A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 72: Let Me See!

Chapter 72: Let Me See!

The jovial expression immediately vanished from Olive’s face, and the urge to throw his spoon at Valentine consumed him.

"I don’t cook for anyone. Besides, do I look like I am in need of a job? Tsk!"

"You know, I am a prince, right?" Valentine’s brows were raised.

"And? Do you want me to call you his royal highness now?" Olive was irritated.

Valentine nodded. "Yes."

"You!" Olive let out a soft breath, immediately suppressing his annoyance.

"Here, try the chicken with rice. I made it extra juicy," he said as he added a few pieces of chicken to the bowl of white rice and pushed it over to him. "You said you have a big appetite."

"Trying to fatten me, I see." Valentine cackled and lifted the bowl of rice onto his palm. "Do you know something?"

"What?" Olive arched his brow.

Valentine smiled. "My older brother is the purest soul I have ever met."

"Not in a righteous way or so, but he is a pure soul. I never told him, but he is the one who kind of brought me this far. When I...thought I was miserable, I realized he was more miserable than I was."

"But you know, despite it, he would come running to save me whenever I was in trouble. He protected me silently, and I never really... realized why. He is a very complicated person, and I find it very hard to understand him. Each time it felt like I was starting to comprehend him, I became bemused again."

"He was willing to put his life on the line to save me, but he never talks to me. Not just me, but he doesn’t talk to anyone. He was always very quiet, lonely, and emotionless. I never saw him smile, and even after he got married and had a child, nothing changed. He was still the same. Lonely and quiet."

He blinked his eyes. "I tried to get close to him because he felt like a safe space, but he never let me in. I was always shut out, and I got really frustrated. He hates socializing, talking, or doing anything that would involve another individual being close to him."

"Haha, I have never met such a complex person in my life. But that is something about him that interests me. The thrill of figuring him out and I sort of hope I will get the chance to properly show my gratitude."

Valentine’s smile was getting a bit cynical, however, at the thought of something, his face lit up with wide smiles.

"Now that I think about it, there have been new changes lately. He married a new wife, and I don’t know what she is doing to him, but... he is starting to become someone different. He kind of talks a bit now and maybe socializes a tiny bit. I don’t really know, but he feels different, and he doesn’t seem so lonely anymore."

"I sympathize with how much has been done to him by every single person who has ever stepped into his life, including his own family and a man who calls himself our father." He let out a soft breath.

Olive, who was gazing at him, lowered his head. "You didn’t need to explain. Your older brother already seemed like a good person. A pure soul, as you said."

Valentine beamed warmly at Olive and proceeded to finish his food.

"I will be taking my leave soon. I have to go home."

Olive slightly nodded. "I can’t drive you back, so—"

"I know," Valentine cut him off, dropping the empty bowl.

He stood up to his feet and slightly bowed to Olive in appreciation.

"Thank you. I have never tasted something so good in my life."

Olive tilted his head up to stare at him. "You are welcome."

———

[8:30 am]

Draven sat on the one-man sofa close to the bed where Avelina was lying, fast asleep.

He was immersed in the book that Avelina was reading last night. His interest and focus were quite high.

"Not bad! But can you tell her the truth? You are creating misunderstandings with all these foolish lies," he muttered to himself with scrunched brows. He was annoyed with the male main character.

Avelina, on the other hand, could somehow hear his murmurs even in her dreams. She slowly blinked her eyes open and sat up on the bed.

As she stretched her muscles, she yawned, but her attention was immediately grabbed when she started to hear Draven mutter again.

She shifted her gaze and stilled at the sight of him, reading her book with great engrossment.

"Draven, what are you doing?" Her face held a look of confusion and incredulity.

As though a child who had been caught stealing, Draven whipped the book behind him. He rapidly blinked his eyes, unable to answer her.

"Draven... Is that my book you have behind you?" Avelina asked with both brows arched.

Even though Draven wished to say no, he couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he slowly nodded, embarrassed. "Yes, it is."

He couldn’t understand why he was feeling embarrassed, but somehow he was having this tugging feeling of being caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing.

"You’re evil!" Avelina jumped down from the bed and stormed towards him. She extended out her hand. "Let me see."

Draven handed the book over to her. His expression was emotionless, but his eyes told her he felt a bit sad.

"You think I’m evil?"

"Huh?" Avelina was taken aback.

"I didn’t know you would be mad about it. I felt bored because you were sleeping, so I thought I should keep myself busy with it. I really didn’t want to read too far, but I just kept going and going and going. I am very sorry," Draven apologized.

Avelina’s mouth was agape. Her words were stuck in her throat, and she felt this heavy feeling of guilt wash over her.

"Draven, I think you are misunderstanding something here. I am not mad at you!"

"If you are not, then why did you say I am evil, and why does your face look—"

Avelina interrupted him. "Draven, you are not evil! I meant it in a different context."

"What context?" Draven tilted his head.