A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 261: Irritated?

Chapter 261: Irritated?

Avelina was quiet, and she didn’t break eye contact with Draven for a few seconds. Abruptly, she coughed, averting her gaze.

Draven tipped his head to his side, patiently waiting for her to speak. "Avelina, tell me what it is. Or...don’t you want to tell me any more?"

"Of course I do!" Avelina instantly faced him. She took deep breaths and balled her fists, mustering up the courage to speak. "Uh, well, what I wanted to talk to you about was, um, well...it was..."

"What?" Draven’s eyes were lit up with anticipation. She seemed nervous to say what it was, so he couldn’t help but be curious.

Avelina lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. She said, "I want us to stop being distant." Her voice was tender. "I don’t want it anymore." She shook her head.

Draven was taken aback by her words. He peered at her and shifted closer to her. "Why? Did something happen?"

Avelina looked at him and gulped, nervous. She shook her head, smiling. "No. I told you I was confused, right?"

"Yes, you did." Draven gave a nod.

Avelina’s smile widened. "Well, I have figured it out, and I am no longer confused. Listen, there is no need for us to distance ourselves because I am fine now."

"Are you...sure?" Draven raised his left brow, a bit skeptical.

"Mhm hm!" Avelina frantically nodded, her cheeks enlarging due to her beaming widely.

Draven’s eyes twinkled, and he couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement. "You look so adorable when you smile," he said, his red orbs admiring her.

"I do?" Avelina asked, seeming clueless.

"You do." Draven patted her head and caressed her hair. "I really like your plump cheeks. Soft!"

He palmed her cheeks and stared into her eyes. One could not tell what was going on in his mind.

Avelina peered at him as well. She thought he had something to say, but having stayed that way for up to fifteen seconds without uttering a word, she furrowed her brows. "Draven...? Is something wrong?"

Draven blinked. "No."

"Are you sure?" Avelina probed.

"I am." Draven nodded at her. "I just felt something, but I didn’t know what it was. That is all it is." He smiled softly.

"Tell me, what is it that you were confused about, and how have you figured it out?"

Avelina bit her lip, batting her lashes. She lowered her eyes to the floor and began to take deep breaths, starting to feel her heart thump.

She cannot tell him, at least not yet. Yes, she has figured it out, and she is aware that she loves him, but telling him now would be too fast for her.

She has yet to think it through or figure out who to choose. Her family or Draven? It was already a tough choice for her, which she would need a while to think through, so till then, she would have to keep her feelings locked in the closet. She cannot let him know yet.

She was also aware that he would not be able to reciprocate the feeling, considering he was not a man capable of emotions, but that was quite fine with her. As Aurora said, this man already treats her in a way much more than a man who even loves his wife would treat them.

She cannot ask for more...at least, not when it is impossible.

If he was capable of love, she would have sought more. But since he isn’t capable of such, she is quite alright with it. She loves him still. No matter how different he may appear, she loves him either way.

Avelina exhaled and raised her eyes to look at Draven. She shook her head. "It is nothing."

"You do not want to tell me?" Draven tilted his head, a look of disappointment appearing on his face.

Avelina smiled. "I do want to tell you, but I’d rather not."

"Ah...is that so?" Draven ran his fingers through his hair. He asked, "But will you tell me when you wish to?"

Avelina nodded, assuring. "Absolutely! I will."

Draven playfully ruffled her hair. He stood up to his feet and extended his hand out for her. "Come."

Avelina grabbed his hand and stood up to her feet.

"Why are you barefoot?" Draven could glimpse her pale, small feet.

Avelina lowered her head, looking at her feet. She responded, "Well, you wouldn’t want me wearing my shoes in."

"True," Draven affirmed. "But you could wear socks. Your feet could get irritated."

Avelina frowned. "Irritated? Urgh, I don’t like socks. They make my feet itch, which is very awful. I cannot!"

"Oh..." Draven abruptly grabbed her waist and lifted her, sitting her down on the nearest table.

Avelina squinted her lashes, baffled. "What are you doing?"

Draven did not respond. He simply squatted down and grabbed her right ankle. He touched her feet as though trying to examine something.

Avelina was perplexed. He stared at him, curious.

"Your feet are very pretty," Draven abruptly said.

"Huh?" Avelina appeared stunned.

"Mhm." Draven nodded his head. "You wear size thirty-eight, right?"

Avelina furrowed her brows. "How do you know that?"

Draven chuckled. "Well, I didn’t really know. I just assumed after the first night we met. I bought all your shoes, and since you didn’t complain about them being tight or maybe a bit oversized, I concluded I got the right size. So it is thirty-eight."

Avelina squinted her lashes.

"Draven, how do you notice little things so easily? I would never pay attention to someone’s shoe size."

Draven shrugged. "I don’t."

"You don’t?" Avelina was confused at this point. "Then how did you—"

"Avelina, I try to notice every little thing when it is you and only you. That is why I have a journal for you. I’d love to understand you better," Draven interrupted her.

"I would never do this for anyone else." He spoke without sparing her a glance. His gaze was fixed on her toes, which he was stretching. "You fascinate me—you did from the first moment I met you. I wanted to learn you, to understand and comprehend some of the things you say and do."