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5.6% Bride To His Darkness / Chapter 21: Finding A Suitable Spouse

Capítulo 21: Finding A Suitable Spouse

Ivan gingerly made his way to the chamber where he knew he'd find his Grandmother. With the weather calm and no clouds above to obstruct the blue sky, his Grandmother would probably be having a cup of tea in her purple chamber that was specifically made for cool occasions like this.

His footfalls on the polished marble floor alerted the working servants of his presence, and those who were too afraid to stand in the presence of his Highness would find somewhere to hide until he was out of sight. The brave ones already had their heads bowed respectfully as he walked past them, but Ivan's eyes barely noticed their countenance.

Two guardsmen who were stationed at the front of the purple chamber, immediately opened the door at the sight of Lord Ivan approaching them, and they bowed their heads deeply in greeting.

When he walked in, the door closed behind him.

Stepping into the spacious chamber, Ivan's senses were hit with the aroma of fresh brewed tea and the scent of flowers. His footsteps tapping on the glistening marble tiles stopped when he caught sight of his lovely Grandmother.

Sitting at the tea table, his Grandmother looked as graceful and exquisite as the room itself. She wore a mauve silk dress that elegantly draped over her small frame, and a string of pearls nestled around her neck. Her silver hair was pulled neatly into a bun, and her piercing blue eyes sparkled as she looked up and saw her Grandson.

"More than two minutes at the dot." He heard her say.

A servant was busy pouring tea into a dainty porcelain cup for the Queen Mother, and she quietly retreated when Ivan stepped forward to join his Grandmother in the extra chair that was placed opposite where she sat.

"Grandmother." Was his own curt way of greeting her whenever he saw her, and his Grandmother took a sip from her cup of tea before setting it down gently on the saucer.

The purple chamber was regally decorated with elegant damask curtains draping against the walls. The spacious room was illuminated by a dazzling chandelier hanging from the ceiling, it casted a warm, Golden light throughout the room, and although Ivan already predicted finding his Mother in this typical arrangement, he wondered why she wasn't enjoying the view of the sky today.

"You sent for me." He leaned back against the chair, watching his Grandmother and waiting for her to start the conversation he was sure would lead to their usual argument.

"I did, but before we begin, do I have to remind you to change those eyes when speaking with me? We've spoken about this each time we meet and it's starting to turn into a habit I don't fancy." His Grandmother clearly stated, and all it took was a blink of an eye for Ivan's Vampire eyes to retract, and orbs as blue as the ones his Grandmother possessed filled in.

"Now I know my Grandson." A thin smile graced her lips, knowing she was looking into the human eyes of her son, and not the ones that reminded her of the devil he had grown to be.

"My time is limited, Grandmother, I have things to do. Can we begin this conversation?" Ivan, who was slowly starting to get impatient, pushed himself up and took one of the cookies that rested on a plate on the table, and his Grandmother shook her head at his behavior with a sigh.

"Well if you insist, then I shall start." She straightened up. "Earlier today, I met with the Herald after he had a meeting with Abdiel, and we had a brief discussion concerning why you haven't been made King yet." Grandmother Abrielle stated to Ivan who met his Grandmother's fixed gaze, and the cookie he was about to eat stopped mid-air like her words had left him frozen.

"Why did you hide it from me?" Grandmother Abrielle questioned him with her brows knitting into a frown.

"I never hid it." Ivan defended, but his Grandmother wasn't going to let his reaction fool her.

"Without the mystic orb, you can't be crowned King, Ivan." Grandmother Abrielle reminded Ivan who secretly rolled his eyes. "Don't forget, I am your Grandmother and nothing gets past me in the Palace. Your late Father was crowned King when he turned Twenty-three, you're twenty-five and still not bothered about how this could reflect on your image?"

"My image wasn't the one who stole the mystic orb, Grandmother." Ivan coolly remarked, "I love you, but I won't take any form of pressure from you."

"It is not about the pressure." She asserted back, her tone serious. "You know exactly where I'm heading with this and I speak because it is for your own good. Last night, I kept dreaming about the havoc that will incur EmptyHollow if you do not become King. There was unending chaos everywhere, I saw destruction, and most importantly, I saw you dead, Ivan."

A flicker of worry reached her blue eyes, and she took another sip from her cup of tea before releasing a deep breath. "I am bothered. Abdiel has impacted too many dark thoughts on your head, all in the name of making you strong, and it is distracting you from your duties."

Grandmother Abrielle didn't hide her discomfort. She only wished Ivan was as obedient as her other grandsons when it came to listening to her command. The Mystic Orb was the life source of GreenHollow before it got stolen, and that dreadful night was still a reminder of how GreenHollow became what it is today.

It also marks the death of her first son, the King, who was said to have been killed by the Human that worked under him.

Because of the absence of the mystic orb, not only did her lovely empire get dominated by darkness, but her beloved grandson was strongly affected.

"I think it is best if you stop hunting down what cannot be found and look for a bride that would fill in the void." Grandmother Abrielle thoughtfully suggested, a topic Ivan despised. "I will speak with Abdiel to invite all the beautiful princesses from each powerful Kingdom so you can meet with them and settle down with someone you like. That way, you can still be crowned King without the need for the mystic orb."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Well as the saying goes, if you can't get what you want, follow the alternative. I don't want to see you dead, I can't afford to lose any of my children, so I might as well act fast." She harrumphed and took another sip of her hot steaming tea, "It is much better than Abdiel's illicit idea of making you strong."

"But it did make me strong." Ivan spoke up in his uncle's favor, "I learnt how to stop crying after being surrounded by cold eyes, Grandmother. I no longer understand what it feels like to forgive and forget when I can literally fuck both."

"Language."

Ivan clicked his tongue and smiled at his Grandmother. "You didn't raise a fool, Grandmother, a psychotic cold-hearted bastard? Yes, but not a fool."

"I see, then I shall send Gustav to fix another therapy session for you. You're too handsome and young to be a mad man."

"Anything for you Grandmother, but I have to leave you to your tea." Rising from his chair, he took a few strides to where she sat and dropped a kiss on her cheek before leaving.

At the same time, one of the Family's Lady-In-Waiting walked in, and she bowed to Ivan who returned her greeting with a Curt nod before exiting through the door. Making her way towards Grandmother Abrielle, she smiled warmly and bowed her head once again.

"That boy needs to get his attitude checked, I didn't tell him to leave and he just…" Grandmother Abrielle sighed deeply before looking at Agathe who let out a soft chuckle.

"Let him be, Queen Mother," Agathe took the seat where Ivan sat. She motioned for the servant who followed her in to pour her some tea as well before saying, "he's busy as it is, and I heard from my son that something important came up from the other region, and it demands their attention."

"What could it be this time?"

"Alistair didn't say much, but I know it has something to do with those nosy witches again." Agathe scrunched her face in spite before taking a sip from her tea. "Anyway, the weather is so lovely today, yet you look solemn, Queen Mother, is there an issue?"

"My issue can't be more comprehensive than Ivan. Do you know he uses unacceptable language in front of me?" Grandmother Abrielle huffed and ate one cookie from the plate.

"No more." Agathe heard the Queen Mother say to herself, "when your husband returns, tell him to come find me. It's been a while since we hosted a small celebration in the Palace, and it's only been a week since Ivan took over one of the Kingdoms in Hisian. We shall hold a celebration, that will be the best way for Ivan to interact and find a suitable spouse who will support him."

"As you wish, Queen Mother." Agathe responded with a slight nod. They said nothing more and quietly enjoyed their tea.


Capítulo 22: A Dangerous Wish

In Ivan's room, Samantha still had trouble freeing her hand from the handcuffs Ivan had put around her wrist. She couldn't tell if the people in this Palace were deaf to not hear her screaming out for help, or what if they did hear and are ignoring a poor lady in distress?

Even if she wanted to escape, why would she decide to flee when the sun is still high above the sky? She might be desperate, but that doesn't mean she wasn't observant

"Not only the prince, but everyone in this Palace has gone mad." She muttered with slight irritation. Looking at the handcuffs that bound her wrist to the bedpost, Samantha knew of another improvised method that would assist her in freeing her hand from the handcuffs, the only problem was, she couldn't find any pins around, not even a hairpin.

"Isn't he a prince? He should have tons of women visiting his room, should he not?" Samantha silently thought to herself, knowing the royal Palace had a set of women they referred to as the royal concubines of the Palace. "There's got to be a hairpin somewhere."

It was already sunset when Samantha finally gave up, knowing she couldn't escape from the cuffs without the keys, and unfortunately, the key is with her kidnapper. Tired from all her fruitless attempts, she sunk her head back onto the pillow, her eyes were fixed on the high ceiling, and then it shifted to study his room that was painted black.

So this is what a Prince's room looks like?

As much as she hated to admit it, Samantha couldn't deny that she was fascinated by the decor of his room. The darkness of the wall seemed to create a sense of mystery and intrigue that was hard to resist. With her eyes observing each corner, a sense of envy overtook her gaze on how perfectly everything seemed to fit together.

He lived a good life.

Despite trying to keep her thoughts occupied with the intricate decor, Samantha felt out of place in her simple straight gown. The silky ivory fabric was breezy, and it hugged her curves in all the right places. Just looking at the dress made her feel even more disgusted, knowing it was Ivan who bathed and changed her dress.

He could have waited for her to wake up and let her do the bathing herself, but…. But he chose to bathe her instead. He must have seen every part of her, and he must have scrubbed every….!!!!....

Samantha's face burned with pure irritation and amazement, she wanted to take another bath so she could erase his every touch from her body. Fortunately, a knock on the door saved her from her uncanny thoughts, and it jolted her attention to who it might be.

For a second, she expected Lord Ivan to walk in since it had been long since he stepped out, but instead, it was one of the palace servants who opened the door and stepped in, holding a silver tray.

Samantha subconsciously blinked at the tan-skinned lady who stood at the entrance of the door. For a second, she wanted to stare in awe, but stopped herself since the maiden would find her stare suspicious, or probably offensive, but in truth, she was admiring the servant.

The servant had a warm brownish complexion that glowed like the Mediterranean sun in midsummer, and Samantha couldn't help but envy it. Her bronzed skin looked smooth and supple, adorned with a faint blush that accentuated her cheekbones.

Samantha's gaze naturally shifted to her thick, wavy, jet-black hair that cascaded down her back in luscious waves. And those almond shaped eyes that looked dark and mysterious, twinkled with intelligence and grace. Her full lips were tinged with natural pinkness that would invite any man to lose themselves in it, and Samantha had to admit that this servant looked more beautiful than her.

"You're the new blood servant, right?" The servant lady asked in a tone that sounded mature and developed, and all Samantha could do was nod her head in return.

"I was ordered to bring this to you." The servant moved to the side of the bed, dropping the silver tray on the table. Her gaze shifted to Samantha's handcuffed wrist, and she let out a hum.

"So it is true."

"Hmm?" Samantha was seemingly lost when she heard the servant murmuring to herself, and to her quick surprise, the servant suddenly grabbed one of the chairs and sat close to her.

"Tell me, how did you do it?" She asked with a hint of curiosity laced to her tone. Samantha didn't respond as she continued to study the servant. Except for her unhinged curiosity, there was nothing in her gaze or actions that proved she would be a threat to her, but before Samantha could open her mouth to respond, the servant suddenly apologized.

"Oh forgive me, I must have startled you." She said as though she just understood Samantha's silent reaction. "It is an annoying habit of mine that I'm trying to control. Shall we start all over? Hi, I'm Lucienne, but you can call me Lucy for short, uhm… What is your name?"

Lucy's polite and friendly tone made Samantha's nerves relax a little bit, and Samantha stared at her outstretched hand for a blinking second before receiving her handshake.

"Samantha."

"Lovely name!" Lucy genuinely complimented. "I'll call you Sam for short. So tell me, how are you feeling now? Your appearance was just pitiful when Lord Ivan ordered me to come clean you up the minute you passed out. Your temperature was burning and you had a slight fever, I…."

"Wait, you're the one who cleaned me up?" Out of all the things Lucy kept blabbering, Samantha's ears could only grasp that part, and to her greatest relief, the servant responded with a nod of her head.

"Yes, I was the one who bathed and clothed you. Lord Ivan made it clear he wanted to see your skin sparkle, and I had to take my time in taking care of you to keep my head." As much as she made it sound like a joke, it wasn't a joke.

Lucy didn't know why, but Samantha's display of relief had her creasing her brows dubiously, but it was not in her place to ask the new lady what she was thinking about.

"Thank you….." Samantha said, regardless of her confusion to why Ivan would give out such an order. "....for helping me get dressed."

"Not a problem honey, with all that gotten rid off, you are actually a fine lady. Get some rest, and be sure to eat this before he returns." She motioned to the tray of delicious food she had brought for Samantha. "Do you want to ask me something?"

Lucy prompted when she noticed a slight hesitation in Samantha's body movement. She knew the new lady had words hanging on her lips but was reluctant to say. It was natural, they barely knew each other and one has to be cautious of the things that leave their mouth.

"Where…. Where is Lord Ivan?" Samantha asked the nice servant who had kept her lonely self company.

"By this time of the day, he should be in the royal study along with the rest of the Prince's. He normally leaves close to Midnight if he's too occupied, duties of being the crowned prince and all." She emphasized before her gaze turned quizzical, "why do you ask?"

"Is… Is there a way to leave the Palace without getting caught?" Samantha whispered to the servant who seemed lost. When the servant didn't understand, Samantha chose to elaborate in a hushed tone. "I mean, is it possible to escape from the Palace?"

"You want to escape?" Lucy's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, then she shook her head at the idea. "Do not think about it, leaving these palace walls is like expecting hell to turn cold overnight. It's heavily guarded and impossible."

"But I don't want to stay here." Samantha desperately replied, "he chained me here against my will so I wouldn't flee, but I have a younger brother that I need to find and he won't let me go." She briefly explained her situation to Lucy who understood her point to some extent.

"I'm afraid your wish is a dangerous one. You can't leave the Palace walls, the only way out of here is if you're sent on an errand that is outside the Palace vicinity, and even then, your chances of escaping are still fifty-fifty." Lucy explained despondently, a bit sad she couldn't assist Sam in her time of need. "I'm not trying to sway you from finding your brother, but a lot of servants also had plans of escaping from these dangerous walls, but they never stepped out alive, so you need to be more cautious of your surroundings first before taking such extreme measures."

As dejected as Samantha turned out to be by the news, she smiled appreciatively at Lucy who didn't hesitate to give her the information she needed.

"You'll adapt to the life of the Palace, Lord Ivan isn't always around 24/7, so you won't encounter too much of him." Lucy said in an attempt to ease Samantha. "I have other things to attend to, I better go before the head maid or the Gentleman usher finds out I'm not in my duty post."

She rose from her chair, "please eat the meal as well, I hope to see you around." She bid Samantha goodbye before exiting the room.


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