Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 175: Sitting On The Queen’s Seat

Chapter 175: Sitting On The Queen’s Seat

A few days quickly passed by with the Chevalier Palace bustling with different activities, and ultimately, the day of the groundbreaking event finally arrived.

Everyone in the Palace woke up that morning, feeling oddly lively than ever before, and just as Ivan had told her, Samantha spotted Alistair returning to his cheerful, whimsical self again. He had approached her himself to thank her for her assistance concerning the other day, and Samantha’s heart warmed up at his gesture, whilst they took a short walk in the garden to pass time.

At the end of it, everyone was set to leave for the tournament.

The brilliant sun casted its ray’s upon the open field where the prestigious, ’clash of Valor’ tournament was to take place. A whispered excitement hung in the air as the vibrant colors of banners fluttered against the clear blue sky, and before the fields, knights, Lords and ladies in resplendent attires traversed the bustling ground, whilst making way for the arrival of Queen Lucinda and other royalties that had presented themselves to be a part of this groundbreaking event that they would be witnessing for the first time.

Samantha and Lucy had accompanied Helena to the fields as per her request. While Samantha was dressed in an elegant gray-colored maiden outfit, Lucy had worn a brown dress, and their excited chatter subsided as Helena approached the seats that were surrounded by royalties from other neighboring kingdoms. A few of them Samantha recognized, like Princess Ivy and her family, and of course, she couldn’t possibly forget Prince Nichole who had also recently been crowned King in his own Kingdom. Their eyes met briefly, and Samantha didn’t miss the way he intimately held the hand of the unknown woman sitting beside him, making it quite obvious that she was his wife.

If only he knew how tiny she cared about his marital status. He would be delusional to think she was still interested in him even if he was married.

"When His royal Majesty said you’d be joining as a judge for the tournament, the rest of us were ecstatic to hear this considering you’d be the only woman amongst men." One of the valiant warriors from a Kingdom named Caledonia spoke up as he received Helena’s hand in his. "How has safeguarding the borders been, not too much trouble?"

"If troubles could be avoided I wouldn’t be at the borders in the first place." Helena answered curtly as she recoiled her hand from his, already aware of his indirect mockery. "The witches have been causing trouble for the past few months, but I trust my men to keep the borders protected until my return. Let His Highness know that I am not here to indulge in conversations with any one, I’m only being cordial to the rules." She flashed the warrior a fake, condescending smile before shifting her gaze to the rest of the royalties seated.

"Please enjoy the tournament."

And she walked away.

Samantha glanced at Lucy to see her ogling at one of the royals seated at the far back of the canopy. When the warrior of Caledonia returned to his side and whispered into his ear, it became quite obvious that he was the one who sent his warrior to speak in replacement of him. If that was Lucy’s choice then she really needed to look again.

"Lucy." Samantha tried to reprimand her friend who was still gazing dreamingly at the man under the canopy, and she sighed out loud.

"Forgive me but I can’t help my heart Sam, he’s the King of Caledonia and I’ve had my eyes on him for many years now. Well, his relationship with His Majesty is quite thin but I am allowed to admire from afar right? I don’t think I possess the luck you have to win the heart of any royalty, but I can always love him from a distance." Her brown eyes which held adoration drifted to the young handsome man who appeared bored with what was happening before him.

"He’s so handsome Sam! How many good-looking people does His Highness know? Do you think I can gain his attention?" Lucy demanded from Samantha who rolled her eyes before crossing her arms, and there was absolutely nothing she wished to say to Lucy. From amongst the crowd, Samantha spotted Madeline heading their way with Alain by her side. She was also elegantly dressed in a simple attire for the event, and so was Alain who gingerly rushed to meet her.

"You came!"

"I needed the fresh air." Madeline responded with a genuine smile before glancing at the energetic crowds. Hundreds of seats were arranged in a circular formation, each adorned with silk banners representing different nobles, families and the Kingdom. Since her arrival at GreenHollow, everything about it had left her stupefied with wonder, and the greenery was so..... green!

"You know in Carmarthen, one has to sign up for the military and train for about five years straight before getting recruited as a King’s soldier." Madeline said to the both of them before a contented smile graced her natural pink lips. "It is nice to see things are done differently here, and I wish your brother all the good luck he needs for the event." She passed on her genuine wishes to Samantha’s brother through her, and a smile of gratitude adorned Samantha’s lips as she appreciated her good wishes.

"He’ll certainly be needing them."

"When does the tournament begin?" Madeline simply inquired as it appeared everyone was already present, and it was Lucy’s turn to answer.

"The tournament cannot commence if the King isn’t present, for it is his presence that breathes life into the event." Lucy quoted to Madeline’s understanding.

"Yes... we left the Palace earlier." Samantha agreed with Lucy, and together, the three of them stayed put as their chatterings mixed with the whispers of the crowds behind them.

Nichole, who remained seated with his beautiful wife, was unable to avert his stare from Samantha who seemed to laugh at something Lucy had said. A quick frown dawned on his visage as he remembered her rejection, and he was unable to mentally accept that this woman bore no feelings for him. He had held his wife’s hand to make her jealous, but it was plain obvious that his plan to get her attention wasn’t working.

"Your Highness, you do not seem well, should I send the servant to get you some water?" His wife, who had noticed his disturbed countenance, asked out of mere concern, but he offered her a smile and shook his head at her offer to help.

"I am fine." He murmured.

As minutes trickled by in the grand field, the murmuring sounds of the crowds rippled through the air, whilst a collective gasp escaped their lips as some rose to their feet. Heads turned towards heaven, all eyes were fixated on the astounding sight before them.

Soaring through the sky, majestic and untamed, a regal figure descended upon the tournament arena, eliciting all sorts of gasps from the crowd. Large black wings, spanning wide above the sky, beat in rhythm to the wind as it casted an eerie shadow over the excited spectators below. As the figure neared the ground, the thrum of anticipation transformed into awed silence as the owner of those majestic wings came into view.

Ivan landed swiftly with a notified grace, his boots touching the ground in a soft impact. Elegantly, he unfurls his giant wings, allowing them to linger momentarily before folding them against his back. Samantha’s heart leapt at the sight of him, and although she was the one who got his attire picked and meticulously dressed him up herself this morning, she was unable to stop herself from admiring how good she was at her job.

A thunderous applause erupted within the crowd at the sight of Ivan, their admiration echoing throughout the arena as they bowed before their sovereign, their heads held low in a mixture of respect, fear and awe. The Kingdom’s advisor stepped forth to hand Ivan his royal scepter, and with a serious look, he beckoned the Herald over.

They exchanged a few words that could not be heard, and the Herald nodded politely to something he said. When they were done, Ivan was escorted by his group of entourage as he took the special seat that had been reserved for him in front of the canopy. For a fleeting moment, his gaze cut through the crowd to notice his little lamb standing under the sun, and with a slight frown, he crooked his finger, beckoning Herbert to lean forward so he could whisper something to him.

"Lords, ladies, and our honored guests." The Herald began the announcement as he stood in the middle of the field, his words imbued with reverence. "Behold, the arrival of our esteemed vampire King and his venerated companions!" With those words, the crowds erupted into another applause, their admiration and respect palpable to everyone. Samantha and Lucy even caught a glimpse of some maidens arguing to get a better view of him.

As the noise died down, the Herald regained the control of his crowd as he declared. "With the arrival of our honored guests, the ’clash of Valor’ tournament shall commence; an event where skills, bravery, and honor shall be earned and given by his Majesty himself!"

While Samantha and everyone else applauded, Herbert quietly approached the three women who were immediately startled by his silent approach. "If you’d come with me, His Majesty requests the presence of you three."

"Hmm? Us?" The three of them exchanged bewildered glances, and since Ivan has requested their presence, refusing was clearly not an option.

They made their way to where Ivan was sitting, and when Herbert brought them as ordered, Ivan’s gaze drifted to Madeline who lowered her head in a respectful bow, and he said, "You hold a high position regardless of wherever it is you came from, and that is enough reason why you shouldn’t be left standing."

"Can I agree?" Cassian’s voice joined in, and he went to stand beside his wife who gave him the ’where have you been?’ kind of gaze.

"His Majesty reserved a seat for us, I was only helping the contenders get ready, come." Holding his wife’s hand, Madeline offered her gratitude to Ivan before getting dragged away by her husband.

"Why was I summoned?" Samantha didn’t dare meet his eyes, not in the open, but she was more awestruck when he patted the empty plush seat beside him.

"Sit with me."

Lucy’s eyes widened like a saucer upon hearing this, and her gaze shifted to the seat that was meant to be bestowed to the Queen when he gets married.

"I...I cannot do that, the people will question–"

"Then we shall keep them in suspense." His eyes narrowed, "I order you to sit."

Listening to his command, Samantha no longer had the power to refuse and hesitantly took the seat beside him, her heart pounding in her chest when all eyes moved to see her sitting on the plush chair meant for the future Queen. A slow smile curved Ivan’s lips at her anxiousness, and he gestured for Lucy to stay beside her under the shelter of the canopy.

Samantha lifted little Alain onto her thighs as she cleared her throat, and she tried not to focus on the judging gaze of everyone.

"Comfortable, am I right?"

She didn’t respond, and then she heard him say, "You will become Queen sooner or later, so better get used to living like this."

Samantha’s cheeks turned beet red at his words.