Chapitre 13: The tension between them
He couldn't understand her reasons now. It almost looked like she was mad at him. Or maybe she is, since he couldn't earn the glory. He also noticed that the other people were praising him for his handsome looks.
Many noble ladies were blushing seeing his handsome appearance. Although the other nobles were still hostile, Duke Deluah seemed pleased by the way the match ended.
"It wasn't my complete defeat. But it wasn't a win either. If I wish to win, I need to go a long way. I was lucky enough to survive that long just based on my reading experience."
"But the experts of swords must have noticed my gap. Her majesty might ignore it knowing that I didn't practise for a long time but I might not hide this for long." Eric thought as he concentrated on the festival.
As the first part of the festival ended, they went inside the palace to rest in their rooms to get change for the second part. As they went into the hallway of their rooms the maids left them alone.
They were coming from the north side of the castle to the south side of the castle where their bed chamber was.
So Eric's chamber came first. As Eric's chamber came into view, he slowed to a stop, his eyes fixed on the threshold. He turned to Nashia, his face set in a courteous smile.
"We've reached my chamber, then I'll bid farewell first," he said, his voice low and smooth. He ended his words with a polite bow.
Nashia's gaze bored in his gaze for a moment before she spoke up. "Hold on. Before you go," she spoke with a mystery hugging her voice.
Eric halted in his heels. He turned back to her and just stood there with a curious yet wary expression.
"I have something to make sure." She added as her cold gaze made eye contact with him. She took slow and steady but heavy steps toward him.
The atmosphere was getting heavy with the cold aura of her. His feet moved back in sync. Until his back hit the wall and there was nowhere left to back off.
He slowly looked down to her eyes as she stood before him with a cold expression. Her hand slowly slipped into his chest and creeped up toward his heart clutching his shirt lightly but tight enough to make him hiss in surprise and chest pain.
"You got hurt during the match, didn't you?"
Eric's eyes searched for an escape as he had a bad feeling about it. However, he didn't dare to move anywhere. Because he doesn't want to face her rage.
He really feels like a coward now but there is nothing to do. A normal human can never match a vampire's power. Let alone a sick person like him.
He tried to keep in check his composure but couldn't. Still, he decided to speak up with a careful tone.
"Yes, that's true. It's just a minor injury. But you don't need to worry, I'm fine now. I don't want to annoy you with this little matter.,"
he blurted. His words tumbling out in desperation to reassure her of his well being to keep his secret hidden.
He tried to stay composed and stern but couldn't ignore the rising pain in his chest with every heartbeat.
His mind also tried to swipe away the feelings of Nashia's hand close to his chest. He doesn't want to let his secret get out in this way.
He forced himself to focus on maintaining his calm exterior, not wanting to reveal his true state of distress. Which got harder by the every tick of the clock. Nashia's cold reaction was unyielding. Her eyes were fixed on his eyes with a piercing gaze.
"Why? So, you can play the victim that I didn't even take care of my own consort?" Nashia spoke without moving an inch.
"I didn't mean that," he stammered, his voice like a whisper. "I just didn't want to burden you with this silly reason."
Eric tried to clean the mess as she was misunderstanding his intentions. Her cold glare pierced through him. Her voice was coated with venom.
"Shut Up! I warned you! I told you not to fight with him, and yet you insisted on being a fool! You stayed still when that blow hit you…"
"Who do you think you are? You're my husband, and if anyone can harm you, it's me... not some mere knight!"
Nashia's voice echoed through the empty hallroom. Her icy tone sends shivers down to Eric's spine.
"I wanted to tear apart Valoric right there when I saw you coughing out blood. How can you be that stupid to accept a duel when you know he is stronger than you?"
She barked in disdain. Clearly annoyed by the outcome. She didn't like it at all.
"How funny of you, a human who didn't practise for once in these 8 months to hold a chance against a trained vampire knight like Valoric?"
Her words stung in his heart sharply. He felt like drowning in her wrath, in her rage. Unable to escape the upcoming storm. His heart thumped louder. His heart sent shivers as his pains rose.
"Don't do things that will bring shame to the imperial family. How shameful it was to see an imperial family member to be cornered like that by a mere knight!"
She was furious about the current situation. Not letting a word be spoken by Eric. He doesn't know what it is. Is it true anger? Jealousy? Obsessity?
"He might have lost badly against me but he was the one who kept a heavy pressure on your empire's knights in the war."
"Valoric didn't become an imperial commander just by showing his face! If I hadn't interfered at that time, you would have been a cooked meat by now."
Nashia's eyes blazed with fury. Her hand was still pressed against his chest. Her fingers curled tightly against his coat. Her knuckles are going white.
To Be Continued!
Agnes Sara
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone