Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 196: Human sacrifice

Chapter 196: Human sacrifice

Ara’s curiosity only grew more. She sat up straighter on the edge of the bed. "I am listening, Father."

Frederick began, "As you may have known by now, Hamon isn’t fully human. Margaret had done something to him, she made him what he is now...I do not know how she did it but, it may pass down to his offsprings as well. Before Margaret left, she had requested me to do something to Hamon, which in turn you’d have to do to your children if they turn out to be like him..."

Lines formed between her brows, "Something...I need to do?" She suddenly felt an ominous feeling wash over her. Her neck tensed as she waited for his words.

"To get the demon under control...a human has to be sacrificed, and the blood has to be fed to him."

Ara’s mind was a mess, she didn’t fully understand him. ’A human sacrifice? Blood?’ She gave him a questioning look and he continued in a steady low voice, "Let me explain. I once didn’t understand this at first. Hamon had began to change at the age of eight...He was like a savage beast and was out of control, he attacked people, unknowingly hurting them like a fiend in the palace. That had happened because I didn’t do the sacrifice Margaret had requested..." He had a distant look on as he explained as if he was remembering the day.

"So one must carry out the sacrifice with a human?" She asked worryingly. What sort of thing was that? Why would Margaret do such a thing to her son in the first place? She was beginning to find it hard to digest all this information. She’d witnessed Hamon’s transformation once that night on the battlefield, so she knew he wasn’t completely human, but hearing all this now...

"You needn’t worry much my child. It’s just a one time thing, the sacrificed human blood would have to be given to them for like a few days. The need for blood would initially overwhelm them and they’ll be soaked in craving after the first transformation..."

The more Ara listened, the more horrified she became. Frederick seemed to be speaking from experience. Does this mean, Hamon had also drank human blood...

Imagining it alone, brought a shiver down her spine. "So, you are telling me that if we have children, a human sacrifice must be made for them?"

"Not necessarily, that is if they were born like their father. Without the sacrifice, hell might come loose, only the blood would get them under control...I am explaining all this to you, because Hamon hated this side of him to the core, he took it as a curse and wouldn’t listen to my explanation." He said with a bitter smile, "You know, as a child, he called himself a monster..."

Ara suddenly recalled his words before, _’Let me ask you this...you know I could be a monster, right?’_

Ara didn’t know how to take in all this information at once. Although, they wouldn’t immediately have children, but this matter wasn’t an easy thing to approach. Was it because Hamon hated this part of him so much he didn’t tell her about it?

"My child...I might not live long to see my grandchildren, which is why I told you all this. The case might be different with your children, but if it turns out the same, you know what to do."

"..." Ara finally understood why he told her about this. However, she found it difficult to give a reply. She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath before opening them again, "Father...I need more time to process all this."

"Very well then. It must be quite a shock to you. If you have further questions I’d be glad to answer the ones I know." He wore his usual smile on his pale gaunt face.

Ara was at a loss at how to accept this and what to do in the future. Amongst all her worries, she remembered the lonely look Hamon made when he once called himself a monster. How terrified he must have been when he realized all this as a child. For some reason it brought pain to her heart to even imagine what he’d experienced then.

__

Ara eventually left the king’s residence with a conflicted mind. Fredrick’s fragile health hadn’t allowed her stay long to ask more questions, she’d left to give him space to rest. Moreover, she wasn’t feeling well herself, her arrow wounds stung with every move she made, not just that, even her heart hurt from all this information. She didn’t know what to think of everything anymore.

Ara sighed, she continued through the palace grounds lost in her own thoughts not even realizing she was going the opposite direction of their residence until_

"My wife, where are you going that way? And why are you out of bed walking in this heated sun?"

She jolted back to reality and quickly turned behind her, and saw Hamon bristly walking towards her with his long legs. A mesmerizing handsome face, his sliver hair plunged down his shoulders like satin, luminous red eyes, and sculpted features. How could such a handsome man be a monster?

Ara smiled faintly as she also approached Hamon, and immediately she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced him in a warm hug. She felt him stiffen at her action, but then he relaxed and placed his hand on her back. She didn’t know why she felt the need to hug him. Was it because of what she’d just found out about him? She wanted to console him and let him know he wasn’t a monster...

"Wife, have you missed me this much?" She heard him ask as he moved his hand up and down her back. Instead of answering, she asked, "Are you here to take me back?"

"Of course, I went back to our room and found it empty. Emma told me you were summoned by father, so I was on my way to his residence to bring you back, but found you here wandering around the grounds. You shouldn’t move around like this in your condition. Moreover, the weather is quite hot today, you should be resting in bed instead." He scolded.

Ara moved away from the hug and glanced up at him, "I feel much better now, and I couldn’t refuse to meet father when he sent for me."

He frowned disapprovingly, "You are not well, so it doesn’t matter if you refuse to go. Wife, you shouldn’t go about simply because he summoned you to his residence."

"Hamon, he’s not just the king of Findara, but my father_"

"He’s not your father for you to obey his demand, you can simply reject." Hamon’s voice was dangerously low as he spoke, "I can’t tolerate anyone forcing my wife to move around when she’s just recovering. Even if the person is my father, I don’t give a damn. You are my wife."

Ara froze for a moment. She then let out a soft chuckle, indeed, her husband was such a greedy and lovely man.

Hamon’s hard expression immediately softened at her chuckling, "Do you find it funny that am worried sick about you?"

She nodded, "It’s quite funny to me though, but I like it."

Hamon grinned before reaching his hand out to her, and Ara immediately knew the meaning. She took his extended hand, he then clasped her small hand in his warm large one. There was no need for any special words between them. They walked back to their residence hand in hand in a slow pace as if wanting to savor the moment in each other’s company.

Despite the warmth of emotions washing over Ara, however she had many questions she wanted to ask Hamon.

Does he intend to never tell her about himself or about the stone?

Hamon had deliberately hidden the truth about himself from her, and now she’d uncovered his secret without his permission. Everyone had something they wanted to conceal. She was hesitant to ask him because she didn’t want to dig up his past wounds, but she knew she couldn’t procrastinate on this. More importantly, she wanted to know if he knew about the stone of Helga.

"Hamon...?"

Hamon responded with a hum, "Hmm?"

As she took in his perfect side profile, she forced her lips to move, "Why didn’t you ever tell me about the stone of Helga or about you being a_" she couldn’t bring herself to say the word, ’Demon.’

Hamon’s footsteps abruptly came to a halt at her question. He stiffened for a moment before he glanced sideways at her with dread in his eyes, "...who told you about this?"

"That doesn’t matter now, for how long were you intending to keep all this away from me, Hamon?"