The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 262: Close in my arms

Chapter 262: Close in my arms

Lillian carefully set down the parchment, her heart sinking as she absorbed the news. Lewis had left Velaris for some urgent business, dashing her hopes of seeing him today. She had been looking forward to their meeting, anticipating the warmth of his company amidst the turmoil that surrounded them after Qasima’s return.

Determined not to dwell on her disappointment, Lillian decided to seek out her father, King Esmond. However, her father was engrossed in an important meeting with the elders, representatives from both the vampire and werewolf factions.

A valet, standing at attention by the chamber doors, stepped forward. "I’ll send a servant to inform the princess once the King is free," he said in a humble tone.

Lillian nodded in acknowledgment and continued down the corridor. As she walked, her eyes fell upon Alora, who appeared unusually cheerful. A pang of irritation surged through her. "Why is she happy? Does she not realize the current situation going around? Because of her, everyone is in deep worry," Lillian murmured under her breath.

Gathering her resolve, Lillian approached Alora, intercepting her in the middle of the hallway. "Sister Lillian?" Alora exclaimed, surprise flickering across her face. She quickly composed herself and greeted her warmly.

"Can we talk, Alora?" Lillian asked.

"Yes, of course. Shall we go to my chamber?" she suggested, her tone light and inviting.

"No," Lillian replied, her voice carrying a subtle edge. "It’s fine here. I suppose it is also fine for you," she pronounced.

"Alora, you shouldn’t be wandering around the palace so cheerfully," Lillian snapped, her voice brimming with anger. "I thought you were practicing how to control the newbie vampires with your eyes. It seems like you aren’t even interested in it," she added, her tone sounded sharp and accusatory.

Alora was taken aback by Lillian’s outburst. She couldn’t understand why Lillian assumed she was happy. Today, Izaak was not in the palace, and he had instructed her not to practice in his absence.

"You don’t deserve to be between us. Because of you, everyone in this family suffers. So, instead of having fun, be serious in life. Don’t roam like a woman with no sense and brain," Lillian stated.

"Lillian!" Alaric’s voice reverberated through the corridor. "How are you talking to Alora?" He scolded her as he approached them within a second.

"Brother Alaric shouldn’t intervene. I’m offering Alora a perspective none of the brothers have," Lillian retorted, her gaze was sharp as she directed it towards Alora.

"You’re out of line. Who gave you the right to speak to Alora like that? Show some respect; she’s your elder brother’s wife," Alaric reprimanded sternly, struggling with his sister’s defiance. "Apologize to Alora," he insisted.

"I won’t," Lillian declared defiantly, vanishing from their sight in a blink.

Alaric sighed, turning to Alora with a regretful expression. "She can be childish at times. Please don’t take her words to heart," he requested. "I apologize to you," he added.

"Please don’t do that, Brother Alaric. I think Princess Lillian is going through some stress. Sometimes, we fail to understand it. I don’t mind her words," Alora stated, telling Alaric that she didn’t take Lillian’s words to heart.

Alaric had no idea if she was talking the truth or not.

"Brother Alaric, this morning I had an encounter," Alora shared with a soft smile, her eyes reflecting a hint of excitement.

Alaric observed her with mild amusement, noting how despite Lillian’s confrontations, Alora seemed unaffected and even joyful. "Who was it?" he asked, genuinely curious about the person who had sparked such a reaction in her.

Izaak, just returning from outside and unaware of the earlier tension between Lillian and Alora, joined them on their path, his interest piqued by their conversation. "Who did you meet in the early morning?" he inquired too.

Alora and Alaric turned to gaze at Izaak, greeting him with respect.

"Zerah, could you please inform Melody of my return?" Izaak directed, his voice commanding yet composed, leaving only the three of them in the palace corridor.

"Tell us everything quickly," Izaak pressed, his curiosity evident in his tone.

Alora took a breath before she revealed, "It was the Lunar God."

"What?" Both princes exclaimed in disbelief.

"Are you absolutely certain?" Izaak questioned, his brow furrowing as he considered someone had fooled.

"Yes, I am. The Lunar God appeared so divine, as if from another realm," Alora asserted, raising her wrist to display a delicate white stone bracelet. "He left this for me and even answered my questions," she continued, a gentle smile gracing her lips before lowering her hand.

Izaak and Alaric exchanged glances, silently processing Alora’s words.

"And what did he say?" Izaak arched his eyebrow.

"And what did he say?" Izaak raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"Not to fear Qasima. To trust in myself and fulfill my chosen path," Alora replied calmly. "Brother Alaric, I questioned the Lunar God about the old man myself. Qasima intended to sow fear in our hearts by using magic to manipulate an old man’s mind, making him a tool of her schemes. But now, she dare not come near me, for she will face her own demise," she explained confidently to both of them.

Izaak and Alaric exchanged stunned looks, struggling to comprehend Alora’s revelations.

"What does she mean? Who is this old man you encountered?" Izaak asked, turning to Alaric for answers.

The Second Prince hesitated briefly when Izaak questioned why he had kept the information to himself and only shared it with Alora.

"I-I..." Alaric struggled to find the right words to explain himself.

"Brothers, from what I’ve gathered, I am capable of confronting Qasima. Let us await Magnus’s return, and then together, we will put an end to her," Alora affirmed confidently.

"We must inform Father about this. We have already made extensive preparations to combat Qasima. I will speak with him," Izaak declared with resolution.

He too felt a sense of relief knowing that Qasima may not be as formidable as they had feared, especially in the presence of Alora, unless she devised another wicked scheme.

~~~~

"Why does Prince Magnus appear so unrested today?" Ralph inquired, noticing the fatigue etched on Magnus’s face as they convened.

Magnus lifted his head wearily. "Are all the preparations in order for tonight?" he asked.

"Yes, everything is ready," Ralph assured him before leaning in, his expression serious. "However, I’ve heard a disturbing rumor," he continued, taking a seat across from Magnus. "They say a crazy witch decimated an entire human village for a sacrificial ritual. Do you believe there could be any truth to such a tale?"

Magnus lifted the wine cup to his lips and took a sip. Setting it down, he looked at Ralph and asked casually, "Are you afraid?"

"Isn’t Prince Magnus afraid?" Ralph countered. "Witches wield far more power than we do, especially in matters of magic. If they decide to perform any rituals to control us, we wouldn’t stand a chance."

Magnus chuckled softly and waved him off. His mood had been soured since the previous night, and he had no desire to dwell on fears about witches or anything else that might dampen his spirits further.

"Prince Magnus, why are you dismissing me instead of addressing my concerns?" Ralph pressed, his tone tinged with frustration.

"Don’t test my patience. You have no idea what I’m capable of when provoked," Magnus retorted sharply, his gaze piercing into Ralph’s eyes with intensity.

Ralph, visibly displeased, stood up abruptly and stomped his foot on the floor in defiance before storming out of the room.

Magnus leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes. He wanted to be with Alora. Only she could make her feel better.

"Alora, what are you up to?" Magnus attempted to establish a mind link with her.

To his surprise, Alora responded promptly, which was unusual compared to their previous communications via mind link.

"I’m out on the balcony. Why do you sound so low? You seem like you haven’t slept all night," Alora responded with genuine concern, her brow furrowing as she studied Magnus’s demeanor even he wasn’t present before her.

Magnus was surprised by Alora’s keen perception, realizing she had picked up on his exhaustion solely from the tone of his voice.

"I missed you, that’s why I sound like this. Do you understand now how much you mean to me?" Magnus admitted, his voice softening with sincerity.

Alora paused for a moment, then gently suggested, "Even when you’re away, I manage to sleep well. Why don’t you take an hour to rest? Just imagine I’m beside you."

"But I enjoy having you close in my arms when I sleep," Magnus confessed earnestly.

"Then imagine that too. I believe you can," Alora encouraged him in a soothing tone.

"Alright, I’ll give it a try," Magnus agreed. As he opened his eyes, the mind link naturally dissolved. He promptly moved to his bed, intending to follow Alora’s suggestion and envision her presence as he settled down for some much-needed rest.

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