The Seven Devils – Chapter 31

Noah snapped to reality. He blinked. This isn’t a dream?

His hands still holding on to the boy, he realized the youth felt soft and warm against him.

“Shit!” he said under his breath and loosened his grip on the boy. He asked, “Who are you?”

“Alfie, my lord. You lords like to suck other people’s pure qi, don’t you?”

Noah was a little confused.

Of course they did. It was natural as opposites attract. There was just that something very alluring where the pure qi to the dark qi was concerned.

“Can you please let me go now?” Alfie asked.

Noah was a little surprised he was still holding on to the boy. He reluctantly did and watched as Alfie settled back, sitting on the floor, watching him with interest.

Noah was intrigued by the pretty boy before him. Suddenly, his mind clicked, and he realized this must be the Alfie they had been talking about during the meeting yesterday.

He grinned devilishly and asked, “You’re Alfie?”

Alfie seemed surprised Lord Noah knew her name. “Yes, my lord, I’m Alfie.”

Noah asked, “Do you know who I am?”

Alfie nodded. “I assume you’re Lord Noah Wakefield, yes? Brenna told me you’re her boss. By the way, I’m here because she forgot her lunch today.” She pointed to the wrapped box sitting on the coffee table.

Noah flicked his gaze there. The scent was enticing. He said, “Give that to me.”

“I beg your pardon?”

He said, “I’m starving, and that thing smells divine. I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.”

“Oh!” Alfie thought for a moment and then grabbed for the bento box and handed it over to Noah. “Then you may have it, my lord. I’ll make another for Brenna.”

The moment Noah opened the lid, an exotic aroma greeted him, and he nearly cried with joy. It was white rice, along with other small things mixed with it. On the side, there were yellow rolls and what looked like battered deep-fried prawns as well.

Alfie said, “It’s nothing much. Just fried rice with prawns, carrots, corn, and peas. On the side are tamagoyaki and prawn tempura.”

It’s nothing much? Definitely not! This was heaven to Noah.

The lord picked up the chopsticks that accompanied the lunchbox and dug right in. The joy was overwhelming and hard to hide as he hastily devoured the fried rice like a starved demon, which he was.

Alfie giggled in delight, which drew Noah’s attention. That giggle was too enticing to his ear by half, not to mention the bright grin.

“I’m glad you like it, my lord,” she said.

“I’m glad you came. You’re a lifesaver.”

Alfie blushed, and Noah nearly choked on his food at witnessing such an exquisite sight.

Fuck! The boy was too adorable, he thought. He hadn’t seen anyone this lovable since two thousand years ago. Wait! He realized that he hadn’t properly looked at another being in such an intimate light since Yuki’s passing.

After swallowing the delicious food in his mouth, he said, “Alfie, come here.” He patted the seat beside him.

Alfie obeyed and comfortably propped herself up on the couch beside the lord.

Noah said, “Tell me about yourself.”

“Me? Tell you about myself?” she asked.

Noah nodded. “I’m busy eating, so entertain me.”

This was the first time in a long time that he had asked anyone to sit with him while he ate, let alone requested any sort of entertainment during a meal. His usual routine, if he hadn’t happened to dine with the other six lords in the great dining hall and chat about the nation’s affairs, was that he’d eat alone while working.

Alfie said, “I see. Then I’ll tell you about my childhood and travels. How about that?”

“Sounds good,” Noah said and then listened attentively as he continued to enjoy his meal. He must admit he liked listening to Alfie’s soft voice talking, which was pleasant and soothing.

By the time he was done with his lunch, Noah had learned quite a few things about Alfie—that she was an only child, she and her family traveled around a lot, her father was a famous author and prominent man of society, her grandfather from her father’s side of the family ran a shrine and onsen at the base of a mountain, and that Alfie went to the university.

Of course, being Noah, the famous head magic researcher of Acaedien, he couldn’t help himself and used his magic perception to analyze Alfie while she talked. Yet, by the end of his meal, Noah couldn’t clearly determine what exactly Alfie was. Yes, to him, Alfie was a boy. The name and the male garments indicated so. Anyone could see that. Yet Noah felt as though there were something blocking his magic perception to clearly define who or what Alfie was. He felt it in his gut that Alfie was something entirely different and unique, something that wasn’t a part of this world.

He put the now-empty lunchbox on the coffee table and said, “That was delicious.”

Alfie grinned from ear to ear, pleased. “I’m glad you liked it, my lord.”

Noah got up and headed over to the bench on the other side of the sitting room. There, he brewed himself a cup of coffee, his mind racing and analyzing. By the time the coffee was done, he had thought of a brilliant idea.

Grinning, he said, “Alfie?”

“Yes, my lord?” Alfie got up from her seat and rushed over to where Noah stood, now sipping his black coffee with delight.

Noah said, “As a thank-you for the delicious food, will you accept a few gifts from me?”

Noah saw the delight in those deep-brown eyes and thought, Got you, little elf.

“Really?” Alfie asked.

Noah nodded, all calm and composed. He said, “Follow me.”

After placing the empty mug on the bench, Noah led the unsuspecting Alfie out of the sitting room and headed toward his office at the back of the department. There, Noah ushered the youth in, who looked around in awe.

“Wow!” Alfie said, eyes large with interest. “There are so many books here.”

“It’s my personal library,” Noah said. “I have books on almost every subject under the sun, so to speak.”

Alfie asked, “Really? Then would it be okay if I come here sometimes to borrow some books to read? I mean, I’m very interested in this world…I mean, the Acaedien Kingdom and its history.”

Noah said, “Sure. You’re welcome to come here and read whenever you feel like it. You have my permission. Treat this as your second home, little one.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Alfie said, eyes twinkling, which made Noah’s knees weak.

Noah cleared his throat to get his wits about himself and said, “Come this way.” He led her toward a room behind his office. There, he ushered her in, and Alfie looked around in wonder at the countless potion bottles in storage.

Noah said, “I keep the best here. They’re my top secret potions.” He reached out for a bottle and said “Ahh…this one.” He handed Alfie a small jar with a clear liquid-like gel.

Alfie asked, “What is it for?”

Noah couldn’t help himself and ruffled Alfie’s hair. “For that.”

“Hair?”

Noah nodded.

Alfie frowned. “But I don’t need it. I’m not bald.”

Noah burst out laughing until his stomach hurt. No, he couldn’t imagine the youth going bald any time soon. But the urge to see the youth with long, glossy hair was strong, and he couldn’t help himself.

When he managed to calm down, he said, “Silly boy. It’s a gift, so use it. If you don’t, I’ll be upset.”

Alfie nodded furiously. “Then I’ll be sure to use it, my lord. But what exactly does it do? Make my hair grow faster or something?”

Noah nodded. “That and, of course, makes your hair very soft and shiny.” He cocked his head to one side and lied, “Like Geoffrey’s hair.”

Alfie’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. “Lord Geoffrey uses this product?”

Again, Noah lied. “Yes.” There was no harm in it, after all, as long as Alfie used it and Noah got to have a glimpse of paradise. It had been such a long time since he had encountered anyone with such dark hair and pale skin like Yuki.

“Then I’ll use it as well,” Alfie said, grinning.

Pleased, Noah said, “Good boy. Now then…” He moved along and pretended to inspect some more bottles filled with potions. When he got to the newest line he had developed, he grabbed the one with glowing golden pills.

Alfie’s eyes widened. “Wow! They look like gold.”

Noah said, “They do, don’t they?” Then he proceeded to pop the lid open and pick one out. Between his thumb and finger, the little round tablet glowed a golden color. “It’s yours.”

Alfie asked, surprised, “For me?”

Noah nodded. “It’s the latest. It’s meant to increase your strength. Do you want to be stronger, Alfie?”

Alfie nodded furiously. “Yes, I do. So…this is kind of like a multivitamin or something?”

Noah cocked his head to one side. “Multivitamin?”

“It’s something from my homeland. Multivitamin is kind of like all the essential stuff put into a pill. It’s to keep you fit and healthy.”

“Ah…that is exactly what this is,” Noah said. “A multivitamin of sorts.”

“Then thank you, my lord,” Alfie said, putting one hand out so that Noah would drop it into her palm.

Noah ignored the awaiting palm. Instead, he said, “Ahh…” and urged Alfie’s mouth to part.

Alfie hesitantly obeyed.

Once the sensual lips parted, Noah inserted the golden pill, his thumb brushing and caressing against the soft, wet flesh a moment longer than necessary.

Alfie was about to swallow when the pill melted in her mouth and an explosion of sweetness caressed her taste buds. “Mmm…it’s delicious and sweet.”

Noah smiled. Mission accomplished. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Thank you, my lord. This tastes just like a candy.”

Noah had to agree with that because that was exactly what he was doing, luring a pretty boy into his lair and seducing him with candy for his own selfish desires.

A moment later, he reluctantly walked Alfie out the door, since she had work to do, cooking another lunch for Brenna before noon.

After promising to come visit the department again, along with bringing delicious oriental food as gifts, Alfie was gone, leaving Noah feeling a little lonely.

Heading back to his office, Noah thought about lovable Alfie and what the little thing would look like when that delicate body changed physically within the next couple days after taking that golden pill. Would Alfie still be as adorable and lovable? And what if there was no change in physical appearance at all? Then Noah would know for sure that there was definitely something that was blocking his magic perception. If that was the case, then Lord Noah Wakefield, head magic researcher of the kingdom, vowed to find out what the fucking hell that something was.