Chapter 25 Can You Lie?
Heading back to the fairy market wasn't as hard as I thought. The moment that I told Zhier that I wanted to go there, he immediately complied.
"I am surprised that you asked me to come with you to the fairy market." Zhier suddenly blurts something out. "With what just happened, I thought that you would never wish to speak with me again." His face looks refreshed, an image that I rarely see him wear.
I don't know if he knows this yet, but he was the one who told me that if I want to visit the fairy market again, I should ask him first. Maybe he's just being forgetful, or maybe he just wants to talk.
Either way, I have no idea what is going on in his mind these days, but I figured that it would just be best to play along.
"You look so stressed out with work lately, so I thought that you could use a break.
" It's not a complete lie. I can see clearly how stressed he is because of the bags under his eyes.
I don't know what he's been up to, but I guess that going on dates with Princess Fera is not the only thing that he does. He looks so worn out.
When Zhier smiles, it somehow reminds me of when we first met him, before we found out that his mother could be a potential suspect.
"Thanks." He says appreciatively while trying to hide his smile under his hand. "It's nice to head out for a while. It feels kind of relaxing."
"Don't think too much of it. Besides, I need someone to pay while I am here." I smirk when I look towards him.
Zhier laughs at my honesty while he slowly nods his head. "Yes, I get it. You can choose anything you want. I will pay for them all."
Huh. So this is what it feels like to have those so called "sugar daddies". I am not fond of the idea, but it is pretty convenient.
I am not really interested in purchasing anything from the market today; what I want is to meet up with a certain Unseelie Fae who could help me with my research about Klovis's findings and why the Seelie Queen had him captured.
I received a letter of response from Efeiza the other day, and this is the place where she asked to meet with me. The only problem I have now is how I can loose Zhier.
I headed to the floor where they were selling gems. It's the same floor that Efeiza has asked me to meet with her under the guise of an emerald stone seller.
I am purposely trying to linger longer and pretend to inspect the gems as if I am interested in any of them.
I try to pretend to be interested in a few carefully crafted jewelry at one stall.
"Do you like anything?" Zhier asks after a while of trying on some jewelry. Since he is taller than me, he easily looms behind me. He picks up a certain golden cuff bracelet embedded with rubies. "This looks good on you. Why don't you try it?" He hands it to me.
"No, I—"
"Give me your hand. I'll put it on you." By the time that he took my hand, I could no longer reject him.
He starts to slip on the bracelet on my wrist. Though it looks thick and heavy, it is actually light.
I think that the only heavy material on the cuff are the rubbies on it.
Zhier smiles upon seeing the cuff on my wrist. "As I thought, it suits you well. Sir, how much for this?"
"Zhier, it's—" I want to stop him from making the purchase, but it appears that he has already given the vendor the money for my bracelet. Ah, damn. I guess I have no choice but to keep it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Is this another Seelie fae custom?" I try to joke while looking up at him.
"Surely this won't mean that we are married, like the symbol of engagement for your earrings, right?
" I thought it would lighten the mood and perhaps get a chuckle out of him, but it did the opposite.
He seems to be crestfallen when he looks at the ground.
"Livia." He suddenly turns serious when he addresses me.
"What do you think of the Unseelies?"
"Why are you suddenly asking me about the Unseelies?
" I try to hide the nervousness in my voice.
Why is he suddenly asking me that question?
Does he know that I am meeting with an Unseelie today?
It can't be. I'm still not sure about the reason, so I should just try to act stupid for a while.
Zhier's solemn expression remains. "It's just...just answer the question. What do you think about them?"
Since I know how Zhier despises them, I think that I should pretend and do the same.
"The unseelies, huh." I pretended to give it some thought before I gave him my response.
"I think that they are a rowdy bunch who doesn't care about anyone other than themselves.
The unseelie prince placed a mark on me that's why I am here in the first place.
I can't stand them." I sincerely hope that Steve is not listening to thisconversation, no matter where he is, because I do not want to hurt his feelings.
If he is listening, I just wish that he would know that this is all an act.
I thought that my response was good and passable by Zhier's standards since it appears that he doesn't like the unseelies. To my surprise, I see a brief look of sorrow in his eyes, making me wonder if I have said something wrong.
"Sorry, but I think that I need to leave first." He says, making me even more confused by the change in his mood.
What's wrong with him? Does my answer not satisfy him?
"Zhier, what's wrong?"
"I'm not feeling so good right now. I will head back first. If you want anything, just use my name and tell them to send the bill back to the palace.
" He takes a glance at Jade, who is sitting at my side.
"Watch over her, and I will reward you with emerald gems." Zhier barely casts me a glance before he gives me a nod of goodbye and starts to leave.
I feel so lost at what happened that I can only stare at his retreating back.
"Phew. If our prince heard what you said, he would be upset." I turn my head to the glamoured Unseelie fairy selling emerald gems. Efeiza smiles politely at me while she waves at me in greeting. "Hey, there. Just to be sure, you were lying about your opinion on the Unseelies, right?"
"Does it matter?" I raise a brow.
Efeiza shrugs. "Not really. I was just concerned about what our prince would think.
I have read your letter, by the way." The moment she mentions my letter, her eyes suddenly turn dark.
In the letter that I have sent, I wrote about my findings on the whereabouts of Klovis.
As hard as it is to write in fairy letter, it was even harder for me to explain how I meet with Klovis in my dreams.
"As hard as it is to believe, wouldn't it be easier for us to search the palace for mirrors?"
"It would not help us much if we can't even free him from his prison." I say, keeping my voice low while casting worried glances at the crowd in case anyone is listening. "We need to know more about the mirror. I also want to know what Klovis must have found that made the queen silence him."
Efeiza studies me carefully before crossing her arms. "Correct me if I am wrong, but why does it sound like you are suggesting that you want to head to the unseelie palace?"
"That's because I want to. If it's me—"
"Woah, there." Efeiza cuts me off. "I don't think that it would be a good idea. As hard as it is to believe, but I don't think that his royal highness Prince Zhier, would allow you to leave the palace."
"I know that. That's why I am asking for your help to allow me to leave without them noticing.
You have done that before, right? You managed to sneak into my room without getting detected.
" I cast her a hopeful glance, hoping that she would budge.
When it seemed like she wouldn't, I added, "It's all for Klovis, you know. "
"Well, look at you, learning how to use words to manipulate others.
I guess your time in the fairy realm isn't for nothing.
" Efeize begins to scratch her head before letting out a sigh.
She pauses for a moment and gazes out into the distance like she's trying to decide what to do with my request. Finally, she turns to me.
"Fine, fine. I will agree to your request. But before I give you certain instructions on how we are going to transport you, I must ask you one question. "
"What is it?"
"Can you lie?"