A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 373: What Is It?

Chapter 373: What Is It?

Avelina blinked rapidly, wondering why he’d suddenly asked such a thing.

"Why do you ask? Did something happen? Is something wrong?"

Draven shook his head at her. "No, nothing is wrong. I just feel quite guilty for what I’ve done to you, and I really want to make sure that you do not hold any grudges against me for it. If you are angry, then I will try to make up for it and atone in any way you may want me—"

"Draven!" Avelina palmed his face, gazing intently into his eyes. "Grudge? Why would I ever hold a grudge against you? Even if I did, I would tell you, and I wouldn’t let you touch me."

"Yes, I was angry at first, but that is only because I hadn’t processed the situation properly. I am not mad at you, not anymore. And I don’t mind at all that this is who I am now. I mean, if you didn’t turn me into this, I wouldn’t be alive right now."

She chuckled softly. "Perhaps I might have been angry if you turned me to keep me alive only to continue hurting me. But it’s the total opposite. You gave me what I’ve always wanted—your love, yourself, and everything else, so what more could I ask for?"

"This is all that makes me happy, and it’s all that I’ve always wanted. So no, I don’t care that I’m like this. I love you, and that’s all that matters." She shrugged, proudly tilting her head up. "Besides, now that I am a half vampire, I can live longer too, right?"

"Yes." Draven nodded at her.

Avelina smiled widely at him. "Don’t you know what that means?" She leaned in, brushing her plump lips against his. "I won’t be aging so soon, and I will be with you for a really long time. We would be together...always." She brushed her fingers against his hair.

Draven stared at her with a tilted head, and his lips gradually curled into a smile. "You are right, sunshine." He tucked her hair behind her ear, patting her head.

"Do you think we can return to the royal mansion today?" he asked.

Avelina’s expression immediately fell, and she drew her head back, hinting at her disagreement. "I don’t really want to go back there."

Draven cackled softly. "I know you don’t, but I’d like to check up on Valentine."

"Valentine?" Avelina was confused. "Is something wrong?"

Draven responded sincerely, "I’m not sure, but I think something is wrong." He looked at her, half smiling. "We’ll go back, and after I make sure that everything is okay, we can come back if you want and return later. How’s that?"

Avelina thoughtfully hummed before finally agreeing, her face grimacing. "Fine. I guess I should get ready to see their awful faces again."

"You’re so adorable." Draven nodded, playfully ruffling her hair. He stood up to his feet and walked into the closet to pick out good clothing for her.

—

Valentine finally awoke from his sleep. He stared at the ceiling, trying to process how he felt at that moment. The entirety of his body felt weak, and he wasn’t even sure if he could sit up on the bed.

"You are awake!" Lumian, who was seated on the chair a bit close to the bed, stood up with a relieved expression.

Valentine turned his head, glancing at him. "You...you are still here?"

"Of course I am!" Lumian glared at him. "Did you think I was going to leave you here by the time you woke up?"

Valentine rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Lumian approached the bed and sat down at the edge of it. He stared at Valentine, not saying a word.

"What?" Valentine frowned at him.

Lumian extended his hand, touching his forehead. He said, "If you are talking like this, then you must feel better."

"I do," Valentine confirmed.

"I can see that." Lumian nodded. "Your temperature has cooled down too."

Valentine stared at him for a few moments before murmuring grudgingly, "Thank you for helping and staying."

Lumian gave him a surprised glance. He flickered his eyes, responding. "You’re welcome. I did what I could do."

He stood up from the bed, ready to leave. "I think Draven is coming back. Perhaps for you."

"Huh?" Valentine was confused.

Lumian continued, "He called, and I answered. He sounded quite worried."

Valentine blew his eyes wide, immediately sitting up on the bed. "Did you tell him? Did you fucking tell him, Lu—"

"No, I didn’t. Calm down! I don’t know why he sounded worried, but I didn’t say a word to him." Lumian glared at him, shoving his hands into the pocket of his pants.

He glanced at him from over his shoulders. "Take better care of yourself, Val. I will try to find a cure or something, perhaps anyone who can help you. So hold on till then."

"Don’t do that." Valentine brushed his fingers through his hair. "It has nothing to do with you. I don’t want to owe you."

"Sometimes, I have the urge to strangle you!" Lumian was nettled.

"Did I ever say you were going to owe me? I would never do this for anyone else. I am only doing this because it’s you. I am not so heartless nor stupid to watch my younger brother die, knowing there are chances that I can help and save him." He took a deep breath and turned around, walking out of the room. He slammed the door shut behind him.

Valentine could only stare at the door, his face scrunched with emotions he couldn’t quite understand.

He rested his back against the headboard and threw his head back in exhaustion. Blood—he needed blood.

—-

Amidst the ride back home, Avelina sat, her gaze fixed on the road ahead of them. She fidgeted with the apple in her hand, her mind completely elsewhere.

Draven glanced at her, able to tell that something was wrong. He asked, "Avelina, what is the problem? Are you alright?"

Avelina glanced at him and smiled. "I am. But I am just worried about something."

"What is it?" Draven inquired.