Once more, he blinked, like he wasn't understanding anything I was going on about. Tilting my head as I gaze at him. I wondered if he was right in the head. Did I perhaps meet a lunatic? That was just how 'lucky' I am.
I glanced around the throne room once more, trying to understand it. Was this some sort of portal? A place that will lead me to the king? Was this lunatic the guardian of the portal? Do I have to please him before getting ushered in?
"Okay." I cleared my throat, looking at the man as I tried to think of how to approach him. "Ehm. Ethan?" I tried, forgetting the name he told me because I wasn't paying attention when he did that. I was only concerned with going over to the king and having him deal with me to pay attention to anything else.
"Athanasios Vasileios," he corrected, his handsome face morphing into a frown as he watched me. He looked irritated that I didn't catch his name.
You wouldn't blame me though. How in the freaking pink hell was I supposed to know how name? One that sounded like a sacrifice to the gods? Or more like a rejected sacrifice. No offence intended.
"OK, Athanioela marvellous!"
"Not at all. Athanasios Vasileios," he repeated, staring at me with a funny expression. He looks like a kid, waiting for an adult to get their name right.
"Okay, Athanasios Vasileios?" I lifted an eyebrow, waiting for him to tell me I was wrong. The name was such a mouthful. Recalling it all was work on its own.
He didn't say a word. His eyes only widened as he watched me before a little smile came upon his face. His expression was funny.
"Why are you smiling?"
Was I right all along? This man seemed like a lunatic. Gods. What the hell did I even do in my last life to deserve this? How did I end up meeting someone like him when I wanted to meet the demon Lord?
"This is the first time someone has ever called my name right," he whispered, his eyes glazing over as he looked at me as if I was an angel that graced the world with my presence.
"Oh? So can you point me out to the other king then?" I smiled at him, hoping he would be kind enough to tell me where the other king was. "I promise I won't forget your name in the other world."
He stared at me for a long time, to the point it became uncomfortable before he let out a sigh. "I don't understand why you want to see him, but I hope you won't." He reached out to take my hand in his. "Listen to me, you need to get out of here as fast as you can... Before sunset. He's dangerous. He will hurt you."
"That's what I want." I didn't even shiver, didn't stutter. Why should I? It was what I wanted, to get killed by the damned king. "I know you don't want to point me out to the king, so I won't be killed, but that's what I want. That's why I'm looking for him. I don't want to live anymore. I wish to join my parents. Please grant me this, I ask, passage to the king, as he can deal with me."
I was literally begging for him to lead me to the king. I wasn't above kneeling to beg him should he desire that. All I needed was a quick death. I couldn't hurt myself. Having someone else do it was the only option for me.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." He let go of my hand and turned his back to me. "I don't…" He paused, whispering, "I want nothing to happen to you."
"You don't understand!" Sighing, I strode over to a chair and plopped down on it. "I want to die. I don't want to live anymore."
Why can't he understand? I don't want to fucking live!
Wordlessly, he walked over to me and knelt, placing his hand on my thighs." Why?" He whispered, looking up at me.
"Do I need a reason?" I snapped, annoyed at him. He wasn't being any help to me at all.
"This is the first time I've seen someone who wants to die," he mumbled, more to himself than to me. "Why do you want to die? Don't you want to live anymore? Surely someone is waiting for you back in the village. I'm willing to let you return," he offered, causing my eyes to cloud in anger and my brows raised at him.
"Do I look like I have anyone waiting for me at the Village?!" I snapped, channelling my anger at him. "If you don't want to point me out to the ferocious king, then don't fucking disturb me!"
He winced at my words. A full-grown man acting like a kid made me frown.
"I'm the king," he said in a small voice, looking at me like a puppy scared of being yelled at by his owner. "I own this entire village. I own the kingdom and this palace."
"You?" I pursed my lips, trying not to channel my anger at him. "So, are you the ferocious demon king?"
I doubt. Not only did he seem friendlier than all the villagers, but he seemed like he was incapable of hurting a fly.
Sighing, he looked towards the throne before returning his gaze to me. "If you want to meet him, wait until the sun sets," he said, getting to his feet. "I will warn you, he's not as friendly as I am. Hell, he doesn't know what it means to be friendly."
"Now we are talking." My lips went up in a smile at the thought of meeting the king I came for. Soon.
As I rose, a certain thought came to mind. "You said you were the king, right? How did he come to be? Like, where did he come from?"
"Are you hungry?" He asked, ignoring my questions. "I'm not good with many things, but I'm good with my hands. I can make —"
"What happened to the village?" I asked, seeing he was avoiding talks about the other king.
The smile on his face froze, his eyes clouding once more before it dissipated. "That's the story for another day. Come on, it's time to have something in your stomach. You must be hungry." Winking, he turned to go, gesturing for me to follow him…