The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 246: Lean forward, please

Chapter 246: Lean forward, please

Upon Alaric’s return to the royal residence, he sought an audience with his father, bearing news of his expedition’s outcome. He chose to withhold the enigmatic old man’s prophecy, believing a consultation with Magnus was necessary before revealing such a thing to the King.

"Father, Qasima is in weak in strength," Alaric declared with conviction. "It is imperative we find her before she regains her full might."

King Esmond regarded his son with a visage of pride. "You have done well, Alaric. I shall take it from here," he proclaimed. "Now, go and rest well."

With a respectful nod, Alaric retreated from the throne room, his footsteps echoing through the grand corridors until he reached his manor. There, Scarlet awaited him, her eyes brimming with an unspoken longing and relief at his safe return.

She bowed to Alaric and smiled at him.

"How have you been, Scarlet? I hope I didn’t make you wait too long," Alaric said in a humble tone.

"I have been well. The wait was unbearable," Scarlet answered. "The bed is ready. Please take some rest. If Prince Alaric is hungry, then I will ask the servants to bring breakfast first," she stated.

"I would like to freshen up first. Did you have your breakfast?" Alaric queried.

"Yes, I had it earlier. Had I known of your early advent, I would have gladly delayed to share the meal with you," Scarlet responded with a hint of regret.

"Hmm. I will see you shortly," Alaric said and left the chamber.

Scarlet summoned the servants, instructing them to prepare a breakfast table for Alaric. Within a mere twenty minutes, Alaric made his return, his demeanor slightly more relaxed following a brisk bath.

As he sat down to his meal, enveloped in silence, Scarlet couldn’t help but break the quiet. "How did your search go? Alora confided in me that the witch hails from an ancient era."

Setting his fork aside, Alaric met her gaze with a furrowed brow. "Qasima has vanished for the time being. The cave where she was trapped and sealed revealed no clues. I’ve alerted Father and implored him to thwart Qasima’s resurgence," he disclosed, the worry evident in his eyes.

"Qasima seems to be a formidable foe," Scarlet observed.

"Indeed. In her prime, she was a witch feared by many. Her mastery of dark sorcery was unparalleled, and she did not hesitate to sacrifice humans to augment her sinister powers. Her name alone could instill fear in the hearts of even vampires," Alaric recounted.

"That sounds gravely serious," Scarlet noted with concern.

"It is," Alaric conceded before returning to his meal. After finishing, he consumed blood to sustain his vitality and then retreated to his bedchamber.

"Have a good sleep. I’ll be outside. If His Highness needs something he can call me anytime," Scarlet offered graciously before exiting the room.

However, as she sat on the sofa to rest, her eyes fell on Jasper, who had worn the same overcoat which she sent for Alaric once as a thank-you gesture.

"Where did Jasper get this robe?" Scarlet asked.

"Prince Alaric gave me this, Your Highness," Jasper replied, holding the parchments in his hands. "Is there something wrong with it?" he queried.

Scarlet shook her head, but her heart sank with such a revelation. She watched Jasper leave and recalled how she gifted that robe because Alaric helped her that day. If he didn’t like it, he should have told her right away.

"It feels like he doesn’t even like me from the beginning," Scarlet murmured.

~~~~~

Melody’s lips formed a tight line, her feet firmly planted where Izaak had bid her to wait. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, with over twenty minutes passing in stillness.

Her gaze drifted upwards, taking in the sky as it deepened into dusk, showing the night was approaching.

She got a hit by an unknown person and stumbled. However, Izaak placed his hand on her shoulder, thus steadying her. "Forgive me. It took me some time to return," he said.

Melody turned to gaze at him, wanting to know where he had gone. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a firecracker exploding in the sky. The evening sky illuminated and the happy noises, especially from the kids reverberated in the atmosphere.

"Do you like watching the firecrackers explode?" Izaak asked. He had made this special preparation for the evening, thinking Melody might like it.

"Yes, I do," Melody replied, passing a tiny smile to him. "I wonder what’s the occasion today?" she murmured, her eyes shimmering with joy.

Izaak remained tight-lipped, not wanting to reveal her yet that he instructed to give such a show. His gaze was fixed not on the sky but on Melody’s face, unaware of the other, more mysterious eyes that watched him.

As the fireworks faded, Melody and Izaak made their way back to the carriage. Just as they reached it, rain began to fall, speckling Melody’s hair with droplets before Izaak ushered her inside. He followed her into the carriage, closing the door behind them as the coachman secured it from outside.

With a quiet gesture, Izaak offered Melody a handkerchief—the very same one he had taken from her days before. Her eyes widened in mild surprise as she accepted it and dabbed at her damp face.

Melody’s gaze captured the droplets on Izaak’s face, each one shimmering like a tiny jewel in the lantern’s warm glow. She handed back the handkerchief, but Izaak, with a hint of playfulness, suggested, "Perhaps you could tend to my face as well?"

Bound by her role as a servant, Melody could not decline. "Lean forward, please," she requested softly. As he complied, bringing his face closer to hers, she delicately patted his skin dry with the handkerchief. Her eyes stayed lowered in modesty, while he remained intently on her, silently admiring her grace.

"It’s done," Melody put the handkerchief in his hands when Izaak held her hand.

"Why do you avoid me? Are you still scared of me?" His question hung in the air as his eyes searched for a quick and satisfactory answer in hers.

"I never did that. I don’t understand why His Highness feels such a way. And I’m not scared of him now," Melody truthfully admitted. "The Prince shall let go of my hand."

However, Izaak shook his head.

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