The Masked Vampire King's Accidental Bride
Chapter 481: Gifts of affection

Chapter 481: Gifts of affection

"How many people are we buying gifts for?" Marcello’s words shook Elliana out of her daze, and she walked further into the shopping mall with a sad smile on her face.

"60," She murmured.

Marcello, who was only looking at gifts for women since he thought she would be gifting her girls only, turned to look at her with raised brows.

"You are kidding me, right?" He asked, and Elliana shook her head.

Marcello - "..." So you basically are using me as your servant who can pick the bags for you? He wondered before sighing and nodding.

After around three hours, they were finally done with all the gifts.

Marcello had to call his seven men to pick all the things and send the gifts to their respective places as directed by Elliana.

"These must be for your family," Marcello whispered at the remaining boxes, and she hummed.

"Here," She whispered, bringing out a chain from her pocket.

To say Marcello was shocked would be an understatement.

"This ..." His eyes quivered.

It was the same crystal pendant she had bought for Glow two years ago. She had said that the pendant signifies the person was close to her heart.

At that time he had asked her to buy the exact piece because he wanted to wear matching pendants, but Elliana had kicked him in the shin in response.

But that wasn’t the only thing in her hand. There was a scent bottle that Marcello loved.

Preparing scents was her best pastime, and she used to create a lot of beautiful fragrances in her free time. That was how she started making scent hiding sprays too.

"How did you know?" He asked, disbelief clear in his eyes.

Elliana smiled.

"You stopped wearing the scent I prepared from the last two meetings. I figured the bottle emptied," Elliana whispered, and Marcello’s lips trembled before he looked away to control his emotions.

"I don’t want it," He said, blinking his eyes before looking into her eyes.

"It sounds like a real goodbye. I don’t want it. Who will make them for me once you are gone?" Marcello gulped, the base of his throat aching terribly as he controlled the tears that were itching to release from his eyes.

"Okay," Elliana whispered and was about to stuff the bottle back in her purse when he snatched it from her hands.

"You have turned so cruel," He whispered, stuffing the scent bottle inside his coat’s pocket just in case.

Elliana smiled at him and extended her hands towards him.

Marcello froze in his place. This time he couldn’t control it anymore.

She was letting him hug her. She extended her hands on her own.

This... He gulped and stepped ahead before hugging her respectfully, a tear rolling down his eyes as he finally smelt her original scent.

"You have a way of making people cry," Marcello whispered.

"I know," Elliana smiled, blinking her eyes softly.

Marcello’s men wiped their eyes at their Boss’s sadness, and Elliana sighed.

"I need to go now," Elliana whispered and he nodded.

"Do you... Do you need anything else?" Marcello asked, wanting to spend some more time with her, but Elliana shook her head and sat inside the car after bidding goodbye to all of them.

"Boss, is she really leaving?" His secretary said, and Marcello looked at him before nodding.

Marcello looked at the pendant in his hand and immediately wore it.

"I will always cherish her gifts. Keep this bottle of scent safe," Marcello said and was about to hand the scent to the subordinate before he sighed.

"Nevermind. It deserves to be in front of me, always," He whispered and went straight to his house to place the scent in his bedroom where he rarely brings anything from outside.

Meanwhile, Elliana looked at one particular box and her heart clenched painfully.

"Can you stop the car here for a minute?" She asked the driver who immediately nodded.

She stepped out with the box of presents for Mr. Marino and gave it to one person she trusted would keep them safe without prying into her privacy.

"Are you leaving already?" The man asked, and Elliana hummed.

"I will need them tomorrow," she said, and he nodded before turning around and sitting in his car.

Elliana sighed.

She was about to ask the driver to start the car when his phone vibrated and she looked at Lucas’s number flashing.

"Hello?" She whispered softly.

"Where are you, princess? I will come pick you up," Lucas looked at his watch.

It was already evening and nearing the pre-ceremony party. It was better to bring her to the palace now.

"I am on my way to the royal palace. Is there something you need?" Elliana asked, and Lucas, who was looking at the current location of all the security in the royal Kingdom and even the forest since they didn’t want a replay of a prince’s disappearance, paused.

"You... Who are you coming with?" Lucas asked.

"I booked a car since I had some stuff for everyone. I hope I didn’t hinder anyone’s plans. Or should I go to the Black Skull palace?" Elliana asked.

"No... It’s okay. You can directly come here. We are present at the royal palace," Lucas said.

Elliana ended the call without saying anything.

After thirty minutes, she finally reached the royal palace and after getting help from Lucas the security let her car enter the palace.

"Who is coming in a taxi?" Prince Santo walked out of the palace as he was going towards the backyard, his brows furrowed.

He looked at the line of maids that rushed outside to attend to whoever it was, indicating it was someone important and he waited to greet the person.

Elliana stepped out of the car elegantly. She wasn’t dressed too flamboyantly and had a gentle smile on her face.

"Can I trouble you guys to bring the stuff inside?" She asked, and the maids bowed in respect.

"Princess Elliana, what a pleasant surprise. Why are you coming in a taxi?" Prince Santo walked ahead and took her hand before kissing the back of it, making her smile in return.

"I just wanted to do a few things myself," She said, walking inside the palace, followed by Prince Santo.

"Elliana, my sweetheart, I was just asking Sebastian where you were and why wasn’t he bringing you," Ruth rushed to her before hugging her, almost picking up the girl, and a sense of deja vu hit Elliana.

It was like she was back in time. This was exactly how the vampire queen had greeted her when they visited her on her first day as Prince Marino’s wife.

"How are you, mom Ruth?" Elliana bowed when the lady left her, and Ruth smiled.

"I am doing good. How about - What’s all this? Don’t tell me you brought gifts again," Ruth said, walking to the packages nonetheless.

"This one is yours," Elliana handed the box, and Ruth smiled.

"Can I open it?" She looked excited, and Elliana smiled awkwardly.

"So I get a gift too?" Santo whispered behind her, and Elliana smiled before nodding and giving him the package that she brought for him.

Soon, the entire family collected in the hall, taking their gifts from Elliana as if she were some kind of Santa Claus.

"I can’t believe my family. Look at them acting so happy when they don’t lack any luxury," Abramo shook his head.

"Buying things for yourself is far different than getting a gift, Abramo. No matter how rich you are, your mind always craves gifts of affection. You should just be happy that our family stays together regardless of their differences," Aubrey said and Abramo hummed.

Once Elliana was done giving everyone their gifts, she paused when she turned around and her gaze met with Mr. Marino, who was looking at her expectantly.

"That’s all. Can I go to my room to get changed?" Elliana asked softly, and Freya immediately held her hand.

"Of course, sweetheart. You must be tired after buying gifts for everyone. There is some time for the party. Come with me," Freya took Elliana away, and Sebastian was left standing there.

Lucas, who had also entered the palace with the prince, looked at his Prince, unsure of what to say.

"She ignored me," Sebastian whispered under his breath, and Lucas felt a little bad for his prince.

"She didn’t, sir. Why would she feel the need to buy you a gift when she does it all the time? Shouldn’t you feel great that she excludes you from the rest of the family? Maybe she prepared something for you but didn’t want to give it to you in front of everyone?" Lucas said, believing in his delulu solution, and Sebastian hummed before turning around to leave the palace to see the arrangements again.

He had come to the palace only to see her because he heard Lucas talking to the security to let the taxi enter.

But who would’ve thought that the princess wouldn’t even say a word to him?

"Mr. Marino," Elliana’s voice came and his eyes had turned neutral and dark, immediately beaming before he turned around and was greeted by her presence.

"Yes, Princess?" He immediately extended his hand, but Elliana took a step back, his hand freezing midway.

"I will give your gift to you tomorrow after you win," Elliana whispered before she left, leaving Sebastian’s hand hanging in the air.

He wasn’t a fool. Something was definitely wrong, and the mere thought of her avoiding him wrenched his heart.

He can’t even fathom what kind of reaction she will give when she hears of what he has in mind. Sebastian sighed before leaving.