Chapter 31

Chapter 31

ANDREAS

Nadia was about to close her shop when I appeared in front of her. It was past midnight and the ball at the Suan’s residence went on as if nothing happened. True to Dreyfus‘ words, the vampires did it as a ceremonial drink– something to strengthen their bond. However, I could not shake the gnawing feeling that something bigger was going on.

“It’s been a while, Lord Havilliard,” Nadia said as she took a box of dried leaves before putting them into a cup. “Is the spell I placed an you wearing out?” She angled her head as she studied me. After a few seconds, she said,

I’d “You’re still good. I smell nothing but wolf on you. What could be the reason why you came tonight? In fact, like to know what could be the reason you made me come here.”

I took the vial from my coat and placed it on the table. She looked at it briefly before she poured hot water into the cup. “I see you’re still out searching for answers.”

“This is not about that, Nadia. This is different.”

She smiled and gently placed her pot before bringing the cup in front of me. “Blood means vampire. And everything about vampires has always been connected to you, your past, and your questions.”

“You think they are connected?” I furrowed my brows but the old woman just let out a gentle smile before picking up the vial of wine.

“What do you want me to do, my lord?”

“I want you to tell me if there is something in that wine. I know there is blood in there but I’d like to know if there

is more.”

“What would you do if there is more?”

I clenched my hand. “That would depend on whether I should act on it or not.”

“You’re in a tight position, my lord. You have to protect your people.”

I stared at the cup of tea in front of me. The water seemed to sparkle under the warm glow of the sole light in the shack. “I know.”

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“But you have a promise to fulfill and a duty to uphold. May you make the right choice, my lord.” she uttered solemnly, accepting the vial with measured grace. With deliberate movements, she emptied its contents onto an untouched wooden table, the liquid cascading in a translucent pool.

She then gathered a piece of oak branch, a string adorned with dried wheat, a solitary wolf’s tooth, and a vial brimming with human blood. Each element held a profound significance – the oak for the vampire, the dried wheat for the witch, the wolf’s tooth representing the wolves, and the vial of human blood embodying humanity

itself.

“The essence of blood in this wine is scarce–perhaps just a mere drop,” she remarked, her hand poised delicately above the crimson liquid. Meeting my gaze, she continued, “I shall extract the blood first, my lord,”

I nodded in silent acknowledgment, taking a step back as she began to murmur an incantation under her breath. As her whispered words hung in the air, my eyes remained fixated on the wine, witnessing a subtle transformation. Gradually, a small portion of the liquid started to separate, revealing the singular drop of blood that had mingled with the wine.

I heard Nadia sigh before she flicked her wrist and the rest of the wine vanished. She started another spell. This time the drop of blood started to move– moving towards the oak tree branch and the wolf tooth. The spell was done and we both looked at the table in confusion.

“Considering these are vampires, I am rather surprised this is not human blood.”

I stared at the blood a moment longer. “What do you think does this mean?” I asked and Nadia chuckled.

“I think you already know the answer to that question, my lord. Whatever the wolves are doing with the vampires here in Veridia, I think you should take a closer look at it. I sense a storm brewing.”

I placed the cup of tea on the table and looked at her as she turned to look at me.

“Your fiance stopped by the previous night,” she started. “She seemed sorrowful. Have you been treating her well, my lord?”

I shot her a glance. “She’s been through a lot of ordeals. Whatever, her burdens are not of my making.”

Nadia responded with a gentle smile. “Then make sure you extend kindness to her, my lord. Sometimes, that’s all one needs.”

I pushed myself away from the table where I was leaning and sighed. “The last person she’d receive kindness.

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Chapter 31

from is me. I am not a kind person, Nadia.”

“Your mother would have been proud of what you have become, my lord. Often, those who believe they lack kindness are the most compassionate.” She smiled warmly. “You mirror your mother in that way, my lord. I’m certain she looks upon you with pride.”

The mention of my mother sparked something in me– an old feeling that lingered and never disappeared even

ne who after so many years. The day I discovered how my mother died, I vowed to make everyone pay. Everyone played a part in her death will pay.

“Speaking of your mother, have you found any valuable information yet?”

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I sighed, shaking my head. “I managed to find one of the maidservants who served her before but she knew nothing. She only served my mother for a short period, therefore, there was not much to get from her.” I crossed my arms. “She died the next day after I talked to her.”

“Strange.”

“Indeed,” I said. “I think there is someone following me and trying to hurt those I meet.”

She let out a humorless chuckle. “Then I should be careful too. This shack might be warded but it won’t stop daggers or swords from coming in.”

“rapologize for bringing you into this, Nadia.”

She paused from tidying her table and looked at me. “I made a promise to your mother, my lord. I plan to keep that promise. I will serve you until the last of my breath.”

It was the same word she uttered when I first saw her. I smiled.

“Then I should not stay long. I shall visit soon. Thank you for your help.”

The last thing I saw was her kind smile before I swiftly made my way out of her shack. As I walked on the o streets, I could not help but think about what I discovered after Nadia identified the blood.

quiet

It was not of a human, surprisingly, but of a vampire and a wolf. The surge of vampires in the Kingdom of Veridia was all because of the Suans. I don’t get why some wolves are working with the vampires. What could they be doing? Most of the guests that were invited were all from prominent families, including Philip. Do they know the wine they drank at the toast has the blood of a vampire and a wolf? I would wager no.

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A blood of a vampire won’t do any harm to a wolf and vice–versa. But is this truly just for the formality of their unification ceremony or is there something more to it?

As I continued to walk, I did not notice I was already in front of Henrietta’s residence. The yard’s light was bright but as I looked into the window of her chamber, the lights were already off. Without thinking too much, I found

myself on top of a tree branch nearest to her room.

The moon cast a bright glow straight to her bed where she lay peacefully. The sight of her peacefully sleeping made me smile for some reason. And before I could even stop myself, I found myself already inside her chamber.

My footsteps were quiet as I walked around, looking at the details of her room. There was a portrait of her wearing a black dress that did not fail to show much skin. The more I stared at her portrait, the more I was drawn to it. Removing my gaze proved hard to do but I forced myself and walked over to a chair near the window. In front of it was a table where an open notebook lay.

Settling down the seat, I read the contents of the notebook and realized it was some sort of a journal. I’ve already invaded her privacy by coming into her room without her knowledge. I was not about to pry on her journal. So I closed it quietly and watched her chest rise up and down.

Her worried face earlier flashed inside my head. I do not understand why I would be thinking about such a thing. I’ve had people worry over me before but for some reason, it felt different from Henrietta.

I approached her bedside, drawn by an inexplicable force to be near her. My fingers moved with a mind of their own, gently brushing away strands of hair that threatened to conceal her delicate features.

“I can’t fathom how Philip could betray you,” I uttered, my voice barely a whisper. “He was never worthy of you, not from the very beginning.”

As I continued to caress her hair, a surge of determination filled within me. After what I discovered tonight, I want to protect Henrietta even more. “I’ve been told I should be kind to you. Kindness is a foreign concept to me, a rarity in the harshness of my upbringing growing up mostly on the border. But for you, I will strive to be kind. I will be the support you need, the ally in your quest for vengeance. I’ll shield you from harm, and willingly become a pawn in the game we’re about to play together.”

That was the setting we agreed to have. A marriage of convenience. A way for her to do her revenge. As for me, being married to her lets me stay in the capital, giving me a good opportunity to discover more clues about the death of my mother.

A tender smile crept across my face as I leaned down to press a gentle kiss on her forehead. In that fleeting

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Chapter 31

moment, her brows furrowed, signaling that she was about to wake. It was a cue for me to leave.

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Swiftly, before she could open her eyes, I vanished through the window, leaving behind a trail of wind that stirred her curtains. Whether or not she’d realize someone had been inside her chamber or not, I was not certain. However, I was hoping for the latter.

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Chapter 32