"That's a good amount. What are you planning to buy with that? Dresses? Jewelry?" Sebastian paused.
Elliana had his full attention now, and the latter looked at her feet, unsure if she should tell him the real reason. The memories of Miss Zoya mentioned that the prince would kill her before she would be able to utter a word.
Elliana has known the prince for what? 24 hours? What if the prince really has a temper and kills Miss Zoya? She has no one in this place to call an acquaintance.
Elliana hummed and nodded at herself, feeling satisfied with her thought process.
"It's a wedding gift," Elliana blurted out, the first thing that came to her mind, and Sebastian quirked his brows.
"Wedding gift? For who? Your family?"
"Me," Elliana ran her tongue over her lower lip to wet her chapped lips.
This won't do. Elliana narrowed her eyes. She should act confidently rather than being nervous 24/7. She clenched and unclenched her fists before she looked up at the prince daringly, her eyes confident and full of zest. Sebastian was taken aback by her aura once again.
"I will be asking for more gifts in the future. I hope it's fine with you. You said you don't want others to have the impression that you treat me badly, right? You are royalty. I am royalty. You should know what kind of expenses girls have," Elliana stared back at him.
From her last conversation with him, she figured he wanted to keep her alive. The reason could be anything, but that was a fact. Or judging from how annoyed he gets and with his monstrous reputation, she would've ended up in that alligator's pond or 6 feet under the ground already.
She was done living like a mouse all her life. It didn't get her anywhere anyways. The only thing it brought her way was misery and humiliation. If she hadn't been so hung up and desperate about finding her biological mom, she would've never stayed in the palace for so long, at least not after the last time they punished her before going to prison, where she almost got molested.
If death is inevitable, the least she can do is stay comfortable in her skin.
The more nervous she acts around him, the more he will act like a predator.
"I didn't know you had this side to you too," Sebastian said before he took out his wallet and pulled out a black card from it.
"You haven't seen anything of me," Elliana said, and though she was sounding confident, her gaze still shook at the end, and Sebastian felt his lips twitching at her strong facade.
"Well, I intend to change this statement soon," Sebastian stepped ahead before grabbing her collar.
His gaze fell on her clear olive skin, and he was amazed at how she had such beautiful skin even after living in prison for a year.
She looked almost celestial.
He bent and placed his lips on her exposed neck before taking a deep whiff, scaring Elliana out of her wits as she almost lost her balance, if not for Sebastian, who held her in place.
Maybe she should start being confident slowly if she doesn't want to get herself killed.
"Easy there. I won't bite you. Not yet," Sebastian grinned before running his tongue over his lower lip.
He wanted to show her a hint of his fangs to scare her even more and ensure she stayed in line, but that would require him to take out his mask, and it wasn't worth the hassle.
Elliana gulped and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the prince leaving before looking at the card in her hand.
She hoped he would give her the amount in cash or a check. However, now that he has given her the card with the pin, she will have to ensure that she doesn't let this card go into the wrong hands.
'Why did I have to meddle in other businesses again? Right. Because I am the so-called innocent kind person who can't help herself from sticking her nose in everyone's matters,' Elliana gritted her teeth and stomped her foot in annoyance before she felt a weird heat clouding her mind.
'Aaaa,' She gripped her head and suddenly felt like some hot liquid rushed into her nerve veins.
"Elliana, take deep calming breaths. Don't let it take over you. Anger is not good for health. You can control your emotions," Elliana whispered what 'G' had asked her to whisper whenever she felt like this before she went inside the bathroom to cool down so that she doesn't end up doing something that would put her in an even bigger problem.
Meanwhile, Sebastian walked out and looked at the door one last time before going to his office.
"Sir -" Lucas stopped when he saw Sebastian looking at the trees thoughtfully.
"Did something happen?" Lucas couldn't help but ask, remembering the last night's events, and Sebastian hummed.
"Have you arranged for a personal spy from the S-class team to keep a look over Elliana? It would be better if it's a female. That way, she won't suspect the girl," Sebastian said, and Lucas nodded.
"Three candidates would be arriving after breakfast. You can choose whoever you feel fit for the position," Lucas wanted to ask what exactly happened, but he didn't want to provoke the devil, and thus he sighed.
"She asked me for money. Twenty lakhs," Sebastian said after a long pause, and Lucas, who was arranging the files for Sebastian to sign, paused and looked at him with raised brows.
"That much?"
"She says it's a wedding gift. She would be asking more in the future if she felt like it. She even said that if I don't want people to think I am treating her badly, I should keep giving in to her requests," Sebastian's words amazed Lucas.
Did she have some major change last night? Where did the sweet, kind, and naive girl described in the documents suddenly go?
But wait. Sebastian was too calm for it. He wouldn't be acting this calm if some random human threatened him like that, whether she was his bride or not. Why was it becoming hard to believe?
"She threatened you, and you just stood there and did nothing?" Lucas asked, and Sebastian hummed.
"Well, the words weren't exactly these. One thing led to another, and Elliana ended up saying this. I gave her my black card. Let's see what she will be using so much money for. I want you to keep a close look at her," Sebastian walked around the table before making a cross with the red pen over the map displayed on the noticeboard.
"You suspect she will try to give this money to the human royals and help them strengthen their armies?" Lucas asked, and Sebastian shook his head.
"No. Those royals are rich. They don't need our money. If they are indeed planning something against us, there is no way they would risk it for some petty money. This could be bigger or way different than our minds can think about. Her demeanor was different. She actually pretended to be confident when asking for money. I want you to keep a keen look at Elliana with the new spy. She could be meeting someone else for all I care," Sebastian looked at his phone, which rang with an incoming call.
Seeing the name of the caller ID, his jaws ticked, and he looked at Lucas, who went to the door and closed it.
"Hello?"
"Well, isn't this my favorite brother in the family? I just returned from the Canada trip, and guess what I found? Did you get sacrificed? That's a pity," Stephano, Sebastian's cousin, said, and Sebastian looked at the map with pointers on where they would be setting up the base with a thoughtful look.
"What can I say to that? Grandpa knew only the most diligent kid of the family could be trusted with a task as important as maintaining the peace that he had wanted for years. He can't trust just any man who*re with a loose character to have a human bride, no?" Sebastian answered in a fake concerned tone, and Lucas almost choked on his saliva.
Sebastian was indeed getting better with his insults these days, no?
Though Sebastian was the infamous rude vampire prince among all, Stephano was his best competitor and many years older. He was the first grandson of Abramo, the former Vampire king, while Sebastian was the youngest one.
"What did you say?" Stephano's voice turned cold, laced with malice, promising nothing good.
"I said that Grandpa should've chosen you instead. You are the most diligent among us. Unfortunately, you weren't in the kingdom," Sebastian smirked inside the mask, and Lucas sighed before walking to the balcony, scrunching his brows when he saw Elliana standing on the balcony again.
What was this girl's obsession with looking at the forest?
The entire forest was under the jurisdiction of the vampires, and a major part of it was part of the kingdom and royal palace, so there was no question of her looking for her human partners if there were any.
She was quite obsessed with it. She has been here for around 24 hours, and he bet she has spent most of her time standing there.
Her body posture was elegant and screamed loyalty, but it also showed the prime trait of being a royal. Loneliness.
She looked lonely and sad. Was she thinking about her parents? Her family?
But she doesn't have a reason to.
Shouldn't she be happy that she is out of a place where she was the scapegoat for all the crimes again and again?
Lucas hadn't mentioned the extent of the abuse Elliana suffered in that household, but it even included getting whipped by her aunt in place of Madeline because the latter broke an expensive vase.
How cruel could they be? Weren't humans supposed to be the kind ones? Then again, they have shown nothing but hostility.
What kind of pain must her soft skin have gone under for something she didn't even do? Lucas sighed when he saw her humming some lonely words and was about to turn around when something caught his eye.
What the hell was she doing? Lucas widened his eyes when he saw her climbing over the railings.
"Sir!" Lucas shouted, catching Sebastian's attention, who wasn't too far from him.
Seeing the scared look on his face, Sebastian immediately rushed to the balcony to see what it was.
Seeing the girl climbing over the railing of the balcony, Sebastian's eyes widened, and he immediately threw the phone and jumped down from the balcony from the seventh floor, rushing under the balcony of his room.
Standing under the area, he looked up at the third floor with wide eyes.
The girl was sitting on the railing with her eyes closed. What the hell was she thinking? If she wanted to die, why did she go through such a hassle?
No. He can't let her do anything that will jeopardize his plans of becoming the king. Sebastian clenched his fists.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
"It's so serene here. I am amazed at how beautiful and calm this place is despite being home to such dangerous species," Elliana walked to the balcony.
She looked at the thick concrete railing and smiled.
She hasn't explored the rest of the palace, but she was sure the view from the terrace of this place, which is probably on the 10-11th floor, was marvelous.
Well, she will just check the area later on. Since the vampire prince wants her to act like an animal and be aware of everything around her, she will do so. However, for now, she would resort to this balcony.
Elliana smiled at the forests.
It was strange. She has always felt this allure towards mother nature. As if she was meant to live in the forests and not these expensive fake palaces. She was sure she would feel happier among animals who won't understand her than anywhere near people who could understand what she speaks. It doesn't make a difference in the end, no?
Elliana looked at her hand, the same golden point in the middle of her hand, glowing a little bigger than before, and she felt the wind around her increasing its pace.
It has always been like this. This connection increased even more after she entered the prison and started meditating with 'G'.
G showed her some good techniques to meditate to calm her mind and remain in her natural energy despite the changes around her.
That's why she has remained so calm even in a kingdom where she doesn't know anyone and her life is under constant threat.
Elliana took a deep breath, enjoying the wind while basking in the morning sunlight. She looked down and sighed. It was a concrete railing. It won't break, right?
She swayed her leg on the other side in an attempt to sit on the railing.
'Hmm, is it some magic or some kind of drug? I see you, or am I trying to find you?' Elliana hummed in her mind, remembering her dream about that fire again.
"Miss Elliana, what are you doing?" Miss Zoya entered her room and screamed in horror. Elliana, who was enjoying the breeze, turned with scrunched brows.
"Why are you so loud? Don't you vampires have sensitive hearing?" Elliana sighed, and she was about to turn around when she felt a swoosh of wind, and before she could understand what was happening, she felt her body lifting in the air.
"Aaaaaaa!!! What the -" Elliana screamed in horror and closed her eyes, making Sebastian flinch before he rushed inside the room and placed her in the middle with a dark look.
"What the -? Is this what you call your savior? What the hell do you think you were doing?" Sebastian growled, and Elliana stepped back in shock at his anger before looking at Miss Zoya who had a similar worried look.
Lucas also entered the room and pushed Miss Zoya away slightly.
"Is she okay?" Lucas looked at the girl, who was looking at everyone, confused.
"What happened?" Elliana asked, confused, about everyone's loud reaction.
"What is wrong with you? When the hell did I treat you badly in these 24 hours? Even if you are the daughter of my enemy, nor once did I lay my hand on you. I gave you my card when you asked for money without asking more questions. Let you eat whatever you want, and even give you a personal wardrobe. What compelled you to jump off the balcony?" Sebastian growled again, and she understood the scenario.
"I... I wasn't trying to jump off the balcony," Elliana bit her lips like a child reprimanded without committing a mistake.
"I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of my legs dangling in the air while I enjoyed the wind. Well, I haven't gotten the chance to visit the terrace yet, and I love nature," Elliana explained, and Sebastian looked at Lucas in question as if asking him what he heard was true or not.
"So you weren't trying to kill yourself because you got married to a vampire?" Lucas asked, and Elliana scrunched her brows innocently.
"Why would I? He has been better with me than my entire family. I know he has a temper and gets annoyed by my presence, but now I know the reason too. He hates my dad," Elliana smiled softly.
"Don't worry. I am not some spoiled brat. I strongly believe in fighting off my situations and problems to live than running off cowardly and committing suicide," Elliana smiled at Sebastian, and the latter looked at the girl.
Her smile indeed was something that could bring light to the darkest rooms. Seeing her looking back at him so confidently, Sebastian was about to ask her if she would like to visit the terrace now when one of the maids knocked at the door.
"Sir, the former king is here," The maid announced, and Lucas looked at Sebastian peculiarly.
'Wasn't he supposed to come in the later afternoon?' Lucas asked through the mind link.
'I am sure he is deliberately early to see how things are going. He is afraid I would manipulate the girl or might be trying something against the family,' Sebastian scoffed back through the mind link before he turned and looked at the girl dressed in a beige-colored dress that showed her elegance and kind nature.
She had braided her hair in a French ponytail with some strands falling on her neck on both the sides.
She was looking quite youthful, and well, pleasing to the eyes. Sebastian nodded at her in affirmation.
"You are presentable. Let's go," Sebastian said before he extended his hand, and Elliana looked at the hand, a little shy.
"What is it?" Sebastian asked.
"I am not wearing any footwear,"
Elliana's words made Sebastian look at her bare feet, and he sighed before walking to her closet and taking out a pair of nude-colored wedges.
He placed the wedges near her feet gently, looking up at her, for her to raise her leg when he picked the right foot sandal as if this wasn't the sweetest thing he did in his life.
Lucas was shocked to see Sebastian sitting and bowing down to the human girl as he helped her wear her wedges. This wasn't exactly called bowing, but for a prince who has never treated anyone nicely, especially humans, this was a big deal.
Maybe he was doing all this because he thought she was going to commit suicide, and it would ruin his plans of becoming the king. Lucas wondered what the youngest prince would do when he'll actually fall in love with someone.
"Are you done now? Let's go?" Sebastian looked at Miss Zoya, who brought a wet towel for the prince to wipe his hands, and he did.
"Thank you for being so kind to me. I will not let you down," Elliana looked at the prince in a new light and felt her heart skipping a beat at his kind gestures.
Though she was still unaware of what he actually looked like, his inner beauty was something she could see herself falling for.
"Is there a library in the palace? I would like to visit it," Elliana whispered when they started walking out of the room, and Sebastian hummed.
"I will ask Miss Zoya to show you around after Grandpa leaves. Also, I am arranging a female protector just for you. Though this palace belongs to me, and no one would dare to touch the bride of the youngest prince, we shouldn't take any chances," Sebastian said.
He wanted to ensure they would have a story to tell later if the girl caught on to the agent who would be spying on her.
If this girl is really that innocent and naive, it would be easy to track and tail her whenever she meets her family or anyone, as a matter of fact.
Maybe they used this girl as bait because they knew she was this innocent. They might be trying to make the prince lower his guards so they could strike whenever he is least prepared. Sebastian nodded at himself.
That must be the case.
"Son of a -" Sebastian cursed under his breath, and Elliana looked at the man.
She followed his gaze and saw him looking at the man, who was smiling back at him with a mischievous smile.
"What happened, brother? Why did you end my call like that? Did something happen to your wife?" Stephano smiled at Sebastian as he descended the stairs.
Elliana felt the prince's discomfort through his hold on her hand, and she pressed her fingers around him comfortingly, making the prince look back at her.
She smiled dazzlingly at him, and Sebastian paused, smitten with her innocent smile for a second before he nodded at her.
"My my, what a piece of work you are. You are definitely god's favorite kid, no? Brother, you scored such a beautiful wife even when you look -. I am Stephano," Stephano quickly averted his sentence and extended his hand for Elliana to shake, bowing to her like a true gentleman.
Elliana looked at the man with the rare black eyes and styled black hair. He was tall but shorter than Sebastian by an inch or two. She looked at his confident smirk and felt Sebastian's uneasiness again.
"I am sorry, but my parents taught me to greet the elders first," Elliana turned around and walked to Sebastian's grandpa.
Lucas -"..."
Miss Zoya -"..."
Sebastian -"..."
Was she courting death?
Everyone watched in horror as Stephano's smile froze in his place, and he looked at the human with disbelief.
Did she just - Stephano straightened, turned around, and looked at the girl, who screamed confidence and strength as she walked to the old man.
Though she was just a human, how could she possess such a presence in the room?
Her confidence was really remarkable, even when she knew anyone here could snap her neck into two.
Sebastian, on the other hand, looked at Stephano's uneasy expression and fought the urge to smile.
"Former king, Abramo. I am Elliana Marino. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me. I wish you well," Elliana gave him a 90° bow, and the old man looked at the girl.
For a girl brought to the vampire Kingdom overnight and was living among the strongest ones at that, she was confident and elegant. She acted like a true princess even when she wasn't.
"Just call me grandpa, little girl," Abramo smiled at the girl, impressed by her greeting, and Elliana smiled at him, her eyes crinkling in a crescent moon shape, making her look even cuter than before.
"You can leave my hand, Mr. Marino," Elliana whispered to Sebastian, and the latter raised his eyebrows.
This was the first time she has spoken his name after he told her to do so. His gaze then moved to their hands, where he had intertwined his fingers with hers.
Abramo and Stephano froze when they heard the name Elliana used. Did Sebastian allow her to call him that?
"As you wish, my love," Sebastian removed his hand from her grip, making Elliana's heart skip a beat.
Their interaction made Abramo smile in delight.
"This is the first time I am seeing my youngest grandson being so gentle with someone. I am happy for you, kid. I am sure you guys haven't had the chance to eat something. Let's talk over the breakfast table?" The old man suggested, and everyone nodded in agreement while Elliana turned to the first prince.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. -"
Elliana paused.
"Stephano, the eldest prince," Stephano forced a smile on his face, and Elliana smiled.
"Mr. Stephano," She extended her hand, and Stephano looked at his grandpa.
He had the strongest urge to twist her hand for insulting him like that earlier, but he knew he couldn't do anything like that, and thus, extended his hand before taking hers.
However, as soon as her soft skin came into contact with his, he raised his brows at the warm feeling he felt traveling to his body. It was like basking in the sunlight. Her vibes were full of positivity, and he felt some of that.
What kind of power is this?
He found himself getting lost in her ocean-like eyes for a few seconds.
"I hope I haven't offended you," Elliana smiled, and Stephano shook his head in a daze.
"Not at all. A beauty like you deserves to rule the world at her fingertips. It's indeed a pleasure meeting you. I like you already," Stephano's gaze flickered to Sebastian, whose jaws were clenched, but it was hard to decipher because of the mask.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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