She Belongs To The Devil

Adeline wanted to ask Theodore the same question that was bothering her. She wanted to ask him whether he would keep on loving her even when she would grow old and feeble, and even when she wouldn't be able to recognize him anymore.

But she hated that thought herself and she didn't want to make Theodore sadder when he was already sad thinking about his family. She knew he was sad no matter how much he denied it. A family was still a family no matter how much pain they caused you.

Theodore noticed how stiff she went after he whispered to her saying how he wished that she would be by his side forever. He knew that it was impossible since she was a human. But he couldn't help but dream that his loving and caring woman would stay by his side for eternity. He wished there was some way.

But there didn't seem to be any possible option; she wouldn't live as long as him and he wouldn't die along with her. And the very thought of losing her someday was very daunting to him.

Still, he had promised himself not to be discouraged by that thought; he promised that he would truly enjoy each and every moment with her and engrave the time they spent together deep in his heart forever. He hoped that the love that he would receive from her in the coming few years would be enough for him to keep on going on his eternal journey.

But would love ever be enough? The more you received, the more you desire.

And after already having a taste of her selfless love and the immense joy that she brought in his life, would he be able to let her go when the time came?

Without him realizing it, the grip of his arm and leg around her had tightened. He had almost covered her like a cocoon. The thought of having to let her go someday made him want to bathe in tears. He felt like going to heaven to confront his father for making human life so short. Why did he become so greedy when giving the lifespan to humans if they were his superior creation?

Theodore felt something wet on his chest. Adeline… she was crying silently in his arms. "Maybe she is crying because of what I said, I shouldn't have said that," he thought. Not wanting to spoil the present by worrying about the inevitable future, Theodore decided to lighten both of their moods by talking about something else.

"So, there is only one day left before your test. Are you prepared well enough?"

Adeline was quiet for some time, probably trying to calm herself down. She gently wiped her tears and cleared her throat. Then she answered, "Yes, I am pretty confident about the test. I know all the components of the test, thanks to my father telling me the secret. I was able to prepare myself for the test accordingly and General Osmond also changed my training regimen according to the requirement of the test. So, yes, I think I will do good… I have to."

She said the last sentence more to herself than to Theodore. All this time, she had endured all the tough training sessions, the guilt of cheating, and the anger that she felt towards Lillian so that she would be one step closer to the throne.

Initially, her desire for the throne was driven by her need for revenge. She had planned to take revenge on Lillian and to do that she had to be the one in the power.

But now, she didn't want the power just as a medium to take her revenge. She had seen how the citizens were suffering under Edwin's command. She didn't want someone like him to be on the throne. She had started to truly care for the people and she wanted to protect them from any evil, whether it was her own family members or some other Kingdom. She wanted the people of her Kingdom to be happy, prosperous, and most of all safe.

And to be able to do that, she would need the throne and the crown, and the powers and responsibilities that came along with it.

Theodore was a little confused when she said that her father had revealed the secrets of the test. So he asked, "What do you mean by your father has revealed the secrets of the test? The components of the test aren't open information?"

"No, we just knew that our deity would be taking our test and he would be the one to choose the future ruler of Wyverndale. Other than that no one knows what actually happens in the test. But I was very desperate so I kind of cheated by asking the King himself." Adeline had no idea when the guilt of cheating would leave her heart. Probably never?

"Wait a minute…" Theodore frowned his brows and then pushed himself further away on the bed so that he could see Adeline's face. "What do you mean by your deity will be taking your test? Why didn't you tell this to me before?"

Adeline was baffled by that accusing look on Theodore's face. "I didn't tell that to you before? I thought I did…"

Theodore was still frowning. "Obviously you did not because I would have remembered if you had told me." He took a deep breath in and whispered, "You should have told this to me before." He sneered and thought to himself, "I should have guessed this on my own… that conniving bastard!"

Adeline wrinkled her nose and then whispered, "Sorry! It must have slipped my mind then. But why do you look so concerned?"

He gave a mirthless smile and shook his head gently, "Nothing."

But it was obvious that something was bothering Theodore. So Adeline pressured him, "Tell me, what is it?"

Theodore narrowed his eyes and said, "It's just that… I don't like that deity of yours that much. We aren't on good terms."

Adeline raised her brows at that sudden revelation from him and exclaimed, "You know our deity?" But then again, why was she that surprised to know that? He was the son of God, he was the Devil Prince. Of course, he would know all Gods and Goddesses… that is if there were more than the three that she knew of - Theodore's parents and her Deity.

"Yes, I do know him." Theodore narrowed his eyes as he said that. Adeline could see the distaste in his eyes and wondered why the two of them didn't have good terms.

Maybe it was something to do with their status, she thought. One was Devil and the other was Deity. Maybe it was because of this. But she wouldn't know for sure without asking him.

However, before she could ask what happened between them, Theodore warned her in a stern voice, "Adeline, I want you to stay alert in your test. Don't open your mind to him. He is a very manipulative one."

Adeline was startled by what Theodore said to her. "Our Deity is manipulative?" she asked in a worried voice.

"Yes, he is the most manipulative one among the lot." Theodore's eyes had a hint of red glow when he said that. He didn't like the idea of Adeline being tested by that Deity. He would have asked her to quit the test if he didn't know how much it meant to Adeline. But he couldn't be that selfish to ask Adeline to give up on her dreams.

Theodore held Adeline's hand tightly and asked, "Promise me that you won't believe everything that he says, or does, or shows. He is the master of illusion and he is the trickster."

"Our God is a trickster?" Adeline lay unmoving on the bed. She didn't even know how to feel after knowing that information. Does that mean all of them were puppets of their Deity and other powerful beings?

Seeing Adeline like that Theodore tried to calm her nerves, "I don't mean to say that he is bad. I am just asking you to be on your guard and not to fall for his tricks. If you do that then you will be fine. I guess you will never have to meet him again after this test is over. So, don't think about this too much. Be on your guard, that's all."

When Theodore put it like that, Adeline was finally able to breathe.