Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 190: His Trick Card

Chapter 190: His Trick Card

"For me?" Samantha’s pupils dilated at his unforeseen display of affection, her awestruck gaze transfixed on the warmth that emanated from his eyes. When he still held it out for her to take, Samantha received the lovely bouquet, her surprise still evident as she subconsciously held the bouquet close to her chest.

"But... I don’t understand... you just said you don’t like doing this type of thing."

"But you like them, and I like you, shouldn’t that count?" He inquired, a bewitching smile tugging his lips as she held the flower close, her expression blooming in reminiscence of the flowers in her hand.

This is the first time someone has ever offered her flowers !

"I know you can make varieties of them, but do you know why this is different?" Ivan asked the young woman who shook her head slowly, face flushed, and a charming smile adorned his lips as he took a step closer, standing just a breath away from her. "This is different because whenever you look at them, you’ll think of me, and when you think of me, I’ll be there."

"Ivan... people are staring..." Samantha lowered her gaze from his, seemingly aware of the people that watched them. The way he uttered those words, it made her stomach flutter and she could feel her heart develop wings, as if ready to take flight. When his right hand cupped her cheek, he tilted her head up so she could look into his expressive blue eyes, and then he murmured.

"Is it a sin to express my love to you in public as well?" He cocked his head, drinking in her expression while relishing the sound of her heartbeat. "If it’s a sin, then I don’t mind going to hell for it. Besides, I already burn for you."

He declared, not for once lowering his tone but making it audible that even passersby could hear it. Samantha’s heart skyrocketed, and the hands that securely held the bouquet fidgeted, cause for the first time, she was tempted to give in to her own temptation and touch his face, her fingers were itching to trace every sharp angle of his bewitching face, and to Ivan’s surprise, he felt her dainty hand reach up to cup his cheek, his blue eyes widening slightly, but he could feel how her hands shook when she touched him.

"Little Lamb."

"I.. I will take it from here." She dropped her hands, immediately balling them at her side as she couldn’t believe what she just did. The more time she spent with him, the deeper she fell, and her walls were already starting to crumble. "I can find my way from here to the old cottage, you don’t...have to worry about me." Swiftly turning away to avoid his hypnotizing eyes, she began to walk ahead while cursing silently.

God what did she just do? If she hadn’t left she swore she would have kissed him right there!

"Get yourself together Sam!" She mentally emboldened herself.

Ivan, who was still stupefied after comprehending the meaning behind her ardent touch, was unable to stop himself from smiling; an awakened hope gleaming in his eyes, and despite her attempt to chase him away, he continued to follow her. Samantha, who still sensed his lingering presence behind her, halted in her steps, and when she turned around to look at him, he looked the other way, pretending to be eyeing certain stuff in a shop.

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously at him, she averted her gaze and continued to walk a little faster this time. When she halted and turned around, he was still hot on her trail, and she frowned at him. He should have been made into a professional stalker rather than a King.

"Are you following me?"

"I have somewhere to be too, remember? We’re probably heading in the same direction." He answered, and Samantha scowled at the man before turning around and walking, but at her normal pace.

A smile adorned her lips as she looked at the gorgeous flowers in her hand, and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from smiling even wider. She suddenly wished Ivan wasn’t King, but rather, a normal man who lived a perfectly normal life. If things had been that way, she would have seen a good future for the both of them. Having a home where they won’t be surrounded by guards or enemies that monitored their lives, threatening to harm them. Having an affordable job and living those simple lives where they can love and be there for one another, without the worries of the Kingdom; this was her dream in the past, but she never knew a day would come when she would wish to experience this type of life with Ivan.

Returning her gaze to the bouquet of flowers in her hand, her smile returned.

Ivan on the other hand, continued to follow his little lamb, and the eyes of young women continued to follow him. Even after making his appearance during the coronation and the Court Of Public Opinion, not everyone could recognize him since he was not physically known in his human form. They passed a Courtesan house where the pretty women of Fernwood were seated, and the ladies, who noticed Ivan pass by, couldn’t help but cast seductive glances his way.

"Who is that man?" One of the Courtesan’s whispered to her fellow ladies as they continued to watch Ivan in fascination, "he doesn’t seem to be in the company of a woman. Should we invite him over?"

"I’ve been hearing of a fine man that visited Fernwood a few days ago, that must be him."

One of the Courtesan’s, who had her eyes on the young man, immediately rose to her feet. If he was new to Fernwood, then she would be the first person to steal his attention and invite him over. Eyeing the rest of the Courtesan’s who were still rabbiting about his charms, she decided to take the brave step of going over to talk to him.

When she successfully made it to his side, Ivan’s gaze hardly looked anywhere else, and wanting to use the opportunity of his current absent-mindedness to her advantage, she deliberately caused herself to trip and fall on the side where Ivan was passing, in the hopes that he would catch her, cause, which man will see a lady falling and not reach out to help?

"Ah!.." A short cry had left her lips, drawing Ivan’s attention, but rather than catching her in his arms, Ivan swiftly stepped back, giving the young Courtesan enough room where she could fall properly. The sound of her cry had reached Samantha’s ears, and when she turned around to see who was in trouble, her eyes fell on the young woman on the ground.

"Help me sir." The woman said as she let out her hand for Ivan to hold, wanting him to help her rise up to her feet. Ivan’s hypnotic gaze simply lingered on the woman before diverting to her outfit, and it was all he needed to see to know that she was a seductress.

Ivan had plans of simply ignoring her attempts to woo him and walk past, but before he could put that idea into action, his little lamb had surprisingly returned to his side. To both Ivan and the Courtesan’s bewilderment, Samantha slipped her hand around Ivan’s arm, holding him intimately like a couple would, and without uttering a word, she pulled Ivan aside and took him away from the Courtesan.

Ivan’s gaze lingered on the woman whose eyes expressed a tinge of jealousy, "is someone green with envy?"

"Not only envy, I basically saved your life back there. She’s a Courtesan," Samantha stopped walking and released her hold on his arm. "You shouldn’t stare at them for too long, that is how they get people’s attention and you, what would have happened if you fell into her seduction trap?"

"I would call you heartless for not taking her place." He answered, "Besides, I’m going to need one for tonight’s plan."

"What do you mean?"

"The village councilmen are holding a meeting at the Courtesan house tonight, and I have plans on bringing the place down. That reminds me she didn’t seem that bad, I could use her for tonight... just a minute."

"Where are you going?" Samantha involuntarily grabbed his arm when she felt he was going back to that Courtesan. "You can’t go back there."

"Why can’t I?"

"I’ve been a Courtesan once, you can take me with you." She blurted out her suggestion, but after realizing what she just uttered out loud, her face flushed in embarrassment, and Ivan arched an eyebrow in surprise."

"What did you say?" He whispered, and when she averted her gaze elsewhere feeling completely flustered, a smile curved his lips, and he turned her around so she could look at him.

"Little Lamb, I never had plans of taking her with me." He assured her, to Samantha’s surprise.

"But... but you just said..."

"I was going to offer her money to be a part of the Courtesan’s tonight. She would be my trick card into getting into the Courtesan house.....but, since I have a partner now, there won’t be any need for that now."

Samantha’s pupils dilated, and it took her a moment to realize he just tricked her into going with him.

"I... I didn’t mean what I said!"

"What? Can you speak louder, my eardrums must be jammed." Ivan was starting to back away, and when Samantha tried to repeat it, he pretended to not have heard. "I can’t hear a thing, this must be karma’s doing but you can tell me tonight."