The next three days sped by quickly due to how busy my schedule had become. My soul’s condition didn’t entirely improve, but it didn’t worsen either.

Misa, true to her word, had scheduled a different famous designer each day from across the continent of Ganimede. She insisted she could get some from Tyrra as well, though they wouldn’t arrive for months. Each day, another designer would arrive and to up displays in one of the many entertaining rooms for me to peruse. Dozens of mannequins, boxes of jewelry, and spools of fabric would be scattered across the room. Each mannequin would house a one-of-a-kind dress. If I had a nickel for how many times I’d been assured that there was no other dresses in the empire like whatever I happened to glance at at the time I'd be wealthier than Eclis by now. It was tiring work, but Misa made it fun simply by being excited and passionate over everything. She could notice what dresses gave me pause or what jewelry my eyes gravitated too and would boisterously insist I try them on pouring over compliments and nitpicking everything that needed adjusting. What made it even more fun was the fact that for once in my life, money wasn’t an issue. Eclis’ vassals were deadly loyal and had managed his estates so well that he had more wealth than Tyrra and was only rivaled by the Empire. The only draw back, none of these designers would touch a commission for men’s wear made for women. It was getting frustrating. They had a lot of pride and knowing I was the Dutchess of Dumont they insisted on ‘only their best works.’

My most pressing issue wasn’t dresses, however. Richard had ‘bumped into me’ twice now in the past three days. Every time he bumped into me, he’d tell me his schedule was free and ask me to tea or a walk in the garden. The first time was easy enough to brush him off since I was on my way to the designer, but the second two times were all conveniently after I’d finished. It was getting harder to come up with excuses to avoid him.

Alphonse confirmed he wasn’t normally here this often. To Alphonse though, it would make sense that he was here more now that Eclis was back and if I hadn’t read the novel I would agree.

“Alphonse, where is Eclis right now?” The butler gave me a knowing look.

“Ahh, your highness. He has been terribly busy catching up over the estate. He sends his deepest regrets that he cannot dine with you tonight, however, he says he will clear his schedule to dine with you tomorrow.”

“Is he in his study then?” Alphonse seemed surprised by my response and hesitantly answered.

“Yes, though he left strict instructions not to be disturbed.” He looked so apologetic that I sort of felt bad for what I was about to do.

“Take me there.” He looked so uncomfortable. I stared at him with a blank face until he relented, leading me directly across the hall into the parlor of Eclis’ room. It was a surprising revelation. The room directly from Eclis’ wasn’t even given to Julia when she first entered the palace. It was a huge milestone in his route when he’d changed her rooms and finally began to show her sincere affection. It made me smile.

Eclis’ study wasn’t guarded, nor was the door to his room unlike mine. Alphonse did not enter the parlor with me, instead giving me a final warning.

“The master… Does not like being disturbed in his study your highness. It would be best if you wait until tomorrow. I can see if he can meet you at lunchtime if you wish.” He was very anxious, but what I had to say wasn’t just ‘I miss you.’ It was important enough that he’d forgive me. Besides, I knew what to expect barging into his study like this. Julia did the exact same in the novel too. She didn’t die. I smiled at Alphonse and closed the door.

His parlor smelled like him. Spicy, musky and sweet. It was sparsely furnished, as if he were in the process of changing everything. In the book Eclis’ parlor was entirely unfurnished the first time Julia visited. In his half mad state, he had destroyed a lot of beautiful things in this palace, including every piece of furniture in his room.

Instead of letting myself hesitate at the door I burst into the study. Unlike the parlor it was fully furnished with an ornately woven red rug accenting the deep near black wood furniture. On every wall were floor to ceiling bookshelves, completely packed in leatherbound books. Eclis looked like a sexy god behind the desk surrounded by those strange blue floating screens. Some displayed various diagrams and photos while others floated with scrolling text.

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Much too my surprise, he didn’t immediately react. I decided to explore first. There were four black leather chairs placed at each corner of a coffee table in front of the desk. The bookshelves weren’t just covered in books. Amongst them were various artifacts, weapons, and scrolls. My finger instinctively poked some of them. Some tomes had glowing runes on the spines, others were completely unmarked. I was halfway around the room by the time he finally acknowledged me.

“I assume you have something important to say if you’re here.” His eyes never left what he was doing. He had a black feathered quill in hand, signing documents as they appeared on different screens or editing them as they scrolled. The fact that he could do several things at once was impressive. I plopped myself on one of the chairs facing him and smiled.

“What if I don’t?” I was feeling a little daring today.

Eclis raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what I do to those who disturb me while I’m working.”

“No. Do tell me.” I rested my chin in my palm and grinned at him. It was a lie. Eclis had killed people in the past for the simple crime of disturbing him. Others had been whipped. He’d scared Julia the first time she’d entered his study but didn’t hurt her. It would make sense that he was so much calmer now given he wasn’t half mad and starved. He raised a brow but continued working.

“What are you up too Jazz?” Right, he can detect lies. I sighed.

“You’re really no fun. Fine.” I joined him at his desk, sitting on its edge making sure I was just out of his reach. “What’s that technique called where you can see another’s memories?” That got his attention. He placed the quill down delicately before looking at me.

“Why are you interested in it?” Before I’d come here, I was scared he’d suspect me. I also didn’t know how well I’d handle dealing with him if he were mad. Instead, he seemed barely curious.

“In the novel you die.” His face was passive. It was at times like this I wished I could read him, but his eyes divulged nothing.

“So, you want me to read your memories of the novel to prevent it.” It wasn’t a question, but I still nodded. “Do you know that once you’ve granted me access, I can take whatever I wish. Whenever.” He didn’t hide the warning in his voice. As if to say I shouldn’t trust him as much as I was. He did already steal answers from me against my will…

“Yeah, I do, but it’s the best shot at changing the future. The novel updated every couple days in short parts. I also read it over the course of three years, so I don’t remember all the nuances off the top of my head. If I miss something it could mean your death, or someone else’s. There are a lot of people I liked in this world that didn’t make it to the end you know.”

“And you trust me with this?”

“No.” I smiled. The idea made me extremely nervous. Being forced to answer and tell the truth was one thing but letting someone have complete access to your mind was on a whole other level. “But it’s already a goal of mine to change the ending.” We considered each other for a time.

“Why?” His question gave me pause.

“What do you mean?”

“Why go to such lengths to save me, a character in a novel you’ve read.” His ruby eyes flashed, though I didn’t know what he was thinking asking this.

“A novel I loved,” I corrected, “And it’s because I want to.”

“People want to eat dessert; they want to buy nice things. Why do you want to risk your life, and now the privacy of your own mind for me Jazz?” The way he spoke it was if he were hinting something. Like he knew the answer and were trying to lead me too it.

“Because I don’t want to see you die Duke. Why did I read this novel for three years of my life? It’s because I’ve fallen in love with this world. Where I’m from there is no magic, there’s no other races, there’s no adventure. Everything’s just sterile.” I sighed, looking away from him. “The only time I ever felt alive was when I was reading about this place…” My eyes grew dark remembering the chapter he dies. “But I don’t want this world to be without you.”

“That almost sounds like a confession.” He teased. The sight of his smile reaching his eyes made me blush.

“Yeah, well. Its not.” It was hard to hold eye contact with him now. “I like you as a character. A fictional character. That’s all.” Even to me my laugh sounded nervous.

“I’m not fictional now.” He no longer kept his face neutral, instead he flashed me a playful grin. My mouth was suddenly dry.

“Yeah, well. Still a bit of a shock for me too.”

“Tell me about your world then Jazz. You know so much about me, yet I know nothing about you.”

“Wait, before that, will you do the mind reading thing?” I was relieved at the change in subject, but he seemed to be avoiding the issue.

“If I answer now, won’t you just run away again?”

“Huh?”

“I know you’ve been avoiding me. Just like you avoid saying my name. Now why would that be.” He leaned closer towards me and it was hard not to lean away. I was already barely on the edge of his desk as it was.

“Hey, I wasn’t planning on running away. I’ve got no where else to be.” I held my hands up like I was feigning surrender. It was a mistake. He grabbed my hand, pulling me towards him. I staggered right into his lap. “Hey HEY!”

“You seem to keep forgetting you can’t lie to a vampire Jazz.”

“I wasn’t lying.” Was I? Ok maybe I sort of wanted to run away the moment I got a chance to excuse myself…

“Yes, you did. You also lied about knowing what I do to people who disturb me.” He moved me until I was sitting across his lap, using his left arm to lock me in place. “Any time you disturb me in my study, you’ll have to sit here.” That’s his punishment???