A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 123: Valentine?

Chapter 123: Valentine?

Adam quickly turned around. At the sight of Draven, who had an umbrella above his head, he bowed.

"Y-your Highness."

"Where has my brother gone off to?" Draven asked again.

Adam shook his head. "I don’t know. He didn’t tell me."

"I see." Draven nodded. "I’ll bring him back," he said and began to stroll towards his car. "

Adam gazed at him and heaved a deep sigh of relief.

—-

Slipping into his hoodie, Olive scratched his head as he walked to the balcony.

He stared at the bright sky and lit up his cigarette. He should be asleep, but for some reason—probably because he had drunk so much the past night, he could not seem to sleep.

A soft breath fled his nose, and he arched his brow the second he heard his doorbell ring.

Who could it be? Loui? He was confused. Who would be at his house at such a time?

"It better not be you, Loui!" he mumbled as he began to proceed towards the door.

He grabbed the handle, opened the door, and began to speak, "Hey, Loui, it’s really not cool of you to come—" His words, however, got stuck in his throat before they could be completed, at the sight of none other than Valentine, who stood with his head lowered.

Olive flickered his eyes. He tilted his head and looked at Valentine, just to be sure that he was actually seeing him and not someone else.

"Valentine?"

But Valentine did not respond.

This caused Olive to frown. What was going on? Why was he at his house, and why does he have this gloomy aura surrounding him?

"Hey, Valentine, um...what is wrong with—" He went silent the second Valentine wrapped his arms around him, hugging him.

Olive was stunned. He rapidly squinted his eyes and stared into empty space, quickly trying to process what was going on.

First of all, why did Valentine just hug him? What in the world was going on? He could not help but instantly become apprehensive.

He lowered his head and looked at him. He could feel his wet clothing and hair, letting him know that Valentine had probably come there in the rain. He was not even holding an umbrella.

"Valentine..."

"Olive, c-can I stay with you, just for a few days?" Valentine implored. He was sniffling, perplexing Olive.

"Huh?" Olive wrinkled his brows. "Why? Did something happen?"

He grabbed Valentine’s chin and lifted his head to have him look at him.

"Why are you even here this early in the morni...." He immediately went silent as his words faded.

Valentine was...sobbing. His eyes were dim, and he had eye bags as though he hadn’t slept for a while. Not just that, but he could immediately tell that he had been crying for a while, even before he came to his place. Was that why his hair looked so tousled, unlike his usual appearance? He honestly looked so messed up.

"Okay, what the hell happened to you?" Olive questioned.

Valentine, on the other hand, could not reply. He was rather covering his nose, not being able to stand the cigar in between Olive’s fingers.

"Gosh, talk of inconvenience!" Olive groaned and threw the cigar to the floor. He crushed it with his feet and grabbed Valentine’s hand, pulling him into the house. He shut the door.

Just outside the compound, a bit far, a familiar black car was packed.

"That’s quite surprising." The person inside the car was none other than Draven, who had intended to bring Valentine back.

He had actually thought that Valentine was going to a bar or something to get drunk, but this was not what he expected. He was very aware that Valentine had a more fragile heart compared to him.

He knew that no matter how hard Valentine tried, he could never endure their father’s abuse like he does without at least crying his eyes out. That was another difference between them.

Valentine may appear tough and jovial, but he was a different case on the inside. His attitude and mannerism often belied his true emotions, which is why he was weary of him in the family.

It was quite surprising for him to realize that he knew Olive. Since when? Draven couldn’t help but wonder. Why has Olive not told him yet? They must have been acquainted for a while now for Olive to let Valentine into his house, after all, he knew Olive a bit too much to be aware that what Olive hated the most was anyone stepping into his space.

That house was his space to the extent that not even Loui, Pierre, or the others were allowed to come.

Draven rubbed his temple and started the car.

He wasn’t doubting Olive, though. In reality, Olive was actually the one person he trusted the most, not even Loui, and there was a reason for that. Olive was not reckless at all except when driving. He was as careful as him, therefore, he was not willing to immediately judge.

He will simply wait for an explanation when Olive decides to give him one.

He took a turn and drove off to return to the royal mansion.

....

Olive stared at Valentine, who stood in front of him.

"What happened to your nose?" He touched his nose, but a hiss from Valentine had him retracting his hand.

He blinked furiously. "Did you break your nose?" He was well aware that if this was a simple injury, it should have healed. Broken bones were no joke.

Valentine averted his gaze from him.

Now, Olive was very sure that something had happened. Not to talk of the butler’s words over the phone last night.

He grabbed Olive’s hand and peered at the bandage wrapped around his knuckles to his elbow.

"Did you break your hand too? Seriously, what the hell happened? Did you fight with someone?" he probed.

Valentine snatched his hand from him. His head was lowered, and he was not saying a word. It was as if he had no idea how to explain.

Olive felt tired. He ran his fingers through his hair and sloped his head downward to look at Valentine’s face.

"Valentine, I don’t get it. First of all, I will ignore the fact that you came unannounced to my house. Secondly, if you are not even going to tell me what happened, then why are you here? Not to talk of your butler who scolded me over the phone last night, tsk! Brat!"