Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 114: Tension In The Courtroom

Chapter 114: Tension In The Courtroom

—-

"I should be upset with you for your earlier betrayal, but if I am I have no other person to speak to." Samantha had complained to Lucy who was busy folding the snowy-white laundered towels she had gathered. With Ivan gone, the young maiden had returned to the servant’s quarters to join Lucy who kept humming a romantic tune, but when she noticed Samantha’s disapproving stare, she sighed and dropped the neatly folded towels on a tray.

"Sweetheart, I would betray you for your happiness." Lucy half-smiled before joining Samantha on the carpeted floor. "After tonight, once the royal court agrees with your union to Lord Ivan, and then he becomes King of EmptyHollow, I know in my heart that.... Everything will be perfect."

Lucy’s eyes gleamed with warmth as she was not only happy for her friend, but she could also see a positive change that would come with their alliance. When she looked at Samantha who hadn’t gotten the point she was trying to make with that statement, she decided to elaborate it for her.

"Don’t be over-naive Sam, if you ask me, I say this is the right time for you to step up your game. Do you really not understand the privileges of being married to him? To be honest, anyone would be begging to be in your shoes right now, me included...and once you’ve reached the seat of being Ivan’s Queen, you won’t need the help of anyone to find your brother who I believe is still out there, you can support Lord Ivan, and the both of you can change this preposterous rules and traditions we’re forced to face here. I know you can do it."

"But.... This is not real..."

"So what? In some cases marriage comes before love." Lucy tried to lighten up her friend’s mood, and then she whispered softly. "I don’t think Lord Ivan will be that type of man who would let you leave his side, he can be anything, but he is adamant on getting whatever he wants... it is strange though, how I put all my faith in him, and maybe because the rest of his brothers are complete bullshit, but of course, no one notices that poisonous side of them since they flaunt a good image in front of the world."

"His brothers? What are his brothers like?" Samantha softly inquired, curious to know more about them, but then she noticed the way Lucy rolled her eyes in obvious dislike before saying.

"I don’t really know much about them, neither am I interested in their lifestyle, but you know, I was incharge of taking care of the Queen Mother’s chamber, so I got to hear a thing or two about them, and they do not sound King worthy at all. Lady Agathe and the Queen Mother always had discussions concerning the Queen Mother’s worries, and I might have heard how Lord Ivan was treated during his younger days, and it wasn’t...funny at all. It almost sounds impossible cause when I steal a glance at him, I find it difficult to believe that he was the same person who they said went through a lot just cause he was part human."

There was a look of empathy in Lucy’s eyes, "maybe that’s why I respected him. He was once more cruel than he was today, but I understood him. That’s why, seeing him take interest in you...when he came to get you from behind the curtains, what I saw was something I rarely see in him. You my dear, you might just end up being his soulmate, let me correct that, you ’ARE’ his soulmate." Lucy made the love sign with her hands, leaving her friend flustered, and a look of mischief danced in her eyes.

"Okay tell me, what happened after he took you away? Hmmm? I want it in detail. Was there a kiss? Or was it above that? What did he taste like? Was your heart racing?" She wiggled her mischievous eyebrows at Samantha who could feel her cheeks heat up at Lucy’s questions, whilst she took one of the towels to fold.

"Well, I’m not spewing a word to you, that’s your punishment for betraying me...still."

"Are you being serious?" Lucy’s eager expression dropped at the finality in Samantha’s gaze.

—-

As night approached the Royal Chevalier Palace, the royal councils, including the Ministers and Courtiers took their positioned seats in the royal court room.

Seated on the elevated dais were the four Lords, influential beings representing the realm of darkness, each more formidable than the last. On the opposite side, the county Councils and Ministers, consisting of wise elders and dignitaries, observed the proceedings with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Behind them sat the lesser Courtiers who lined the wall, their envious gazes betraying their ambition to one day occupy a prominent place within the chamber.

The royal court room was abuzz with anticipation, that was until the guards announced the presence of Lord Ivan before creaking the grand doors open. Dressed in a regal attire adorned with intricate embroidery and a deep, velvety cape, Ivan strode confidently into the ornate chamber, ignoring the fact that everyone was gazing at him since he had arrived later than usual.

Silence fell over the court as the Lords and council members studied him, whilst the young vampire Lord gracefully dipped into a bow upon reaching the center of the room. He acted clueless, considering the fact that all eyes were on him, silently demanding an explanation that would satisfy their intrigue. Queen Carina and Sir Abdiel were seated not too far from the four Lords, as their jurisdiction would also be classified as important since they hold a high rank in the Palace.

When everyone composed themselves as they were ready to begin, Lord Viktor, whose eyes had turned cold as ice, broke the silence with a voice that resonated with authority, and he dived straight to the subject.

"Prince Ivan, you stand before us accused of seeking to join our immortal race with that of a mere human girl, contradicting the rules of the land itself. Explain yourself." Lord Viktor, who presently held more power within the royal courtroom, demanded from Ivan who remained totally unfazed by his sternness, whilst the rest of the Councils murmured their astonishment and disagreements between themselves.

Ivan, who had raised his head to look at the four Lords, revealed a slight smirk that played upon his lips before saying. "I believe I have nothing to explain to anyone, and this meeting is merely to draw an exaggeration. It is my choice, and with all things considered, love knows no boundaries, neither of time nor of race."

"Is it not true, Prince Ivan, that human blood is inferior?" One of the elder Ministers had risen from his seat to ask. "Mixing our Noble lineage with such weak essence would weaken our kind. Let us not forget that we cannot associate ourselves with humans in terms of royalty. We disapproved of the late King having a human for a special advisor, but he didn’t heed to our advice, and look how it turned out? Do reconsider your options before it is too late."

The elder Minister advised, and one could see the councils nodding their heads in agreement.

"Blood purity is often overrated, Gaubert." Ivan’s voice seemed to hold an otherworldly charm as he rebutted with a tsk. "Our strength lies not solely in our lineage but in our ability to adapt and evolve. I am well aware of your concerns and the point you’re trying to prove to me, but one bad egg shouldn’t speak for the remaining eleven eggs. During the hunting trip, one of the Courtiers nearly poisoned me to my death, and he was killed on the spot. If you do not believe me I have many who were witnesses to the outrageous sight. If being aware of my enemies is what you imply, shouldn’t that also mean that I need to be more wary of my kind?"

A murmur arose amongst the council members, their curiosity piqued by the prince’s words. Carina, who noticed their contemplation, frowned in panic at the thought of Ivan eventually winning their favor. She glanced at Abdiel who remained observant, but he didn’t stand up to oppose Ivan’s statement.

Ivan, who knew he had gotten them where he wanted, proceeded to add. "This union between Vampires and humans represents an opportunity to reshape our world, to challenge centuries-old customs that have kept us separate."

Lord Draven, who had been quietly observing the situation as he listened to Ivan speak, tilted his head and asked, his voice now tinged with a hint of intrigue, "What power does this human girl possess that makes her worthy of being your bride?"

At his sudden questioning, all eyes moved to Lord Draven as they found it sensible. When Ivan met his interested gaze, he secretly clenched his jaw, but then, he couldn’t afford to let Lord Draven get to him, no matter the cost.

"This human girl possesses a rare resilience and compassion that humbles me." Ivan’s eyes now gleamed with a mix of affection and admiration as he spoke, a look that one rarely sees in his eyes. "She has seen the darkest corners of humanity and yet still believes in its potential for goodness. With your blessings regarding our alliance, together, we could unite our realms, bridging the chasm between our worlds."

Another round of whispers erupted among the Lords and council members, debates sparked on the value of such an alliance. Meanwhile, Ivan stood tall with his head held high, his conviction unyielding, as he awaited their decision.

After what felt like an eternity, Lord Viktor rose from his imposing throne, his expression softened. "Prince Ivan, your words have swayed us to some degree, but we aren’t fully convinced. We will grant you our blessings if that is what you seek, but on the condition that the human girl proves herself worthy of this position."

Carina, who couldn’t believe they were all ready to go along with this, was about to raise her objection when the guards suddenly made an announcement.

"Everyone, EmptyHollows first Prince has arrived and is making his way to the courtroom!"