeing him with narrowed eyes. “What caused it? ”

“You are just too much fun,” he said unbothered. “Are you hungry?” He tried to switch the topic of the conversation, although the question seemed to be reasonable.

Violette's gaze dropped to the table, there was so much food – meat, snacks and desserts, and she knew nobody invited her to this feast and this house but she was starving. She took another look at the table trying to find an excuse to refuse to eat.

Dante raised his eyes to her. “Little Witch, we have to go in fifteen minutes. If you want to eat, just sit. If not, still sit because it's annoying.”

Her eyes found his as she quietly said, “They are watching…”

Dante looked to the side and after a sigh, waved his hand to his dolls, letting them know they were free to go.

Finally Violette took a seat, however she had no idea where to start. There were too many options, and every one looked better than the other.

“We didn't have a chance to talk about what happened in the…umm, dream .” She started, reaching for the plate full of mashed potato.

Dante looked apathetic but Violette knew him enough to feel his coldness already starting to steal up under his skin.

“What were you doing when I followed the Queen?” she asked.

“Does it matter? ”

“You look too happy today, it's very unusual. What did you do?”

“I didn't do anything. I couldn't do anything even if I wanted to. It was a dream, Little Witch. Whatever we do there will never have an effect on the present,” he said earnestly.

Violette took a bite of cheese.

“Fine…But I saw you there. In the castle. I know you–” she paused, pressing her fork to the potato on the plate. “That servant…They will not find her, right?”

Dante's gaze fixated on her, his eyes as cold as a blade of knife near his plate. Violette didn't raise her eyes, taking his silence as yes .

“What I'm thinking about is…” she continued, “it seems like you knew that place very well.”

At last, she let her eyes meet his. His smile vanished, his loose posture gone; he now looked as if she was a living threat to his existence.

“Did you live there?” she asked, tugging the fork in her hand over the plate.

“Perhaps.” A dry response.

“Were you working for the King and Queen?”

“It's funny how you think I will answer you on this.” Finally a subtle smile lightened up his face. What game was he playing with her?

“Alright, then another question. Not personal. What kind of kingdom was it?”

“You don't know this one. It doesn't exist anymore.” His back drowned into the seat back as he sipped the wine.

Her eyes didn't leave him. “Why? What happened?”

“Something horrendous. But the royal family is the only one who is to blame, so don't think about it much. Everyone got what they deserved.”

Violette's gaze darkened, the lashes sank down and a sullen took its place on her face.

As much as Dante looked unruffled and was really careless with his words, covering any emotions that would indicate a sadness or anything slightly related to it, she felt like what happened there would deeply hit her heart.

The King and the Queen hadn't seemed evil enough to cause something truly disastrous.

They tried to fix the problem with the said monster, even if the idea with the ball wasn't what they really needed, at least they tried to bring hope to people's hearts.

Violette knew how important it was to keep believing in the better and how it can save your soul in the hardest time of your life.

Even if they failed their kingdom, even if their attempts didn't help to fight the monster, did they deserve punishment for it?

Violette's mind wandered in the clouds until she finally let out a new question, “You truly think so? That…they got what they deserve?”

“I see what you're doing.” Dante's eyes flickered with iciness. “Don't try to analyze me. You want to know if I sympathize with them or anyone who has lived there, if I have a heart. My sincere advice – don't. ”

Despite his sharp voice Violette wasn't about to stop. She was wondering about what was going on in his head, about the person he is, since they stepped on this land and she couldn't stand that he was always finding his way out of the conversation.

“Maybe if you'd be less secretive, I wouldn't resort to this. I'm trying to understand you.” Their gazes locked, the line drew between her brows, lips pressed together.

All of Dante's body tightened, his eyes have not lost their former coldness.

“I didn't ask you for it.” The sound that left his mouth made her nearly shrink.

“I'm just trying to have a conversation,” she pressed.

“Keep it to yourself.”

An unpleasant tension stuck in the air for a few seconds before the chair scraped the floor and Dante roughly left the table.

And with words “We should go” he strode out the room, leaving Violette sitting alone. She felt a sour aftertaste and holding to this feeling, she drew to the door – they had a long night ahead.