Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 203: Alistair’s Warm-up

Chapter 203: Alistair’s Warm-up

Stepping out of her Chamber with her face unnaturally paler than their supposed color, Agathe quietly closed the door behind her. Her state of mind was like a plague of untidy mess, intertwining with the conversation she just had with Marius. She was confused, partially disoriented to say the least, and she could hardly discern what was right or wrong in this matter. Making an agreement and sealing a deal with Marius meant there would be no rectifying of the decision made, and once she’s agreed to something, there was no going back.

Did she make the stupidest decision by deciding to do this?

"Lady Agathe." Hearing her name being called out of the blue was enough to jolt her back to her senses. She had managed to school her expression when Madeline, including Queen Lucinda approached her from the left side of the corridor, and she had totally forgotten that there was still someone left in the Palace. She hardly sensed the two women’s presence in order to stay on her toes.

"You’re both here?" Agathe’s voice failed to hide her questioning, and Madeline offered her a smile before nodding in response. From her reaction, Agathe was able to comprehend that she may not have sensed the abominable energy coming from the crystal, and she felt glad she had stepped out of the room at the right time. However, Queen Lucinda’s expression was indecipherable, and that made Agathe’s heart thump in consternation.

"Are you heading to the event today?" Madeline politely asked the vampiress. "I had to stay back to fix something for my husband and son who will be returning with his Majesty tonight. If you’re ready, we could leave together if that is not a problem with you."

"Are you feeling under the weather again?" Lucinda’s eyes drooped slightly, making them appear as if she was concerned, and Agathe tried to hide her anxiety with a laugh, whilst shaking her head.

"No, I’m much stronger today. I had to share a list with The Butler for tonight’s celebration, that’s why I’m still here. I am set for the event, and it will be nice to have some good company along the way." Agathe smiled at the two of them, and together, they exited the corridor.

—-

In the back of the fields where the contestants were busy getting ready, Maurice was putting on his gear for the second round of the event.

Not surprisingly, his heart was beating a lot faster than the first time when he got prepared for the first round, probably because he knew the event will get tougher from here, but he has improved enough to know when and when not to strike, and not to mention but today, he was going to use actual swords to defend himself.

His brown eyes moved to gaze at the sword that was beside the table where he sat, and when he reached for the sword, someone else had swooped in, taking hold of his sword before he could get a chance to grab it. Maurice exhaled through his nostrils as his lips thinned, and he didn’t need to look to know who had chosen to harass him while he was trying to focus on getting prepared.

"The sword looks good, did a different blacksmith make them for you?" The leader of the vampire rogue let out a soft tsk as he took his seat beside Maurice on the bench, and as expected, he had the sword in his grasp. "The blades have been sharpened to cause the right amount of damage, shall we test it before the event starts?" And in one swift move he had the blade on Maurice’s neck, a reflex that Maurice could not match up to even if he tried.

He could hear the leader’s rogues laugh mockingly when he froze at the threats of the blade on his neck, but what ate him up was his failure to retaliate. If he couldn’t even dodge that, what were the possibilities that he would win the event if, by chance, he gets to face the leader of the rogues, Bryn, in front of everyone.

"You’re impossibly quiet today, don’t tell me you forgot your invisible bravery shield at home." Bryn smirked at his defenseless attempts, and Maurice eventually looked at him, as if he had grown tired of their daily disturbance.

"What do you want from me?"

"Your failure." Bryn moved the blade away, "did you see what happened to the rest of the humans who were paired to go against vampires? I’m sure you didn’t like the outcome of it, so just imagine... the treacherous things I can do to you if we are made to face one another. Just quit, there’s no way a puny human like yourself can become the next Herbert. I’m being kind enough to warn you beforehand, cause when that day comes, I won’t go easy on you."

"You’re warning me? But you don’t even know me." Maurice stated plainly, quite relieved that the blade had been taken away from his poor neck, and when he met Bryn’s gaze, he said sedately.

"I am afraid if that is the case you are trying to prove. I don’t have fast reflexes, I don’t have whatever strength all of you are hereditary blessed with, but your threats and my fears won’t come between my goal of making it to the top. If I’m going to lose, I lose out there, at least I know that I did my best to some point, but backing away like a coward wasn’t how I was raised."

"His mouth got sharper." One of the vampire rogues commented, but unlike them who appeared displeased by his audacity, a sneer curved Bryn’s lips, and he quietly handed Maurice his sword. When Maurice received it, thinking he was finally going to be off the hook with these vampires, he heard Bryn say,

"Prepare to be labeled a loser then." There was a silent promise in his tone, one that made Maurice shudder as it didn’t mean anything good. With a pat on his shoulder, Bryn stood up from the bench and walked away.

Alistair watched Bryn make his way to his own dressing room with his gang, and when they were gone, his eyes shifted to Maurice whose expression displayed his uncertainty, and his grip on the hilt of his blade instinctively tightened from anxiety.

"You shouldn’t let them get to you like that." Alistair’s voice snapped Maurice from his intrusive thinking, and when he looked up to see Alistair walking in, he immediately rose to his feet and lowered his head in greeting. He fidgeted a little as he tried to stay poise, and Alistair simply took his seat on the bench where Bryn once sat.

"Ignore their comments, and focus on the event instead." Was Alistair’s advice to him, "don’t let it sway you from attaining your purpose on joining the event."

"Forgive me if this may come out rude but... why are you nice to me?" Maurice couldn’t stop himself from inquiring from the scar-faced vampire. When he leaned back, the sounds of chains could be heard, and Maurice found it oddly creepy that a Prince would have himself bound to such heavy chains.

"I’m nice to you because you have a nice adorable sister." Alistair stated the facts, and Maurice’s eyes widened slightly as this was not an answer he expected.

"My sister?"

"Yes, she’s a tiny human with a stubbornness too big to accommodate her size. But... she’s a worthy being who is deserving of my friendship. I’m helping you because I take your sister as a friend, and asides that, you remind me of a particular vampire when he was at a very young age."

"Who?"

"He’d kill me if I tell." Alistair rolled his eyes, "in case your opponent turns out to be a vampire, here’s another subtle hint for you." He rose from the bench and was standing in front of Maurice.

"Take a deep breath." He inhaled sharply, and Maurice did the same. "Strout your chest out, like this."

Alistair, whose chest was more broad, came out perfectly, and Maurice did the same, even though it made him look like he was holding in a pee.

"Good good." Alistair patted his shoulder, "do you know what you’re going to do next?" He questioned and smiled, "don’t die."

"W_What?" Maurice blinked in bafflement as his motivation popped like a balloon.

"That’s it? Don’t die??" Maurice questioned the vampire who was starting to walk away.

"Good luck." And he was out.