Chapter 16: Chapter-16 A woman in black

"Achoo! Achoo!" Elliana sneezed after taking a fresh shower, and Sebastian, who was working on his laptop on the desk, turned to look at her, his eyes dilating slightly when he took in her appearance.

She wasn't dressed inappropriately, but it was the night suit that suited her a bit too much.

"Elliana," Sebastian called out to her.

He wanted to ask her if she would like to go and visit her parents so that he could meet the king and his family members alone in a better way to see if they had something going inside their heads.

However, when Elliana turned to him with her infamous confused innocent look, he sighed.

"We will be leaving for dinner in some time," Sebastian dismissed the matter.

It would be too soon to visit her parents. He can't have them suspect anything or everything he has planned for will go in vain.

After having dinner, Sebastian went straight to his office. He had to create a file about things he noticed today and who were the prime suspects of today's events. This way, it becomes easier for him to keep track of conspiracies around him.

When he returned to his room, he saw Elliana sleeping on the couch with her leg dangling down, and he sighed at her brazen position.

It almost looked like a position where she was ready to - Sebastian inhaled deeply and averted his gaze.

It feels like putting her on the bed was now one of his jobs. He bent and pulled her in his arms.

"Mmmm, Mr. Marino," Elliana rubbed her face in his chest adorably, and Sebastian froze in his place, his heart skipping a beat.

Elliana's even breathing and heartbeat told him she was indeed sleeping and not pretending, and he wondered what she must be dreaming about.

A part of him wanted to shake her wildly and ask what she was thinking, but the other part wanted to let this troublemaker sleep.

She looks much better with her eyes closed anyways.

He placed her on the bed before sitting on the other side deep in thought.

He didn't feel like sleeping tonight.

Today's evening events made him strangely annoyed. It felt like there was something that was missing from his eye. Like something was right in front of him, but he couldn't see it.

What could it be? Sebastian walked to the balcony before he looked up at the moon.

"Mom, what do you think I am missing? When you were here, things were much easier. You were my pillar. How was it so easy for you to figure out things and see right through their plans?" Sebastian gripped the railing before closing his eyes.

As he thought about everything that happened in the local market, replaying every incident, he opened his eyes abruptly when he remembered seeing something that he hadn't paid attention to at that time.

A woman in a Black cloak was hiding right behind the shop where the rogue was caught. How could he miss something so grave? That woman, there was something weird about her. The way she looked at everyone, it was as if she was there to observe the surroundings.

He could feel the dangerous and negative vibes she oozed even when he was just replaying the memory. It was obvious that the woman was not a human or a vampire.

She was tapping her long nails on the wooden bamboo holding the shop's name over it, and her gaze... Sebastian scrunched his brows to remember and look into his memory.

What was this? The more he was trying to look at her face, the more blurred her figure was turning. What kind of black magic did that woman use?

Who the hell was she? Sebastian opened his eyes abruptly, feeling strangely uncomfortable.

"Mom," he heard Elliana speak and turned to her with a sigh. She was probably having the same dream again that she had two nights ago. He was about to turn towards the forest again and think about the memories to see if he could search more about that mysterious woman or notice something else when Elliana's words shocked him.

"Don't worry. I will avenge you. The hunters..." she paused.

"...will die," Elliana ended, and Sebastian's demeanor changed completely.

What did she say? Will the hunters die? Was it a single sentence, or was she trying to say something else?

"Elliana. Elliana, what were you -" Sebastian started before taking a deep breath.

"Damn it!" He gritted before walking out of the room.

Getting any information out of a human was the easiest job in the world for him. Unfortunately, this human was important to him.

She was the key to entering the hunters' bloodline and ending them slowly. Not only that, but he also knew that his grandpa had married him with this human with a purpose in mind, and he would have to let her live until he finds that.

The next day ~~~~

"I want to go to the market, Mr. Marino," Elliana said as soon as she saw Sebastian arriving at the breakfast table, and the latter looked at Miss Zoya, who nodded in return.

Today everything on the table was purely vegetarian, and thus, it didn't need Elliana Sebastian to sit away. He sat beside her, not minding she was in the head's seat right now. His gesture about sitting close to her filled Elliana's heart with warmth, and she looked down in shyness.

"I will take you to the famous mall, princess," Miss Zoya said, and Elliana nodded with an obedient smile.

This was the lie they were using altogether. Today was the day they chose to deposit the fee for Miss Zoya's daughter's education. And for that to happen, Elliana needed to go out of the palace.

She can't let the prince know what she is doing or how she is using the money. And neither can she trust the head maid with his black card.

Elliana stole a look at the prince, who was busy reading something on his phone and couldn't help but blush at the thought of how he grabbed her hands yesterday.

When she woke up, just like always, she was on the bed, and for some reason, it felt like it had become their thing now.

The warmth in her heart that she felt when she imagined the prince carrying her in his sturdy hands was no joke. Elliana's gaze flickered all over his mask, and she wondered what he really looked like.

She wanted to see him. Touch his nose, caress his cheeks, cupping his face, and ask him what did he go through to -

"Is something on my face?" Sebastian, who had been feeling her constant stare for some seconds, finally said, and Elliana dropped her spoon, startled.

"I... I am sorry," Elliana bent to grab the spoon, but before her hand could touch it, Sebastian's hand stopped her.

"Don't," Sebastian said, and soon a maid rushed to pick up the utensil.

"I am sorry. I should've been mindful of my behavior," Elliana closed her eyes in shame.

She should be buried six feet under right now, no? What the hell was she thinking, staring at him so brazenly? The least she could do was observe him in his sleep.

This reminded her, she had never seen him sleeping.

She always sleeps first and wakes up late. She has felt his sturdy body under herself many times, but not once has she seen him actually lying there with closed eyes.

Does that mean he is always on guard around her? Does he suspect her? Or is it a vampire thing? She will have to ask Miss Zoya about it. Elliana nodded at herself before concentrating on her food.

Huh… That wasn't the only thing on her mind. She missed her friends in prison.

Elliana knew she was a fool to even think of that place that was second to hell for her, but her cellmates were one of the best people she had ever met

They entered the cell later than her. According to G, they were shifted to her cell because the innocent girl needed protection from the other convicts.

Maybe Elliana's father gave that order. Nothing was clear around her. It was always as if something mysterious was going around in the prison. However, Elliana was always thankful for the decision of the prison warden.

That night when she was returning after using the washroom if those people hadn't arrived on time, then -

Elliana shook her head when her mind took her down the negative path again. She didn't want to remember those bad things. She missed her friends who would beat anyone and everyone for her.

"Are you listening?" Sebastian asked, and Elliana came out of her reverie before looking at him, confused.

Her lack of concentration on his words made Sebastian clench his fists, but he didn't say anything nonetheless.

He needed to keep her calm around her for her to completely trust him before he could move to the next part of his plan. His calm and good behavior around her was like a long-term investment he was making to get things under control and avenge his mother's murder.

"Did you even hear what I was saying?" He asked, and Elliana looked at him with an apologetic smile.

"I wanted to know if you will need any guards. Also, I noticed you didn't bring your cell phone with you," Sebastian said, and Elliana fidgeted with her fingers.

"I... I don't have one," Elliana's words made Sebastian look at her.

"You don't have a cell phone here, or you never had one?" He asked again.

"I never had. Stepmom never allowed me to -" Elliana cleared her throat when she remembered the uproar it had caused in the house when she had demanded a cell phone.

"I will get you one today. Is there anything else that you need? Something that you might be interested in for your free time?" Sebastian asked, and Elliana looked at him from under her lashes before shaking her head.

"Okay," Sebastian stood from his place once he ate to his content and left.

Elliana breathed in relief when the prince left, and the chef immediately rushed out of the kitchen.

"Did you taste these potato nuggets, princess? I made them with -" The chef explained all about his new experiment with an excited look, and Elliana nodded, listening to everything as if she were his trainee.

"They are good. Maybe you can add coriander leaves, tomato, and green chili paste with the serving. It will make them taste even better with the ketchup," Elliana gave her insight, and the chef clapped his hands.

"That sounds good. Let me try it again. Will you come later for the snacks? I can prepare -"

"I will be going out today," Elliana looked at the chef apologetically, and the chef nodded.

"It's okay. I have all the time in the world to have you taste my experimental food," the chef smiled before personally taking the Princess's plate to the kitchen.

Miss Zoya looked at their interaction and shook her head.

She doesn't know how the prince will react if he finds out Elliana was already infiltrating her way into everyone's heart in the palace.