Chương 16: Blood Or Wine

Lord Ivan Chevalier….. Although not many knew him by his appearance, only the sane ones would fear and cower the instant his name is mentioned. To put it simply, even those of the nobility knew when it was time to be wary of the dark prince, and if she hadn't met him in person, she would assume he was physically a beast.

Being the only heir apparent to his late Father's throne, Ivan Chevalier had only turned eighteen when he first led his Father's army into the battlefield and returned with pure victory. In the minds of some, he possessed the qualities of his Father and made tons of political success when it came to the empire, while to some, he was a typical replica of the devil.

Do not be deceived, the devil has always been beautiful! The heart was what made it ugly.

Lord Ivan was someone who would take pleasure in watching a whole town burn down in flames with plain satisfaction in those red orbs of his. He was someone who wouldn't offer help unless he felt like it, and most importantly, he was a gamer, someone who would play games at the cost of people's life and enjoy the torment, barely considering the consequences that came with it.

Samantha was well aware of the devil she was sitting with in the royal carriage, but unfortunately, she has no power, neither is she from any nobility to even gain the power to speak with him.

But did she care? That was the least of her worries.

The journey back to the palace was going to be a long ride. She had never seen or caught a glimpse of the Palace before, but she knew it had to be situated somewhere far from the South. This was enough proof that Samantha had never left home or journeyed far in her entire life.

Her Brother was just two-year-old when their Mother passed away due to an incurable ailment, and being the only girl in her Family, Samantha had to step up and do the best she could to support her Father - both physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Her Father was no longer needed in the palace since the late emperor lost his life, but Samantha knew it was just an excuse from the Supreme Court to keep her Father away from the palace and their political matters.

Her Father had a small growing farm behind their home, and when it was time to cultivate, she would assist her Father and sometimes, be the one to sell them off in the emporium. Due to the endless drought in EmptyHollow, her Father had his own secret method he used to keep their little farm fertile till it was time for harvest. Whenever she went to sell their farm produce to the neighboring villagers, she would take her younger brother with and even though life was never easy for them, they felt content with how they lived and never bothered anyone.

It felt that way until the Warlord greeted her home with accusations and death. Her world fell apart in just a night, and all because of the man sitting right beside her in a royal carriage.

She was suffering while he enjoyed the life of the world.

He was the villain in her story, and she was a weak victim. The only difference was, this would be based on her life story, and the winner in the end can't be predicted. It was either she dies, or he dies.

Maybe they'll both die, she'll be satisfied with this ending.

"If you think too much about killing me, I'm afraid you'll drain the last bit of your strength before you even begin. Here, drink with me, and let's have a normal chit-chat." Ivan, who could read her mind to a limit, uncrossed his long legs and handed Samantha a red-colored drink that looked darker from the glass cup.

The sight of it reminded her of the bloody scene he forced her to witness when he killed that man on top of her.

The images still gave her goosebumps.

Samantha's panda eyes looked at the beautiful man's silhouette. She couldn't tell or specifically make out what type of reaction to give him. Was it the audacity he had to offer her a drink after murdering her Father? Or was it how he had grabbed her neck and threatened her by using her younger brother?

'Go to fucking hell and die!!' she wanted to scream out to his face, she… she wanted to do anything or say anything that would hurt him. She wanted him to feel her pain, she needed him to feel it so he can explain to her how good it feels to be in her situation. She wanted to do so many things but all she could offer was a glare of disgust, her hate for him glimmering clearly in her irises

She failed to hide her desperation, and she knew stabbing him again would be fruitless since she already tried that method in the Brothel. Her body was practically itching to do something terrible to him.

"Take it." His voice made her gaze flicker to the drink in his outstretched hand. His calm demeanor was a contrast to the iciness in his tone, and Samantha wouldn't wish to infuriate him just yet, even though she was tempted to make that happen at all cost.

With weak shaky hands, she received the drink from him, and there was a bit of satisfaction in his eyes when she took the drink from him.

"Good girl, now drink it."

Samantha eyed him suspiciously for some seconds before returning her unconvinced gaze to the drink. Unsure of why she felt so reluctant in taking it, she raised the drink to her nose to perceive anything, but it was odorless. Shouldn't drinks be able to produce some kind of sweet scent??

What did he give her??

"What… what is this??" She dared to ask, meeting his eyes that gleamed with pure malice.

"Blood."

His direct response made Samantha flinch in shock, and she immediately dropped the cup, letting the red liquid spill on the ground. Her heart raced watching the extremely red liquid get absorbed by the rug in the carriage, and she looked at Ivan, whose brows knitted into a frown at her disobedience, obviously displeased.

"I'd take it that the carpet understands the word obedience more than you do." Turning to the small table that was fixed to the carriage, Ivan took another glass cup, and his next phrase dripped with a warning she couldn't ignore.

"You are my slave, Samantha, act like one. If you drop this glass, I won't be so lenient, and believe me when I say, you will lick the carpet dry."

With horrific eyes, Samantha watched him grab a golden-colored urn. Opening the lid, he poured more of the extremely dark-red liquid into another cup. He filled it to the brim, and Samantha could feel her heart fluctuate, silently wondering if he wanted her to finish all that.

"Specially made for you, my little lamb, do you know what it means for a prince to offer peasants a drink from their own hands? Do not test me."

"No!" Samantha didn't refrain from shaking her head, refusing to take it from him. Her refusal was one he never saw coming. "How can you possibly ask me to drink blood?! You aren't human but… don't be this vile!!"

"Vile? But I'm being so gentle and you're being hostile." He corrected in a calm tone that only infuriated her. "Little lamb, don't be wild, and drink."

"I'm not drinking it!"

"You will."

"I won't."

"Then let's do this the hard way, shall we?" Something cynical flashed in his red orbs, and the next minute, he had grabbed her arm, pulling her close to the end where he sat till her back came in contact with his chest. He moved so fast that Samantha failed to detect his actions, and only one of his hands had both her wrists trapped in its clutches.

"Don't touch me! You monster!" Samantha's thrashed and struggled to keep as much distance as she could from him, she hated their proximity, but he had her in his trap, one she didn't have the strength to escape from. The last time she ate was two days ago as punishment from Madame Cerise, and she might die any minute if she continued to fight with him like this.

"Little lamb, we're touching each other, that settles the Feud, now open that mouth and drink!" His commanding tone dropped darkly as he placed the cup to Samantha's lips, forcing her to drink the content.

The liquid followed each side of the corner of her lips, and when he noticed her unyielding resistance, he didn't like it. He pushed it further till her lips parted, and Samantha could no longer resist as it descended down her throat.

She was waiting to feel the awful taste, but to her biggest surprise, it tasted….

Sweet??

With her eyes wide open, she blinked in bafflement.

When he saw her she had stopped struggling, Ivan equally relaxed as he made sure she drank the content till the cup was empty.

"Was that so difficult?"

Samantha looked at him, dazed. "It's not…. Blood?"

"What gave you that impression?"

"You tricked me!" She gasped when he suddenly pushed himself forward, and he only stopped when her back rested at the other end of the carriage seat, his palm slamming against the wall by the side of her head.

"....!!!"