A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 382: Was She Living Fine?

Chapter 382: Was She Living Fine?

What exactly happened to him?

Valentine didn’t say a word but rather smiled in the most saddening way Draven had ever seen. His eyes looked like the ones of someone who’d already accepted life as it was or perhaps...about to die.

Draven jolted and quickly grabbed his hand. "Valentine! Are you dying? Is that it? W-w-what is going on? Did father do something to you?"

"Tell me! Say something to me! What is going on?!!" He was panicking heavily. The look in his eyes was something he’d seen a few times even in his mother. He was way too familiar with it not to recognize it.

Valentine chuckled softly and shook his head. "Of course not. I’m not a human. How could I die if I wasn’t killed? And no—" He shook his head. "—Father didn’t do anything to me. Don’t worry, I’m really fine. I just haven’t been feeling very fine lately, emotionally especially. But it will be over soon, I promise."

Draven stared intently at him. "You...you are not lying to me right?"

"No." Valentine beamed warmly. "I would never lie to you, brother. I’m perfectly fine."

"Valentine—"

"Will you stay with me?" Valentine asked.

"Huh?" Draven was a bit taken aback. "Stay...with you?"

"Mhm." Valentine nodded, smiling widely. "I feel alone and horrible and I dont have anyone to talk to. I haven’t been able to sleep properly either, so will you stay with me, just for a few hours?"

"Perhaps, I might just be able to catch some sleep."

Draven gazed at him for a few seconds and sighed softly. "Okay." He adjusted, sitting properly on the bed.

"Merci!" Valentine laughed heartily and moved over to lie down with his head laid on Draven’s lap. "Just this once? It might be my last time, haha."

Draven stared at him, his brow arching in confusion. "Last time? What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing." Valentine cackled, relaxing with his eyes half shut. He pulled the duvet over himself, shivering a little bit as if he was cold. "Draven..."

"What?" Draven answered.

"I’m really happy for you and I mean it," Valentine said. "I’m glad that you will no longer be alone and I’m also glad that you were able to fall in love and be with the person you truly love."

"You were really lonely and emotionless then, which made me really worried. So I hoped that something would happen and it seems like Avelina was the happening you needed." He smiled to himself.

"I’m a little jealous though."

"Of what?" Draven asked.

Valentine shrugged, exhaling cynically. "I never got to experience what love was like, not even for once, and I probably won’t...ever. I had once hoped that even if by a miracle, I would heal and be able to have a little family, just like you would, but...that doesn’t seem possible."

"You know, back then I thought, hmmm...I wasn’t alone. Draven hasn’t, so it’s not so lonely, but now, I am once again left behind." He laughed and took a deep breath. "My life is pathetic...isn’t it?"

Draven was quiet, not saying a word. His gaze was distant as if he was thinking and once he seemed to have broken out of that thought, he lowered his gaze to Valentine and gently began to stroke his hair.

"No, don’t say that."

Valentine was a bit stunned, thus he could only lie and stare into emptiness. This felt like when he was just five. He’d remembered leaving his rooms sometimes to stay with Draven and just like that, he would stroke his hair to calm him down. The royal mansion was more than a scary place back then.

He’d always felt like everyone was after him from every angle and Draven was the only safe space he had—the only arms that welcomed him with no intention to harm him.

Valentine cynically smiled, suddenly feeling like the little boy he used to be. He shut his eyes, melting into the feeling.

"It’s not your fault," Draven said to him. "Father hurt you and caused you pain, but...maybe you shouldn’t let it get to you anymore. I don’t exactly understand how you feel nor do I comprehend emotions properly, but I suppose you might just be able to gain closure if you let go..."

He wasn’t even very certain himself if that would work.

"You should be happy...just like you used to be...just like you always were." He sighed.

A few seconds passed, but no response came from Valentine. Draven quickly averted his gaze from the bright window to look at him.

"Valentine?" He shook him, but no response came from him.

Panicking instantly, Draven touched his neck and when he felt his pulse still beating, he exhaled, relieved. He calmed down and swallowed hard, not sure what he would have done if it appeared that Valentine was no longer breathing.

He for sure would never be able to grieve him. He had a lot to make up for, a few things to mend and atone for. No, not a few, but a lot!

He knew and was sure he’d hurt Valentine in so many ways, but Valentine himself had not said a word about it neither did he seem to bear a grudge because he’d always believed it was just the sort of person he was.

But that was not true. It wasn’t who Draven was—at least he’d come to realize it himself.

He was just a man stuck in the painful loop of what he’d gone through, unable to escape, thus unintentionally hurting those dear to him, including even his own mother.

Draven rubbed his temples in sudden stress and exhaled softly, averting his gaze to stare at Valentine who was in a deep sleep.

——

Avelina sat at the table in the room, flipping through a book in her hand. Her thoughts subconsciously shifted to her mother and the look on her face melted into a cynical one.

How was she? Was she okay? Was she living fine? Hopefully, she was.