To Bewitch a Devil

97 The way he looked at her

Neera stood quietly as she stared at her dress, a smile on her chin. She was excited, this was the only fun thing she had done since she came to the castle, she could barely contain her joy.

Ba dum... Ba dum... Ba dum...

Zavian stared at the woman in front of him, his heartbeat increasing. His eyes shook, as he found it hard to breathe. Lilah was not from royalty. He remembered vividly the day he met her; she was returning from the farm with a basket full of corn in her hand which she supported on her hips as they swayed from side to side.

Their eyes had met and he held her gaze for longer. He had expected her to look away but she did not, she stared back at him before she looked away and smiled.

He had not met her before that day, but it seemed as if she knew him; as though they’d always known each other. He couldn’t take her eyes off of her until she had walked away.

Why was he getting the same feeling now?

Neera was dressed in the same type of clothes, and she had the same smile on her face.

How could two people cause the same effect on him?

“Your majesty, she is dressed;” the man said, snapping Zavian from his thoughts. He blinked and then gulped hard;

.....

“It looks good;” Zavian commented, a small smile forming on his lips as he tried his best to hold in the emotions swirling inside of him.

Neera waited outside as Zavian went in and changed, when he came out, she grinned;

Zavian looked at himself and then at her; “Do I not look good?” He asked looking confused, and she quickly shook her head;

“No, it’s not that, you look good in everything. It’s just... I’ve never seen you on this type of clothing, so it seems a little strange.” She explained.

“So, I look good in everything?” Zavian asked, and Neera’s eyes widened; how was it the only thing he could take from everything she said?

“No... I mean, you are a demon, and I’m sure you know that you’re incredibly good looking, so obviously, you’ll look good in everything you wear.” Neera said, looking away from him.

“Where are we going?,” she asked, quickly changing the topic.

“Mm, let’s see... the village has a famous cook, who makes the best meals, should we go there?”

Zavian asked and Neera nodded excitedly. Now he talked about food, her stomach grumbled in anticipation. As they walked through the streets of the market, Neera’s eyes took in the commodities. There were stores that sold fine shoes, and others fabrics. Neera noticed that she didn’t see the quality of the fabrics the royalties wore, in the market. It seemed like they were specially made for them alone.

As they walked past a jewelry store, Neera’s eyes dilated. A few girls about her age were gathered in one of the stores and testing out the jeweries on themselves; her eyes stayed on them for a bit long before she pulled them away and turned forward, but they had only taken a few steps before Zavian spoke;

“Come;” He said to her and she followed him. Neera’s eyes grew when she saw him walk towards the jewelry store she had been staring at.

Did he notice that she was staring at them?

Neera’s heart softened as she followed him. Although she didn’t want to say it, Zavian was not totally a monster, and maybe he was not just being kind to her because of his dead wife. Maybe a part of him was genuinely kind to her.

“Pick everything you like.” Zavian said to her as they stood in front of the shop. Her eyes looked at the Jewelry and she couldn’t make a choice, they were all beautiful.

After a few seconds, she picked up a beautiful crystal hair pin. “It’s pretty.” She said as she stared at it with a smile.

“Let me put it on you.” Zavian said and Neera gave him the hair pin.

Zavian closed the gap between them and placed the hairpin on her head, hooking it. The accessory had a flowery pattern that beautified it.

Neera beamed as she looked at herself in the mirror in the shop, aweing at how pretty she was.

“Do you like it?” Zavian asked and she nodded in excitement; “Yes, I’ve always admired this on other girls, I never thought I would own one, thank you.” she said excitedly;

“Go on, pick whatever you like. ”

Zavian gestured but Neera shook her head; “It’s enough, I just like this one...” before she could complete her sentence, the trader interrupted;

“We have something for couples, it’s beautiful and would be perfect for a beautiful couple like you.”

The trader spoke and they turned to him. He was a human in his sixties and he didn’t recognize Zavian. He knew Zavian was a demon but he did not know who he was.

“No, we are not...”

Neera tried to explain that they were not a couple, but the man was quick to go into his shop to bring the item. After a few minutes, he came out, carrying a box in his two hands.

“This is a customized couple bracelet made from the rarest gemstones.”

The man spoke as he opened the box. Neera’s eyes fixed on the jewelry. There were two bracelets connected to each other inside the box. They were made of crystal stones and had a bluish fluid inside of them.

“Legends say that these bracelets make the couple love themselves and never leave each other forever. I heard a witch had cast a spell on them; ” he leaned closer to them and whispered;

Zavian stared at the bracelets, he knew the trader just wanted to sell the items, but they were indeed beautiful.

Before he could say anything; Neera quickly explained;

“Sorry, but we are not a couple.” She said pushing the box back to the man.

The man’s face fell as he turned to Zavian;

“Oh, I did not know. Too bad, you both would have made a perfect couple. I saw the way he looked at you and thought there was something between you two..., alright, I’ll keep this with me.”

Neera froze when she heard the man and could not look at Zavian.

Was there a way he looked at her?