Ava couldn’t help but be speechless as she stared at the man standing in front of her. The same silver eye stared at her with recognition. Josef Asad stood frozen a few feet away from her.
"Eve?"
Damon’s voice brought her out of her stupor. She blinked and smiled at the man beside her.
"Yes. Sorry... what were you saying?" she asked.
"The gentlemen are asking about what you do. Are you alright?"
"Yes, of course." She looked at the man standing in front of Damon. This is one of the Duke. But she couldn’t remember the man’s name as she was staring at Josef since she arrived. "I am a witch that specialized in concocting potions."
"Concocting potions. What a rare gift. Though... I haven’t heard of any Eve who specialized in concocting potions. Are you perhaps an..."
"Other- worlder," Damon nodded. "She was. I specially went outside to recruit her."
"My — Does this mean her talents are special?"
"Beyond special," Damon said proudly.
Hearing this, the man faked a gasp.
"Wonderful! Why don’t you tell me about your potions? Do you specialize in something— "
"Oh, Leonard. Are you really going to talk to a beautiful woman about her potions?"
Ava froze when she heard that voice. It was exactly like Matthew’s voice!
Goosebumps skittered through her body.
She gulped her nonexistent saliva as she turned towards Josef. She had seen her move from her peripheral vision earlier. But she didn’t expect him to actually approach them.
"Josef..." Leonard nodded at the man. "My apologies. Unlike you, I am not an expert when it comes to wooing women I like. I tend to be awkward and— "
"Please... it is not a secret that you have more than five beautiful concubines in your palace. While I... on the other hand..." Josef stared at Ava. His intense gaze seemed to penetrate inside her body. For some reason, it felt like the man could read her like an open book.
To her surprise, the man reached out and held her right hand. Slowly, he dragged her hand towards her face and kissed the back of her palm. Then he said, "have none."
Before Ava could say another word, Josef added, "It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Please call me Josef."
"I— "
"Eve... a name that suits a very beautiful woman like yourself."
"Josef, I didn’t know you are so good with words.
Ava sighed in relief when she heard Damon’s words. The man saved her from collapsing. She cursed inwardly. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. Her hand was cold and maybe Josef felt it as he stroked her fingers as if he wanted to transfer some sort of body heat towards her.
"Ah... Damon. How have you been? I heard you just came back from the outside?"
"Alive and well, Duke Asad," Damon said, then he pulled Avá’s hand. Surprisingly, Josef did nothing and just let her hand go. "Though I am surprised to see that you are here. I thought the borders had been chaotic in the past few weeks."
"You heard it wrong, my friend. There is no enemy I cannot defeat. Perhaps you need to change the people who had been telling you these lies." Josef quipped back as he accepted a wine glass from one of his subordinates. He then tilted his wine glass towards Damon and smirked before taking a small sip.
"Though I am curious. Did you want me to stay within the borders? I didn’t know you hated me this much, my good friend."
"Hate is definitely an exaggeration, Duke. It requires emotions.
"Gentlemen, I don’t think this is the right time to talk about... your complicated relationships." Duke Leonard uttered. "Tonight is the celebration. The monarch wanted to celebrate the recent wins of our Generals. Arguing like this would only ruin the mood."
Ava faked a smile. She was still shaking inwardly. But she was able to calm herself thanks to Damon.
"Would you like to go out and get some air?"
Ava was surprised to hear that from Josef. Isn’t he too direct?
Why is he exactly like Matthew?
"My apologies, but I don’t think she wants to go outside, Duke." Damon interrupted.
"My... "
"Alright... enough of that. Why don’t we go to the hall and join the others?" Leonard said in an attempt to stop the two men from arguing.
"Then perhaps... you would like to give your first dance to me?" Josef uttered.
Ava didn’t know how to react. Damon was clearly trying to stop this man from approaching her, but he was simply too...
"My apologies Duke, but... I don’t know how to dance." Ava blurted out.
"Then I will gladly take the lead."Josef smiled, then, without warning, he pulled her towards him. Their gaze met, and she felt like she was just in front of Matthew. She felt exposed.
Ava froze for a few seconds. Unable to believe the current situation, she looked at Damon, who looked like he was about to burst from too much anger. Damon’s face was so red, he looked like a ripe tomato.
"Duke..." she tried to call out, but Josef seemed adamant to have her as his dance partner. "Duke, please don’t embarrass both of us. I really don’t know how to dance."
"I just said..." Josef said as he pulled her into his arms the moment they reached the hall. Then he smiled. "I will take the lead."
The music filled the air and almost immediately, she could feel everyone’s gaze towards them. She gulped. Her heart hammered against her chest as his smell reached her nose.
What the hell is going on here?
"Eyes on me, Eve."
Ava stilled, yet she complied. A part of her was honestly curious why he suddenly brought her here.
"What do you want?" she asked in a low tone.
"Please... can’t I just ask for a dance without any hidden motivation? Can’t we just stay like this... for a few minutes?"
....
Posted images of the characters and realms on my patreon you can check it out for free: patreon.com/mitchylle
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
