AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am truly grateful for your words, Leopold,” I replied, clearing my throat a little. “King Theodore’s legacy was and remains to be a guiding light, and I am determined to honor his vision for our kingdom. We must continue to protect our people and ensure the prosperity of our realm… no matter what.”
“No matter what,” Leopold nodded, without any need to explain any further.
Just as I was about to tell him that he was dismissed, a knock on the door interrupted our conversation.
“Yes?” I called out, turning my attention to the door. It creaked open revealing Lilith.
“Am I interrupting anything?” she asked with a smile.
“No,” I replied. “Come in.”
Leopold, ever respectful, didn’t say anything. He merely bowed as he always did, then excused himself without being told. A moment later, Lilith and I were alone.
I turned my attention to her, concern mirrored in my eyes. “Is everything all right?”
She inhaled deeply, walking over to me. “I was thinking something…”
“You were awake almost the entire night,” I reminded her. “I supposed you were doing something of the sort.”
She smiled again. “I was going through Father’s scrolls and documents, but I didn’t find anything.”
“I supposed that as well,” I nodded, deciding not to make this into something that would change my life forever.
Yes, I believed that there was something to that scroll. But did it really matter? Why would the type of blood that ran through my veins change anything about who I was? I was her husband. I was the king of these people, and I would give my life to keep them all safe and sound. Wasn’t that enough when one wanted to know one’s identity? Blood had nothing to do with it. Yet, it was obvious that Lilith couldn’t let it go.
“What’s really on your mind, Lil?” I asked, sensing that there was more to come. Much more.
“The scroll,” she admitted. Then, she took me by the hands, as her eyes held a determined glint. “Adrian, I… I believe we should consider seeking the help of the witch once again. She helped us before, in the past, when we needed her the most, and her knowledge might be the key to understanding the scroll’s significance and the danger it might pose for us.”
I sighed, the weight of the scroll and its mysteries bearing down on me. “Lil, I appreciate your determination, but we have already been entangled in dangerous situations. I just want to put this scroll behind us and focus on the kingdom.”
Her resolve was unwavering as she countered. “I can’t forget about it, Adrian. The scroll might hold the answers we need to protect our kingdom. We can’t ignore it.”
As the weight of our conflicting desires hung in the air, I looked into Lilith’s eyes, recognizing the earnestness of her intentions. “I understand your curiosity and the need to protect the kingdom, but we’ve already been through so much. I can’t bear the thought of putting our family in harm's way again. I mean, that scroll doesn’t change anything… does it?”
She met my gaze with a mixture of understanding and frustration. “Adrian, I know the risks, and I’m not suggesting we rush into danger. The witch might provide answers without putting us in harm’s way. We have a family now, and I want to ensure Cass’ safety as much as you do.” She paused, hesitating for a moment. “Don’t you want to know?”
I honestly didn’t have an answer to that question. At least, not a clear one. I was pulled in both directions, torn almost. It was easier to simply not think about it, to focus on keeping the kingdom safe.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
She released my hands, only to caress my cheek. Her eyes gazed into mine, with all the love she had for me.
“Deep down, I know you do,” she whispered. “And I know you’re scared. I am also. But… that could be the reason why Constantine kept you alive all that time. He kidnapped you and kept you as a prisoner for weeks. He could have killed you at any point, but he didn’t.”
“He also didn’t tell me or show me in any way that we might be related,” I said a little more gruffly than I intended to. “What if he also doesn’t know?”
“What if he does?” she answered my question with another question.
I inhaled deeply, turning away from her and raking my fingers through my hair. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, then I turned to her once again. “Even if he knows… does it really matter? I mean, in the grand scheme of things… does it make any difference? We’ve all made our life choices, we’ve chosen our sides. The mere fact that we are brothers, cousins, whatever that stupid scroll claims we are, changes nothing, Lil. Not a single thing. I am still who I am and he is still who he is.”
“Others might not see it that way,” she whispered back to me.
I frowned. “After everything we’ve been through, are you afraid of what others will say about us, about me?”
“No, no,” she shook her head immediately. “Of course not. But you know that it might make them distrustful towards us. The kings of our neighboring kingdoms, the truces and unions my father had been working all his life for, might be taken back, revoked permanently if this proves to be true and comes to light.”
I grinded my teeth with displeasure. I knew that she was right. The mere fact that I was a vampire married to a human princess was already a thorn in many eyes. And it was solely through King Theodore’s insistence that they had accepted me as their equal. But now, with him gone, there were bound to be challenges, which I was ready to face. Now, it was turning out that there were more challenges than I had predicted.
