Rody crouched near the edge of the forest, his hands brushing against the cool, dew-kissed leaves as he searched for herbs to gather. His neighbor’s daughter, Manon, had mentioned that her mother was feeling unwell, and Rody, ever eager to help, had offered to collect herbs from the forest to make a remedy. The sun was starting to dip beyond the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, but Rody wasn’t worried. He knew these woods well.
As he reached for a clump of lavender, a rustling sound caught his attention. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. The forest was known to be safe, but there were always tales-tales of creatures that roamed the woods at dusk, creatures best left undisturbed. Rody stood slowly, his hand instinctively moving to the small knife at his belt, though he doubted it would be much use if the stories were true.
“Can I have your name?”
The voice was soft, almost musical, yet it sent a chill down Rody’s spine. He turned to see a figure standing among the trees, illuminated by the soft glow of twilight. The figure was beautiful-too beautiful, with sharp features, pale skin, and eyes that seemed to gleam in the dim light. His dark hair fell in soft waves around his face, and his lips curved into a smile that was both inviting and unsettling. His clothing was strange, an ethereal mix of whites and greys that seemed to shift and shimmer like mist.
Rody’s pulse quickened. He knew what this was. A Fae. His grandmother had told him stories of the Fae, dangerous creatures who could charm or curse with a word, who could steal your name and leave you powerless. His grip tightened on his knife, though he knew it wouldn’t help him now.
The Fae tilted his head, watching Rody with an amused expression, as if sensing his hesitation. “I only asked for your name, human,” he said, his voice like the whisper of leaves in the wind.
Rody swallowed hard, his mind racing. Fae were tricky, and he knew better than to give his name so easily. But he also knew that refusing outright could offend the creature, and the last thing he wanted was to anger a Fae. He had to be smart, careful.
“I’ll give you my name,” Rody said slowly, his green eyes narrowing slightly, “but first, what’s yours?”
The Fae’s smile faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. He blinked, as if processing Rody’s words, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to hum with tension. Then, to Rody’s confusion, the Fae’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, and his smile returned-brighter, warmer, almost…giddy?
“You-” The Fae’s voice was breathless, and he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Rody’s. “You want my name?”
Rody frowned, not understanding the shift in the Fae’s demeanor. “Well, yes. Isn’t that how this works?”
The Fae’s eyes sparkled with something like delight, and he laughed-a bright, almost childlike sound that echoed through the trees. “Oh, my dear human,” he said, stepping even closer, until Rody could smell the faint scent of flowers and something sharp, like citrus. “You’ve just asked for my hand in marriage.”
Rody’s heart stopped.
“What?” he stammered, taking a step back, his mind reeling. “I-no, that’s not what I-“
The Fae reached out, his hand brushing against Rody’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Oh, but it is,” he said softly, his smile turning mischievous. “Asking a Fae for their name is like a proposal. And since I quite like you, human, I accept.”
Rody felt his mouth go dry. His thoughts scrambled to make sense of what had just happened. All he had wanted was to gather herbs for Manon, maybe win her favor, maybe ask her out. And now-now he was engaged to a Fae?
“Wait,” he said, his voice rising slightly in panic. “I didn’t mean it like that! I don’t want-“
The Fae placed a finger against Rody’s lips, silencing him with a soft shush. “No need to fret,” he said. “It’s already done. My name is Vincent, by the way.”
Vincent.
Rody swallowed again, his heart pounding in his chest. The Fae-Vincent-was looking at him with an expression that was strangely tender, his dark eyes gleaming with affection. It wasn’t the cold, calculating gaze Rody had expected from a Fae. No, this one seemed…cheerful. Excited, even.
“I’m Rody,” he said weakly, realizing too late that he had just given his name freely.
Vincent’s smile widened, and he took a step back, his hand slipping from Rody’s arm. “Rody,” he repeated, as if tasting the name on his tongue. “A lovely name for my lovely human.”
Rody’s head spun. Lovely? His? How had this happened? He opened his mouth to protest again, but Vincent was already moving, gliding gracefully toward the edge of the clearing.
“Come now, Rody,” Vincent called, his voice lilting with joy. “It’s getting dark. You should head home before the night creatures come out.”
Rody stared at him, dumbfounded. “You’re…you’re coming with me?”
Vincent laughed again, a bright, carefree sound that made Rody’s stomach flip. “Of course! You’re mine now, aren’t you? We’re engaged, after all.”
Rody felt his knees weaken as the reality of his situation sank in. How had his simple task of gathering herbs led to this? He had wanted to impress Manon, not end up with a Fae fiancé. But before he could think of a way to fix this, Vincent was already at his side, looping an arm through his and steering him toward the path back to the village.
Rody’s mind raced. He had to do something, say something to stop this madness. “I-uh, I have a neighbor,” he started, his voice shaky. “Manon. I was actually planning to, well, ask her out. So you see, this is all a big mistake-“
Vincent’s smile faltered, but only for a moment. His gaze softened, and he patted Rody’s arm gently. “Oh, my dear human,” he said, his voice sweet and sympathetic. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’m not jealous. If you care for this Manon, that’s fine. But I think you’ll find that no human can compare to me.”
Rody swallowed hard. He had no idea how to respond to that.
As they walked together through the twilight forest, Vincent chatted cheerfully, talking about the Fae realms and the magic of the woods. Rody, for his part, could barely keep up. His thoughts were a whirl of confusion and disbelief. Vincent was behaving far too casually for someone who had just claimed a human for marriage, and Rody couldn’t help but feel like he had stepped into a dream-or a nightmare.
By the time they reached the edge of the village, Rody’s mind was reeling. He needed to get rid of Vincent, to find a way out of this bizarre situation. But the Fae was still smiling at him, still walking beside him as if they were the best of friends-no, as if they were lovers.
“Well, here we are!” Vincent said brightly as they reached Rody’s modest home. “I suppose I’ll stay with you tonight, won’t I?”
Rody blinked, panic rising in his chest again. “Stay with me?” he echoed. “But-“
Vincent’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Don’t worry, Rody,” he said, his voice soft and teasing. “I won’t steal your bed. Unless you ask, of course.”
Rody felt his face flush, and he shook his head quickly. “No, that’s-that’s fine. You can…um, sleep on the floor.”
Vincent chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent shivers down Rody’s spine. “Whatever you say, darling.”
As Rody unlocked his door and let Vincent inside, he couldn’t help but wonder what on earth he had gotten himself into. A Fae fiancé? A jealous-but not too jealous-creature who followed him home with a smile?
And the worst part?
Some small part of him couldn’t help but find it all…strangely endearing.
As Vincent hummed softly, settling himself into Rody’s home with an ease that made it seem as though he belonged there, Rody’s thoughts drifted to Manon, to the future he had once imagined. But now, with Vincent here, everything had changed.
And perhaps, Rody realized with a sinking feeling, there was no going back.
The next morning, Rody woke up to the sight of Vincent lounging gracefully by the window, gazing out at the village with an expression of serene curiosity. Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the Fae’s pale skin. For a moment, Rody wondered if this was all a bizarre dream. But the sound of Vincent humming softly, the memory of their conversation in the forest, and the surreal fact that a Fae was now living with him quickly reminded him it was all very real.
Vincent turned, catching Rody’s gaze. His smile brightened as though they were old lovers waking up to another peaceful day together. “Good morning, Rody!” Vincent said cheerfully, his voice as sweet and lilting as ever. “Did you sleep well?”
Rody sat up, rubbing his eyes and trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep. “I guess…” he muttered, his mind still groggy. He glanced around his modest home, half-expecting Vincent to have left by now. “I thought you might’ve gone back to…wherever it is you’re from.”
Vincent gave a soft, melodic laugh, gliding over to Rody’s bedside and sitting beside him with an ease that unnerved him. “Now why would I do that? I’ve got everything I need right here,” he said, his gaze resting warmly on Rody.
Rody’s heart did an uncomfortable flip, and he quickly averted his eyes, swinging his legs out of bed. “Right… well, I’ve got things to do,” he said awkwardly, hoping to distance himself from the Fae. “Errands. Chores.”
Vincent stood, following him as Rody moved about his small home. “I’ll come with you!” he said brightly, his eyes shining with excitement. “I’ve never spent much time among humans. It could be fun!”
Rody froze mid-step. He hadn’t expected that. The last thing he needed was a Fae trailing him around the village, drawing attention to the fact that he’d somehow ended up betrothed to a creature of myth. But before he could protest, Vincent was already at the door, glancing back with an eager smile, as though the prospect of running mundane errands was the most exciting adventure imaginable.
“Come on, Rody,” Vincent coaxed gently, his voice soft but insistent. “You can’t keep me cooped up in here all day. Besides,” he added with a teasing tilt of his head, “we’re supposed to be engaged. Don’t couples spend time together?”
Rody felt heat rise to his cheeks, and he cursed himself for getting into this mess. How was he supposed to explain this to the villagers? What would they think when they saw him with a Fae-*a Fae*!-trailing after him, calling him *darling* and acting like they were already married?
But he couldn’t argue with Vincent. The Fae wasn’t threatening or demanding. If anything, he seemed…happy. Cheerful. And Rody didn’t know how to handle that.
“Fine,” Rody sighed, grabbing his worn leather boots and tugging them on. “But try not to draw too much attention, alright? The village elders… they don’t take kindly to Fae.”
Vincent’s smile remained, but his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m quite good at not drawing attention. You’ll see.”
Somehow, Rody doubted that.
—
As they walked through the village, Vincent stayed close to Rody’s side, his presence a constant reminder of the bizarre situation Rody had found himself in. At first, the villagers didn’t seem to notice the Fae. Most were busy with their own daily tasks, giving Rody and his companion little more than a passing glance. But it wasn’t long before the unusual nature of Vincent’s appearance began to attract attention.
A group of children playing in the street stopped to stare at the strange man walking beside Rody. They whispered among themselves, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and wariness. One of the elders, an old woman with sharp eyes and a hunched back, paused in the middle of sweeping her doorstep and watched them with a frown.
“Is that…?” she murmured under her breath, narrowing her gaze. “No, it can’t be…”
Rody could feel the eyes of the village on him, and he shifted uncomfortably, trying to pretend everything was normal. But Vincent, oblivious to-or perhaps simply enjoying-the attention, continued to walk beside him, smiling brightly and greeting anyone who met his gaze.
“Good day, madam!” Vincent called out cheerfully to a passing shopkeeper, who nearly dropped the basket of bread she was carrying in surprise. The woman’s eyes darted between Rody and Vincent, her face paling as she hurried away without a word.
Rody groaned inwardly. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of.
As they continued through the village square, the murmurs grew louder. Whispers spread quickly, passing from one villager to another, until it seemed like half the town was staring at them. Rody tried to keep his head down, focusing on his task of buying provisions, but Vincent was making it impossible to stay unnoticed.
Finally, one of the elders-a tall, stern-looking man with silver hair and a staff-stepped forward, his brow furrowed in concern. He approached Rody cautiously, his eyes flicking toward Vincent as if unsure what to make of him.
“Rody,” the elder said in a low, wary voice. “Is that… a Fae walking with you?”
Rody winced, feeling the weight of the village’s gaze on him. “Uh, yeah, about that…”
Before he could explain, Vincent stepped forward, his smile as radiant as ever. “Yes! I’m Vincent,” he said brightly, offering his hand as if introducing himself at a dinner party. “And I’m Rody’s fiancé.”
Rody felt his heart drop into his stomach as a collective gasp rippled through the gathered villagers. The elder’s eyes widened, and he glanced sharply at Rody.
“*Fiancé*?” the elder repeated, his voice filled with disbelief.
“It’s… complicated,” Rody mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. He could feel the stares growing more intense, the weight of judgment hanging in the air.
The elder’s frown deepened, and he lowered his voice, leaning in closer to Rody. “You must be careful,” he whispered. “Fae are not to be trusted. They’re tricksters, deceivers. If you’ve made a deal with this one-“
“I haven’t made a deal!” Rody interrupted, louder than he meant to. He glanced at Vincent, who was watching the exchange with a curious tilt of his head, still smiling as though nothing was wrong. “I-uh, I accidentally asked for his name. And, well, you know what that means…”
The elder’s face paled, and he stepped back, shaking his head slowly. “By the gods,” he murmured. “You’ve tied yourself to him…”
Rody groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. “It wasn’t on purpose!”
Vincent, sensing the tension, finally spoke up. “Oh, don’t worry, good elder,” he said with a cheerful smile. “I’m Rody’s betrothed. I won’t bring harm to Rody or your village. In fact, I’m quite fond of him. You might even say I’m smitten.”
The elder looked far from reassured, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he gave Rody a solemn look and muttered, “Be careful, boy. Once a Fae claims you, there’s no going back.”
Rody nodded weakly as the elder turned away, the other villagers still whispering behind their hands as they scattered. He felt like he’d made a complete spectacle of himself. And now, thanks to Vincent, everyone in the village knew about his… *engagement*.
As they continued on their way, Vincent was unbothered by the attention, his cheerful mood unbroken. He hummed a soft tune under his breath, glancing at Rody with a playful smile.
“Well, that went well, didn’t it?” Vincent said with a wink.
Rody groaned again, burying his face in his hands. What had he gotten himself into?
The following days passed in a blur of confusion, frustration, and occasional wonder. No matter where Rody went or what he did, Vincent was there, attached to him like a shadow. Whether Rody was running errands, collecting herbs in the forest, or simply sitting down to a quiet meal, Vincent was always by his side, cheerful and unflappable.
It wasn’t just that Vincent followed him everywhere. The Fae made it a point to insert himself into every aspect of Rody’s life-offering advice on cooking (which Rody, given his lack of skill, couldn’t deny was helpful), asking questions about the village, or simply lounging around with a contented expression as if the human world fascinated him endlessly.
But as much as Vincent’s constant presence unsettled Rody, it was the reactions of the villagers that weighed on him more heavily. Everywhere they went, people stared, whispered, or gave him sympathetic looks, as if he were the victim of some tragic fate. Some were bold enough to ask what had happened, but Rody could never find the right words to explain it. After all, what could he say? “Oh, I accidentally proposed to a Fae in the forest, and now I’m stuck with him?”
And then there was Manon.
Rody hadn’t seen her much since Vincent had appeared, but that was mostly because he’d been avoiding her. He couldn’t bear the thought of her seeing him with the Fae and thinking he’d somehow found a lover. The truth was, he was starting to like Vincent’s presence yet still harbored feelings for Manon, even though he knew she most likely didn’t feel the same. But with Vincent following him everywhere, trying to talk to her felt impossible. He didn’t want to offend the Fae nor did he want to move on from Manon.
One afternoon, while Rody was gathering herbs by the edge of the village, he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
“Rody?”
He froze, his heart lurching in his chest. Slowly, he turned around and saw Manon standing a few feet away, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes soft with curiosity. She looked the same as ever, and yet, to Rody, she was as beautiful as the day they’d first met.
“Manon,” he said, his voice awkward, as if he’d forgotten how to speak to her. He was painfully aware of Vincent standing just behind him, watching the exchange with that ever-present smile.
Manon’s gaze flickered to Vincent, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Who’s… your friend?”
“Oh, um…” Rody scratched the back of his neck, desperately searching for a way to explain the situation. But Vincent, as usual, took the initiative.
“I’m Vincent!” he said brightly, stepping forward and offering his hand to Manon. “Rody’s fiancé.”
Manon’s eyes widened, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. Rody felt his stomach drop as he saw the shock on her face, her eyes darting back and forth between him and Vincent. “Your *fiancé*?” she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief.
Rody opened his mouth to protest, to explain that it wasn’t what it looked like, but Vincent was already beaming at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yes! Isn’t it wonderful? We’re spending so much time together.” He glanced at Rody with an affectionate smile. “I’m just so lucky to have found him.”
Rody could feel his face heating up. “Vincent, I-” He tried to cut in, but the damage was done. Manon looked utterly bewildered.
She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Vincent. “Wait… you’re not human, are you?”
Vincent chuckled softly, his voice lilting like the wind through the trees. “No, I’m not. I’m a Fae.”
Manon’s face paled, and she took a step back. Her gaze flicked to Rody, filled with concern. “Rody, what’s going on? How did you get involved with a Fae?”
Rody sighed, feeling trapped by the weight of the situation. “It’s a long story,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “I didn’t exactly *mean* to get involved. It just… happened.”
Manon’s frown deepened. “Rody, you know how dangerous Fae are. You can’t just-” She stopped, her gaze moving back to Vincent, who was watching the conversation with an amused smile, as if he found the entire situation charming rather than concerning.
“I’m not dangerous,” Vincent said softly, his voice as sweet as honey. “At least, not to Rody.” He tilted his head, giving Manon a curious look. “But you… you’re important to him, aren’t you?”
Manon blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. She hesitated, her gaze flickering to Rody before she answered. “I’m his friend. And I care about him. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
Vincent’s smile remained, but his eyes grew a little sharper, a touch of the Fae’s otherworldliness slipping through the façade of warmth. “Oh, he’s more than okay with me,” he said lightly. “I’ll make sure of that.”
Rody felt the tension in the air grow, the subtle undercurrent of possessiveness in Vincent’s tone sending a shiver down his spine. He stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation. “Manon, it’s… complicated,” he said, his voice strained. “I didn’t plan for any of this. I still-” He stopped himself, unsure of what he was even trying to say. How could he admit that he still had feelings for her when he had a Fae practically glued to his side?
Manon looked at him with soft, worried eyes, clearly struggling to make sense of everything. “Rody,” she said gently, “if you ever need help… or if you want to talk, I’m here. Don’t let him”-she glanced at Vincent-“trick you into something you don’t want.”
Rody nodded, though he could feel Vincent’s eyes on him, watching, waiting. “Thanks, Manon,” he said quietly, appreciating her concern even as the situation spiraled further out of control.
Manon gave him a small, sad smile before turning to leave. As she walked away, Rody couldn’t shake the feeling that he was losing something, some chance at normalcy, slipping through his fingers. He glanced at Vincent, who was watching Manon with an unreadable expression, his earlier cheerfulness dimmed just slightly.
“You really care about her,” Vincent said softly, more of a statement than a question.
Rody hesitated, unsure of how to answer. “I… I did,” he admitted, his voice quiet. “I thought… maybe we could’ve been something.”
Vincent nodded slowly, as if he understood, though the warmth in his eyes had cooled just a little. “But now you’re with me.”
The words hung in the air, and Rody felt a strange mix of emotions-regret, frustration, and something he didn’t quite want to name. Because as much as he missed the idea of a life with Manon, Vincent’s presence, as overwhelming as it was, had begun to feel like a constant in his life. He was starting to like Vincent’s constant presence. He was starting to like…. Vincent. He felt like he was falling for Vincent.
And, somehow, that scared him most of all.
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