A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 298: Promise Me

Chapter 298: Promise Me

Avelina once again glanced at Valentine and averted her gaze with a smile. Draven, who was staring at her, exhaled.

He suddenly asked, with his hand reaching out, "Do you want to dance with me?"

"Ye?" Avelina surprisingly lifted her eyes to look at him. She glimpsed his extended hand and diverted her gaze to his face. She took a moment before gradually nodding.

"I love to."

Draven stood up from his chair and walked over to stand beside her. He pulled her up from the chair and helped her out of the furry coat.

"Will you feel too cold?" he inquired.

Avelina shook her head. "Not at all. It is warm out here. Perhaps it might be due to the light bulbs."

Draven tucked the strands of hair that dropped below her forehead to her nose, behind her ear. He proceeded to walk her to the center of the yard, but Avelina stopped him.

She asked, "Do you mind taking your glasses off?"

"May I ask why?" Draven appeared confused.

Avelina replied, "I’d love to look into your eyes, Draven, not through your glasses."

"Oh...?" Draven softly parted his lips, at a sudden loss for words. That was the least he’d expected from her, considering how unpleasant his eyes were. He took a deep breath and removed his glasses.

"If you like it better this way, then I have no reason to wear it." He walked her to the middle of the yard and turned around to stand opposite her.

He gently took hold of her hand with an inviting smile. Accepting his invitation, Avelina tightened her delicate grip on his hand, interlocking her slender fingers with his.

Slowly, but steadily, they began to dance, gracefully moving in a waltz-like fashion, twirling and spinning with elegance. Their steps were almost perfectly synchronized, as though they had done this before even coming to the date.

Each movement was guided by the gentle touch of Draven’s fingertips against her back.

From afar, Loui watched with his comrades, a smile brimming on their faces.

"Oh mon dieu, they are so perfect!" Ava could not help but utter in awe.

Lucien nodded, agreeing with her. "They are definitely made for each other."

Pierre chuckled to himself. "It looks like everything is going according to plan. We’ve done our best, now it’s up to fate to do its course."

Loui and Olive nodded, concurring. "All we have to do is wait," Loui said, his eyes never averting from the scenario before him.

Avelina’s dress flew in a circle with the wind as she took several twirls. They glided across the bed of flowers, and their surroundings seemed to blur into a whirl of romanticism, where it was just the both of them who existed. The fireflies added to the touch and aesthetic of that moment.

Draven’s eyes, which reflected her silhouette, never left her, as though he could get lost in her gaze.

It appeared to be the same on Avelina’s end, because with each movement, her pearl-like eyes turned softer and softer, as if she were adoring the man who held her in his arms, giving her the experience of a fairytale that she’d never thought would one day come true. A fairytale that had once been a dream and nothing else.

With each gentle dip, twirl, and turn, Draven tightened his grip on her waist and abruptly pulled her into a deep hug, momentarily stopping their dance. He could not seem to care less that the music was still ongoing.

Avelina stood in his embrace, confused. Why? Was there a problem?

"Avelina..." Draven spoke her name, almost in a whisper. It was too gentle.

"Mhm?" Avelina wrapped her arms around his neck.

Draven exhaled against her shoulder. He said, apologizing, "I’m sorry. I really am."

"Sorry?" Avelina appeared very bewildered. "May I ask what it is that you are sorry about?"

"Everything," Draven responded.

"I know that I’ve been messing up quite a lot these few days, and I’ve not gotten the chance to properly apologize to you. I do hope you can forgive me and perhaps stop being mad at me."

"Mad...at you?" Avelina fluttered her lashes. "I was...mad, initially, but not anymore, Draven. I could never be mad at you for too long." She laughed.

Draven pulled back to look at her face. "Really?"

Avelina nodded at him.

"Of course." She seemed amused.

"Then, does that mean that we are alright now? No more distance and angry faces?" Draven asked.

Avelina gave a nod. "Yes. No more distance and angry faces."

"Promise me then." Draven brought out his pinky.

This caused Avelina to raise her brow in surprise. She’d never thought he would apply the pinky promise she taught him.

She couldn’t help but smile widely, almost bursting into laughter. She brought out her pinky and interlocked it with his. "I promise. No more distance, and no more angry faces. Although, it depends, haha."

"Well, that’s alright with me." Draven patted her head and cupped her cheek in his palms. He leaned in, kissing the tip of her nose.

Again, Avelina felt that tingling feeling. It caused her belly to flutter at the warmth and gentleness of his lips against the tip of her nose.

Draven playfully poked her cheek and grabbed her hand. "I am—"

The sky suddenly rumbled, causing the both of them to quickly raise their heads to look at the fading light of the moon. Drops of rain began to fall on their faces, and Draven immediately frowned.

"I thought it was not going to rain today!" He was immediately annoyed and baffled.

Avelina, on the other hand, could not seem to care less. All she did was spread her arms and wholeheartedly allow the drops of rain to fall on her.

"Avelina..." Draven turned his attention to her. "I am so sorry."

"For what?" Avelina asked, her gaze still fixated on the sky.

"Well, this was not what I planned or how I wanted it to go. I had no idea it was going to rain. This was out of my control." Draven mockingly laughed at himself.

"I couldn’t even make this one night good enough for you. I had no control over the weather. I always mess everything up for you."

"It is better, Draven!" Avelina chortled, seeming happy. "This was better than what I dreamed of and wanted. It was unexpected but perfect!"

She finally looked at him.

Draven stared at her, his lips slightly parted. "Really?" He was starting to get drenched in the rain along with her.