Chapter 4

My plan was becoming clearer and clearer, and I couldn't wait to put it into motion. However Eulisses continued following me no matter where I went and I couldn't get rid of him no matter how hard I tried.

"Oh, look over there."

Eulisses turned around and I took advantage of the situation to run away and hide in the first room I could find. But Eulisses had the smell of a dog and he would always miraculously find me no matter where I hid. He would just suddenly show up from behind me and I almost had five heart attacks. Unfortunately for him I was very stubborn and I continued running away again and again. This was helping me visit the manor and I started getting used to the corridors.

I had no idea how long I had been in this body anymore but despite all that time, I still found new rooms that I never visited before. For example, at some point I found myself in a very nice room. It had dark green walls and imposing furniture in a color between black and maroon. It looked like a private library and it had sculptures as well as paintings here and there. I really liked it and forgot why I came there for a second. I started looking around and the more I was seeing the more excited I turned. I felt like a child opening a gift when I suddenly heard someone cough. I turned around, thinking that it would be Eulisses but jumped seeing Ephraim.

"Ah!"

I screamed so loudly that Ephraim covered his ears:

"That's not a way to greet the Master of this House.

-What the hell are you doing here?"

My "husband" frowned. I started forgetting that he existed at this point and seeing him again wasn't nice at all.

"I should be the one asking you this. We agreed that you should never set foot in my study."

I raised my eyebrows:

"Is this your study? It looks incredible! You even have a sculpture of Aphrodite. And you have "

Ephraim looked at the bust sculpture:

"How could you know that it's her?"

I shrugged:

"It's obvious. Look at her hair."

Ephraim stared at the sculpture for a few more seconds before snarling.

"I see.

-And you even have a Renoir painting! I didn't think that he would exist even in this world. This painting is gorgeous. Could you give it to me?"

Ephraim opened wide eyes:

"How did you know that it was a Renoir? I thought you didn't care about such things.

-You didn't answer. Will you give it to me? I'll give you anything in return.

-The only thing I want from you is to leave my study.

-Okay, always as grumpy as ever. Can't you be nice for two seconds? I didn't ask you for your arm."

Ephraim sighed:

"Okay, this is enough. You know where the door is. You will see yourself out.

-Wait! Does that mean that you won't give me the painting?"

Ephraim snarled:

"The more you want it the less I want to give it to you.

-That bastard."

The next second Ephraim was in front of me and he pushed me against the wall. He was so close that my heart forgot what it was made for.

"Don't you dare insult me. I have put up with it until now but one more time and I'll pull that nice little tongue out of your mouth."

I needed a few seconds to get back power over my mouth:

"Get away from me! I don't like seeing you from so close! Shoo shoo! Leave! Shoo!"

My limbs were shaking so bad that all I could do was scream at him:

"Leave! Step back! You don't know what I can do! I'll bite your ear off! Don't try anything! It will hurt!"

Ephraim laughed. Seeing him do so made me freeze. He literally laughed!

"How could you just laugh at such a moment? I am second from pissing myself.

-Have you forgotten that I can't kill you?

-Not yet! But you will as soon as you find a solution! So get away from me! I want an elephant to have space to sit between us!"

Ephraim smirked before finally pulling away:

"Okay. You have finally said something that makes sense."

I raised my hand to my heart and did my best to calm down.

"I'm alive. I'm fine. I'm not dead.

-For someone who was ready to slash his own throat, you seem pretty set on staying alive.

-That's not the same thing!"

Ephraim shrugged.

"Leave while I'm being nice."

I rushed to the door but still turned back one last time:

"So it's a hundred percent no for the painting?

-How are you still thinking about this?

-How could I not? So?"

Ephraim bent closer to me:

"No.

-But!

-No.

-You are so..."

I bit my lower lip. I forgot that I shouldn't mess with this man.

"Why didn't you finish your sentence? Cat got your tongue?

-I'm scared that if I finish you will be the one to catch my tongue."

Ephraim smirked:

"You learn fast. I like it.

-And I don't like you complimenting me. It's scarier than you glaring at me.

-You are impossible to please.

-I know something that would make me very happy.

-I am not divorcing you."

My shoulders sank immediately.

"Well, there goes my good mood."

I opened the door ready to leave but found myself face to face with a panicked Eulisses.

"Duke Consort! I have been looking everywhere for you! Why would you come here?"

Seeing Ephraim behind me made Eulisses fall to his knees immediately:

"Master! I am so sorry, it's my fault. I lost sight of the Duke Consort."

I rolled my eyes:

"Is Sliske nothing more than someone's husband?"

Ephraim gestured for Eulisses to stop talking:

"Get him out of here. I don't want to be disturbed.

-Yes, Master."

Eulisses pulled me away and I was glad that I could get away from Sliske's killer. However I didn't have time to get very far that Ephraim called me:

"What the hell are you wearing?"

I turned back and looked at my pants with a frown. For a second I got scared that I lost my clothes somewhere:

"Pants, obviously."

Ephraim rubbed his eyes with a sight:

"Do you want to kill me?

-Yes!"

He glared at me and I stopped talking:

"Only peasants wear pants. You should get changed before someone sees you like this."

He turned to Eulisses:

"And why would you let him wear that?

-I am sorry, Master... He has been sick for days and I wanted him to be happy...

-Why are you all pretending that I'm not here? I wear whatever I want. If I want pants then i'll have pants."

Ephraim didn't like my answer but I didn't care:

"If you don't like it then divorce me."

He smirked:

"Is this how you're going to play it?

-Maybe.

-Then bring it on."

I squinted my eyes.

"Why do you sound so confident?"

Ephraim shrugged and didn't feel like he needed to answer.

"If you don't divorce me I am going to come to your study every day.

-Then I'll just throw you out every day.

-You..."

Ephraim closed the door behind me and I was left alone with Eulisses again.