The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride
Chapter 387: Filled with hardship

Chapter 387: Filled with hardship

Griffin lay on his bed, hands tucked under his head, restlessly tossing and turning. "Life feels so dull without work," he muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice. "But more than that, I can’t stop wondering if Selvina would reject me again." He sighed deeply, his thoughts swirling.

A sudden knock at the door interrupted his musings. "Come in," Griffin called out, his tone casual but curious.

The door opened, and Edwin, the ever-polite butler, entered with a slight bow. "My Lord, a lady from the palace has arrived," he announced respectfully.

Griffin sat up immediately, his curiosity piqued. One knee bent while the other leg remained flat on the bed. "Who is it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"She introduced herself as Selvina, Princess Alora’s attendant," Edwin replied, his tone was steady and humble.

"Selvina!" Griffin’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Bring her to the living hall. I’ll be there in a few seconds," he instructed, his voice brimming with anticipation.

Edwin, taken aback by the sudden shift in Griffin’s demeanor, nodded. "Yes, My Lord," he replied, before quickly exiting the room to carry out the order.

Griffin wasted no time. He hurriedly pulled on his boots and rushed to the dressing room. Standing before the mirror, he grabbed a bottle of cologne, applying a light spritz before running a hand through his hair to smooth it down. "I look good, don’t I?" he asked his reflection, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. He gulped, suddenly aware of the fluttering in his chest. "Why am I even feeling like this?"

Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, Griffin inhaled and exhaled slowly before making his way to the living hall, his heart racing with anticipation.

Meanwhile, in the living hall, Selvina sat on the plush sofa, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap as she waited for Griffin to arrive. The room was quiet, her mind swirling with thoughts as she anticipated their meeting.

The sound of his voice made her jump slightly. "Selvina!" Griffin called out as he entered the room, his tone warm and welcoming.

Selvina quickly stood, bowing respectfully. "Greetings to Lord Griffin," she said, her voice soft yet formal.

"Please, have a seat, Selvina," Griffin responded, gesturing to the sofa as he moved to sit across from her. As he settled into his chair, his eyes instinctively searched for something—only to notice the absence of the pendant he had gifted her just the day before. A pang of unease gripped him, and his heart sank at the possibility that she might be here to return it.

Trying to mask his disappointment, Griffin sat down, his gaze resting on Selvina, awaiting whatever she had come to say.

"Edwin, you may leave," Griffin instructed, his voice firm but polite. The butler bowed and quietly exited the room, leaving Griffin and Selvina alone in the living hall.

Griffin turned his attention back to Selvina, his curiosity piqued by her sudden visit. "What brings you here so unexpectedly, Selvina?" he asked, his tone calm but edged with concern.

Selvina didn’t hesitate. "Why did Lord Griffin never speak about punishing Cazzio?" she asked, her voice direct and unwavering.

Griffin raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "I never felt the need to," he replied evenly. "It wasn’t part of the initial plan."

"But I should have known it was Lord Griffin who made that decision," Selvina responded, her gaze steady on him.

Griffin leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "We never talked with each other back then. Neither you nor me. So, I couldn’t even bring it to you," he said. "If not for Princess Alora, we wouldn’t be having this conversation now."

"I’m thankful to Lord Griffin for punishing the man on my behalf," Selvina began, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and something darker. "When I went to that place, I was happy to see that he was dead. I wonder... was it a painful death?" she asked, her eyes searching Griffin’s for the answer she desperately wanted to hear.

Griffin’s expression hardened slightly. "It was," he affirmed, his voice steady. "I may appear to be lenient, but I am not. I made sure you received justice—for yourself and your unborn child." He stopped short of describing the exact manner in which Cazzio was killed, not wanting to drag Selvina through the gruesome details.

"Did he beg? Did he cry?" Selvina pressed, her voice tinged with a haunting eagerness. Memories of the past flooded her mind, bringing a vivid and painful clarity.

Griffin nodded slowly. "He did ask for mercy," he confirmed. "But in the end, it was a painful death for him."

Selvina lowered her gaze, her fingers curling slightly in her lap as she nodded. "That’s good to hear," she murmured, her voice laced with satisfaction. "Thank you for avenging me. I’ll never forget this favor you’ve done for me."

Griffin shook his head, meeting her eyes with sincerity. "It’s not a favor, Selvina. It was justice that needed to be served," he said firmly. "If you want to thank someone, it should be Prince Magnus. He’s the one who wanted me to look into the details. The decision to end Cazzio’s life was mine," he stated, making it clear that his actions were driven by a deep sense of duty rather than a simple favor.

"Would you like something to drink?" Griffin asked, trying to prolong her stay.

"No, thank you," Selvina replied, a hint of regret in her voice. "I have to leave soon since I left in the middle of my work."

Griffin wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. "I suppose Princess Alora wouldn’t mind if you stayed a little longer," he said with a playful glint in his eye. "She’s a good friend of mine, and if I complain to her, she might just scold you for leaving too soon."

Selvina couldn’t help but smile at his words. "Princess Alora did say I could take my time here," she admitted, feeling a bit more at ease.

Griffin’s face brightened. "That’s wonderful!" he exclaimed. "In that case, how about a tour of the house? It’s your first time here, and I think a tour is a must." His smile was enthusiastic, eager to show her around and spend more time with her.

"Sure, my lord," Selvina replied, rising gracefully to her feet.

Griffin stood as well, leading her toward the gallery of his grand house. As they walked through the elegantly decorated halls, Griffin began to open up, sharing a part of his life that few knew about. "You know, I used to live a pretty ordinary life as a human. In fact, you could say I was poor, barely getting by," he asserted, his tone calm but tinged with the weight of past struggles.

Selvina looked at him in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. "Oh, I didn’t know this," she replied, clearly astonished by his revelation.

Griffin continued, his gaze distant as he recalled the memories. "I wasn’t from a noble background, even as a human. My life was filled with hardship, mainly because of my father, who was a drunkard and a gambler. He buried us in debts that I couldn’t escape from. I lost my mother and siblings because of his recklessness," he said, his voice growing quieter as he spoke of the painful losses.

"I hated being human," Griffin admitted, his tone turned more intense. "I always felt like I was born into the wrong life. If I had been born a werewolf or a vampire, I would have had power from the start—power to protect those I loved, to change my fate."

Selvina listened intently, her earlier nervousness fading as she became absorbed in Griffin’s story. It was clear to her now that the man before her had endured much but still his humanity didn’t end. He was still that kind and warm person.

"I shouldn’t speak about it," Griffin murmured, as if catching himself revealing too much. He quickly shifted the conversation as they entered a different room. "This is the music room," he said, his tone lighter. "I’ve always loved playing the piano. So when I finally had the means, I made sure to buy one. I have many other instruments as well, but the piano has always been my favorite." His fingers gently brushed over the keys, a familiar touch that brought him comfort.

Selvina reached out and touched the keys as well, her fingers resting lightly beside his. "I once heard a musical performance in our village," she said softly. "A band of musicians had come to play. It was beautiful. I think it must take a lot of practice and patience to master such a beautiful art."

Griffin nodded, appreciating her understanding. "You’re right," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. Then, an idea sparked in his mind, and he looked at her with a mix of hope and eagerness. "Would you like to hear me play? I can play something for you," he offered, his eyes reflecting a deep yearning to share this part of himself with her.