In an old snow-covered castle on a cold night, there was a man with gleaming silver hair in a spacious room. His sharp violet eyes stared intently at a black shadow.
That black shadow, shaped like a human, could speak, and had a body three times larger than an ordinary human.
"D*mn it! I've found the crown you wanted, but what happened to our agreement?! You promised to bring her back to life!" His anger peaked, his hands trembling as they tightly grasped the cold white fingers on top of the coffin.
The coffin was half-opened in the center of a classically styled room, revealing a beautifully dressed woman, her face beautifully made up, her black hair beautifully flowing, and her eyes tightly closed, looking like a figure fast asleep, like a sleeping princess surrounded by white lily flowers.
Anyone who saw her would have thought that she was crazy. But that was Alfred, a man who had lost his mind. Ten years had passed, and he hadn't undergone any physical changes, only his personality had changed drastically.
Now, he was a madman.
The black shadow wrapped around his body, harboring a terrifying smile, and he whispered, "Relax, I'll bring him back to life. You just need to find his soul."
A wave of images appeared before Alfred's eyes, depicting a small child playing the piano in a luxurious room. The child was wearing a pink dress, her hair adorned with beautiful accessories.
30 seconds later, the image disappeared. Alfred turned his head, looked back to see a dark shadow behind him, and he asked, "So, you're saying that Laura's soul is inside that child's body?"
"HAHAHA... HAHA, yes, that's right! That soul is so special, it's a wonder I never found it in the afterlife. If you want me to bring your beloved back to life, bring the child here to transfer that soul," the dark shadow floated on the ceiling of the room, laughing so loudly that it shook the entire room.
.
.
.
.
An hour passed, Eliana ended her piano playing. Her gaze became flat, and somehow she felt very uneasy for no apparent reason, this uneasy feeling confused her.
"Your playing is really beautiful. Where did you learn it?" a whispered voice from behind Eliana's body suddenly startled her. Charles asked as he drew himself closer beside Eliana, his delicate hands gently touching the keys of the piano, creating a rather strange sound. He looked as if he was trying to dig deeper into Eliana.
Eliana was surprised to hear Charles' voice suddenly appear. Charles' bloodshot eyes radiated a strong sense of attraction, making Eliana feel a little uncomfortable with that enchanting gaze.
Even so, she tried to remain calm, raising her head to look at Charles, "Mr. customer, I have no obligation to answer your questions. Your questions are my privacy, I am only in charge of playing the piano for you," she said in a calm voice, trying to give explanations and excuses.
Eliana had always hidden everything about her past from anyone, she never even told her nanny and Mathilda who were the closest and most trusted people to her. And that meant she didn't want to divulge her past to strangers either.
"Hmm, I see," a sly smile was etched on Charles' face. Then, he spoke more firmly, "Well, I'll find the answer myself, I'll find the answers myself." Charles lifted Eliana's chin slightly roughly, the look in his eyes staring at her intently, trying to influence her with his deep gaze.
Eliana's defenses slowly began to fade as she felt hypnotized by Charles' red eyes. Her body seemed to be restrained by a force she could not resist. She felt anxious in this state, because she knew that Charles would probably try to find out more about her, even the ones that no one should know.
"I ask again, who taught you to play the piano? It's impossible for a child as small as you to master such a wide variety of melodies," his voice was deep and he asked in a low tone.
"..."
Eliana was about to open her mouth to answer the question. However, she immediately tried to fight the hypnosis with her own strength. She bit her lower lip hard, trying to stay awake and not get caught up in Charles' control. In her heart, she prayed that she could break free from the hypnotic influence.
Charles was having more and more difficulty influencing Eliana, and his expression became more serious. Even so, this handsome figure became more frightening in Eliana's eyes. Actually, Charles was a person who was easily attracted to unusual things. A few months ago, he heard a rumor about a little boy who could play the piano very beautifully. Many people spoke of her with exaggerated praise, and he initially dismissed the rumors as mere exaggeration.
However, curiosity eventually drove him to find out more about the rumors. He began to investigate the boy's identity and learned everything he could find. But, the information he got was not very satisfying, limited to the boy's identity and daily activities. Charles had even witnessed the boy's performance of playing the piano secretly in public.
Now, he felt as if he had become a criminal as he saw tears welling up in Eliana's amber eyes. Her eyes trembling with fear, she forcefully pushed away Charles' grip on her chin.
"Get lost!" Eliana shouted with tears streaming down her face, she got out of her seat, and with all her might she ran towards the exit.
When she was near the door, it suddenly closed on its own, the door slammed loudly, making a sound, "Bang!"
Eliana's steps halted, her body freezing as the door slammed shut. While in that quiet room there were other footsteps approaching her cautiously, the atmosphere became so tense. The footsteps grew closer, and Eliana could feel the tension growing within her.
Breathing heavily, Eliana tried to remain calm despite her racing heartbeat. She faced the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Charles standing right in front of her.
A sense of caution came over her, and although she was eager to retreat, her body seemed reluctant to follow. She fell silent, standing frozen in place.
Charles' hand slowly reached out, rubbing Eliana's tear-streaked face. "Calm down, I won't hurt you," he said in a soft voice. Then, he brought his face closer to Eliana's and,—
'cuppp'
Charles kissed Eliana's forehead gently, then he spoke again, "So, just forget what happened,"
Eliana's eyes immediately closed, her body slumped, but Charles immediately caught the small body. He gazed at her soulfully as she began to fall asleep in his arms. Satisfied with his gaze, Charles lifted her up and stepped onto the sofa in the center of the room. Afterwards, he placed her on the couch with great care.
"Get a good night's sleep,"
-To Be Continue