The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 360: Who’s perfect for you

Chapter 360: Who’s perfect for you

Griffin leaned back in his chair, his keen eyes narrowing as he observed Odin across the table. The dim light of the tavern cast shadows over Odin’s face, but it wasn’t enough to conceal the tension that radiated from him. Something was clearly off, and Griffin wasn’t one to ignore it.

"Why do you look so irritated today?" Griffin asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. His gaze remained fixed on Odin, searching for any signs of what might be bothering him.

Odin barely glanced up, his focus seemingly absorbed in the glass of alcohol he held. "Nothing," he muttered, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the rim of the glass.

Griffin wasn’t convinced to hear that. He knew Odin too well to be fooled by such a simple deflection. Leaning forward slightly, he decided to cut to the chase. "What’s going on between you and Venus?" he asked in a probing tone.

Odin’s fingers froze mid-tap, and his eyes shot up to meet Griffin’s, wide with surprise. For a brief moment, he was completely caught off guard, his usual composure shattered by the unexpected question. He hadn’t anticipated that Griffin would bring up Venus, let alone ask so directly about their relationship.

"What... what do you mean?" Odin stammered, trying to recover his composure, but the crack in his facade was already showing.

Griffin raised an eyebrow, his skepticism clear as he studied Odin’s reaction. "You’ve been on edge lately, more than usual. I mean, I noticed that Venus has started affecting you. Don’t tell me you actually like her," he said, his tone probing but not without a hint of amusement.

Odin let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if the very idea were absurd. "No," he replied firmly, his voice steady.

Griffin wasn’t convinced, and he wasn’t about to let Odin off the hook so easily. "You don’t have to lie to me, Odin. I can tell when something’s bothering you," he insisted. "Whenever someone mentions Venus, you get this look—like you’re torn between wanting to punch something and... well, something else. What I’ve seen isn’t just in my head."

Odin’s smile faded slightly, and his grip on the glass tightened, but he kept his composure. "Venus was always an enemy to me," he remarked, his voice cold and detached. "And she still is."

He took a deliberate sip of his drink, letting the alcohol burn down his throat as if it could erase the discomfort the conversation was causing him.

Griffin leaned back, observing him with a knowing look. "You can tell yourself that all you want," he said calmly, "but I’ve known you long enough to see when something’s off. You’re not just talking about some random enemy. There’s more to it, even if you won’t admit it."

Odin’s jaw clenched, the muscles in his face tightening as he processed Griffin’s words. He wanted to argue, to dismiss the notion entirely, but the truth was gnawing at him, just beneath the surface.

"I don’t like her," Odin finally said, his tone edged with frustration.

Griffin noticed the anger in Odin’s voice and decided to tread carefully. "You don’t have to speak about it so angrily. Also, there exists a fine line between love and hate," he remarked calmly.

"From what I’ve observed, Venus isn’t the same person she used to be. Sure, my conversations with her have been brief, but in those moments, I saw a woman who’s been through a lot. She craved love, and maybe that led her down some wrong paths, but it seems like she’s grown from it. She’s become gentle, even sweet."

Odin’s gaze narrowed, his eyes locking onto Griffin. He didn’t say anything, but the tension on his grimace was evident. His mind raced, torn between wanting to dismiss Griffin’s words and acknowledging that they might hold some truth.

Without a word, he downed the remaining alcohol in his glass, the burn in his throat doing little to distract him from the thoughts swirling in his head.

After a moment, Odin leaned back in his chair, trying to shake off the weight of the conversation. "Have you thought about moving forward in your own life?" he asked, deflecting the attention away from himself.

Griffin took a deep breath, his expression shifting to something more introspective. "I have," he admitted honestly. "But it’s not easy to find someone who’s... right for me. The perfect match, you know?"

Odin nodded, his expression softening just a bit. He understood that struggle all too well. The search for something meaningful, something real, was never easy—especially when they both had experienced quite a harsh life.

"Perfection is hard to come by," he said quietly, his voice less tense now. "But maybe... maybe it’s not about finding the perfect person. Maybe it’s about finding someone who’s perfect for you."

Griffin considered his words, nodding slowly as he mulled them over. "You’re right," he said after a moment. "It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding someone who fits, someone who complements who you are."

"Then, go and explore, Griffin," Odin encouraged, his tone lighter now, trying to steer the conversation away from the tension that had lingered between them.

"I’m trying," Griffin replied with a small smile, appreciating Odin’s support. But he wasn’t done yet. "Well, you should consider Venus," he added, his voice was thoughtful.

"Consider what?" Odin’s eyebrows shot up, a mix of surprise and irritation flickering across his face. "I told you there’s nothing going on between us. Besides, I don’t want to bring a human into my life—especially not a woman like Venus. She’s hot-headed, stubborn..." His voice trailed off as he recalled their last encounter that morning. Venus had dared to kiss him, igniting a storm of emotions he hadn’t been prepared for. The memory of it brought a flush of frustration and confusion to his face.

He muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself, "She’s just trouble. I need to stay away from her."

Griffin turned quiet and didn’t probe further in that matter.