Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 155: Do You Like Him?

Chapter 155: Do You Like Him?

"No such place?" Ivan halted in his steps as he casted a bemusing gaze at Abdiel, his eyebrows drawn in perplexity, but Abdiel nodded his head in silent affirmation before patting his nephew’s back. Ivan really wanted to focus his attention on the new Ministers and Courtiers, he wanted to return to his little lamb soon, but as always, he can’t seem to get even the tiniest of breaks as one problem or the other keeps popping like parched peas. Not to mention, but he wasn’t mentally prepared to deal with all this stress.

"The cartographer is waiting in the study, we’ll head there first before leaving." Abdiel gestured for Ivan to take the route that led to the study room first. Although his visage held a bit of impatience, though tempered with curiosity, Ivan had no choice but to meet the cartographer who can explain in proper detail the enigmatic news he was hearing.

Upon arriving at his study, he found the aged cartographer rising to his feet, his quill poised over a detailed map spread across the table. Ivan came to stand opposite the table, and the cartographer lowered his gaze respectfully before saying, "My apologies for the delay, Your Majesty, I was informed that you had somewhere urgent to be but I can assure you that this is just as important. I have made a discovery of great interest, one that may perplex even a vampire King of your wisdom, but that is if you choose to hear me out first."

Listening to the subtle words of the cartographer, Ivan glanced at Abdiel’s way, but there was a brief exchange of intrigue between the two of them before he leaned closer, eyes returning to the map on the table.

"Speak." He commanded, his voice echoing through the room. If he was going to delay his meeting with the new Courtiers, it might as well be something worth listening to.

The cartographer, who felt relieved at his granted permission, took a deep breath before proceeding to explain, "the visitors whom I was told you presently keep under your wings were hailed from the Kingdom of Carmarthen, and I was ordered to locate this domain so they can make their departure as soon as possible. However, when I examined the maps closely, I found no trace of Carmarthen’s existence. It is as if the kingdom has suddenly vanished from the realm of known lands." He cryptically disclosed his theories considering what he had found, also allowing the vampire King to take a look at the map himself.

"Are you certain?" Ivan’s eyebrows furrowed, a mixture of curiosity and concern flickering across his features. "The accuracy of our maps has never faltered, are you sure you went through the maps thoroughly?"

The cartographer nodded, his voice filled with conviction as he said, "I assure you, your Majesty, I have double-checked the records and cross-referenced countless sources. Yet, there is no mention of Carmarthen, not even a whisper in the annals of history." The cartographer appeared just as perplexed by the strange discovery, and there was an instant silence that enveloped the room as Ivan contemplated the revelation, his piercing eyes not shifting from the map as he went through it.

His mind suddenly raced with questions and possibilities that seemed far-fetched to him, whilst he couldn’t help but wonder; How could an entire Kingdom vanish without a trace? Was it a trick? A ruse orchestrated by his enemies? Or was there something more mysterious at play? But at the same time, he had seen the insignia of this Carmarthen, every angle of it was valid and unlikely to be forged, even if it happens to be forged, he would know from the quality alone.

"What do we know of these visitors again?" Ivan finally broke the silence, turning his attention to Abdiel who shuffled through a stack of notes on the table, his voice measured as he reminded Ivan.

"They presented themselves as noble citizens, claiming to be from the kingdom of Carmarthen. Their son had run into an open portal which led them here, and now they seek our help to return back to their land. As much as I hate to admit it, they sounded genuine about their predicament, but if their Kingdom truly doesn’t exist ...."

Ivan’s eyes narrowed as Abdiel’s voice trailed off with dubiety, whilst he simply reflected on the growing bewilderment. "Their intentions have suddenly become enigmatic. If there is no Carmarthen, where did they come from?"

"I have pondered on it too, your Majesty." The cartographer admitted, his quill now idle in his hand. "It is possible that they come from a realm unknown to us, a realm beyond the boundaries of our map. But such realms are regarded as mere legends."

"Should I send the young man for more questioning?" Abdiel turned his attention to Ivan as the matter only got more complicated by the minute. Ivan pondered on it before shaking his head slowly.

"No." He said, "we’ll see the Courtiers first, then we’ll settle this when I return. Lay out the important information on this desk, and I’ll send Herbert to retrieve them once you’re done." He instructed the cartographer before meeting his uncle’s gaze. "We need to leave now since we are already late. It’s necessary that I see those Courtiers for myself, including the new Ministers."

Although it wasn’t compulsory for him to do so, Ivan had made it a compulsory measure for himself. His Father had left the Kingdom’s advisor to select new Ministers without looking into them personally, and that was a mistake Ivan wouldn’t want to repeat in his own reign. The cartographer lowered his head in a bow as Ivan stepped out the study, Abdiel following behind, and when they were gone, the cartographer couldn’t help but smile within, as if he felt proud that at least one of the late King Muzan’s sons didn’t bring shame to his lineage.

—-

Samantha had gone to see her brother in the opposite guestroom, and since Ivan’s chamber was out of limits to everyone, she couldn’t bring her brother in, whilst she had to go see him herself in the guest room.

Sitting on the mattress, Maurice placed a palm to his sister’s forehead, comparing his temperature with that of her own, and a look of relief flickered in his eyes after confirming their temperature was the same.

"I stayed up all night, It made me lose track of when I fell asleep." He explained, "how are you feeling now? Are you hurt? Is there any pain?"

"I am fine, nothing happened to me." Samantha flashed him a smile that made him know she was telling the truth, and it was her turn to get worried, considering the fact that what she did might have frightened him. "Are you fine?"

"To be honest I wasn’t." Maurice revealed before taking a deep breath. "But I am now, the vampire King already told me what I needed to know about your powers linking with the missing orb, but I won’t trust his words till I hear it from you. Did Father really take the missing orb that night? I know Father couldn’t have committed a crime, his loyalty to the late King was unmistakable but did he really take the orb from the late King?"

Maurice’s eyes held inquiries, and Samantha could still remember the vision she had seen. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she nodded her head before letting out a sharp exhale of breath. "Father didn’t murder the late King, but he took the orb. Whatever he did with it still remains a mystery to everyone, but... for some unspecified reasons, I possess this strange ability to call upon any kind of nature. They share a link with my emotions, the same way the orb shares a link with our Kingdom. I’m bound to be here."

Opening her palm, a butterfly made from green leaves opened its wings as it took flight, flapping towards the window, but when it flew out, whiskers appeared from nowhere as it jumped to catch the leaf butterfly, startling Samantha and her brother who rushed to the window to see whiskers playing with the struggling butterfly.

"Whiskers?"

"Someone catch that ferocious creature! Achoo!" Samantha could see the butler call after a few servants to catch whiskers who gave them a chase around the open courtyard. Albert sneezed multiple times into his handkerchief, and it became obvious he had allergies for cats.

"Everything alright down there?" Samantha asked the butler who subconsciously glanced up to look at her, and he looked away before answering, "Yes, everything is fine Samantha but that– Samantha?!!!"

As if brought back to reality, he glanced up in bewilderment, obviously stupefied to find her and her brother in the Palace.

"You’re here? I thought..achoo! Weren’t you..achoo! Leaving to another Kingdom?! Achoo....! For the love of God, somebody take that cat away from here!"

His building frustration mixed with his surprise had Samantha holding back a laugh. "We changed our minds."

"Does Lucy know? She will be ecstatic to see you in the Palace. Unfortunately we cannot talk as I have cat problems! If you’ll achoo! Excuse me." He walked away, wiping his nose with his handkerchief as he instructed the servants who chased whiskers about.

"I was going to miss them." Samantha uttered, but then she was thrown off guard when Maurice added.

"Would you have missed the vampire King too?" He inquired, sounding rather neutral than upset. "Do you like him? I’m not asking you this because I want to judge you, I’m asking because I want to know if I can trust him concerning a deal we made." He assured his sister before turning his head to look at her, whilst she stared out the window.

"Do you like him?"

"I don’t want to."

"But you do?" He inquired further, and he didn’t miss the glimmer in her eyes as she sighed defeatedly.

"I do."