Chapter Text
The longer you stare at the beautiful portrait the sadder you feel. There was such joy here once. A happiness destroyed and lost in such a way it drove the artist to madness. You were not the one to cast that man out of the darkness and can not measure up to the memory of the woman in the painting. What right do you have to tear this man from his lingering sorrows. One should never forget such a radiant soul and what desire would he have for you with such a love in his memory.
You have to leave. You do not belong in this place. Not as a challenger or as a romantic interest. You wish you had never come to this island of regret.
You find yourself stopped in the doorway by the man you were hoping to avoid. You had been given free reign of the castle but that didn’t mean you should go prying. This definitely feels like prying.
“It seems my dear you have wandered into one of my more private rooms.” Pegasus glances towards the diary still open on the table.
“And have helped yourself to certain knowledge.”
“...” You are uncertain as to how to respond. It was pretty irresponsible of Pegasus to simply leave the dairy out and not expect someone to read it. Then again maybe this room was supposed to have been locked. Such a busy man might forget one or two things.
With a flick of his hair and a flourish of his arms Pegasus laughs, “Ah do not look so alarmed my dear. I am an open book.” Lowering his arms he locks you with piercing stare, “To you at least.”
He takes a step forwards and intellectually you take a step back bumping into the table. You can almost feel the gaze from the woman in the portrait like a pressure behind your back. You hear Pegasus continue his monologue but you can’t bring yourself to look him in the eye.
“As you know I’ve taken quite the interest in you. You wouldn’t be here at all if you hadn’t caught my eye.”
He is getting closer. You grip the edge of the table as he get close enough to put his hands on your cheeks. He raises your head to meet his gaze. It is debatable who is more shocked. You see something in his gaze that draws you in; freezing the tears that had started roll from your eyes. You are the one that steals a rushed kiss and are immediately hit with the guilty weight of it. You’ve silenced him though. He may have seen many things but he had not seen that coming. It gives you your opening to break free and flee from the cage of his arms.
As you exit the room you glance behind you to see Pegasus leaning over the diary on the table. One arm raised hand hidden but presumably on his mouth. You have defeated the famous Pegasus but not in a card game as you had intended. You know you must continue running otherwise he may turn his power against you and steal your soul. However seeing him there so shocked under the painting of his beloved tugs at a part of you. You are nothing to him but perhaps your body could be worth something.
“Pegasus…”
He turns to face you slowly. Trying to gather himself despite his surprise that you have not already continued your flight down the stairs. It is odd to him that you waste your chance to escape.
“You love her so much you’d do anything to get her back.” You don’t give him time to answer you know his answer, “All these people you are hurting. What if no one else had to hurt? What if you put her soul in my body?”
“What about you, my dear? You’d be sealed into a card forever. I could perhaps make it a pleasant dream but there is no guarantee…” There was something off about his voice a slight hardness to it. You had expected elation but he sounded almost angry. Was he trying to scare you out of the idea? Was your body not good enough for his beloved?
“What do I matter? All I have are dreams and it is clear if you hadn’t interfered I would have never gotten to the castle on my own. Whatever fascination you have with me is pale in comparison to what she means to you. In all avenues I find myself as a lost cause. At least this way I’d be worth something. Unless of course I’m that undesirable a vessel.”
Pegasus slamming his hand down onto the table hard startles you. “I had not taken you for a fool my dear!” He is trying not to yell. “It is no lie I want the woman I loved back in my life but I do not deserver her. I have betrayed the sanctity of my love for her for the very idea of using you in such away pains me. How dare my bitter heart be moved by you who steals kisses.”
He walked towards you hand outstretched but doesn’t get close enough to actually touch you. “You flee but not far enough to be out of sight or mind. What do you want of me? Why did you come here when you knew the dangers. Why do you remain?” He shakes his head looking as if consumed by madness, “It was such a terrible lie that I was simply interested in your potential. I have let such temptation into my house. Into the my most private of places.”
He starts to pull back his hand and back away, “No more. Leave me. Flee this place with your life and soul intact and never return.”
Before he can make good his retreat you take hold of his hand, “But my heart would always be here regardless.”
He draws you in and you both end up crying. You feel like you are doing a terrible thing but you just can’t leave him. You apologise silently to Cecelia and promise here that you will do your best to make him happy. You know it will be hard but you also now are sure that he cares for you enough to try.