The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 363: Willing to give her word

Chapter 363: Willing to give her word

Magnus and Alora stood at the entrance of the grand mansion, the air filled with the lingering scent of herbs and other mysterious plants. The ancient estate was home to the witches, a place where many secrets thrived. As they stepped inside, the heavy door creaked shut behind them.

In the drawing room, the butler greeted them with a courteous nod. "Please, make yourselves comfortable," he said, his voice smooth and respectful, gesturing towards the plush velvet sofa by the fireplace. "I will inform Mistress Rienna of your arrival."

Magnus and Alora exchanged a glance before settling into the luxurious sofa. The butler bowed slightly before turning on his heel and leaving the room.

"Magnus, I haven’t had time to prepare anything," Alora admitted, her voice tinged with concern. "But I’ll do my best to ensure a favorable outcome."

Magnus met her gaze with unwavering confidence. "I trust you," he replied simply.

Alora, still puzzled, pressed further. "I can’t help but wonder why you suddenly chose me for this task. It seems like more than just trust."

Magnus hesitated for a moment before offering a thoughtful explanation. "I believe women have a unique way of understanding and communicating with one another. There are things that men might overlook or fail to grasp, but women often perceive them naturally. That’s why I chose you for this task."

He stopped short of elaborating further, not wanting to burden Alora with the high expectations he silently harbored.

"Prince Magnus, Princess Alora, you are welcomed to the abode of the witches," came Rienna’s voice, breaking the silence. Both turned their gazes toward the door as she entered. Alora was the first to rise, her movements graceful, while Magnus remained seated, observing her.

Rienna approached them with an air of quiet authority, greeting them both with a slight bow. Only then did Magnus stand, offering his thanks. "Thank you, Rienna, for agreeing to this meeting."

Rienna smiled, though her curiosity was evident. "But I must ask, why has Prince Magnus brought his wife here?" Her sharp eyes flickered to Alora, who stood with her lips pressed together in a firm line. As a witch, Rienna could sense the potent energy that radiated from Alora, a power that intrigued her.

Magnus didn’t hesitate as he revealed his decision. "Princess Alora will be meeting with the five-member committee of the witches."

The announcement caught Rienna off guard, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. This was not what she had anticipated. "I expected Prince Magnus to be the one attempting to calm our anger," Rienna remarked, her tone carrying a subtle edge.

Magnus cast a contemplative glance at Rienna, trying to gauge her thoughts, but her mind was an impenetrable fortress, giving nothing away.

"I’ve heard much about Princess Alora in these past few months," Rienna continued, her gaze shifting to Alora. "I trust that this meeting will yield an outcome favorable to all of us."

Her words held a weight that Alora didn’t miss, especially as Rienna added a pointed warning. "We witches will not be gentle with the Princess when the meeting begins."

"Neither will Alora be," Magnus responded, his voice steady as he glanced at his wife. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Alora felt a surge of confidence under his touch.

Rienna observed the exchange before addressing Alora. "Very well. Please follow me, Your Highness," she instructed, then turned to Magnus. "His Highness can wait for his wife here."

"Of course," Magnus agreed, watching as Alora followed Rienna out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Magnus settled back onto the sofa.

~~~~~

Alora entered the large room, which resembled an imposing hall, and immediately noticed four women seated around a polished mahogany table. As Rienna introduced her to the group, they greeted Alora with reserved nods, their eyes assessing her with quiet intensity.

"Please, Princess Alora," Rienna said, using her magic to elegantly pull out a chair for her. Alora couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fascination as the chair moved effortlessly, guided by Rienna’s power. She offered a polite smile and a word of thanks before taking her seat. The five witches then followed suit, settling into their chairs with an air of solemnity.

Alora took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "First of all, I want to thank you for granting me the opportunity to speak with all of you," she began, her voice sincere as she clasped her hands together. "I am truly sorry for the loss you all have had to endure."

"Is Princess Alora and her family truly sorry for our loss?" Rienna questioned, her tone sharp as she rested her hands on the ornate armrests of her tall chair. Her gaze was piercing, and her skepticism was evident. "I doubt Your Highness fully understands what it means to lose someone."

Alora took a deep breath, her expression thoughtful as she responded. "I do understand that feeling. I’ve lost much in my life before gaining what I have now. In my experience, losing people while they are still alive is often more painful than any other loss." Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of emotion. "My husband was fighting for his life the very night Head Witch Gloria was murdered. I know the anguish of almost losing someone dear to you."

The second witch, her eyes narrowing slightly, interjected. "But your husband is alive and well, Princess Alora."

Before Alora could respond, the third witch spoke up, her tone laced with anger. "Why should we continue listening to the vampires, who are the root cause of our suffering? We have been more than forgiving. Not a single death has been reported where a witch harmed a vampire."

"Qasima was the one responsible for countless innocent deaths, both in the past and after her recent awakening. I’m sure you’re all aware of her. And there was another witch in the South, whose son turned out to be a hybrid. They were terrorizing humans, vampires, and even werewolves in that region," Alora explained, her tone measured yet firm. "Prince Magnus personally visited that place over a month ago to put an end to it."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. "Prince Magnus and the King chose not to publicize these events because they understand their duty to all of you, to all of their subjects," she asserted, her voice carrying a note of conviction.

Rienna rubbed her fingers together thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. "Why does Princess Alora believe that the vampires will continue to protect us in the future?" Rienna asked, her voice tinged with bitterness. "After what Damien did to us, our trust has been shattered. Madam Gloria was like a mother to us."

Alora felt the weight of Rienna’s words, the deep wound that the loss of Head Witch Gloria had left on these women. "That is indeed the most painful part," Alora acknowledged, her voice softening with empathy. "The loss of a mother is irreplaceable. However, what I do know is that Head Witch Gloria had decided to pursue a peace agreement if she had lived. Velaris is renowned for its peace, which is why so many people from other kingdoms come here to settle."

She looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each witch in turn. "Head Witch Gloria’s vision was one of unity and harmony. I believe that if she were here, she would want us to continue walking on this path."

"Time changes, Your Highness. Even you have changed," Rienna remarked, her voice carrying an air of pointed observation. "I’ve heard you were once forced to wear a blindfold, only to remove it when your own family disowned you. Everyone feared you then. But now, here you stand before us!"

Alora paused, reflecting on Rienna’s words before responding. "It’s true, I’ve changed," she acknowledged. "But I’ve never used my power for selfish reasons or out of greed. Even when my family disowned me, I never thought of harming them, despite the terrible things they did to me."

She met Rienna’s gaze, her voice steady and resolute. "However, now the witches are demanding the freedom to use all forms of magic, without restraint. But that is something we cannot allow. We cannot control everyone’s actions, and with great power comes great responsibility."

Alora leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with determination. "If Head Witch Rienna is willing to give her word—to take full responsibility for any wrong that occurs because of the witches—then the King will have no issue granting them the freedom to use every kind of magic."

All of them found themselves at a tight spot. The four witches glanced at Rienna, who had turned quiet.

"Can Head Witch Rienna do that? Can she stop some of the witches from being selfish. I’ve already told her about Qasima, who did plunder on her return. What our king wants is to keep the peace and keep such magic in control so that everything remains under control or else it’s not difficult to break a war," she remarked, keeping her gaze fixed at Rienna.

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