The lake is nothing special to me. I've been here before and sometimes I see it when idling in the palace, but up close, the story is very different. This would be a great place for a picnic at night, or even one of those romantic scenes that happen in TV series where a character receives that beautiful confession at the end of the season.
However, the case here is very different. It doesn't need beautiful words or someone disturbing the scene to create a beautiful image, it's just the two of us, quiet, admiring the lake reflecting the moonlight.
Ravena pulls the straps of her dress and slowly takes it off. After everything we've been through and also combined with my experiences, seeing her naked is nothing special to me, even when the situation has a mystical touch to it. She walks to the water's edge and touches it with her foot. I can see her back showing several silvery lines, as if the rays of light were passing through her body like a piece of glass.
Why exactly this crazy woman is doing this, I have no idea. I know that witches have a strange relationship with the supernatural and, because of this, they show some unusual behaviors for normal people. I mean, I don't fit into "normal" in any way, but it's still very bizarre to see a person throwing herself into a lake without saying anything.
Ravenna's legs sink into the water, followed by her butt and part of her back, but I can still see the Silver Scar standing out more than anything.
"Aren't you coming?" she asks, sounding a little disappointed that I'm just standing here.
I just let out a sigh and shrug. I didn't want to get wet or suffer from the cold right now, but apparently, I'll have to satisfy this lunatic's desires. I open the buttons of my clothes, taking off my shirt and then my pants... it's hard to feel anything in the middle of this cold, so looking down and seeing my balls shrunk just hurts my pride. Hey, I know it's not the time, but can you at least show my honor here!
A shiver runs down my spine when I finally approach Ravenna. The whole environment has a different vibe. I even doubt if anyone is watching us from afar in those trees or the palace towers, but for some reason, I believe they are not. It's strange that a place as busy as this huge building behind us is quiet.
I lean my head forward, Ravenna's arms are dancing on the water's surface. I've never seen her this calm, in fact, I've only known two of her moods: mischievous and stressed. I almost died once, twice, don't know how many times under those black nails, in addition to falling for her gothic charms because I have a weakness for that type of woman. It sucks, I confess, but can't don't blame myself for ending up deluding myself.
"I'm glad I managed to save you."
Ah! Damn, I thought out loud! Ravena's expression changes; her eyebrows rise in surprise. She crawls closer, just to look directly into my eyes and check if I'm not lying. Of course not! Why would I lie about this when I went above and beyond just to prevent that bastard Leonhardt from killing you?!
The witch tilts her head slightly to the side, doubting my sanity.
"You are strange. You got involved with me, who could fry you at any moment if you made a mistake, you got involved with my aunt, who was a cold psychopath, and now you say you're grateful that I'm alive. How many screws have you lost in your head?"
"I've lost count... and sorry, I spoke without thinking too much."
"Interesting. That means it's a genuine thought."
A smile appears on Ravena's face, who now places her fingers on my chest. Don't touch me like that, the situation is exotic enough to make me crazy!
"Darius Moonlight, a brave man who faced a revolutionary leader, freed a woman trapped in marriage, and encouraged me to do and dream of things I never imagined. You truly are... surreal."
She laughs softly, for the first time in a long time with a kind of genuine happiness on her face. It actually gives me a shiver, because ever since we did the ritual, Ravena's personality has become cold and distant, to the point where I didn't have the courage to stay in the same room as her for long.
"Moriah is gone", she continued, drawing circles on my skin. "My uncle died, the crisis has passed, and now I'm here, recovering everything my family lost... all because of you. A few weeks ago, I was in that prison, awaiting my execution at the trial before the entire aristocracy, and now, I see myself before a disgraced noble recovering all his honor without fear. It sounds like a novel..."
"I was just doing what I thought was right."
"And coincidentally, what you think is right also messes with your downstairs head and changes the lives of other people, right?"
Damn, you talking like that gives me huge second-hand embarrassment. I roll my eyes, turning my face away for lack of courage to retort to this comment. Man, it's absurd how I can barely react to a light piece of trash talk like that, talking about my dick, but I can't avoid a little discomfort.
"You truly are a rare case, Darius Moonlight."
Ravenna slides back a little more.
"You know, after everything that happened, the correct move would be to get far away and take what is mine by right, what my father built and what I should inherit... but, I can't."
"Why not?"
"You don't leave my mind."
Ah, good, now I'm officially screwed. Having Ravenan close to me is a bad sign, and if she's in love like Moriah, it's even worse. Look, I'm quite afraid of that moth-woman, she could snap my spine with a simple hug. However, this witch is dozens of times worse!
I already understood that there are some crazy sexual desires combined with a kind of wild possession in the mix, that's the typical pattern of these women! I'm not retarded enough to get entangled in this and end up with an eye out of place or even having lost inches off my dick!
Ravenna leans her breasts against me. From above, it would be a sexy and wonderful view if I weren't too embarrassed right now to be in the mood.
"You have a kind of power... you noticed? The way the impossible seems to work out, the way you easily gain the attention and hearts of others... it even fills me with jealousy."
"Seriously? You're jealous of people like Leonhardt?"
"Yes."
Good Lord, how disgusting. My mind never thinks about that guy, and now the fact that you have that kind of feeling actually scares me. Even so, this is extremely dangerous.
I grab Ravenna's shoulders, pulling her away from me. I actually wanted to turn my back and swim back to my clothes, but I could very well get electrocuted for such a choice.
Her little eyes gleam at me, showing a stray kitten face. I can't believe I'm dealing with a deadly woman trying to latch onto me and put a burden of guilt on my head so I'll swear eternal loyalty or something.
As long as my life is fine, I'll hold onto my destiny, but thanks for the offer.
"I want to make one thing clear: I didn't get involved with Moriah because I like her, and the same goes for you. Our little act is over. I prefer to keep our real faces and..."
"Lies."
"What? I'm not lying!"
"If you were speaking purely the truth, that you don't like me and don't intend to stick around, you would have refused my offer at the beginning and wouldn't even be in this lake with me. You fear me, I can see it through your face... You fear that I might kill you, curse you. That's not exactly what I'd like to do. Besides, I see you as someone worthy of the position of king..."
What? King? I bite the tip of my tongue, holding back any sign of laughter in every way possible.
"Hold on, now that's absurd. Where did you get that idea?"
"It may be that you, Darius, are a nymphomaniac pervert who likes women mostly because they are appealing to your eyes, but you are also full of virtues, more so than the king and the current prince, at least."
"Hey, is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?"
"Treat it as you wish."
Ugh, why always so enigmatic? Speak my normal language. Ever since that ritual, you live with these catchphrases that even remind me of certain witch characters in the original work. It's a dead complicated thing that I'd rather not think too much about.
"Okay, I get what you're trying. You want to use your charm and call me to be a king after you take the throne?"
"Was it too obvious?"
"Of course it was, and do I look like I enjoy being cheated on when I see you marrying my cousin, the prince?"
"That's just a detail."
"It's not to me... And also, I have other matters to resolve before that. Don't go thinking that I'll accept without question just because you call me to something."
Damn, this conversation is even making me depressed. It was enough that Moriah left earlier, with that speech about saving her sisters while walking towards death, and now I have to deal with the other one wanting to hook up with me and put me in the highest position in the country.
I turn my back, now that I don't want to stay here at all!
"Darius, you were reincarnated, weren't you?"
My body freezes, before I slowly turn my neck to face her. How does she know?