The Masked Vampire King's Accidental Bride
Chapter 356: For a mysterious Duke

Chapter 356: For a mysterious Duke

Chapter -356

"Would you like to honor me with a dance, Princess Elliana?" Alcinder asked cunningly.

Dexter didn’t like it. Though he wasn’t really her partner, shouldn’t he get the chance to dance with her first given how Alcinder was supposed to have his first dance with Samantha?

He already had a partner. Why was he trying to snatch away his partner? Dexter scowled, looking at Elliana, waiting for her answer.

He really hoped she would decline. Then again, she was such a polite girl that she would probably agree even if she didn’t want that.

Elliana smiled. She would be a fool to not know what was going on inside his head.

She looked at her painted nails before raising her gaze to Alcinder.

She looked at the new message on her phone, reading the content before smiling again.

"I am sorry, Mr. Alcinder. But I have to decline. Please have your fiancee as your dance partner. Let’s draw the line here," Elliana’s gaze was hard.

Alcinder froze in his place.

She has been disrespectful to him in the past, but this was definitely the first time when she was talking like this. It was as if she was cutting all the ties with him, the ties that they didn’t really have.

"Elliana, why are you speaking like this? Is it because of what happened yesterday?" Melony looked at Alcinder’s dark gaze and even Samantha was surprised.

"Not really. I just don’t want to dance with someone who would bring unnecessary attention to me. He is the council head’s son and, more importantly, engaged. You guys only say I attract trouble. So for once, I want to avoid it," Elliana smiled at everyone but Alcinder could see right through her facade.

She knew. Elliana knew that the reason he was asking to dance with her was because he was going to ask her questions about what happened yesterday.

Why was there a witch protecting her, why was the youngest prince acting like he lost his precious family and why the heck did he call her his wife?

"It’s okay. I will manage that," Alcinder extended his hand to grab her but before he could, someone else beat him to it.

"What are you doing here?" The man’s voice was cold and forced, but Elliana only smiled at him.

"Prince Marcus, what a pleasant surprise," Elliana smiled and made a bow like she knew him but didn’t know him at the same time.

It was formal and professional, like a well trained princess who was taught to respect the royals.

Marcus looked at her friends and immediately understood what was going on.

"Why are you standing here? Let me take you to ...uh... to..."

"To the eldest prince," Stephano joined.

With one hand behind his back, he bent and grabbed her hand before kissing the back of it like a gentleman, making her sigh.

That wasn’t what she had expected to happen, but now she could only play along.

"Prince Stephano, greetings," She forced a smile, making Stephano raise his brows.

"Finally. I thought I would never get your greetings. Come, let’s have something to eat. You must be starving already," Stephano was pulling her before she would deny, and her friends kept looking at the back of the girl who was nearly kidnapped from their side.

Something bwas definitely up with her that she keeps attracting all the powerful vampires to her side.

Stephano stopped near the food aisle, looking at the princess with his lips pressed in a thin line.

"What is this all about? Sebastian said you couldn’t come here. So why are we seeing you two with different partners? Wasn’t this party an introduction to your marriage too?" Stephano immediately dropped his facade.

Elliana stared at the two princes in front of her blankly. As much as she wanted to expose her husband, this was between her and him, and she didn’t want anyone else interfering in it.

"I knew my friends would be here, that’s why we arrived separately. We have decided to keep my identity hidden until he gets crowned," Elliana smiled, and Stephano smirked.

"You have quite the confidence in your husband. Can’t I get crowned? Am I not qualified enough?" Stephano raised his brows.

"But isn’t he the best?" Elliana blinked her eyes innocently, and Stephanie chuckled before he held her hand and twirled her around, pulling her all the way to the dance floor.

It was useless debating over things that weren’t in anyone’s control.

"I don’t peg you to be a salsa dancer. How about some fun?" Stephano asked before getting close to her.

"Even a blind person can sense the jealousy radiating off your body. But guess what? He is even more jealous," Stephano said.

Elliana smiled forcefully. She wasn’t here just to make him jealous.

"I am sure he is happy where he is," Elliana whispered, her eyes trying to find that one Duke which she so wanted to murder tonight.

"If you don’t believe it, let me show you a demo," Stephano turned her around with a jerk, making her gasp at sudden motion.

He pulled her into his chest, making her back hit his chest before he leaned forward, his face close to her wounded neck that was healing quite fast.

"Mr. Stephano, what are you -"

"Ssshhhh, just watch," Stephano started swaying along the beats, smiling at her fast beating her heart.

It was quite a comforting music.

He daringly bent further close to her neck, his nose almost touching her neck.

"If I kiss your neck, don’t be offended. I am just trying to prove my point here," Stephano whispered to her.

"You don’t have to prove anything to me. Please stop playing. This is not the palace. Everyone is watching -"

"I am going to do it now," Stephano brought his lips close to her neck ever so slowly, but before his lips could even come in contact with the bandage on her neck, a loud piercing growl echoed in the hall, making Stephano smile while everyone shuddered in their places, looking at the monstrous prince warily.

"Now count with me. One, tw-"

Stephano couldn’t even complete his word when he was practically ripped away from the princess.

Sebastian seethed through his teeth.

"What are you doing?" He grabbed Stephano’s collar, a clear warning in his eyes.

How dare he try to sniff his wife’s neck?!

Stephano smirked at the edgy look in Sebastian’s eyes and was about to speak when Elliana held Sebastian’s hand.

However, rather than holding it like they had expected, she did something out of everyone’s expectations.

She yanked his hand away from Stephano’s collar and pushed him backwards, making him stumble back in shock.

"Don’t," Elliana’s eyes darkened, and Sebastian raised his brows, recognising the anger and possessiveness in her eyes.

"Princess," Sebastian grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away.

Elliana scoffed. Did this title really held any meaning?

She felt angry, more angry at herself than him.

This wasn’t how she wanted the events to turn out. She was definitely not prepared for his soft voice or addressing.

And she had definitely not thought that her heart would give up so soon, but her mind was working just fine, and thus, she turned around before stepping closer to him.

She looked straight into his eyes for a few seconds, more like stared at him blankly making him leave her hand.

"Go back to your woman, Prince Marino," Elliana said the same name, knowing all too well how much it irked him.

"What did you say?" He asked, grabbing her hand again as he pulled her forward, her chest hitting his as he heaved with anger.

"Exactly what you heard," Elliana tilted her head, her eyes screaming a coldeness that even Sebastian could feel.

Something wasn’t right about her today.

This wasn’t the first time she was angry about something, but this was indeed the first time she was so cold with him.

Stephano looked between the two and immediately knew that whatever was going on between them was bigger than jealousy, and he held Elliana’s hand before pulling her away.

He understood that they needed to talk, but having them create a scene in the royal annual ball was the last thing he wanted.

He was only having fun earlier, but he didn’t know it was this serious.

"What the hell is wrong with both of you?" Stephano asked, shocked at Elliana’s cold eyes that went back to normal.

"Have you ever gone to any game tournament at night?" Elliana asked instead.

"Yes. But what does -"

"Everything is so bright there. It’s almost like it’s morning, no? However, it’s not. It’s all the magic of artificial lights. And when those lights are turned off, the reality of darkness sinks in," Elliana turned around, her gaze falling on the man she was really here for.

She walked away, leaving Stephano confused and full of questions.

With a sigh, he turned his gaze towards Sebastian who was looking at him with his fists clenched, his left brows quirking when he saw Brittany walking to his younger brother and holding his coat, and more shockingly, him allowing that.

What exactly was going inside his head? Stephano sighed, turning to Vincenzo who entered the hall.

’Great, now I have to baby sit not one or two but three people,’ Stephano groaned inwardly.

~~~~~

A/N - dedicated to Dorcas_Idehen