Conquering His Cold Heart
Chapter 450 - 450: Dangerous Storm

Tilla gently bit the inside of her lower lip and wrapped her arms around Vincent's neck as he gracefully carried her towards the bed. Her heart raced dramatically when her gaze fell into the eyes of her lover.

Though she was worried for the whole day and the whole night thinking that Vincent was mad at her for hiding something so crucial, all that she could see in his eyes now were immense love and care for her.

There was not a single trace of anger in those eyes of his.

Vincent lay Tilla down on the bed with great care.

Tilla instantly felt a great relief on her back as she sank into the mattress that was as soft as the cloud. And she unintentionally let out a moan as the relief, "Ahhhh…"

Both their eyes got locked in each other's gaze, long enough to create sensual tension in the air.

Vincent's crystal red eyes trailed away from Tilla's eyes to her dry lips.

Tilla instantly came back to her senses when the competitive eye contact was broken. Before Vincent could lean closer to her lips, she abruptly pulled her hands that were still wrapped around his neck and quickly turned to her side so as to avoid meeting his gaze again.

Vincent pursed his lips in disappointment and kept on staring at Tilla's back for a while before finally pulling the thick blanket to keep her warm.

A few candles were still lighting up the room dimly.

Vincent swooshed around the room and all the light sources were gone in an instant. Only a very dim light from outside was getting in through the thick curtains.

Tilla heard the door closing, and she was also somewhat disappointed because Vincent hadn't answered her questions earlier. She still wanted to know where he was for the whole day and how he was feeling.

'I guess I will ask him later after waking up,' she thought to herself and closed her eyes so as to get some sleep.

However, she was quickly taken aback when the mattress behind her sank and a wave of cold air chilled her back.

"Vincent?"

She was about to look behind her when Vincent wrapped his arm around her waist.

He buried his face into the hollow of her neck and kissed her ever so gently and lovingly.

Tilla closed her eyes and nuzzled his hair with her cheek. She entangled her fingers with his and mumbled as he kept on kissing and nibbling her neck, "Vincent, I apologize for getting mad at you earlier."

Vincent rested his head on the pillow and snuggled closer to Tilla. And he whispered in his hoarse voice, "No, I understand. Your loyalty lies with the Queen and it was only right that you protected her secrets. If I was in your place, I would have done the same."

Tilla was so glad that Vincent understood her instead of getting mad at her for her behavior earlier.

However, she was still sure that Vincent was hurt. After all, by keeping the Queen's secret, she had also indirectly hurt Vincent's good friend, the King.

Thus, in order to 'compensate' for causing distress to him, Tilla lifted his hand and brought it closer to her lips.

After planting a soft kiss at the back of his hand, she asked him in a whisper, "Nonetheless, I did hurt you. Isn't that why you disappeared from home?"

"It was not you who hurt me," replied Vincent.

And with a serious tone, he said, "What hurt me was the fact that the Queen had concealed such an important detail from Caspian. He might appear strong on the outside, but his heart is as soft as talc. And it crumbles even more easily when the matter is related to his loved ones."

Tilla couldn't help but immediately speak on behalf of Anastasia. "It hasn't been easy on Anna either. All her life, she has only suffered. She came here thinking that she would find a cure to her illness and her suffering would finally end but…"

A drop of tear rolled down from the corner of her eyes. She let that teardrop get absorbed by her pillow and continued to pour her emotions.

"But you people don't even have that many doctors here. Your kind doesn't get ill in the first place so the medicine sector isn't even as advanced as in Orsenia. Of course, we were unaware of your kind before coming here."

She gulped to ease the lump in her throat and continued, "Anna sometimes regrets her decision to come to Sorvando."

"I figured that much from our conversation," Vincent said in a sad tone, sympathizing a little with Anastasia.

Tilla, worried that Vincent would interpret her words in the wrong way, quickly corrected herself, "I mean, she has been her happiest self lately, whenever she is around His Majesty. But she does wonder if it would have been better for His Majesty if she never came here. At least he wouldn't have to… mourn…"

Tilla quickly gasped, unable to finish her own sentence.

"That is what I am worried about… His reaction when he finally finds out the truth…" Vincent's face turned solemn as he imagined Caspian's displaying his wrath.

"You should understand that it was never Anna's intention to deliberately hurt the King or betray him."

Tilla tried to clarify further, hoping that Vincent would defend Anastasia if the need ever arose.

"She wishes that she had been honest with him from the very beginning. She only hid her condition because she was afraid His Majesty would send her back home before she could discover the cure for herself. Apparently, the cure never even existed in the first place. And all those lies are coming back to bite her."

Vincent closed his eyes and tightened his embrace on Tilla. Then he said in a reassuring voice, "I promised the Queen saying I would give her the chance to come clean with Caspian. But… I am his friend after all. And…"

Tilla widened her eyes thinking Vincent broke his promise. She feared that everything had crumbled at the castle already. She quickly turned her sides and faced Vincent. She couldn't clearly see his expression, so she cupped his face to feel him.

"Vincent…" she knitted her brows and breathed in to ask the most difficult question.

However, before she could question him, Vincent answered her, "No, I didn't go to the castle today. Neither did I didn't break my promise. I was very conflicted though, I won't lie."

He gently placed his hand over Tilla's palm and finally explained himself, "I was afraid that I would end up spilling things to Caspian. So, I kept on running up north until my legs got tired. I would have probably spent a few days in the mountains if it weren't for you."

"I only returned thinking you would be worried sick about me. And I wasn't wrong." He pecked on Tilla's nose and then kept on gazing at the wonderful woman before him.

"Oh, Vincent…" Tilla whispered lovingly and painfully.

Her heart ached for him.

She understood that overhearing the secret was a great burden for him too. He had to choose between being loyal to Caspian and giving Anastasia a chance to redeem herself. It was a tough decision.

Tilla was glad that he chose the latter.

She leaned forward and finally pressed her lips against his.

Vincent gently entangled his fingers with her luscious hair and welcomed the warm kiss.

"I am sorry for worrying you…" he whispered in between their loving exchange.

Tilla rested her forehead on his and whispered back after heaving a deep sigh, "No, it's alright. It was hard for you too."

After catching her breath, she further asked, "Vince, can I ask you a favor?"

Vincent already had some idea of what it would be. However, he didn't back away. "Ask away."

Without hesitating, Tilla put forth her demand. After all, it was a matter of her friend's safety. "If necessary, will you shield the Queen from the King's wrath? I'm afraid that he will get blinded by his rage and will end up doing something terrible to her."

Vincent was never the kind of man to stand against Caspian. However, since it was Tilla who was asking, he couldn't reject her. He also sympathized with the Queen.

Thus, he confidently answered, "I will protect her with all my might if that day ever comes."

Little did the two of them know that the most dangerous storm had already swept the castle's peace away.