Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 187: The Maid’s Revelation

Chapter 187: The Maid’s Revelation

"That..." Lady Maris gasped, disbelief washing over her. She didn’t want to acknowledge the symbol, yet when her gaze locked with Emmanuelle’s, she saw that her worst fears were confirmed.

Before she could press Emmanuelle about the talisman, heavy footsteps echoed ominously, drawing closer until a group of Royal Guards appeared before her.

As Emmanuelle turned away, her back to Lady Maris, one of the guards stepped forward, breathless from running.

"You called for us, My Lady? Where is the thief?" he inquired, panting slightly.

It was nearly sunrise, and most vampires were still asleep. Only a few guards were stationed at each gate to maintain security.

Emmanuelle, however, was heading toward the servants’ special entrance, where only two Royal Guards were on duty.

Coincidentally—or perhaps intentionally—Emmanuelle had chosen this exact moment to slip away, knowing that the guards at the servant’s gate were notoriously lax, especially as dawn approached.

The day shift would arrive late, often moving at a leisurely pace.

It was precisely this negligence that had given Emmanuelle the confidence to escape the royal palace, but she had never anticipated running into Lady Maris, the king’s mistress.

"Forgive me. It seems I was mistaken. It was just a bird," Lady Maris said smoothly, her voice calm and unwavering.

The soft cries of the baby, however, caught the attention of the Royal Guards. One of them raised an eyebrow, leaning forward as if to get a better look at Emmanuelle. Instinctively, Lady Maris shifted her position, subtly positioning herself between the maid and the guards.

"My cousin’s child," she continued without missing a beat, "must be tired as well. We were just about to return to my chambers. Thank you for your swift response, but I apologize for troubling you unnecessarily."

She clasped her hands gracefully at her waist, as noblewomen often did, and began walking forward, her steps measured and deliberate. But Emmanuelle remained rooted in place, paralyzed with fear.

Lady Maris glanced back, her tone gentle but firm. "Hm? What’s the matter, cousin? Don’t you wish to put your baby to bed?"

One of the guards stepped forward, eyeing them curiously. "Shall we escort you and your cousin to your quarters, My Lady?"

Lady Maris smiled, the gesture polite but final. "I appreciate the offer, but there’s no need. I have matters to discuss with her privately. You’ve done more than enough."

Emmanuelle, catching the unspoken command in Lady Maris’s words, hurriedly stepped forward, following the king’s mistress without glancing back. The Royal Guards exchanged looks, suspicion flickering in their eyes.

Though Lady Maris herself was of common origin, the woman she called her ’cousin’ was dressed far too plainly—even by a commoner’s standard. She looked more like... a servant.

Still, they held their tongues. Lady Maris was the king’s favored companion, and no one dared to question her. They simply watched in silence as she and her so-called cousin disappeared from sight, leaving only unanswered questions behind.

Once they stepped into the dimly lit hallway of the west wing, the masks they had worn outside fell away.

Emmanuelle’s brow furrowed deeply with tension, while Lady Maris’s face flushed red, the strain of holding her breath evident in her expression.

"Quick! We need to continue this in my chamber," Lady Maris whispered urgently, her voice barely above a breath as the silence of the corridor pressed in around them.

But the baby’s wails echoed through the stillness, amplifying their panic. Emmanuelle began to shake the infant again, her actions growing more erratic and desperate.

Lady Maris’s patience snapped. Without a second thought, she snatched the baby from Emmanuelle’s arms, holding the child securely against her chest as she sprinted down the corridor toward her chambers.

The baby’s cries softened, then stopped entirely. It was as if the child sensed Lady Maris’s soothing touch—gentle, protective, and free from the frantic fear that had gripped Emmanuelle.

Reluctant and hesitant, Emmanuelle lagged behind. With the baby now in Lady Maris’s arms, she had no other choice. She hurried after the king’s mistress, her gaze flicking nervously from side to side as though the shadows themselves might betray them.

Once they arrived in Lady Maris’s chambers, they could finally breathe. Lady Maris gazed down at the baby, her features softening into an involuntary smile.

The child was irresistibly adorable, and as she rocked him gently, she began to hum a soothing lullaby. The baby responded, his tiny body relaxing at the sound of her voice.

Using a damp towel, Lady Maris carefully wiped away the remnants of blood from his delicate skin. The baby giggled under her tender touch, filling the room with the sweet sound of his laughter.

With no baby clothes available, she wrapped him in a soft blanket to keep him warm, marveling at how peaceful he looked as he drifted into sleep.

Once the baby was soundly asleep, Lady Maris’s demeanor shifted. She turned sharply toward Emmanuelle, her eyes blazing with anger. Striding across the room, she grabbed the maid by the arms, her grip firm and unyielding.

"What have you done?" Lady Maris hissed, her voice low but filled with fury. "That talisman... were you involved in forbidden magic? Do you even understand the danger you’ve put him in?"

Emmanuelle trembled, her lips quivering as tears streamed down her face. Despite her obvious fear, she remained silent, her eyes downcast and her hands clenched into tight fists.

Lady Maris released her, pacing back and forth in frustration. "Where were you taking him?" she demanded, her voice sharper now. "Don’t you realize he wouldn’t have survived the day if anyone saw that talisman around his neck?"

Emmanuelle remained silent, her body trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She stood there, unable to speak. Her sobs were the only sound in the room.

Lady Maris sighed, unable to hide the frustration in her words. "I know love can drive people to madness. I know it makes people do unthinkable things. But did you really turn to dark magic to win the heart of your baby’s father? That’s too far, Emmanuelle."

Love had made King Valentin dedicate his life to a commoner rather than his noble wife. Love had driven Princess Amara to give up her title as crown princess.

Lady Maris knew all too well the lengths to which love could push someone—but resorting to forbidden magic? That came at a terrible cost. The wrong spell could lead to losing one’s life and soul.

Looking down at the baby, now sleeping peacefully in his swaddling blanket, Lady Maris made a decision.

"Whatever you were planning, it won’t happen. I won’t let you take him away. He’ll stay here, in the palace, with me. I’ll find him a proper family—a chance at a real future."

Emmanuelle’s eyes widened in horror. She shook her head desperately. "No. No, you can’t, My Lady," she pleaded, her voice cracking.

"Why?" Lady Maris demanded. "Is it just because he’s your child? Are you so cruel that you’d rather see him suffer than let someone else give him a better life?"

But instead of anger, Emmanuelle fell to her knees, her face drenched with tears as she clutched at Lady Maris’s feet.

"Please, My Lady... you don’t understand. That child—he’s dangerous." She raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with terror. "He should not be kept alive."

Lady Maris froze. "What are you saying?"

Emmanuelle’s voice shook as she spoke the words she had been too frightened to reveal. "He is a child of a demon."