A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 222: You Are...Cold

Chapter 222: You Are...Cold

Draven was very honest with his words. "Because it is not something you would like to know,"

"Also, I do not want to say. I cannot bring myself to tell you, so I would rather you not ask."

Avelina could only stand and stare at him. She wanted to know, but since he had said it was best not to ask, she did not see a reason to probe any further.

"Listen to me, Avelina..." Draven smiled at her, although the smile did not reach his eyes like it normally would. "...I will not leave you. I’ll keep my distance, but I’ll always be within your reach so that when you extend your hand for me, I will be there to grab it. So do not worry, alright?"

Avelina’s hands shook vigorously, and she could swear she felt like her heart was pierced by hundreds of needles.

She swallowed and lowered her head to look at the floor. "Yes." She nodded at him, yet to raise her head. The bubbles of tears in her eyes had been broken by those words he said to her, but she was not willing to let him see her cry.

She knew he would ask why. And if she didn’t tell him, he would keep pressing until he found out. As it is, she had no explanation to give him, so all she could do was hide the bizarre pain she was feeling deep within her soul.

"Avelina..." Draven called her name.

Avelina quickly wiped off the lines of tears on her face and raised her head to look at him. She offered him a charming smile, belying her true emotions.

"Do you want a hug before I finally give you the distance you want?" Draven inquired.

His gleaming eyes held nothing but pure, genuine concern.

Avelina slowly batted her lashes. "H-hug?"

"Mhm. I figured you do like hugging me. So I thought you would like it if I gave you one. Although, if you do not want that, let me—" Draven’s words were yet to be completed when Avelina broke the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him.

Glad he asked! Because this was indeed what she wanted most at the moment. To be in the sudden comfort of the one man putting her through this roller coaster of confusion and emotions—the one man who was effortlessly causing her heart to pound so loudly in her chest.

Draven’s eyes widened in a bit of surprise, and he slowly lowered his head to look at her. For reasons he could not fathom, he felt that something he had no idea about was going on.

He could tell she was not okay, but he also knew that no matter how many times he queried, she would not be willing to tell him, and that indeed did not make him the least happy.

The little emotions he fortunately had—she protected as though they were bubbles, but why won’t she let him do the same? Could it be because he had little to no comprehension of emotions?

Draven let out a soft breath. He gently began to stroke her hair before wrapping his arms around her, embracing her warmly.

"You are...cold," Avelina abruptly said.

Draven smiled, amused. "I am always cold, Avelina, you know that. It is the way we are. We do not feel warm like humans do, and that is perhaps why I tend to seek your warmth at times." His gaze looked distant.

Avelina lifted her head, glancing at him. "I know that you are always cold, but... you are unusually a bit colder today."

"Oh..." Draven lowered his eyes to look at her. "Is that so?"

Avelina nodded. "Yes."

"Ahh, perhaps it is the weather." Draven glanced at the window to look at the sky, which had changed an hour ago as though it were about to rain. He cupped Avelina’s cheeks in his palms and tilted her head, slowly pressing his forehead against hers.

"Are you able to confirm properly now if I am too cold?" he asked.

Avelina’s heart pounded loudly in her ears. Their faces were so close that they could feel each other’s warm breath. It would only take a single movement closer for their lips to press against each other.

Avelina could not even look him in the eye. She was swallowing, her gaze fixed on his lips. She knew—she knew all it took was just an inch closer. But she would never dare, and Draven, on the other hand, would not dare either.

They could only stare into each other’s eyes.

Avelina smiled and nodded her head. "Y-yes, I can c-c-confirm. You are indeed much colder than normal."

"Oh..." Draven let go of her. "I see." He took a step back from her. "It is the weather, I guess."

He took a long, deep breath and rested his arms behind his back. "I shall leave now, Avelina. I must sleep." With that being said, he turned around to leave the room.

Avelina could only stare. She wanted to call him back, but she could not. This was for the best—so she believed. But was it?

She was not happy, so...was this worth it? Avelina buried her face in her palms and fell to her knees the second Draven shut the door.

She had lost her breath right there and had even forgotten how to breathe. This much he did to her.

——-

Lancelot left the royal mansion with a few of the royal guards following. They drove off, heading toward a certain destination.

This place was none other than Ceicei’s home. As soon as they arrived, Lancelot was the first to get down.

He glanced at each of the royal guards that came with him, ordering them to besiege the house.

Without any hesitation, the royal guards marched forward, surrounding the house. Lancelot approached the house, and without even bothering to knock, he kicked down the door and watched as it slammed onto the floor with a heavy thud.