The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 197: A threat to my life

Chapter 197: A threat to my life

As King Esmond took his place at the head of the breakfast table, his gaze swept over his family, a sense of contentment spreading across his face as he smiled warmly at them. With a practiced ease, he unfolded a napkin and placed it neatly on his lap.

"Our family will soon be welcoming a new member," King Esmond announced, his voice filled with joy. "After that, Izaak needs to be ready," he remarked.

Queen Margaret, her face glowing with a radiant smile, chimed in agreement. "Yes, after Alaric, it will be Izaak’s turn," she stated, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Magnus cast a sidelong glance at Izaak, his eyes conveying a silent message. Izaak, however, responded with a frown, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion at his brother’s gesture.

Meanwhile, the servers had begun to circulate, placing plates of breakfast delicacies before each member of the royal family.

King Esmond, breaking the silence, turned his attention to Alaric. "Alaric," he began, his voice carrying a note of curiosity, "Your mother mentioned that you spent the previous evening at the renowned coffee shop with Miss Scarlet. How did you find her company?"

His question was casual, yet his eyes held a spark of eagerness. He was keen to know if Alaric was ready to take the next step in his relationship this time.

"It went well, Father," Alaric responded, his fingers curling around the spoon.

King Esmond, pleased with this news, declared, "That’s heartening to know. Let’s commence our meal then." With his words, the dining table burst into a symphony of clinking cutlery and quiet murmurs, everyone partaking in the feast laid out before them.

However, Alora remained an exception. Her right hand was captured by Magnus’s firm grip. Her eyes, ablaze with defiance, bore into Magnus, a silent plea for him to free her hand. However, he just ignored it.

"Alora, why do you abstain from partaking in the meal?" Queen Margaret’s voice echoed in the grand dining hall, drawing the attention of all present towards Alora. "Does the cuisine not meet your preference?" she probed further, her gaze filled with concern.

"No, Royal Mother," Alora responded promptly, her left hand deftly reaching for the spoon. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as Magnus finally released his grip on her hand.

A triumphant smile played on his lips, a sense of accomplishment radiating from him, having successfully teased his wife to his heart’s content.

Once the breakfast was over, the grand dining hall gradually emptied.

"Why did you find it amusing to tease me during breakfast, Your Highness?" Alora questioned, her eyes shooting daggers at Magnus. "I have a feeling Sister Lillian noticed you holding my hand," she added, her tone laced with annoyance. With a firm resolve, she refused to let him hold her hand again and maintained a distance of a meter from him, her actions speaking louder than her words.

Magnus was swift in his approach, causing her to halt abruptly. Her back found support in the cold wall behind her as she looked up into his eyes. "Step aside. I intend to attend the council alone," she whispered, her hands resting against the solid plane of his chest. Despite her efforts, she was unable to push him away.

"I cannot allow you to head there alone," Magnus declared, his lips descending on hers in a sudden kiss that left her eyes wide in surprise. "Even if someone is around, I don’t care, Alora." His gaze was intense, and it seemed to penetrate the very depths of her soul.

"Cough! Cough!"

The sound of a cough echoed in the corridor, breaking the intimate moment.

"Your Highness, I beg your pardon for this intrusion," Tobias interjected, his gaze respectfully lowered.

At his words, Magnus stepped away from Alora, turning his attention to Tobias. Alora straightened up, her fingers nervously twining and untwining in an attempt to regain her composure.

"What is it, Tobias?" Magnus asked.

"Your Highness, Rubin is here. He wants to see you," Tobias replied.

A frown creased Magnus’s forehead at this news, a silent storm brewing in his eyes. Alora, on the other hand, looked towards him with bewilderment.

Without another word, they followed Tobias, their footsteps echoing in the silent corridors. They arrived at the opulent drawing room, where Rubin was present.

"Greetings to Your Highnesses," Rubin promptly left his seat to see them and bowed respectfully to them.

"Rubin, I didn’t anticipate your visit in the morning," Magnus said. Again, Rubin’s mind was clean, deprived of any thoughts that would be concerning for Magnus. It annoyed the Prince because Rubin was good at deceiving him. "Have a seat," he asserted after taking their seats.

As Rubin made himself comfortable on the luxurious sofa, Alora, her voice laced with concern, asked, "Is all well, Rubin?"

"Unfortunately, no, Your Highness. That’s the very reason for my sudden visit. Last night, an unexpected guest arrived at my door," Rubin revealed, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words.

"And who might that be?" Magnus queried, his gaze fixed on Rubin, skepticism etched in his eyes.

"Dylan," came Rubin’s simple reply.

"What?" Magnus could barely conceal his shock, his exclamation reverberating through the room. "Then, why are you alive? He would have killed you, wouldn’t he?" he questioned.

"I employed a technique I learned during my tenure with the Night Saviors Organization," Rubin responded, his voice trembling with fear.

Magnus’s jaw clenched involuntarily. Rubin’s lies were becoming unbearable. If Dylan had indeed surfaced, he would have been notified. Yet, losing his composure was not an option at this juncture. Thus, Magnus resolved to uncover Rubin’s sinister scheme.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to locate Dylan since he poses a threat to my life," Rubin pleaded.

Magnus, too, had laid his own trap, a counter to Rubin’s ploy. Perhaps Rubin was aware of it, perhaps not.

"I shall pay a visit to your residence to trace Dylan’s scent," Magnus declared.

"Your kindness is beyond measure, Your Highness. I shall remain eternally grateful to you," Rubin responded his hands almost coming together in a gesture of deep gratitude and respect.

’Rubin, I’m going to kill you tonight,’ Magnus thought with a determined gaze.