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No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure.

Late as he was, the intangible djinni only heard parts of the conversation that had started before he arrived. Normally this wouldn't bother him, but the expression on Ophelia's face worried him more than he would ever allow anyone to know. That brightness of the smile, the innocent gleam of the dual-colored eyes... It wasn't something he had come to connect with the mysterious mercenary princess he'd found in a borderland forest, once upon a winter morn. This was not the girl he'd fooled to laugh by making jokes at his own expense, the one he had fought a battle of words and will with.

Was she still the glorious leader he'd sworn to obey, protect and respect?

The confidence of the lightning-touched wraith faltered when the pale femme turned her gaze toward him, without any light of recognition brightening her features. There was no veiled curiosity, no thoughtfulness or inquiry about why he kept following her around. Instead he was met with emptiness, a gaze that beheld a stranger - as if it was the first time they crossed paths. As if their games of mental tag in a snowy forest never happened.

For a second, an expression of sadness passed over the face of the demon-eyed boy. A fraction of a second, in which the blue of the eyes darkened by hurt, a breath was held, the ears fell... Then it passed, replaced by a casual grin that was just a slight bit colder than before - as if responding to the faint irritation in her voice.

"Of course I know you" he replied casually, only halfway ignoring the black demon and the distressed damsel - finally a damsel in distress. Finally someone who knew the ropes of things. "So you forgot, huh. Don't take it to heart love; it probably wasn't much to remember anyway. Say, do you recall anything at all? Like, names and such..." Apparently his wasn't on the list, but perhaps there were other things remaining on the inside. He halfway hoped it wouldn't. The more wicked part of him immediately saw a source of endless fun here, with the only uncertain part being whether she would remain oblivious or not.

But why should he care? She had forgotten about him, about their promise. Did he need to uphold it, if Ophelia so easily had managed to let it slip her mind?

"I can tell you, if you want. I know who you are, and what you've done. Just say the word, and I'll let you in on it... If you really want to know."

The handsome smile concealed his true feelings like a silver mask, gave away nothing of the disappointment he felt. He just wished he could hide them from himself too; stow away the sinking sensation of the gut, that made him want to turn around and run from that empty gaze. That empty heart.

Where was the fun in stalking someone who didn't care if he was there or not?

Nor is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain.

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