When Cermin entered the castle, he didn’t expect it to be so dark. There were only a few candlesticks scattered, but the chandeliers weren’t turned on.

The portraits also seemed to be covered by black cloth.

“Er….. Why is it so dark here, kind sir?” He asked as he followed him around, the bite mark on his neck still visible every time the candlelight dances over it.

The Crow Baron only smiled. “Because everyone is asleep, and the lights might disturb them.”

“Everyone? You mean the other girls you saved?”

“Yes. They are sleeping peacefully at this time. Dreaming and dreaming until I knock on their door and invite them for dinner.”

Cermin narrowed his eyes. He saw the keys hanging on the Crow Barons hand, twirling it around and playing with it.

He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but he can sense that the Crow Baron was being too casual around him. Like he was taunting Cermin to lose his guard.

(I need to think how Ronin thinks. I can’t just go forward or the girls would be in danger.) He told himself.

“Then…. What do you once you have dinner with them? Do you have dinner with all of them?”

The Baron chuckled. “Oh, no. They’re far too many to have dinner with all of them. I prefer taking one girl to dinner with me and just have a nice….. talk.”

He grinned. “Though sometimes I like to take 2 or 3 when I’m feeling hungry.”

Cermin still doesn’t know what exactly was his power to have these girls charmed. As soon as he figures it out, it will be easier to break them out of his spell and escape from here.

Then once he had secured an escape plan for them, he can fight the Baron one on one.

“Carmine….. Are you feeling famished? Would you like to have dinner with me?” He asked, as he opened a door.

Inside was a candlelit dinner in the dark, with rose petals all over the table and a sweet smell lingering about. There table stretched for about 12 feet, and it already like an 13 course meal on it.

“Wow, there’s so much food.” Cermin said, then frowned. “This is too much for just two people. Can’t you invite at least some 10 or 12 girls to eat with you?”

“I could, but I like getting to know my new visitors personally first.” He smiled, offering a chair for Cermin to sit.

It was on the side, and the other chair was at one end of the table. He sat down in a very unlady-like manner, the chair creaking.

Still, the Crow Baron never lost his smile. “The girls would love you, I’m sure. You are different from them.”

“Different? How?” Cermin asked.

“Do have some wine first.” He said, opening a bottle and pouring some for him. “And tell me about your marriage.”

“My marriage…” Cermin thought about the story they made up in his head.

“Yes. How was your husband treating you this past 2 years?”

“Oh….. Ronin was lovely but…..” He can’t think of a story since he sucks at lying, so he just said the truth.

“He had always been a quiet man. I can’t tell what’s on his mind. But he was very smart, and I know that he cares for me and was willing to do anything for me.”

He smiled lightly. “He had saved me so many times. Both during my darkest hours when I felt like giving up, and from others that tried to hurt me.”

“You must love him very much, then? I feel sorry now for separating you two, but doesn’t he seem bad for you?”

He pointed at Cermin’s neck. “It seems to me that he shelters you too much. Restrain you. And he may only be nice to you so he can get what he wants.”

“Ah, this is just a burst of passion from him.” Cermin covered the bite mark and chuckled nervously with his high-pitched feminine voice from the disguise. “Men can get wild when turned on—”

“That’s not what I mean at all.” The Crow Baron smiled. “To me, he treats you more like a wayward child that he had to look after in every single action you take.”

“Like my father was to me.” He sighed. “My father disliked me since I was born, but I was his only heir. So he pretended to tolerate me in order to have me do what he wants.”

He placed a hand on Cermin’s. “Are you sure your Ronin actually cares about you….. or he’s just tolerating your existence beside him?”

“W-What? I’m sure he does, he’s my fr….. husband.” Cermin said, his heart beating loudly.

“And had he ever told you or shown you how much he matters to you? How much he enjoyed your company, or appreciated the things you do for him?”

Cermin gritted his teeth, as this was hitting a vein now.

“He doesn’t have to at all. I know he cares because of how much he stays with me—”

“And how sure are you that it’s not just manipulation? That he doesn’t actually despise you deep down, and only nods his head with everything you say so he can use you?”

Beads of sweat started to trickle down Cermin’s forehead. Perhaps from the heat of the candlelight, or from the panic he was experiencing as this man’s words…..

Are starting to convince him and plant doubt in his mind.

Ronin was not manipulating him, he couldn’t be. He admitted that the Lord of Darkness was controlling him. If he was fooling him, shouldn’t he have kept that to himself?

Or could it be that….

The Ronin he knew never existed, and it had always just been the Lord of Darkness?

Playing tricks on him just as he did before he met his best friend. Could it be……

He suddenly felt more emotional than usual, his brain running with so much thoughts. What if, what if, what if—

He slammed the table! “Enough!”

The Crow Baron smiled, and gripped his hand tighter. “It’s alright. Many of my girls felt that way. That they are seeing their men for the first time all over again.”

“One realized that his husband is just a shallow man who loved her for her looks. One realized that he had been looking at other women all along and cheating on her while he’s away for ‘business’.”

The Crow Baron smiled. “The perfect man doesn’t exist. It’s true. That would be a dream, and not a reality. But…”

“I can make your dream into a reality. The visage of him that you have always wanted.”

Cermin furrowed his brows, and before he knew it—

It was Ronin holding his hand now, smiling at him.

“Your Highness, you’re my greatest friend. I have never cared for anyone other than you.”

Cermin could not even think it was a trick because it was so vivid, and his mind was blurry like he was drunk.

It was so dark too, and it was almost like Ronin was a candlelight. The only thing he could see in this darkness.

“Your friendship matters so much to me. I have never been happier in my life whenever I’m with you.” Ronin said, still wearing that smile.

“I….. Really?” Cermin started to tear up. “That’s how I feel too. I feel so happy with you after being so miserable in so long.”

Ronin stood up and hugged him. “Let’s stay as friends forever in this castle without worries. No damsels to save, no people to please, no ghosts to worry about…”

The Crow Baron merely smiled as he saw this ‘Carmine’ crying with his eyes half-closed. His head was starting to sway like he was about to doze off in his chair.

Mumbling. “Ronin… I want to stay with you…. Ronin….”

In Cermin’s eyes, Ronin went back to sit where the Crow Baron was, making promises of a peaceful life together in this castle.

“So what do you say? Please, Your Highness. I need you just as much as you need me. My feelings for you are genuine.”

“You don’t have to worry about me having secrets at all because I will forever be honest with you.”

“From now on, I’ll speak what’s on my mind and you don’t have to guess what I’m thinking. I will laugh with you and talk about everything without restraint with you.”

“Just take my hand and join me in this perfect paradise.”

And soon the dark castle disappeared, and Ronin was instead surrounded by a halo of light in this bright and beautiful castle with lit chandeliers and red velvet curtains.

He was holding out his hand, and looked like genuinely wanted Cermin around, wanted to stay as friends forever…..

And so, he was not able to resist.

As soon as he took that hand….

He had fallen asleep, trapped in this paradise created by a man with purple hair and crow feather coat.

The Crow Baron lifted him up from the chair and carried him to the room.

“I have no interest in men… But I find your desire interesting.” He sneered. “I expected you to see nothing because I can’t show dreams of perfect women, like that girl Hildas…..”

“”But it turns out you desire so much for a man because of friendship. Hahaha!”

He laughed maniacally as he carried Cermin in a woman’s disguise. “Ah… It’s so hilarious and interesting. Maybe I’ll let you stay in paradise for a while before I stab you in your sleep.”

The sleeping prince was also smiling, dreaming and dreaming of having a happy and carefree Ronin who actually cares for him.